• A brief write up on the must see places in Himachal Pradesh with album links.

Are you preparing to head out to the mountains?

Plan a holiday to the picturesque state of Himachal Pradesh, filled with famous tourist places that you cannot fathom.

The beauty and serenity of the place are breathtaking, and visitors can marvel at the hill stations, snow-covered peaks, forests, orchards, and meadows. Kasol perched, at an elevation of 1640 m above sea level and is the base for all sorts of trekkers, and backpackers. Grahan nallah is a mountain stream on its way to the Parvati River, as it divides the village into two parts. Here you can spot multiple orchards of apples, plums, peaches, and apricots.

McLeod Ganj is a beautiful town famous for being the home of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. It is located in the upper Dharamshala and is also called Little Lhasa. Thousands of visitors arrive here to take Buddhism, meditation, and yoga courses.

Spiti Valley lies beneath a blanket of earthy glory, is situated 12,500 feet above sea level, and is bordered by Ladakh, Tibet, Kullu, and Kinnaur. Visitors can relax and enjoy the sights of beautiful pine forests, monasteries, quaint picturesque villages, and vast expanses of green meadows.

Conclusion: Himachal Pradesh,” the land of snow”, is synonymous with lush fields, holy places, snow-covered mountains, flowing rivers, hill stations, and lovely orchards that are the most appropriate destination to escape from hectic daily schedules.

Manali

Mall road, Manali. 2016. 

Due to their proximity, Kullu and Manali are often considered a single place. With the multi-day Manali Tour Packages visit the towns of Kullu and Manali on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley. It is one of the topmost tourist places in Himachal Pradesh, visited by several pilgrims and tourists. Kullu-Manali is known for its snow-covered mountains, history, scenic beauty, and culture. Manali is famous for its Tibetan monasteries, the Rohtang Pass, Solang Valley, and Hadimba Devi Temple.

Wood work at entrance of Hadimba Temple.  2016.

View from Solang Valley. 2016. 

Solang Pass known as Solang Nala lies between the Beas River and Solang Village. This unrivalled beauty is visited by many people every year just to bask in its alluring snow-white magnificence. One can engage in activities like camping, quad biking, zorbing, paragliding, and parachuting. Locally known as Dhungari Temple, the Hadimba Temple is in reverence of Hadimba Devi, the mother of Ghatohtkach and wife of Bhima. Its unique structure, which features wooden walls, entrances, and a cone-shaped roof are fascinating. As it is situated on a rock it is thought to represent the likeness of the goddess Hadimba herself and is surrounded by snow-covered hills. Rohtang Pass, situated at a height of more than 13,000 feet above sea level serves as the entrance to Lahaul and Spiti Valleys in Himachal Pradesh and is a well-known part of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas.

See albums of  Solang Valley , Hadimba Temple , People of Manali , Manali Winter Carnival i.e. held in January

Shimla

Shimla, the “Queen of Hills” and the capital city of Himachal Pradesh is one of the most sought-after hill stations in India. The highlight of the tailor-made Shimla Tour Packages includes the Kalka-Shimla Train Ride. The train trip from the Shivalik Range slopes at Kalka(Haryana) to Shimla gives breathtaking scenic views of the surrounding hills and villages as it meanders through the incredibly gorgeous and rugged terrain. It makes many stops at tourist attractions, including Solan, Dharampur, Salogra, and Barog. Passengers at least go through 864 bridges, 919 riverbeds, and 102 tunnels during the voyage.

Jakhoo Hills, which are eight thousand feet high and considered Shimla’s tallest peak, is a must-see destination for tourists. The temple here is a haven for all nature lovers and pilgrims who come here to view the 108-foot-tall Hanuman statue at Jakhu temple. The Ridge in terms of tourism and geography is said to be the centre of Shimla. This popular tourist destination in Shimla is a large, open boulevard that links Mall Road to the renowned Scandal Point and goes along it from east to west. The Ridge is lined with stores, bars, cafes, restaurants, and boutiques that act as the community’s social centre and one of the best places to visit in Shimla.

See album of Shimla

Dalhousie

Dalhousie is known for its pleasant climate, variety of vegetation that includes deodar, pine, and oaks, and the scenic beauty of the five hills as it lies close to the Dhauladhar mountain range. Dalhousie is named after The Earl of Dalhousie who established this place as a summer retreat in 1854. It acts like a magnet for tourists with views of the Himalayas and Victorian-style colonial architecture. Dainkund Peak, Chamunda Devi Temple, and Bhuri Singh Museum are some of the major attractions. Francis Church, built in 1894, with an intricate wooden roof and colourful Belgian glass is an amazing place of interest. Take a stroll through Satdhara and Panchpukula and feel the beauty of nature from close quarters. The popular Lower Bakrota Hill serves as a residence for over fifty Tibetan families.

See albums of  Chamba Valley , Dalhousie

Kufri

Kufri in Himachal Pradesh is a quaint hill station known for its trekking and hiking trails. In winter adventure adventure-seeking travellers visit Kufri to enjoy tobogganing and skiing on snow-decked slopes. It is also famous for its picnic spots, and nature parks making it a preferred location for couples and families alike. In addition, Kufri’s proximity to the hill station of Shimla makes it an important place of interest. The tranquil environs and the cool atmosphere make the sightseeing experience more fun. There are several hiking, picnic spots, and trekking trails in and around Kufri. 

The Himalayan Nature Park has a collection of birds and animals found only in Himachal Pradesh. Set at an altitude of 2,350 to 2,730 m above sea level comprises seven open enclosures, three display cages, and two peasantries with fifteen pens of different shapes for animals like Sambar, Barking Deer, Musk Deer, Black Bear, etc. Nagsons Amusement Park or Hip Hip Hurray Park is located at 8,500 feet above sea level and covers an area of five thousand feet. The prime attractions that the park offers are Burma Bridge, Net climbing, Reverse Bungee Jumping, Valley crossing, and Gyroscope.

Dharamshala

This is a gorgeous hill town located in the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas. It is also the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh and is located on the upper slopes of the Kangra Valley. Earlier known as a British hill station during the colonial era, Dharamshala soon was occupied by Tibetan communities and is now home to the Buddhist leader Dalai Lama. It is often overshadowed by the more prominent neighborhood of McLeod Ganj.

Buddha pratima inside Dalai Temple Complex. 2001. 

Dharamshala has a laid-back vibe and a tranquil spot to spend a long weekend if one is visiting from nearby cities like Delhi, Amritsar, or Chandigarh. The Dharamshala Cricket Stadium is located at a height of 1,457 metres above sea level and is one of the highest sports grounds in the world. It can hold a crowd of 23,000 and has several modern-day amenities for hosting national and international level matches.

See album of Dharamshala

Conclusion

Himachal is perfect for making memories lasting a lifetime as you travel to the beautiful mountains, and lush green valleys, filled with floating rivers and deodar trees. Along with ancient temples, monasteries, and modern architectural wonders that await your exploration.

To see all albums on Himachal Pradesh

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All pictures are by Sanjeev Nayyar, copyright www.esamskriti.com