5 Popular Summer Retreats in India

India is a vast country with beautiful tourist destinations for every season. Summertime in India is quite hot. North India has extremely hot summers while South India has somewhat moderate weather but it also gets too humid. The temperature soars high and during summer vacations, people head to the hill stations to beat the heat. Schools also have vacations during the peak months of summer and thus most of the people plan their vacation during that time. Here are some popular hill stations in India which are frequented by tourists during summer:

Shimla is the beautiful capital of Himachal Pradesh and is also known as the Queen of the hills. Strung out along a 12 km ridge, with steep and dense forested hillsides falling away in all directions, Shimla provides awe-inspiring scenic views.Offering a wonderful holiday experience, Shimla promises a vacation full of romance, adventure and complete spiritual as well as inner relaxation. Walk on the Ridge and the Mall Road is its popular attraction. Other tourist attractions in Shimla include Jakhu Temple, Christ Church (The second oldest in North India), Scandal Point. Kufri and Chail are other small hill stations in the vicinity of Shimla. Tara Devi and Mashobra are another popular tourist spots near Shimla.

Known as the ‘Jewel of Nilgiri’, Ooty or Ootacmund is a popular summer destination in Tamilnadu at a height of 2240 m above sea level.This gem among southern hills is covered with eucalyptus and pine trees and coffee & tea plantations.Lush green forests, beautiful gardens, pristine lakes, sunset points and beautiful temples are the main attractions in Ooty. The government rose garden is famous for its more than 20,000 varieties of roses. Ooty lake spread over 65 acres is another serene place to visit. You can also hitch a ride on Nilgiri Mountain Railways which is World Heritage toy train for an amazing ride through the breathtaking scenery of Nilgiri mountains. Other popular tourist spots in Ooty are the Botanical Garden which has some rich flora of the region, tea garden and coffee plantations, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Pykara fall, mini garden etc.

Mount Abu is like an oasis in the otherwise hot and desert state of Rajasthan. It is the only hill station in desert state of Rajasthan. It is at an approximate elevation of around 1,220 meters above sea level. With coniferous trees and flowering shrubs covering the hillside, the climate in Mount Abu remains quite cool during summer, making it an ideal summer retreat. Dilwara Jain temples are the main tourist attraction in Mount Abu. The headquarters of Brahamkumari is also located at Mount Abu. Situated in the Aravali Hills, Mount Abu is well-known for its beautiful lakes and waterfalls and more than 80 Hindu & Jain temples.

Popularly known as ‘Mini Tibbet’ or ‘Little Lhasa’ because of its large population of Tibetans, McLeod Ganj has been the home of Dalai Lama ever since his exile. The Tibetan Government in exile has its headquarters at McLeod Ganj. This hill station in Himalaya has beautiful Buddhist monasteries. Tsuglagkhang is the most famous Buddhist monastery at McLeod Ganj which is also the home of Dalai Lama. There are many Tibetan markets, restaurants, and shops in Mcleodganj that offer the beautiful handicrafts of Tibet and serve people with delicious food, prepared in the rich flavors of Tibet.

Located at an altitude of approximately 2,084 meters above the sea level, Nainital is a beautiful and exquisite hill station in Uttarakhand in the Kumaon foothills. It is famous for its lush-green hills, picturesque beauty and beautiful lakes. Nainital with its pear-shaped Naini lake, offers a spectacular view of green valley around. It offers various interesting activities to the tourists. You can trek to the mountain peaks and have a breathtaking view of the snow clad Himalayas from the Naini Peak. You can enjoy the boat rides in the lovely Naini Tal lake or the nearby lakes like Bhim Tal, Saat Tal etc. or take walks around the mall road besides the Naini lake. Jim Corbett National Park is situated just 66 kms away from Nainital.