Summer Escapes in India: Cool Hill Stations Worth the Drive

When the plains cross 40°C, the hills call. These are three summer favourites where Avenaa has homes, each with a different mood.

Kufri and Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

Shimla’s Mall Road and the Ridge, the Kalka–Shimla toy train and the Jakhoo temple are the classics. Stay a little higher in Kufri, among pine and deodar forests, for quieter evenings and views over the Himalaya, with Chail, Mashobra and Narkanda as easy day trips.

• Best for: families, first trips to the mountains.
• Go: April to June; snow from December to February.

Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir

A shikara ride on Dal Lake at sunrise, the Mughal gardens of Nishat and Shalimar, and day trips to Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam make Srinagar one of India’s most beautiful summer bases.

• Best for: couples and families who want lakes, gardens and meadows.
• Go: April to October.

Dehradun and Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

Dehradun in the Doon valley is a comfortable base: drive up to Mussoorie for Kempty Falls and Camel’s Back Road, or down to Rishikesh and Haridwar for the Ganga aarti and river rafting.

• Best for: mixed groups who want hills, rivers and temples in one trip.
• Go: March to June and September to November.