© Shutterstock

Gulmarg -

Gulmarg is located in the Baramulla district of Jammu state. Set in the beautiful Kashmir Valley, the hill station marks one of the region's best skiing spots. It's also a convenient base for treks to the Himalayas. Visit between May and September and you can even practice your swing on an 18-hole golf course, one of the highest layouts in the world!

© Shutterstock 

Munnar -

Kerala's Munnar hill station squats on the Western Ghats mountain ranges in Idukki district 1,600 m (5,249 ft) above sea level, overlooking vast swathes of tea plantations. The vibrant greenery is simply overwhelming!

© Shutterstock 

Pelling -

Sikkim, a state in northeastern India, is where to find Pelling, a hill station known as a primary location for trekkers and mountaineers who prefer to set their base here before moving on to the high altitude trek routes into the snow capped​ Eastern Himalayas and the forbidding Kanchenjunga range.

© Shutterstock 

Nainital -

The charming picture-perfect Nainital hill station in Uttarakhand state is celebrated for its scenic lake, which nestles in the Kumaon foothills nearly 2,000 m (6,561 ft) above sea level. Nainital is surrounded by mountains, the highest being Naina, at 2,615 m (8,579 ft), and the sense of the remote is tangible. It's probably why this hill station ranks among the most visited in northern India.

© Shutterstock 

Manali -

Set at an altitude of 1,585 m (6,472 ft) in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, Manali is one of the most popular hill stations in India's Himalaya range. A year-round destination, Manali attracts adventure tourists for its trekking, horse riding, and paragliding opportunities. In winter it's mostly the preserve of skiers. Snow is present all year on the Rohtang Pass.

© Shutterstock 

Chopta -

Anyone seeking solitude will be rewarded at Chopta, a remote hill station blessed with a scenic yet tranquil aura. Chopta, located in Uttarakhand state and sometimes called "mini Switzerland" for its breathtaking mountain scenery, is one of India's best snow-trekking destinations. In summer, the wide-stretching grasslands called Bugyals are equally popular with hikers.

© Shutterstock 

Shimla -

Shimla is arguably India's best-known hill station, not least because the city of Shimla is the capital of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh. Enjoying an elevation of around 2,000 m (6,561 ft), the hill station serves as a welcome retreat from the soaring temperatures of the plains below, fanned as it is by cool, fresh air.

© Shutterstock

Mussoorie -

Known as the "Queen of the Hills," Mussoorie is another one of India's favored hill stations. Located at a height of 2,005 m (6,578 ft) above sea level around 35 km (21 mi) from Dehradun in the state of Uttarakhand, Mussoorie affords majestic views of the Doon Valley and snow-capped Garhwal Himalayas.

© Shutterstock

Kasol -

Tucked away in the verdant Parvati Valley in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh is Kasol hill station. A Himalaya hotspot for backpackers, Kasol is found at an elevation of 1,640 m (5,380 ft) on the way to the pilgrim town of Manikaran. Interestingly, Kasol has a sizeable Israeli population, and visitors can't help noticing the abundance of signs outside shops and cafés written in Hebrew.

© Shutterstock 

Srinagar -

Set on the banks of the Jhelum River, Srinagar boasts an enchanting location. The capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar is surrounded by a collection of dazzling lakes, on which dozens of colorful houseboats are moored. The destination is also renowned for its splendid tulip garden and traditional Kashmiri handicrafts.

© Shutterstock 

Almora -

Perched 1,651 m (6,415 ft) on a ridge at the southern edge of the Kumaon Hills of the Himalaya range, Almora is one of India's hill stations known for its exceptional beauty and the protected species kept at the nearby Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. Almora is considered the region's cultural capital, and also regarded as a sacred destination for pilgrims.

© Shutterstock 

Palampur -

The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is blessed with several alluring hill stations, but Palampur is exceptional for its tea plantations, which embroider the land like blankets of green velvet. Nourishing this fertile landscape are countless rivers and streams, which, together with a pleasantly mild landscape, add further appeal to this captivating summertime retreat.

© Shutterstock 

McLeodganj -

Named after Sir Donald Freill McLeod (1810–1872), the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab between 1865 and 1870, McLeodganj hill station draws visitors to its abundance of Buddhist monasteries and temples, indicative of the large population of Tibetans.

