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Best Hill Stations near Punjab

Manali stands high with pride as one of the most popular Hill Stations near Punjab. People within and across Punjab are attracted to this hill station owing to its surrounding beauty and the salubrious weather.

Situated in the central core of the heart of snowy mountains, Manali is a perfect weekend getaway for the adventure aficionados.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 305.7 km (7 hr 51 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: It is best to visit here in the months of falls from October to February for a chilling pleasure of tender snowfall.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): No direct train is available from Chandigarh to Manali. If you are traveling via railways, you need to first board off at Ambala Cantt and from there board on Hrtc to Manali. Train journey would cost you around 715 INR per head. There are state transport buses available to take you to Manali from Chandigarh costing around 515 INR per head.

Attractions to visit: Hadimba temple, Manu Maharaj temple, Lord Rama temple, Hot water springs, Van Vihar Park, Solang Valley, Nature Reserve, Old Manali, and Naggar. 

Activities to do: Paragliding, skiing, river rafting

Reckoned as colonial summer capital, Shimla is covered all around with snow-draped mountain ranges. Right from camping, trekking to yoga and meditations, people make it a point to reach Shimla to seek rejuvenation. It stands at an altitude of around 2200 m and is equally gorgeous in summers as it is in winters.

Shimla is a well-known hill station where entertainment, culture, and sightseeing all blend phenomenally well. Although not a comprehensive list to explore, Shimla still has a lot of things to do.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 113. 1 km (3 h 19 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: March to June offers pleasant weather to enjoy at Shimla.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): You have to take a direct state transport bus from Chandigarh to Shimla costing around 217 INR per head.

Attractions to visit: Narkanda, Kufri, Naldehra, Shoghi, Mashobra, Chail, Kasauli, Shimla Reserve Forest Area, Chail Sanctuary, Daranghati Sanctuary, and Kangra Valley.

Activities to do: Trekking, Camping, cottage stay, forest camping, shopping, river rafting, paragliding, cycling, hiking, and ice skating

Standing unique in the list of best Hill Stations near Punjab, Kullu offers a wide array of summer-friendly resorts with excellent halt and dining facilities. Presence of various temples here adds glory to the sanctity in the Himalayan foothills, making it more venerable.

Hills and forests here are so engaging that they force the honeymoon couples to snuggle more closely and increases their affinity towards one another.Be it either a honeymoon trip or a family vacation, Kullu is a traveler’s paradise.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 266.5 km (6 h 30 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: For those who love to indulge in sight-seeing, Kullu is an ideal place to plan for a summer retreat. Yet, being a hill station, people prefer to visit Kullu in the winter season too.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): There is a direct state transport bus from Chandigarh to Kullu for 443 INR per head.

Attractions to visit: Raghunath temple, Shringi Rishi temple, Maha Devi Tirth, Vashist Hot Water Spring, Naggar Castle, Lakes, Great Himalayan National Park, and Bhuntar.

Ranging from the snow-clad peaks to the vastly stretched Himalayan ranges, Rishikesh exhibits it all. Either you can head towards Rishikesh for peaceful relaxation or for enjoying heaps of adventure activities like trekking or cycling.

The land of Rishikesh is cleansed by the pious Ganges which flows through its foothills. The moment you feel lethargic here, you can just take a dip in the Ganges to cleanse your soul, body, and mind spiritually. 

Distance (from Chandigarh): 216.0 km (4 h 53 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: You can enjoy a quality river rafting at Rishikesh from late September to mid-November. Later, March to April turns out to be the best time to visit Rishikesh. 

How to reach (from Chandigarh): As there are no direct trains to Rishikesh from Chandigarh, you will have to board off at Roorkee and then make your way to Rishikesh. Similarly, for buses, you first need to board on a train to take you to Haridwar, and from there, you can take a state transport bus to Rishikesh.

Attractions to visit: Haridwar, Mussoorie, Neelkantha Mahadeva temple, Jadh Ganga trek, Kuari Pass, Piran Kaliyar Sharif, Dehradun, Chakrata, Corbett National Park, Kanatal.

Being famous as Dalai Lama’s holy residence, Dharamshala is a beautiful hill station to visit. Located amidst the scenic valleys of Kangra, Dharamshala offers a wide array of picturesque surroundings. It is all over surrounded by thick deodar forests, snow-capped mountain ranges, and quaint old monasteries.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 242.5 km (5 h 16 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: Spring and early summers are periods to plan on your Dharamshala visit as the environment here is quite pleasant and boosts tourism sector.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): There are private bus services available to take you to Dharamshala from Chandigarh costing you around 400 to 1000 INR per head. In case you are planning to go by train, you need to get down at Una and then hire a cab to lead you towards Dharamshala.

