Morni Hills

History
Places to visit
How to reach

Located on the outskirts of the Panchkula district, Morni Hills is a popular destination for tourists from across the country. The hills are enriched with dense forests and bright greenery which gives you space to feel the natural essence of the place. Morni is a village in the state of Haryana that is home to views of the Himalayas, unique species of flora, and beautiful landscapes.

It is believed that a queen named Morni used to rule the place many decades ago and in the honor of the queen, the hills were named Morni Hills. The Haryana Tourism department is doing every bit to let people know of this amazing destination and it recently started running a Mountain Quail Resort for tourists.

Summertime is not very pleasant for a vacation in the plains of North India. The temperature reaches 45 to 50-degree Celsius in plains during summer which can be very exhausting. Hence, the best time to visit Morni Hills is in winter between October to March.

History of Morni Hills

Historians claim that Rajput Thakurs used to live around Morni Hills in the 15th century. After the Thakurs, Mughals also ruled the place but not for long because the advent of the British led to the decline of most native rulers. During the British Raj, the hills were left neglected and it was only after India’s independence that Morni Hills came to the limelight and were developed as a tourist hotspot.

Morni Hills is known to be a part of the Shivalik range hills of the Himalayas. The hills are situated at a height of 4,000 ft above sea level. Morni hill got developed and explored by the Haryana state’s tourism department as a tourist destination and it gradually became a favorite spot for nature lovers and riders from across the country.

Major Attractions in and Around Morni Hills

1. Cactus Garden

One of the very unique and fascinating places to visit in Panchkula near Morni Hills is the Cactus Garden. It is the largest garden in India having a wide variety of Indian cactus plants and many other species of flora. The garden is spread on 7 acres of land and features 3,500 species of plants.

2. Mansa Devi Temple

Dedicated to Goddess Mansa, an avatar of Shakti, this temple is a very popular religious temple that was built in 1851 AD. Devotees come here to seek blessings of the Goddess as it is believed that all wishes come true when you pray here with all your heart.

3. Pinjore Garden

A 17th-century Mughal garden built by Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, Pinjore Garden is an extremely popular tourist destination in the state of Haryana. It is about 15 km from Panchkula and is spread over 100 acres of area. One should definitely explore the greenery, mini zoo, picnic spots, and more in the garden premises.

4. Long Drive

Morni hill has a fair share of wide roads that are heaven for riders. Tourists who visit Morni hill enjoy the long bike and car rides on these wide roads and the beautiful sights along the road.

5. Adventure Sports

Tourists can indulge in adventure sports such as rock climbing, commando nets, rope climbing, and more at Morni Hills. If gazing at the natural beauty of the place is not your cup of tea, then Morni Hills has all these and many more adventure activities to refresh your mind and soul.

How to Reach Morni Hills

To reach Morni Hills, you will need to cover a total distance of about 251, 1,663, 1,772, 2,416 km from other Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Check out how you can reach here by the following means of public transportation.

By Air

Chandigarh airport which is nearly 50km away from Morni hills is the nearest airport. It accommodates regular flights from many other Indian cities. From the airport, one may take a taxi, or a bus to reach Morni Hills.

From Jaipur - Board Air India, Vistara, IndiGo flights from Jaipur Airport. The airfares start from INR 3,000-4,000
From Gwalior - Board Spicejet, IndiGo, Vistara flights from Gwalior Airport. The airfares start from INR 8000-9,000
From Pune - Board Indigo, Vistara, Air India flights from Pune Airport. The airfares start from INR 5,000-6,000

By Train

Chandi Mandir Railway Station and Chandigarh Railway Station are the nearest railheads to reach Morni Hills which is approximately 30-40 km away. From the aforementioned stations, one may take a taxi, auto, or bus to reach Morni Hills. Kalka Shatabdi, Chandigarh Express, and Paschim Express are a few popular trains on which seats can be reserved for a comfortable journey to Morni Hills.

By Road

All those who like to travel by roadways in order to enjoy the sight of local villages, unending farms, and relish the roadside Dhaba food can book a seat on inter-state tourist buses to reach Morni, Haryana from other parts of the country. The roads are well-maintained and easily accessible. You can also book a taxi or self-drive here.