Located in Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of 1220m. Kullu was once known as Kulanthpitha, which means the end of the habitable world. Beyond rose the forbidding heights of the Greater Himalayas, and by the banks of the shining river Beas, lay the fabled 'Silver Valley'. The mountain-scapes remain spectacular whether in brilliant sunshine or in the haze of the mist. The 'Silver Valley' has nature's treasures that lie carelessly scattered as flowers on the high meadows. The town of Kullu has long been a centre of faith. In the 17th century, Raja Jagat Singh installed here an idol of Lord Raghunathji, which he brought from Ayodhya. As a mark of his penance, he placed the idol on his throne and it became the presiding deity of the valley.
Best Time To Visit: Mid-May To Mid-October

Situated at an altitude of 2,050m. The Kullu valley has an ancient town in its lap called Manali. Surrounded by towering peaks at an arm length, Manali's major asset is its proximity to the snowline. It is a flourishing orchard industry, a popular honeymoon destination and trailhead for numerous treks as well as a great countryside ideal for adventure sport lovers.
Best Time To Visit: May To October.

This hill station spreads over five low-level hills at the western edge of the Dhauladhar range, just east of the Ravi River. The picturesque town is interspersed with the colonial-era buildings, low roofed stalls and hotels. The pine-covered slopes around it are intersected with paths and treks, which are ideal for short undemanding walks

Set against the backdrop of the dramatic Dhauladhar Mountains, Dharamsala is perched on the high slopes in the upper reaches of Kangra Valley. Dharamsala over looks the plains and is surrounded by dense pine trees and Deodar forests. A nearby snowline with numerous streams and cool healthy atmosphere makes the surroundings very attractive. Dharamsala is a busy bazaar town and has established itself as the traveler’s base camp, which come to explore the nearby mountains.
Best Time To Visit: Mid-May To Mid-October

Shimla is situated at an altitude of 2,159m. Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of. Dwelling on a panoramic location, the hilly town is surrounded by green pastures and snow-capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era create an aura, which is very different from other hill stations.
Best Time To Visit: April To August & December To January.

Situated at 8,602 ft 17 km away from Shimla guarded by the vast expense of ancient cedar forests, bring back memories of day long picnics, horse riding & languorous walk during lazy hazy summer hols. Mahasu peak the highest point in Kufri ,makes a challenging hike.When the sky's a cloudless blue , watch the views of snowy clad peaks of Badrinath & Kedarnath The hills come alive with shouts of young voices throwing snow balls on each other during winter season .Kufri also provide finest ski slopes thus attracting ski expertise from all over the country

The valley of Gulmarg, a large meadow about 3-sq-kms in area, stands at 2,730 meters, 56-km south west of Srinagar. The name means 'Meadow Of Flowers' and in the spring it's just that, a rolling meadow dotted with countless colorful Bluebells, Daisies, Forget Me Nots and Buttercups. The valley itself is about 3-km long and up to a km wide. All around are snow-capped mountains, and on a clear day one can see all the way to Nanga Parbat is one direction and Srinagar is another. It's a popular day trip from Srinagar to Gulmarg, although many people extend their stay or use it as a base for trekking. The road from Srinagar rises gently towards the lower slopes of the range, passing through rice and maize fields.

At an altitude of 2,130m and about 95-km from Srinagar, Pahalgam is probably the most popular hill resort in the Kashmir valley. Since it is rather lower than Gulmarg the night time temperatures do not drop so low and it has the further advantage of the beautiful Lidder River running right through the town. Pahalgam is situated at the junction of the Aru and Sheshnag Rivers and surrounded by soaring, fir-covered mountains with bare, snow-capped peaks rising behind them.
Best Time To Visit:
In Summer-May To September
In Winter-Nov To Feb

The capital of Jammu and Kashmir and the largest city in the state, Srinagar (1,730m) is famous for its canals, houseboats and Mughal gardens. The city itself is quite unlike most other large Indian cities for here you are much more in Central Asia than on the sub continent. It's a city full of intriguing alleyways and curious buildings. A place where it's very easy to spend a few hours simply wandering - particularly along the old city streets near the Jhelum river.
Best Time To Visit:
In Summer - June To Early Nov
In Winter - Dec To Feb

This hill station, located at an altitude of 1600 m above sea level, was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands is the 'Neelakurinji'.

