Embellished with sky touching snow dressed peaks, steeped splendid gorges, flower beds and lush meadows, Indian hill stations are nothing less than a paradise on earth. In addition to the gifts of Mother Nature, the hill stations of India are also acknowledged for preserving the treasure of cultural heritage. The top 10 Indian hill stations that unfold the secrets of scenic beauty, tranquility, historical monuments and sacred destinations are mentioned below.

Dalhousie

Named after the British Governor General of India, Dalhousie is one of the most famous hill stations nestled in Himachal Pradesh. Dalhousie is blessed with a plethora of natural beauty. The Dainkund peak, Panch Pulla, Satdhara falls and Khajjiar Lake are some of the best places to explore the astounding splendor of the hill station. Further, Dalhousie not only serves the treat for nature lovers, but also gifts serenity to pilgrims. There are various beautiful shrines devoted to different religions, to name a few are Chamunda Devi Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Harriyara Temple, St. John’s Church and Church of Scotland. Thus, Dalhousie is regarded as a perfect place to witness the charm of incredible India.

Darjeeling

Timber, tea and tourism are the three main aspects that fetch recognition for Darjeeling. Located in West Bengal, Darjeeling has various ancient monuments that unfold the historical pages of this hill station. The Morgan House, Galingka and Crocket stand as the model of British architecture preserved in Darjeeling. Further, being crowned by various mountain ranges including world’s third highest peak – Kanchenjunga, Darjeeling is one of the most popular hill stations in India. There are various wildlife sanctuaries, tea estates, flower beds and gardens that compliment the beauty of the place. In addition to this, there are several monasteries and temples that depict the true colors of culture at Darjeeling.

Kullu

Kullu is among the best places to unleash the real adventure amidst the lofty Himachal Himalayas. Trekking and river rafting are the two popular adventure activities that one can experience at this hill station. It’s not just adventure that contributes to Kullu tourism; there are various holy temples that are visited by the tourists. Raghunath Temple, Bijli Mahadev Temple and Hanogi Mata Temple are a few known shrines of Kullu. Further, the Great Himalayan National Park serves as a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. There is a blend of various things that one can taste at the potpourri of this hill station of Himachal.

Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar is better known as the ‘queen of hill stations’ in Maharashtra. Embracing five stunning rivers, Mahabaleshwar is a gift of Mother Nature. There are various sunset and sunrise points, waterfalls, lakes and some other renowned spots that offer the picture perfect sight of the scenic beauty residing in every nook and corner of this hilly area. Further, with various forts like Morarji Castle and Mount Malcolm that reflect the essences of British architecture, Mahabaleshwar serves as a paradise for archeologists. The famous Mahabaleshwar Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva is another star that charms the visitors here.

Missouri

Mussoorie is one of the most popular hill stations in India. Cuddled up in the beautiful foothills of Uttarakhand, Mussoorie is known for preserving the unspoiled view of the nature. The Gun Hill, Kempty Falls, Cloud’s End, Lal Tibba, Mussoorie Lake and Jharipani Falls are a few spots that offer a treat to the eyes of tourists. Being blessed with a unique landscape that embraces various snow-clad peaks, it is among the best places to enjoy adventure activities like paragliding and trekking. In addition to this, the Tibetan Buddhist Temple and Jwala Devi Temple are some of the sacred destinations that attract pilgrims to this hill point of Uttarakhand.

Mount Abu

Mount Abu or the ‘oasis in desert’ is the only hill station in Rajasthan. It is the simplicity of the place that attracts greatest number of tourists here. Sunset point, Guru Shikhar and Nakki Lake are the three most prominent attractions that cuddle the natural beauty. Further, Mount Abu is also referred as Dev Bhumi owing to various splendid shrines. The Adhar Devi Temple devoted to Goddess Durga and the Dilwara Temples that are the most famous five Jain shrines, receive due homage from visitors here. In addition to this, the Achalgarh fortserves as another feather in the hat of Mount Abu tourism.

Nainital

Nainital or better known as the ‘lake district’ of India has various mythological tales associated with it. As per the legends, the famous lake of Nainital is regarded as the ‘Tri-Rishi-Sarovar’ as it is believed that three ancient sages – Atri, Pulstya and Pulaha, dug a large hole and formed the lake by bringing the water from the sacred Mansarovar river of Tibet. Another, religious belief says that the eye of Goddess Sati fell at Nainital and thus it is regarded as one of the 64 Shakti Peeth worshiped in India. Further, it is not just the religious worth of the place, but also the scenic beauty offered by the majestic mountains of Uttarakhand that work as a crowd puller.

Shillong

Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya has driven its name from the deity Shyllong. Various waterfalls and lakes form the main tourist attraction here. Some of the famous waterfalls to name are Elephant Falls, Sweet Falls, Beadon Falls and Crinoline Falls. In addition to this, this hill station is crowned with the magnificent Shillong Peak that stands as the highest point of the city. Further, the golf courses and the Iewduh Market are the must to visit areas of the place.

Simla

Located amidst the splendor of Himachal Pradesh, Simla is among the most visited hill stations in India. There are various places within the periphery of this hill town that unfold the historical and cultural pages. The Nalagarh Palace, Diwan-i-Khas, Arki Palace, Chail Palace and Viceregal Lodge are some of the major places that allow the visitors to explore the heritage of this hill station. In addition to this, with the Chail and Manjathal wildlife sanctuaries it also serves as one of the top place to spot exotic fauna and flora species.

Srinagar

Srinagar, the city of romance and beauty is the capital of Jammu & Kashmir. It is the shikara (boat house) sailing in the Dal Lake that earns most popularity for Srinagar. However, the shikara and Dal Lake alone can’t be recognized for attracting tourism to the state; there are various other alluring lakes and enchanting gardens that draw visitors. The Mughal Garden and the Shalimar Bagh are the top most fascinations to fall on the way. Further, the state also possesses religious value and embraces several temples. To name a few are Shankarachraya Temple, Hazratbal Mosque, Jamia Masjid and Dastgir Sahib Shrine.

The splendor and serenity offered by the hill stations attracts thousands of tourists and thus give considerably to India tourism.These hill stations have everything from sightseeing, to adventure to pilgrim destinations; therefore it would not be wrong to put that they portray the true colors of India.

Author-Jessica is traveler cum blogger, she likes to travel different destinations over the globe. Here she is sharing useful information about top incredible hill stations in India.