Attractions to visit: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamshala Cricket Stadium, St. John in Wilderness Church, War Memorial, Gyuto Monastery, Dal Lake and Nadi, Tea Garden Dharamshala, Triund, Jwala Devi Temple, Bhagsu Falls, Tibet Museum.

Standing at a distance of around 80 km from Pathankot, Dalhousie is amongst quiet and serene Places to visit near Punjab. It is a blend of both old and modern architectural charm. Nestling amidst the great green and misty valleys of Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie is a shopper’s hub for a wide array of handicrafts, trinkets and gift items.

The scenic beauty and salubrious climate of Dalhousie give you countless reasons to halt here for endless days. Accommodation is not a problem here as there are heaps of stay places on this lovely hill station.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 312.9 km (7 h 7 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: Beginning of the summers at Dalhousie is generally more relaxed, so the rest of the months are pleasing making summers the best time to visit this hill station.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): There are no direct trains or buses from Chandigarh to Dalhousie. You have to either ride your own cab or hire a one.

Attractions to visit: Khajjiar, Satdhara Falls, Panchpula, Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary, Dainkund Peak, Bakrota Hills, Subhash Baoli, St. John Church, Chamunda Devi temple, Chamba, Ganji Pahari.

Standing juxtaposed the calmly gurgling Parvati river, Kasol is amongst the best Hill Stations near Punjab with a wide to do list for the trekkers, nature lovers and backpackers. Strolling at the riverfront is itself enchanting to make you forget all your stress and personal life clutters. Smooth boulders and white sand present here separate lush green grass from the flowing waters.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 287.2 km (7 hr 58 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: Tourists finds it worthy of visiting Kasol in April, May, October, and November.

How to reach (from Chandigarh):  From Chandigarh, you need to board a train to Kullu and take another train to Kasol. Alternatively, you can directly hire a private cab from Chandigarh to Kasol.

Attractions to visit: Kheerganga Trek, Tosh, Parvati River, Malana, Pin Parvati Pass, Sar Pass Trek, Manikaran Gurudwara, Rasol, Chalal, The Evergreen Café, Buddha Place, Flea Market. 

Reckoned as a trekker’s paradise, Kheerganga offers a wide array of commercial camping options. Kheerganga claims itself as a trekker’s crown jewel. You can either start trekking from Barshaini bridge or Nakthan village. After hiking for around 7 to 8 hours, you make your way to the hot water spring located at an elevation of about 2950 meters.

Be careful as you step ahead; the terrain is extremely gritty. People from far off places reach here to take a dip in the warm currents for washing away all their worries and ailments.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 309.4 km (9 hr 21 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: October to June makes it an ideal tourist hill station as it receives a large engaging crowd in this period.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): You can board off any bus which leads you to Kullu and get down at Bhuntar Circle. From Bhuntar Circle, there are buses available every hour to take you to Barshani. It is a 13 km trek from Barshani to Kheerganga. 

Attractions to visit: Parvati Valley, Manikaran Gurudwara, Hot Springs at Manikaran, Sri Gurunanak Devji Gurudwara, Naina Bhagwati Mandir

Unlike other Hill Stations near Punjab, Kufri offers the best ski slopes along with a panoramic view of the deep valley and vastly stretched forest cover.  Standing at an altitude of around 2510 meters, Kufri hill station enjoys alpine weather.

Summers here are mild while winters are chilling cold. During the monsoon period, Kufri experiences South-western monsoon rains followed by heavy snowfall in winters.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 127.7 km (4 hr 14 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: Summer season ranging from April to June is the best time to plan on your Kufri tour. Alternatively, if you are a snow freak, you can head towards Kufri in the months of falls.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): As there are no direct flights, railways or buses available from Chandigarh to Kufri, you can hire a cab from Chandigarh to Kufri.

Attractions to visit: Jakhu temple, Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Tara Devi temple, St. Mary’s Church, Kali Bari, Sankat Mochan, Himalayan Bird Park, Rothney Castle, Seven Hills, The Ridge, St. Michael’s Cathedral and Christ Church.

You can hardly resist visiting Chail when it comes to listing down all the Places to visit near Punjab. Chail is known for its highest cricket ground in the world standing tall amidst the flock of pine and deodar trees. It is throughout surrounded by lush green beauty and mesmerizing views.

Do not forget to experience the real beauty of this pristine hiker’s paradise for setting aside your busy schedule and embracing the hidden beauty of nature.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 106.5 km (3 hr 25 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: Undoubtedly, it is summers to be one of the best seasons to visit this hill station. If you are a nature’s lover, the monsoon is the best time to plan on your Chail visit. 

