Hill Stations In East India For A Weekend Getaway

Known For : Tiger Hill Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Batasia Loop

Jaw-dropping locales, mesmerising sunrises, the untouched beauty of the hills, the old-world charm of the past, and the welcoming smiles of the local people all add up to make Darjeeling one of the most beautiful hill stations in Eastern part of India. Spread over a steep mountain ridge, nestled amidst acres of lush green tea plantations, Darjeeling stands at the height of 2,050 meters above sea level, thus boasting of cool climes all year round. This scenic hill station is the perfect getaway for a romantic honeymoon and is just around 700 kilometres away from Kolkata.

Best Time: February to March, September to December

31 Darjeeling Attractions

Known For : Umiam Lake Elephant Falls Shillong Peak

A beautiful city encircled by pine trees, Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya. It derives its name from Lei Shyllong, an idol worshipped at the Shillong Peak. Standing as tall as 1496 meters, Shillong provides a relief from the heat across the country. This hill station in east India is known for its picturesque sights and traditions. The soothing climate makes Shillong suitable to visit in all seasons. The light drizzles and the cooling gentle wind adds to the joy of visiting this hill station. This place is also known as the ‘Scotland of the East’. One can find descendants of the Khyrim, Mylliem, Maharam, Mallaisohmat, Bhowal and Langrim tribes.

Best Time: September to May

33 Shillong Attractions

Known For : Nathula Pass MG Road, Gangtok Tsomgo Lake

Extremely alluring, pleasantly boisterous and wreathed in clouds - Gangtok, the capital city of the Sikkim can also give you a spectacular view of Mt. Kanchenjunga, at a distant skyline. The pristine hill station in East India nestled in mountains and clouds is also a base for a whole lot of trekkers to the Himalayan mountain ranges. The mesmerising prismatic beauty and the beautiful winding hill roads are even more breathtaking if seen from a bird’s eye view in a cable car.

Best Time: Throughout the year

34 Gangtok Attractions

Known For : Salugara Monastery ISKCON Temple, Siliguri Mahananda Weir Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated on the banks of the river Mahananda, Siliguri is a tiny hill station in East India nestled in between the Himalayan foothills and the Doar region of West Bengal. Also known as the Gateway to North East India, Siliguri serves mainly as a base for tourists to camp in before moving out to explore nearby tourist attractions such as Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Gangtok. However, Siliguri itself is a perfectly good holiday destination, with sufficient things to see and do.

Best Time: Throughout the year

19 Siliguri Attractions

Known For : Double Decker Living Root Bridge Nohkalikai Waterfalls Mawsmai Cave

Among the wettest place on the Earth, Cherrapunjee is a hill station in East India with clean and pristine surroundings is an excellent place to sit back and unwind. Cherrapunjee is popular for many things but more so for its living root bridges. A feat of human genius and nature’s magic, these bridges which are spread across the city are built through the roots of trees.

Best Time: October to February

22 Cherrapunji Attractions

Known For : Tura Peak Siju Caves Balpakram National Park

Located in the West Garo hills, Tura provides a spellbinding as well as serene environment being quite an unexplored town.

Best Time: Throughout the year

9 Tura Attractions

Known For : Tawang Monastery Sela Pass Madhuri Lake

Located at a height of about 3048m, is known for many important and beautiful monasteries and is famous as the birth place of Dalai Lama.

Best Time: March - June; September - October

13 Tawang Attractions

Known For : Durtlang Hills Reiek Vantawng Falls

Aizawl is a hill station in East India and is home to the beautiful Mizoram State Museum, along with being the cultural and religious capital of the Mizos.

Best Time: Throughout the year

15 Aizawl Attractions

Known For : Mahanada Wildlife Sanctuary Sumsing and Suntalekhola Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary

Starting from river Teesta in the East to river Sankoshi in the west, Dooars is a local name given to the floodplains of North-East India around Bhutan. The name 'Dooars' has emerged from 'door' as Dooars is the gateway to Bhutan.

Best Time: Throughout the year

4 Dooars Attractions

Known For : Mawlyngbna Mawjymbuin Cave Nohalikalai Falls

Acknowledged as one of the wettest place in the world, the mesmerizing village of Mawsynram is a nature lover's delight and the perfect hill station in east India to behold the beauty of the rains. Mawsynram trounces Cherrapunjee by a slight margin in being the wettest place in India.

Best Time: June - August; November - February

7 Mawsynram Attractions

Known For : Tarin Fish Farm Kile Pakho Ziro Music Festival

The cradle to a unique tribal group and a balmy climate, this hill station in east India - Ziro - is the peace seeker's paradise. Ziro is a quaint old town in Arunachal Pradesh, home to the Apa Tani tribe and famous for its pine hills and rice fields.

Best Time: September - November ; March - May

9 Ziro Attractions

Known For : Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Museum Ambotia Shiva Mandir Tea Gardens in Kurseong

Also known as the 'Land of White Orchids', Kurseong is a hill station located close to Darjeeling famous for its waterfalls, temples and Buddhist gompas apart from the excellent view that the place provides.

Best Time: April to May, August to October

9 Kurseong Attractions

Known For : Betla National Park Upper Ghaghri Waterfalls Lower Ghaghri Waterfalls

Falling in the Latehar district of Jharkhand, Netarhat is popularly known as the Queen of Chotanagpur. It is best known for the sunrise and sunset views it offers.

Best Time: Throughout the year

5 Netarhat Attractions

Known For : Mirik Lake Pashupati Nagar Orange Orchards

Located on the banks of a huge lake, the hill town of Mirik adds to North Bengal's bounty. Amidst the Himalayan Valley, Mirik has more to offer than just beautiful mountains and lakes.

