List of hill stations in India explained

Hill stations are high-altitude towns for recreation, enjoyment and used as a place of refuge to escape the blistering heat in India during summertime. As India is a vast country with limited amounts of the coastal area most of its towns and districts face continental type of climate with summer being very hot so hill stations (as situated on high altitude due to which it faces low temperature) becomes a spot to escape such hot and humid conditions.

The Indian subcontinent has seven principal mountain ranges and the largest of all is the Himalayas that lies in the northern part of India. The famous peaks and ranges include the Kangchenjunga range in the Eastern Himalayas which frames the hill stations of Darjeeling and Gangtok as well as the Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand. The Shivalik range that also lies within the same region also has some famous hill stations that include Mussoorie, Drass, Dalhousie, Kullu, Shimla, Nainital and many more.[1]

Most hill stations in India were developed by the British around a central mall to get respite from the oppressive summer heat. Many have picturesque lakes as their focal point, making them excellent places for boating activities.

Most hill stations in India are located in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya in the Himalayas and in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu in Western ghats.[2] Some are located in Eastern ghats of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal. Some of the hill stations in India are listed below by state.

Since a number of these hill stations attract large numbers of tourists in summer as well as other times of the year, they are well connected by rail, road, and air services to major Indian cities.

History

Nandi Hills was developed by Ganga Dynasty in 11th century.[3] [4] It was also used by Tipu Sultan (1751 - 1799) as a summer retreat.[5]

Hill stations in British India were established for a variety of reasons. After the revolt of 1857 the "British sought further distance from what they saw as a "disease-ridden" land by escape to the Himalayas in the north and Nilgiri Hills in the south", a pattern which started even before 1857. Other factors included anxieties about the dangers of life in India, among them "fear of degeneration brought on by too long residence in a debilitating land." The hill stations were meant to reproduce the home country, illustrated in Lord Lytton's statement about Ootacamund, in the 1870s, "such beautiful English rain, such delicious English mud."[6] Shimla was officially made the "summer capital of India" in the 1860s and hill stations "served as vital centers of political and military power, especially after the 1857 revolt."[7]

Dane Kennedy, following Monika Bührlein, identifies three stages in the evolution of hill stations in India: high refuge to hill station, and hill station to town. The first settlements started in the 1820s, primarily as sanitoria. In the 1840s and 1850s, there was a wave of new hill stations, with the main impetus being "places to rest and recuperate from the arduous life on the plains". In the second half of the 19th century, there was a period of consolidation with few new hill stations. In the final phase, "hill stations reached their zenith in the late nineteenth century. The political importance of the official stations was underscored by the inauguration of large and costly public-building projects."

Siddharth Pandey analyses the femininity often ascribed to Indian hills stations, in their nomenclature (such as 'the Queen of hills', as claimed by Shimla, Ooty, and several other hill stations) as well as the visual aesthetic of their landscapes. He argues that compared to the 'terrifying, sublime landscape' of the high Himalayan peaks and ridges, the hill stations have a gentler aspect, manageable and conducive for domestication. With ideas of domesticity having been traditionally associated with the feminine and household spheres, hill stations, which were developed by the colonialists as 'homes away from home', acquired over time a sense of being feminine, in terms of both their natural as well as their architectural beauty.[8]

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andhra Pradesh hill stations