The forests of Wayanad are a veritable treasure house of Flora & Fauna. Wildlife freely roams in the sanctuaries of Matthunga, Begur and Tholpetty. Home to stunning orchids, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, rubber, bamboo and coffee, Wayanad has a surprise in store for you at every nook & corner. Tucked in the verdant tropical womb are the twin lakes of Vythiri & Lakkidi. 3 Km from Lakkidi is the Pookote Lake, covered in parts with lotus, a picture out of a fairy tale book. At 6,890 ft is Chembra Peak just 24 Km from Vythiri.

One of the least disturbed forests of 'God's own country' the Silent Valley. It is popular that it is named so because it is devoid of the most common sound found in the Rain forests; The incessant chirping of cicadas. The local name of the forest is 'Sairandhri', another name of Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. Some believe its name is derived from the lion-tailed Macaque, whose scientific name is Macca Silenus. Due to its topographic isolation no human being has ever made it their home. Places to see around Silent Valley, Attapady (35 Km) -- a tribal settlement for the Irulas and Mudugars, Malleshwaram Peak -- worshipped as a Shivaling by the Tribals

Coonoor is situated on the eastern side of the southern extremity of the Doddabetta range, at an altitude of 1,858 metres above the sea level. It is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris. Coonoor is located 19-km away from Ooty, a famous hill station of India. Coonoor is the first of the three hill stations in the Nilgiris- Ooty, Kotagiri and Coonoor - that one comes across when leaving behind the southern plains. Grassy meadows, tea bushes and profusion of Sunflowers, Marigolds and Rhododendrons, all growing wild cover it. Coonoor is essentially a small tea garden town where the weather remains pleasantly cool throughout the year. The town is physically divided into upper and lower Coonoor.

It is located amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one of the most popular serene hill stations in India, which mesmerises any visitor. With her wooded slopes, mighty rocks, enhancing waterfalls and a beautiful lake, Kodaikanal is a charming hill station. Kodai is situated at an altitude of about 2,133-m high and covers an area of 21.45-sq-km. The pride of Kodaikanal is the 'Kurinji-flower', which blossoms once in 12 years. The hill-plantain fruits and plums are known for their freshness and taste.

Kotagiri is located 16-km away from Ooty and it is the oldest hill station of the Nilgiris. Kotagiri is situated at an altitude of 1950m, which was once a British hill resort, that dates back to 1819 and is quieter than Ooty. Elk Falls, Kodanad Viewpoint and Catherine Falls are a few places to visit

The capital of Nilgiri district, is popularly known as the "Queen of hill stations' among the tourist circuits. It is situated at a distance of 105 km away from Coimbatore. The height of the hills in the Nilgiri range varies between 2280 and 2290 meters, the highest peak being Doddabetta at a height of 2623 meters

Yercaud is a lesser-known hill station when compared to Ooty and Kodaikanal. Yercaud is situated at an altitude of 1,500 meters (4,920 feet), on the Shevaroy hills of the Eastern Ghats. The lofty hills are of extraordinary scenic beauty endowed with a salubrious climate. Yercaud is also called "Ooty of the Poor " and is known for Coffee Plantations and Orange Groves

The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu huddles among the rocks on a 1,220-m granite table mountain at the far southwestern end of the Aravalli hills. It is built around a lake and is surrounded by forested hills. According to a legend, the place derives its name from Arbuda, a serpent who descended to the spot to rescue Shivas bull, Nandi. Besides having all the features of a pleasant hill resort, Mount Abu is also well known for the famous Dilwara temples and many more archaeological remains. There are interesting treks and picnic spots, romantic royal retreats of the various erstwhile families of bygone Rajputana and some relics of the Raj period. The scenic landscapes include gigantic blocks of rocks in weird shapes, an array of coniferous trees, flowering shrubs, lovely lakes and the cool climate much in contrast to the arid environs of the state.

It is located at a height of 2,500 meters in the green Himalayan range. Due to its location and beauty Mussoorie is considered as the best hill station in the northern region. In 1820 Captain Young from the British army was influenced by the beauty of this place and made this place as his residence. The name, Mussoorie, is derived from plants of 'Mussoorie' which were found in abundance here. The modern bungalows, malls and well-laid gardens, which are located on the small hills around the area, are enough to attract any tourist.

A small town in the hills of Kumaon, Nainital is a lovely hill station surrounded by mountains on three sides. Once this area had many lakes and it was called the City of 60 lakes or 'Chakta'. Most of the lakes in the region have disappeared and whatever remains is just a glimpse of what they might have been in the past. Today the life of Nainital revolves around the lake of Naini. But there are few other lakes around Nainital, which are equally beautiful and attractive as the Naini Lake.

