Himachal Pradesh
is a tiny hill state whose pleasant summers
make it a popular holiday resort. The Raj still
lingers in Shimla, the state capital and former
summer capital during British rule. Kullu-Manali
are neighbouring resorts, surrounded by pine
covered hills and lush meadows. Himachal has,
in addition to popular resort towns, a series
of secluded hill retreats ideal for interested
anglers, trekkers and those wanting a quiet
getaway. Many of these include: from Shimla
– Mashobra, Kufri, Naldehra; those around
Kullu-Manali include Manikaran, Naggar and Brighu
Lake; the barely accessible valleys of Lahaul
and Spiti are a trekker’s delight.
Shimla, situated in
the north-west Himalayas, Shimla is the capital
of Himachal Pradesh. Spread across 12 kms
along a ridge that overlooks terraced hillsides
and cultivations, Shimla is magnificently
robed in dense forests of oak and pine, fur
and rhododendron, and it is best to travel
here on the slow train from Kalka. Shimla
also is a convenient base for variety of adventure
sports such as Skiing, Trekking, Fishing and
Golfing etc.
How to get there?
By Air : Vayudoot services
connect Jubbor-Hatti (23 kms from Shimla)
with Kullu, Chandigarh and Delhi. Delhi is
in turn connected with Culcutta by Indian
Airlines flights. Jagson Airlines has also
flights from Delhi to Shimla.
By Rail : Shimla is connected
by a narrow guage railway line with Kalka
(90 kms) which in turn is connected with the
major cities in India.
By Road : Regular bus services
connect Shimla with Chandigarh 117 kms, Kullu
220 kms, Manali 260 kms, Delhi 343 kms, Mandi
150 kms, Pathankot 380 kms, Ambala 151 kms,
Chail 43 kms, Dehradun 240 kms
Major tourist attractions :
Jakhoo Hill- 2 kms, Glen- 4 kms, Summer Hill-
5 kms, Chadwick Falls- 7 kms, Zoo- 4 kms,
Navbahar- 4 kms, Sanket Mochen- 5 kms, Tara
Devi Temple- 8 kms, Institute of Advance Studies-
4 kms, Aviary at Old Raj Bhavan- 1 km, Tibetan
Monastery- 8 kms, Dhengu Mata Temple- 5 kms
Excursions from Shimla : Naldera
: 23 kms, Tattapani : 43 kms, Wildflower Hall
: 13 kms, Mashobra : 13 kms, Craignano : 16
kms, Fruit Research Station: 08 kms, Kufri
: 16 kms, Indira Holiday Home : 18 kms, Chail
: 43 kms, Barog : 55 kms, Kasauli : 77 kms,
Kiarighat : 23 kms, Solan : 48 kms, Bon Monastery
Uohghat : 61 kms, Fagu : 22 kms, Narkanda
: 64 kms, Kotgarh : 82 kms,
Adventure and Sporting Activities
:
Golfing : Nine hole Golf Course at
Naldhera, 23 km from Shimla.
Fishing : Trout fishing
is available at Rohru 110 km from Shimla and
at Seema 1 km from Rohru. Mahaseer fishing
is available at Tattapani 43 km from Shimla.
Licence fee Rs.10 per day per person.
Skiing : The skiing season
generally commences in the first fortnight
of January and continues till Mid-March depending
upon snow conditions. HPTDC organises ski
courses of 7 days and 15 days duration at
Narkhanda (65 km) every year.
Trekking : The Shimla-Kinnaur
region offers some exciting trekking opportunities
viz.
a) Shimla to Kulu via Jaloni Pass (66 kms).
b) Shimla to Kulu via Bashleo Pass (56 kms).
c) Sarahen to Sangla (106 kms).
Dalhousie,
nestling in the outer slopes of Dhaulandhar
range, is a excellence hill station. It is
known for its bracing climate and picturesque
scenery.
