There’s an everlasting love story that passes through the air and the cold breeze quietly dances to the music of the hilltop, making a sojourn worthwhile. Standing tall and kissing the clouds, hills make for a peaceful escape.  

 

While we think the best of the hill stations are located far across continents, it’s a proud surprise that a good number of them are in Asia. Right from Shimla to Kodaikanal, the love for the hills never cease to fulfil a traveller’s thirst for more. While many hill stations are widely spoken about, there still are those that remain untouched by many. There’s never a best time to visit a hill station as it’s blessed by the weather gods all around the year.

 

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

 

 

This beauty is the heaven of greenery and lies across northern Malaysia. Known as Tanah Tinggi Cameron, the hill station was discovered by Sir William Cameron in 1885. Cameron Highlands is right on the tip of Pahang and is popular for its untouched pastures. Home to more than a hundred floral species, the hill station is has a very unique ecosystem. It also houses more than 700 species of plants over the entire area. Acres and acres of tea plantations leave the air with powerful tea leaves’ fragrance. The hill station is an absolute delight for farm lovers as strawberry farms and lavender gardens here are to die for. Not much has been written about the unexplored meadows of Cameron Highlands and that’s probably the best part about this beautiful countryside.
• Cameron Highlands is not for the ones who love to bask in the glory of urbanisation. It’s for nature lovers who crave for the love of Mother Nature.

• Located amidst Titiwangsa Rang and standing high above the sweltering plains of Malaysia, the hill station offers a salubrious weather all around the year.

• Cameron Highlands screams of its English colonial history in every brick and corner. The cuisine is a mix of English food and Malay.

• Trekking is the most popular activity here as it provides adventure lovers with acres of trek path surrounded with colourful and vibrant flower gardens.

• Honey bee farms are also open to tourists where they are given first hand training on how to make honey out of the raw beehives. Ee Feng Gu Honey Bee Farm is the most popular one of them all. The tourists are also served honey drinks and cocktails made out of fresh honey.

• Mossy forest, also known as Cloud forest or Elfin forest is another must visit place in Cameron Highlands. Mossy Forest occupies the ridge and valleys at elevations above 1,800 metres where the temperatures are the lowest. Night lovers have a perfect opportunity to gaze into the Milky Way galaxy from the mossy forest.
Best time to visit – All around the year

Cuisine – Malay and English (mostly breakfast)

Languages spoken – Malay, Tamil, English and Mandarin

How to get there — By road via Kualalampur and Perak

Mount Emei, China

 

“It’s better to travel than to arrive,” said Gautham Buddha. Whether you’re walking through the bustling Chinatowns or trekking on the sacred mountain of Emei, it’s impossible to get over the Buddhist chants that mesmerise the surroundings. Mount Emei is one of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains of China; located in the Sichuan province. It lies amidst Emeishan traps, which were generated due to the volcanic eruptions during the Permian era. Standing at 3,009 metres above sea level, Mt. Emei is the highest of the four sacred mountains. Regarded as Bodhimanda, which means a place of enlightenment, Mt. Emei is apt for a spiritual and peaceful getaway.

• Martial arts are one of the most popular practices of China and practicing them in the monasteries of Mt. Emei is considered sacred. Mt. Emei is the birth place of Chinese boxing which originated in the Shaolin Monastery.

• When at Mt. Emie make sure you pay a visit to all the temples as archaeologists have dated them back to the 1st century. The infrastructure is mostly Buddhist and the site has around 75 monasteries and temples. The only way to travel between the temples is through cable cars which are easily accessible.

• Sunrise and sunset are those two moments in the day that you don’t want to miss when in Mt. Emei. These moments are a unique phenomenon where the sky turns into a bouquet of purples and greens.

• Wild life enthusiasts can trek through, to catch a glimpse of the Tibetan macaques, which are rare and found only in Tibet, North-east India and China.

• More than 200 different species of plants can be found on Mt. Emei and vibrant species of flora too.

Best time to visit — All around the year

Cuisine — Chinese

Languages spoken — Mandarin and English

How to get there — 154 kms by road from Chengdu

Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

 

Located right in the centre of the island country, Nuwara Eliya, also known as the city of light is popular for its picturesque landscapes and beautiful tea plantations. At 1,868 metres from the sea level, the hill station is considered to be the most important producer of tea in Sri Lanka. Overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain of the country, Nuwara Eliya, is one of the most popular destinations in the India Ocean. Discovered by Samuel Baker, the hill station is also known as Little England due to its colonial past. The hill station is a photographer’s dream come true with its gorgeous valleys and meadows. It’s difficult to digest that Nuwara Eliya is just 180 km from the hot and humid city of Colombo.

• Lake Gregory, the man made wonder, nestled in the foot of the hills is nothing less than a stunning wallpaper. A boat ride in the lake will bring back all the peace you have been yearning for.