Best Time: March to July

9 Mirik Attractions

Known For : Yangoupokpi - Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary Tengnoupal Moreh

Chandel, also known as Lamka is tiny, but a scenic district in the North-Eastern state of Manipur. It is one of the main nine districts in the state and also the second least populous of all. Situated along the lines of the international border separating India and Myanmar, it has come to be known as Gateway to Myanmar. It lies about 64 kms away from Imphal, with NH-39 passing through.
It’s  famous for being home to more than 20 native tribes. Chandel is a wisp of culture and traditions, given the huge number of tribes that live here. Each tribe offers a unique identity to the area, where colours of their cultures are blown out in all directions. Travelers visiting Chandel can soak in the alluring art forms along with sprightly music and dance.

Best Time: October to May

3 Chandel Attractions

Known For : Bomdila Monastery Apple Orchards Bomdila View Point

With majestic Himalayas bestowing their shadow, the beautiful town of Bomdila will offer you all an area in this terrain should.

Best Time: April to October

8 Bomdila Attractions

Known For : Meghna cave temple Kamala reserve forest Rafting in River Subansiri

Paddy Fields, rainforests with bamboo trees along with beautiful Subansiri River flowing along the town, Daporijo is a small town on the way from Ziro to Along. Daporijo is a scenic hill station in East India situated 600 meters above the sea level in the upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. Daporijo is typically a good town to stopover on the route of Along to Ziro for a break, otherwise, the town does not have much to offer to its tourists. The town is known for its varied ethnic cultures succinct at one place.

Best Time: December to February

5 Daporijo Attractions

Known For : Arboretum Cum Craft Centre Botanical Gardens Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary

This picturesque town is a popular hill station in East India with people from nearby cities coming here to enjoy the scenic beauty of the place.

Best Time: August to December, February to May

5 Diphu Attractions

Known For : Kheti and Lajo village Khonsa Museum Namdapha National Park

Khonsa is the headquarters of Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh and is located in the Tirap Valley surrounded by Himalayan ranges. Streams, deep gorges, dense forests and snow-clad hills are some of the features which describe this hill station in East India.

Best Time: September to Apr

5 Khonsa Attractions

Known For : Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary Saitlaw West Phaileng

The Mamit district is the fourth largest district of the state of Mizoram. Known for its exquisite scenic locales and magnificence, don't miss out to add this place in your itinerary in Mizoram.

Best Time: November to March

6 Mamit Attractions

Known For : Shilloi Lake Khezhakeno Village Glory Peak

Phek is a hilly area rich in flora and fauna. Apart from being a spell-binding hill station in east India, Shilloi lake is an important attraction. The important and spellbinding hills of Phek district are Kapamodz and Zanibou, while the main rivers are Tizu, Lanye, and Sedzu. The Khezhakeno tourist village also stands out as a must see here. Phek waterfall orchid feels add just the right icing to this off-beat travel destination. This offbeat destination in Nagaland abounds in colours and festivities which can make the tourists experience a more vibrant one.

Best Time: October to May

5 Phek Attractions

Known For : Longkhum Ungma Village Langpangkong Caves

The most significant urban centre in all of Nagaland after Dimapur and Kohima and the home of Ao Naga.

Best Time: October to June

7 Mokokchung Attractions

Known For : Outdoor activities Sessa Orchid Sanctuary Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary

Apart from being the nature lover's paradise, Bhalukpong can provide you a complete experience with wildlife and a host of activities complimenting its natural beauty and the environment of a place lesser known

Best Time: October to March

3 Bhalukpong Attractions

Known For : Gurudongmar Lake Yumthang Valley Lachen

One of the most uninhabited areas of the country, yet extremely beautiful and charming, North Sikkim shares its boundary with China and Nepal.

Best Time: April to June, October to December

13 North Sikkim Attractions

Known For : Namchi Ravangla Borong

Surrounded by beautiful forests and majestic hills, South Sikkim is the perfect vacation spot for someone looking for a retreat in the midst of nature in its most natural form.

Best Time: April to June, October to December

10 South Sikkim Attractions

Known For : Local Sightseeing Trekking

Anini is where the clouds come down the kiss the land. With much of its beauty peeking from behind the misty air, this unexplored town is the place to visit for pristine calmness.

Best Time: November to March

2 Anini Attractions

Known For : Veda Peak Shangnyu Village Chenloisho Village

Home of the Konyaks nagas, Mon provides tourists with a unique and quite mesmerizing view of tattooed faces wearing feathery loincloths.

Best Time: October to May

5 Mon Attractions

Known For : Tryshi Falls Nartiang Monoliths Krang Suri Falls

Located in the Jaintia Hills district, Jowai is famous for its scenic setting and breathtaking views with the perfect mix of heritage and culture.

Best Time: October to Mid May

12 Jowai Attractions

Known For : Pelling Pemayangtse Monastery Yuksom

West Sikkim, located at the foothills of Mount Kanchenjunga, offers one of the best views of Southeast face of Mt. Kangchenjunga.

Best Time: April to June, October to December

27 West Sikkim Attractions

Known For : Hazaribagh National Park Canary hills Hazaribagh Jheel

Located in the Chhota Nagpur plateau, 93 Km away from Ranchi, Hazaribagh is a beautiful place with dense forests and natural formations including rock formations and lakes. The forests in Hazaribagh are mostly unexplored and are in its best and purest form with full of greenery.

Best Time: October to March

5 Hazaribagh Attractions