Himachal Pradesh.
Situated in North India,
Himachal Pradesh (Abode of Snow) is surrounded by Jammu
& Kashmir on the north; Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh
to the south; Uttaranchal to the south east and the
Chinese territory of Tibet to the east. The state is
mostly covered by the low Shivalik hill range towards
the south and the dramatically high trans-Himalayan
ranges as you go north. Thus you can proceed from
hill-town Dharamsala in the south, at 1700m, to
Lahaul-and-Spiti, the northernmost district, at 6500m.
This geography and the resultant cool-to-snowy climate,
define Himachal's tourist attractions as well; in fact,
tourism and apple-growing run the economy of the state.
Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Parbati are the main rivers.
Given its mountainous nature, Himachal can best be
understood in terms of its valleys. In the southern
Kangra valley, Dharamsala and sister town McLeodganj are
the focus of the Dalai Lama's Tibetan
government-in-exile. In western Himachal lies Chamba
Valley, with Dalhousie, a British-time hill station.
Towards the east, all the way to Tibet lies the Kinnaur
region, which was off limits for tourists till 1992 and
contains villages and lifestyles that are still
untouched by modernity. In the centre, the Kullu valley
is famous for its apples, producing about 9000
truckloads of them every year. Here, Manali town is a
good base for adventure sports such as paragliding,
skiing, river rafting and trekking. December-March are
good months for winter sports or to see the snow. The
northernmost Lahaul-Spiti district is isolated,
snow-bound terrain accessible only between July-October,
with some well-preserved 1000-year old Buddhist
monasteries and culture.
Himachal's capital Shimla, developed by the British in
the mid-19th century as a hill station that helped them
escape hot summers, is full of colonial architecture and
churches. Shimla makes a good base for less-crowded hill
destinations such as Chail, Kufri, Narkanda, or Kasauli,
all located at comfortable altitudes of 2000-2750 metres.
Shimla
In the days before independence, Shimla was the most
important British hill station, and in the summer season
became the summer capital. The British in 1819A.D first
discovered Shimla, but it was not until 1822 A.D that
the first permanent house was erected and not until many
years later that Shimla became the summer capital. The
name Shimla is derived from the Himalayan Goddess Shamla
a synonym of Kali.
Dalhousie
Dalhousie is named after the British Governor General of
the 19th century Lord Dalhousie. The town's height
varies between 1525m and 2378m and is surrounded by
varied vegetation. Dalhousie has charming colonial
architecture, including some beautiful churches. The
spectacular snow-covered Dhauladhar Mountains are also
visible from this enchanting town.
Chamba
Chamba, the land of antiquity, art and scenic beauty, is
a wonder in itself for every visitor. Situated at the
height of 996 m. above sea level on the south bank of
the Ravi River, the ancient Pahari capital was founded
in 920 A.D. by Raja Sahil Verma, who named it after his
favorite daughter Champavati.
Chamba valley is noted for the magnificence of it's
scenery-touching the fringe of the Shivaliks and having
three well-defined snowy ranges, the
Dauladhar, constituting the outer Himalayas, the Pir
Panjal or the mid Himalayas, and the Zanskar range or
the inner Himalayas.
Dharamshala
Set against the backdrop of the dramatic Dhauladhar
Mountains, Dharamshala is perched on the high slopes in
upper reaches of Kangra Valley. It is charming town with
elegant bungalows nestling in thick coniferous forests.
Dharamshala is also the home of Dalai Lama, spiritual
head of Buddhists. Little Lhasa is an enchanting world
where spinning prayer wheels and fluttering prayer flags
spread the message of peace and universal harmony.
Kullu Valley
Kullu was once known as Kulanthpitha, which means the
end of the habitable world. Beyond rose the forbidding
heights of the Greater Himalayas, and by the banks of
the shining river Beas, lay the fabled 'Silver Valley'.
The 'Silver Valley' has nature's treasures that lie
carelessly scattered as flowers on the high meadows.
The Valley of Gods, as the Kullu Valley has come to be
known, if perhaps the most delightful region in the
Western Himalayas.
Situated on the banks of the river Beas, Kullu, the
headquarters of the district, serves as a nerve centre
of the valley and is the starting place for a number of
treks.
Manali
Manali is the Northern end of the Kullu Valley and is
the main resort in the area. It is beautifully situated
and there are many pleasant walks around the town.
Surrounded by towering peaks at arm length, Manali’s
major asset is its proximity to the snowline, never more
than few hours drive from the town nestling at
comfortable 2050meters. It is the center of the
flourishing orchard industry a popular honeymoon
destination and trailhead for numerous treks.
Kinnaur, Spiti, Lahaul
Lahaul and Spiti are two remote Himalayan valleys of
Himachal Pradesh lying on the Indo-Tibet border.
Strange, exciting, primitive, these valleys are
incomparable in mountain scape, in the rugged beauty of
their rocky escapements and the splendor of their snow
covered peaks.
Kinnaur is one of the most scenic but less known
districts of Pradesh Located on the Indo-Tibetan border,
it is surrounded by Tibet to the east, Garhwal Himalayas
to the south, Spiti valley to the north and Kullu to the
west. The Satluj River, which rises on the southern
slopes of Kailash Parbat near Mansarovar in Tibet, flows
through the Kinnaur valley.