General information :
Area: 13 sq. km
Altitude: 2036 metres
Temperature (°C): Summer - Max 23.5, Min
15.5 ; Winter - Max 10, Min 1
Clothings: Summer - Light woollens, Winter
- Heavy woollens
Best Season: April to November
How to get there
By Air : The nearest airports
Amritsar (118 kms) & Jammu (188 kms) are
connected to Delhi by Indian Airlines as well
as by Vayudoot flights.
By Rail: The nearest railhead
is Pathankot (80 kms) and is connected to
all of the major cities in India.
By Road: Regular bus services
connect Dalhousie with Amritsar 188 kms, Jalandhar
192 kms, Pathankot 80 kms, Chamba 56 kms,
Manali 402 kms, Delhi 563 kms, Chandigarh
352 kms, Dharamshala 143 kms, Khajjiar 27
kms, Jammu 188 kms.
Tourists attractions and excursions
from Dalhousie : Panjpulla (2 kms),
Subhash Baoli & Jandri Ghat (1.6 kms),
The Round (4.8 kms), Dainkund (10 kms), Khajjiar
(27 kms), Kalatop Wild Life Sanctuary; Kugti
Wild Life Sanctuary (35 kms on foot), Tundah
Wild Life Sanctuary (45 kms)
Dharamshala stands
on a spur of the Dhauladhar range amidst magnificient
deodar and pine forests, tea gardens and beautiful
hills. It is also known as 'The Lhasa in India'.
General information :
Area: 28.81 sq. km.
Altitude: Between 1250 metres and 1982 metres.
Temperature (°C): Summer - Max.33, Min.22,
Winter - Max.15, Min. 0
Clothings: Summer - Light woollens, Winter
- Heavy woollens
Best Season: April to June and September to
November
How to get there?
By Air : The nearest airport,
Amritsar (200 kms), is connected to New Delhi
by Indian Airlines
By Rail : The nearest railhead
Pathankot (90 kms) is connected to major cities
in India. There is a narrow guage train from
Pathankot to Kangra (18 kms)
By Road : Direct & regular
bus services link Dharamshala with Chandigarh
239 kms, Delhi 514 kms, Dalhousie 143 kms,
Hoshiarpur 128 kms, Jwalamukhi 55 kms, Jammu
197 kms, Kangra 18 kms, Kullu 214 km, Manali
253 km, Mandi 147 km, Nangal 145 kms, Palampur
35 kms Chamba 192 kms and Shimla 322 kms.
Main tourist attractions of Dharanshala
: MC leodganj (10 kms), Tibetan
Medical & Astro Institute; Bhagsunath
(11 kms), St. John's Church (8 kms), Kunal
Pathri (3 kms), War Memorial (2 kms), Chirmaya
Topovan (10 km), Dal Lake (11 km), Dharamkot
(11 km), Triund (17 km), Kareri (22 km), Kangra
(18 km), Jwalamukhi (56 km), Nadaun (10 km),
Chintpurni (80 km), Masroor (40 km), Trilokpur
(41 km), Nurpur (66 km), Sujanpur Tira (80
km), Chamunda Devi Temple (15 km), Palampur
(35 km), Pong Wild life Sanctuary (Kangra),
Bassa Wild Life Sanctuary (Kangra)
Popular trekking routes from Dharamshala
:
Dharamshala-Dharamkot-Triund-Dharamshala
- 34 kms
Dharamshala-Khanyara-Aghanjar-Mahadev-Dharamshala
- 16 kms
Dharamshala-Chamunda-Dadh-Dharamshala - 29
kms
Dharamshala-Bhagsunath-Dharamshala - 22 kms
Dharamshala-Kareri Lake-Dharamshala - 35 kms
Kulu-Valley, or the
Valley of Gods, 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.
How to get there?
