Chamundi Hills—Mysore
1300 feet above sea level, in the Chamundi Hills you will be privy to lush greenery encapsulating you in a world of trees, fertile hills, valleys and flowering shrubs. The Chamundi Hills are among the eight most sacred hills of South India so break out of your usual spots and give this hill a view.
Pictured here: Sale of sets to offer the goddess Chamunda close to her temple.
Ratnagiri Balamurugan Temple—Vellore, Tamil Nadu
Ratnagiri Balamurugan temple is an ancient Murugan temple situated in Vellore, India. It was built around the 14th century and is is situated on top of a hill. Ancient Hindu scriptures say that where there is a hill, there is Lord Murugan (Shiva’s son). Over the passage of time, an ordinary sand structure was converted into a stone shrine, making it a historically rich and beautiful spot to explore during the monsoons.
Pictured here: Colourful peacock statue on the Gopuram of Rathinagiri Hill Temple in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Shiva's son, Murugan is worshiped here.
McLeod Ganj—Dharamsala
Home to the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile and the residence of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, is McLeod Ganj. The little town comes with many budget hotels, trekking companies, internet cafes, restaurants and shops selling Tibetan souvenirs. It’s the perfect little town to enjoy some down time with a group of friends.
Pictured here: Kalaczakra temples in Dharamsala,McLeod Ganj.
Jakhoo Hill, Shimla—Himachal Pradesh
At the top of the Jakhoo Hill is located the famous Jakhoo Temple of Shimla. It is an uphill climb through the beautiful deodar trees. The JakhooTemple of Shimla is dedicated to Hanuman. Located at a height of 2,455 meters, it is situated on the highest peak in Shimla. The scenic view that surrounds this beautiful temple is absolutely breathtaking and splendid.
Pictured here: A Lord Hanuman statue at the Jakhoo Temple, Jakhoo Hill, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
Kanduka Hill— Murudeshwar
This temple is built on the Kanduka Hill which is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea. It is dedicated to Shiva, and a 20-storied gopura is constructed at the temple. The temple authorities have installed a lift that provides a breathtaking view of the 123-feet Shiva idol from the top of the Raja Gopura. There is also a Rameshwar Linga at the bottom of the hill, where devotees can do seva. A Shaneswara Temple has been built next to the idol of Shiva. Two life-sized elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to it.
Pictured here: The Great Shiva over Kanduka Hill
Pushkar Ghats—Rajasthan
The holy lake of Pushkar is surrounded by ghats or embankments where the various religious ceremonies are conducted by the pilgrims visiting Pushkar. Watching life as it unfurls at these ghats gives a great insight into the religious beliefs of the devout Hindus, which makes for an enriching getaway this season.
Pictured here: A hill temple at the Pushkar Ghats, Rajasthan, India.
Hemakuta Hill—Hampi
Hemakuta Hill is one among the best places in Hampi to see the sunrise and sunset; and not as tedious to reach the top as compared to the Matanga Hill nearby, which is rumoured to be the best hill to take in the sunset.
Pictured here: The view from the Virupaksha temple at Hemakuta hill during sunset in Hampi, Karnataka.
Ladakh
Nothing quite beats the beauty of Ladakh—snow-capped mountains and lush-greenery. This is a location unlike any and one that can be enjoyed no matter what the season.
Pictured here: A beautiful scenic view of a green hill with an old white Buddhist stupa against the backdrop of a colourful mountain range in Ladakh.
And on a closing note, nothing quite like spotting locals from the hills in vibrant hues against a scenic backdrop.
Written by Nazneen Joshi on Jul 18, 2014