India’s Breathtaking Mountain Ranges Feature Stunning, Otherworldly Beauty

India tends to get romanticized as a tourist destination, but if there is one environment that lives up to the hype, it’s the country’s mountain ranges. In these majestic climbs, one might find Buddhist prayer flags fluttering not far from where a fire blazes by a Hindu temple. Meanwhile, listen for the prayer calls of a mosque drifting through the ravines. Thundering waterfalls frequently join the symphony, as well as birdsong and the screeching of monkeys.

India is home to several mountain ranges that are worth exploring for their unique ecosystems and geological features. While geological beauty can, to an extent, be appreciated through images, you really must visit the country to understand the mosaic of cultures sustained by its mountains. For instance, Ladakh is a hub for Tibetan culture, while indigenous tribes follow traditional lifestyles in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Tourism infrastructure exists in each range to support activities like hiking, birdwatching, and ziplining. Of course, activities should be planned around seasonal weather changes. One needs to consider precipitation, namely heavy snow and rainfall, as well as the extreme heat that some of the mountains experience during the summer. I have lived in India for the past four years with my husband, a born and bred Indian who loves to travel. Together, we’ve added our own tips to this guide on India’s collection of stunning major mountain ranges.

Spiritual seekers and outdoor enthusiasts flock to the Himalayan range in search of cleaner air and cooler temperatures, not to mention countless expeditions and the opportunity to escape city crowds. The mountains sprawl 1,500 miles or so across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China, and Bhutan, and include 13 Indian states. The range is composed of three sub-ranges that run parallel to one another: The Lesser Himalayas, the Outer Himalayas, and the Greater Himalayas.

These mountains began forming roughly 50 million years ago; today, they continue to rise as the Indian subcontinent slides underneath the Eurasian plate. One can truly get a sense of the Himalaya’s majestic nature by visiting the range’s highest Indian peak. Found in the northeastern state of Sikkim, Kanchenjunga reaches an elevation of 28,169 feet. Dharamshala, Leh, Rishikesh, Manali, Shimla, Darjeeling, and Mussoorie are a handful of the most notable hill stations. Each town and region is quite unique. For instance, the barren, high altitude desert of Ladakh can seem a world apart from the thick oak, cedar, and pine forests that rise above Dharamshala.

The Himalayas can get frigid during the winter, as evidenced by the range’s estimated 15,000 glaciers. In terms of wildlife, one can expect to see anything from yaks to Bengal tigers, perhaps while mountaineering or hiking. I recommend paragliding for a unique aerial view of the landscape. The Himalayas are where several major rivers originate, including the holy Ganges and Indus rivers, making it a popular spot for rafting as well.

The Eastern Ghats cover over 1,000 miles, from Odisha in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south. The range eventually blends into the Western Ghats in the Nilgiris, an area where three Indian states meet and tea plantations, waterfalls, grasslands, and lakes abound. The Eastern Ghats are also accessible from popular hill stations like the Araku Valley, where there is no shortage of coffee plantations, and Yelagiri, home to the popular Jalagamparai Falls that pour water from a height of 50 feet.

For hikers, a trip to the Eastern Ghats is incomplete without investigating Kolli Hills, an area primarily accessed by a remarkably curvy road. Visitors to the Eastern Ghats should keep their eyes peeled for animal species like the Indian bison (also known as the gaur) and the spotted deer (otherwise called the chital). Plus, rare species like elephants and the Bengal tiger can potentially be spotted in the range’s many wildlife reserves.

Formed partially by volcanic activity, this range now boasts peaks that reach thousands of feet high. For instance, one might visit the Shevaroy Hills in Tamil Nadu or Arma Konda in Andhra Pradesh, one of the Eastern Ghats’ highest peaks that soars 5,512 feet above sea level. As you drive or hike through this range, you will continuously be captivated by the various shapes and sizes of its mountains; indeed, the Eastern Ghats are anything but uniform and are frequently broken up by magnificent rivers, such as the Godavari River and the Krishna River.

