Popular hill tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh
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Shimla
Shimla is the capital of the northern Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills. It was the summer capital of British India, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway, completed in 1903, which is now under World Heritage UNESCO Site.
It’s also known for the handicraft shops that line The Mall, a pedestrian avenue, as well as the Lakkar Bazaar, a market specializing in wooden toys and crafts.
Shimla city is home to a number of buildings that are styled in the Tudorbethan and Neo-Gothic architectures dating from the colonial era, as well as multiple temples and churches.
The colonial architecture and churches, the temples and the natural beauty of the city attract a large number of tourists. Shimla is situated at a height of 2200 Meters from the see level.
Toy Train
Manali
Manali is a Valley nestled in the mountains of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh near the northern end of the Kullu Valley at an altitude of 2,050 Meters (6,726 ft) in the Beas River Valley.
It is located in the Kullu district, about 270 KM north of the state capital, Shimla.
It is a popular tourist destination and serves as the gateway to Lahaul & Spiti district as well as Leh. Manali is a high-altitude Himalayan resort town in India’s.
It has a reputation as a backpacking center and honeymoon destination. Set on the Beas River, it’s a gateway for skiing in the Solang Valley and trekking in Parvati Valley.
It’s also a jumping-off point for paragliding, rafting and mountaineering in the Pir Panjal mountains, home to 4,000m-high Rohtang Pass.
Rohtang Pass
Dharamshala
Dharamshala town is situated at Dhauladhar Mountain Range in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Mc Leod Ganj and its valley is a suburb of Dharamshala in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh in northern India.
It is also known as “Little or Mini Lhasa” in India, because of its large population of Tibetans peoples in the town and residence of his Holiness The Dalai Lama.
The highest cricket stadium is also very popular in lower Dharamshala. This town offers many popular Buddhist sites, Famous Hindu temples, amazing view points and lush green tea estates.
Millions of domestic and international tourists visit Dharamshala every year.
Mac Leodganj
Dalhousie and Khajjiar
Dalhousie and Khajjiar quietly ensconced amidst pine trees with a charming background of the snow clad Himalaya. This hill station is surrounded by meadows and forests, has a breathtaking scenic beauty.
Dalhousie is about 6,500 feet or 2,000 meters above from the sea level, in the foothills of the Dhauladhar Mountain Ranges of the Western Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh and peaks can be seen in the distance.
Chamba is the district head quarter which is located at around 50 Km from Dalhousie towards Bharmour road.
Khajjia (Known as Switzer Land of India), which is major tourist attraction in the area. It is located 24 km away from Dalhousie town. Surrounding the town many tourist spots are available for tourist, which are fulfill by the nature.
Khajjiar
Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh
Kasauli is a quiet and cantonment town in the area. located in Solan district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The town is a health resort, having an elevation about 1,900 meters above from the sea level.
This beauty full hill town is famous for its Money Point, Christ Church and Sun Set View Point.
Kasauli is just near to Chandigarh and Shimla. It is located approximately 70 km from Chandigarh city and 72 km from the state capital Shimla. It is popular destination for weekend holiday.
Monkey Point is one of the major attraction in Kasauli. Its offer great view of Kalka, Panchkula and Chandigarh plains, from here you can take a marvelous view of Sukhna Lake of Chandigarh city.
Kasauli
Chail, Himachal Pradesh
Chail is a beautiful and quiet small hill station in Himachal Pradesh, India. It is about 44 Km from Shimla and 45 Km from Solan district.
The Chail Palace is most popular here and it is well known for its architecture. The Palace was built as summer retreat by the Maharaja of Patiala during the British Raj.
The cricket ground and a polo ground which is there at an altitude of 2,250 meters above from sea level. It was owned by erstwhile royal family of Patiala. It is the world’s highest cricket ground in India. Chail is also frequented by hikers.
This small town also offers its Chail wildlife sanctuary. It is home to Sambar, Goral and Cheer pheasants at Blossom and Jhaja. Barking Deer and Kalijin are also seen here during dusk and dawn.
The best time to visit Chail Sanctuary is from March to October every year.
Tourist places and activities in Chail:
- Chail Wildlife Sanctuary,
- Kali Temple
- Cricket Ground
- Kumbh Shiv Temple
- Kali Ka Tibba
- Sidh Baba Ka Mandir
- Sadhupul Lake
- Chail Palace
- Himalayan Nature Park
- Chail Gurdwara Sahib
Horse riding and camping are also available in Chail.
Chail
Rewalsar, Himachal Pradesh
Rewalsar is a small amazing town and a Nagar Panchayat in Mandi district in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. This town is located is 28 Km from Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.
The local name for Rewalsar is Trisangam. The famous Rawalsar Holy Lake (‘Tso Pema’ to Tibetans) is associated with Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche), who is recognized as a second Buddha.
One version of a legend has it that the King Arashadhar of Mandi had Padmasambhava burnt alive after rumours that the Guru had attempted to teach his daughter the Dharma, which was not accepted then.
The pyre burned for a full week, with great clouds of black smoke arising from it, but after a week, a lake appeared at the spot where he was burnt and Padmasambhava manifested himself as a 16-year-old boy from within a lotus in the middle of the lake.
