In the first quarter of the 20th century, George Francis Light, a young English subaltern, likened the plains of India to one vast prison in which the sun, aided at one period of the year by hot winds, acted the part of jailor. For Englishmen toiling in the plains, a sojourn in the hills was a welcome escape, liberation from the dungeons.

They established hill stations on the periphery of the Himalayas from Shimla to Darjeeling. These townships were cast in the mould of small English hamlets, which reminded the colonial masters of their homeland and provided a temporary relief from homesickness. These also served as cantonments, sanatoria and resorts. In time, schools, hotels, hospitals, theatres and malls were built up. Shimla was designated the summer capital of the viceroy and the annual exodus from Calcutta and then Delhi, was a hallowed ritual. Rudyard Kipling has immortalized the life and times of Anglo-India in his stories and sketches. The stern officers and custodians of the Raj behaved like schoolboys playing truant once they broke loose from their desks.

Not everyone pursued pleasure. It was during this period that a systematic study of the Himalayas was undertaken. The enthusiasm of administrators resulted in exploration and construction of roads, bridges and so on. The Himalayas became more accessible and familiar to the common man. Its breathtaking beauty continues to revive visitors.

Auli is nestled in the lap of the snow-capped peaks of Garhwal Himalayas in the Chamoli District of western Uttar Pradesh, near the world famous religious shrine of Badrinath.

A huge cup shaped meadow, lush and green with slopes where the silence is broken only by the tinkle of cowbells, Gulmarg looks like a fantasy set in a film and not surprisingly have been the venue of several films.

The capital of Jammy and Kashmir and the largest city in the state, Srinagar (1,730m) is famous for its canals, Houseboats and Mughal Gardens. The city itself is quite unlike most other large Indian cities for here you are much more in Central Asia than on the Indian sub-continent.

Ladakh is a land like no other. Bounded by two of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalayas and the Karakoram, it lies athwart two other, the Ladakh range and the Zanskar Range.

Ladakh is full of amazing sights - strange Gompas perched on soaring heights; the barren, shattered looking landscapes splashed with small brilliant patches of green; ancient palaces clinging to sheer rock walls.

Some great Hiking, some skiing, some beautiful scenes and a cool environment that's what Kufri is all about. It is famous for its trekking and hiking trails. Adventure-seeking travelers throng Kufri in winters to enjoy skiing and tobogganing along its snow-covered slopes.

Located in amidst fragrant pine forests is a ski resort in winter. It has a choice of slopes ranging from a beginners run and slalom slope, to sharper descents for the experienced skier.

Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of. Dwelling on a panoramic location, the hilly town is surrounded by green pastures and snow-capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era create an aura, which is very different from other hill stations.

Kullu was once known as Kulanthpitha, which means the end of the habitable world. Beyond rose the forbidding heights of the Greater Himalayas, and by the banks of the shining river Beas, lay the fabled 'Silver Valley'.

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.

Dharamsala over looks the plains and is surrounded by dense pine trees and Deodar forests. A nearby snowline with numerous streams and cool healthy atmosphere makes the surroundings very attractive. A busy bazaar town, Dharamsala has established itself as the travellers base camp, who come to explore the nearby mountains.

Dalhousie is a quiet town, with a sense of enchantment. This hill station spreads over five low-level hills at the western edge of the Dhauladhar range, just east of the Ravi River.

Lahaul & Spiti are two remote Himalayan valleys of Himachal Pradesh lying on the Indo-Tibet border. Strange, exciting, primitive, these valleys are incomparable in mountain scape, in the rugged beauty of their rocky escapements and the splendor of their snow covered peaks.

Soaked in nature's beauty, Sarahan is flanked on the banks of the meandering Sutlej River. Located amidst Deodar forests, Sarahan was the ancient capital of the mighty Bushahr. It's a belief that Sarahan is the Shonitpur of old times, and this was the place, where Banasura once ruled.

A small town in the hills of Kumaon, Nainital is a lovely hill station surrounded by mountains on three sides. Once this area had many lakes and it was called the City of 60 lakes or 'Chakta'.

Mussoorie is located in the Garhwal hills. Due to its immense natural beauty, Mussoorie is known as the queen of hill stations. Mussoorie is an excellent respite for tourists and people who want relief from the hot sultry conditions of the plains. Nature has gifted Mussoorie everything which makes a place beautiful. With the onset of summers tourists start coming here.

Rishikesh is just 24 Kms from Haridwar. Located in the laps of lower Himalayas, this place is considered to be the access point of three other pilgrim places of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri the four great places which combine to make Chardham.

With the majestic and mystifying Himalayas as the backdrop, the four most holy pilgrimages of India never cease to amaze travelers and visitors. Char Dham, or the four pilgrimage centers, comprising of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are frequented by the religious minded as well as those intrigued by the remnants of bygone years.

For unabridged adventure, unadultered natural splendours, Uttaranchal has two destinations dotted all over with breathtaking surroundings, Kumaon and Garhwal. These pretty residents of Uttaranchal are a discovery in their own way for any adventure lover.

Gangtok, the "Lofty Hill" or the "Hill made flat to build the Gangtok monastery in 1716". Gangtok is a city, which, till one sees it, one would believe exists only in picture-story books.

Darjeeling the dream land of the East, it has been a popular hill station since the British period. The tourist flow to Darjeeling city has been increasing day by day. Due to the proximity with three international borders, Darjeeling is strategically very important

Kathmandu with its unique architectural heritage, palaces, temples and courtyards has inspired many writers, artisits, and poets both foreign and Nepalese. It boasts a unique symbiosis of Hinduism, Buddhism as well as Tantrism in its culture which is still alive today as it was hundreds of years ago.

South of Rangdum stands the Pazila watershed across which lies Zanskar, the most isolated of all the trans Himalayan Valleys. The Panzela Top is the picturesque tableland adorned with two small alpine lakes and surrounded by snow-covered peaks.

For well over a thousand years, pilgrims have journeyed Kailash Mansarovar to pay homage to the mountain's mystery, circumambulating it is a ancient ritual of devotion that continues to this day.