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These hill stations haven’t changed much over the years; they still carry the warmth, simplicity, and charm of old-school family trips.
Darjeeling has tea gardens and vintage steam engines.
Summer holidays in the 90s were all about long drives, home-packed food, and laughter in the hills. Even today, some Indian hill stations still hold that old charm. Here are a few hill stations in India that still bring back the charm of old-school family vacations.
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Back in the day, a trip to Shimla meant monkey caps in May and cream rolls on Mall Road. Families walked hand in hand as the chill breeze carried laughter through pine-scented streets. The Kalka-Shimla toy train was the highlight of every trip, with tunnels, laughter, and pine-scented air. Even today, Shimla still feels the same, calm, beautiful, and full of old charm.
Ooty, Tamil Nadu
The drive up to Ooty was half the fun, eucalyptus trees, cool mist, and kids counting monkeys from the car window. It felt like the South’s answer to a postcard. Families spent evenings by Ooty Lake, sipping tea and talking for hours. The homemade chocolates, the flower shows, the cosy cottages, everything about Ooty still moves at a slower, sweeter pace.
Darjeeling, West Bengal
Darjeeling was where families woke up early just to watch the sunrise paint Kanchenjunga pink. The air always smelled of tea and excitement, simple, pure, and unforgettable. The toy train chugged past misty slopes while everyone waved from windows. Breakfasts at Keventer’s and pastries at Glenary’s still taste like the 90s, warm, familiar, and full of joy.
Nainital, Uttarakhand
In Nainital, every family had the same plan: boating on Naini Lake, snacking on roasted corn, and wandering through the Tibetan Market until sundown. It was peaceful and personal. Evenings meant long walks by the lake, wrapped in sweaters, sharing stories. The calm water reflected more than just hills; it held the glow of those carefree summers.
Matheran, Maharashtra
Matheran still refuses cars, just like it always did. Families rode toy trains or ponies up the hill, the silence broken only by laughter and the echo of footsteps on red soil. Bungalows with creaky floors, chikki stalls, and misty verandahs still define Matheran’s charm. Time stands still here, just like those old summers when the world felt slower and simpler.
Mount Abu, Rajasthan
Rajasthan’s only hill station, Mount Abu, was everyone’s escape from the desert heat. Families rowed on Nakki Lake, explored Dilwara Temples, and shared ice cream as the sun dipped behind the hills. Not much has changed; the bazaars still buzz, the air stays cool, and families still return for that same feeling their parents once did, the joy of doing nothing in the hills.
Delhi, India, India
November 02, 2025, 20:00 IST
