Hill stations have always been the primary reason for my psychotic obsession with traveling. The winding roads, freezing winds and unpredictable weather are elements that make these slices of heaven on earth meaningful.
There is an odd simplicity to life above the plains. People there, are usually very calm and life is lead in an orderly, yet relaxed way. You don’t get to any place fast, so you begin to appreciate the journey rather than going tunnel vision on the destination.
On the more remote locations you don’t get access to high speed internet which results in minimal distraction and time away from screens, notifications, etc; hence you get to appreciate the beauty all around. On the flip side, life in the city is fast paced, everything is so achievement focused nowadays. From your work assignment, to diet, to weekend shopping exploits are all a constant trail of achievement parameters.
No wonder burnout is so common among the workforce. And short escapades to the cooler, calmer hills are the perfect antivirus to such existential pressure induced burnouts. Now, having been a travel junkie for most of my waking life, I have had my fair share of pilgrimages to these lands above the clouds.
So, here are in my opinion, the top five hill stations (which I have visited) that I believe you should see before you get run over by a bus/ succumb to a deadly virus/ get stabbed/ vaporized or basically die in any unfortunate way or form.
Mcleod Ganj
You can’t start off a list of top mountain escapes without a contender from Himachal Pradesh. Situated in the Kangra district of the mountain state, Mcleod Ganj is a cultural melting pot of perfect proportions. Politically, it is the seat of the exiled Tibetan government along with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan influence is evident both demographically and architecturally. Numerous monks, refugees have migrated to this place, and treat it as their home away from home. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, himself lives in Mcleod Ganj and is actively attached to the Tibetan temple/museum complex there.
Geographically, Mcleodganj sits above the sprawling town of Dharamshala, cradled by the mighty Dhauladhar mountain range. You can get a panoramic view of the sprawling valleys below along with the snow capped mountains in one single frame; which is kind of hard to describe in words.
If that wasn’t enough, Mcleod Ganj acts as a launching pad for the famous Triund Trek, which is said to be one of the most picturesque treks in India. And lastly, night skies in this region is amazingly clear, so, if you can brave the cold, the milky way might just be there, waiting for you over the dark silhouettes of distant mountains.
Sandakphu
If you want to experience the raw beauty of Himalayas, this is one of the best spots for that. The Sandakphu- Phalut trekking circuit is legendary for offering the best panoramic view of the entire Kanchenjunga Massif. On clearer days, you can get glimpses of Makalu, Lhotse and Mt. Everest.
The entire route to and from Sandakphu is an entire blog post on its own. Such is the beauty of the landscape and how easily accessible it is, without being too touristy. Situated at an altitude of 13,000 ft, Sandakphu is a small, secluded hamlet, perched atop a ridge line offering unique vistas of the famous “Sleeping Buddha”
It’s not a proper tourist hotspot and being a remote location, access to electricity and cell service are limited. But that’s what is so charming about the place; you don’t get bogged down by emails, messages and internet. You get to go ‘off the grid’; you get to have more present conversations and experience travel as it is meant to be experienced.
Now, as this is a high altitude trek, the routes remain closed through monsoon and when severe snowstorms hit the mountains in winter. I went during early May and was lucky enough to get some crystal clear view of the Kanchenjunga Massif at the crack of dawn.
It’s a place that you should definitely make time to visit. The trek isn’t easy or too arduous, any relatively healthy person can tackle this trek easily.
Kolakham
Next place on my list is a quaint street hidden in the Neora Valley National Park in North Bengal. Kolakham is actually a collection of houses lining a winding road through an ancient and majestic forest. It’s not a very well known tourist attraction yet, so, it’s very peaceful. There are no loud restaurants, bustling markets, etc.
It’s a cluster of homestays, overlooking a valley, offering views of distant unnamed peaks all around. The place itself is near to the town of Lava, in fact, Kolakham sits right on the opposite hill to Lava. Local hospitality is exquisite; the people are very cooperative and open to tourists.
When I visited the place, it was unfortunately very rainy and the thick cloud cover made sure I did not get to see Mt. Kanchenjunga at all. But the locals said that throughout winter people get crystal clear view of the massif and many more peaks from surrounding provinces.
Once you get off the road leading to Lava and enter the forest compound, the landscape change dramatically. One moment the car’s cruising along busy, metal roads and the very next instant, you find yourself on a narrow, muddy trail slithering through a prehistoric forest, with towering pine trees flanking both sides.
If you are the person who loves her peace and quiet, you should definitely put this place on top of your travel list. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Temi Tea Garden
I have already mentioned this insanely beautiful place in details in my Sikkim blog. Temi Tea garden is a unique hill station and one with some pretty awe inspiring views. It’s about three hours away from downtown Gangtok and situated atop a slope that offers a stunning tunnel view of one mountain after another.
What makes the tea garden so special is the fact that there are no other buildings or hotels in the vicinity to block the view. You get a full 360 vision of every valley, cliff, peak and distant mountains around you. And from my personal experience, I can say that this place routinely witnesses some crazy sunsets.
Due to the complete lack of traffic, pollution is almost nonexistent and so, you can get some pretty spectacular night skies from here. We stayed at a place called The Cherry Resort and it sat right at the edge of a slope. You could easily get a view of Mt. Kanchenjunga right from your bedroom on clearer days.
So, if you are tired of baring horns, loudspeakers or your lungs need a vacation from consuming toxic fumes; this is the place to go for a natural rehab.
Manali
Out of all the places on the list, this is perhaps the most mainstream tourist hotspot. Manali is a bustling mountain town situated in one of the most beautiful patch of land in Himachal Pradesh. A cosmopolitan hotspot, this place can be considered the ground zero of hippie culture in Himachal.
Thousands of foreigners have made this their home and their influence is deeply embedded in the sub culture of the place. Spectacular rooftop cafes, swanky homestays and an incubator for emerging adventure sports; Manali is the poster child of alternate living in India.
The views from town are amazing and having a forest in the middle makes it an even more unique travel experience. Manali also provides easy access to other popular destinations like Solang valley, Rohtang Pass and Ladakh. It is also the starting point of the legendary Leh-Manali Highway; a route that regularly tops every motorist’s road trip list.
If you are struggling with the monotonous grind of life and searching for a deeper purpose to this entire circus, a pilgrimage to Manali can fix your problems. It’s a place that will get you high, both geographically and physiologically.
Concluding this non comprehensive list of high altitude heavyweights, I would like to urge you to go out (not now, of course) and find your own top travel destinations. Go, explore, find new places and build a repertoire of rich experiences.
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