I have visited many Hill stations and found many similarities b/w them. What does it take to be a Hill Station?
1. It has to be in hill. Obviously. But more importantly it should located such that the place below the hill is hot. So people will come here to enjoy the cool weather.
2. It has to have a lake at the city centre. You will have boating in the lake may be? You can also probably walk around the lake.
3. The lake will be surrounded by all kids of shops. Selling fruits (cut or in full), food, snacks, clothes, fancy items and so on. They will usually be priced high.
4. All restaurants in the city/town will serve average or below average food. However the price will be high or very high.
5. Horses. Yes. For no reason horses will be present and horse ride and photos on horses will be a thing.
6. There will be a single ring road around the mountain where all the important places to visit will be located. All you need to do is make a full circle and all places can be covered.
7. The roads will be empty with just trees around. Suddenly you will see a lot of road side shops. That means you have reached some tourist spot. See the spot and carry on on the same road till you see the shops again. That’s the next tourist spot.
8. Any place not in the usual ring road will be considered off beat.
9. On the empty roads a you might see tribal like dressed people selling wild honey or fruits which are all fake anyways.
10. The tourists places will be either view points, a rock in some shape, caves, temples, flower gardens or parks.
11. One point will be highest point on the hill. You might have to park your vehicle and trek to the top.
12. There will be sunrise pint and a sunset point. Sometimes it will be same place for both. Sometimes different.
13. Tourists will flock and destroy the place during summers and weekends.
14. Other fun activities like shooting balloons, cycling etc. might also be present.
Mount Abu has all of the above. So we can declare it to be a perfect touristy hill station.
Endless thoughts 