10 Most Beautiful Hill Stations in North India

North India, particularly the states of Uttarakhand & Himachal are well known for their beautiful summer destinations. These states are dotted with several popular hill resorts which are visited by large number of tourists every year. Apart from the stunning hill stations of Uttarakhand and mesmerizing hill resorts of Himachal, Kashmir and Rajasthan also have breathtaking summer getaways. Trawell.in tried to shortlist Top 10 Hill stations in North India, based on their popularity, quality of attractions, accommodation and accessibility.

Watch Video: Least Expensive Hill Stations in India

Nainital

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Nainital is a beautiful hill station in the state of Uttarakhand and headquarters of Nainital district in the Kumaon foothills of Himalayas. Nainital is famous for its scenic mountain views and is commonly known as the Lake District of India. It is one of the most popular Hill Stations near Delhi in North India and also the best tourist places in Uttarakhand. Situated at an altitude of 1938 m, Nainital derives its name from Naini Lake. The highest point is Naina Peak or China Peak, with an elevation of 2,615 m. Nainital is surrounded by mountains on three sides and the town is spread around the beautiful Naini Lake.

Nainital Lake, Naina Devi Temple, Mall Road, Naina Peak, Snow View Point, Kainchi Dham, Raj Bhavan, High Altitude Zoo, Bhimtal and Sattal are among the must include places in your Nainital tour packages. Naini Lake has facilities for boating and yachting. Nainital is also famous for its various schools and research facilities. The best time to visit Nainital is from March to May & December to February.

Distance from New Delhi : 294 Kms

Full Details : places to visit in Nainital

Also Read: 14 Most Romantic Places to visit on Valentine’s Day

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Mussoorie

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Mussoorie is a popular hill station in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand State. Mussoorie is situated atop a horseshoe crest on the mountains of Garhwal at an average altitude of 1880 m. Mussoorie offers commanding views of the underlying Doon Valley and the magnificent Himalayas. The highest peak in the region is Lal Tibba in Landour, at an elevation of over 2,275 m. Mussoorie is called the gateway to the Yamunotri and Gangotri. This is one of the top hill stations in North India.

Kempty Falls, Camel’s Back Rock, Mall Road, Cloud’s End and Bhatta Falls are some of the best places to include in Mussoorie packages. Mussoorie also offers adventure and shopping opportunities. Tourists can enjoy horse riding or a leisurely walk across Camel’s Back Road and a rope-way ride to the top of Gun Hills. Snow Adventure Zone offers adventure activities like Sky Ride, Valley Crossing, Zip Swing, Paragliding, Night Camping & Safari.

Distance from New Delhi : 278 Kms

Full Details : Mussoorie tourist places

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Shimla

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Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh and one of the best hill stations in India. Lies at an altitude of 7238 feet, Shimla is popularly referred as the ‘Queen of Hills’ and among the most visited places as part of Himachal tours. This lovely hill station was developed by the British and served as their summer capital. Among the top places to visit near Chandigarh, Shimla is surrounded by pine, deodar and oak forests. The toy train between Kalka and Shimla was built in 1924 and it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is also one of the most popular tourist attractions not to miss in your honeymoon tour packages.

The Ridge, Mall Road, Vice Regal Lodge, Christ Church, Annandale, Chadwick Falls and Jakhu Hill are the best places to include in Shimla packages. Shimla is very famous for skiing with popular ski resorts at Kufri, Fagu Resort, and Narkanda that operate between January and March during snow fall season. Rhyali festival, the Summer Festival in May, Baisakhi (April) and Lavi fair are the major festivals celebrated in Shimla. It is most visited hill station in North India.

Distance from New Delhi : 348 Kms

Full Details : Shimla Sightseeing

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Manali

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Manali is a breathtakingly beautiful hill station nestled in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. It is located at an altitude of 2050 m and is spread along the banks of the river Beas. Manali is renowned for its snow-covered mountains, scenic beauty, history and culture. Often referred to as the ‘Valley of the Gods’, Manali is among the popular places to visit as part of Himachal tour packages and also one of the best tourist places to visit near Delhi.

