Hill Stations in India
Dalhousie Hill Station India
 Dalhousie
a tourist place in India attracts numerous visitors every year. Compared to
other hill stations, Dalhousie, 80 winding kilometers from Pathankot, is markedly
different and off the beaten track. Spread over five hills, Dalhousie has a
serenity with its own distinctive flavor. Attractive cottages and villas cling
to the deodar and pine mantled hills of Dalhousie. Here at Dalhousie, nothing
seems to matter except the beauty and the moment. All this and more make Dalhousie
a tourist place in India. Pink and red rhododendrons are in bloom. The trees
are dressed in different shades of green. There is no swirl of traffic. The
shops are small and trim. Whistling softly to himself, a shopkeeper arranges
embroidered Chamba shawls in his showcase. Tourists appraise Chamba chappals
embroidered with gold thread, cane baskets, colorful woolens, and life-like
Chamba dolls - all specialties of the region. Piles of walnuts and red, black
and green Chamba chilies adorn many shop fronts. We pass children joyfully picking
strawberries from a hillside decorated with alpine flowers. There are several
good hotels in Dalhousie like Hotel Spring Dalhousie that ensure a comfortable
stay.
Manali Hill Station India
Once called the "end of the habitable world," Manali is an important
hill station of northern India and is the destination of thousands of tourists
every year. Its cool atmosphere provides a perfect haven for the ones afflicted
by the hot Indian summers. Besides offering quite a few places for sightseeing,
Manali is also famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering,
paragliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking. In brief, Manali-the
veritable "valley of the Gods"-is an ideal place for the ones in search
of both adventure and comfort. The Kulluis in brightly patterned puttoos, Tibetan
women wearing ankle-length rainbow-striped pinafores, Nepali porters, Buddhist
monks, and even the odd party of Zanskaris, swathed in fusty woolen gonchas,
muddled together with souvenir-hunting Indian and Western tourists-all add up
to the welcoming hubbub of Manali.
Mussoorie Hill Station India
 Mussoorie,
like other hill resorts in India, came into existence in the 1820s or thereabouts,
when the families of British colonials began making for the hills in order to
escape the scorching heat of the plains. Small settlements grew into large stations
and were soon vying with each other for the title of "queen of the hills."
Mussoorie's name derives from the Mansur shrub (Cororiana nepalensis), common
in the Himalayan foothills; but many of the house names derive from the native
places of those who first built and lived in them. Today, the old houses and
estates are owned by well-to-do Indians, many of whom follow the lifestyle of
their former colonial rulers. In most cases, the old names have been retained.
Nanital Hill Station India
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. River Ramganga originates from the Doodha Tauli ranges in district
Pauri Garhwal. It enters into district Nainital, before re-entering into district
Pauri Garhwal.
Nainital was discovered in 1841 by a Britisher called Lord Barron. The weather,
the surrounding and the mesmerising beauty of this area attracted the British
administrator who turned this place into the summer capital of the United Province.
Being a major tourist place Nainital is always bustling with visitors and it
is always better if accommodation and other facilites are prearranged.
Shimla Hill Station India
 Shimla
(also spelt as 'Simla') derives its name from goddess 'Shayamla Devi', which
is another manifestation of Goddess Kali. The capital of Himachal Pradesh came
into light when the British discovered it in 1819. Till then, it was a part
of the Nepalese kingdom. In 1864 Shimla was declared as the summer capital of
India. After Independence, Shimla became the capital of Punjab and was later
named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. In 1903 a rail line was constructed between
Kalka and Shimla.
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.
Mount Abu Hill Station India
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 Shiva¿s 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 |
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