Bihar is known for its strong foundation in Buddhism and Jainism and its contribution to highlighting the religion globally. The city of Pataliputra (modern Patna) serves as a symbol of glory and kingship in ancient India. With an abundance of exemplary tourist spots, including some notable hill stations in Bihar, this state's scenic beauty attracts travellers worldwide.

The geographical presentation of this state shares borders with Nepal in the North, Jharkhand in the South, West Bengal in the East and Uttar Pradesh in the West.

The blend of serene landscapes of the hilly areas and architectural structures makes Bihar the perfect destination for a quick getaway. Tourists looking for a vacation can explore some of the famous hill stations in Bihar as mentioned below:

1. Brahmajuni Hill

The excellent view of Brahmajuni hill and its surrounding historic temples makes it an outstanding choice to experience the tranquillity of the place. This hill station in Bihar is located in the district of Gaya and is home to numerous caves famous for their stone wall carvings. In addition, the auspicious belief of Buddha delivering his first sermon to 1000 disciples in Brahmajuni hill makes this place remarkably serene.

• Best Time to Visit: October to February
• Top Things to Do: Cave visiting, seeking blessings of Lord Vishnu at historical temples and nature exploration.
• Top Places to Visit: Vishnupad Temple, Brahmayoni and Matruyoni caves, and other temples dedicated to Astabhujadevi.
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 3,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach:  By road, train or flight.

2. Ramshila Hill

Ramshila Hill is located almost a few kilometres from the Vishnupad temples in Gaya. This place is among the top hill stations in Bihar with the presence of a remarkable temple that has its foundation on top of the hill. Tourists visiting this hill station will get to see countless extraordinary stone sculptors. In addition, Ramshila hill is the home of auspicious temples of Hindu deities like Devi Sita, Lord Ram and Hanuman.

• Best Time to Visit: October to February
• Top Things to Do: Temple visiting, photography and nature exploration
• Top Places to Visit: Ramesvara or Pathaleshwara temple and Ahilya Bai temple
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 2,000 - 3,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By road, flight and train

3. Pretshila Hill

Pretshila hill is among the top hill stations in Bihar and gained popularity for its breathtaking view of Brahma Kund and for exploring the beautiful city of Gaya. Every year, hundreds of pilgrims visit the Brahma Kund Lake and offer Pind Daan, which is a sacred ritual performed for the departed souls of their ancestors.

• Best Time to Visit: Summer and Monsoon
• Top Things to Do: Bathing in Brahma Kund Lake, visiting sacred temples and photography
• Top Places to Visit: Ahilya Bai temple, Brahma Kund
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 2,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By road, flight or train

4. Prag Bodhi

Situated in the Gaya district in Bihar, Pragbodhi, also known as Dungeshwari hill, attracts tourists for its exemplary scenic beauty. As per the legends, this place was the resting place for Lord Buddha before attaining enlightenment. The enticing lush green meadows of Prag Bodhi and the panoramic state of Kiriyama village make this place worthy of remembrance.

• Best Time to Visit: October to February
• Top Things to Do: Cave visiting, an evening stroll to the ancient monastery, biking to enjoy the view on the mountain’s top
• Top Places to Visit: Monastery, Kiriyami village
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 2,000 - ₹ 5,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By road, air and rail

5. Gurpa Peak

Located near the small village Gurpa, this sacred mountain is known as Kukkutapadagiri. This hill station in Bihar offers a plethora of astounding Hindu shrines and Buddhist relics that serve as a prime attraction for tourists. An ideal spot for meditation, Gurpa peak is believed to be the waiting place for Maha Kassapa, the successor of Lord Buddha.

• Best Time to Visit: July to August
• Top Things to Do: Mountain climbing, visiting the ancient caves, meditating at the Summit.
• Top Places to Visit: Hindu and Buddhist shrines, Summit, caves
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 2,000 - ₹ 4,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By road, flight or train

Apart from some of the best hill stations in Bihar, its neighbourhood has more to offer, let's explore them one by one.

From the scrumptious cuisine that shares a touch with West Bengal and Orissa to cultural diversity, Bihar acquires a special position in eastern India.

In addition, for travellers ready to explore hill stations near Bihar, myriad options are available in this context.

Here is the list of hill stations near Bihar which are ideal for one- or two-day getaways.

6. Hazaribagh, Jharkhand

Hazaribagh is situated in the Chhota Nagpur plateau and offers optimum tranquillity through its natural presentation of lush evergreen forests. These forests are home to diverse species of birds and animals and are an extraordinary adventure destination for tourists seeking thrills. The mountains Jilinja and Chandwa are 3057 m and 2816 m, respectively, which is a perfect spot for travellers engaged in hiking.

• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Top Things to Do: Mountain climbing, wildlife park and local market visiting
• Top Places to Visit: Hazaribagh National Park, Canary Hills, Hazaribagh Jheel, Urban Haat, Narsimhasthan.
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 2,500 - ₹ 5,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By road, flight or train

7. Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu is the door to exploring the beauty and calmness of Nepal. With the convergence of the Bagmati and Vishnumati rivers, Kathmandu has some of the ancient temples and historical village landscapes. Being the land of golden pagodas, tourists experience astonishing Indo-Tibetan and Newari handcrafts and heritage landmarks symbolising Nepal's true essence.

