Himachal Pradesh

Pearly white snowy peaks with foaming river gushing through flourishing valleys; Himachal Pradesh is blessed with serenity and beauty. In addition to being a natural wonder, the state is also a perfect adventure destination in India. From exciting trekking to heart-pumping rafting, Himachal offers great pleasure to adventure lovers, seeking some never explored experiences. The twisted geography of interwoven mountain chains further adds to the holiday pleasure, making Himachal Pradesh a perfect location to unwind.

Natural Wonders Himachal Pradesh is a heaven for those seeking escape from all the chaos of city life. Every corner of Himalaya oozes exquisiteness. To explore some of the virgin coniferous forests, a visit to the Great Himalayan National Park is a must.

Travellers also love to travel around the Pin Valley National Park located in the cold desert Ibex of Spiti Valley. The park is famous for spotting Snow leopards and large herds of Ibex and Bharal. Gopalpur Nature Park near Palampur, Manali Nature Park near Manali, Kufri Nature Park near Shimla and Suketi Fossil Park located on the bank of Markanda River are among other best delights for nature lovers.

Wildlife Himachal Pradesh offers enough lures for wildlife enthusiasts. The Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary is one great spot to eye Asiatic Lion apart from Black Bear, Barking Deer, Goral, Jackal and Leopard. Simbalbara Sanctuary in Paonta Valley of Sirmour District is also famous for housing Goral, Sambhar and Chittal. Churdhar Sanctuary is also among the most visited places in Himachal. Adorned with landscape of fields, forests and ravines, the Sanctuary is great place to experience the best of wildlife. Churdhar peak is another popular spot that acts as a perfect abode for both nature lovers as well as adventure devotees. Another location blessed with plenty of wildlife is the Daranghati Sanctuary situated in the upper area of Shimla's Musk Deer District.

Heritage and Religious Sites The state embraces varied range of heritage sites that mirrors the past of Himachal. Thousand year old Buddhist Padam Palace monastery of Tabo in Spiti gives a beautiful experience of the bygone era. Some of the must visit historical lures of Himachal Pradesh include Bahadurpur Fort, Sariun Fort and Satgarh Fort in Bilaspur, and Chamba Fort and Taragarh and Lodhargarh Forts in Chamba. Visit the Bhuri Singh Museum in Chamba to see paintings of Bhagwat Purana and Ramayana in peculiar style.

To understand the power of divinity, you have to visit the religious spots of Himachal. The pristine air of this state makes for a perfect hub to meditate. Being a multi-religious land, Himachal Pradesh houses good number of temples, Gurudwaras, Churches and Monasteries. From majestic Hindu temples like Bajreshwari Devi, Chamunda Devi, Jwala Ji, Chintpurni Devi, Naina Devi, Shiva temple, Lakshmi Narayan temple and Bijli Mahadev, to beautiful churches like Christ Church, St. John's Church and St. Francis Church; the religious sites here are a must visit.

The Unexplored Himachal Pradesh still houses some treasure troves away from the reach of mankind. Barog in Solan, a beautiful escape nestling with pine and oak forests. Barot in Mandi is another hidden gem known as a trout breeding centre. Bhaba Pass in Kinnaur offers the most striking trek routes in Himachal, whereas Churah in Chamba is an isolated heaven resting atop the plateau beetling the river Ravi.

Shopping Attractions Himachal has a lot of unique stuff to offer if you are considering shopping here. Visit the Mall Road in Shimla to bag some Kinnauri handmade woollen items. Manali is also known for woollen shawls selling on the Mall road or the Kashmir and Tibetan Emporiums. Visit Dalhousie’s Thandi Sadak for some great Tibetan goods. Mcleodganj’s Kotwali Bazaar is also popular for exhibiting Tibetan handicrafts and beautiful carpets narrating stories from Tibetan mythology.

Fairs & Festivals The locals here welcome the New Year with the famous Halda festival where they come together to perform dance and music around a bonfire. Sazo is another most awaited festival of Himachal Pradesh celebrated in the month of January to bid adieu to the village deities.

Doongri Festival of Kullu that marks the celebration of Hadimba Devi’s (wife of Bhima) birthday. Those visiting Himachal Pradesh during February or March must partake in The Mandi Shivaratri Fair is another major fest that travelers should witness, if they are visiting in the month of February or March.

Food Himachal Pradesh brings to you an assortment of food items good enough to make you fall for gluttony. Savour the flavours of Dham (kidney beans, green lentils and rice in curd), an important participant in all the local festivities. Mittha is another famous local dessert prepared with sweetened rice and generous amount of dry fruits. Sidu (local bread made from wheat flour) is a famous dish of Himachal Pradesh cooked every day by the locals.

Best Time to Visit Himachal Pradesh can be visited any time of the year depending on your interests. Summers months (May and June) are considered as peak season when streams of travellers flock here to escape the scorching summer heat. Monsoon season (July-August) is also pleasurable; however, sometimes heavy rains make the outdoor activities difficult.? Winter months (November - February) transform Himachal Pradesh in a snow clad gem, letting travellers participate in skiing.

How to Reach By Air - Three main domestic airports in Himachal Pradesh include Jabbarhatti near Shimla, Gaggal near Kangra and Bhuntar near Kullu, linking the state to Delhi and Chandigarh.
By Train - Himachal Pradesh is not linked by trains except for two narrow gauge rail lines between Kalka - Shimla and Pathankot - Joginder Nagar.

By Road - Road travel is extremely popular among travellers provided the three National Highways crossing the state.