Hill Station

Mayodia

State
Arunachal Pradesh

Mayodia, the magical land of snowfall is fast becoming a hit with tourists, located in the Upper Dibang Valley and is also a gateway to the Indo-China border. The place derived its name from a Nepali girl "Maya", who disappeared in the snow and could never be found.

It is a wonderful hill resort located at a distance of 56 km from Roing. Rising up to a height of 7000 ft, this hill resort is surrounded by hills, forests and mesmerizing landscapes. This hill resort is truly worth a visit.

Topic
Hill Station
Unexplored
Adventure

Itanagar

State
Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar, 'the land of the dawn lit mountains', is nestled on the foothills of Himalayas and known for its rich and varied flora and fauna. "Itanagar" derives its name from this historic fort "Ita" of the fourteenth century, meaning fort of bricks. The mighty eastern Himalayas that border Itanagar from one side and the plains of Brahmaputra River lie on the southern end makes it incredible and incomparable in natural beauty.

History

History says that there is a note of Arunachal Pradesh in epics like Mahabharata, Ramayana and Kalika Purana. Itanagar is named after the Ita fort which was built by King Ramachandra around 14th-15th centuries. Itanagar was the capital state even during the 11th century in the name Mayapur at the time of Jiti Dynasty. Itanagar is situated in one of the largest state in the North Eastern region of India. Itanagar is predominantly occupied by the tribes Nishings.

Accessibility

Air: The nearest airport to Itanagar is located at Lilabari in Assam, which is nearly 67 km away from Itanagar. This airport is well connected by flights from Guwahati. Pawan Hans provides helicopter facility between Itanagar and Guwahati, thrice a week.

Rail: Harmuti in Assam is the nearest railhead, which is nearly 33 km away from Itanagar. Taxi services from the railway station to Itanagar charges around Rs 500 - Rs 600. Harmuti is well connected with North East railway stations.

Road: Overnight super express buses connect Itanagar with Guwahati, which takes about 12 hours. Arunachal State Transport buses connect Itanagar with other North East cities in India.

Shopping

This place is known for its handicrafts and articrafts exhibiting the states tradition and culture. The Monpa wood is very famous and which comes to the market as cups, dishes and fruit bowls. Baskets and masks made of bamboo and cane are also popular items for shopping in Itanagar. Beautiful ornaments and bangles made of beads may also feature in your shopping cart in Itanagar.

Itanagar is a shopper's paradise and an ideal place for those who are looking for traditional handicraft items. Some of the famous handicrafts of Itanagar include bamboo crafts, cane and wood crafts. While you shop in Itanagar pick up the shawls, coasts, carpets, bags and sashes, these items are made from wool and cotton. Don't forget to check out the Tibetan Buddhist paintings or the thankas. Besides, the Monpas are highly skilled in weaving and making some of the fabulous carpets, you can pick these up in the Bomdila and Tawang craft centres.

The local tribes weave an exquisite array of fabrics. It is recommended that a variety of woolen coats, shawls, carpets and bags can be purchased at an affordable price. These articles are woven from cotton, wool and bark fiber. The traditional handicrafts items of Arunachal Pradesh are also in demand and stuff such as bamboo, cane and wood creations can be bargained for. The Tibetan Buddhist paintings (Thankas) are a rare and exquisite art form and are easily available at Itanagar.

Accommodation

The most propitious location for comfortable accommodation is Itanagar. It houses numerous hotels ranging from luxurious ones to budget hotels. Economically reasonable, some of the good hotels of the city are Field Hostel, circuit House, Hotel Itafort, Hotel Donyi Polo Ashok, Blue Pine Hotel, Hotel Simang.

HIGH RANGE HOTELS

1.Hotel Donyi Polo Ashoka
Near All India Radio, Itanagar
0360 212626/212630/ 212631

2.Hotel Arun subansiri
'0' Point Tinali, Itanagar
0360 212806/212677
BUDGET HOTELS

1.Hotel Bomdila
Gohpur Road,Itanagar
0360 203604

2.Hotel Kameng
Bank Tinali, Itanagar
0360 203604

3.Hotel Itafort
Bank Tinali, Itanagar
0360 213253/212590

4.Hotel Kosing
Near Petrol pump, C-Sector, Itanagar
0360 213074/211034

5.Hotel Blue Pine
Ganga Market, Itanagar
0360 21118/212812

7.Hotel Siang Continental
Near Petrol pump, Itanagar
0360 216015/216016

8.Hotel Alpine
Ganga Market, Itanagar
0360 213253/214298

9.Hotel Ane
Bank Tinali, Itanagar
0360 211289

10.Hotel Jimsi
Ganga Market, Itanagar
0360 216855/213253

Attractions

Losar Festival
This is a 15 day festival which is the New Year according to Monpa calendar of the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The main feature of this festival includes the dances like Aji Lhamu Dance, Lion and peacock dance and the yak dance. It falls in the month of January. During this festival religious flags are also hoisted in houses

Things to do

Adventure Sports: There lives a clandestine adventurer in every tourist searching for some excitement after the saturation of tourist interest. Bomdila, a small place near Itanagar invites all such adventurers to cosset in many such activities. The amazing topology of Arunachal Pradesh is unmatched as far as trekking is considered. Generally the period from September to February is considered ideal for trekking. Rafting and angling activities are also supported here and are extremely popular. It is also possible to find a good friend and expert in these fields to guide you if required.

