Popular Places to Visit At Himachal Pradesh

• By Vishal Patel

How well you can describe nature at its best? Sometimes words fall short and our eyes are the only witness penning the essence of ethereal beauty of nature alike the extraterrestrial bodies. This is why your holiday in Himachal Pradesh lives up to eternal moments of your life. Beyond the emerald green meadows and evergreen forests, Himachal Pradesh holds a destiny where the horizon is said to be celestial. Moored in between the lofty mountains, Himachal Pradesh at one breathe, is one such destinations in India where your vacation finds the supernal definition of nature at its best. Here, in this article, let’s go through some of the popular hill stations, remote villages, lakes, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Himachal Pradesh… hope you will find it easy to plan your trip to Himachal Pradesh.

Shimla

Whether you are visiting Shimla during the summer, monsoon, autumn, or winter… as one of the popular hill stations in India and placed at an elevation of 2,205 meters, it has got its own charm which keeps shining throughout the year. The ideal vacation time for the Indian leisure escapers as well as international travellers to mesmerize the pleasant climate is during the summer. Whereas the monsoon, when the hill station is at its best of displaying lush green scenic beauty, welcomes the crazy travellers seeking for an adventure in the leisure escape. The autumn turns out to be mild and luxurious, pulling once again travellers from all over the world to explore the rich collaboration of nature and colonial heritage. During the peak winter season the hill station is carpeted with a thick layer of snow simply captivating the domestic travellers and pulling in thousands of skiers from all over the world. Shimla, throughout the decades, housing several colonial buildings such as the Christ Church, George Castle, and Wildflower Hall that is now a heritage hotel in Shimla; temples like the Jakhoo Temple and Tara Devi Temple; and museums, is valued as an important cultural hub in Himachal Pradesh. The Mall Road arraying with several shops of traditional crafts and dresses, hotels and restaurants… is one of the busiest places in Shimla throughout the day. From the bucket list of exploring the best of nature… one must visit the Chadwick Waterfalls and Daranghati Sanctuary. If you are planning for skiing in Shimla during the winter, the ideal places are the slopes of Kufri, which is an hour drive from the hill station. On the other hand, travellers seeking for bit of peace from the tourist crowd may drive to Chail that is approximately 45 kilometers from Shimla.

At a Glance

Manali

Yet another liaison with nature throughout the year takes place in Manali, which lies at an altitude of 2,050 meters in Kullu district. The nature here is a turf of spanning and scenic meadows and widely dispersed forest of alpine trees including deodar and pine AND apple, plum, and pear orchards in the lap of snow crested horizon. Manali, on the other hand, is the gateway to several remote places in Himachal Pradesh and also wide opens countless adventure activities like trekking, river rafting, paragliding, hiking, mountain biking, skiing and mountaineering. The Beas Kund Trek, Bhrigu Lake Trek, Malana Trek and Chandra Tal Trek are some of the popular trekking options from Manali that can be recommended both for amateur and experienced trekkers. The major tourist attractions in and around Manali are Hidimba Devi Temple, Pandoh Dam, Bijli Mahadev, Manali Sanctuary, and the Mall. Rohtang Pass at an altitude of approximately 4,000 meters, which is the highest point in the region, is undoubtedly a must visit place from Manali. The lush greenscape of Solang Valley that turns out to be one of the best skiing slopes in India… is another nearby attraction from Manali. If you are holidaying in Manali for a longer period then a trail through the Great Himalayan National Park is a must leading you to explore the spine-chilling wilderness.

At a Glance

Vashisht
Approximately 3 kilometers from Manali… Vashisht, which is a small hamlet with sandstone temples and hot sulphur springs, is the hub of travel hippies from all over the world. It houses some of the cheapest hotels in the region and hence you will find mostly a crowd of international travellers out there. Vashisht is also renowned as a Hindu pilgrimage site and is dotted with several ancient temples dedicated to various Hindu deities such as Vishnu, Rama, Lakshman, and Sita. It is one of the must visit places in Himachal Pradesh on your trip to Manali.

