Offbeat Hill Stations to visit in India for Summer 2023

With the favourite season of all Indians – Winter, almost coming to an end, we are already dreading the impending summer. We hardly experience spring so most of India experiences summer from March to July. Everyone I know has started looking for options to spend their summer at some hill station. But the crowds at every hill station make everyone cringe with the traffic, noise and hotels being full. Move over, Manali, Nainital, and Dalhousie, as some of the travel bloggers suggest offbeat hill stations to visit in India for Summer 2020.

Daringbadi, Odisha by Anwesha Guha

When planning a trip to Odisha, the first thing that comes to your mind is its famous temple or sea beaches. But many don’t know that Odisha has a hill station whose beauty is often compared to that of Kashmir. I am talking about Daringbadi which is an offbeat hill station, situated at an altitude of 3000 feet, in the Kandhamal district of Odisha. It is the only knowing place in Odisha which receives snowfall in extreme weather.

The hill station’s name originated from two words “Daring” and “Badi”. During the British era, an officer called Mr. Daring oversaw the village. And “Badi” means village in Oriya. Over time, the hill station became popular as the village of Daring and grow into a regular spot for the Britishers to spend the summer seasons.

There are a lot of interesting spots in and around Daringbadi which will surely excite you. The colourful paddocks of Daringbadi, make a perfect spot for family picnics. The major places to visit are Hill View Park, Lover’s Point, Mudubandha waterfall, Rushukulya River and Belghar Nature Camp and Wildlife Sanctuary. Trekkers will love the hiking trails around the area and camp in the lush green pine forest areas.

One can find good accommodation and many food options in the nearest city of Baliguda. The scenic land of Daringbadi is only 250 km away from Bhubaneshwar which has the nearest airport. You can reach Daringbadi by taking a flight or train from Howrah station to Bhubaneshwar or via public bus or private cab.

Darap, Sikkim by Mohana & Aninda

Sikkim is popular for having India’s highest mountain – Kangchenjunga and is also home to luscious mountains, alpine meadows and varieties of wildflowers.  The scenic village of Darap is 14 km from Pelling, but not many know about it. It’s on the road to Yuksom yet hidden in plain sight, a cluster of colourful houses adorned with the prettiest potted plants and trees brimming with magenta magnolias and bright red petunias. Book yourself a room at one of the homestays and wake up to mornings of mist and fog or witness a gleaming Khangchendzonga peeking from behind whispering clouds at this offbeat hill station. Immerse yourself in the local culture, learn about the history and traditions of the Limboo community and about Yumaism, a unique religion whose followers worship a living goddess.

Most households in Darap are vegetarian and grow their own vegetables; so, eat your weight in organic home-grown and home-cooked produce, wash it all down with some Hit beer, then go huffing and puffing up the mountainside for a lesson in local life. Say hello to passers-by and their silky goats or lend a hand in planting or harvesting crops in the small terraced fields. Strike up conversations, share stories and wild berries (or, maybe some local cheese!). If you can’t keep still, opt for a hike up Rani Dhunga or go on a half-day trip to the magnificent Khecheopalri Lake. On the way back, stop by the orange orchards at Rimbi or take a detour to the Alpine Cheese Factory at Dentam. Should religion and history fascinate you, visit the ancient Pemayangtse Monastery, the Sangachoeling Monastery, and the Rabdentse Ruins and when the solitude feels a little too much for your urbane souls, hit the streets of touristy Pelling where, after digging into countless momos and bowls of piping hot thukpa, you can shop for handcrafted souvenirs and Tibetan curios.

Note that Darap is part of Sikkim’s eco-tourism circuit and plastics are banned which means that you may not have access to mineral water bottles; your homestay will provide filtered drinking water, so please remember to carry a reusable water bottle.

Darap is 144 km from the nearest railhead at New Jalpaiguri and 146 km from the nearest airport at Bagdogra. You can either reserve a taxi for anywhere between INR 3000 to INR 4000 or take a shared cab to Pelling or Geyzing and then onwards to Darap.

Accommodation for Darap, an offbeat hill station

We stayed at the rustic Daragaon Village Retreat. For INR 1200 per head, you get a basic but cosy double-sharing room, a fantastic breakfast of organic millet pancakes and other local dishes, and a delicious dinner. Plus free cuddles from the two Lhasa dogs who live on the premises! Shiva Gurung, the owner, is a wonderful guy and can help you plan trips and hikes around the region.