• Best Time to Visit: September to November
• Top Things to Do: Temple visiting, hiking, and sight-scene exploration
• Top Places to Visit: Thamel, Swayambhunath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Garden of Dreams Kathmandu, Hiking around Kathmandu, etc.
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 5,500 - ₹ 8,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By flight or train

8. Lumbini, Nepal

Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Being home to almost 2000 years old ancient stupas and monasteries, the serenity of Lumbini is worthy of remembrance. One can find many attractions, from trekking to experiencing the surrealistic historical and archaeological sites in Lumbini.

• Best Time to Visit: April to May
• Top Things to Do: Hiking, and temple and monasteries exploration
• Top Places to Visit: Maya Devi Temple, Bodhi tree, Mayadevi pond, Ashoka Pillar, World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini museum, etc.
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 2,000 - ₹ 5,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By flight or train

9. Nagarkot, Nepal

Nagarkot is just a few kilometres from Kathmandu, famous for the alluring Himalayan view. Hikers or mountaineers experience eight ranges, Annapurna, Langtang, Everest, Numbur, Manaslu, Jugal, Ganesh Himal and Rolwaling of the Himalayan belt from Nagarkot, which makes this place the most visited in Nepal. 

In addition to this, the serene, picturesque tribal villages blended with nature's enticing beauty are eye soothing and soul-filling.

• Best Time to Visit: April to May
• Top Things to Do: Hiking, and mountaineering
• Top Places to Visit: Maya Devi Temple, Bodhi tree, Mayadevi pond, Ashoka Pillar, World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini museum, etc.
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 3,000 - ₹ 5,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By flight or train

10. Pokhara, Nepal

Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is often considered a getaway to the Himalayas. The city offers an abundance of aesthetic cafes, flea markets showcasing Nepalese and Tibetan craftsmanship and restaurants serving authentic delicacies. For tourists seeking thrills and adventure, Pokhara offers chances for lifetime experiences like paragliding, river rafting, etc.

• Best Time to Visit: September to November
• Top Things to Do: Hiking, paragliding, river rafting, and city exploration.
• Top Places to Visit: Annapurna circuit, Shree Gaden Dhargay Ling Monastery, Phewa Lake, Davis Falls, Boating in Pokhara, etc.
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 3,000 - ₹ 5,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By flight or train

11. Darjeeling, West Bengal

Darjeeling is among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and has been crowned the Queen of the Himalayas. The scenic beauty of this hill station with the view of the Kanchenjunga range attracts tourists from all over the world. There are a plethora of places to explore in Darjeeling - from tea estates and monasteries to botanical gardens.

• Best Time to Visit: February to March and September to December
• Top Things to Do: Nature exploration, visiting monasteries and botanical gardens/parks.
• Top Places to Visit: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Batasia Loop, Nightingale Park, Tiger hill, Darjeeling Ropeway, Ganga Maya Park, Rock Gardens, Zoo, etc.
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 3,000 - ₹ 5,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By road, flight or train

12. Pelling, West Sikkim

Pelling is popular for its breathtaking view of the Kanchenjunga range and the adjacent peaks. The alluring beauty of this hill station is the perfect destination to enjoy holidays in summer. Offering a rich abundance of flora and fauna, these major hotspots for tourists is home to a number of remarkable monasteries in Sikkim.

• Best Time to Visit: Summers and winters
• Top Things to Do: Mountain biking, rock climbing, monasteries visiting, village tours, trekking, and town exploration.
• Top Places to Visit: Pelling helipad, Sangachoeling monastery, Pemayangtse monastery, Rabdentse ruins, Darap village, Rimbi river, Rimbi waterfalls, etc.
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 2,000 - ₹ 4,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By road, flight or train

13. Gangtok, Sikkim

The aesthetic capital of Sikkim, Gangtok is popular for its enticing atmosphere and utopian scenery. This town offers vibrant Tibetan culture and presents its best music and culinary authenticity to the tourists. Travellers across the world visit Gangtok for the vibrancy of light, culture and heritage blended with the hospitality of the locals.

• Best Time to Visit: Summers and winters
• Top Things to Do: City exploration, sigh-seeing, shopping, shrines and monasteries visiting.
• Top Places to Visit: Nathula Pass, MG Marg, Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple, Hanuman Tok, Himalayan Zoological Park, Banjhakri Water Falls, Tashi view point, Mt. Katao, Ranka Monastery, Flower Exhibition Center, etc.
• Average Cost of the Vacation: ₹ 3,000 - ₹ 4,000 per person (per day)
• How to Reach: By road, flight or train

The names mentioned above are some of the best hill stations in Bihar, which are ideal for cutting the monotony of a tedious life schedule. Furthermore, this context highlights some exemplary hill stations near Bihar that one can choose for their next holiday hotspot.