Darjeeling: Famous Hill Station of India

Darjeeling is one of the most beautiful hill stations of India. Greenery all around, water running across narrow valleys and clouds touch the land, this all you can see in Darjeeling. Toy Train of Darjeeling is world famous. Tourist can travel from siliguri to Darjeeling in this train.

Historical Background: Darjeeling was discovered by British officers Lord and Grant in 1829. In 1935 it became a sanitarium (Heath Resort) of British people.
Darjeeling was gifted to Britain by the king of Sikkim as token of friendship with governor general Lord Bantick.

Tourist Spots:

1. Tiger Hills: This is the highest point of Darjeeling. Tourists come here to see the sunrise specially.
2. Sanchal Lake: This beautiful lake is near Tiger Hills. So do not forget to be there.
3. Natural Museum: This is unique museum, known for collection of Himalayan and Bengali Fauna. This museum has collection of 4300 species. It was built in 1903.
4. Rope way: This is the first Rope way of India. Though rope way tourist can reach from North Point to Singla Bazaar. 45 Minutes of this rope way route is really exciting. To enjoy this thrilling adventure tourist will have to book ticket in advance.
5. Happy Tea Valley: This valley is famous for tea gardens. Where tea preparing process is done with modern machines. Tourist can see this process by getting permission of tea state officer.
6. Jaldapadra Sanctuary: Tourist should not forget to visit this sanctuary, as this sanctuary gives you glimpses of nature’s beauty. This sanctuary is famous for Rhino sours. Right time to visit this place is October to May.
7. Ghoop Gonpa : 8 km from Darjeeling , this gonpa has statue of Buddha. This gonpa has manuscripts which are written in pali.
8. Batasiya Loop: This place is 5 km from main city. At this place toy train takes unique turn. Most tourists come here to see this loop.
9. Zoo: This zoo is not ordinary one. In this zoo tourist can see the rarely found birds and animals. This is only zoo where tourist can see Siberian Tiger. Except that tourist can see Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Snow yak and Great bird.
10. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute: This is mountaineering training institute cum museum. In this training institute cum museum you can see collection of old and new equipments of mountaineering. Equipments which are used by Sherpa Tensing are also here and a telescope to see Himalayan hills, which was gifted to king of Nepal by the Hitler.

Except thes tourist spots you can visit Manbhakta, Observatory hills and Botanical gardern in Darjeeling.

How to reach:

By Air: Bagdogra is nearest airport. This is connected to Delhi, Kolkata and Guhati with major airlines.

By Rail: Newjalpaiguri is the nearest rail station.

By Road: Nearest bus station is Siliguri. There is good facility of taxi, bus and jeep from here to reach Darjeeling.

Where to stay: Here you can find cheap and costly hotels and guest houses. Except that government tourist lodge is available here.

Seven Seventies, Sangrila and Neelkamal are the main hotels.

Nainital - Lake City

Full of natural beauty Nainital is one of the famous hill stations of India, known as Lake City. This hill station is part of kumaon region (Uttarakhand state). Himalayan hills covered with snow, shadow of trees and chirping of birds invites tourist to be here again and again.

Credit of discovering Nainital goes to British Officer P. Barren. He visited this place in 1841 and impressed by the natural beauty of Nainital. He built a house here which is known as pilgrim cottage.

Tourist Spots:

1. Naina Peak: One of the famous tourist spot of Nainital is Naina Peak which is 6 km. away from nainital. Tourist can reach here on foot or by riding horse. From Naina Peak tourist can view hill of Himalayas covered with snow and view of Nainital city.
2. Dorothi Steat: 4 km. from Nainital, this place is also known as Tiffin Top. Height of this place 2, 292 meter from sea level. At a height of 1951 meter this is another place which is known as Hanumangarhi, famous for beautiful sunset.
3. Nani Lake: Being at the center of city, this is the main attraction of Nainital. Upper corner of this lake is known as Mallital and lower corner of this lake is known as Tallital. Most tourists enjoy boating in this lake.

Except that there is another lake, known as Bhimtal, which is 22 km from Nainital. Green like a leaf this is present at the height of 4450 ft. from sea level. A restaurant is present at the center of this lake.

