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North India Hill
Stations
Dalhousie a tourist
place in India attracts numerous visitors every year. Compared to other
hill stations, Dalhousie, 80 winding kilometers from Pathankot, is
markedly different and off the beaten track. Spread over five hills,
Dalhousie  has
a serenity with its own distinctive flavor. Attractive cottages and
villas cling to the deodar and pine mantled hills of Dalhousie. Here at
Dalhousie, nothing seems to matter except the beauty and the moment. All
this and more make Dalhousie a tourist place in India. Pink and red
rhododendrons are in bloom. The trees are dressed in different shades of
green. There is no swirl of traffic. The shops are small and trim.
Whistling softly to himself, a shopkeeper arranges embroidered Chamba
shawls in his showcase. Tourists appraise Chamba chappals embroidered
with gold thread, cane baskets, colorful woolens, and life-like Chamba
dolls - all specialties of the region. Piles of walnuts and red, black
and green Chamba chilies adorn many shop fronts. We pass children
joyfully picking strawberries from a hillside decorated with alpine
flowers. There are several good hotels in Dalhousie like Hotel Spring
Dalhousie that ensure a comfortable stay.
Once called the "end
of the habitable world," Manali is an important hill station of
northern India and is the destination of thousands of tourists every
year. Its cool atmosphere provides a perfect haven for the ones
afflicted by the hot Indian summers. Besides offering quite a few places
for sightseeing, Manali is also famous for adventure sports like skiing,
hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and
mountain biking. In brief, Manali-the veritable "valley of the Gods"-is
an ideal place for the ones in search of both adventure and comfort. The
Kulluis in brightly patterned puttoos, Tibetan women wearing
ankle-length rainbow-striped pinafores, Nepali porters, Buddhist monks,
and even the odd party of Zanskaris, swathed in fusty woolen gonchas,
muddled together with souvenir-hunting Indian and Western tourists-all
add up to the welcoming hubbub of Manali.
Mussoorie, like
other hill resorts in India, came into existence in the 1820s or
thereabouts, when the families of British colonials began making for the
hills in order to escape the scorching heat of the plains. Small
settlements grew into large stations and were soon vying with each other
for the title of "queen of the hills." Mussoorie's name
derives from the Mansur shrub (Cororiana nepalensis), common in the
Himalayan foothills; but many of the house names derive from the native
places of those who first built and lived in them. Today, the old houses
and estates are owned by well-to-do Indians, many of whom follow the
lifestyle of their former colonial rulers. In most cases, the old names
have been retained.
A small town in the
hills of Kumaon, Nainital is a lovely hill station surrounded by
mountains on three sides. Once this area had many lakes and it was
called the City of 60 lakes or 'Chakta'. Most of the lakes in the region
have disappeared and whatever remains is just a glimpse of what they
might have been in the past. Today the life of Nainital revolves around
the lake of Naini. But there are few other lakes around Nainital which
are equally beautiful and attractive as the Naini lake. River Ramganga
originates from the Doodha Tauli ranges in district Pauri Garhwal. It
enters into district Nainital, before re-entering into district Pauri
Garhwal.  Nainital
was discovered in 1841 by a Britisher called Lord Barron. The weather,
the surrounding and the mesmerising beauty of this area attracted the
British administrator who turned this place into the summer capital of
the United Province. Being a major tourist place Nainital is always
bustling with visitors and it is always better if accommodation and
other facilites are prearranged.
Shimla (also spelt
as 'Simla') derives its name from goddess 'Shayamla Devi', which is
another manifestation of Goddess Kali. The capital of Himachal Pradesh
came into light when the British discovered it in 1819. Till then, it
was a part of the Nepalese kingdom. In 1864 Shimla was declared as the
summer capital of India. After Independence, Shimla became the capital
of Punjab and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. In 1903 a
rail line was constructed between Kalka and Shimla.
Shimla has
been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of. Dwelling
on a panoramic location, the hilly town is surrounded by green pastures
and snow-capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the
structures made during the colonial era create an aura, which is very
different from other hill stations.
The only hill
station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu huddles among the rocks on a 1,220-m
granite table mountain at the far southwestern end of the Aravalli
hills. It is built around a lake and is surrounded by forested hills.
According to a legend, the place derives its name from Arbuda, a serpent
who descended to the spot to rescue Shiva¿s bull, Nandi. Besides
having all the features of a pleasant hill resort.
Mount Abu is
also well known for the famous Dilwara temples and many more
archaeological remains. There are interesting treks and picnic spots,
romantic royal retreats of the various erstwhile families of bygone
Rajputana and some relics of the Raj period. The scenic landscapes
include gigantic blocks of rocks in weird shapes, an array of coniferous
trees, flowering shrubs, lovely lakes and the cool climate much in
contrast to the arid environs of the state.
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