Best mountains destinations in India
165 curated mountains destinations across 25 states, each with the months it is worth going and the months it is not.
Best of mountains India
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Kasol
Himachal Pradesh
Parvati valley's trance-backpacker hub, gateway to treks
Peak: Mar to May and Oct to Nov
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Almora
Uttarakhand
Understated Kumaoni market town with Himalayan views
Peak: Apr to May and Oct to Nov
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Bhandardara
Maharashtra
Dam-lake basecamp for Maharashtra's highest peak, Kalsubai
Peak: Jul to Aug
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Aharbal Falls
Jammu and Kashmir
The Veshaw crashes 25 m through a pine gorge, Kashmir's Niagara
Peak: Apr to Jun
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Kodaikanal
Tamil Nadu
Misty Palani lake town loved by trekkers, backpackers
Peak: Apr to May and Sep to Oct
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Leh
Ladakh
Ladakh's backpacker capital and high-pass road-trip hub
Peak: Jun to Sep
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Gangtok
Sikkim
Sikkim's capital and gateway: monasteries, MG Marg cafés
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Nov
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Nandi Hills
Karnataka
Sunrise fort above the Bengaluru plain at 1478 metres
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Kanthalloor
Kerala
Rain-shadow orchard village of apples, dolmens and sandalwood
Peak: Sep to Feb
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Darjeeling
West Bengal
Queen of the Hills - tea, toy train, Kanchenjunga views
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Nov
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Araku Valley
Andhra Pradesh
Eastern Ghats coffee valley on a tunnel-laced toy train
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Anini (Dibang Valley)
Arunachal Pradesh
Road-end Idu Mishmi outpost under the snows of Dibang Valley
Peak: Feb to Mar and Oct to Nov
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Aizawl
Mizoram
Mizoram's hillside capital: churches, cafes, rock music
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Amarkantak
Madhya Pradesh
Source of the Narmada on a 1,000 m Maikal plateau
Peak: Oct to Mar
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Dzukou Valley
Nagaland
Rolling green trekking valley famous for summer lilies
Peak: Sep to Nov
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Koraput
Odisha
Eastern Ghats coffee town of tribal markets and mist
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Saputara
Gujarat
Gujarat's only hill station, on the Maharashtra border
Peak: Jul to Aug
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Parasnath Hill (Shikharji)
Jharkhand
Jharkhand's highest hill and Jainism's holiest summit walk
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Haflong
Assam
Assam's only hill station, on the Lumding-Silchar hill railway
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Mainpat
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh's misty plateau hill station and mini-Tibet
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Chorla Ghat
Goa
Cloud-forest edge of Goa above the Vazra Sakla waterfall
Peak: Jul to Oct
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Morni Hills
Haryana
Chandigarh's nearest hills, low-key and quiet
Peak: Mar to May
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Mount Abu
Rajasthan
Rajasthan's only hill station, oasis from the heat
Peak: Mar to May
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Ananthagiri Hills (Vikarabad)
Telangana
Deccan forest ridge where the Musi river starts, 90 km out
Peak: Aug to Nov
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Jampui Hills (Vanghmun)
Tripura
Tripura's only hill ridge, dawn cloud-seas over Mizo villages
Peak: Oct to Jan
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Manali
Himachal Pradesh
Himalayan backpacker basecamp for treks and easy adventure
Peak: Apr to May, Oct and Dec
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Badrinath & Mana
Uttarakhand
Char Dham shrine at 3100 m with Mana village 3 km on
Peak: May to Jun and Sep to Oct
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Igatpuri
Maharashtra
Vipassana meditation hub and monsoon trekking base
Peak: Jul to Sep
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Doodhpathri
Jammu and Kashmir
Milky Shaliganga meadows under pine, Kashmir's gentler Gulmarg
Peak: May to Jun and Sep
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Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Tamil Nadu
Nilgiris' colonial hill capital, toy train and tea gardens