PlaceDistrict
Araku ValleyVisakhapatnam
ChintapalleVisakhapatnam
Horsley HillsChittoor
LambasingiVisakhapatnam
PaderuVisakhapatnam
Papi HillsEast Godavari and West Godavari
Sri SailamKurnool
TirumalaChittoor
GuntaseemaVishakapatnam
SalurVizianagaram
MaredumilliEast Godavari
MothugudemKhammam and East Godavari
ChinturEast Godavari
RajavommangiEast Godavari
DoranalaPrakasam
GiddalurPrakasam
DonkarayiEast Godavari
SileruVishakapatnam
RampachodavaramEast Godavari
Cumbum hillsPrakasam
NekkantiPrakasam
ChinthalaPrakasam
ArdhaveeduPrakasam
PeddarutlaPrakasam
KilladaSrikakulam
SeedhiSrikakulam
GuddamVizianagaram
KuneruVizianagaram
ChaparaiEast Godavari
PolluruEast Godavari
PamuleruEast Godavari
MusuruEast Godavari
GurteduEast Godavari
KamavaramWest Godavari
KoruteruWest Godavari
KoidaWest Godavari
TekuruWest Godavari
DoramamidiWest Godavari
DengamVishakapatnam
DarakondaVishakapatnam
PaderuVishakapatnam
PanasaVishakapatnam
PitakotaVishakapatnam
KudumuluVishakapatnam
PeddavalasaVishakapatnam
BasulaVishakapatnam
TulamVishakapatnam
BakuruVishakapatnam
BorraVishakapatnam
GauthamVishakapatnam
VayyaVishakapatnam
SundipentaKurnool
VanjangiAlluri Sitharama Raju

Arunachal Pradesh

PlaceDistrict
AlongWest Siang
BomdilaWest Kameng
KhonsaTirap
RoingLower Dibang Valley
TawangTawang
ZiroLower Subansiri

Assam

PlaceDistrict
HaflongDima Hasao
HamrenWest Karbi Anglong
JatingaDima Hasao
MaibangDima Hasao
UmrangsoDima Hasao

Bihar

PlaceDistrict
Gurpa HillsGaya, India
Rajgir hillsNalanda, India
Bateshwar hillsBhagalpur,India
Kaimur RangeRohtas,India

Chhattisgarh

PlaceDistrict
Akash NagarDantewada
Amarkantak Lapha hillBilaspur
ChirmiriKoriya
MainpatSurguja

Gujarat

PlaceDistrict
AhwaDang
AwalaBanaskantha
BardipadaDang
DediyapadaNarmada
GarviDang
GirnarJunagadh
JunarajNarmada
KapasiyaBanaskantha
KarazaBanaskantha
KhobaValsad
KoshmalDang
MahalDang
NilosiValsad
PalitanaBhavnagar
SaputaraDang
SubirDang
SutharpadaValsad
Wilson HillsValsad

Haryana

Dhoshi -haryana

Himachal Pradesh

PlaceDistrict
BarogSolan
BarotMandi
ChailSolan
ChambaChamba
ChitkulKinnaur
DalhousieChamba
DharamshalaKangra
KalpaKinnaur
KasolKullu
KhajjiarChamba
KufriShimla
KulluKullu
ManaliKullu
MashobraShimla
NarkandaShimla
PalampurKangra
Reckong PeoKinnaur
RohtangKullu
ShimlaShimla
TriundKangra
TattapaniMandi

Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir regionJammu region
PlaceDistrictPlaceDistrict
AruAnantnagBhaderwah
DoodhpathriBudgamLal DramanDoda
GulmargBaramullaPatnitopUdhampur
PahalgamAnantnagJantroon DharDoda
SonamargGanderbalLal DramanDoda
SrinagarSrinagarBhal PadriDoda
TosamaidanBudgamBimal NagKishtwar
YusmargBudgam

Jharkhand

PlaceDistrict
MeghahatuburuWest Singhbhum
NetarhatLatehar
PatratuRamgarh
McCluskieganjRanchi

Karnataka

PlaceDistrict
AgumbeShimoga
Baba BudangiriChikkamagaluru
Biligiriranga HillsChamarajanagar
ChikkamagaluruChikmagalur
CharmadiDakshina Kannada and Chikkamagaluru
DandeliUttara Kannada
DevimaneUttara Kannada
HulikalShimoga
JogShimoga
JogimattiChitradurga
JamalabadDakshina Kannada
KemmangundiChikkamagaluru
KodachadriShivamogga
KudremukhChikkamagaluru
KoppaChikkamagaluru
KushalnagarKodagu
MadhugiriMadhugiri
MadikeriKodagu
Male Mahadeshwara HillsChamarajanagara
MudigereChikkamagaluru
MullayanagiriChikkamagaluru
Nandi HillsChikkaballapur
PushpagiriDakshina Kannada, Hassan and Kodagu
SakleshpurHassan
SirsiUttara Kannada
SomwarpetKodagu
SkandagiriChikkaballapura
VirajpetKodagu

