Himachal Pradesh is a northern Indian state. In real terms, ‘Himachal’ means snowy slopes, and ‘Pradesh’ means a state in the Hindi language. Himachal Pradesh is precisely what its name denotes, a snow-laden region. It has enriched with exalted Himalayan mountains, ancient religious places, and a pleasant culture. Himachal Pradesh is the place to famous tourist attractions like Manali, Shimla, Kullu, Dharamshala, Kinnaur, Kufri, Dalhousie, and Rohtang Pass.
Himachal Pradesh is famous for what?
In India, because of the apple orchids, Himachal Pradesh is famous for its name, “state of apples”. Himachal Pradesh capital is Shimla where you can see thousands of gardens of apples. Manali & Kullu are the other places in Himachal Pradesh, where you can see apple gardens.
It is also known for its panoramic landscapes, lifestyle, adventure sports, and a variety of exhibitions and festivals. There is a diversity in celebrating festivals by the locals of Himachal Pradesh, who worship gods and goddesses. There are over 3000 villages in Himachal Pradesh that celebrate festivals such as Kullu Dussehra, Renuka Ji Fair, Lohri, Halda, Phagli, Lossar, and Mandi Shivratri. Approximately, more than 5000 large temples are located in Himachal Pradesh. From Hinduism to Christianity, every religion is sure to find a home in Himachal Pradesh. Dharamshala, the home of the 14th Dalai Lama is worth visiting.
Himachal Pradesh Famous Places – Must visit
Manali – Famous hill station
Manali is a beautiful town snuggled in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh at a height of 2050 m (6,730 ft). It is a popular destination for honeymooners in North-India and trekkers around the world. Situated on the banks of the Beas River and in the north of Kullu Valley, it is an entrance for adventure activities in Solang and Kothi. The best time to visit Manali is from March to June. If anyone wants to enjoy adventure activities like river rafting, paragliding, trekking, and camping, then this time is the best suitable. You will get a pleasant climate with temperatures ranging between 10 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius.
If you want to enjoy fresh snow and snowy activities like skiing and skating then the best time for these activities is from November to Early March. You can also do some snow treks like Bhrigu lake, Beas Kund, etc.
Thousands of tourists visit Manali every month, and Rohtang Pass is one of the most popular picturesque spots to visit in Manali. Rohtang Pass connects the Lahaul and Kullu valleys. It is popular among nature lovers, photographers, and adventurers.
Shimla – Capital of Himachal Pradesh
Shimla is the Himachal Pradesh capital and the largest city of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is one of those hill stations that record the highest footfall in India. Shimla is in the foothills of the Himalayas and experiences a subtropical hills climate. It is mostly cool throughout the year. In summers, between April and June, the maximum temperature usually touches 25 degrees Celsius.
Shimla is usually covered with nearby towns of Kufri, a hill-station mostly covered in snow and Chail, popular for a huge castle and the highest cricket ground in the world. Shimla is properly connected with many cities and is only 4 hours from the nearby city of Chandigarh. The city has an airport as well, but there aren’t many regular flights from here. The Kalka-Shimla railway connects Shimla with the plans and is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites.
Shimla is the right mix of Indian beauty with British refinement. Tourists gather to the midway located Mall Road and the Ridge, a walking-only area that is lined up with numerous shops, cafés, and restaurants.
Dharamshala – The Abode Of Dalai Lama
Dharamsala is lying in the shadow of the majestic Dhauladhar range, is the quaint town of Dharamshala. Divided into two parts:
- Lower Dharamshala which is its business center and sprinkled with markets, courts, and the famous Kotwali Bazaar, where you come across items of everyday use.
- Upper Dharamshala has thick pine, cedar, and oak forests around the township of Mcleodganj.
It is the home of the 14th Dalai Lama. He has been living here since 1959. Now 84 years of age, the Dalai Lama still imparts Buddhist philosophies & teachings and meets his followers.
Dharamshala is also home to numerous temples, with the two most popular among them being the Chamunda Devi Temple and Kunal Pathri Temple. Chamunda Devi Temple, located about 10KM from the main city.
