Darjeeling

Its summer time and people have already started to make plans to escape from heat waves. There is no dearth of tourist places in India but some of them, over the time have witnessed huge rush. This can be a turn-off for tourists who prefer to rest in peace and tranquility. One such tourist destination that despite being hugely popular, still offers you a wonderful opportunity to make the most of your vacation time is Darjeeling. Located in the Shivalik hills on the lower range of the Himalayas, it is an amazingly beautiful place.

Situated in the culturally rich state of West Bengal, Darjeeling is a mesmerizing hill resort. Darjeeling first came into prominence when British used it as their summer resort during the colonial era. This quaint travel destination is not just popular among the Indian tourists but also frequently visited by the foreigners. The place is quite popular for its tea plantation. Exported to numerous countries all over the world, its ‘Muscatel Tea’ has always been in huge demand.

There are number of places one must visit in Darjeeling. The place will always impress you with its spectacular scenery, exotic flora and fauna, lush greenery and rolling slopes. Tiger hill is perhaps the most famous place in Darjeeling. One can have a bewitching view of sunrise and sunset standing atop the hill. If you are lucky, you can have a view of Mount Everest as well.

Ghoom is basically a small hillock in Darjeeling that houses one of the most popular monasteries of the hill resort, Ghoom Gompa. A visit to Darjeeling cannot be completed without having a look at its tea gardens. Apart for that, one can visit Observatory Hill that is supposed to be the oldest site in this part of land, Chowrasta for shopping activities, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park to discover the rich wildlife of Himalayas and museums.

Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal is one of the popular hill stations in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. When you feel like describing this place, words like ‘beauty and tranquility’ will immediately come to your mind. Located amidst the lush Pali hills, the place is sheer magic. You will be mesmerized with the enormous rocks, twisty lake, forested slopes and cascading waterfalls of the Kodaikanal. It is situated at an altitude of approximately 2133 m and standing on the top of the hill you can truly enjoy the true magnificence of the valley.

Kodaikanal truly represents the grandeur associated with a hill station. Large number of tourists visits this place every year. Kodaikanal is also known for housing reputed educational institutions. There are several places to see in this popular hill station. Right from beautiful parks, soothing lakes to historical museum and massive rock, you can rejoice inherent charm of every facet of nature.

Bryant Park is located on the eastern side of Kodaikanal Lake. Founded by a British Army Officer named Mr. Bryant, this park is basically a botanical garden. You will come across bewitching assortment of various species of flowers. An annual horticulture show is also organized in the park.

The most popular tourist attraction of Kodaikanal is its Lake which is situated right in the middle of the town. You can do plenty of activities here like horse riding, boating, a stroll and indulge in picnic as well.

Kurinji Andavar Temple is another frequently visited place here. Dedicated to Lord Muruga (God of Hill), the temple has been built in Pallava style and is located just 3 km from the Kodaikanal Lake. There are plenty more places worth visiting like Pillar rocks, Astrophysical observatory, Dolphin’s Nose and Coaker's Walk and finally Flora museum.

Manali Tourist Attractions

The northern state of Himachal Pradesh is full of scenic places. Manali is one of those picturesque locations in the state that pulls thousands of visitors every year. Situated amidst the scintillating view of Kullu Valley, Manali is one place every travel loving person would prefer to visit. Manali is an ideal hill station. One will have magnificent views of wooded slopes, soaring peaks, blooming orchards and flowering valleys. Adventure sports lovers will always have one extra reason to visit this place. Manali has wonderful facilities for skiing, paragliding, mountaineering and river rafting etc.

The city also has Beas river that passes through the heart of the town. Tourists with religious inclinations can also witness magnificent temples and monasteries of the place. The beauty of the place is further accentuated by shade of deodar and pine trees. There are several places one can visit in Manali. 3 major temples are Manu temples, Hadimba temple and Vashisht springs and temples.

Manu temple is located in old Manali and one has to cross slippery stone paths to reach there. No less than an adventurous journey! Hadimba temple is definitely one of the most popular tourist attractions in Manali. It is a four storey wooden temple located in the forested areas of Dhungiri Van Vihar.

If you are visiting Manali, you can not afford to miss Tibetan Monasteries. The famous ones are Thekchoking Gompa, which is situated around the bottom of ‘The Mall’ and Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa. The Mall refers to main market of Manali that houses several shops selling traditional Tibetan, Himachali and Kashmiri handicrafts. Other popular places to visit are the club house, Arjun Gufa and Nehru Kund.