The king, repenting his actions, married his daughter with Padmasambhava. It was from Tso Pema that Padmasambhava went to Tibet to spread Vajrayana Buddhism.
Rewalsar town is well known for Buddhist activities and its Lake. This Lake shaped quite like a square and with a shoreline, it is an important Buddhist pilgrimage.
This lake is known for its floating island. The lake water is believed to be flowing underground from Rewalsar to ‘Nagchala’.
Rewalsar
Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh
Kinnaur is one of twelve administrative districts in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. This district is divided into three administrative areas – Pooh, Kalpa and Bhaba Nagar and it has five Tehsils.
The administrative headquarters of Kinnaur district is at Reckong Peo. From here Kinnaur Kailash considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva, can be viewed.
A mountainous area, ranging in altitude from 2,320 to 6,816 meters (7,612 to 22,362 ft) above from sea level. Kinnaur is one of the smallest districts in India by population.
It is famous for the Kinnaur Kailash, a mountain sacred to Hindus, close to the Tibetan border.
Sarahan
Sarahan town is a small village located in Himachal Pradesh, India. The town is famous for its Bhimakali Temple. It is originally known as Bhima Devi Temple, which is dedicated to the mother goddess Bhimakali.
The ancient temple is situated at about 170 KM from Shimla city and it is one of 51 Shakti Peethas. The village is known as the “gateway of Kinnaur”.
Sangla, Himachal Pradesh
The town is located in the Baspa Valley also known as Sangla Valley in the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh, India, close to the Tibetan border.
This beautiful Baspa Valley starts at Karcham and ends at Chhitkul. Sangla is the major town in the valley with a petrol pump, Bank ATMs, Post Office, Restaurants, Bar, mid range hotels and shops.
The valley is surrounded by forested slopes and offers views of the high mountains. Its location in the greater Himalayan range gives it a milder climate than the plains.
Besides the natural beauty of Great Himalaya Kamru Fort, Mata Devi Temple and Bearing Nag Temples are the main attractions of the Sangla Valley.
Raksham and Chhitkul village are other option to visit by tourist, as Chhitkul is a last village of India.
Sangla Valley is also offer fishing and camping near river side for life time memories.
Kalpa
Kalpa village is a small town in the Sutlej river valley, located 9 km above from Reckong Peo in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh in the Indian Himalayas. Inhabited by Kinnauri people and famous for its apple orchards.
Apples are a major cash-crop for the region. The local inhabitants follow a syncretism of Hinduism and Buddhism and many temples in Kalpa are dedicated to both Hindu and Buddhist gods and goddesses.
Kinner Kailash panoramic view is attracts to tourist to visit Kalpa.
Lahaul & Spiti
Lahaul & Spiti district located in Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative center is Keylong in Lahaul. Kaza is another sector in the valley, which comes in Spiti region.
Keylong
Keylong is the administrative center of the Lahaul and Spiti district in the Himachal Pradesh, 126 km north of Manali and 120 km from the Indo-Tibetan border.
It is located along the Manali-Leh Highway, about 7 km north-east of intersection of the Chandra Valley, the Bhaga Valley and the Chenab Valley; on the banks of Bhaga River.
Keylong faces the famous Kardang Monastery, the largest and most important monastery in Lahaul, of the Drupka sect of Tibetan Buddhism, which is on a slope across the river from Keylong.
Kaza
Kaza town is a sub divisional headquarters of the remote Spiti Valley in the western Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located at an altitude of 3,800 meters above from the see level and situated in Spiti Valley as Keylong in Lahaul Valley.
Kaza is very popular about its several famous and lodest monasteries in and around Kaza town.
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries such as Kye, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal, Khungri Monastery in Pin Valley, Tnagyud Gompa of the Sakya Sect in Komic, Sherkhang Gompa in Lahlung, the only Buddhist Mummy of a Monk in Gue around 550 years old.
Tabo
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 KM away from Kaza, capital of the Spiti region. There is a modern guest houses with a dining hall and all facilities are available for domestic and international tourists.
Tabo monastery is fabulous attraction here and lost of Indian and foreign tourist visit Tabo.
Key / Kye Monastery
Key or Kye town is very popular in the area for its Key Monastery / Gompa. Kye Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, located at 13 km from Kaza.
It is situated on the top of a hill at an altitude of 4,166 metres above from the sea level, just close to River Spiti in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh.
Key monastery is a largest monastery and religious training centre in the Spiti valley for Lamas.
Kibber Village
Kibber is a highest village in the Spiti Valley in the Himalayas at an atitude of 4,270 metres or 14,200 ft above from the sea level in Himachal Pradesh, India. It contains a monastery and the Wildlife Sanctuary.
It lies on a narrow valley on the summit of a limestone rock. Kibber is highest motorable road in the world, where driving is big challenge for drivers.
Kuzum Pass & Chandra Taal Lake
Kunzum La or Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 Meters, 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Taal Lake, which is main tourist attractions in the valley.
This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 KM from Tabo, at the Sumdo where the road enters to Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.
Some other tourist spots in Himachal Pradesh are Chamba, Kangra, Palampur, Naldehra, Narkanda, Kufri, Hamirpur, Bilaspur.
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