Kerala

PlaceDistrict
AchenkovilPathnamthitta
AgaliPalakkad
AgasthiyamalaiThiruvananthapuram
Ambanad HillsKollam
AmbalavayalWayanad
Arimbra Hills, MalappuramMalappuram
AnakkampoyilKozhikode
AnchuruliIdukki
AralamKannur
AnakkaraIdukki
AmbooriThiruvananthapuram
AryankavuKollam
AthirapallyThrissur
AyyampuzhaErnakulam
AyyankunnuWayanad
Banasura HillWayanad
Bison ValleyIdukki
BonacaudThiruvananthapuram
BrimoreThiruvananthapuram
ChadayamangalamKollam District
CharalkunnuPathanamthitta
ChathurangapparaIdukki
CheemeniKasargod
ChinnakanalIdukki
ChittarPathanamthitta
DevikulamIdukki
DharmathadkaKasargod
ElapeedikaKannur
ElapparaIdukki
EzhimalaKannur
GaviPathanamthitta
Ilaveezha PoonchiraIdukki
Illikkal KalluKotayam
IrittyKannur
KakkadampoyilKozhikode
KallarThiruvananthapuram
KalpettaWayanad
KambilikandamIdukki
KanthalloorIdukki
Karapuzha DamWayanad
KattappanaIdukki
KinnakoraiPalakkad
Kulamavu DamIdukki
KulathupuzhaKollam
KodanadErnakulam
KodikuthimalaMalappuram
KonniPathnamthitta
KoorachunduKozhikode
Kottancheri HillsKasaragod
Kottakkunnu Hill StationMalappuram
KottiyoorKannur District
KulathupuzhaKollam
KumilyIdukki
KuttampuzhaErnakulam
KuttikkanamIdukki
LakkidiWayanad
MadayiparaKannur
MalakkapparaThrissur
MalayatturErnakulam
MalomKasargod
MananthavadyWayanad
ManiyarPathanamthitta
MarayoorIdukki
MelukavuKotayam
MeppadiWayanad
MoolamattomIdukki
MundakayamKottayam
MunnarIdukki
MuthangaWayanad
NedumkandamIdukki District
NelliampathiPalakkad
PadavayalPalakkad
PainavuIdukki
Pakshi PathalamWayanad
PanchalimeduIdukki
ParambikulamPalakkad
ParunthumparaIdukki
PathanamthittaPathanamthitta
PeermadeIdukki
PeruvannamuzhiKozhikode
PonmudiThiruvananthapuram
PoomalaThrissur
PoonjarKottayam
RamakkalmeduIdukki
RanipuramKasaragod
RanniPathnamthitta
SanthanparaIdukki District
SeethathodePathanamthitta
Soordelu Hill StationKasargod
Sulthan BatheryWayanad
SuryanelliIdukki
TeekoyKotayam
ThattekkadErnakulam
ThekkadyIdukki
ThenmalaKollam
ThodupuzhaIdukki District
TirunelliWayanad
UdumbancholaIdukki
VagamonIdukki
VaithalmalaKannur
VandiperiyarIdukki
VaduvanchalWayanad
VandanmeduIdukki
VattavadaIdukki
VazhachalThrissur
VazhichalThiruvananthapuram
VellarimalaKozhikode
VithuraThiruvananthapuram
VythiriWayanad