STD Code
0360
Topic
Hill Station
Popular
Termperature
Summer 25-40º C, Winter 15-21º C
Best time to visit
Throughout the year

Auli

State
Uttrakhand

Auli is considered among the world’s top skiing destinations. The destination frequented by skiing enthusiasts from all over the world. Located within the cradle of snow-capped mountains, Auli offers a panoramic view of many famous Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet, Mana Parvat and Dunagiri. Auli is kind of place where enjoyment and journey, wild attractiveness and slopes of snow field Garhwal Himalayan ranges, nature's beauty in its very best form arrives alive. The deodar and oak forests cover the slopes and lessen the velocity of the chilly winds to the minimal.

History

In the 8th century AD, Adi Shankaracharya is said to have visited the vast meadows of Auli. He built the temple at Joshimath which continues to draw devotees on their way to Badrinath. For most part of its history, Auli was home to the semi-nomadic tribes of Mongolian stock called the Bhotiyas, who traversed its trails for hundreds of years. Called Thatauli in those days, the town was witness to a flourishing trade with neighbouring Tibet as yaks laden with goods travelled through its mountainous terrain.

Before Auli was developed as a ski resort, its slopes were the training ground for the ski-equipped men of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force. The development of Auli as a ski-resort was an initiative by the Government of U.P. Auli is India’’s first winter resort and ski destination.

Accessibility

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is about 279 km from Auli. Nearest International airport is Delhi, which is about 500 km away.

By Rail: The nearest railhead is at Haridwar, which is about 273 km away from Auli.

By Road: Joshimath is the nearest town at a distance of 16 km from Auli. Regular taxis are available from Joshimath to Auli. UPSRTC buses operate frequently between Joshimath and other nearby cities like Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun.

Shopping

Auli is a purely adventure hotspot where passionate brave-hearts fun and frolic with snow all around. But hardly anybody goes for shopping in Auli. In fact there are not much for shopping in Auli. In the snowy wilderness of Auli you would find neither artisans nor shops to sell artifacts.

But is returning from a tour to Auli, without shopping in Auli sounds impossible to you, visit Joshimath. Only 13kms away from Auli, the little township is a popular tourist destination and has bustling markets, which substitute for the lack of opportunity for shopping in Auli. Pick up woolen caps, blankets, shawls from Joshimath for gift items and souvenirs.

Accommodation

Nestled in the snowy Slopes off the Garhwal Himalayas Auli is a purely adventure destination. Skiing is the most popular sport in Auli. There are not many hotels in Auli since the uneven mountainous slopes is not very congenial to constructing glitzy sophisticated hotels.

Hotels in Rishikesh:
Premium Hotels
Ananda In The Himalayas
Himalayan Hideaway
Budget Hotels
Hotel Ganga Kinare
Hotel Ganga View
Hotels in Dehradun :
Premium Hotels
Best Western Hotel Madhuban
Hotel Great Value
Budget Hotels
Hotel MJ Residency
Hotel President

Attractions

Winter Ski Resort
Auli is a famed winter ski resort. In winters, the slopes of Auli are clad with a snow carpet as deep as 3 meters. The skiing season in Auli ranges from January to March every year. Skiing on 10-20 kms of clean stretches of slopes thickly coated with snow in Auli snow is as good as an international skiing experience. Auli offers world class facilities for experienced skiers and beginners can also sign up for one week or two week long skiing courses. Everything from lodging to boarding facilities is easily available for skiers.

Things to do

Skiing
Are you game for ruffling past the snow? If yes, then Auli is just the option for you. Skiing is one of the foremost activities tourist can look forward to when in Auli. With the snow capped mountains and the snow-bedded ground ready for you to take a plunge, all you need to do is fasten yourself to the ski board and fly off. The ski lift system is also available in Auli, which makes its easier for skiers to reach the top. And if you are on a long vacation the best bet would be learn the art completely. You can enroll yourself in the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), which offers a fortnight-long skiing course for the amateurs.

