Incredible India - Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh - - The Land of Snow


One of the most beautiful states of India, Himachal Pradesh is situated in the northern part of the country. Himachal Pradesh encompasses natural wonders like magnificent valleys, snow-covered peaks, shimmering rivers criss crossing each other. Besides, the fruit orchards, green meadows, gurgling brooklets, ancient temples and magnificent Buddhist monasteries add more variety to the state.
Basically a hilly state, Himachal is criss-crossed by three rivers namely Beas, Ravi and Sutlej. Hidden away from the heat and dust of the plains, it seems Himachal takes in the transition zone from the plains to the high Himalayas. The picturesque mountain state provides welcome respite to the tourists from the scorching summer heat. During summers people from different parts of India throng Himachal Pradesh to get respite amidst the natural environment. Apart from domestic tourists, foreigners also visit Himachal Pradesh round the year. Visit the state of Himachal Pradesh to enjoy a vacation of lifetime and return back with some lifelong memories.

Top Destinations of Himachal Pradesh

Shimla : Once the summer capital of the British, Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and one of the famous hill stations of India. The main attraction of Shimla lies in its calm promen
ades flanked with lush green hill dotted with fir and pine, mountain flowers and the unique British-style houses and buildings. Sightseeing at Shimla include the Old Viceregai Lodge and the Jakhu Temple.

Kufri : Situated 19 kms away from Shimla, Kufri is an ideal place for adventure sports like hiking and skiing. With its scenic beauty Kufri draws the common travellers as well as adventure seekers round the year. Himalayan Nature Park and Indira Tourist Park are some of the must visit places in Kufri.

Chail : Located 45 km south-east of Shimla, Chail is nestled amidst the towering deodars and pines of the Shivalik slopes. Once the summer capital of Maharaja of Patiala, Chail is home to world’s highest cricket ground and provides the splendid views of the Himalayan peaks.

Manali : Manali a lovely small hill town, is encircled on three sides by calm mountains, beautiful meadows, lush orchards, river and terraced fields. Some of the highlights of Manali include the Tibetan Monastery, the 450 year old Hadimba Devi Temple, the Handicraft Centre, the marvellous Solang Valley and the Rohtang Pass (3,978 mts).

Dharamshala : A beatiful hill town, Dharamshala has a magnificent setting along the Dhauladhar range varying in altitude from 1250 mts. Set against the picturesque backdrop of lofty peaks on three sides with fantastic views of the Kangra Valley and the Shivaliks, Dharamshala offers some unmatched beautiful scenery. Apart from common tourists, Dharamshala attracts Buddhist pilgrims as it was an adopted home of Dalai Lama in exile. Places to be visited in Dharamshala would be the MCLeodganj and the Baijnath Temple.

Dalhousie : One of the serene hill stations of north India, Dalhousie lies at an altitude of about 2,000 mts. Highlights of Dalhousie include the seven springs – Satdhara and the Martyrs M
emorial.

Khajjar : Just 20 kms from Dalhousie, Khajjar is a huge meadow fringed by pine trees with a lake in the middle. Also referred as Mini Switzerland, Khajjar has a golf course, a Devi temple and a 14th century temple.

Nalagarh : Situated 60 kms from Chandigarh, Nalagarh overlooks the plains of Punjab. A relax destination, Nalagarh makes an ideal base to explore the less visited parts of Himachal.

Adventure Options in Himachal Pradesh - For adventure enthusiasts Himachal Pradesh is a paradise. Round the year, especially during winters, the adventure seekers visit Himachal Pradesh to enjoy their favourite sports. With its rugged terrains, snow-covered mountain ranges, thrilling slopes, Himachal Pradesh plenty of opportunities for a variety of adventure sports. Some of the famous adventure sports that you can enjoy in Himachal Pradesh are trekking, skiing, heli skiing, paragliding and ice skating.

People and Culture - Lifestyle of the people of Himachal Pradesh are similar to other hilly states of India. In Himachal Pradesh scores of races, communities and cultures have intermingles o
r new birth, provide them chance to celebrate by dancing and singing. The people of the hill state love colour and their dress patterns follow the local climate. For instance people of Lahaul area wear long gowns and trousers, grass or leather boots. Caps of the people indicate the region they belong to.

Wildlife in Himachal Pradesh - Of the total area, about 78 percent area in Himachal Pradesh is covered with forests. You can see varied kind of animal and plant species in the wildlife parks of the state. Himachal Pradesh has 32 wildlife sanctuaries, providing shelter to faunal species like Tragopan, Tahr, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear and many other species. Great Himalayan National Park is the most important park of Himachal, other important wildlife sanctuaries are Simbalbara Sanctuary, Renuka Sanctuary, Churdhar Sanctuary, Chail Sanctuary, Majathal Sanctuary and Maharana Pratap Sanctuary.