Ladakh

PlaceDistrict
DrassKargil
KargilKargil
LehLeh

Madhya Pradesh

PlaceDistrict
AmarkantakAnuppur
PachmarhiNarmadapuram

Maharashtra

PlaceDistrict
AnturAurangabad
Amba ghatKolhapur
Ambenali hillsSatara and Raigad
AmboliSindhudurg
AmshiSatara
BambardeSindhudurg
BhandardaraAhmednagar
BhildariAurangabad
Bhor ghatsPune
BirmaniSatara
ChikhaldaraAmravati
DahelNandurbar
DandhariGondia
DarrekasaGondia
DeosurGadchiroli
FukeriSindhudurg
HatlotSatara
HirdoshiPune
HemalkasaGadchiroli
IgatpuriNashik
JamnyaJalgaon
JawharPalghar
JimalgattaGadchiroli
KaladgadAhmednagar
Kalavantin durgRaigad
KarjatRaigad
Karnala FortRaigad
KhandalaPune
KinjaleRatnagiri
KopelaGadchiroli
KuroshiSatara
LavasaPune
LonavalaPune
MahabaleshwarSatara
Malewada hillsGondia and Gadchiroli
Malshej GhatThane and Ahmednagar
MatheranRaigad
MhaismalAurangabad
NaneghatPune
NawajaSatara
PanchganiSatara
PofaliRatnagiri
PokurGadchiroli
RampurwadiAurangabad
RatangadAhmednagar
SaleghatNagpur
ShindiSatara
Tamhini GhatPune
TangalaChandrapur
ToranmalNandurbar
ThippaChandrapur
UchatSatara
ToranmalNandurbar
AsthambaNandurbar
Aamby Valley CityPune

Manipur

PlaceDistrict
ChandelChandel
ChurachandpurChurachandpur
KainaThoubal
KamjongKamjong
KangpokpiKangpokpi
NoneyNoney
PherzawlPherzawl
Sadar HillsKangpokpi
SenapatiSenapati
TamenglongTamenglong
TengnoupalTengnoupal
UkhrulUkhrul

Meghalaya

PlaceDistrict
CherrapunjeeEast Khasi Hills
DawkiWest Jaintia Hills
JowaiWest Jaintia Hills
MawlynnongEast Khasi Hills
MawsynramEast Khasi Hills
ShillongEast Khasi Hills
NongnahWest Khasi Hills

Mizoram

PlaceDistrict
ChamphaiChamphai
HmuifangAizawl District
LungleiLunglei
MamitMamit
ReiekAizawl District

Nagaland

PlaceDistrict
Dzüko ValleyKohima
KohimaKohima
PfütseroPhek

Odisha

PlaceDistrict
BanigochaNayagarh
Bolagarh hillsGajapati
BurakhatGajapati
DaringbadiKandhmal
DeomaliKoraput
DogandaMalkangiri
GopinathpurMayurbhanj
Gorumahisani hillsMayurbhanj
GumaRayagada
GurundiSundergarh
JakhamKalahandi
JirangaGajapati
JurundiMayurbhanj
KalimelaMalkangiri
Khairput hillsMalkangiri
KhajuraiGanjam
Khajurdihi RangeSundergarh
Khallikote hillsNayagarh
Khandapada hillsNayagarh
KiriburuKeonjhar
KoraputKoraput
LabangiAngul
LamberiRayagada
LulungMayurbhanj
MahulpatnaKalahandi
Parshuram KundaGanjam
PatelMalkangiri
PhulabaniKandhamal
Sukhuapata hillsBalasore
TensaSundergarh
MahendragiriGajapati
Malayagiri hillsAngul
NalaghatGajapati
NarayanpatnaKoraput
Niyamagiri hillsKalahandi and Rayagada
NuagadaGajapati
PampasarAngul
SagadaKalkandi
SerangaGajapati
SupaliMalkangiri
TikarpadaAngul

Rajasthan

PlaceDistrict
AkhiSirohi
GuradUdaipur
HundlaUdaipur
ManasiUdaipur
Mount AbuSirohi
NidhBaran
Seeta Mata hillsChittorgarh and Banswara
ShahabadBaran
TelniBaran

Sikkim

PlaceDistrict
DzulukEast Sikkim
GangtokEast Sikkim
GyalshingWest Sikkim
LachenNorth Sikkim
LachungNorth Sikkim
NamchiSouth Sikkim
PellingWest Sikkim
PhodongNorth Sikkim
RangpoEast Sikkim
RavanglaSouth Sikkim
SorengWest Sikkim
YuksomWest Sikkim
YumthangNorth Sikkim