Trekking
For those who would like to explore Auli on foot instead of ski board, indulging in trekking would be an ideal option. There are number of trek options launched from Auli. Tourist can either engage themselves in short treks that last for a few hours or go for the longer ones. Some of the trek options that can be completed in a single day are:
Auli - Gorson (7 km)
Gorson - Tali (6 km)
Tali - Kuari Pass (11 km)
Kuari Pass - Khulara (12 km)
Khulara - Tapovan (9 km)

Pilgrimage
If you have a religious bent of mind, Auli would serve your quest beautifully. This blissful hill station has a number of temples which make it a heaven for pilgrims. For those who didn’t know, the deity of Lord Badri Vishal that rests in Badrinath is brought to the temple at Joshimath, during the time when the temple in Badrinath remains closed for 5 - 6 months. Apart from this, there is also a Human temple which is believed to have been the resting ground for Lord Hanuman, when he was on his way to pick the ‘Sanjivani’ from the Sanjivani Mountain in Himalayas, to save the life of Laxman.

Cable Cars
For those who are scared of skiing and do not want to go for trekking as well, Auli has just the right option for you - cable cars. A ride high up in the sky is sure to leave you absolutely thrilled and delighted. Stretching to about 3 kms, the rope way would help you capture the captive beauty of the snow covered peaks, the alpine forest and the bracing climate.

District
Chamoli
Location
013172
Topic
Hill Station
Termperature
Summer 15 to 30°C, Winter -4 to 24°C
Famous For
Mountain Sports

Almora

State
Uttrakhand

Almora is a quaint town full of life, with a prosperous cultural inheritance and history and believed to be the ‘Artistic Capital’ of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It is a fine blend of mountain beauty; ancient cultural influences, sanctified spots, thickly wooded forests, scenic valleys, quaint cottages, crystal lakes and gushing rivers and thus call the 'Switzerland of India'.

Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickbradley/3927500943/

History

History of Almora can be traced back to ancient times of Mahabharata. However, the earliest historical account of the place is provided by a Chinese pilgrim of seventh century. The pilgrim wrote in great detail about a kingdom called ‘Brahmaputra’.

The ancient town of Almora, before its establishment was under the possession of Katyuri king Baichaldeo. He donated major part of this land to a Gujrati Brahmin Sri Chand Tiwari [1] Later on when Chand kingdom was founded in Baramandal, the town of Almora was founded at this centrally located place in 1568 [2] by Kalyan Chand.[citation needed] In the days of the Chand Kings it was called Rajapur. The name 'Rajpur' is also mentioned over a number of ancient copper plates.

In 1744 during the raid by Ali Muhammad Khan Rohilla, Almora was taken over from Chand dynasty. However, unable to bear the hardships of living in the hills, the Rohillas chiefs, placed by Ali Mohammad Khan Rohilla, returned Almora for a heavy bribe of three lakh rupees.

Ali Mohammad, dissatisfied with the conduct of his commanders, attacked Almora again in 1745. However, this time the Rohillas were defeated. They never came back again.

In 1790, Almora was conquered by the Gurkhas who ruled it for the next 24 years until it was taken over by the British in 1815. Today, Almora is a primary center for trade and other activities – social, cultural, political- and is a district place of Uttarakhand State in India.

Accessibility

By Air: Nearest airport is Pantnagar, which is about 125 km away from the heart of Almora.

By Rail: Nearest railway station is at Kathgodam. Kathgodam railway station to Almora city is about 91 km, which can be covered by nearly 3 hours.

By Road: Regular bus services are available from Delhi to Almora, the distance covered is about 200 km. Luxury bus services are also available. State owned buses connects Almora to other cities in and around.

Shopping

If you thought that Almora is all about serenity and fun then you were right. But there is one more facet of this town of Uttaranchal that makes a vacation in this place very interesting – Shopping. Almora has many shopping centers among which the most important is the Old Bazaar, nearly 200 years old. Shoppers should hunt for Kumaoni style jewellery and copperware from the coppersmith himself. Pashmina shawls and wool blankets that have a rich traditional influence should not be missed. Among the most interesting buys are the Angora clothes made from the fur of Angora rabbits.

Almora has a quite a few shopping centers and a large stretch of covered bazaars. Famous amongst these is an almost 200 year old Lal Bazaar where shopping around is an absolute delight. Then there's old Amora down the cantonment area which was the capital of Kumaoni Chand Rajas. Traffic is prohibited here so you won't be disturbed by any sort of hassling congestion.

Entering into the lanes of Thana, Johri and Lala Bazaars will give you a glimpse of what the craftsmen here are upto with their traditional skills. If you have a buck to spare, you must not give away this opportunity to shop for Kumaoni-style Jewels at the silversmith and copperware from the coppersmith.

Also you will find here, beautifully woven Pashmina Shawls and sheep wool bankets that speak volumes about the traditional design and weaving skills of this region. Other interesting things you can shop for include Angora cloth which is made from the fur of Angora rabbits. On your way back home, you must pick up some boxes lip smacking singora and bal mithai which are amongst the specialties of this region.