Other options include the Sukhim Limboo Homestay and the Cherry Village Resort. Please note that access to the Daragaon Village Retreat and the Sukhim Limboo Homestay requires climbing a flight of stairs.

Chitkul, Himachal Pradesh by Soujanya Rai 

Chitkul is a village located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh in India. This offbeat hill station in India is particularly famous as the last village of India on the Indo-Tiber border. Moreover, since Chitkul village hasn’t popped up on the tourist radar just yet, people visiting Chitkul enjoy the secluded location and the scarcity of people. Chitkul village is situated on one bank of the river Beas. What makes this place appealing is its location – there’s no other civilisation near Chitkul for many kilometres. Secondly, the picturesque setting is great for photography, short hikes and fun activities like rock climbing. One can even go down to the river and enjoy a nice picnic. Do keep in mind that Chitkul does not have petrol pumps or ATMs. The nearest city where you would find those is Reckong Peo.

Zostel Chitkul is the most popular accommodation that includes dorm rooms, private rooms, Swiss alpine tents and regular tents. Other than that, there are many other hotels, riverside camps and homestays at Chitkul.

In order to reach Chitkul, one has to first reach Delhi, which is the closest major city to Chitkul. From Delhi, make your way to Shimla by flight, train or road. Shimla to Chitkul is a distance of roughly 243 kilometre which can only be covered by road. You can hire a taxi from Shimla itself or take a bus from the new Shimla bus stand, an option which many backpackers choose to take. There’s no direct bus from Shimla to Chitkul. You will first have to take a bus to Reckong Peo and consequently, take another bus from Reckong Peo to Chitkul. Nonetheless, bus journeys in this region are fun and you’re likely to meet lots of other travellers along the way.

Sarmoli Village, Uttarakhand by Shruti Verma

An offbeat hill station – Sarmoli is a quaint village near Munsyari amidst the Panchauli mountain ranges in the Kumaon belt of Uttarakhand. On any clear day, the view of these ranges is breathtaking along with the music of the river Gori-Ganga flowing right next to the village.

There are 15 homestays listed for availability in Sarmoli village which cost around INR 1500 -2000 per person inclusive of all the meals and accommodation. The range varies with the amount of work carried out by the villagers to give an aesthetic touch to the rooms. The one in my room had a huge window to enjoy the view of the mountains and village from the room. The interiors of the room are blended with the rural touch like mud-covered walls and are also equipped with modern amenities to lend the comfort of a cosy home. Apart from this, rooms do have kitchens if guests want to cook something on their own. Otherwise, the villagers (hosts) provide the local and organic food right from the farm to the table (depending upon the harvest time).

The women in this village are highly encouraged to work for their own financial independence and Maati Sangathan helps in bringing employment to these women. Not only do they rely on farming and selling their crops but also they make woollen accessories which are available for tourists to buy from the shop in the village. Local fairs keep happening in the village or nearby villages throughout the year.

Sarmoli is around 590 km from Delhi and shared cabs operate from Kathgodam railway station. Either one can break the journey and cover a place or two en route or these shared cabs commence early morning and take around 10-12 hours to reach Sarmoli village.

Sarmoli can be visited at any time of the year except for the rainy season when the view of the mountain range is also clouded. But one should always pack extra warm clothes and an umbrella in case of unseasonable rainfall.

Shangarh, Himachal Pradesh by Suchi Ta

Surrounded by pine trees, hills and snow-clad mountains, and Shanchul Mahadev Temple situated in the middle of all the natural habitat, is another offbeat hill station – Shangarh which is crowned with wonders. Nature itself is the most charming thing in Shangarh, even the water here is pristine. The land is blessed by the Gods and flora and fauna co-exist here freely. The quiet environment gives you time to enjoy the natural beauty, get in sync with nature. Here, the wind sings and rainbows frequently visit.

Shangarh’s main attraction is the valley, which is surrounded by deodar forest; it offers panoramic views of many Himalayan layers. Domestic cattle, kids and oldies are often seen enjoying these meadows, spending leisure time here in the calmness and observing nature is a unique and serene experience.

Shangarh isn’t called a paradise for nothing. The air here is clean, the water is clear and nature here is at peace. What makes this village worth visiting is its very own environment. You’ll know what we’re talking about once you’ve breathed in the meadow and gazed at the snow-covered mountaintops. An offbeat hill station like this should be enjoyed living at a homestay. Shaneghar gives you the cosy homestay option overlooking these beautiful views.

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