The biggest and smallest hill stations in India

When vacations begin for children, the first question they ask their parents with great enthusiasm is the name of the hill station where they will be spending their holidays.

In India, there are many famous and beautiful places to visit throughout the year. But not every time do families get the time from their busy schedules to plan and work out a long trip which requires a lot of travelling.

If you want to visit a beautiful hill station where you wish not to travel much, then the best place is the Mahabaleshwar hill station. It is the biggest hill station in India and certainly one of the most beautiful ones.

 Mahabaleshwar hill station is a very popular holiday and honeymoon spot in India. There is a famous Mahabaleshwar temple here, hence it is also a pilgrimage place for the hindus. Here, you can get all types of hotels and resorts right up to 3 stars, depending on your budget.

It is only a five-hour drive from Mumbai. Mahabaleshwar is also known for the honey and strawberries produced here. One must visit strawberry farms to enjoy the real flavor of the fruit. It is a must for every tourist to have the "Strawberries with Cream" and "Mulberries with Cream" (season: April–May) as it is the most famous dish here. Even the sweet corns are grown here and are available both in boiled and roasted form.

Mahabaleshwar is also known for its famous bazaar where you can get a variety of local made honey. You can also buy jelly sweets, blankets, kolhapuri chappals, shoes and sandals and also jute bags.

For sight-seeing, there are many beautiful points in Mahabaleshwar hill station like Arthur’s seat, Kate’s point, Needle Hole point, Wilson point, Monkey point, Mapro garden, Babington Point, Pratapgad etc. there is also a beautiful Venna Lake, where one can go boating, fishing, and pony riding or enjoy the food and game stalls. Near the lake are the beautiful strawberry fields.

Along with Mahabaleshwar, another hill station which is famous in India is the Matheran hill station. It is the municipal council in the Raigad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Contrary to Mahabaleshwar, Matheran hill station is the smallest hill station in India.

The cliffs of Matheran with incredibly steep drops to the plains below offer stunning viewing points. On each trip through the main bazaar you can purchase some of its attractions - care and leather articles, hats, chappals and the chikki.

Temperatures vary from 16° C in winter to 32° C in summer. It is a place to visit round the year, monsoons included. It is truly spectacular post monsoon due to the lush greenery, waterfalls and the lake full with water.

Cars are not allowed within Matheran. However you can drive up and park your car at Dasturi car point. From Dasturi you must take a 40 minute horseback or man-pulled rickshaw ride to Matheran. Horse riding is also great fun here. You must visit the beautiful points like Panorama point, monkey point, heart point, honeymoon hill echo point, charlotte late etc.