Air : The nearest airport Bhuntar (10 kms
from Kullu) is connected by Vayudoot services
with Delhi and Chandigarh. Jagson & Continental
Airlines also operates flights from Delhi
to Kullu
Rail: The nearest most convenient railhead
is Chandigarh (272 kms). The other nearest
narrow gauge railheads are Jogindarnagar (166
kms) with a change at Pathankot and Shimla
(240 kms) with a change at Kalka.
Road: Kullu is connected by road with Ambala
(606 kms), Chandigarh (556 kms), Delhi (798
kms), Pathankot (278 kms), Shimla (240 kms),
Manali (40 kms), Palampur (164 kms), Mandi
(70 kms), Kyelang (158 kms), Katrain (21 kms),
Rohatang Pass (91 kms), Dharamshala (213 kms),
Dalhousie (334 kms), Chamba (383 kms), Bilaspur
(139 kms), Jogindarnagar (166 kms) etc. Regular
bus-services connect Kullu with the above
places and others.
Manali, for a lavish
display of natural scenery, it is one of the
principal snow places of the Kullu region.
And Manali is at an altitude of beauty and
gateway to Dhauli and Spiti.
How to reach Manali?
Air: The nearest airport Bhuntar (10 kms from
Kullu and 50 kms from Manali) is connected
by Vayudoot services with Delhi and Chandigarh.
Jagson & Continental Airlines also operates
flights from Delhi to Kullu.
Rail: The nearest most convenient railhead
is Chandigarh (397 kms from Kullu and 357
kms from Manali). The other nearest narrow
gauge railheads are Jogindarnagar (126 kms
from Kullu & 166 kms from Manali) with
a change at Pathankot and Shimla (240 kms
from Kullu & 280 kms Manali) with a change
at Kalka.
Road: Kullu and Manali both the places are
on the National Highway No. 21. Motorable
roads and regular bus services connect Kullu
& Manali to most of the important places
in Himachal Pradesh and the neighbouring states.
Major tourist attractions from Manali
: Vashisht Bath (3 kms), Hadimba
Devi Temple, Tibetan Monastry, Arjun Gupha
(5 kms), Nehru Kund (5 kms), Jagatsukh (6
kms), Kothi (12 kms) & Rahla Falls (14
km), Solang Valley (13 km), Rohtang Pass (51
kms), Keylong Pass (117 kms), Manali Wildlife
Sanctuary
Excursions from Manali : Raghunathji
Temple (1 km), Vaishno Devi Temple (4 km),
Jagannath Temple (3 km), Bijli Mahadev Shrine
(13 km), Raison (16 km), Katrain (20 km),
Naggar (28 km), Bajaura (15 km), Kasol (42
km), Manikaran (45 km), Banjar (58 km), Larji
(34 km), Malana, Pulga & Khirganga (16
km & 26 km), Danawar Wildlife Sanctuary
(near Manikaran), Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary
(20 km from Bhuntar), Khaiv Sanctuary (15
km), Tirthan Sanctuary (10 km from Bunder
Gushanini)
Manali-Leh Road : There
are bus services connecting Manali with Leh
via Keylong during the period July to October/November.
It is a two day journey between Manali and
Leh with an overnight halt at Keylong. There
are regular bus services between Manali and
Keylong (117 kms) which takes approximately
7-8 hours. Bus services between Keylong and
Leh (390 kms) largely depend on the weather
and road conditions. The journey takes approximately
18-19 hours. Foreign tourists are allowed
to travel between 15th July and 15th August
on the Leh-Manali road, subject to following
conditions.
a) Only groups of foreign tourists whose
visits are arranged by Indian Travel Agents,
recognised by the Govt. of India, are allowed
to travel provided the travel agents representative
accompanies the group.
b) Their travel has to be confined to specified
modes of conveyance like jeep matador etc.
c) A police escort by the State government
is attached to the group.
Adventure and Sports activities
Institute of Mountaineering & Allied Sports,
Manali organises training courses, both basic
and advanced, in hiking, mountaineering, skiing,
water sports and mountain rescues. The complex
has hostel facilities and equipment for trekking/hikingcan
be hired from institute.
