Shimla
Main Attractions: Mall Road, Jhakhu Temple, Green Valley and Kufri
Table of Contents
Manali
Main Attractions: Mall Road, Jhakhu Temple, Green Valley and Kufri
Manali is a famous tourist hill station in Kullu district and one of the best Places to Visit in Himachal Pradesh. Every year, several thousands of tourists come to visit this place. During snowfall this place becomes even more fertile. It is 270 km away from the state capital Shimla.
Apart from being a very favourite mountainous tourist destination, it is also the gateway for tourists to Lahaul and Spiti districts and Leh. Manali is said to be the home of seven sages and therefore, Manali and its surrounding areas are considered very important for the heritage of Indian culture.
Rohtang pass is a high mountain pass of the Himalayan range at a height of 13058 feet which is situated 51 km from Manali between Kullu valley and Lahaul and Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh. The National Highway from Himachal to Ladakh passes through this pass. This pass remains snow-capped throughout the year.
From here, one can see the panoramic view of the Himalayan Range. According to the tourism department of Himachal Pradesh, 1 lakh foreign tourists visited there in 2008. The most suitable time for tourism is from June to October. Given its captivating natural beauty, we can rate it as one of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh.
Solang Valley and its surrounding areas are a wonderful amalgamation of natural beauty and adventure. There is no dearth of activities here, from paragliding and thrilling skiing to peaceful nature walks. Its unique Vyas Kund, Hidimba temple etc. offer unique auras in themselves Solang Valley from Manali is also one of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh.
Hidimba Devi Temple is a Hindu temple located on a hill near the city of Manali. It is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, the wife of Bhima mentioned in the Indian epic Mahabharata. Tourists visiting Manali visit this temple. Surrounded by beautiful deodar forests, the beauty of this temple increases even more during snowfall.
Adventure Activities: Paragliding, River Rafting. Mountain Biking
How to Reach:
Nearest Railway Station: Joginder Nagar
Nearest Airport: Bhuntar Airport
Bus Services: Bus services are available from Delhi and Chandigarh.
Hotels: Hotel Himalayan Heights, Solang Valley Resort, Manu Alay Resort.
Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj
Main attractions: Namgyal Monastery, Bhagsunag Waterfall, Dharamkot.
Dharamshala is located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh and is one of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh. It is a spiritual centre spiritual centre and major hill station. Situated at 16 km away from Kangra city. The place is known for its Tibetan culture and peaceful environment. The residence of Dalai Lama and Tibetan refugees is also here.
The city is known for the historic Dal Lake, Khaniyara and Kanjar Mahadev fairs and Hindu temples like Bhagsunag, Kunal Pathri and Chinmaya. Apart from these religious places, it also serves as a base camp for tourists visiting Shobha Singh Art Gallery, Palampur, Andarta and Baijnath.
Namgyal Monastery.
Namgyal Monastery which is known as Dalai Lama’s temple is situated in Mcleod village of Dharamshala. This is the private monastery of the 14th Dalai Lama. Namgyal Tantric University is also situated in this complex. Its main role is to assist in the rituals related to Dalai Lama.
It is the personal monastery of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is, therefore, non-sectarian. In general, this monastery has the special privilege and honour of performing the sacred rites and ceremonies established by the Dalai Lamas for the temporal and spiritual benefit and prosperity of Tibet and its people and world peace.
Bhagsunag Waterfall is located on the McLeodganj – Dharamshala road at a distance of just two and a half kilometers from McLeodganj. It is ideal and famous for picnics and family outings. This waterfall is actually in the village named Bhagsunath, hence it is known as Bhagsunag Waterfal. Bhagsunath temple is the main attraction of this place and is one of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh.
Dharamkot is a small hill station in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Situated on a hilltop above McLeodganj, Dharamkot is a place from where you can see a wide view of the Kangra Valley and the Dhauladhar ranges. Dharamkot also has a Vipassana Meditation Centre, Dhamma Shikara and Tushita Meditation Centre, which is a centre for studying and practicing Buddhism in the Tibetan Mahayana tradition.