The Purvanchal range, otherwise known as the Eastern Hills, sprawls across six states in Northeastern India, encompassing several smaller mountain groups like the Patkai, Manipur, Mizo, and Naga Hills. One could call the Purvanchal range a work in progress, as the various faults are still active and cause many major earthquakes. In fact, several quakes have scored above a seven on the Richter scale. Mount Dapha in Arunachal Pradesh is the range’s highest peak, standing at an astounding 15,020 feet above sea level. Adding to the range’s beauty are a large handful of rivers whose water supplies are augmented by plentiful rainfall.

Despite the slopes, local communities are able to farm crops like barley, rice, millet, and cassava using traditional methods. We recommend trying a cup of rice wine, as well as shopping for traditional textiles and woven garments. The range is home to several indigenous tribes, whose intimate connections with the land can teach us much about our own ways of living. Other options to immerse oneself in the Purvanchal range include hiking and rafting. For a more leisurely afternoon, one can visit a tea garden, where tours are frequently offered (not to mention tastings).

Naturally, wildlife encounters are not out of the question in the Purvanchal range; tigers, elephants, and leopards roam the hillsides, which are blanketed in both evergreen and coniferous forests. As with the Himalayas, tourists should always be wary of the altitude and take time to acclimate before engaging in vigorous physical activity; this is especially true on higher peaks like those found in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Vindhya range has one end in the western state of Gujarat and runs for about 675 miles eastward until it reaches Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the west. The Sad-bhawna Shikhar, otherwise known as the Kalumar peak or “Goodwill Peak,” rises 2,467 feet above sea level, making it the range’s highest mountain. Throughout the Vindhya range, one can expect to find rocky escarpments, grassy meadows, large plateaus, thick forests, and gushing river valleys. Beneath the diversity of vegetation, the sandstone rocks of the Western Vindhyas and the crystalline rocks of the Eastern Vindhyas reveal a complex geologic history.

Cities like Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh can function as a good home base for visiting the Vindhya range. Animal lovers will feel right at home on a trip to one of the range’s many parks and nature preserves. For example, we recommend going to Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh, a prime destination for marveling at tigers, striped hyenas, and barking deer. Animals like antelope, wild dogs, pythons, langurs, crocodiles, and birds can also be found throughout the range.

Another major attraction of the Vindhya Range is its temples and pilgrimage sites. The Amarkantak Temple is one such destination that marks the source of the Narmada river, which is revered as the daughter of Lord Shiva. Other temples dedicated to Shiva dot the range, including the Omkareshwar temple and the Mahakaleshwar temple. Many tribal communities still call these mountains home and should be treated with utmost respect.

Running parallel and to the south of the Vindhya range, the Satpura range crosses about 560 miles of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Along the way, the mountains are bordered by the Narmada and Tapti Rivers, though the Son, Tawa, and Wainganga Rivers also flow through the region. Visitors might hear parts of the Satpura range referred to as the Mahadeo Hills, the Maikala range, and Rajpipla Hills. 

In Sanskrit, Satpura translates to “seven mountains,” and the range is indeed named in honor of seven particularly high peaks. At 4,429 feet above sea level, Dhupgarh marks the highest point. On closer inspection of the sandstone, granite, and gneiss that make up the mountains, scientists have estimated that the range is approximately 1.5 billion years old and was the site of major volcanic, erosive, and tectonic activities.

A trip to the Satpura range can reward one with animal sightings similar to those promised by the Vindhya range (think tigers, deer, leopards, giant squirrels, and langurs). Additionally, more than 150 butterfly species call the range home. These animals and more can be sighted in such places as Satpura National Park, Sanjay National Park, and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary. While visiting the range, one should also include Madhya Pradesh’s Bhimbetka Rock Shelters for their well-preserved Paleolithic-era artwork. The Ajanta Caves are equally intriguing; recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, these 30 caves were carved into a cliffside for Buddhist worship around two thousand years ago.

