11 Best Hill Stations in India in 2020 for a Soothing Mountain Trip

In this post, I'm going to talk about the 11 best hill stations in India, which you can visit in 2020 for a soothing mountain trip.

If you love mountains, hiking, fresh air, and picturesque locations, these hill stations are the best place you can visit to add new experiences to your travel diaries.

All these hill stations are the best honeymoon destination, hiking destination and these hill stations are the best places to refresh your mind and the fresh natural environment will help re-energize your life.

Let's dive right in.

1. Manali, Himachal Pradesh - The Valley of Gods 2. Ooty, Tamil Nadu - Queen of the Nilgiris 3. Darjeeling, West Bengal - Queen of the Hills 4. Gangtok, Sikkim - The Gateway to Sikkim 5. Mussoorie, Uttarakhand - The Queen of Hill Stations in India! 6. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh - One of the most famous hill stations in India - The Queen of Hills 7. Munnar, Kerala - Kashmir of South India 8. Coorg, Karnataka - The Scotland of India 9. Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu - The Princess of Hill Stations 10. Nainital, Uttarakhand - Lake District of Uttarakhand 11. Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh - The birthplace of Dalai Lama Final thoughts: 11 Best Hill Stations in India in 2020 for a Soothing Mountain Trip. Now It's Your Turn

Spots like Rohtang Pass, Hadimba Devi Temple, The Mall, and Solang Valley, vastly used as shooting locations for most of the Bollywood movies.

is a resort town located in the mountains of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh (Kullu district) near the northern end of the Kullu Valley in the Beas River Valley.

Best experiences: If you want to explore Manali, visit the Rohtang Pass, the highest point on the Manali-Keylong Road. Some of the other great spots here are Vashist Hot Water Springs, Jogini Falls, Kalath Hot Water Springs, and Solang Valley.

How to reach Manali: Fly to Bhuntar airport followed by a 2-hour taxi or bus ride. Also, you can take the Himachal Pradesh State bus from Delhi to Manali (553 km) which takes 10 hours.

Best time to visit: October to June

Ooty is a popular and the most visited hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills. Local Residents call it Blue Hills.

Best Experiences: If you want to explore the beauty of Ooty, explore the cozy cottages and go for trekking along with the plantation sites for breathtaking views. You could indulge in adventurous activities like angling and hand gliding too.

How to reach Ooty: The Coimbatore international airport is the closest. Nilgiri Express leaves from Chennai to Mettupalayam near Ooty. Buses and shared taxis are available.

Best time to visit: Throughout the year

Darjeeling is located in the Lesser Himalayas at the height of 2,050 meters above sea level. It is also a popular hill station and tourist destination in India.

Darjeeling is famous for its tea industry, its views of Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (also known as Toy Train), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Best Experiences: If you want to get the best out of your Darjeeling trip, visit a tea estate such as the Happy Valley Tea Estate, take a toy train ride through the Batasia Loop and War Memorial, visit Buddhist monasteries in Ghum, watch the spectacular Kanchenjunga from the Tiger Hill.

How to reach Darjeeling: Take a flight directly to the Bagdogra Airport followed by a 4-hour taxi ride. Or take the train to New Jalpaiguri followed by a 4-hour taxi. Also, you can take a 2.5-hour bus or taxi ride from Siliguri to reach Darjeeling.

Best time to visit: February to March, September to December

Surrounded by the dense green forests, Gangtok is a must-visit hill station while visiting the Shivalik Hills and beautiful North-East India.

Best Experiences: Visit Tsomgo Lake and Gurudongmar Lake, the two most scenic and highest mountain lakes in the world, making this one of the best hill tourist places in India.

Also, you can visit the historical Nathula Pass. Some of the other must-visit tourist attractions of Gangtok are Fambong La Wildlife Sanctuary, Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, Rumtek Monastery, and Tashiding Monastery, and Enchey Monastery.

How to reach Gangtok: Take a flight directly to the Bagdogra Airport followed by a 2.5-hour taxi ride. Or take the train to New Jalpaiguri followed by a 2.5-hour taxi ride.

Best time to visit: Throughout the year

Best Experiences: Visit the churches, shop woolen clothes at Mall Road, visit and take a cool bath at Kempty Falls, Mussoorie's most popular tourist attraction.

How to reach Mussoorie: Dehradun Airport is the nearest airport. One can also drive from the nearest metros via Dehradun city.

Best time to visit: September to June

Shimla is famous for its colonial heritage buildings and British architecture. This combined with the natural beauty makes it a perfect destination for a summer trip in North India.

Shimla has been a very popular hill-station among honeymooners and Indian families for the last 50 years.

Best Experiences: Enjoy a quiet picnic at the Glen next to a captivating stream and the beautiful Dorje Drak Monastery. See various species of birds at the Himalayan Aviary. Other prominent sites include Jakhu Hill, Darlaghat, Scandal Point, Solan Brewery, Kamna Devi Temple, and Gurkha Gate.