Adventure Activities: Trekking, Camping and Paragliding
Hotels: Hotel Dalhousie Residency, Hotel Snow Heights, Blessing Hotel
How to Reach:
Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot
Nearest Airport: Gaggal Airport
Dalhousie
Main attractions: Khajjiar, Satdhara Falls, Panchpula
Dalhausie is a beautiful hill station located near Chamba, which is the district headquarter of Himachal Pradesh. This place is famous for its beauty and natural views, it is also called “Mini Switzerland“. It is situated on five hills at an altitude of 1970 meters above sea level. Earl of Dalhousie, when he was the British Governor General in India, developed this place as a resting place during summers. Overall this place is also one of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh.
Khajjiar is a hill station located 24 kilometers from Dalhousie, near Chamba city one of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh. It is 6500 feet above sea level and a part of the Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary.
On 7 July 1982, Swiss envoy Willy P. Blazer, Vice Counselor and Head of the Chancery, put Khajiar on the world tourism platform by naming it “Mini Switzerland” and installed a sign of a Swiss hiking footpath. In this, the distance of Khajjiar from the Swiss capital, Bern is 6194 kilometers and 160 places in the world have geographical similarities with Switzerland. This politician also took a stone from Khajjiar which will become a part of a stone collage around the Swiss Parliament and will remind.
The name of Satdhara Waterfall itself suggests that it is a waterfall with seven streams. Satdhara waterfall is a very beautiful and serene waterfall located in Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh. It is famous for its enchanting beauty and peaceful environment. The view of seven awe-inspiring streams of this wonderful waterfall amidst the greenery from a high hill captivates the mind of every tourist who comes here.
Panchpula, meaning the place of five bridges, is one of the main attractions of Dalhousie. The place is known for its natural beauty, waterfalls and historical importance. Historically, Panchpula was the main source of drinking water for Dalhousie and its surrounding villages. Panchpula is a unique blend of adventure, natural beauty, and historical importance that attracts tourists from all regions.
Hotels: Himachal Heritage Hotel, Snow Valley Resort, Grand View Hotel, Himachal Heritage Hotel
Adventure Activities:
Jungle Safari, Photography, Nature Walk
How to Reach:
Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot Railway Station
Nearest Airport: Gaggal Airport
Bus and taxi services available from Delhi and Chandigarh.
Kasol & Tosh
Main attractions: Parvati River, Manikaran Gurudwara, Tosh Village.
Kasol and Tosh are considered a paradise for trekkers and backpackers. The natural beauty and serene atmosphere here attract tourists. It is a beautiful and small village situated on the banks of Parvati River, between Bhuntar and Manikaran, in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.
Kasol is a Himalayan hotspot for backpackers and serves as a base for the nearby treks to Malana and Kheerganga. Due to the large number of Israeli tourists visiting, it is also called the “Mini Israel of India”. Due to its high altitude, Kasol is connected to other parts of India by well-developed roads.
How to Reach
Nearest Airport Bhuntar Airport, Kullu Manali (32 Kms)
Nearest Railway Station: Joginder Nagar (144 Kms)
Adventure Activity: Trekking, Camping and How Water Spring
Hotels
Parashar Camp Site:
Kasol Eco Camp
Tosh Mountain Café
Narrow gauge railway in Himachal Pradesh is a different experience
Himachal Pradesh is famous for its narrow-gauge railways. There are two narrow-gauge railway tracks here, the first is the Kalka to Shimla Railway, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the second track is the Kangra Valley Railway. The total length of these two tracks together is 259 kilometers. The Kalka to Shimla railway track passes through many tunnels and bridges and is a thrilling experience, while the Pathankot to Jogindernagar railway track passes through a maze of hills and valleys, providing a unique experience.
Conclusion
Himachal Pradesh is a treasure trove of natural beauty and adventure activities that has no comparison. Every corner here is no less than a paradise. If you are looking for a memorable and thrilling place for your next trip, then there is no better option than Himachal Pradesh. Whether you are a nature lover, looking for peace or an adventure enthusiast, Himachal Pradesh has everything. You may also like to visit Kashmir.
