Hill Stations in North East India For An Exciting Getaway

Known For : Umiam Lake Elephant Falls Laitlum Canyons

A beautiful city encircled by pine trees, Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya. It derives its name from Lei Shyllong, an idol worshipped at the Shillong Peak. Standing as tall as 1496 meters, Shillong provides a relief from the heat across the country. This hill station in northeast India is known for its picturesque sights and traditions. The soothing climate makes Shillong suitable to visit in all seasons. The light drizzles and the cooling gentle wind adds to the joy of visiting this hill station. This place is also known as the ‘Scotland of the East’. One can find descendants of the Khyrim, Mylliem, Maharam, Mallaisohmat, Bhowal and Langrim tribes.

Best Time: September to May

33 Shillong Attractions

Known For : Nathula Pass MG Road, Gangtok Tsongmo Lake

Extremely alluring, pleasantly boisterous and wreathed in clouds - Gangtok, the capital city of the Sikkim can also give you a spectacular view of Mt. Kanchenjunga, at a distant skyline. The pristine hill station nestled in mountains and clouds is also a base for a whole lot of trekkers to the Himalayan mountain ranges. The mesmerising prismatic beauty and the beautiful winding hill roads are even more breathtaking if seen from a bird’s eye view in a cable car.

Best Time: Throughout the year

34 Gangtok Attractions

Known For : Double Decker Living Root Bridge Dawki Nohkalikai Waterfalls

Among the wettest place on the Earth, Cherrapunjee is a hill station in North East India with clean and pristine surroundings is an excellent place to sit back and unwind. Cherrapunjee is popular for many things but more so for its living root bridges. A feat of human genius and nature’s magic, these bridges which are spread across the city are built through the roots of trees.

Best Time: October to February

21 Cherrapunji Attractions

Known For : Sela Pass Tawang Monastery Madhuri Lake

Located at a height of about 2669 metres, Tawang is known for many important and beautiful monasteries and is famous as the birthplace of Dalai Lama. One of the coldest hill stations in northeast India, the prized possession here is the four-hundred-year-old monastery, among the biggest in India and an important holy site of Buddhism. The region around Tawang is largely untouched by urbanisation, and this has resulted in the surrounding wildlife and natural vegetation to thrive flawlessly. Beautiful waterfalls like Bap Teng Kang and Nuranang, pristine lakes like Sangetsar Lake and Banga Jang Lake and the Hot Springs are some of the natural wonders you can visit while here.

Best Time: March - June; September - October

12 Tawang Attractions

Pelling, a beautiful town in the West district of Sikkim, has become the second biggest tourist destination in Sikkim after Gangtok. Located 10 km from Geyzing and 130 km from Gangtok, the main attraction of the place is the breathtaking sight of the Khangchendzonga and the neighbouring peaks. The famous Pemayangste monastery is less than a kilometre from here and is a major tourist hotspot. Pelling also has sites for mountain biking, rock climbing, village tours, meditations, apart from serving as a base for a number of treks in the region. The scenic town of Pelling is a perfect holiday destination for all nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.

Known For : Mawlyngbna Mawjymbuin Cave Nohalikalai Falls

Acknowledged as one of the wettest place in the world, the mesmerizing village of Mawsynram is a nature lover's delight and the perfect hill station in northeast India to behold the beauty of the rains. Mawsynram trounces Cherrapunjee by a slight margin in being the wettest place in India.

Best Time: June - August; November - February

7 Mawsynram Attractions

Known For : Ganga Lake Ita Fort Namdapha National Park

With the snow capped Himalayas towering on the northern end and the fertile Brahmaputra river plains on the southern, Itanagar is a natural paradise and hill station in northeast India.

Best Time: October to March

11 Itanagar Attractions

Known For : Arboretum Cum Craft Centre Botanical Gardens Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary

This picturesque town is a popular picnic spot with people from nearby cities coming here to enjoy the scenic beauty of the place. Other than being a pleasant and quiet getaway, Diphu has a lot of popular regions in and around attracting tourists. One can take trips to Singhason, Kohora, Khanduli and a number of such places. These areas will let you enjoy trekking, horse riding, bird watching etc. While in Diphu one can visit the Iskon temple, Shiva Mandir, Deopani Durga Mandir and a few more.

Best Time: August to December, February to May

5 Diphu Attractions

Known For : Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary Saitlaw West Phaileng

The Mamit district is the fourth largest district of the state of Mizoram. Known for its exquisite scenic locales and magnificence, don't miss out to add this place in your itinerary in Mizoram.

Best Time: November to March

6 Mamit Attractions

Situated amidst the Borail Mountain range in Assam, Haflong is the tallest hill station of the state, and the headquarter of the Dima Hasao district. Located about a 6-7 hour drive from the capital of Guwahati, Haflong also referred to as the 'White Ant Hillock' is famous for Jatinga, where migratory birds land every winter. Experiencing cool summers and chilly winters, this sleepy hill town in southern Assam is perfect for picnics, light treks and long winding drives.

Known For : Durtlang Hills Reiek Vantawng Falls

Neatly tucked in the beautiful North East, Aizawl is home to the Mizoram State Museum, along with being the cultural and religious capital of the Mizos.

Best Time: Throughout the year

15 Aizawl Attractions

Known For : Longkhum Ungma Village Langpangkong Caves

The most significant urban centre in all of Nagaland after Dimapur and Kohima and the home of Ao Naga.

Best Time: October to June

7 Mokokchung Attractions

Known For : Tarin Fish Farm Kile Pakho Ziro Music Festival

The cradle to a unique tribal group and a balmy climate, this hill station in northeast India - Ziro - is the peace seeker's paradise. Ziro is a quaint old town in Arunachal Pradesh, home to the Apa Tani tribe and famous for its pine hills and rice fields.

