The Hill Stations Holidays & Tailor-made Tours

Visit Shimla, the former summer capital of British rule, scenic Darjeeling or Rishikesh on the banks of the Ganges.

Until the British arrived in Shimla around 1815, the area was just a collection of small hamlets and wild forest. The British were attracted to the area by the cool summer temperatures, which meant they could escape the heat of Delhi. At this time, Shimla became the summer capital of the British Raj and an important centre of British governance of colonial India. The visitor will therefore be quite intrigued to see this slice of little England in the foothills of the Himalayas. Admire the Tudor architecture, the town hall, Christ Church, Viceregal Lodge and the city centre. One of the most famous attractions is the Kalka to Shimla railway, also built by the British and now a world heritage site. A great feat of engineering with over 800 bridges and 100 tunnels, the journey passes some of the most spectacular scenery to be found anywhere in India.

Darjeeling is located in northern India in the state of West Bengal. The town is famous as a summer hill station for the British Raj and as such has many examples of British colonial architecture. The setting is quite beautiful, backed by Mount Kanchenjunga and the rolling hills full of tea plantations producing the world famous Darjeeling tea. There are over 70 tea gardens in Darjeeling where you can enjoy this light and distinctive tea in a relaxed environment. The famous narrow gauge Toy Train was constructed in 1881. It is well worth a trip that takes you to Ghoom Monastery, which enshrines an image of the Maitreya Buddha.

Rishikesh is a peaceful town located on the banks of the Ganges River in the northern state of Uttarakhand. Known as the yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh became famous in the 1960’s and now hosts a large number of ashrams, temples, spas and the places dedicated to the study of yoga. The Ganges is a lot cleaner here than downriver in Varanasi, so many travellers join locals to bathe in the river. The town has a gentle, reflective atmosphere, especially with the sound of temple bells in the evenings.