Northern states of India house many beautiful hill stations. These hill stations are the major tourists spots during summers, when most of the places in India are under hot waves. These hill stations of north are their best getaway from the burning heat. India vacation in summers are spent at these places.

Manali

Manali - The Valley of Gods 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. Manali is an ideal place for the ones in search of both adventure and comfort. The Kullu is 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.

Shimla

Located around 343 km from Delhi, Shimla is the Queen of Indian Himalayas. At an altitude of around 2213 meters above the sea level, Shimla is a pleasant city to visit during the summers and a popular resort to indulge in skiing and other ice sports during the winter with the help of British Shimla became the subcontinent's most fashionable summer resort. Shimla was declared the summer capital of India in 1864. After India's independence, Shimla became the capital of Punjab till 1966, when it came under Himachal Pradesh.

The summers in Shimla are quit pleasant as the maximum temperature rarely crosses 25°C. Winters are cold and Shimla experiences quite a heavy snowfall. If you are among those who want to escape from the scorching heat of the plains, Shimla would be the ideal getaway. But for those who love snow, a visit in winters can be an exciting experience.

Mussoorie

The tourists to Mussoorie are bound to appreciate the beauty of nature that is omnipresent in Mussoorie. The main landmark of Mussoorie is the Mall road. The innumerable tourists throng the Mall especially in the evenings. The Mall happens to be the starting point of the aerial ropeway that provides an excellent view of the Gun Hill. Though today the hilltop has no guns in the old days a gun kept there was fired at mid-day to denote the time.

Mussoorie is the place to be checked out by the adventure seekers too. The roller skating rinks attract several young tourists. Then there are the long walks, which make an excellent option to explore the treasure of nature. Mussoorie also happens to be a comfortable base for the trekkers. Besides the Gangotri, Yamunotri and the Black Peak area Har-ki-Doon and other treks in the Garhwal Himalayas and into nearby Himachal Pradesh are great. Close to Mussoorie are the renowned Kempty Falls that are at a distance of just half an hour. The spot happens to be a favorite with the Indian film industry the backdrop of the water falling and further getting divided into five waterfalls is simply amazing.

Nainital

The charming hill station of Nainital is situated at an altitude of 1,938 meters and is an integral part of the traditional yatra and adventure sports circuit of Uttar Pradesh. The city has derived its name from the famous temple of goddess Naina.

The Naini Lake is the landmark of Nainital. The beauty of the lake draws thousands of tourists year after year to Nainital. You may indulge in the boat rides on the lake or try a hand at yachting. The lake is in limelight for being the place of action in the third week of June when it holds the Kingfisher Yachting Competition.

Indianholiday offers many tour packages for the hill stations of Manali, Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital.