India Hill Stations: Shimla, Manali, Darjeeling, Ooty, Munnar, Mussoorie: Himalayan and Western Ghats Complete Guide 2026
Browse more guides: India travel | Asia destinations India Hill Stations: Shimla, Manali, Darjeeling, Ooty, Munnar, Mussoorie: Himalayan and Western Ghats Complete Guide 2026 TL;DR I spent three months last year crossing India's hill country, from the deodar slopes above Shimla to the tea ridges of Munnar. This 2026 guide pulls together five top elevation towns, five quieter alternates, three itineraries from seven to fourteen days, a working budget in rupees and dollars, language phrases, and the practical timing that kept me dry, fed, and out of landslide season. Plan around March to June and September to November. Why Visit in 2026 I keep coming back to India's high country because the temperature drops the moment the road bends past two thousand metres, and the food, the rail lines, and the conversation all shift with it. In 2026 the appeal is sharper than usual. The government has funded fresh Nilgiri Mountain Railway coaches, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs m...