How to reach (from Chandigarh): You can either hire a direct cab or board off a train at Shimla railway station which is at a distance of 15 km from here.

Attractions to visit: Chail Wildlife Sanctuary, Palace Hotel, Cricket Ground, Kali Temple, Sidh Baba ka Mandir, Gurudwara Saheb, Sadhupul

Kasauli hill station of Himachal Pradesh is the next to stand with pride amongst the most beautiful Hill Stations near Punjab encircled by dense timbered woods. The roads here are cobbled leading to quaint cottages which adds on a feathery touch of elegance to your itinerary.

People reach this hill station to plan on their journey with their spouses in the lap of Mother Nature. This is the only hill stations homing to Victorian-style mansions.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 58.2 km (1 hr 51 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: You can either plan on your Kasauli visit anywhere in between April to June or September to November.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): There are no direct buses or flights or trains from Chandigarh to Kasauli. You can hire a taxi if you are aiming to reach your final destination in one go.

Attractions to visit: The Mall, Monkey Point, Baptist Church, Shri Baba Balak Nath temple, Christ Church, Sunset Point and Lover’s Lane, Gurudwara Shri Guru Nanakji.

Although Dehradun is India’s reckoned educational hub, nothing could ever match on its natural beauty. It is a charming and adorable hill station nestling amidst Shivalik ranges and homes to a heap of verdant hills, majestic sceneries, perennial streams, and soul-stirring architecture.

This hill station serves as an important passage for the trekkers to make their way to the hill stations of Chopta, Nainital, and Chakrata.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 172.3 km (4 h 19 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: March to June is the most excellent season to flock here with your family, friends, and relatives.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): If you are planning to travel by train, you first need to board down at Saharanpur and from there, take a bus to reach Dehradun. The entire journey will cost you around 1000 INR per head.

Attractions to visit: Mussoorie, Dhanaulti, Rishikesh, Kanatal, Chakrata, Ranikhet, Auli, Lansdowne, Parwanoo, Chopta 

Misting over dun valleys and pine forests, Mussoorie is by far the gorgeous amongst other Hill Stations near Punjab. Your tour to Mussoorie hill station shall seem to be like a golden amber which will aid in rejuvenating yourself to the fullest.

Labeled as the Queen of Hills, Mussoorie hill station snuggles at the Garhwal Himalayan foothills. The tourism sector here boosts eco-friendly facets for drawing the attention of travelers from all around the globe.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 202. 6 km (5 h 24 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: September to June is the most favored season of tourists planning on their Mussoorie trip.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): There are no direct flights or trains or buses from Chandigarh to Mussoorie. Still, you can ride a train to Saharanpur and from there, hire a cab or taxi to reach Mussoorie.

Attractions to visit: Nag Devta temple, Jwala Devi temple, Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple, Shedup Choepelling Temple, Christ Church, Surkanda Devi temple, Benog Wildlife Sanctuary, Cloud’s end, Gun Hill, Lal Tibba, Camel’s Back Road, Municipal Garden.

If you want to try a hand at something different, try exploring every nook and corner of Narkanda. It is located beyond Shimla and is a great place to watch both sunrise and sunsets from the tip of mighty mountain peaks.

Every single turn of Narkanda is worth seeing as it surprises you with some astounding views of nature. There is a wide array of lush forests and apple orchards to stroll around while biting on a unit of apple.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 174 km (5 h 30 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: Plan on your Narkanda itinerary in winters for playing with knee deep snow.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): As there is no direct transport available to Narkanda from Chandigarh, plan on your Narkanda trip via Kalka railway station. From there, you can hire a cab to make your way to the final destination. The entire journey would cost you around 2500 INR per head.

Attractions to visit: Hatu Peak, Tannu Jubbar Lake, Stokes Farm, Mahamaya Temple, Jor Bagh, Jalori Pass.

When it comes to adorable hill stations, no one can relish visiting Khajjiar. Homing to stream-fed Khajjiar Lake, verdant meadows, and a featured plateau, this hill station is a pristine honeymooner’s paradise. It represents an epitome of discovery and re-discovery with an elevation of around 6400 ft.

Although small in size, this place is globally famous as a cool town of Himachal Pradesh. However, the only drawback of this region is that there is limited number of activities to enjoy here during your stay.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 323.8 km (7 h 49 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: You can visit Khajjiar throughout the year, yet winters of January and February might seem to be tricky months to have a correct weather prediction.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): The nearest airport is Dharamshala if you are taking a flight to Khajjiar. There are state transport as well as private buses to guide you through the hilly regions of Khajjiar. In case of railway trip, Pathankot is the nearest railway station from where you can hire a direct cab to Khajjiar.

