West Bengal Hill Station - Mirik

West Bengal Hill Station - Mirik in India is situated fifty-two km away from Siliguri and 55 kms from the nearest Airfield of Bagdogra. It stands at an altitude of 1,768m in the Eastern Himalayas. Mirik is wrapped in the forested hills and is surrounded by tea estates, orange orchards and cardamom plantations.




The natural beauty of this beautiful hill resort has a rejuvenating effect on the tired urban soul. All the wild flowers, enchanting lakes and flourishing forests of Cryptomaria Japonica trees make Mirik at apr with a paradise and the Kachunjanga as a backdrop adds immense beauty to the whole scenery of the place.

Tourist attractions in Mirik
Sumendu Lake
The most prominent of tourist spots in Mirik is the Sumendu Lake. It is a man made lake enveloped in a forested ridge, and surrounding it is a flower garden and there is also a floating fountain in its center. Though not for swimming, Sumendu is considered ideal for boating and Fishing.

Singha Devi
The temple of Singha Devi or the Devi Sthan is on the west bank of the river and you have to take the bridge over the lake to get there, not only is it frequented by the pious but also the nature lovers. Other temples dedicated to Hanuman, Shiva and Kali Mata can also be visited there. Bokar Gompa is another place of religious importance.





Rameetay Dara
A holiday package usually also includes a tour to the Rameetay Dara, which is ideal for watching the spectacular sunset and the sunrise. Deosi Dara is yet another vantage point in Mirik. One can also take a tour to Rai Dhap, which has a small lake that is the source of potable water in Mirik and is also an ideal picnic spot.

Plantations in Mirik
The hill station of Mirik is also quite famous for its oranges, you can move through orange orchards either on foot or hired ponies. One can also take a tour to the cardamom and tea plantations, which add even more to the beauty of the hill resort. The tea plantations can also be visited and many conducted tours to the factories are organized from time to time.

Tea Estates : There are eight tea gardens in Mirik area. Thurbo T.E., one of the best tea-estates, is only 2 kms from the lake. The factory may be visited with the permission.

Deosi Dara
It is a era point in Mirik that must be visited to catch some vistas of the plains, hills and peaks in and around Mirik.

Climatewise, Mirik is pleasant throughout the year.

One can reach Mirik in following ways-
By Air : The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport, 55 km from Mirik.
By Rail : Nearest major stations are New Jalpaiguri .
By Road : Excellent road network links Mirik with places like Bagdogra, Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kurseong.

Mussoorie "Queen of Hill Stations"

Mussoorie is located in the Garhwal hills, Uttaranchal at a altitude of 2,000 m. Due to its immense natural beauty, Mussoorie is known as the "Queen of Hill Stations".

History of Mussoorie

In 1820, Captain Young from the British army was influenced by the beauty of this place and made this place his residence. This marked the foundation of a hill station called Mussoorie. The name, Mussoorie, is derived from plants of 'Mussoorie' which were found in abundance here. After its discovery, this hill station gradually developed as a center of education, business, tourism and beauty.


Climate & Best Time to Visit

Summers are pleasant in Mussoorie while winters are characterised bysnowfall and rain. Temperature during the summer season lingers around 30 degrees centigrade. During the winters, temperature drops down to near zero at night and remains around 7 degrees at daytime. Mid March to mid November is the ideal time to make a trip to Mussoorie.


Sightseeing in Mussoorie

The Mall : The mainstay of the hill town of Mussoorie, the Mall is a hub of activities from dawn to dusk. The Kulri Bazaar sells interesting souvenirs to take back home. Here, you can also visit
India's largest indoor skating rink.

Gun Hill : A hill that's flat-topped, Gun Hill happens to be the second highest peak in Mussoorie. The spot can be reached from the Mall either on foot or by taking a pony ride. You can also choose to take the 400 metres ropeway which also gives you heart-stirring views.

Clouds End : It is an impressive English country house which was built in 1838 and was also the among the first buildings to be built in Mussoorie. Today, a holiday resort, it gives panoramic views of the surrounding greenery and the snow-laden peaks.

Image by treesftf via Flickr

Camel's Back Road : The road which spans over 3 km surrounds the base of the Gun Hill. Tourists arrive here to feast their eyes on thedramatic views of the Himalayan sunset. The place derives its name from a camel-back-shaped rock that lies closeby.
Ven Chetna Kendra - 2 kms from Mussoorie on Tehri bypass is a spectacular picnic spot called Ven Chetna Kendra. It also has park. The whole area is covered with Deodar forests and thick undergrowth. The main attraction of this place has been animals in the park. It can
be accessed by taxi or bus. Municipal Gardens - The municipal or the Company gardens was
previously (before independence) was also known as Botanical gardens of Mussoorie. These gardens were laid by famous geologist Dr. H. Fackner in the last century.

Tibetan Temple - This temple is located in Happy valley area of Mussoorie. Both Company gardens and Tibetan temple can be seen in one day. They are located one kilometer from Lal Bahadur Shastri National Administrative Academy. The Tibetan temple is evidence to rich Tibetan cultural heritage. This temple is sure to attract attention of tourists.