How to reach Shimla: Take a flight directly to Jubbarhatti in Shimla. Or take the train to Kalka followed by a 2-hour taxi ride.

Best time to visit: October to June

Munnar is a town and hill station located in the Idukki district of Kerala. Munnar is known as the "Kashmir of South India" and is a popular honeymoon destination.

Munnar is famous for its tea estates and exotic lush greenery, located in the Western Ghats. In addition, Munnar has many protected areas that are home to endemic and highly endangered species like the Nilgiri Tahr and the Neelakurinji - a rare flower species that blossoms only once in 12 years.

Best Experiences: You could engage yourself in rock climbing, trekking, yoga, and boating. With so much to offer to tea lovers, nature lovers, and thrill-seekers, Munnar is definitely among the best hill stations in India to visit.

Also, you can visit Eravikulam National Park, Anamudi, Pothamedu, Mattupetty Dam, Tea Museum, The blossom International Etc.

How to reach Munnar: The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is about 110 km from Munnar. The nearest railway station is at Aluva, at a distance of 110 km. Local transportation services - bus and cab are available to reach Munnar.

Best time to visit: September to May

We were first introduced to Coorg when we were in the 10th standard. Our English textbook had a dedicated chapter featuring the beautiful Coorg, its rich culture, and its glorious history.

This popular coffee producing evergreen hill station is not only popular for its beautiful green hills and the streams, but It also stands as a popular destination because of its rich and unique culture and the , a local clan specializing in martial arts, are especially remarkable for their enthusiastic hospitality.

Best Experiences: The beautiful scenery, mountain ranges with a spectacular view, warm hospitality of people can fascinate you towards the hill station. The other attractions include Abbey falls, Churches, Forts, and Nagarahole (Wild-life sanctuary).

How to reach Coorg: The nearest railway station is at Mysore which is about 100 km away from Coorg. Buses are frequently available to take off to Coorg on a 4-5 hours comfortable journey.

Best time to visit: October to March

In the Tamil Kodaikanal means "The Gift of the Forest". Kodaikanal is referred to as the "Princess of Hill stations" and has a long history as a popular tourist destination.

Kodaikanal stands at an altitude of 7200 feet above sea level and has a cool, pleasant climate all year round.

Best Experiences: Go for a boat ride in the Kodaikanal lake and trek to the Pillar rocks for scenic views. Also, visit the parks and nature walk in the Pine Forests.

How to reach Kodaikanal: Closest airports are at Trichy, Madurai, and Coimbatore. The nearest railway station is at Kodai road which is 100 km away from Kodaikanal. One can travel by road to reach Kodaikanal.

Best time to visit: September to May

Nainital is a popular hill station in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

Situated at an altitude of 1938 km above sea level, Nainital has a pleasant climate all year round.

Best Experiences: Go for a picnic at the beautiful Kilbury or The Tiffin Top. Visit the Land's End to enjoy the mesmerizing views of Khurpatal Lake and trek the Naina Peak, the highest peak of Nainital.

How to reach Nainital: Take a flight to Pantnagar (72 km) followed by a 1.5-hour taxi ride. Or take the train to Kathgodam (41 km) followed by a 1-hour taxi ride. Buses from ISBT Anand Vihar run to Nainital in 9 hours.

Best time to visit: Throughout the year

Situated at an elevation of approximately 3,048 meters, Tawang is one of the coldest places in India.

Tawang is a town in the North-East Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, known for many important and beautiful monasteries and is famous as the birthplace of the 6th , Tsangyang Gyatso.

Tawang is a place that will fascinate you with its natural beauty wrapped in the fragrance of spirituality. Breathtaking valleys, misty rivers, and stunning waterfalls give you the ultimate experience in the mystical Tawang.

Best Experiences: Visit the snow-clad Sela Pass for a spectacular view and visit the beautiful Paradise Lake on your way there. Make a trip to the Tawang Monastery, the largest monastery in India. Other destinations are Gorichen Peak, Tipi Orchid Sanctuary, the Shonga-tser Lake, Teng Tso Lake, Bap Teng Kang Waterfall, Pankang, and Nuranang Waterfalls.

How to reach Tawang: Take a flight directly to the Salonibari Airport, Tezpur followed by a 6-hour taxi ride. Or take the train to Guwahati followed by a 13-hour taxi ride.

Best time to visit: September to March

With pleasant weather, all these hill stations are full of natural beauty, picturesque locations, evergreen forests, spectacular views of beautiful mountains, and these hill stations are some well-known honeymoon destinations and best places to refresh your mind and body.

Visit these hill stations to add new experiences to your travel diaries.

Hey, I hope you enjoyed reading this list of the 11 Best Hill Stations in India in 2020 for a Soothing Mountain Trip.

Now I would like to hear from you:

What's your favorite hill station from this list and which are the hill stations that you want to add to your bucket list?

Let me know in the comment section below right now!

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This article is edited and co-authored by Inu Etc.