Manali is famous as a Top Honeymoon destinations among Indian tourists. It is often referred as the most beautiful hill station in India and one of the top visited hill stations in North India. Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass, Hidimbi Temple, Bhrigu Lake, Vashist Temple, Manu temple, Naggar Castle and Manikaran are the top places to visit in Manali as part of Manali packages. Manali is also famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, kayaking, and mountain biking. September to May is the best time to visit Manali. Dussehra and Hidimba Devi Festival (May) are the two major festivals here. Winter carnival (Jan/Feb) is the most famous event in the valley.

Distance from New Delhi : 545 Kms

Full Details : Manali Tourism

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Dalhousie

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Dalhousie is a scenic hill station in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. It lies at an elevation of 1,970 m and is a splendid summer retreat in North India. Surrounded by snow peaked mountains, Dalhousie is located on the western edge of the Dhauladhar mountain range of the Himalayas and is one of the top places to visit as part of Himachal holiday packages. It was named after Lord Dalhousie, the then Viceroy of India, who established this town as a summer retreat in 1854.

Ganji Pahari, Dainkund Peak, Khajjiar, Noorwood Paramdham, Bara Pathar temple, Hariraya Temple, St. Patrick Church, Chamera Lake, Satdhara Falls, Kalatop Sanctuary, Panchpula, Subhash Baoli and Salooni are the top places to visit as part of Dalhousie 2 day tour. Dalhousie also offers a lot of activities for nature lovers and adventurers. Garam Sadak, Jhandri ghat, Moti tibba and Sach pass are the ideal places for the trekking enthusiasts in Dalhousie. Minjar fair and summer festival are the two important festivals celebrated in Dalhousie. The best time to visit Dalhousie is from March to June and October to December.

Distance from New Delhi : 564 Kms

Full Details : Dalhousie Sightseeing

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Almora

Almora is a scenic hill station in the Almora district of Uttarakhand. It lies at an altitude of 1,651 m, amidst the southern part the Kumaon Hills of the Himalayas. It is located on a 5 Km long horse shoe shaped ridge, the eastern portion of which is called the Talifat and the western one is known as Selifat. Developed by the kings of Chand dynasty, it was later developed by the British. Almora is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. This cute hill station is also one of the least expensive hill stations in India.

Almora is famous for its alluring beauty, panoramic view of the Himalayas and rich cultural heritage. Nanda Devi Temple, Kasar Devi, Banari Devi, Chitai Temple, Jageshwar, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Garhnath, Baijnath, Govind Vallabh Pant Museum, Almora Fort, Katarmal Sun Temple, Kalimath, Bright End Corner are important attraction in Almora. The traditional Panchmarchi Shawls in soft wool, decorative candles, drift wood statues and copperware are popular. The best time to visit Almora is from March to June and from September to November.

Distance from New Delhi : 364 Kms

Full Details : Almora Tourist Places

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Dharamshala

Dharamshala is a beautiful hill station in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It lies at an average altitude of 1,475 m above sea level. This is the gateway to the Kangra valley and also the headquarters of Kangra district. The city was destroyed by a massive earthquake in the year 1905 and was reconstructed to become a health resort and a popular tourist destination. In the year 1960, Dharamshala became a temporary headquarters to His Holiness Dalai Lama. Today, it is known as Little Lhasa or Dhasa, because of its large population of Tibetans and Buddhist Monasteries. It is one of the popular summer getaways in North India and also one of the must visit place as part of Himachal Vacation.

Dharamshala consists of two distinct parts – Lower Dharamsala and Upper Dharamshala. Lower Dharamsala is a bustling civil and commercial center whereas Upper Dharamshala, known more commonly as McLeod Ganj, is the seat of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama’s residence and the headquarters of Central Tibetan Administration are located here.

It has a lot to offer ranging from ancient temples, churches and monasteries to museums and beautiful trekking trails. The ancient Chamunda Temple, Dalailama Temple, Namgyalma Stupa, Bhagsunath Temple, Norbulingka Institute, Gyuto Monastery and Indru Nag are some of the prime tourist attractions to visit during Dharmashala 2 day trip. Dharamshala is a starting point to a number of trekking trails. Bhagsu Falls, Dharamkot, Triund Hill, Ilaqa, Toral Pass, Bhimghasutri Pass, Dunali and Kareri Lake are the important trekking trails here.