© Getty Images 

Ooty -

High-altitude Ooty is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills in the state of Tamil Nadu. A visual treat, Ooty surprises with its colorful cottages and spruce botanical gardens. The town is connected by the Nilgiri ghat roads and Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

© Shutterstock 

Mount Abu - Remote Mount Abu is tucked away in the Aravalli mountain range in Rajasthan and serves as a lofty getaway from the sultry desert climate this northwestern Indian state is notorious for. The destination sits amid lush, green forested hills on the highest peak on the range, Guru Shikhar, at 1,722 m (5,650 ft) above sea level.

© Shutterstock

Auli -

Famous for its artificial lake that affords bathers jaw-dropping views over the Himalayan range, this hill station in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand is a hiking and skiing destination. The valley is remarkable for having the highest number of summer flower species found anywhere in the world.

© Shutterstock 

Kodaikanal -

Its name in the Tamil language means "The Gift of the Forest," and Kodaikanal is indeed one of the most attractive hill stations found in India. It's located in Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, and is blessed with panoramic views of velvety green hills and a lake that's used for boating.

© Shutterstock 

Darjeeling -

World famous for its tea industry, Darjeeling is located in the state of West Bengal, in the Lesser Himalayas, at an elevation of 2,000 m (6,560 ft). It was developed as a hill station during the British Raj, and besides excellent tea provides visitors with astonishing views of the world's third highest mountain peak, Kanchenjunga.

© Shutterstock 

Matheran -

Located in the Raigad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra, picturesque Matheran is one of the smallest hill stations in the country. The standout attractions here are the numerous lookout points dotted around the area. If you have only time for one, head for the aptly named Panorama Point that provides a 360-degree view of the surrounding area and Neral town.

© Shutterstock 

Munnar -

One of the great hill stations of south India, Munnar, in Kerala, has been providing visitors with a serene and romantic retreat for decades. Situated about 1,600 m (5,249 ft) above sea level, Munnar is part of the Idukki district and can be reached by road from the railhead at Ernakulam Junction.

© Shutterstock 

Wilson Hills -

Named in memory of Sir Leslie Wilson, the Governor of Mumbai from 1923 to 1928, Wilson Hills is located near Dharampur Tahsil in Gujarat state. Set in a near impenetrable forest, the hill station requires some effort to reach, but rewards the more energetic with spectacular waterfall scenery and, on clear days, a glimpse of the sea.

© Shutterstock 

Kufri -

Kufri, a hill station in the district of Shimla, is suitably set on the highest point in the state of Himachal Pradesh. A skier's paradise, Kufri also woos wildlife enthusiasts with its Himalaya wildlife zoo, home to the exotic Himalayan monal, the national bird of Nepal, among other species.

© Getty Images

Chail -

The former summer capital of the state of Patiala, Chail, a hill station in Himachal Pradesh, in noted for its stately 19th-century palace building. Chail is the location of the world's highest cricket pitch, at 2,250 m (7,381 ft) above sea level. The grounds also contain a polo field.

© Shutterstock 

Amarkantak -

This popular hill station destination in Madhya Pradesh also serves as an important religious site. In fact, Amarkantak is a pilgrim town known for its stunning collection of ancient temples.

© Shutterstock 

Coorg -

Lying 1,525 m (5,003 ft) above sea level in the Western Ghats in Karnataka state and also known as Kodagu, Coorg has sometimes been described as the "Scotland of the East" for its magnificent emerald-colored landscape and rolling, forested hills.

© Shutterstock 

Mahabaleshwar -

Mahableshwar is the most distinguished hill station found in Maharashtra state. It's located in Satara district, a region noted for its strawberry harvest. Every year the hill station hosts a fair devoted to this succulent fruit. Meanwhile, Mahabaleshwar proffers from a cool climate and dazzling sunrises and sunsets.

© Shutterstock 

Shillong -

Shillong is the capital city of Meghalaya state. Situated at an elevation of 1,520 m (4,990 ft) above sea level in the Himalaya foothills, Shillong is identified for its awesome mountain views and, in summer, a wealth of sweet-smelling wild flowers.

© Shutterstock 

Kalimpong -

Known for housing ancient monasteries as well as Catholic missions, Kalimpong in the Indian state of West Bengal is a modest hill station that sits easy between two landmark hills, Durpin and Deolo.

Sources: (Hill Stations in India) (Chopta Tourism) (Auli)

See also: Discover India: a country rich in ancient traditions and culture

© Shutterstock