July 8, 2026 11:49 AM IST
Dreaming of Swiss meadows and snow peaks but not the airfare? India has its own alpine lookalikes, rolling green pastures, pine forests and misty mountains. If you love Switzerland, here's the Indian destination dupe to visit instead.
Khajjiar in Himachal Pradesh is officially called the Mini Switzerland of India. Picture a saucer-shaped meadow ringed by deodar forests with a lake at its heart — it even has a marker linking it directly to Switzerland.
Khajjiar isn't the only one. Gulmarg in Kashmir rivals the Alps with gondola rides and ski slopes, while Auli in Uttarakhand offers snow meadows and sweeping Himalayan panoramas — both stand-in beautifully for Switzerland.
Visit March–June for lush green meadows, or December–February for snow. Reach Khajjiar via Dalhousie (nearest railhead: Pathankot), Gulmarg via Srinagar, and Auli via Joshimath. Each is an easy add-on to a hill-station trip
You'll spend a fraction of a Swiss holiday on flights, stays and food — while ticking off the same alpine dream. India's own Switzerland is far closer, and far kinder on your budget, than you think.