Tamil Nadu

PlaceDistrict
AdukkamDindigul
AgastyamalaiTirunelveli
AgamalaiTheni
Aginda peakNilgiris
AlancholaiKannyakumari
AnaikattiCoimbatore
ArangamSalem
AravatlaVellore
Arasaradi hillsTheni
AttakattiCoimbatore
Azhwar MalaiKallakurichi
BellikkalNilgiris
BargurErode
BikkettiNilgiris
BodimettuTheni
Chinna KallarCoimbatore
CinkonaCoimbatore
ChinnarTiruppur
ConnoorNilgiris
CumbummettuTheni
CherambadiNilgiris
DevalaNilgiris
DevarsholaNilgiris
DottabettaNilgiris
Elamanam hillsTiruchirappalli
ElavadiSalem
Elumalai hillsMadhurai
Gangavalli hillsSalem and Tiruchirappalli
Germalam hillsErode
GudalurNilgris
GundriErode
GurumalaiTiruppur
GuthiyalathurErode
HuligalNilgiris
HullathyNilgiris
IttaraiErode
JanglapalliVellore
Palamathi hillsVellore
Kanchanagiri (Mini Munnar)Vellore-Ranipet Metro Area
Chenganatham hillsVellore
JarugumalaiSalem
Javadi HillsTiruvannamalai and Vellore
KadamburErode
KadayalKannyakumari
MundanthuraiTirunelveli
KadanadNilgiris
Kadavur ValleyKarur
KambalaiDharmapuri
KanamalaiTiruvannamalai
KanjamalaiSalem
KariyalurKallakurichi
KarumuttyTiruppur
KavunjiDindigul
KinnakoraiNilgiris
KodanadNilgiris
KolaribettaNilgiris
Koraiyar hillsPerambalur
KottagudiTheni
KottaimalaiTiruvannamalai
KunnurSalem
Manjampatti ValleyTiruppur
MannavanurDindigul
MavallamErode
MekkaraiTirunelveli
Mettur hillsSalem and Dharmapuri
Mukurthi hillsNilgiris
MulliNilgiris
MuthukuzivayalKannyakumari
Kallar hillsCoimbatore
Ketti ValleyNilgiris
Kalrayan HillsKallakurichi and Salem
Kannamangalam hillsVellore
Kodayar hillsKanyakumari
KeeriparaiKannyakumari
KilavaraiDindigul
KilkundaNilgris
KodaikanalDindigul
PandrimalaiDindigul
PalliparaiNamakkal
PathukaniKannyakumari
PattipadiSalem
PeriyurDindigul
PerumalmalaiDindigul
PonmaniKannyakumari
PoombaraiDindigul
PuthuputhurDindigul
Kolli HillsNamakkal
KolukkumalaiTheni
KookalDindigul
KotagiriNilgiris
KuranganiTheni
KumburDindigul
MancodeKannyakumari
ManjolaiTirunelveli
HighwavysTheni
MasinagudiNilgiris
ManthalTheni
MelagiriKrishnagiri
ThaliKrishnagiri
NagalurSalem
Nagoor hillsTiruchirappalli and Perambalur
NavamalaiCoimbatore
Nayakkaneri hillsVellore
OosimalaiErode
Ooty, UdhagamandalamNilgiris
O'valleyNilgiris
PechiparaiKanyakumari
Pachaimalai HillsTiruchirappalli
PandalurNilgiris
PerunchilambuKannyakumari
PoondiDindigul
Puliancholai hillsTiruchirappalli
RamakkalmeduTheni
RangampettaiVellore
ReddiyurVellore
HasanurErode
SerapattuKallakurichi
SholurNilgiris
SirukundraCoimbatore
SirumalaiDindigul
SitteriDharmapuri
Sittling hillsDharmapuri
SujalkaraiErode
Sathuragiri hillsMadhurai
ThaisholaNilgiris
Thirumoorthy hillsTiruppur
ThirparappuKannyakumari
ThengumarahadaErode
TopslipCoimbatore
ValparaiCoimbatore
WellingtonNilgiris
YelagiriVellore
YercaudSalem
VachathiDharmapuri
ValaikulamVirudhunagar
Varusanad hillsMadhurai and Theni

