Cool Gateways in India

As the plains of India continuously simmer under the intense heat wave, people are looking towards hills to get a respite from scorching summer. There is no dearth of hill stations in India but, the challenge is to find cool getaways which are beautiful, cool and most importantly not crowded!!!

Here are 5 summer coolers to beat both the heat and crowd:

Narkanda (Himachal Pradesh) Most travellers hardly look beyond Shimla and Manali when it comes to going to a hill station in Himachal Pradesh. A look beyond the obvious and Narkanda pops out - a beautiful hill station that offers spectacular views of snow laden peaks. Narkanda is located at an altitude of 2708 meters and is an ideal destination to seek seclusion in the mountains. Narkanda is located on Hindustan Tibet Road (NH-22) and is just 65 km from Shimla.

Gulmarg (Jammu & Kashmir) The moment you think Gulmarg, soft silky meadows surrounded by high rise mountains come to eyes. It is a traditional summer cooler that is sure to make your holiday exciting. It is scenic and offers a host of adventure options for a traveller. One can opt for horse riding, hiking, a game of golf and cable car ride to Khilanmarg. If you are visiting Gulmarg in winters, you may get an opportunity to ski from Dec to March. Gulmarg is 50 km from Srinagar. It has good number of hotels and resorts, which provide travellers comfortable accommodation.

Binsar (Uttarakhand) It is still untouched by mass tourism and that's what makes Binsar a cool getaway that you can visit to relax and rejuvenate. Binsar is located at an altitude of 2,240 meters and offers unparalleled views of the high mountain ranges of Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Trishul and Panchchuli. Besides being a cool scenic destination, Binsar is a historical town as well. It once served as the capital of the region during the reign of Chand Rajas in the 7th and 8th centuries. Binsar is 95 km from Nainital and 33 km north of Almora. Binsar has limited accommodation. Club Mahindra Binsar and KMVN Bungalow are the two popular stay options available in Binsar.

Munnar (Kerala) As the plains of India reel under the heat in May-June, Munnar is among a few destinations that witness the onset of rains. One may see the blue hills engulf under white mist, presenting a picture postcard look. Munnar is a wonderful destination to soak in the beauty of verdant hills and sweeping views of tea plantations. Munnar is located at an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level. It is 130 from Kochi and is close to Tamil Nadu border.

Lansdowne (Uttarakhand) If you are looking for a quick getaway, which is cool, quite, beautiful and not too far from Delhi; Lansdowne is the place that you should visit. It is a hill station unlike others. It is easily accessible yet not crowded. The highlight of Lansdowne is that it is surrounded by thick oak and blue pine forests. There are not many things to see and do in Lansdowne. It is a complete destination to take long walks or simply do nothing, just relax and connect back to your inner self. Lansdowne is located at a comfortable distance of 300 km from Delhi. Kotdawara, 45 km from Lansdowne is the nearest railway station.