Situated in the upper Kangra Valley of the Dhauladhar (white ridge) Mountains in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamsala is the hill station and capital of the Kangra District since 1852. The name literally is the combination of two Sanskrit words, Dharam meaning religion and Shala meaning dwelling place, giving it a meaning religious dwelling for the pilgrims.

Enclosed by dense coniferous forest holding major stately Deodars, the town is split into three parts namely Upper Dharamsala called McLeod Ganj (British and Tibetan site), the middle Kotwali Bazar, and the Lower Dharmsala or Kaccheri area (commercial site). Upper Dharamshala is at nine km from Lower Dharamshala and is at a height of 460 m. Further carrying the distinct points, Lower Dharamsala is the abode of Indians, while the Upper one is that of the Tibetans.

McLeod Ganj is where you will feel as you are in Tibet even after being in India. It is popular across the globe for the annual teachings of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama along with his residence. It is also the home of the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in exile at some two km. Formerly a British hill station, the upper area witnessed the inflow of Tibetan refugees in 1959.

Dharamsala Attractions

• St. John’s Church:
  Situated 7 km uphill from Dharamsala, this church was built in 1852 with a grey stone and some superb Belgian stained glass windows gifted by Lady Elgin. The church is more famous as the church of St. John in Wilderness.
• Bhagsu Waterfall:
  Located at Bhagsu some 2 km from McLeodganj, the spectacular waterfalls are behind the Bhagsunag Temple. In monsoons, the fall converts into a descend of 30 feet.

Triund:
Located at 17 km, this is a trekking destination from Upper Dharamsala in the foothills of Dhauladhar providing some scenic views of the mountains and valleys. Over night stays are usually in hoods.

Nurpur Fort:
Formerly known as Dhameri, this fort is located at 66 km. It was renamed by the Emperor Jehangir, the son of the Great Mohammad Akbar. Even though it is in ruins, you can marvel at its elegantly carved reliefs.

Namgyal Monastery (Victorious Monastery):
Founded by the Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, in 1575; this monastery has aided the Dalai Lamas for the welfare of Tibet.

• The Shrine of Bhagsunath:
  Located at 11 km, this is the ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. You will find several fresh water springs near by that are holy for the Hindus.
• Trilokpur:
  Located at 41 km, this is famous for its distinct cave temples with a stalactite and stalagmites devoted to Lord Shiva.

Best Time to Visit Dharamsala

• Autumn:
  October to November
• Spring:
  March to April

Source : travelindia360.net

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Shimla, the summer capital of the British India, It is situated in the north-west Himalayas and is the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh in North India. Shimla has got everything to please the heart of any traveler throughout the year. Shimla is India’s most popular hill resort and the favorite place for honeymooners. You can also enjoy walks from the Mall in Shimla.The old world charm still comes to life here as it is dotted with a number of colonial buildings and churches that also accentuate the exquisiteness of this town. Besides, you will also encounter several tourist attractions in Shimla that are worth catching a glimpse such as:

Himachal State Museum & Library:
This museum is indisputably one of the prime tourist attractions in Shimla and remains open to the public except on Mondays and public holidays. This museum houses a fine collection of antique sculptures, paintings, coins, photos and other items not only from the state but also outside it. You will also find a library here which houses several historical books and manuscripts.

Viceregal Lodge & Botanical Gardens:
Also famous as “Rashtrapati Niwas”, it is a spectacular building located on the Observatory Hills and was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin. Its construction was accomplished in the year 1888 and every brick for the building was carried by mules according to the sources. The massive six-story building is surrounded by well manicured gardens and lawns.

Indian Institute of Advanced Studies:
Located in the Viceregal Lodge, it was constructed in the year 1888. The kind of architecture is English Renaissance with stonework of the walling in light blue limestone and the wrought stonework being done in sandstone in a stunning light gray shade. The grounds are open to the public only on Sunday and you need a ticket in order to enter.

The Ridge:
This place is an open space in the heart of town and offers outstanding views of the distant mountain ranges. The two prominent landmarks of Shimla, the Neo-Gothic structure of Christ Church and the new Tudor Library building are the other attractions located here.