Peak: Apr to May and Oct
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Markha Valley
Ladakh
Ladakh's classic homestay trek below Kang Yatse's white pyramid
Peak: Jul to Sep
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Namchi
Sikkim
South Sikkim pilgrim town with a 108-ft Shiva and Char Dham
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Dec
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Chikmagalur
Karnataka
Coffee-hill base for Karnataka's highest peak
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Munnar
Kerala
Tea-carpeted hill station, Kerala's iconic highland escape
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Sandakphu
West Bengal
West Bengal's highest point - sunrise over 4 of 5 top peaks
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Nov
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Horsley Hills
Andhra Pradesh
Rayalaseema's pocket hill station, 1250 m of gum trees and cool air
Peak: Oct to Feb
Every mountains destination in the catalogue
- Abbott Mount (Lohaghat) Uttarakhand
- Amboli Maharashtra
- Aryan Valley (Dha & Garkon) Ladakh
- Auli Uttarakhand
- Barot Himachal Pradesh
- Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (Hilley) Sikkim
- Bhaderwah Jammu and Kashmir
- Binsar Uttarakhand
- Bir Himachal Pradesh
- Chail Himachal Pradesh
- Chakrata Uttarakhand
- Champhai (Murlen & Vangchhia) Mizoram
- Chandratal Himachal Pradesh
- Chaukori Uttarakhand
- Chikhaldara Maharashtra
- Chitkul Himachal Pradesh
- Chopta Uttarakhand
- Churdhar (via Nohradhar) Himachal Pradesh
- Coonoor Tamil Nadu
- Coorg (Madikeri) Karnataka
- Dalhousie Himachal Pradesh
- Daringbadi Odisha
- Deomali Odisha
- Dirang Arunachal Pradesh
- Drass Ladakh
- Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve) Sikkim
- Gaganbawda Maharashtra
- Gulmarg Jammu and Kashmir
- Gurez Valley (Dawar) Jammu and Kashmir
- Harsil Uttarakhand
- Hmuifang Mizoram
- Janjehli (Shikari Devi) Himachal Pradesh
- Javadi Hills (Jamunamarathur) Tamil Nadu
- Jhalong & Bindu (Jaldhaka Valley) West Bengal
- Jibhi Himachal Pradesh
- Kalimpong West Bengal
- Kalpa Himachal Pradesh
- Kanatal Uttarakhand
- Karsog Valley Himachal Pradesh
- Kasauli Himachal Pradesh
- Kausani Uttarakhand
- Kaza (Spiti) Himachal Pradesh
- Kedarnath Uttarakhand
- Kemmangundi Karnataka
- Khajjiar Himachal Pradesh
- Kheerganga Himachal Pradesh
- Khirsu Uttarakhand
- Kodachadri (Kollur base) Karnataka
- Kohima Nagaland
- Kolli Hills Tamil Nadu
- Kolukkumalai Tamil Nadu
- Kudremukh Karnataka
- 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
- Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra
- Malana Himachal Pradesh
- 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
- Munsiyari Uttarakhand
- Mussoorie Uttarakhand
- Nag Tibba Uttarakhand
- Naggar Himachal Pradesh
- Nainital Uttarakhand
- Nako Himachal Pradesh
- Narkanda & Thanedar Himachal Pradesh
- Nelliyampathy Kerala
- Netarhat Jharkhand
- North Sikkim (Lachen-Lachung) Sikkim
- Nubra Valley Ladakh
- 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
- Phawngpui (Blue Mountain) Mizoram
- Pin Valley (Mudh) Himachal Pradesh
- Ponmudi Kerala
- Raigad Fort Maharashtra
- Rakcham Himachal Pradesh
- Ranikhet Uttarakhand
- Ravangla Sikkim
- Reiek Mizoram
- Roing & Mayudia Pass Arunachal Pradesh
- Sakleshpur Karnataka
- Sangla Himachal Pradesh
- Sankri (Har Ki Dun) Uttarakhand
- Sarahan (Bhimakali) Himachal Pradesh
- Shangarh (Sainj Valley) Himachal Pradesh
- Shimla Himachal Pradesh
- Sittong (Orange Village) West Bengal
- Sonamarg Jammu and Kashmir
- Suru Valley (Panikhar) Ladakh
- Tamia & Patalkot Valley Madhya Pradesh
- Tawang Arunachal Pradesh
- Tirthan Valley (Gushaini) Himachal Pradesh
- Toranmal Maharashtra
- Tosh Himachal Pradesh
- Touphema Village Nagaland
- Vagamon Kerala
- Valparai Tamil Nadu
- Vanjangi (Paderu) Andhra Pradesh
- Warwan Valley (Inshan) Jammu and Kashmir
- Wayanad Kerala
- Wilson Hills (Dharampur) Gujarat
- Yelagiri Tamil Nadu
- Yercaud Tamil Nadu
- Yuksom Sikkim
- Yusmarg Jammu and Kashmir
- Zanskar Ladakh
- Zuluk Sikkim
When to go
April, October and November are the months with the most mountains places in peak season.
By state
Himachal Pradesh (35)Uttarakhand (21)Maharashtra (12)Jammu and Kashmir (11)Tamil Nadu (10)Ladakh (9)Sikkim (9)Karnataka (7)West Bengal (7)Kerala (7)
Common questions
How many mountains destinations are there in India?
This catalogue lists 165 tagged mountains, across 25 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?
April, October and November 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 (35), Uttarakhand (21), Maharashtra (12), Jammu and Kashmir (11) and Tamil Nadu (10).
Other themes
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