Hill Stations

Mary Carlson · Apr 22nd, 2004, 04:53

I'm travelling to India in October. Two itineraries have been offered - very similar except one includes Shimla, the other Darjeeling. Any input greatly appreciated.

Rob_The_Pom · Apr 22nd, 2004, 07:55

Darjeeling definately.
Shimla is really nice, but for me Darjeeling is the no. 1 hill station.

The views on a clear day are out of this world. Lots of great places to eat and drink. Some great old buildings.
Ahhh, I want to be there NOW!

SHIMLA · Apr 22nd, 2004, 08:13

My vote goes to Shimla!

How are the two itineraries similar? What does each include?

concoran · Apr 22nd, 2004, 12:27

Mary, is it an organized tour?
If so, try to stick with what best they have to offer at either of the places. The choice also depends upon how much you are willing to mix with locals and understand the culture.
Both of these, however, are very touristy places. If you have time, you may also want to head south. (avoid Ooty,though).

guerik · Apr 22nd, 2004, 12:53

Shimla is very beautiful and I'd highly reccomend it, but then again I've never been to Darjeeling.
You'd be travelling to fairly different places on the way to either though, I'd be intrested to see your itinerary?

Mary Carlson · Apr 23rd, 2004, 22:36

I fly into and out of Mumbai. The suggested itineraries cover some of the major sites in the north - Udaipur, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Jaipur, Agra, Delhi and a hill station. It seems like I'm covering a lot of ground with limited time (10/20-11/3) but this may be my only opportunity. Thanks for any and all advice.

Dmitri · Apr 23rd, 2004, 22:54

u cant possibily fit darjeeling into that itenary . Going to darjeeling would imply flying to calcutta , then taking a train to new jalpaiguri and then further a bus from there .

It has to be shimla ...which kinda fits in nicely in your travel plans . Other alternatives could be Kasauli . Its before shimla ...much quieter ...but very scenic .

SHIMLA · Apr 24th, 2004, 09:09

Dmitri, you're absolutely right ! Kasauli's a gem! And so's Chail, near Shimla.

Mary Carlson · Apr 24th, 2004, 22:01

An additional itinerary has been presented. Rather than Shimla or Darjeeling, it offers Mt. Abu and Jodphur in addition to the other stops. It's usually very easy for me to make a decision, but with all these great places to see, I'm having a difficult time. Your thoughts are helping. Thank you.

SHIMLA · Apr 25th, 2004, 11:58

Rajasthan holds completely different attractions for the visitor, in the form of forts, palaces and the desert. Mount Abu, as a hill-station, just cannot be compared to Shimla or Darjeeling.

Now the choice of itinerary boils down to what you'd like to see the most!

Mary Carlson · Apr 28th, 2004, 00:41

Any thoughts on Mussoorie?

sam371 · Apr 28th, 2004, 01:45

Darjeeling is by far the best hill station but Shimla in October may be the best bet in my opinion. You may also wanna consider Manali for the annual Dussehra festival - It is celebrated in the month of October and is very popular.
Mussoorie is relatively smaller - you can sightsee the whole town and the surroundings in a day.

Hope this helps.

SHIMLA · Apr 28th, 2004, 08:57

Mussoorie is charming too.
However, I do not agree with sam371 that you can cover the whole town and surrroundings in one day. To get a feel of the place, you must devote at least four days to it. Allow the mountain ambience to sink in slowly.

kshay · Apr 28th, 2004, 16:18

you should definitely try out chail....and also maybe go to nainital

Apr 22nd, 2004, 04:53	#1
Mary Carlson Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: minnesota, usa Posts: 4	Hill Stations I'm travelling to India in October. Two itineraries have been offered - very similar except one includes Shimla, the other Darjeeling. Any input greatly appreciated.

Apr 22nd, 2004, 07:55	#2
Rob_The_Pom Infidel in Chief Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seoul, South Korea Posts: 1,373	Darjeeling definately. Shimla is really nice, but for me Darjeeling is the no. 1 hill station. The views on a clear day are out of this world. Lots of great places to eat and drink. Some great old buildings. Ahhh, I want to be there NOW! __________________ There is no God but Dawkins and Hitchens is his prophet.

Apr 22nd, 2004, 08:13	#3
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	My vote goes to Shimla! How are the two itineraries similar? What does each include? __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

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Apr 22nd, 2004, 12:27	#4
concoran Explorer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Desert Southwest Posts: 319	Mary, is it an organized tour? If so, try to stick with what best they have to offer at either of the places. The choice also depends upon how much you are willing to mix with locals and understand the culture. Both of these, however, are very touristy places. If you have time, you may also want to head south. (avoid Ooty,though).

Apr 22nd, 2004, 12:53	#5
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,038	Shimla is very beautiful and I'd highly reccomend it, but then again I've never been to Darjeeling. You'd be travelling to fairly different places on the way to either though, I'd be intrested to see your itinerary?

Apr 23rd, 2004, 22:36	#6
Mary Carlson Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: minnesota, usa Posts: 4	I fly into and out of Mumbai. The suggested itineraries cover some of the major sites in the north - Udaipur, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Jaipur, Agra, Delhi and a hill station. It seems like I'm covering a lot of ground with limited time (10/20-11/3) but this may be my only opportunity. Thanks for any and all advice.

Apr 23rd, 2004, 22:54	#7
Dmitri Wanderer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 37	u cant possibily fit darjeeling into that itenary . Going to darjeeling would imply flying to calcutta , then taking a train to new jalpaiguri and then further a bus from there . It has to be shimla ...which kinda fits in nicely in your travel plans . Other alternatives could be Kasauli . Its before shimla ...much quieter ...but very scenic .

Apr 24th, 2004, 09:09	#8
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	Dmitri, you're absolutely right ! Kasauli's a gem! And so's Chail, near Shimla.

Apr 24th, 2004, 22:01	#9
Mary Carlson Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: minnesota, usa Posts: 4	An additional itinerary has been presented. Rather than Shimla or Darjeeling, it offers Mt. Abu and Jodphur in addition to the other stops. It's usually very easy for me to make a decision, but with all these great places to see, I'm having a difficult time. Your thoughts are helping. Thank you.

Apr 25th, 2004, 11:58	#10
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	Rajasthan holds completely different attractions for the visitor, in the form of forts, palaces and the desert. Mount Abu, as a hill-station, just cannot be compared to Shimla or Darjeeling. Now the choice of itinerary boils down to what you'd like to see the most!

Apr 28th, 2004, 00:41	#11
Mary Carlson Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: minnesota, usa Posts: 4	Any thoughts on Mussoorie?

Apr 28th, 2004, 01:45	#12
sam371 Dreaming of India... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New York Posts: 399	Darjeeling is by far the best hill station but Shimla in October may be the best bet in my opinion. You may also wanna consider Manali for the annual Dussehra festival - It is celebrated in the month of October and is very popular. Mussoorie is relatively smaller - you can sightsee the whole town and the surroundings in a day. Hope this helps.

Apr 28th, 2004, 08:57	#13
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	Mussoorie is charming too. However, I do not agree with sam371 that you can cover the whole town and surrroundings in one day. To get a feel of the place, you must devote at least four days to it. Allow the mountain ambience to sink in slowly.

Apr 28th, 2004, 16:18	#14
kshay Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: India Posts: 3	you should definitely try out chail....and also maybe go to nainital