MOUNTAIN VACATIONS IN INDIA

Mountain Vacations

India, as we know has something to offer to all her tourists-whether they are youngsters looking for fun filled holiday or adults who prefer a quiet holiday in a calm and serene environment. Admirers of natural beauty find in India a perfect destination for their vacations- hill stations. Stretching across 2500 kms across the breadth of the subcontinent, the Himalayan are home to numerous appealing and popular hillstations. Apart from the Himalayas, other mountain ranges like the Vindhyas, the Satpura, the Sahyadri, the Aravali and the Nilgiris also house beautiful hillstations.

Shimla
Situated in the north-west Himalayas ,Shimla the capital of Himachal Pradesh is one of the most admired and visited hill stations of India. Known as the ‘Queen of hills’, Shimla is not only amazingly beautiful but it also offers its tourists the required facilities and comfort. Since Shimla is connected with the rest of the country by airways, railways and roadways, it is easier for tourists to reach here without any hassels. The best way to enjoy the beauty of this erstwhile summer capital of the British( in India) is to board ‘Kalka-Shimla’ train. This train passes through the forested hills where tourists can view the charming landscape of Shimla. Apart from natural beauty, Shimla is also a fovourite with tourists interested in shopping. Textiles, garments, handicraft items are immensely popular with the tourists.
Shimla also offers an opportunity for adventure sports. From leisurely walks to closeby places to steep climbing, adventurous tourists will find Shimla full of new discoveries. One of the most interesting destination is the Jakhoo hills which is located at an altitude of 2455m and allows a complete view of the charming hill station. There are other areas like the villages of Pabo and Kamiana, a visit to which require a longer trek to be undertaken( however a guide is essential for such treks). The summer festival of Shimla is a major source of entertainment. Tourists come in huge numbers to participate in the celebration and the festivity of the carnival and enjoy themselves.

Nanital
Situated at an altitude of 1938m, Nanital provides a perfect place for people fatigued by the mad rush of the city life.Believed to have derived its name from the goddess Naina, Nainital charms innumerable tourists throughout the year. Reaching Nanital is also easy because it is well connected by air, rails and roads. Nanital offers alluring beauty that tourists relish. A major source of attraction in Nanital is the Naini Lake also referred to as the Tririshi Lake. This lake is dedicated to Goddess Naini and and charms people with its pristine beauty. Tourists can also enjoy a boat ride in this beautiful lake.Other places worth visiting in Nanital includes the famous temple dedicated to Goddess Naini, Cheena Peak or the Naina Peak( for a breathtaking view of the hill station), the Hanumangarh temple and the St. John Church.
Nanital holds annual feativals like the Kumaon festival that not only provides wholesome entertainment to its tourists but also allows them to understand the local culture and traditions. There ais also a festival dedicated to the Goddess Naini. For shoppers, Nanital offers handloom products, Kumaon woollens well known for their warmth. Locally made candles also delight shoppers with their colors and designs. For the lovers of adventure sports, The annual yacht race in the Naini lakr provides excellent opportunity.

Darjeeling
Darjeeling is situated at 2134m above sea level and faces the gigantic peak of Kunchanjunga .The spectacular beauty of this hill station often leaves its visitors speechless. Tourists can reach Darjeeling by air, rail and road. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra and the nearest railhead is at Siliguri and Jalpaiguri.
The major spots for a tourist to visit in Darjeeling are Ghoom,the Yiga Choeling monastery( known for its images of Maitreya Buddha and palmleaf Tibetan manuscript), the Museum of Natural History, Lloyd Botanical Garden, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and the Dhirdam Temple. Darjeeling also offers the longest ropeway ride in Asia to its tourists. For shoppers woollen clothes, souvenirs,wood and leather items are the best pickups.
Darjeeling is also home to the famous Himalyan Mountaineering Institute established in 1954 by Jawaharlal Nehru.Tenzing Norgay trained many aspiring mountaineering in this institute. Hence Rock Climbing offers an exciting opportunity to adventure tourists.
The beauty of Darjeeling enchants its visitors and forces them to make another visit and explore it even better.

Shillong
A divinely beautiful hillstation in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, Shillong is one of the most visted hill stations in India. Due to its striking resemblance to Scottish Highlands.,Shillong is lovingly referred to as the ‘Scotland of the East’. Guwahati is the nearest railhead of Shillong that is also connected by air to Kolkata, Silichar ,Delhi and Aizwal (apart from Guwahati). The road to Guwahati connects Shillong throughout the year.
Tourists coming to Shillong find numerous destinations to visit, prominent among which are the Shillong Peak (the highest point in the state that offers a sweeping view of the entire hill station), Wards Lake, Botanical Garden, State museum, Elephant Falls and the Spread Falls. For sport lovers there is an 18 holes golf course which attracts numerous visitors. Shillong is also a perfect place for trekking where tourists come across not only beautiful places but also rare flora and fauna.
Shillong is a colourful place with a number of festivals being celebrated throughout the year. Annual boating competition, Food festival, Archery competition, Flower festival are just a few annual festival that add to the beauty of this already charming hillstation. An Unforgettable journey to an amazing hillstation is high on the list of tourists visiting India.

Munnar
Munnar is a beautiful hillstation in the Idukki distsict of Kerala. The word Munnar literally means three rivers and in reality also three streams join in this place . The relaxing beauty of Munnar has been attracting people for a long time now. The British officials of South India found Munnar a perfect place to unwind and even now tourists come from far away to enjoy the serene beauty of this hill station. The nearest airport and railway stations are at Kochi which is 130 Km away. The easiest route to reach Munnar by road is from Ernakulam which is about 135km and takes about 4 hours. The best time to visit Munnar is between October to May when it is not raining heavily. There are atleast 30 tea plantations in and around Munnar that hugely enhances the greenery and beauty of the place. Apart from tea plantations tourists can also visit the Blossom International Park which is famous for its 1000 feet long fountain . Other place around Munnar worth visiting are Mattupetti known for its highly specialised dairy farm, the Mattupetti Lake and dam; Attukal and Nyayamakad with their astonishingly beautiful waterfalls and Pallivasal(the site for first hydro electric project in Kerala).
Adventure tourism in Munnar offers another incentive to the tourists. The beauty of Munnar is breathtaking and a visit to this hill station a pleasant experience.