Uttarakhand

PlaceDistrict
AlmoraAlmora district
AuliChamoli district
Chamoli district
BerinagPithoragarh district
BhimtalNainital district
BinsarAlmora district
ChakrataDehradun district
ChambaTehri Garhwal district
ChaukoriPithoragarh district
ChoptaRudraprayag district
Dayara Bugyal
DhanaultiTehri Garhwal district
HarsilUttarkashi district
JalnaAlmora district
JoshimathChamoli district
KanatalTehri Garhwal district
KausaniBageshwar district
KhirsuPauri Garhwal district
Khurpatal
LandourDehradun district
LansdownePauri Garhwal district
LohaghatChampawat district
MukteshwarNainital district
MunsiyariPithoragarh district
MussoorieDehradun district
NainitalNainital district
NaukuchiatalNainital district
New TehriTehri Garhwal district
PangotNainital district
Pauri
Nainital district
RanikhetAlmora district
Sankri

West Bengal

PlaceDistrict
AlgarahKalimpong
Ajodhya HillsPurulia
BagrakoteKalimpong
BandwanPurulia
BelgeriaPurulia
BinduKalimpong
BijanbariDarjeeling
BuxaAlipurduar
ChalthaBankura
ChatakpurDarjeeling
DarjeelingDarjeeling
DhotreyDarjeeling
DudhiaJalpaiguri
GhoomDarjeeling
GorkheyDarjeeling
GorubathanKalimpong
GumbadaraDarjeeling
HasimaraAlipurduar
HattaDarjeeling
Icche GaonKalimpong
JorpokhriDarjeeling
JayantiAlipurduar
JaigaonAlipurduar
JhalongKalimpong
KalijhoraKalimpong
KalimpongKalimpong
KankiabongDarjeeling
KarmiDarjeeling
KarruPurulia
KolakhamKalimpong
KolbongDarjeeling
KumargramAlipurduar
KunchiaPurulia
KurseongDarjeeling
LabhaKalimpong
LavaKalimpong
LamagaonDarjeeling
Lepcha JagatDarjeeling
LepchakhaAlipurduar
LodhomaDarjeeling
LoleygaonKalimpong
MakhnuBankura
ManeDarjeeling
MangpuDarjeeling
MirikDarjeeling
MulkarkhaKalimpong
PankhabariDarjeeling
PedongKalimpong
PhalutDarjeeling
PulbazarDarjeeling
RammamDarjeeling
RanibandhBankura
RellingDarjeeling
RimbickDarjeeling
RishyapKalimpong
SamsingDarjeeling/Jalpaiguri
SandakphuDarjeeling/Ilam (Nepal)
SevokeDarjeeling
Sillery GaonKalimpong
SonadaDarjeeling
SoureniDarjeeling
TakdahDarjeeling
TongluDarjeeling
TotoparaAlipurduar
TurturiAlipurduar
YakrabongDarjeeling

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Siwalik Range.
  2. Web site: 5 Best Palaces to Visit in Rajasthan . TravelFiver . 27 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612185333/http://travelfiver.com/5-best-palaces-to-visit-in-rajasthan/ . 12 June 2018 . dead .
  3. News: Plans include beautification of the entire hill station to attract tourists. 26 February 2021. Outlook India.
  4. Book: Āgama Aura Tripiṭaka, Eka Anuśilana: Language and Literature. 500. Muni Nagraj.
  5. Book: India 2001: Reference Encyclopedia - Volume 1. 1995. 37.
  6. Book: Barbara D. Metcalf . Thomas R. Metcalf . A Concise History of India . 2002 . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-63974-3 . 111 .
  7. Book: Kennedy . Dane . The Magic Mountains: Hill Stations and the British Raj . 1996 . University of California Press . Berkeley . 19 Aug 2014.
  8. Web site: Pandey . Siddharth . 2020-03-15 . From Kipling to Manisha Koirala: How Indian hill stations came to assume feminine identities . 2023-09-16 . Scroll.in . en-US.