Primarily in Rajasthan, but also in the states of Delhi, Haryana, and Gujarat, one can witness the serene beauty of the Aravalli mountains, which stretch approximately 350 miles in length. Valleys, peaks, plateaus, fossils, and the earth’s mineral-rich rocks are evidence of both volcanic and sedimentary activity in the area. Though greatly eroded and not nearly as tall as they once were, there are still a handful of significant peaks in the Aravalli range. Guru Shikhar is the highest of these, at about 5,650 feet above sea level. Among the dry deciduous forests of the Aravalli mountains, one can expect to see wildlife such as snakes, sloth bears, and perhaps even leopards.

For many years, the Aravalli mountains have shaped social systems and cultural traditions. For instance, the mountains are resplendent with precious minerals and have provided excellent vantage points for military forts. In particular, the Kumbhalgarh Fort is a hidden gem that deserves more recognition for being the world’s second longest continuous wall (ranking just below the Great Wall of China). Additionally, merchants traditionally traced the path of the Aravalli mountains when transporting goods between Gujarat and northern India. Of course, temples are plentiful in the Aravalli range as well.

For a home base, tourists should consider staying in Udaipur; this comfortable and visually stunning city has an added benefit of being one of the best places to escape the summer heat in India. We recommend that visitors come prepared with at least a light jacket to account for cooler nighttime temperatures. Plus, one cannot leave this area without sampling regional delicacies like gatte ki sabji and dal baati churma.

Burma’s Rakhine Mountains, otherwise known as the Arakan Yoma Mountains, extend south into the Bay of Bengal. As such, they are generally believed to be the range that yields the Andaman and Nicobar islands, a union territory of India that includes over 300 islands strewn across 620 miles. The Patkai Range and the Mentawai Ridge are also credited with spawning these sparsely populated islands.

There has been a great deal of volcanic activity in the islands’ history, and eruptions have occurred on Barren Island as recently as 2024. As one might expect, the terrain can be treacherously steep. North Andaman’s Saddle Peak stands 2,418 feet above sea level, making it the highest point in the island group. To learn about this area’s geological history firsthand, pay a visit to the limestone caves on Baratang Island, which are thousands of years old. Both above and below water, these mountains offer breathtaking beauty. The Andaman wild pig, spotted deer, and over 200 species of birds can be found on land, while dolphins, whales, and crocodiles thrive in the water. 

With their thick forests, steep hills, and hidden lagoons, it is no wonder that the Andaman and Nicobar islands are treasure chests of eerie, yet beautiful folklore. Many such tales originate with the islands’ indigenous communities, which prefer to remain largely uncontacted. Meanwhile, roughly a quarter of the territory’s year-round population is concentrated in Port Blair. Some of the world’s best beaches are ready to welcome visitors in need of relaxation; for example, Radhanagar Beach on Havelock Island is a prime spot to watch the sunset. We recommend water skiing, kayaking among the mangroves, and watching out for bioluminescence in the ocean after sunset.

Most visitors to Lakshadweep do not think about the fact that they are standing on top of a mountain range, but it’s true; the tropical island chain is the pinnacle of the Chagos-Laccadive mountains. Lakshadweep is a union territory of India that includes 36 islands, and it is popular among tourists for its picturesque beaches. Because the range supports one of India’s four coral reef regions, one can expect world class snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. For example, Agatti Island is a secluded hideaway surrounded by clear water that is perfect for water sports. Bangaram Island is also a popular spot because its reef is crescent-shaped, which helps shelter snorkelers from major waves and currents. Jet skiing, kayaking, canoeing, and kitesurfing are other common activities. 

Though the Chagos-Laccadive range may be mostly underwater, “out of sight” should not mean “out of mind.” While there are no high peaks above water, the submarine peaks, which were formed by volcanic activity, now provide a nurturing habitat for more than 600 species of fish and 101 species of birds. Plus, places like Pitti Island function as critical sites for the breeding of sea turtles and various birds.

Visitors who would rather leave the swimming to marine life can hop on board a glass-bottomed boat and appreciate the Chagos-Laccadive range from a comfortable seat inside, perhaps with a guide to point out unique aquatic species and coral formations. Similarly, the aquarium in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep’s capital, offers wonderful insights into local species. For a good view of the land and ocean, climb up one of Lakshadweep’s lighthouses; for instance, Minicoy Island Lighthouse is a famous landmark that was built by the British in 1885.