Kempty Falls - Kempty Falls are located 13 kms from Mussoorie. This place was developed as a tourist destination by John Mekinan after 1835.
Nearby Places To Visit

Lake Mist - This place is seven kilometers on way to Kempty Falls.There are good accommodation facilities there for the weary tourists.

Lal Tibba - This place is highest point in Mussoorie. Lal Tibba is located in Landour area which is the oldest inhabited place in Mussoorie.
Yamunotri Bridge:This bridge is located 27 kms from Mussoorie on the Chakrata road. This bridge is famous for fishing.

Nag Tibba which is 55 kms from Mussoorie is very good place for trekking. Nag Tibba, as it is called, is the highest place around Mussoorie. It is surrounded by thick dense forests. The actual trekking for Nag Tibba starts some 21 kms away from the place. The 34 kms journey from Mussoorie is done on Taxi or Bus and the rest is covered on foot. This trek has its own charm and fun. The trek starts at Thathyud.

Bhadraj Temple which is 15 kms from Mussoorie is the place of principle deity of Brother of Lord Krishna, Balram. Every year in the third week of August on Shravan Sankranti day a festival is celebrated here.

Dhanoulti is located 25 kms from Mussoorie on Tehri-Mussoorie highway. Here one has got good accommodation facilities. While going towards Dhanoulti, there are lovely green forest of fur and pine trees. These forests cover the Himalayan ranges lending them an unparalleled beauty. The fresh air and lovely surroundings fills you with enthusiasm and energy.

Sarkunda Devi: This place is 35 kms from Mussoorie. To access this place one has to go till Khaddu Khal by vehicle and then cover 2 kms on foot or on ponies.

Jhari Pani Falls are located some 8.5 kms on the Jharipani-Mussoorie road. 7 kms of the road to these falls is covered by taxi and rest 1.5 kilometers has to be covered on foot.

Activities to Do in Mussoorie

Mountaineering, mountain biking, camping, trekking and nature walks are some popular options to fill your days at Mussoorie with fun, flavour and adventure. Horse riding is another good activity to move around and see the scenic landscapes of the town. Tourists can also
indulge in ice skating at Kulri Bazaar that has India's largest indoor skating rink. Shopping at Kulri Bazaar can get you relics for memories.

Where To Stay in Mussoorie

Accommodation at Mussoorie provides you with an experience which is one of its kind. You need to stay at the town's hotels and resorts to soak up the spectacular panorama. A few of the options include Hotel Green Castle, Hotel Country Inn, Hotel Solitaire Plaza, Hotel Savoy and many more cosy places are there.

Reaching Mussoorie

The Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun is just 24 km from here and has regular flights from Delhi. From the airport, one can take a bus or a taxi to get to Mussoorie. The railway station at Dehradun (34 km) is also well linked with the key destinations of the country.
The connectivity through roads that link Mussoorie to the important places inside and outside the state is quite good.

Kullu-Manali-Hill Station of HP

The lush Kullu Valley is the most picturesque of Himalayan valleys that is spread on both sides of the Beas River. The valley runs north to south of this river and is 80km long and about 2km at its broadest. Manali is 40Kms from Kullu at an altitude of 2050metres, famous for its canopy of Deodar trees that surrounds it.



Manali has been a popular destination for honeymooners, trekkers, mountaineers, rafters, skiers and adventure freaks and anyone who wishes to escape the heat & dust of the plains to breathe the crystal clear air of the Himalayas and enjoy the spectacle of unlimited greenery.

A tour to Himachal Pradesh is incomplete without a tour to Kullu-Manali.

Manali literally means the 'Home of Manu'. Manu, the mythological character who survived when the world was drowned in floods. He then came to Manali and recreated human life. Thus, the area of Manali is sacred and Hindus treat the temples over here as pilgrimage.

Surrounded by towering peaks at an arm length, Manali's major asset is its proximity to the snowline. It is a flourishing orchard industry, a popular honeymoon destination and trailhead for numerous treks as well as a great countryside ideal for adventure sport lovers.

Manali, with its mountaineering institute, is a popular base for trekking and mountaineering in summer and skiing in winter. Interesting routes into the surrounding valleys, over the high passes, are provided with tourist huts and rest houses for trekking enthusiasts

Now, the question is how to reach Kullu-Manali?

By Air :- The nearest airport is at Bhuntar, 10km from Kullu. Indian Airlines, Trans Bharat Aviation and Jagson flights operate flights between Kullu Delhi & Shimla.

By Rail :- Nearest convenient railheads are Kalka, Chandigarh and Pathankot from where Kullu can be reached by road.

By Road :- Kulu is well connected by road with Delhi, Ambala, Chandigarh, Shimla, Dehradun, Pathankot, Dharamsala & Dalhousie and other cities in Himachal and outside. Regular direct buses ply between these stations. Deluxe, semi-deluxe and air conditioned buses during are available during tourist season.

Local Transport :- Local buses operate between Kullu-Manali and Manikaran regularly. Taxis are also available. On a tour to Kullu-Manali you can avail local transport for sightseeing purposes.

