Best mountains destinations in India
215 curated mountains destinations across 28 states, each with the months it is worth going and the months it is not.
Best of mountains India
-
Kasol
Himachal Pradesh
Parvati valley's trance-backpacker hub, gateway to treks
Peak: Mar to May and Oct to Nov
-
Almora
Uttarakhand
Understated Kumaoni market town with Himalayan views
Peak: Apr to May and Oct to Nov
-
Aharbal Falls
Jammu and Kashmir
The Veshaw crashes 25 m through a pine gorge, Kashmir's Niagara
Peak: Apr to Jun
-
Bhandardara
Maharashtra
Dam-lake basecamp for Maharashtra's highest peak, Kalsubai
Peak: Jul to Aug
-
Kodaikanal
Tamil Nadu
Misty Palani lake town loved by trekkers, backpackers
Peak: Apr to May and Sep to Oct
-
Leh
Ladakh
Ladakh's backpacker capital and high-pass road-trip hub
Peak: Jun to Sep
-
Agasthyakoodam (Athirumala)
Kerala
Kerala's permit-only peak, two days up through Agasthyavanam forest
Peak: Jan to Feb
-
Shergaon
Arunachal Pradesh
Sherdukpen pine-forest village at 2,000 m, the quiet turn-off on the Tawang road
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Dec
-
Kukke Subramanya (Kumara Parvatha)
Karnataka
Serpent temple at the foot of the Kumara Parvatha climb
Peak: Oct to Feb
-
Gangtok
Sikkim
Sikkim's capital and gateway: monasteries, MG Marg cafés
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Nov
-
Dzukou Valley
Nagaland
Rolling green trekking valley famous for summer lilies
Peak: Sep to Nov
-
Darjeeling
West Bengal
Queen of the Hills - tea, toy train, Kanchenjunga views
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Nov
-
Araku Valley
Andhra Pradesh
Eastern Ghats coffee valley on a tunnel-laced toy train
Peak: Oct to Feb
-
Amarkantak
Madhya Pradesh
Source of the Narmada on a 1,000 m Maikal plateau
Peak: Oct to Mar
-
Aizawl
Mizoram
Mizoram's hillside capital: churches, cafes, rock music
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Koraput
Odisha
Eastern Ghats coffee town of tribal markets and mist
Peak: Oct to Feb
-
Parasnath Hill (Shikharji)
Jharkhand
Jharkhand's highest hill and Jainism's holiest summit walk
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Shirui (Ukhrul)
Manipur
Tangkhul Naga village under the 2,835 m peak where the Shirui lily blooms
Peak: Apr to May and Oct to Nov
-
Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (Maikal Hills)
Chhattisgarh
Hilly sal forest and Baiga hamlets on the road to Amarkantak
Peak: Nov to Mar
-
Saputara
Gujarat
Gujarat's only hill station, on the Maharashtra border
Peak: Jul to Aug
-
Haflong
Assam
Assam's only hill station, on the Lumding-Silchar hill railway
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Chorla Ghat
Goa
Cloud-forest edge of Goa above the Vazra Sakla waterfall
Peak: Jul to Oct
-
Morni Hills
Haryana
Chandigarh's nearest hills, low-key and quiet
Peak: Mar to May
-
Laitlum Canyons (Rasong)
Meghalaya
Cloud-filled amphitheatre with a stone stairway down to Rasong
Peak: Sep to Nov
-
Mount Abu
Rajasthan
Rajasthan's only hill station, oasis from the heat
Peak: Mar to May
-
Ananthagiri Hills (Vikarabad)
Telangana
Deccan forest ridge where the Musi river starts, 90 km out
Peak: Aug to Nov
-
Jampui Hills (Vanghmun)
Tripura
Tripura's only hill ridge, dawn cloud-seas over Mizo villages
Peak: Oct to Jan
-
Shakumbhari Devi (Behat)
Uttar Pradesh
Shakti Peeth in a Shivalik riverbed with sal forest on three sides
Peak: Feb to Mar and Oct to Nov
-
Manali
Himachal Pradesh
Himalayan backpacker basecamp for treks and easy adventure
Peak: Apr to May, Oct and Dec
-
Badrinath & Mana
Uttarakhand
Char Dham shrine at 3100 m with Mana village 3 km on
