Himachal Pradesh is a northern Indian state in the Western Himalayas.A place of immense beauty,peace and charm, Himachal( literally means slopes of snow) it offers a myriad of lofty snow clad mountains,deep gorges,thickly forested valleys,clear and serene lakes,terraced fields and cascading streams.It is home to scenic mountain resorts and towns like Kullu Manali,Simla, Dalhousie and Dharamsala .It has also been the abode of the 14th Dalai Lama in Mcleodganj, and its strong Tibetan influence can be seen in its Buddhist temples.
Himachal Pradesh is known as the State of apples owing to a large production of apples in the state. The state is also known for its adventure sports, warm and hospitable people and a variety of fairs, festivals and celebrations throughout the year.
Shimla
The capital of Himachal Pradesh,Shimla is blessed with some of the most spectacular and beautiful landscapes anywhere in the world. The steep forested hillsides,the lofty snow peaks, deep gorges, lush green valleys, fast flowing rivers, enchanting mountain lakes, flower bedecked meadows, beautiful temples and monasteries all come together to make it a travelers paradise.It is one of India’s most popular hill resorts and a perfect setting for honeymoon couples.
Shimla achieved fame when it was anointed the summer capital of the British India in 1864 and the flavour of the British still remains in the architecture of ShimlaTraffic is banned from the central part of the town so walking is a pleasant option.The long winding main street,The Mall,runs east to west. Places to explore are Jhakoo ,Chota Shimla and Raj Bhavan.The Mall offers a shopping bonanza for pedestrians:shawls,woollens,rugs, carpets,handicrafts,silver jewellary,hand made shoes,honey,jams and juices.A daytime excursion to Kufri via the Green valley and Wild Flower Hall is a must.
Shimla along with its state, Himachal Pradesh offers a wide array of adventure sports like trekking, mountaineering, fishing, para-gliding, skiing, ice skating and golf.
Kullu Manali
Manali is situated 40 kms from Kullu on the route to Leh.Nestled in between the snow capped slopes of Pir Panjal and the Dhaulidhar ranges Manali is one of the most popular hill stations in the country. The Beas river flows through the town. Manali has been blessed with the most scenic beauty.On one side are the snow capped Himalayas and on the other side are coniferous tree forests,sprawling meadows carpeted with flowers.This fairy tale landscape is an invitation for tourists , trekkers and adventure sport lovers.
Places to visit are the Hadimba Temple, The Dhungri Temple, The Vashisht Hot Sulphur Springs, the Mountaineering Institute, Nehru Kund & The Mall.
Places to trek to are Spiti,Lahaul,Bara Bhangal and Zanskar ranges
Spiti Valley
Surrounded by the Himalayas on all sides Spiti valley is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of 12,500ft.Six months in winter Spiti is cut off from other areas due to heavy snowfall.Accesability by road is possible in summer months.Winding roads,breathtaking valleys,snow capped peaks and picture perfect villages invite you to come and stay a while.
MCLEODGANJ/DHARAMSALA
Dharamsala is one of Himachal Pradesh’s most breathtakingly beautiful valleys.Set in the gentle slopes of the mighty Dhauladhar range,in the upper reaches of the Kangra valley,this city is surrounded by snow peaks,dense oak and conifer forests,tea gardens and terraced fields.
Snow capped mountains enclose Dharamsala on three sides and the valley stretches in front.It is divided into two parts.At 1380 mtrs, lies lower Dharamsala which is a busy commercial area with civil and business establishments,courts and the Kotwali bazar. At 1700mtrs is suburbon Upper Dharamsala which includes historical places such as Mcleod Ganj, Bagsu Nath,Forsyth Nath and Sidhbari.This area still retains a colonial look.Despite being levelled by a devastating earthquake in 1905 Dharamsala has emerged as one of India,s tourist attractions.
In 1960, the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama made his residence in Mcleod Ganj and the Tibetan government in Exile made their head quarters here. Nestled amidst majestic hills and lush greenery, this town is culturally blessed by a prominent Tibetan influence..Dalai Lama’s presence has added to the attraction of Dharamsala.There is a School for Tibetan Studies which beckons students.In the bazaars of Mcleod Ganj ,Tibetans sell handicrafts,carpets,tibetan food, ornaments,etc.Places to see are the the beautiful statue of Lord Buddha at the monastry, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives Dharamshala Cricket Stadium, Dharamshala International Film Festival 2019 and St. John in the Wilderness Church War Memorial and, temples like Jwalamukhi,Bajinath, and Chamunda.
Dharamsala is a starting point for trekkers to explore the Dhauladhars to Bagsu(2km),Dharamkot(3km) and even higher to Triund Hill also called jewel of Dharamsala(9km). The snow line is easily accessible from here and you can trek to a snow peak in a days journey.The cliffs of the Dhauladhar mountains also invite the rock climbers to test their abilities.