This area is peaceful and free from pollution. Tourist can enjoy boating here as well.

10 km from Bhimtal is small lake known as Khurpatal and 26 km away there is a deep lake known as Naukuchiyatal. This lake has nine corners as name suggests Naukuchiya means nine.

Group of seven lakes known as Saattal is also there.

Snow View: 2.5 km form Nainital there is place snow view. This place is famous for viewing hill of Himalayas. Tourist can reach here by rope way.

Time to Visit: April to June is the best time to visit here, but tourists visit here in winters as well.

Nearest Railway station: Kathgodam(35 km away)

Bus Facility: There is good bus facility from cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Haldwani.

Where to stay: Main Hotels are Man sarowar, Naini Street, Pratap Regency, Sharwani Hilltop, Alps etc.

Government Guest house is there with good facilities.

Mussoorie(Queen of Hills)- Famous Hill Station of India

Mussoorie (Queen of hills), situated in Garhwal Himalaya of Uttrachal(now Uttrakhand) state at a altitude of 2,001 meters.it is 34 kms away from Dehradun Valley. Mussoorie is one of the famous tourist place of india.it gives view of Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges in the south and snow ranges to the north-east.

British military officer Caption young discovered it and made it his residence in 1820. Gradually it became famous hill station of india. Its name is derived from a shrub mansoor.which is also known as mansoori among the natives of the surrounding area.

Mussoorie is conveniently connected by road to Delhi and major cities.The closest Airport is Jollygrant and closest rail station is Dehradun. Taxis and buses are easily available for Mussoorie at regular intervals.

Best time to Visiting : Mid-March to June and September- October.

Tourist Spots:

Camel's Back Road: Famous for nature walk, view of sunset and hourse riding.

Gun Hill: Accessible by the cable car on the Mall road.it gives view of the Himalayan ranges namely Bunderpunch, Srikantha, Pithwara and Gangotri.

Kempty Fall: Famous waterfall and picnic spot 15kms away from Mussoorie on yamunotri road at an altitute of 4500ft.

Jharipani Fall: 8.5 kms from Mussoorie on Mussoorie- Jharipani Road. Visitors can go by bus or by car upto 7 kms to Jharipani from where the fall is 1.5 kms, on foot.

Bhatta Fall: 7 kms from Mussoorie on Mussoorie-Dehradun road. Access by car or bus upto Balta village from where the fall is 3kms by car or foot. An ideal spot for bathing anf picnics.

Nag Devta Temple: An ancient temple situated on Cart Mackenjie Road and is about 6 kms from Mussoorie. Vehicles can go right upto the spot. It Provies a charming view of Doon Valley as well as of Mussoorie.

Campany Garden: Company Garden is popular tourist destination. During season, the Company Garden has beautiful collection of flowers and plants.

Lal Tibba: Lal Tibba is another tourist spot of Mussoorie.

Dhanaulti: Famous for its deodar forests.Dhanaulti is about 24 kilometers from Mussoorie.

The Valley Of Flowers

The Valley Of Flowers lies main valley of Alaknanda and Laxman Gnga in the Garhwal Garhwal Himalayas in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal. River Pushpawati flows through this valley which has it's source in Tipra Glacier which extends upto Ghori Peak. The valley is spread over an area of 87.5 sq. kms. and is 3250 mts. to 6750 mts. above sea level.

The valley remains snow covered from November to May, but in the month of June, When snow melts, the valley bloomswith colors hidden in the petals of rare species of flowers and spreads as the carpet of flowers woven by mother nature.

Almost 300 species of wild flowers bloom here in natural way. The valley remains in bloom for three months while the floral composition keeping on changingevery few days. Apart from flowering plants, wild animal and birds enhance the beauty of this natural flowing valley . The Park is surrounded by Gauri Parbat (6590 mts.) and Rataban (6126 mts.) in the east, Kuntkhal (4430 mts.) in west, Saptsring (5030 mts.) in the south and Nilgiri Parbat (6479 mts.) in the north.

To conserve the nature’s benevolent gift and to maintain the natural balance of the valley – the valley was declared a National Park
in 1982.
Best season for Trekking :July & August