Fishing : The Kulu valley
offers ample opportunities for trout fishing
in the river Beas & its larger tributaries.
Licences can be obtained from the Fisheries
officer - Katrain.
Trekking : Kulu-Manali,
together with Lahaul-Spiti, offers possibly
the best trekking opportunities. Some important
treks in Kulu-Manali region
Raison-Malana-Chandrakhan-Raison (139 kms)
- 11 days
Manali-Bhirug-Rohtang Pass-Manali (55 kms)
- 4 days
Manali-Chandratal-Keylong (120 kms) - 10 days
Manali-Chhikar-Hamta Pass-Jagatsukh-Manali
(55 kms) - 6 days
Kinnaur, Spiti and Lahaul,
located in the dizzy heights of the Himalayas,
with passes that remain closed for six months,
Kinnaur, Spiti and Lahaul were till now, a
forbidden land. Now this area has been opened
for the daring and adventurous who can discover
what had been hidden from the world for centuries.
From the riotous green of the Sangla Valley-
filled with orchards of apricots, peaches,
apples and Chilgoza pine forests, to the magnificent
desolation of the Hangrang Valley, Mother
Nature's portrait is everchanging in Kinnaur.
This land lying on the ancient trade route
between India and Tibet, ringed by the majestic
mountains of the Himalayan and Dhauladhar
range is a land of plenty. Entry Formalities
: Foreign nationals can travel with permits
issued by
(a) District Magistrate : Shimla; Rekong
Peo (Kinnaur); Kullu; Keylong (Lahaul);
(b) Sub District Magistrate:- Shimla; Rampur;
Kalpa, Nichar (Kinnaur); Keylong, Udaipur
(Lahaul); or
(c) Additional Deputy Commissioner's office:-
Pooh (Kinnaur); Kaza (Lahaul) only when they
are traveling in a group of four(4) or more
persons with a predrawn itinerary through
a recognized travel agent. The permits can
be obtained on presenting the following documents,viz.
i) Three passport size photographs, ii) Police
verification from home town or any other equivalent
documents like passport, driving license etc.,
which can establish the identification of
the applicant. Foreigners are required to
present an itinerary and introduction by a
recognized travel agent. The tourists are
advised to get their documents verified at
the check points at Chitkul,Lippa,Khud (Kinnaur)
and Kaza (Spiti).
How to get in Kinnaur ?
By Air : The nearest airport Shimla
is 224 kms from Kalpa (in Kinnaur).
By Rail: The nearest railhead
Kalka, 314 kms from Kalpa in Kinnaur, is connected
with the major places in India.
By Road : Kalpa is one of
the main places in the district of Kinnaur.
Some of the road-distances from Kalpa:- Shimla
224 kms, Rampur 108 kms, Pooh 94 kms, Moorang
22 kms, Nichar 39 kms, Wangtu 34 kms, Narkanda
160 kms, Chakrata 248 kms, Kufri 210 kms,
Sarahan 77 kms, Chaura 63 kms, Karcham 35
kms, Chitkul 102 kms, Tashigang 116 kms, Shipki
La 126 kms etc.
How to get in Lahaul & Spiti?
Air : Kullu and Shimla are the nearest
two airports. By road Keylong is 158 kms from
Shimla.
Rail: Shimla and Pathankot are nearest railheads.
By road Keylong is 436 kms from Pathankot
Road: National Highway No.21 connects Manali
to Lahaul & Spiti and Leh. Keylong is
one of the main places in the district of
Lahaul & Spiti. Some of the road-distances
from Keylong:-, Kullu 158 kms, Manali 118
kms, Pathankot 436 kms, Jogindarnagar 284
kms, Rahla 102 kms, Rohtang Pass 67 kms, Khoksar
46 kms, Gondhla 18 kms, Udaipur 48 kms etc.