Distance from New Delhi : 486 Kms

Full Details : Dharamshala Attractions

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Gulmarg

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Gulmarg is a hill town and a popular skiing destination situated in Baramula district of Jammu and Kashmir. Situated at an altitude of 2730 m in the Pirpanjal range of western Himalayas. Mughal King Yousuf Shah Chak, Kashmir King Zain-ul-Abidin ruled the kingdom of Gulmarg. In the 19th century, British civil servants started using Gulmarg as a retreat to escape summers in North Indian plains. It is surrounded by forested hills and meadows, snow-capped peaks, deep ravines and valleys. The scenic beauty of this place has made it a popular filming location for many Bolywood movies.

The gorgeous hill resort of Gulmarg is dotted with various places of interest like Khilanmarg, Alpather Lake, Wular Lake and Manasbal Lake. The slopes near Gulmarg, varying between heights of 8,700 and 10,500 ft, make it the only heli skiing resort in Asia and the highest skiing location in India. The most popular activity here is skiing, as well as the cable car ride, the Gulmarg Godola, which is one of the highest cable car facilities in the world. Gulmarg is also home to the world’s highest 18 hole green golf course. People can also visit the Nanga Parbat, Haramukh and many other regions of the Kashmir Valley. The best time to visit Gulmarg for sightseeing, is between May and September. The best time for skiing and other winter sports, is from December to February.

Distance from New Delhi : 897 Kms

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Srinagar

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Srinagar is the largest city and the summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus, and Dal and Anchar lakes. The city of Srinagar is one of India’s popular tourist attractions because of its historic gardens, beautiful houseboats, meandering river and pleasant climate. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits. It is among the most beautiful hill resorts in North India.

Srinagar was founded more than 2000 years ago, around the 3rd century BC, by King Pravarasena. After the emergence of Mauryan Empire, they took over Kashmir and the then Mauryan emperor, Ashoka introduced Buddhism in Srinagar. After the rule of Mauryas, Srinagar was under the influence of Kushans, Ujjain rulers, Mughals, Pathans and Sikhs. However, the British defeated Ranjit Singh and according to the treaty of Lahore in 1846, they installed Gulab Singh as the independent ruler of Kashmir. Hari Singh, the great grandson of Gulab Singh, merged this princely state into India in 1948.

There are many places to see in Srinagar and hence the city has lots of tourists all year round. Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens, Amarnath Cave, Shankaracharya Temple, Wular Lake, Nagin Lake, Jama Masjid, Hazratbal Mosque, Nishat Bagh, and Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary are the must visit attractions in Srinagar. Srinagar is also home to Asia’s largest tulip garden. One can see the dazzling rainbow colours of the Tulip Festival in Srinagar during the first two weeks of April.The best time to visit Srinagar is between the months of April and October.

Distance from New Delhi : 842 Kms

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Mount Abu

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Mount Abu is a popular hill station in the Aravalli Range in Sirohi district of Rajasthan state near the border with Gujarat. At an altitude of 1220 m, Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan and also one of the best Tourist Places in Rajasthan. The ancient name of Mount Abu is Arbudaanchal. In the Puranas, the region has been referred to as Arbudaranya (forest of Arbhuda).

It has been a popular retreat from the heat of Rajasthan and neighbouring Gujarat for centuries. Among the top places to visit near Jaipur, Mount Abu has many tourist attractions in the form of temples, lakes and forts. Dilwara Jain Temples, Guru Shikhar Peak, Adhar Devi Temple, Sri Raghunathji Temple, Achalgarh Fort, Nakki Lake, Durga Temple, Gaumukh Temple, and Mount Abu wildlife Sanctuary are the top most tourist attraction of Mount Abu. Mount Abu has the World Spiritual University and head quarter of the Bhrama Kumaris, a well known sect. February to June and September to December is the peak tourist season of Mount Abu. Apart from being the only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is also one of the top visited hill stations in North India.

Distance from New Delhi : 756 Kms

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