8 scenic hill stations close to airports for quick getaways

Well, hill stations always don’t require bumpy bus rides, winding roads that test your patience, and half a day of travel just to reach. There are actually some of the country’s most charming hill stations that are situated close to major airports, which will help you save some extra time. This means, you can actually step off your flight, inhale the crisp mountain air, and reach your hotel in no time with a mountain view in under a couple of hours. If you are interested, here is a list of 8 such altitude-loving destinations where you can save the extra time but can have explore unlimited beautiful sights!

The Queen of Hills has an airport so close, it feels like you will be reaching your destination in no time. Land at Jubbarhatti Airport, and in just about an hour, you can be strolling along the Mall Road, nibbling on hot momos, or catching the sunset from the Ridge. Opting for this will let you skip that marathon road trip from Chandigarh, and keep you refreshed for that weekend trip.

Bagdogra Airport might be in the plains, but it will take you around two and a half hours to reach Darjeeling. Fret not as the scenery will be enough to refresh you. And you will be in the land of toy trains, tea gardens, and misty mornings without even realising it. If you time it right, you might even catch the golden sunrise over Kanchenjunga before your suitcase is fully unpacked.

Fly into Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport, which in itself is a scenic place to land. Here, you even have the option of exploring two places in one go. First, check out Dehradun, and then after a 2-hour drive you are greeted with Mussoorie’s colonial charm. Cable car rides to Gun Hill, evening walks on Camel’s Back Road, and steaming plates of Maggi with mountain views, you get it all without a punishing journey to get there.

Yes, it’s Rajasthan’s only hill station, and it’s surprisingly accessible too via flights. From Udaipur’s Maharana Pratap Airport, it’s a comfortable 3.5-hour ride to Mount Abu. The reward? Nakki Lake boat rides, panoramic views from Guru Shikhar, and a climate that feels like you are not in Rajasthan any more.

If you thought Coorg was a remote coffee paradise, Kannur International Airport is here to change your mind. In less than three hours, you will find yourself behind the wheels driving through the rustle of coffee leaves and the aroma of freshly roasted beans. And once you reach your destinations, you have your filter coffee which is really worth the trip.

From Cochin International Airport, Munnar is just a 3-hour drive, perfect for a weekend escape into tea-covered hills. Along the way, you will have waterfalls, spice gardens, and roadside pineapple stalls that will make it hard to resist stopping. The journey will be complemented with so many elements that you won’t mind being on the road after the flight trip.

Ooty’s rolling tea estates and toy train nostalgia are just 3 hours from Coimbatore International Airport. You could opt to land in the morning, breathe in the eucalyptus-scented air by afternoon, and still have time for a round of homemade chocolates before dinner. All you need is careful planning, and you will be at your destination in no time.

Shillong Airport (aka Umroi Airport) is barely a 45-minute drive from the “Scotland of the East.” Pine forests, waterfalls, and café culture await, making it one of the quickest hill escapes in the country. And if you like your hill stations with a side of music, Shillong’s got the vibe.