Best Hill Stations for Honeymoon in India

Where to go on Honeymoon? It is one of the most pondered questions among newly married couples. The answer to it majorly depends on your own preference and budget. But if you have decided to celebrate your honeymoon within the country, mentioned below is a list of the best hill stations for honeymoon in India that you can choose from.

I am listing these places down in no specific order really. They are all equally scenic and perfect for spending time with your spouse.

All these places are easy to reach and have good accommodation choices available including budget ones. They are also safe tourist spots that get visited by thousands of tourists each year; including families and couples.

The list of hill stations to visit for a honeymoon in India can truly be limitless. People usually think about visiting an international destination for their honeymoon but you do not necessarily have to do so.

There are numerous stunning places in India itself that can allure you without burning a hole in your pocket. From the deserts of Rajasthan to the majestic Himalayas to exotic beaches, India has it all.

You can either pick one destination for your honeymoon and spend all your time there. Or you can even pick a few, extend your honeymoon a little and travel to different destinations; making your honeymoon truly a memorable one.

Below is a quick navigation menu of places that we will be covering in the post below.

Best Hill Stations for Honeymoon in India

From the menu above, you can also click on the name in the box to directly jump and read about a certain place.

Manali

The first entry in our list of best hill stations for a honeymoon in India will be Manali. You may feel like you have heard this name a million times before. But the thing with Manali is that you can never go wrong with a trip here.

This is a year-round tourist magnet that caters to a vast variety of tourists. It is Manali where you will find the most honeymoon packages over the net.

This can be of great relief to someone with a limited budget. It is Manali that gets considered the best hill station for honeymoon couples in India for someone with a budget limitation.

Manali is well connected with the nearby towns. You can choose to either drive on your own, rent a private taxi, or travel by public transport.

Both HPTDC and HRTC have regular buses traveling to Manali that you can board from ISBT Delhi. You can easily book an AC Volvo Bus through the HPTDC portal.

Several private tour companies as well provide luxury buses to Manali on a daily basis. Another choice would be to fly to Bhuntar Airport and rent a taxi to drop you at Manali.

You can easily get a honeymoon package for Manali for as low as Rs. 15000 depending on the number of days. The best time to visit for a honeymoon will be between January to April.

Shopping, eating out, partying, nature walks, trekking, enjoying snow and snow sports, visiting Rohtang Pass, rafting, and paragliding are some of the activities to enjoy in Manali.

Why Visit Manali?

You should choose Manali for your honeymoon if you want to visit a known place that is very easy to reach, is a budget destination, and has a long list of places to see and ample things to do.

For more details on how you can plan a trip here, please read Complete Travel Guide on Manali & Itinerary.

Shimla

Some time ago I read an article about Shimla that described it as a concrete jungle and ‘not scenic anymore’. I think this claim cannot be any further than the truth.

I agree that Shimla over a period of time has turned into a proper city but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful.

If you do not want to stay in the main town, then you can always book accommodation in nearby hamlets like Chail, Kufri, Fagu, Mashobra, and Narkanda.

Shimla still remains to be one of the most visited tourist destinations in our country. It still attracts thousands of honeymooners each year.

Like Manali, Shimla also is very well connected to all nearby cities. A smooth motorable road leads all the way to the town so you can easily drive here in your own vehicle.

There are regular HRTC and HPTDC luxury buses to and from Shimla that you can travel by. Shimla also has its own airport located about 22 kilometers away at Jubbarhatti. Another great option to opt for would be the Kalka – Shimla toy train that a lot of people travel by.

You can get honeymoon packages for Shimla as well for as low as Rs. 15000, depending on the number of days you have in hand. The best time to come here for a honeymoon would be the winter season.

Shopping, eating out, toy Train rides, trekking, nature walks, enjoying the snow, and visiting nearby hamlets like Mashobra, Kufri, and Fagu are some of the best things to do in Shimla.

For more details, please read A Complete Travel Guide on Shimla and Itinerary.

Dharamshala & Mcleodganj

Next on the list of best hill stations for a honeymoon in India are the beautiful towns of Dharamshala and Mcleodganj. The reason why I am naming them together is that both places are located within a short distance of each other.

An ideal trip in this region would be one covering both Dharamshala and Mcleodganj and other nearby towns like Dharamkot and Palampur.

There are ample places to see and things to do that can keep you busy for several days altogether. If you are someone who enjoys food and eating out then you are in for a treat.

Both these towns are among the most popular hill stations of Himachal. So you will have peace of mind in terms of safety as well.

