HILL STATIONS NEAR DELHI

DEHRADUN, DHARAMSHALA & MCLEODGANJ, DALHOUSIE, RANIKHET

DEHRADUN –

The capital of Uttarakhand is the mother hill town which opens the channel for more than ten amazing hill stations like Nainital, Ranikhet, Mussoorie etc. It is cuddled between the Shivalik Hills and the Himalayan foothills. It is the best hill station near Delhi with majestic view of mountain, trees and lakes forming a heavenly landscape.

How to Reach :

By Road – 248 km (Take bus from New Delhi and it will take approx. 6 hours.),

By Train – 305 km (Trains are available from New Delhi to Dehradun Junction and takes approx. 6 hours of journey),

By Air – 202 km (Take flight from New Delhi-DEL to Dehradun-DED and you will reach within 1 hour).

Climate of Dehradun :

Summer- 36ºC-16.7ºC, Winter – 23ºC-5.2ºC, Monsoon – July to August, Winter Rainfall – Dec to Jan

Best time to visit :

Throughout the year except Monsoon.

Feb-March is the month when Dehradun celebrates Maha Shivratri Fair.

What to see :

The famous and ancient Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar), Mysterious Robber’s Cave also known as Guchhipani, The curable sulphur containing Sahastradhara, the largest Buddhist Vihara of India – Mindrolling Monastery, the perfect picnic spot Lacchiwalla, Fun Valley – the amusement park, Har Ki Dun – the peaceful trekking spot, famous cave temple Tapkeshwar Temple, Tiger view Jungle Camp etc.

Things to do :

watch the colorful birds at Lacchiwalla, Visit the Forest Research Institute, Take bath in the hot spring water at Tapkeshwar Temple, watch the time in clock tower. Well I am just kidding because the clock tower is not functional anymore. It was built before independence, get the adventure by camping in the Tiger view Jungle Camp and go for safari and spot the tigers, enjoy the activities like paragliding, skiing, river rafting, angling.

What to eat :

Kumar Sweets at Clock Tower, Chinese fast food, Gaylord Ice cream parlour offering ice-creams in unbelievable low price. Maggie at Mussorie Road, Chetan Poori wala at Hanuman Chowk, Momos at Rajpur Road and you will discover more tasty delicacies while arriving to this beautiful hill station near Delhi.

DHARAMSHALA & MCLEODGANJ –

The beautiful hill towns of Himachal Pradesh are divided into two parts. Dharamshala is in the lower division and the upper division comprises of Mcleodganj which is known as Little Lhasa of India.

How to Reach :

By Road – 488 km (Take bus from New Delhi and it will take approx. 11 hours.),

By Train – 496 km (Trains are available from New Delhi/Old Delhi to Pathankot from where Dharamshala is at a distance of 85 Km and takes approx. 12 hours)

By Air – 407 km (Take flight from New Delhi-DEL to Gaggal Airport-DHM from where Dharamshala is at distance of 15 km and you will reach within 2 hour)

Climate of Dharamshala & Mcleodganj :

Summer- 16ºC-31ºC, Winter – 25ºC-6ºC, Monsoon – July to Mid-Sep,

Best time to visit :

Throught out the year except Monsoon.

Feb-March is the month when Dharamshala celebrates Losar or Tibetan New Year.

What to see : The Tibetan Style Dharamshala Cricket Stadium, St. John in the Wilderness Church dedicated to John the Baptist, War memorial reminding us of the great Freedom fighters, Gyuto Monastery, Dal Lake and Nadi, Jwalamukhi Devi Temple, Bhagsu Falls, Tsuglagkhang in Mcleodganj which is the home of Dalai Lama, Namgyal Monastery of Mcleodganj, Kangra Art Museum, Tibet Museum in Mcleodganj.

Things to do :

Trekking under experts guidance, Trek to Triund to have the charming view of Dhauladhar mountain and entire Kangra Valley, boating in Dal Lake, Meditation at Gyuto Monastery, paragliding, Camping etc.