Peak: May to Jun and Sep to Oct
-
Doodhpathri
Jammu and Kashmir
Milky Shaliganga meadows under pine, Kashmir's gentler Gulmarg
Peak: May to Jun and Sep
-
Igatpuri
Maharashtra
Vipassana meditation hub and monsoon trekking base
Peak: Jul to Sep
-
Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Tamil Nadu
Nilgiris' colonial hill capital, toy train and tea gardens
Peak: Apr to May and Oct
-
Markha Valley
Ladakh
Ladakh's classic homestay trek below Kang Yatse's white pyramid
Peak: Jul to Sep
-
Ilaveezhapoonchira
Kerala
Treeless grass hills above Melukavu, climbed for sunrise and camping
Peak: Oct to Jan
-
Anini (Dibang Valley)
Arunachal Pradesh
Road-end Idu Mishmi outpost under the snows of Dibang Valley
Peak: Feb to Mar and Oct to Nov
Every mountains destination in the catalogue
- Abbott Mount (Lohaghat) Uttarakhand
- Amboli Maharashtra
- Aryan Valley (Dha & Garkon) Ladakh
- Auli Uttarakhand
- Bangus Valley (Bungus) Jammu and Kashmir
- Bani (Sarthal Devi) Jammu and Kashmir
- Barot Himachal Pradesh
- Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (Hilley) Sikkim
- Bawangaja (Barwani) Madhya Pradesh
- Belghar (Kandhamal) Odisha
- Benreu (Mount Pauna) Nagaland
- Bhaderwah Jammu and Kashmir
- Binsar Uttarakhand
- Bir Himachal Pradesh
- Chail Himachal Pradesh
- Chakrata Uttarakhand
- Champhai (Murlen & Vangchhia) Mizoram
- Chandratal Himachal Pradesh
- Chanshal Pass (Dodra Kwar) Himachal Pradesh
- Chaukori Uttarakhand
- Chikhaldara Maharashtra
- Chikmagalur Karnataka
- Chitkul Himachal Pradesh
- Chopta Uttarakhand
- Churdhar (via Nohradhar) Himachal Pradesh
- Coonoor Tamil Nadu
- Coorg (Madikeri) Karnataka
- Dajipur (Radhanagari) Maharashtra
- Dalhousie Himachal Pradesh
- Daringbadi Odisha
- Deomali Odisha
- Dirang Arunachal Pradesh
- Drass Ladakh
- Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve) Sikkim
- Gaganbawda Maharashtra
- Ghuttu (Khatling Glacier) Uttarakhand
- Gulmarg Jammu and Kashmir
- Gurez Valley (Dawar) Jammu and Kashmir
- Harsil Uttarakhand
- Hasanur (Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve) Tamil Nadu
- Hmuifang Mizoram
- Horsley Hills Andhra Pradesh
- Janjehli (Shikari Devi) Himachal Pradesh
- Javadi Hills (Jamunamarathur) Tamil Nadu
- Jawhar Maharashtra
- Jhalong & Bindu (Jaldhaka Valley) West Bengal
- Jibhi Himachal Pradesh
- Jispa (Bhaga Valley) Himachal Pradesh
- Kafnu (Bhabha Valley) Himachal Pradesh
- Kalimpong West Bengal
- Kalpa Himachal Pradesh
- Kanatal Uttarakhand
- Kanthalloor Kerala
- Karsog Valley Himachal Pradesh
- Kartik Swami (Kanakchauri) Uttarakhand
- Kasauli Himachal Pradesh
- Kausani Uttarakhand
- Kaza (Spiti) Himachal Pradesh
- Kedarnath Uttarakhand
- Kemmangundi Karnataka
- Khajjiar Himachal Pradesh
- Khati (Pindari Glacier) Uttarakhand
- Kheerganga Himachal Pradesh
- Khirsu Uttarakhand
- Kibber (Spiti) Himachal Pradesh
- Kiriburu (Saranda Forest) Jharkhand
- Kodachadri (Kollur base) Karnataka
- Kohima Nagaland
- Kolli Hills Tamil Nadu
- Kolukkumalai Tamil Nadu
- Kudremukh Karnataka
- Kugti (Budhil Valley) Himachal Pradesh
- Kukru (Khamla Plateau) Madhya Pradesh
- Kullu Himachal Pradesh
- Lamayuru Ladakh
- Lambasingi Andhra Pradesh
- Lansdowne Uttarakhand
- Lava & Rishop (Neora Valley) West Bengal
- Lolab Valley (Sogam) Jammu and Kashmir
- Lonavala Maharashtra
- Loran Valley (Poonch) Jammu and Kashmir
- Machail (Paddar) Jammu and Kashmir
- Madhyamaheshwar (Ransi) Uttarakhand
- Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra
- Mahur (Mahurgad) Maharashtra
- Mainpat Chhattisgarh
- Malana Himachal Pradesh
- Malari (Niti Valley) Uttarakhand
- Mannavanur Tamil Nadu
- Matheran Maharashtra
