India Unbound
Hill Stations of India
Why is it so cool up in the hills? Which hill station has no cars at all? Pack a sweater, because we're heading up!
Did you know?
In Meghalaya, the Khasi people grow bridges! They guide the roots of rubber fig trees across streams. A tree grows for 10 to 15 years before it puts out these roots. The bridges get stronger with age.
Matheran in Maharashtra, about 90 km from Mumbai, does not allow cars or motorbikes. Visitors walk, ride horses or take the little toy train to get around!
The Kalka–Shimla toy train crosses more than 800 bridges and goes through more than 100 tunnels on its 96 km journey. Shimla was the summer capital of British India from 1864.
Try this: Hill Station Postcard
Imagine you are on holiday in a hill station. On a postcard-sized card, draw the view: mountains, pine trees, a toy train or a waterfall. On the back, write three lines to a friend: the name of the hill station, the mountain range it is in, and one thing you saw there. Use a map of India to check!
Go further: Why Is It Cooler Up There?
The Sun warms the ground, and the ground warms the air near it. As you go higher, the air becomes thinner and cooler. Scientists have found that, on average, the temperature drops about 6.5°C for every 1,000 metres you climb. So if it is 30°C at the seashore, a place 2,000 metres high could be about 17°C. That is why so many people head to the hills in summer!