Attractions to visit: Khajjiar Lake, Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, Khajjiar Trek, Lord Shiva Statue, Golden Devi temple, Tibetan handicraft center, Khajji Nag temple, HP state handicraft center. 

Nestling amidst the thick cover of oak and coniferous forests, Auli is amongst those handpicked Hill Stations near Punjab which offers a panoramic view of the surrounding beauty. Naturally blessed with beautiful points to seek relaxation, Auli speedily catches the attention of nature lovers, honeymooners, and peace-seekers.

Having an elevation of around 2500 meters, the entire pathway from the foothills to the top is laden with vibrant flowers to adore throughout. There are both fun and adventure activities to enjoy here during your Auli visit. 

Distance (from Chandigarh): 245.3 km (7 h 20 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: Snow skiing is at its peak here from November to March. 

How to reach (from Chandigarh): You can either pre-book for a state transport bus from Chandigarh to Auli or a private bus. Rishikesh is the nearest railway station to reach here by train.

Attractions to visit: Auli artificial lake, Joshimath, Gurso Bugyal, Nanda Devi Peak, Auli Ropeway, Chattrakund, Chenab Lake, Auli Ski Resort, Trishul Peak, Vishnuprayag.

Are you in search of top Hill Stations near Punjab for your paragliding activity? Then, you cannot miss on including Bir in your itinerary. Bir is rated to be one of the globally reckoned paragliding destinations standing at an altitude of around 800 m. The town nearby is reputed as a spiritual study and a meditation center.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 285.4 km (6 h 42 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: If you are reaching Bir for a beautiful paragliding experience, plan on your Bir visit in summers from April to June.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): There is no direct connectivity available from Chandigarh to Bir. Ahju is the nearest railway station Kangra Airport the nearest airports.

Attractions to visit: Bir Billing, Bir Road, Tibetan Colony, Bir Tea Factory, Deer Park Institute, Chokling Monastery.

One of the quietest and unspoiled Hill Stations near Punjab is Lansdowne. Since Britisher’s ruling era, this place has been serving as one of the trendiest hill stations to relax near Punjab. Unlike other hill stations, Lansdowne is well- connected through remote motorable roads and surrounded all over by thick blend of oak and blue pine forest cover.

This hill station is up-to-date in terms of its maintenance and hygiene and stands high as the closest weekend getaway from Delhi NCR.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 307.9 km (7 h 54 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: The weather at Lansdowne is delightful to visit. Winters are cold while the summers are quite pleasant.

How to reach (from Chandigarh): There is no direct connectivity from Chandigarh to Lansdowne. You can either take a day train to Haridwar and then hire a taxi to reach Lansdowne. Alternatively, a day bus to Rishikesh and from there a cab to Lansdowne.

Attractions to visit: Bhulla Lake, Tip N Top, St. John’s Church, Darwan Singh Regimental Museum, Jungle Safari, Bhim Pakora, Tarkeshwar Mahadev temple, Kanvashram

Standing juxtaposed to Dharamshala, Mcleodganj is quite well-known amongst trekkers. This is amongst those particular Places to visit near Punjab where you can find a perfect blend of Tibetan culture and British influence.

Nestling amidst majestic hills and covered all over by lush greenery, Mcleodganj offers mesmerizing landscapes to capture down.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 251.1 km (5 h 44 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: Summer season from April to July is the best season to visit here.

How to reach (from Chandigarh):  Gaggal Airport is the nearest one to arrive here by flight. Pathankot is the nearest railway station for you to reach here by trains. Mcleodganj has its own bus terminal for road travelers.

Attractions to visit: Masroor Temple, Triund, Bhagsu Falls, Nechung Monastery, Guna Devi temple, Sunset Point, St. John’s Church, Indrahar Pass, Vipassana Meditation Centre.

Spiti Valley is one of the most enthralling Hill Stations near Punjab. Also tagged as Little Tibet, the cold desert is totally stunning for the lone travelers. Vibrant monasteries, snow-capped mountain ranges, deep ravines, gorges and spectacular lakes all blend together to embrace the elegance of Spiti Valley.

Distance (from Chandigarh): 501.9 km (12 h 45 min)

Best Time/Season to visit: June to September is the best season to visit this pristine hill station of India. These months have pleasing daytime and chilly conditions at night.

How to reach (from Chandigarh):  Himachal state transport buses are available to connect Chandigarh with Spiti Valley. Chandigarh airport is the nearest air route to arrive here. 

Attractions to visit: Chandratal Lake, Key Monastery, Kunzum Pass, Pin Valley National Park, Suraj Tal, Dhankar Monastery, Tabo Monastery, Dhankar Lake, Kibber, Baralacha La.