Bhagsunag Falls is another place you must visit from July to September month. If you look at it from a distance, then it relates to a tall white silk layer, which is split into pairs, as it approaches the bottom. It lies in between Mcleodganj and the Bhagsunag Temple.
Tourists also visit Mcleodganj for an amazing 10KM Triund Trek at 9,760 ft height. The trail to Triund is low but sheer. The sheer climb is well-compensated by refreshing walks amongst oak trees.
Dalhousie – Switzerland of India
This town is usually known as the Mini Switzerland of India. Dalhousie fascinates you with its stunning picturesque views, snow-capped mountains, Victorian-style majestic British palaces, and its mesmerizing natural beauty. This hill station was one of the favorite summer places of the Britishers during the Indian colonial era.
Dalhousie is also a popular destination for honeymooners. Khajjiar is the place where you experience the beauty of nature and for which Dalhousie is popular as the Switzerland of India. Surrounded by thick covers of deodar and pine trees and the Khajjiar Lake is one of the most astounding and tranquil picnic spots.
Another thrilling trek near Dalhousie is Sach Pass, situated in Sach town which is approximately 15 km from Killar, in the Chamba District. At a height of 14,500 ft, this Pass interfaces the grand Pangi tribal valley with district headquarters, Chamba. Blessed with a scenic landscape and rough terrains and also offers various options for trekking enthusiasts.
If you want to hear birds sing a piece of music then Dainkund Peak is the right place for you. Melodious is the sound like a song muttered in your ears when the flurries swiftly strike the chords of the woods at Dainkund. Based at a height of 9,000 ft, the Dainkund Peak allures countless tourists. This hill offers an enticing panorama of the valley, which has made it a worthy place.
Himachal Pradesh – Weather
To fully enjoy any trip, we must check the weather for that area. Most areas of Himachal Pradesh like Bilaspur, Una, Solan, Sirmour, Hamirpur, and Kangra are usually warm in summer (30°C to 15°C), and mild to pleasant in winter (15°C to 5°C). The upper areas like Chamba, Kinnaur, Kullu, Manali, Shimla, and Lahaul and Spiti are mild to pleasant (15°C to 5°C) in summer and cold in winter (10°C to -5°C).
Carry your clothes depending on your trip location and the month of travel. You should carry full sleeves t-shirts to sweatshirts for summers, while for winters you must take heavy woolen clothes with you. When you plan a tour to Himachal Pradesh, during the winter season, a couple of layers of cloth might not be enough. Apart from the regular clothes for your Himachal Pradesh trip, you should also take a windcheater/jacket as the weather in hills changes at any moment.
Himachal Pradesh – Transport Facility
All three commonly accepted transportations are available in Himachal Pradesh. Most tourist spots in Himachal Pradesh such as Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala, Dalhousie are well connected by roads. Some of the roads in Himachal are seasonal and usually closed during winters and monsoons due to heavy snowfall and landslides. For example, Manali to Leh road remains closed during winters. The HRTC(Himachal Road Transport Corporation) buses are available in different cities of Himachal Pradesh and provide facilities for commuting to even the most remote areas. These buses are frequent, reliable, and make for an extremely affordable means of transport.
Himachal has two rail tracks. One is the Kalka-Shimla Railway track which has a length of 96 kilometers. This track has been in continuation for over a century now. Kalka-Shimla Railway, known to be an engineering phenomenon in British India. The other rail track in the state is the Kangra Valley Railway. From Pathankot in Punjab to Joginder Nagar in Himachal Pradesh, the Kangra Railway travels a distance of 165 kilometers.
The topography of Himachal is very harsh, so airways play a very important purpose in connecting the hilly areas of the state. Himachal Pradesh doesn’t have any international airport. The three airports in Himachal Pradesh are:
- Shimla Airport near Shimla,
- Gaggal Airport near Kangra, and
- Bhuntar Airport near Kullu
The flights operate only seasonally due to drastic weather conditions, especially in winter. All these airports have runways shorter than 4,000 feet and therefore allow the operation of only the smaller aircraft.