Tourist Attractions in Kullu-Manali
The tourist attractions in Kullu-Manali are numerous. The Hirimba Temple, Vashisht Ashram, Rotang Pass, Manikaran are some of them. On a tour to Kullu-Manali you also have the option for undertaking weekend excursions. On weekend getaways from Kullu-Manali you can travel to Shimla, Kalpa, Kaza, Kannaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Dharamshala, Dalhousie and so on.


The mountain state of Himachal Pradesh is particularly famous for springing beautiful intoxicating visual surprises on a traveler at every turn of the road. The Kullu district is not an exception either. The colorful Himachal Pradesh offers plenty of options for weekend getaways from Kullu-Manali.

Lahaul-Spiti - the twin districts of Lahaul-Spiti is a major weekend getaways from Kullu-Manali. Lahaul plateau is very dry and cold surrounded by high mountains on all sides. It has a vast number of glaciers, the ‘Bara Shingri’ being the biggest of them. The district of Spiti, with its headquarters at Kaza is also called ‘Little Tibet’. Kalpa - a small town located in the Sutlej River Valley, above Recong Peo in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, Kalpa is inhabited by the Kinnauri people and famous for its apple orchards. Apples are a major cash-crop for the region. The local inhabitants mostly follow a combo of Hinduism and Buddhism, and many temples in Kalpa are dedicated to both Hindu and Buddhist gods & godesses.

More Weekend Getaways from Kullu-Manali include Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Kinnaur and Almora.

The equally colorful people, an old traditional culture portrayed in its rock cut cobwebbed temples and of course, a spicy, indigenous cuisine makes the eating out in Kulu-Manali real fun.

Eating Out in Kullu Manali-
The colorful people that reside these heights are equally colorful and of a creative sort, which accounts for the wide array of handicrafts and artefacts that find their place in the shop windows in this region that are notorious for baffling tourists with their beauty and variety.There are quite a few places to shop for handicrafts and local curios in Manali. The colorful Tibetan Bazaar at the extreme south end of Manali sells Kullu shawls, caps, woolens, and Tibetan souvenirs that include thangkas (Buddhist paintings on cloth), silver and turquoise jewellery, and music cassettes.

Government owned Charitable Trust Tibetan Handicrafts, or any of the cooperatives run by local women, such as Kullu/Kashmir Shawl Emporium are authentic shopping outlets. Bhutico is good for shawls, and so is the Himachal Handicrafts on Circuit House Road.



Adventure Sports
Skiing in Manali: Near Manali, there are some slopes, which have been rated the best for skiing in the world. The Solang Nullah, Patalsu, Kothi, Marhi and Rohtang slopes are very good for skiing in the winters as well as in summers. In fact Patalsu and Rohtang slopes are the only places where one can do summer skiing. The slopes are being further developed to accommodate more trainees and tourists.

The national level skiing competition is held on the slopes of Solang Nullah and the winter carnival is organised at Manali. The place has immense potential to offer some world-class ski slopes and they are being developed on the same lines. There are private organisations that provide training as well as equipment for skiing. The Mountaineering Institute has put up a small ski lift at Solang Nullah.

Rafting in Manali:


White Water Rafting The Beas river flowing through Kullu valley is suitable for not only white water rafting but is ideal for canoeing and kayaking too. The Beas River from the Manaki to Jhiri near Bajaura in Kullu district has become very popular among the lovers of river rafting and many competitions have been organised in the same. The trip starts from Mohal and covers a total distance 10-kms. The season normally starts from May to mid-June and rest depends on the arrival of monsoon. The various clubs provide the basic equipment required for the water sports.

Paragliding in Manali:
Paragliding is a combination of hang gliding and parachuting. In parachuting one has to jump from an aircraft whereas in paragliding one has to run down hill. The slopes of Solang Nullah provide just the right kind of slopes for paragliding during summers. There are organisations, which offer packages for paragliding. One can hire equipment from the private organisations in Manali and around.


Around Manali, tourist attractions include the following

Hadimba Temple

Beas Kund


Further ahead is the Beas Kund. The tiny roundish igloo like stone hut shelters the Beas Kund, the very source of the holy river Beas. Water flows at the source of the river likfe a spring, so clear and icy cold that it almost numbs the fingers. All around is the rocky terrain with very little vegetation. A few mules graze around while all and sundry try to brave the wind on a clear sunny day.

Rohtang Pass (13-kms):
Situated about 50-km from Manali town, at an altitude of 4,111m on the highway to Keylong, is the Rohtang Pass. There is a beautiful Dasohar Lake left of the Pass. The Pass, which provides the only access to the Lahaul Valley, is open from June to November each year. Snowfall is, however, unpredictable and blizzards can close the Pass even during this period. Here one sees the majesty of the mountains at its height and splendour. A few km away from the pass is the Sonapani glacier and, slightly to the left are the twin peaks of Gaypan-jagged pyramid of rock, snow streaked and snow crowned.

The Best Time To Visit the place - April To June & September To October.