At a Glance

Dalhousie
The name itself represents the colonial colours. Dalhousie at an elevation of 1,970 meters is another popular hill station in India in Himachal Pradesh which is well known for housing several heritage buildings that dates back from the early 19^th century. The St. Andrew’s Church and St. Patrick’s Church at Balun, St. Francis’ Church at Subash Chowk and St. John’s Church at Gandhi Chowk are some of the prominent churches in Dalhousie that reflects the typical European architectural style. Other attractions in Dalhousie are Rang Mahal, Chamunda Devi Temple, Jhandri Ghat, Shivkul ashram, and Bhuri Singh Museum. Set in the midst of thick forest of oak, pine and deodar in the Dhauladar range, Dalhousie is haven for wildlife enthusiast and landscape photographers. The Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, which is approximately 5 kilometers from Dalhousie, marks a pleasant gateway. It provides shelter to various species of flora and fauna AND also offers several forest trails including the Kalatop-Khajjiar trek.

At a Glance

Khajjiar
Located in Chamba district and just 24 kilometers away from Dalhousie, Khajjiar is another popular hill station that is tucked at an altitude of 2,000 meters. Khajjiar is long-familiar for hosting a picturesque ecosystem with lakes, pastures and forest. If you are looking for camping in Himachal Pradesh then this is it… where you can pitch your tent in the midst of wilderness.

At a Glance

Dharamshala
What could be more fascinating than taking in the view of the mighty snow capped peaks of Dhauladar range from a stone throw distance? Dharamshala at an elevation of approximately 1,500 meters and surrounded by dense pine and deodar forests is a perfect getaway for both leisure and adventurous travellers. The hill station is dotted with several architectural and cultural attractions that include the ruins of Kangra Fort and Nurpur Fort, which is approximately 66 kilometers away from Dharamshala; War Memorial that is dedicated to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in Indo China war of 1962, Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965 and 1971 and UN peace operations; Chamunda Devi Temple; Kangra Art Museum; and Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. Moreover… the international cricket stadium in the lap of the Dhauladar range is another major tourist attraction in Dharamshala. Close to Dharamshala and at the Upper Valley, Mcleodganj, the seat of Dalai Lama, is a must visit place from Dharamshala. Mcleodganj houses the typical Indo-Tibetan culture and the major attraction is the impressive Namgyal Monastery that was built in the mid 16^th century. Nonetheless, travellers looking for some leisure activities have the option of going for angling for Masheer at the River Beas in the 20 kilometer stretch between Nadaun and Pong Dam. Encircling the hill station there are several other attractions like the Bajreshwari temple, Kumar Pathri, Gyuto Monastery, Triund, and Jawalamukhi Temple. Travellers seeking to explore the best of Dhauladar Range… have the option of picking from treks such as Dhauladhar Round Trek, Indrahara Pass Trek, Moon Peak Trek, Nag Dal Trek, Kareri Lake Trek, and Lam Dal trek.

Kasol
Perched at an altitude of 1,650 meters and set beautifully in the Parvati Valley, Kasol is a small but another hill station in Himachal Pradesh that over the years has gained its popularity for housing a picturesque environment. It serves as a base camp for some of the moderate treks in Himachal Pradeshthat include the Sar Pass, Yanker Pass, Pin Parvati Pass and Khiri Ganga.

Kasauli
Another colonial landmark in Himachal Pradesh that sits at an altitude of 1,927 meters, Kasauli in Solan district is popular for housing many tourist attractions that include the Baptist Church, Central Research Institute, Christ Church, Kasauli Brewery, Kasauli Club and Monkey Point.

Manikaran
A popular pilgrimage site in Himachal Pradesh for both the Hindu and Sikh pilgrims, Manikaran at 1,760 meters is dotted with several temples –dedicated to various Hindu deities, and a gurdwara. There are also many hot water springs where devotees can take a sacred bath.