Best Time: September - November ; March - May

9 Ziro Attractions

Known For : Yangoupokpi - Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary Tengnoupal Moreh

Chandel, also known as Lamka is tiny, but a scenic district in the North-Eastern state of Manipur. It is one of the main nine districts in the state and also the second least populous of all. Situated along the lines of the international border separating India and Myanmar, it has come to be known as Gateway to Myanmar. It lies about 64 kms away from Imphal, with NH-39 passing through.
It’s  famous for being home to more than 20 native tribes. Chandel is a wisp of culture and traditions, given the huge number of tribes that live here. Each tribe offers a unique identity to the area, where colours of their cultures are blown out in all directions. Travelers visiting Chandel can soak in the alluring art forms along with sprightly music and dance.

Best Time: October to May

3 Chandel Attractions

Known For : Meghna cave temple Kamala reserve forest Rafting in River Subansiri

Paddy Fields, rainforests with bamboo trees along with beautiful Subansiri River flowing along the town, Daporijo is a small town on the way from Ziro to Along. Daporijo is a scenic hill station in North East India situated 600 meters above the sea level in the upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. Daporijo is typically a good town to stopover on the route of Along to Ziro for a break, otherwise, the town does not have much to offer to its tourists. The town is known for its varied ethnic cultures succinct at one place.

Best Time: December to February

5 Daporijo Attractions

Known For : Local Sightseeing Trekking

Anini is where the clouds come down the kiss the land. With much of its beauty peeking from behind the misty air, this unexplored hill station in northeast India is the place to visit for pristine calmness.

Best Time: November to March

2 Anini Attractions

Known For : Veda Peak Shangnyu Village Chenloisho Village

Home of the Konyaks nagas, Mon provides tourists with a unique and quite mesmerizing view of tattooed faces wearing feathery loincloths.

Best Time: October to May

5 Mon Attractions

Known For : Tura Peak Siju Caves Balpakram National Park

Located in the West Garo hills, Tura provides a spellbinding as well as serene environment being quite an unexplored town.

Best Time: Throughout the year

9 Tura Attractions

Known For : Shilloi Lake Khezhakeno Village Glory Peak

Phek is a hilly area rich in flora and fauna. Apart from being a spell-binding hill station in northeast India, Shilloi lake is an important attraction. The important and spellbinding hills of Phek district are Kapamodz and Zanibou, while the main rivers are Tizu, Lanye, and Sedzu. The Khezhakeno tourist village also stands out as a must see here. Phek waterfall orchid feels add just the right icing to this off-beat travel destination. This offbeat destination in Nagaland abounds in colours and festivities which can make the tourists experience a more vibrant one.

Best Time: October to May

5 Phek Attractions

Known For : Bomdila Monastery Apple Orchards Bomdila View Point

With majestic Himalayas bestowing their shadow, the beautiful town of Bomdila will offer you all an area in this terrain should.

Best Time: April to October

8 Bomdila Attractions

Known For : Tryshi Falls Nartiang Monoliths Krang Suri Falls

Located in the Jaintia Hills district, Jowai is famous for its scenic setting and breathtaking views with the perfect mix of heritage and culture.

Best Time: October to Mid May

12 Jowai Attractions

Known For : Outdoor activities Sessa Orchid Sanctuary Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary

Apart from being the nature lover's paradise, Bhalukpong can provide you a complete experience with wildlife and a host of activities complimenting its natural beauty and the environment of a place lesser known

Best Time: October to March

3 Bhalukpong Attractions

Known For : Kheti and Lajo village Khonsa Museum Namdapha National Park

Khonsa is the headquarters of Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh and is located in the Tirap Valley surrounded by Himalayan ranges. Streams, deep gorges, dense forests and snow-clad hills are some of the features which describe this hill station in northeast India.

Best Time: September to Apr

5 Khonsa Attractions

Known For : Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary Mayudia Nehru van Udayan

The snow peaked mountains, deep gorges, turbulent rivers cascading down the hills, numerous waterfalls, placid lakes, archaeological sites, peace and fun-loving hospitable people and above all the heavenly climate make Roing one of the most attractive hill stations in northeast India for tourists.

Best Time: October to March

11 Roing Attractions

Known For : Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary Lunglei Sightseeing

Literally meaning 'the bridge of rock', Lunglei is famous for its scenic beauty and natural setting. It is an ideal destination if one wants to take a break and look away, towards nature's simple offerings. Trekking, bird watching and adventure sports are frequently enjoyed by tourists.

Best Time: October to June

2 Lunglei Attractions

Known For : Dzukou Valley and Japfu Peak Kohima Museum Touphema Village

Kohima is the hilly capital of Nagaland, which is one of the seven sister states of India. ‘Kohima’ is the anglicized name given by the British, the original name being 'Kewhira' derived from the Kewhi flowers found in the region. Famous for its ethereal environment and untouched beauty, it is a land of folklore passed down through the ages. Situated at a height of 1500 metres above the sea level, it is endowed with quaint hills, emerald forests and a picturesque landscape. It is the go-to place for all you adventure enthusiasts as it is ideal for trekking, camping and hiking.

Best Time: October to June

11 Kohima Attractions

Known For : District museum Khonsa museum Khonsa waterfall

Tirap never fails to enchant its tourists with gushing rivulets, green and vibrant orchids and the freshness in air which heals the restless mind. Another spectacular attribute of this place is the ethnicity of tribals and their festivals, fairs and flawless artworks which are created with intense dedication.

Best Time: March to June

8 Tirap Attractions

Primarily an industrial town, Umrangso has long served as an offbeat destination for nature lovers and for those searching for colder regions to run off to on short vacations. The lush greenery and picturesque views of the river passing through the town have long been the subject of many photography enthusiasts.