Top 7 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.

Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh and one of the best hill stations in India. This hill station lies at an altitude of 7238 feet and is popularly referred as the ‘Queen of Hills’. This lovely hill station was developed by the British and served as their summer capital. Some of the famous tourist places in Shimla are The Ridge, Mall Road, Vice Regal Lodge, Christ Church, Annandale, Chadwick Falls and Jakhu Hill.

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. 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.

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 in North India. Some of the important places to visit in Nainital are Nainital Lake, Naina Devi Temple, Mall Road, Naina Peak, Snow View Point, Kainchi Dham, Raj Bhavan, High Altitude Zoo, Bhimtal and Sattal. Naini Lake has facilities for boating and yachting. Nainital is also famous for its various schools and research facilities.

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. Mussoorie is called the gateway to the Yamunotri and Gangotri. This is one of the top hill stations in North India. Mussoorie has several interesting tourist places like Kempty Falls, Camel’s Back Rock, Mall Road, Cloud’s End and Bhatta Falls. Mussoorie also offers adventure and shopping opportunities.

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. It is often referred to as the ‘Valley of the Gods’. Manali is famous as a Honeymoon destination 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. Some of the famous tourist places in Manali are Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass, Hidimbi Temple, Bhrigu Lake, Vashist Temple, Manu temple, Naggar Castle and Manikaran.

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. 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. The ancient Chamunda Temple, Dalailama Temple, Namgyalma Stupa, Bhagsunath Temple, Norbulingka Institute, Gyuto Monastery and Indru Nag are some of the prime tourist attractions.

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. Dalhousie is surrounded by snow peaked mountains and is located on the western edge of the Dhauladhar mountain range of the Himalayas. Dalhousie has many tourist places like 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. 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.