Top 5 Indian Hill Stations

Away from the heat of the plains India's hill stations offer a welcome relief from the heat of the Indian summer. These mountain towns, which acted as a summer retreat for the british during the time of the Raj, often feel like another world entirely as british architecture meets Indian culture. A tour of India is not complete without a visit to one of these truly unique locations

Shimla: Once the British capital of the Indian summer, and now the capital of Himichal Pradesh, Shimla offers a truly unique experience to anyone enjoying a holiday in India. Its quaint square and impressive church provide a fascinating insight into the life of the British during their period of rule in India. For a truly breath-taking and unique experience visitors have the option of riding the train from Shimla to Kalka passing through the foothills of the Himalaya. See our tours in Shimla.

Manali: A hill station with a twist, situated In Himachal Pradesh this Himalayan Gem has become famous for both its beauty as well as the abundance of outdoor activities which take place here. Enjoy a full days skiing, paragliding or hiking in the summer months, before returning to your colonial era hotel for afternoon tea. There certainly aren't many places in the world where you can do both of these things in one day, making Manali a truly unique holiday destination. See our tours in Manali.

Dharamsala: Although there is no doubt that Dharamsala and the surrounding area is worth a visit in its own right, the key pull factor to this colonial mountain town is that it is home to the Dalai Lama. Every year thousands of tourists flock to Dharamsala's cobbled streets in the hope of hearing some pearls of wisdom from the spiritual leader of the Buddhist faith. See our tours in Dharamsala.

Darjeeling: Nestled in the Mountains of West Bengal Darjeeling is perhaps the best known of India's Hill stations. Visitors can catch the "toy train" from Siliguiri junction (some 2000m below Darjeeling) which follows the winding mountain road until it arrives at Darjeeling's quintessentially English Train station. With breath taking views of Kanchenjunga (the world's third highest mountain), some of the best tea in the world, an English style village green and some truly beautiful architecture, no tour of India is complete without a visit to Darjeeling. See our tours in Darjeeling.

Gulmarg: Situated in the northern state of Jammu & Kashmir Gulmarg is certainly an adventurous, yet rewarding destination. In the winter the valley becomes India's primary skiing location whilst the summer sees a truly breath-taking bloom of flowers throughout the valley, which is how Gulmarg earned its title "Meadow of Flowers".