Kangra airport is located only 15 kilometers from Dharamshala so flying is an easy and best choice to reach here. If not, then there are regular luxury buses operated by HRTC and HPTDC which are very easy to book from their online portal.

If you wish to, then you can also drive on your own. Getting to Dharamshala and Mcleodganj and moving between places is really very easy irrespective of the mode of travel that you chose.

On average, you can easily get a honeymoon package for as low as Rs. 15000 or you can even plan the whole thing yourself.

Shopping, eating out, partying, visiting monasteries, natural walks, camping, trekking, and enjoying snow are some of the best things to do in Dharamshala & Mcleodganj. If you were interested in adventure activities, you can also visit Bir Billing and enjoy paragliding.

The best time to come here for a honeymoon would be from January to April. For more details, please read How to Plan a Trip to Dharamshala and Mcleodganj.

Dalhousie and Khajjiar

Dalhousie is a name that needs no introduction and can be an excellent choice of a place for your honeymoon. The place is easily accessible, is not too costly, is very safe, and has plenty of places to see and things to do.

While visiting here, you can also plan a trip to the nearby hamlet of Khajjiar, also known as the mini Switzerland of India. Plan your honeymoon in a way that you spend a few days in Dalhousie and a few in Khajjiar.

If time allows, you can even include Dharamshala & Mcleodganj in your trip and make it an awesome honeymoon covering numerous places.

The most convenient way to reach Dalhousie is to reach Pathankot by train. You can then book a taxi from there to drop you at either Dalhousie or Khajjiar. Otherwise, buses are also easily available from nearby places like Delhi and Chandigarh.

The best way to travel would be to drive on your own. This will give you the flexibility to move around between the places. For honeymoon packages, you can get one for as long as Rs. 15000 covering both Dalhousie and Khajjiar.

The best time to visit would be between the months of January and April.

Shopping, nature walks, enjoying the snow, indulging in snow sports, driving to Sach Pass, trekking, and camping are some of the most common activities to enjoy in Dalhousie and Khajjiar.

If time allows, you can actually cover Sach Pass and also visit Lahaul Valley for a couple of days. After Lahaul, you can then cross Rohtang Pass and end your honeymoon at Manali.

For more details, please read How to Plan a trip to Dalhousie and Khajjiar.

Tirthan Valley

Now the places we talked about were some of the known and most visited ones. If you are someone who prefers to visit more silent, lesser-visited, and offbeat destinations, then a trip to Tirthan Valley will suit you just fine.

It is not too far away from Manali but gets only a fraction of the total tourist population that Manali receives each year. There isn’t much to do or see here except for the natural beauty. But this actually works more in its favor than against it.

The entire valley is dotted with tiny hamlets. You can spend a few days here and get a true taste of Himachali culture. Gushaini, Shoja, Ghiyagi, Jibhi, and Banjar are some of the known villages here and they all have good accommodation options available.

The road to Tirthan Valley bifurcates from Chandigarh – Manali highway just before the Aut Tunnel. You can reach here easily either by your own vehicle or by a Bus that you can board from Mandi or Aut.

Another way would be to fly to Bhuntar Airport and hire a private taxi for a drop to Tirthan Valley.

Sitting with your spouse next to a river, fishing, enjoying nature walks in serene surroundings, visiting Jalori Pass, camping at Serolsar Lake, and trekking in The Great Himalayan National Park are some of the fun things to do in Tirthan Valley.

While you are here, do not forget to eat several Trout fish dishes. The Tirthan River is full of Trout fish. You can even catch a fish, bring it back to your hotel, and have it prepared for dinner. When was the last time you actually ‘caught’ your dinner?

For more details, please read How to Plan a Trip to Tirthan Valley.

Leh Ladakh

I know this is not a place that many people would consider for their honeymoon until some time ago. As a matter of fact, Ladakh wasn’t even a place that people thought of even visiting until a few years ago.

But the situation has completely changed now. It is now the most visited tourist attraction in our country. Why? Because the terrain and the landscape here are unlike anywhere else in India.

Visiting Ladakh is like you visited Tibet without actually going to Tibet. If you wanted to visit an international destination for your honeymoon but weren’t able to for any reason, then you should give Ladakh a try. It will not disappoint you at all.

The best way to reach would be by Air. There are daily flights in and out of Leh and if you booked a little in advance, you can even get a great deal.

People usually think that visiting Ladakh will cost you a fortune but you can actually get a package for a honeymoon in Ladakh for about Rs. 30000 easily.