• Another must visit place in Nuwara Eliya is the Hakgala Botanical Gardens which is dipped in the mist all around the year. The fragrance in the air is captivating and will last in your memory forever.

• Lakshapana Fall is very popular in the whole of Sri Lanka; and also the most important as it’s used to generate electricity in the country. The falls are 129m high and plunge into Maskeliya Oya, forming an array of scenic lines of water.

• Lovers and honeymooners must also visit the Lover’s Leap waterfall. Locals narrate many folk tales based on true love stories that add to the curiosity. The story of a couple who jumped in the falls to be together in life and death is the most popular one and hence the name.

• Breweries are also a common sight in the hill station and Ceylon Breweries is well known throughout the region. Established in 1884 the brewery is one of the finest too.

Best time to visit — All around the year

Cuisine — Sri Lankan, Indian and Continental

Languages Spoken — Sinhala, Tamil and English

How to get there — By road through Colombo

Gangtok, Sikkim

 

No matter how much you write about the beauty of Northeast India, it’s never enough. There’s a sense of pride when you drive through the valleys in Sikkim and you end up wanting for more. Gangtok is located in the Himalayan range at an elevation of 1,650 metres. The city rose to fame during 1840 after the construction of Enchey Monastery. Guess what? You can get the best view of Kanchenjunga from the city which in itself is the most blissful achievement. Do not rely on hotels and if you want to experience the warmth and hospitality of the Sikkimese families, get yourself a home stay. The locals are known to be welcoming and loving. Gangtok is a very nice mix of urban infrastructure and the traditional bamboo houses all around.

• Nathula pass! The name is enough to excite you to plan your next trip up north. The mountain pass has been a matter of conflict between India and China’s Tibet Autonomous region. This doesn’t spoil the excitement among tourists as the pass is well secured by the Indian army and is safe for the visitors.

• Sikkimese are known to be die-hard music lovers and most of the local cafes host budding musicians. These are the gigs you must not miss; you never know, there might be a budding Beatles gang up there.

• The most popular Silk Route is right here in Gangtok. The historic trade path was a catalyst the development of silk trade between China and India. Driving through it until the country’s border can make for an adventurous ride.

• Like we mentioned earlier, there’s is no best time to visit these beautiful destinations, it can add to the fun quotient if you visit during one of the festivals which are organised every year in Gangtok. Devil dance festival is the most spectacular one of all and it is celebrated from January to February each year.

• Another must visit place in Gangtok is the life size statue of Lord Shiva. The view from the spot post sunset is absolutely breathtaking.

Best time to visit — All around the year

Cuisine — Sikkimese, Tibetan, Chinese, Indian and Thai

Languages Spoken — Bhutia (Sikkimese), Nepali, Lepcha and English

How to get there — Helicopter from Bagdogra airport or by road from Jalpaiguri railway station.

Auli, Uttarakhand

 

Now there’s this one place which is the most unexplored. India has its own skiing paradise hidden in the Himalayan range. Auli is the most remote of them all and will make sure you drop your plans of visiting Switzerland this summer. Located at an elevation of 3,050 metres from sea level, the hill station rose to prominence only recently when Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh. Auli serves as the best pit stop for the ones who are on a pilgrimage to Badrinath or Kedarnath. This pocket of snow heaven boasts of the longest cable route in Asia with a stretch of 4 km. The only drawback is that it’s safe to visit Auli only from theend of February until beginning of May. The weather here is highly unpredictable and you may get stuck for long if you don’t plan it well.

• Auli is rated as one of the most popular destinations among ski-lovers. Daredevils will surely have a gala time here, especially if you’re well experienced. There are no professional trainers here and the tourism board suggests that you only take it up if you have prior training. Like we said, the weather is highly unpredictable and can turn dangerous. However, experiencing this stunt will leave you with a lifetime of unforgettable memories.

• The highest mad-made lake in the world is at Auli. The view from here is unexplainably scenic and beautiful, as the hill station is surrounded by peaks like Mana, Kamet and Nanda Devi.

• Kuari Pass Trek is another renowned trek which starts from Auli. Eminent mountaineers like Lord Curzon and Eric Shipton have trekked here in the early 1900s.

• For the ones looking for a colourful religious festival, can visit Auli while on a trip to Badrinath during September as the popular Mata Mruti Ka Mela is held here.

• When visiting Auli, do not forget to trek to the picturesque Gurso Bugyal. It transforms to green during spring and wears a blanket of snow during winters. The ropeway route to Gurso Bugyal is also a must-do activity.

Best time to visit — End of February to beginning of March

Cuisine — Himalachali, Pahadi and Punjabi

Languages Spoken — Himachali, Hindi, English and Punjabi

How to get there — By road from Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun.