Top 10 Hill Stations in India you must visit

New Delhi: With the highest mountain ranges in the world, the Himalayas, running north to east, Aravalli and Vindhya ranges across western and central India, and Western ghats in western and southern parts, India is full of hill stations and offers some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. Indian hill stations are a traveler's paradise, gifted with snowy peaks, deep gorges, green valleys, misty woods, frothing rivers, azure lakes and flower-filled meadows. Here's a list of top 10 hill stations of India. Shimla Shimla, formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, located in northern India. It is bounded by Mandi and Kullu in the north, Kinnaur in the east, the state of Uttarakhand in the south-east, and Solan and Sirmaur to the south. Shimla is well known as a hub for India's tourism sector. Make the best of the ice-skating rink at Shimla.OotyUdhagamandalam sometimes abbreviated Udhagai and better known as Ooty, is a town, a municipality, and the district capital of the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. It is located 80 km north of Coimbatore. It is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills. The town is connected to the rest of India by road and rail, and its historic sites and natural beauty attract tourists.Darjeeling and Gangtok Darjeeling is a popular tourist destination, it is located in the Mahabharat Range or Lesser Himalaya at an average elevation of 6,710 ft (2,045.2 m). It is noted for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whereas Gangtok is located in the eastern Himalayan range, at an altitude of 5,800 feet (1,800 m). Nestled within higher peaks of the Himalaya and enjoying a year-round mild temperate climate, Gangtok is at the centre of Sikkim's tourism industry.Mussoorie Mussoorie is located about 35 km from the state capital of Dehradun and 290 km north from the national capital of New Delhi. This hill station, situated in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, is also known as the Queen of the Hills. It provides a gorgeous view of the snow-covered Himalayas.Kodaikanal Kodaikanal is a city in the hills of the taluk division of the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. Its name in the Tamil language means "The Gift of the Forest".Kodaikanal is referred to as the "Princess of Hill stations" and has a long history as a retreat and popular tourist destination.Dehradun Dehradun is located in the Doon Valley on the foothills of the Himalayas nestled between two of India's mightiest rivers - the Ganges on the east and the Yamuna on the west. The city is famous for its picturesque landscape and pleasant climate and provides a gateway to the surrounding region. It is well connected and in proximity to popular Himalayan tourist destinations such as Mussoorie, Nainital and Auli and the Hindu holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh along with the Himalayan pilgrimage circuit of Char Dham.Kullu and ManaliKullu is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about ten kilometres north of the airport at Bhuntar.Kullu is a broad open valley formed by the Beas river between Manali and Largi. This valley is famous for its beauty and its majestic hills covered with Pine and Deodar Forest and sprawling Apple Orchards.Manali in the Beas River Valley is a hill station nestled in the mountains near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. The small town is the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and from there over the Karakoram Pass on to Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin.Srinagar Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in the Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus.The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits.Mount Abu Mount Abu is a popular hill station in the Aravalli Range in Sirohi district of Rajasthan. The mountain forms a distinct rocky plateau 22 km long by 9 km wide. The highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar. It is referred to as 'an oasis in the desert' as its heights are home to rivers, lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests.Shillong Shillong is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district and is situated at an average altitude of 4,908 feet (1,496 m) above sea level. It is said that the rolling hills around the town reminded the European settlers of Scotland. Hence, Shillong is known as "Scotland of the East."