The cost will entirely depend on where you were coming from, for how many days, and your mode of travel as well. The accommodation cost here will not be too high and you can easily get a hotel fitting into your budget.

Visiting lakes like Pangong, driving over high altitude passes, camping, shopping, eating out and trying different kinds of food, and enjoying a different kind of culture altogether are a few things you can do in Ladakh.

If you were traveling by road, you can actually merge your Ladakh trip with both Manali and Srinagar and cover all of these places in about 2 weeks. For more details, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Leh Ladakh.

Spiti Valley

Next on the list of best hill stations for honeymoon in India is the lesser-known and unexplored valley of Spiti.

After Ladakh, this is the second name that is fast catching up as a much sought-after tourist destination. In fact, due to the similarity in the terrain, it is also sometimes referred to as mini Ladakh.

Not many people consider this place suitable for a honeymoon but I would definitely recommend it. Visiting Spiti Valley actually gives you a taste of different kinds of landscapes and cultures.

As you travel from Shimla to Spiti Valley via Kinnaur and then exit via Manali, the culture will slowly transform into a Buddhist majority one and the landscape will convert from lush green to Barren brown and then to lush green again.

And yes, a trip to Spiti also means that you will be able to include Shimla and Manali as well in your honeymoon.

The only way to reach Spiti is by road, from either Shimla or Manali. The nearest airport is in Bhuntar and the nearest railway station is in Chandigarh.

The good part, however, is that you can easily rent a taxi for your entire trip from Chandigarh, Shimla, or Manali. A 7 days trip here for a honeymoon, inclusive of all expenses, can easily be capped at less than Rs. 35000.

The best time to travel to Spiti valley will depend on your preference but the months of June, July, and September are considered to be the best.

Visiting monasteries, camping, road trip, eating out and trying different kinds of foods, shopping, enjoying the snow, walking, and experiencing the local culture are some of the things to do in Spiti Valley.

Lahaul Valley

Lahaul Valley is about 100 kilometers from Manali, on the other side of Rohtang Pass. Keylong, Jispa, Darcha, and Udaipur are some of the best-known places here.

The Valley remains cut off during the winter season. So you can actually plan your honeymoon here in the months from May to September.  What is the best part? It is in the fact that you can enjoy a lot of things out here.

Spend a couple of days in Manali which will give you the option of partying, shopping, and eating out.

Then move on to Lahaul Valley and spend the rest of your honeymoon in complete silence; in a serene place where you will not hear any other sound except a river flowing by and the chirping of birds. The lush green valley of Lahaul is sure to allure you.

Lahaul Valley is only accessible by road and only for about 5 months a year. To get here, you can travel to Manali and then drive across Rohtang Pass.

If you weren’t traveling by your own vehicle, then you can reach Manali by Bus, and then rent a taxi from there to drop you at Lahaul Valley. Keylong has the majority of the hotels here. But other places like Jispa, Darcha, Udaipur, and Killar too have some good hotels.

This entire belt is one of the most scenic regions in all Himachal and will not disappoint you at all. Bonfires, visiting monasteries, camping, shopping, eating out (in Manali), enjoying the snow, walks, drive to Sach Pass are some of the things to do in Lahaul Valley.

If time allowed, you can actually drive to the other side of Sach Pass and exit while covering Dalhousie and Khajjiar as well into your honeymoon.

Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg

Kashmir is among the top and first few names that get considered the best hill stations for a honeymoon in India.

A trip here covering the above three places will not cost you a fortune but will leave you with lifelong memories of an amazing honeymoon.

Unfortunately, due to all the recent problems in the valley, not many people consider visiting here safe but there has hardly ever been any incident in either Gulmarg, Pahalgam, or Sonamarg.

You can also take a look at a different article that I wrote about How to travel safely to Kashmir for some tips on making your trip hassle-free.

If you actually think about it, because not many people visit, a trip to Kashmir these days will also mean that you visited a lesser crowded destination.

To reach here, you will first have to get to Srinagar. The best way to do that is to fly into the city and if you booked a little in advance, you can easily get cheap airline tickets.

From Srinagar, you can book a cab to show you around and move between places. Accommodation too is not a problem at all in either of the above three towns.

You can also spend a day or two in Srinagar and visit some of the local attractions in the city and do some shopping.

Managing the entire trip on your own is quite easy. All that you need really is a taxi to move from town to town. But if it gives you peace of mind, you can also book an online honeymoon package for Kashmir; and it will not cost you much at all.

As a matter of fact, Kashmir honeymoon packages will probably be the cheapest ones overall.