Dharamsala

Today we will cover the picturesque place of Dharamsala. Located in the beautiful Northern state of Himachal Pradesh, it has been very popular amongst the tourists. The place has been famous for a peaceful environment, snow-capped mountains and cascading waterfalls. Dharamsala ranks very high amongst the popular hill stations of india. A tourist is bound to be bewitched with pine covered hills, deodar forests and steep valleys of this magnificent place. Dharamsala is located at the foothills of the Dhauladhar ranges. Actually, this place is divided into two parts of Upper Dharamshala also knonw as McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala which is primarily a commercial centre.

Dharamsala is famous in world because of its being the seat of exiled Tibetan leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. You will find numerous monasteries and monks here. And with monasteries come the images and sounds of enchanting bells. This hill station is an ideal place for someone who is seeking solitude, peace and tranquility.

There are many must-visit places in Dharamsala. Topping the list is Namgyal Monastery that is also the acting residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Buddhist pilgrims love this place for obvious reasons. McLeodganj or Upper Dharamshala is another wonderful place to visit. This place hosts several monasteries and Tibetan schools and is also referred as 'Little Lhasa of India'. Spiritually inclined people get the much needed tranquility in McLeodganj.

Other tempting places that deserve to be visited are, Church of St. John In The Wilderness, Tsuglagkhang which is basically a shrine, Norbulingka Institute that is a treasure trove of art and culture of Tibet, Triund, Dip Thekchen Choeling Monastery, and Chamunda Devi.

Nainital

North India is blessed with a hill station named Nainital. Situated in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand, Nainital will simply mesmerize you. The place is rich with natural beauty and dazzling almond shaped lakes. Nainital is at an altitude of 1938 meters and located in the Kumaon foothills of the Himalayas. Also known as ‘Lake Paradise’, the place is richly abundant with gifts of nature. Its enchanting panorama forces travelers to come here again and again. Nainital is one of the most visited placed in North India where visitors come to get a perfect retreat.

Nainital has several beautiful tourist attractions. One of the popular one is Naini peak which is also the highest peak in this hill station. It stands at an altitude of 2611 meters and is also known as China peak. One can have breathtaking view of the entire Himalayan range from Naini peak. The real beauty of Nainital is truly reflected in famous Naini Lake. The most frequently visited place in Nainital, the lake is surrounded by lofty hills and wonderful villas and cottages. Naini Lake looks magnificent during night when pristine water plays around with numbers of lights hanging on the edges. One can indulge in paddling, yachting and boating in the lake.

There are several other tourist attractions to explore. For those with religious inclinations can always visit Hanuman Garhi. One can also visit to Snow View which is a popular hill top. Astronomical Observatory is another place where you can witness amazing astronomical wonders. Finally, one must visit high altitude wildlife sanctuary that houses fascinating creatures.

Dalhousie

One of the popular tourist destinations in north India is Dalhousie. Situated in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie is a quiet and serene hill station. It attracts thousands of visitors every year who flock to Dalhousie to get relief from the hustle-bustle of city life. This beautiful place is spread over five hills at the western edge of the Dhauladhar range of mountains. The five hills are, Potreyn, Kathlog, Bakrots, Balun and Tehra. Apart from the magnificent scenic beauty offered by the place it is also a major attraction for its architecture of the colonial era. British Governor General Lord Dalhousie established this place in 1854. The famous Chamba valley of Himachal Pradesh is entered through Dalhousie only.

Dalhousie will mesmerize you with its scenic beauty, pine covered slopes, enchanting views and snow capped mountains. This place is a deadly combination of colonial architecture beauty and nature’s best views. The architectural beauty is well manifested in forms of beautiful buildings and low roofed stalls. Spread over an area of over 14 sq.kms, this hill station has several amazing tourist attractions.

Some popular tourist attractions in Dalhousie are, Khajjar, Bakrota Hills, the St. Francis Church and Dainkund. Apart from these names, one can also visit Kalatope, a wildlife sanctuary and number of temples and churches spread over the hill station. Dalhousie will give you that old world charm that is very fascinating. If you are seeking peace and calmness then Dalhousie is the place you should visit.