5 Best Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is known for its trekking, climbing and skiing, and scenic mountain towns and resorts such as Mcleodganj. The state located in the Western Himalayas surrounded by majestic mountains is often reffered as ‘The land of snows’. Shimla, one of the most captivating hill stations, is the capital of the state. The best hill stations of the State are Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Dharmasala and Mcleodganj.

Shimla

Shimla is a beautiful hill station of the State. It is located at an altitude of about 2,205 m above sea level. The hill station is blessed with majestic snow clad mountains, stunningly rich greenery and the beautiful lakes. This is a popular tourist destination in India for a splendid summer vacation. The place is a heaven for adventure seekers who wish to indulge in adventure sports and activities like river rafting, angling for trout trekking and rock climbing. Travellers may settle for camping and golfing, take a stroll on the Shimla Mall, hang around the ridge and also go for temple visit. The place is also known as the Queen of Hill Stations.

The ridge and adjacent the Mall are the best places to go in the city centre. This is the main shopping area with most of the shops still housed in old time buildings. The other main places to visit here are Jakhoo Hill, The Shimla State Museum, Summer Hill, Daranghati Sanctuary, Indian Institute Of Advanced Study, Annandale, Naldehra And Shaily Peak, Chadwick Falls, Kufri, Chharabra, Chali, Arki, and Sanjauli.

You can taste here varieties of delicious street foods. The best season time to visit is autumn. The city under snow is a wonderful sight and it offers the unique attraction of an open air ice skating. This is a wonderful winter holiday resort which offers its visitors many snow sports.

Kullu

Kullu is one of the beautiful hill stations of Himachal nestled in the lap of the majestic Himalayas. The hill station is located at an altitude of about 1,297 m above sea level. The breathtaking scenic beauty of its beautiful landscapes, the hospitality of the people, their distinctive lifestyle and rich culture attracts a number of tourists every year. The main things to do here are visiting Raghunath Temple, Shoja, camping in Raison, and enjoying the beauty of Kullu Valley. The pristine beauty of the Parbati valley and the rich biodiversity of the Great Himalayan National Park adds to the beauty of the place.

Trekking in the Kullu Valley is the most popular amongst trekkers in Himachal Pradesh. The treks in the Solang sub-valley and Kullu-Jogindernagar are easy and short. Hamta Pass, Chandra Tal, Chanderkhani and Tos Nala trek are some of the hard treks. The trek to Pin-Parbati Pass is long and strenuous.

Kullu has the most pleasant climate all throughout the year, but the ideal season time is from September to May.

Manali

Manali in the Beas valley is one of the most visited hill stations of the State. This is a stunning hill station surrounded by massive snow clad mountains and thick pinewood forests. Manali has the twisty Beas River as its magnificent centerpiece. The place is located at an altitude of 2,025 m above sea level. This hill station is placed between the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar mountain ranges. There are a number of shrines and is known for its fairs and festivals. The main tourist here are the Beas Kund, Chandrakhani Pass, Rohtang Pass, Solang Valley, Parvati Valley and Vashisht village. This is popularly known as ‘the queen of valleys’.

The hill station offers exceptional chances in mountaineering, trekking, skiing, river rafting, zorbing and Himalayan Caravan adventure. The popular treks from here are Chandrakhani - Malana trail, Beas Kund Trek and Bhrigu Lake Trek. Travellers can also go for nature walk to enjoy the scenic beauty of the hill station.

The local food here includes dishes made of locally grown cereals and vegetables. Milk and milk products also dominate the food habits of the local people.

The best season time here is the summer vacation season when many people and families travel to this place. This is also a perfect honeymoon destination.

Dharmasala

Dharamshala is a beautiful hill station located in the upper reaches of the Kangra valley in the State. The place is located at an average altitude of 1,475 meters above sea level. The city is surrounded a thick cover of deodar cedar trees and the grand Dhauladhar ranges. There are many temples, churches and monasteries, museums, ancient towns and places of natural beauty here that attracts thousands of travellers from all over the world. This is one of the major strong holds for the Tibetan refugees and the seat of the 14th dalai lama of the Tibetan sect of Buddhism. Due to the presence of Dalai Lama thousands of international tourists visit here every year. The main tourist attractions here are McLeod Ganj, Masrur, Kangra Museum, Kangra Fort, Dal Lake, and Namgyal Monastery.

The best season time in Dharmashala is the summer season from March to June. Dharamshala has some of the best trekking trails for trekking enthusiasts. You can also go for a leisurely walk through the tea gardens near Kunal Pathri temple.

Mcleodganj

Mcleodganj is a beautiful hill station near Dharmashala. Mcleodganj is also known as ‘Little Lhasa’ because of its large population of Tibetans. The main inhabitants of the place are the Gaddis, a tribal group. The hill station is located at a height of 2,082 m in the Dhauladhar Range of mountains. The main tourist attractions here are Bhagsu Waterfalls, Tsug La Khang, Tibet Museum, Triund, Dharamkot, St. John’s Church, and the Tibetan Children’s Village.

Adventure enthusiasts can go for trekking from the hill station to Triund. The best season time here is between March and June and between middle of September and November.

There are many holiday homes in Himachal Pradesh such as resorts, holiday cottages, guest houses, and homestays ensuring a comfortable stay of the travellers as well as also providing assistance to explore the Himalayas, explore the culture inorder to make the trip memorable.