North Himalaya

Lidder river valley of meadows, pine forest and pony rides — Kashmir's family favourite.

Houseboats, shikaras, Mughal gardens and old-city food.

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.