- McLeod Ganj Himachal Pradesh
- Mechuka (Menchukha) Arunachal Pradesh
- Meghamalai (High Wavy Mountains) Tamil Nadu
- Mirik West Bengal
- Miyar Valley (Urgos) Himachal Pradesh
- Mokokchung Nagaland
- Mukteshwar Uttarakhand
- Munnar Kerala
- Munsiyari Uttarakhand
- Mussoorie Uttarakhand
- Nag Tibba Uttarakhand
- Naggar Himachal Pradesh
- Nainital Uttarakhand
- Nako Himachal Pradesh
- Namchi Sikkim
- Nandi Hills Karnataka
- Narkanda & Thanedar Himachal Pradesh
- Nelliyampathy Kerala
- Netarhat Jharkhand
- Noori Chamb (Behramgala) Jammu and Kashmir
- North Sikkim (Lachen-Lachung) Sikkim
- Nubra Valley Ladakh
- Pachamalai (Top Sengattupatti) Tamil Nadu
- Pachmarhi Madhya Pradesh
- Pahalgam Jammu and Kashmir
- Paithalmala Kerala
- Palampur & Andretta Himachal Pradesh
- Panchgani Maharashtra
- Pangi Valley (Killar) Himachal Pradesh
- Pangong Tso Ladakh
- Panhala Maharashtra
- Papikondalu (Godavari Gorge) Andhra Pradesh
- Parashar Lake Himachal Pradesh
- Patnitop Jammu and Kashmir
- Pelling Sikkim
- Pfutsero (Glory Peak) Nagaland
- Phawngpui (Blue Mountain) Mizoram
- Photoksar (Fotoksar) Ladakh
- Pin Valley (Mudh) Himachal Pradesh
- Ponmudi Kerala
- Raigad Fort Maharashtra
- Raithal (Dayara Bugyal) Uttarakhand
- Rakcham Himachal Pradesh
- Rangdum Ladakh
- Ranikhet Uttarakhand
- Ranipuram Kerala
- Ravangla Sikkim
- Reiek Mizoram
- Roing & Mayudia Pass Arunachal Pradesh
- Rumbak (Hemis National Park) Ladakh
- Sakleshpur Karnataka
- Sandakphu West Bengal
- Sandur (Kumaraswamy Temple) Karnataka
- Sangla Himachal Pradesh
- Sankri (Har Ki Dun) Uttarakhand
- Sarahan (Bhimakali) Himachal Pradesh
- Shangarh (Sainj Valley) Himachal Pradesh
- Shimla Himachal Pradesh
- Sirumalai Tamil Nadu
- Sittong (Orange Village) West Bengal
- Sonamarg Jammu and Kashmir
- Suru Valley (Panikhar) Ladakh
- Tamenglong (Barak Waterfalls) Manipur
- Tamia & Patalkot Valley Madhya Pradesh
- Tawang Arunachal Pradesh
- Thanamir (Mount Saramati) Nagaland
- Tirthan Valley (Gushaini) Himachal Pradesh
- Toranmal Maharashtra
- Tosh Himachal Pradesh
- Touphema Village Nagaland
- Trilokinath (Udaipur, Lahaul) Himachal Pradesh
- Tulail Valley (Badugam) Jammu and Kashmir
- Tuting (Pemako) Arunachal Pradesh
- Vagamon Kerala
- Valparai Tamil Nadu
- Vanjangi (Paderu) Andhra Pradesh
- Walong (Dong & Kibithoo) Arunachal Pradesh
- Wan (Bedni Bugyal) Uttarakhand
- Warwan Valley (Inshan) Jammu and Kashmir
- Wayanad Kerala
- Willong Khullen Manipur
- Wilson Hills (Dharampur) Gujarat
- Yelagiri Tamil Nadu
- Yercaud Tamil Nadu
- Yuksom Sikkim
- Yusmarg Jammu and Kashmir
- Zanskar Ladakh
- Zemithang (Gorsam Chorten) Arunachal Pradesh
- Zuluk Sikkim
When to go
October, November and December are the months with the most mountains places in peak season.
By state
Himachal Pradesh (41)Uttarakhand (28)Jammu and Kashmir (17)Maharashtra (15)Tamil Nadu (14)Ladakh (12)Kerala (10)Arunachal Pradesh (9)Sikkim (9)Karnataka (9)
Common questions
How many mountains destinations are there in India?
This catalogue lists 215 tagged mountains, across 28 states and union territories. It is a curated list, not an exhaustive one: places earn a spot on the strength of the landscape or the heritage.
When is the best time for a mountains trip in India?
October, November and December put the most of them in peak season. Each place carries its own window, though, so check the one you are aiming at.
Which states have the most mountains destinations?
Himachal Pradesh (41), Uttarakhand (28), Jammu and Kashmir (17), Maharashtra (15) and Tamil Nadu (14).
Other themes
BeachHeritageSpiritualWildlifeTrekBackpackerDesertIslandLakesWaterfallsCityOffbeatPartyCultureSnow