Lal Bazaar: Shopping in Almora is a fantastic experience and Lal Bazaar offers you with wide variety of shopping facilities. From sweets to bronze and brass ware items, one can get any items from here. As an enthusiastic visitor, one should not forget to taste the sweets here which are quite famous.

The place is famous for Rabbit wool cloths, very soft, fine and very warm, made out of the wool of special breed of Rabbit. Warm clothes made from this wool are famous all over the world. In Lal Bazaar one can get good bargains at comparatively low prices. There are woolen garments, decorative items, brass items and other kind of metal utensils, which are quite popular among the visitors.

Accommodation

Kalmatia Sangram, Deodar Resort, Snow View Resort, Gullu Deva Tourist Resort.

Things to do

Visit Temples & Churches
Chitai Temple is a famous temple, about 8kms from Almora, dedicated to Gollu Deva - the revered Kumaon Deity. Then there is one Katarmal Sun Temple, which was built over 800 years ago by the Katyuri rulers. This temple complex has nearly 50 stone temples. If you're visiting Almora in spring, then invest some time in Mahashivratri Mela which is worth experiencing. About 6 kms from Almora is Kasar Devi Temple which is just about serenity and peace. Methodist Church is a stone-built church that was built in 1897, and is worth exploring.

Discover the Heritage!
Gobind Vallabh Pant Public Museum, near the Bus Stand, is a treat for art lovers as here you can cherish a rare collection of art and crafts, ‘Apen’ folk-paintings, etc. This museum also has letters from Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel to GB Pant and pamphlets used for protest marches during the struggle for independence.

Laze Around!
Bright End Corner is the famous place where you can enjoy the lovely views of the sunrise and sunset. It is a great place to sit back and take in the views of neighboring mountains. You can take a stroll on the Mall, or walk around just to relax your feet and soul. If you wish to, then spend some bucks to get the souvenirs for friends and relatives at home.

Indulge in Trekking!
Trekking could be the best activity if you have to do nothing else. You can take the steep 3kms trek up from Ranikhet Road. Here you will discover the Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development. From here, Katarmal is another 1-km trek. Across the valley, you can observe the 900-year-old Bara Aditya Temple, which is the only Surya Temple in Kumaon. The serious trekkers can try Almora - Jageshwar trek. This low-altitude trek takes you through beautiful terraced fields and forests into charming Kumaoni villages. The trek is 41 km long and can be covered in fours days.

District
Almora
Location
365 km from Delhi, at a height of 5,400 ft on a ridge atop Kashaya Hill and around 50 km from Ranikhet.
STD Code
05962
Topic
Hill Station
Popular
Popular Hill Station
Termperature
Summer 12 to 28°C, Winter -2 to 15°C
Best time to visit
April to June, September to November

Abbott Mount

State
Uttrakhand

Abbott Mount is a hill resort offerring panoramic views of Nepal and the snow-capped Himalayan peaks, from Gangotri cliff to the Dhaulagiri range. Apart from its Himalayan surroundings, the destination offers a variety of walkways and trails amidst the pine and deodar forests, with the view of various kinds of exotic Himalayan birds and butterflies.

History

Abbott Mount was founded by and named after Mr. John Harold Abbott, a British entrepreneur.

An English businessman who wanted to start a hill station for the European community at the turn of the 20th century. Unlike many Indian hill stations Abbott Mount has changed little since its inception. There are only thirteen secluded cottages spread over this private hill. There is a picturesque church set amidst the forest and and a ancient cricket pitch with an unsurpassed view of the mountains.

Accessibility

By Air: Nearest airport is Naini Saini Airport, about 40 km at Champawat.

By Rail: Nearest railway station is Kathgodam, 163 km away from Abott Mount.

By Road: Many road routes are available from Delhi to reach Abott Mount. Tourist service providers arrange taxi facilities from Delhi.

Shopping

Lohaghat Bazaar is just 6 km away and an easy walk from Abbott Mount. The bazaar with its old silver smiths, local handicrafts and small eating places is worth exploring.

Attractions

Mountain Vistas
From Snow View cottage you can get great views of the peaks of Trishul, Maiktoli, Nandakot, Nandaghunti and Nanda Devi.

Things to do

Fishing
The stretch between Marchula till downstream is a permits site for fishing. This area is famous for Masheers and catfishes. From October to till mid December and then mid February to June are considered as the best season for fishing. Though quite tricky, fishing the Masheers is classy and exciting spot, which give sheer enjoyment. People visiting Abbott Mount never fails to have their luck in fishing.

District
Champawat
Location
435 km from Delhi and 9 km from Lohaghat.
STD Code
05965
Topic
Hill Station
Unexplored
Termperature
Summer 17 to 25°C, Winter -5 to 15°C
Best time to visit
Throughout the year
Famous For
An old Bungalow and abundant scenic beauty
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