If you haven’t yet travelled to India, you’ve been missing out. While the country has a reputation for being one of the harder places to travel, you’ll be surprised at how easy life gets when you stay in nice accommodation and pre-plan your trip.

Here are the top 5 summer holiday destinations in India:

1. Mussoorie

Located approximately 284 kms from Delhi, Mussoorie is known as “The Queen of Hills” due to its altitude at 1,880 metres, and it’s actually a hill station where you’ll find a huge variety of fauna and flora.

Many tourists consider this place to be like a fairytale, and you can relax in the Kempty fall waters, go trekking, or simply spend some time taking photos of the lush, rolling hills. Head up the cable car to Gun Hill to see an excellent panoramic view, and be sure to book your hotels in Mussoorie advance so you don’t miss out on accommodation. Mussoorie is only 6 hours from Delhi, although if you don’t want to drive you can take the train and get off at Dehradun Station or fly into Dehradun Airport.

2. Mt. Abu

If you’re basing yourself in Delhi, Mt Abu is another great place to travel- even if it’s just for a weekend. This is the place to see amazing architecture and learn about the history of the area as you explore forts, palaces and temples. You can reach Mt Abu in 13 hours fro Delhi, since it’s just 748 km from the city and the closest railway station is Mount Abu Railway Station.

3. Shimla

If you’re planning to visit India during the summer, Shimla is the perfect destination. If you’re not a fan of the heat, Shimla has a great climate, excellent dining, great shopping, and plenty of places to stay. Be sure to visit Jakhu Temple which is located on top of a hill- making it a great photo opportunity and Kali Bari temple which is in the middle of the city.

Shimla is 7 hours from Delhi and the nearest railway station (Kalka) is 8 km away.

4. Auli

If you’re like most people, you probably didn’t know that India had such a varied climate. In fact, Auli is a hill station close to Delhi (499 km and a 9 hour drive), and it has only just discovered its draw as a tourist destination as tourists flock to the snow in order to ski. Auli is located close to Badrinath and it’s also one of the coldest places in the country.The nearest railway station is Rishikesh, although this is 264 kms away so you’re probably best to drive.

5. Ooty

Located in South India, Ooty has an excellent climate and gorgous landscape just waiting to be explored. Be sure to visit the Botanical Gardens, Pykara Lake, Kalhatty Falls and Deer Park. You’ll also find plenty of other activities for the whole family, including horse racing, trekking and fishing.