Travel Guide: Plan Your Train Trip to Top Hill Stations of India

By: Sakshi Kumari | onMarch 18, 2023

Travelling is explicitly the best way to heal your soul, especially when you travel to a destination that offers you a soothing cold wind, open areas to breathe, and an altitude inspiring you to touch heights by breaking all the rules and stereotypes. A hill station visit is really healing. Here is a travel guide for you to plan, reach and explore yourself at India’s top hill stations.

How to Reach Major Hill Stations of India

In India, Train is the most preferred way to reach any place in India. The nation’s rail network is vast and connects minor to major regions of India. With it, You can plan your trip to India’s hill stations.

Mussoorie: A Quirky Destination

Located in Northern part of India, Mussoorie is a top hill station with spectacular view of the giant Himalayas and Doon valleys. The destination is the “Queen of Hills”, best suited for couples wanting to spend their honeymoon, do group travelling with friends and more. To reach Mussoorie, you can take a train to Dehradun. Dehradun junction has several train connections from different parts of the country. It is merely 35 km from Mussoorie. After reaching here, you can comfortably reach Mussoorie, located at 2005 m above sea level.

Mussoorie Best Time to Visit: March to June
Top Places to Visit: Kempty Falls, Lal Tibba, Gun Hill Point
Nearest Railway Stations: Dehradun Railway Station, DDN

Manali: Popular Hill Destination

Manali must be on your bucket list if you’re travel-freaked. It is a popular hill station destination located at the Kullu Valley’s northern end. It’s a beautiful and elegant place to spend your holidays amid the soothing climate and snow-capped mountains. In Manali, you can engage in adventurous activities like Paragliding, trekking etc. To reach Manali, you can take a train trip to Joginder Nagar railway station. Moreover, Chandigarh and Ambala railheads are also nearby locations to Manali.

Manali Best Time to Visit: March to June, October to January
Top Places to Visit: Beas River, Hidimba Devi Temple, Solang Valley
Nearest Railway Stations: JoginderNagar Railway Station, JDNX

Shimla: Soothing Hill Station

Shimla is also amongst the top choice destinations for various people. If you also want to visit Shimla, You can board a train to Kalka railway station. The station has good railway line connections with the different cities of India.

Shimala Best Time to Visit: May to June, December to January
Top Places to Visit: The Ridge, Kalka-Shimla Railway, Jakhoo Hill and Temple,
Nearest Railway Stations: Kalka Railway Station, KLK

Coorg: It’s worth it

When someone asks for a place to visit in Karnataka, especially a hill station in Southern India, the one-word answer that comes to our mind is Coorg, popularly known for its coffee plantations, natural beauty, and adventure activities like trekking and camping. In Coorg, there are no railway stations. However, you can take a train to the nearest railway station, Mysore Hassan and Mangalore.

Coorg Best Time to Visit: September to June, October to March
Top Places to Visit: Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Somnathpur Temple, Namdroling Monastery
Nearest Railway Stations: Mysuru Junction Railway Station, MYS

Darjeeling: Land of Thunderbolt

The land of thunderbolt hill station in India, Darjeeling, is a beautiful destination surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of lush green tea plantations and majestic Kanchenjunga ranges. To explore the beauty of Darjeeling, you can take a train trip to New Jalpaiguri Railway Stations. Afterwards, board the famous toy train to reach beautiful Darjeeling.

Darjeeling Best Time to Visit– March to May, October to November
Top Places to Visit– Tiger Hill, Ghoom Monastery, Batasia Loop
Nearest Railway Stations– New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, NJP

Nainital: Treasure of Kumaon Region

India’s most visited hill station, Nainital, is a paradise for nature lovers with bloomed flowers, scenic beauty, pleasant weather, and beautiful lakes. Here, you can witness the beautiful sights of charming cottages and colonial buildings. In Nainital, you can even participate in numerous fun activities like trekking, rock climbing, rappelling, Paragliding, etc. To reach the enthralling hill station, you can take a train to its nearest railhead Kathgodam Railway Station. You can find numerous trains between Dehradun to Kathgodam and Delhi to Kathgodam.

Nainital Best Time to Visit – March to May, December to February
Top Places to Visit– Nainital Zoo, Eco Cave Garden, Raj Bhavan
Nearest Railway Stations– Kathgodam Railway Station, KGM

Kodaikanal: Top Hill Station of TamilNadu

Kodaikanal is a famous hill station in India, located in the Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, India. The hill station is at an altitude of 2000 metres. It has various artificial, beautiful star-shaped lakes in India. You can visit Kodaikanal conveniently by planning a train trip to any location in India. Trains are well connected to its closest railway station Kodai railway station.

Kodaikanal Best Time to Visit – March to May, December to February
Top Places to Visit– Nainital Zoo, Eco Cave Garden, Raj Bhavan
Nearest Railway Stations– Kathgodam Railway Station, KGM

Gulmarg: High Altitude Hill Station

Gulmarg is one of the high-altitude hill stations – the best place to experience snowfall and immerse in the mesmerising beauty of heaven on Earth. Visiting Gulmarg by train requires taking a train trip to Jammu Tawi Railway Station, around 290 kilometres from Gulmarg.You can do adventurous activities like skiing, hiking, and several winter spots here.

Gulmarg Best Time to Visit – March to June
Top Places to Visit– Maharani Temple, Gulmarg Golf Course, Kongdoori Mountain
Nearest Railway Stations– Jammu Tawi Railway Station, JAT

Munnar: Most Sought Destination

Located in Kerala, Munnar is a beautiful hill station in India. However, In Munnar or Idukki district, there is no railway station. You can take the train to Aluva railway station, Ernakulam Railway Station or Madurai Railway Station. You can easily hire a cab from these railway stations or board state transport or private buses to reach Munnar.

Munnar Best Time to Visit – January to May, September to November
Top Places to Visit – Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point, Kundala Lake
Nearest Railway Stations to Munnar- Aluva railway station, AWY

Ooty: Picture Perfect Destination

Another travel destination in South India, Ooty, also known as Udhagamandalam, is a perfect place to spend your vacation. Its scenic beauty and lush green tea plantations are so pleasing. You can take the rail to any of its nearest railheads and mesmerise in the beauty of this majestic town.

Ooty Best Time to Visit – April to June, September to November
Top Places to Visit – Doddabetta Peak, Ooty Lake, Botanical Garden
Nearest Railway Stations to Ooty- Mettupalayam railway station, MTP

How many Hill Stations are in India?

India is known for its scenic hill stations. You can visit several hill stations to glimpse nature’s beauty and find peace in your soul. Major hill stations in India are Mussoorie, Nainital, Ooty, Coorg, Lonavala, Manali, Kodaikanal,Coonoor, Khajjiar, Shimla, Mount Abu, Khandala, Darjeeling, Mahabaleshwar, Munnar, Auli, Kasauli, Kashmir and Srinagar.

How can I Plan My Trip to the Top Hill Station in India?

The train can be the best mode to transport to the top hill stations of India. It connects numerous cities to the town through its vast rail network. You can easily get a train to any top or remote location in India from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and others.

Many rail apps aid you in planning your travel by rail. RailMitra is one of the top rail enquiry apps. You can use this app to check PNR status online of train tickets, trains between two stations, train schedules, live station train arrival and departure and more.

You can even use this app to order food in train. RailMitra delivers restaurant food on trains to satiate your travel hunger. So, without worry, book your trip to your most preferred hill station in India.