Mussoorie

Mussoorie has been among the favored hill stations for as long as memory serves. This charming hill station is among the most scenic ones ever. The weather here remains pleasant throughout the year.

Even in the months of June and July, you will need woolen clothes to survive here which makes it a year-round magnet. You can visit Mussoorie at any time of the year and it will not disappoint you at all.

It is easily accessible, very well connected, has a good number of hotels, and is very safe and stunningly located which makes it a perfect destination for a honeymoon.

While visiting Mussoorie, you can also spend some time in Dehradun and visit Haridwar and Rishikesh as well for blessings for a happy married life ahead.

Mussoorie has very good road connectivity. You can either drive your own vehicle or travel by taxi. The nearest railway airport and railway station are at Dehradun; from where you can easily board a taxi to drop you at Mussoorie.

The distance between both towns is just about 40 kilometers. The journey will not take you more than a couple of hours.

Shopping, eating out, enjoying the natural beauty, walking on the silent lanes through the forest, and just relaxing in complete peace are what you should do in Mussoorie.

You can also book a cab on any of the days and visit the nearby towns of Dhanaulti and Kanatal. In fact, I will highly recommend that you spend a night or two in Dhanaulti. Kempty Falls is another popular one of the places to visit in Mussoorie.

For more information, please read How to Plan a Trip to Mussoorie.

Munnar

Munnar is located in the Idukki district of Kerala and is fondly referred to as the ‘Kashmir of South India’.

Located at a height of 1,600 meters (5,200 ft) in the Western Ghats mountain range, it is an immensely popular hill station and honeymoon destination.

It is well connected by national highways, state highways, and rural roads. The nearest major railway stations are Ernakulam and Aluva (approximately 140 kilometers. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is 110 kilometers away.

Pleasant weather and Tea Plantation are what drive tourism in Munnar. Each year, a lot of honeymooning couples visit here to spend some time in peace and see the plush green carpet that is strewn all around.

The months of April and May are the best time to visit. But it also tends to get a little crowded here during this time. Another good time would be in the months of August and September.

Nainital

The last entry in the list of best hill stations for honeymoon in India will be India’s lake town, Nainital. Located at the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand state, the town owes its name to the pristine Naini Lake.

The town is spread out in a valley nearly 7000 feet above sea level and is surrounded by gigantic peaks on all sides.

In particular, seven hills, known as the “Saptashring” stand out – Alma, Ayarpatta, Handi Bandi, Deopata, Lariya Kanta, Naina, and Sher ka Danda. Taken together, the lake and the mountains bestow incredible beauty and charm to Nainital.

Nainital is a very well-connected town and getting there will not be a problem at all. Depending on your own preference, you can either choose to drive by your own vehicle or use public transport to get here.

However, due to its location in the hills, there will definitely be some amount of road journey involved. So if you were coming by flight or train, you will have to find the nearest airport or train station that is convenient for you.

While visiting Nainital, you can also cover the famous Jim Corbett national park and towns like Ranikhet and Kausani. You can easily get a honeymoon package for Nainital for as low as Rs. 25000. For more information, please read How to Plan a Trip to Nainital.

Best hill station in India for honeymoon in February

All the places I mentioned above with the exception of Ladakh, Spiti, and Lahaul Valley are good enough for a honeymoon in February. Why not these places? Because the weather will be very harsh and extremely cold and you will not be able to enjoy your trip at all.

Best hill station in India for honeymoon in April

Kashmir should be on your list for a honeymoon in April. Overall, April is considered to be the best month to visit the towns of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg.

The scenery at this time will be absolutely stunning and the weather just perfect. Munnar is an equally great place to go as well at this time.

Best hill station for honeymoon in India in May

In my opinion, Manali and Mussoorie can be considered the best hill stations for a honeymoon in India in May. With the opening of Rohtang Pass, you can also cross over and spend some time in Lahaul Valley.

Best hill station in India for honeymoon in June

I will highly recommend visiting Ladakh if you are planning a honeymoon in the month of June. The weather will be very pleasant. There will be tons of things to do and you will also get to enjoy some snow.

Best hill station in India for honeymoon in November

I will recommend visiting Gulmarg for my honeymoon in November. It will be off-season and there won’t be many people around. Plan your trip towards the end of the month and if you were lucky, you may even catch a live snowfall here.

Conclusion

I hope the information above best hill stations for honeymoon in India was of help. If you have any questions, you can contact me on Instagram and I will be happy to answer. You can also consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and asking a question there.