What to eat :

Tibetan Cuisine like momos, thukpa and the special honey ginger lemon tea, Baklebs – a kind of Tibetan Samosa.

DALHOUSIE –

Named after Lord Dalhousie who was the then Governor General of India, Dalhousie is a picturesque Hill town in the heart of Himachal Pradesh surrounded by five majestic hills in the great Dhuladhar mountain range. It is one of the high altitude town and is one of the mostly visited hill stations near Delhi.

How to Reach :

By Road –569 km (Take bus from New Delhi and it will take approx. 15-16 hours.),

By Train – 480 km (Trains are available from New Delhi/Old Delhi to Pathankot station which is 70 km away from Dalhousie and the entire journey takes approx. 12 hours.)

By Air – 448 km (Take flight from New Delhi-DEL to Pathankot-IXP which is 75 kms away from Dalhousie and

you will reach within 3 hours).

Climate of Dalhousie :

Summer- 26ºC, Winter – 10ºC-1ºC (Snowfall from Dec-Feb), Monsoon – June to Sep,

Best time to visit :

Throughout the year except Monsoon.

Dec-Feb is the month when Dalhousie celebrates ICE SKATING CARNIVAL.

What to see :

Khajjiar- a small town nearby Dalhousie popularly known as ‘Mini Switzerland’, Panchpulla – the junction of five streams with pine and deodar tress all around it, Sathdhara Falls – the seven spring, Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, Subhash Baoli and the alluring Chamera Lake.

Things to do :

Boating, river rafting and motor boating in Chamera Lake, rock climbing in Khajjiar, visiting the beautiful Chamba, shopping in the local Bazaars, walking in the Bakrota Roads that leads towards the highest area of Dalhousie, Trekking to Daikund Peak.

What to eat :

Have fresh fruits here, Himachali cuisine. Dig into Punjabi cuisine in some dhabas under the stunning stars and cool atmoshphere of Dalhousie.

RANIKHET –

Ranikhet is a serene hill station of Uttarakhand popular for the best Himalayan vistas. The word ‘Ranikhet’ literally mean ‘Queen of Farm’ and so it is. Ranikhet truly holds the nature in its best form and is the most preferred hill station near Delhi.

How to Reach :

By Road –341 km (Take bus from New Delhi and it will take approx. 8 hours.),

By Train – 277 km (Trains are available from New Delhi to Kathgodam station which is     60 km away from Ranikhet

and takes approx. 9 hours of journey),

By Air – 244 km (Take flight from New Delhi-DEL to Pantnagar-PGH and you will reach within 5 hours).

Climate of Ranikhet :

Summer- 22ºC-8ºC, Winter – 7ºC-3ºC (Snowfall from Dec-Feb), Monsoon – June to August,

Best time to visit :

Throughout out the year except Monsoon.

September is the month when Ranikhet celebrates Nanda Devi Fair.

What to see :

The Jhula Devi Temple with abundant of elegant bells and a Ram Temple located nearby, serene Chaubatia Orchards with full of lush apple trees, Majhkhali offering the best view of Sonya Peak, a beautiful small town Kalika nearby Ranikhet famous for its natural vistas, Kalika Temple and Golf Course, an artificial Bhalu Dam with peaceful atmoshphere, Upat Golf Course which is one of the highest Golf Course of Asia, Nanda Devi Temple etc.

Things to do :

Camping at Wildlife Paragliding Camp, Trek towards Bhalu Dham and enjoy fishing, spot the panoramic sunset at Majhkhali, Golfing at Upat Golf Course, Shop vegetables and fruits at Sadar Bazaar and buy the antique wooden houses at Zarrori Bazaar.

What to eat :

Sweets like Bal Mithai – delicious combo of sugar balls, chocolate and khoya, Ram Mithai and Toffee. The traditional sweet Arsa and Aloo Dal Pakora etc.