Destinations

A hidden Uhl-river valley of trout hatcheries, deodar forest and the Rajgundha trek.

India's paragliding capital, with Tibetan monasteries and a slow cafe scene below.

A former princely summer capital with the world's highest cricket ground and deodar forest all around.

Five hills of colonial charm plus the 'Mini Switzerland' meadow of Khajjiar at 1,920 m.

Home of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan government-in-exile, and a strong cafe-and-monastery scene.

Wooden homestays by trout streams, Jalori Pass and Serolsar lake, Great Himalayan National Park at the door.

A small colonial cantonment town on a ridge an hour above Chandigarh, with pine walks and old churches.

Kangra tea gardens and pine forest below the Dhauladhar, with the Neugal Khad at its edge.

The former summer capital of British India — the Mall, Ridge, Jakhoo temple and the toy train.

The cultural capital of Kumaon — a horseshoe ridge town of temples, bazaars and Kasar Devi.

Two quieter Kumaon lakes 20 minutes below Nainital, with paragliding and lakeside cottages.

An oak and rhododendron wildlife sanctuary with a 300 km sweep of Himalayan peaks.

A secluded cantonment above the Yamuna with Tiger Falls, deodar forest and Chilmiri Neck.

Forest and meadow country on the Mussoorie–Chamba road, with camping and ziplining.

A ridge town facing a 300 km wall of peaks — Nanda Devi, Trishul and Panchachuli all in one frame.

The quiet cantonment above Mussoorie — deodar walks, old bakeries and writers' cottages.

A quiet Garhwal cantonment town of pine ridges, a golf course and the Garhwal Rifles museum.

A quiet ridge town with a 350-year-old Shiva temple and a clean sweep of the Kumaon Himalaya.

A remote Kumaon town facing the five peaks of Panchachuli.

The 'Queen of Hills' above Dehradun — Kempty Falls, Gun Hill, Camel's Back Road and the Mall.

The classic Kumaon lake town — Naini Lake, the Mall Road, Snow View and Naina Peak.

A cantonment hill station of pine and oak forest, golf greens and colonial-era quiet.

A preserved Newari hill town on a ridge above the Marsyangdi, between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The two best-preserved Newari cities in the valley — Durbar Squares, courtyards and metalwork alleys.

Nepal's tea capital — emerald garden slopes, Antu Danda sunrises and Sandakphu views into India.

Lakeside town under the Annapurnas — boating, paragliding, cafes and sunrise at Sarangkot.

Nepal's largest lake at 2,990 m, in the remote Karnali region inside Rara National Park.

A historic hill town of Newari traders between Pokhara and Lumbini, with a durbar and metalwork bazaar.

Tea estates, the UNESCO toy train and sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill.

A quieter hill town of flower nurseries, monasteries and old colonial buildings.

Forest villages at the edge of Neora Valley National Park, with a canopy walk and birding trails.

A lake town ringed by tea gardens and orange orchards, near the Nepal border.

A hamlet of homestays on a ridge with a wide Kanchenjunga panorama.

Sikkim's tidy hill capital — MG Marg, Rumtek monastery and Kanchenjunga on clear mornings.

A ridge town facing Kanchenjunga, with Pemayangtse monastery, Rabdentse ruins and a glass skywalk.

A ridge town with the giant Buddha Park, tea gardens below and Kanchenjunga views.

Sikkim's first capital — a quiet village of prayer flags, Dubdi monastery and the Khecheopalri lake nearby.

The foothill gateway to Arunachal on the Kameng river — angling, rafting and orchids.

A hill town with a large monastery, apple orchards and views over the Kameng valleys.

A river valley of Monpa villages, a stone dzong, hot springs and kiwi orchards on the Tawang road.

A wide valley of Apatani villages, pine hills and paddy fields, home to the Ziro Music Festival.

Assam's only hill station — a lake town in rolling hills, on a spectacular hill railway.

UNESCO-listed grassland home to most of the world's one-horned rhinos, plus tigers, elephants and wild buffalo.

A UNESCO tiger reserve on the Bhutan border, with golden langurs, elephants and the Manas river.

The glass-clear Umngot river on the Bangladesh border — boating, riverside camping and kayaking.

A turquoise-pool waterfall in the Jaintia hills where you can swim (with life jackets).

A grassy rim above huge green gorges, with steps down to the hidden village of Rasong.

A spotless Khasi village with a living root bridge and a bamboo sky-view tower over Bangladesh.

Often called the wettest place on earth, with a limestone cave and a natural Shiva-linga stalagmite.

A hill capital of pine ridges, cafes, live music and colonial-era lanes.

Plunging waterfalls like Nohkalikai, limestone caves and gorge views over Bangladesh.