120 kms from Mysore and 247 kms from Bangalore, the Biligirirangana range of hills is picturesquely situated between the Cauvery and the Tungabhadra rivers. At a height of 5,091 ft above sea level, this hill stretches from north to south for about 16 kms. Surrounded by deciduous trees, the forests are teeming with wildlife. So if you're looking for a 'cool' time with a little bit of 'wild' excitement thrown in, welcome to B.R. Hills. Wake up to the chirping of birds and the humming of bees. Breathe in fresh, clean air. Take a stroll through the sylvan surroundings. And let the cool breeze blow your cares away. As the day slips quietly into night, watch the stars come out, one by one. The moon casts a silver light. And somewhere in the distance you hear a tiger roar. One can feel the proximity with the nature. Best Season: Sep To May

The Queen of all Hill Stations is situated at an altitude of 1,372m in the heart of Sahyadri Hills in Satara District. The name 'Mahabaleshwar' is derived from a temple of Lord Mahadev and three Sanskrit words, "Maha" (great), "Bal" (power) and "Ishwar" (God). Mahabaleshwar is famous for its scenic beauty and the splendid views of the valleys and the sea, which is quite visible in clear days pony rides on the lanes of Mahabaleshwar, are quite thrilling. Several charming hill resorts nestle in these mountains.

They are two charming little hill stations on the western slopes of the Sahyadris, 5-km apart, that straddle the Mumbai - Pune highway at an altitude of 625m, quite popular as health resorts. Blessed by the nature in bounty, the hill resorts have plethora of places of Tourist Attraction in Lonavala & Khandala - Beautiful Hills, Deep Green Valleys, Huge Lakes, Historic Forts, Waterfalls, etc.

It is the dreamland of the East; it has been a popular hill station since the British period. Darjeeling is surrounded by lofty mountains. Except for the monsoon months and if weather is clear then the Kanchenjunga peak can be seen. Down below in the valley flow the rivers swollen by rain water or melting snow. Darjeeling is a fascinating place rich in natural beauty and surrounded by the Buddhist monasteries. Its beauty surpasses any other hill station. The toy train coming from Siliguri is some thing, which is liked by the elders and the children equally. The real fun in coming to Darjeeling is on the toy train. It takes six to seven hours to cover a distance of 82 kms and the slow speed gives you enough time to watch and appreciate the beauty which nature has provided it. This train passes through the Forests, waterfalls, over deep valleys and through the mountains and tunnels

A small but bustling town in the Himalaya foothills of West Bengal- Kalimpong is at an altitude of 1250 meters. This bazaar town was originally a part of Bhutan but later it was taken over by the British and finally it became a part of West Bengal. Kalimpong is famous for its monasteries, Churches and a private library for the study of Tibetan and Himalayan languages, culture etc. This place also has the Sericulture centre and the orchid nurseries and of course the place provides some beautiful sights of the Himalayan range. Though not all travellers visit this place, which demands some attention. The journey from Darjeeling along the Teesta River is very interesting.

It is 52 kms from Siliguri and 55 kms from the nearest Airfield of Bagdogra. Mirik is being developed as a new hill station in the mountains. Mirik is surrounded by tea estates, orange orchards and cardamom plantations. Mirik has all the facilities to fulfil the needs of a tourist, it is surrounded by forests, flowers and is a very peaceful place which attracts the tourists automatically. This fast developing as a tourist paradise. This place is 5,800 feet above the sea level and has very thin population of 10,000 people. Mirik has not yet acquired the hustle and bustle of the regular hill station and is from pollution. Thus the little time spend here is enough to refresh you.

Gangtok, the "Lofty Hill" or the "Hill made flat to build the Gangtok monastery in 1716". Gangtok is a city, which, till one sees it, one would believe exists only in picture-story books. In the mystery-lade
n mists prayer flags whip in the breeze; wheels spin in the hands of Lamas mumbling invocations to God, in the distance are the snows, on the streets amidst brightly painted pagoda roofed houses, lined with friendly smiling people are silver, silk and spice and jewellery to gladden an maiden's heart, from across the seven seas are gadget and goods to delight the collector of "imported goods', while directly overlooking the city is the hill Lukshyma, the 'Mother of Pearl' citadel of the magic mountain, Khang-Chen-Dzod-Nga. An air of enchantment hangs over the city, indeed the whole valley; the mysticism, the stupas, the monasteries reach out as soon as one has crossed the border. While across the hills and valleys comes the sounding of the long trumpets by robed lamas