The Mall:
It is the key shopping centre of Shimla with restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, Post Offices, tourist offices and most of town’s highlights. The place becomes breathtakingly romantic in the evening offering wonderful views of the lit up city below. You can laze around around the Mall and spend some intimate moments with close ones. It is the most significant among the tourist attractions in Shimla.

Summer Hill:
It is a scenic spot located near Shimla at an altitude of 1,283 meters and is much visited by the tourists. The legendary Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi during his sojourn in Shimla spent some time in the elegant Georgian House of Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur located here.

Glen:
It is a charming picnic spot and is a 4 km walk through the dense woods located at a height of 1, 830 meters. You can also go for picnic at this spot since it is completely secluded and tranquil.


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The hill resort of Kullu is located in the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh. Kullu, the town is one of the most preferred summer destinations. The Kullu valley has an ancient town in its lap called Manali. One of the main tourist attractions of Kullu is the Raghunath Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ram.The hill resort of Kullu is easily accessible. For the air transport there is the Bhuntar Airport at a distance of 10 km from Kullu. Bhuntar links Kullu with other places like Delhi and ShimlaPlaces to Visit in Kullu.

Manali is a small hill town in the valley of Kullu It is a pleasant town with lovely forests and orchards nearby for hiking. You can also indulge into shopping and The Mall in Manali serves this purpose.Manali is specializes in Woolen goods, Manali is also famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking.The best time to visit the picturesque Manali is from May to October

Raghunath Temple : It is the 17th century ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Rama. This temple was built by Raja Jagat Singh.

Bijii Mahadev Temple : The temple is situated atop a hill and offers some spectacular views. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Vaishno Devi Temple : Dedicated to Goddess Ambe the temple is located at the distance of 5 km away from Kullu on the Kullu Manali National Highway No. 1.

Sultanpur Palace : It is an architecturally beautiful palace in Kullu. It is one of the major attractions in valley. It is noted for some beautiful miniature paintings in Kullu style. The paintings are based on simple themes showing rural backgrounds without human figures in them.

Basheshwar Mahadev Temple : Dedicated to Lord Shiva this temple is situated at the distance of 15 km from Kullu. It is an ancient temple dating back to the 9th century. The temple is located on the banks of the Beas River. It is very popular among tourists. .

Jagannathi Devi Temple : It is a beautiful temple in Kullu Valley dedicated to Goddess Durga. The temple provides marvelous views of the city from above.

Adventure Activities
Kullu draws a large gathering of adventure enthusiasts. It provides wonderful opportunity to indulge in some thrilling adventure and sport activities. They are trout fishing, river rafting, mountaineering, trekking, etc.

Best time to visitThe hill resort of Kullu remains pleasant, all through the year. The mild Summers last from April to June. The cold winters last from November to February. Kullu experiences monsoons from July to September. This makes the summer months between April and June the best time to visit Kullu. The Dussehra festival in October is another favored time to visit Kullu.

How to Reach Kullu
By Air : The nearest airport is at Bhuntar about 10 km away from Kullu. Taxis and buses are available here reach Kullu.

By Road : Deluxe and Luxury buses connect Kullu with major cities like Chandigarh, Delhi and Shimla.

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“Till date, 5,750 people, including 220 foreigners, have stayed in various home-stay units set up across the state. This has not only given a boost to rural prosperity but also helped decongest the popular tourist destinations,” he added.

According to the tourism department, 246 families in the state have opted for the household tourism scheme.

The picturesque Kullu Valley has 75 registered home-stay units, followed by 49 in Kinnaur district, 38 in Shimla district, 31 in Kangra district, 19 in Lahaul and Spiti district, 12 in Chamba district, 10 in Mandi district, and six each in Sirmaur and Solan districts. The registered home units have 653 rooms.

Principal Secretary (Tourism) Manisha Nanda said: “The scheme helps boost the income of the rural population. Earlier, tourists preferred to stay in towns, visit nearby destinations and return to the hotel. Now, they stay at home-stay units, generating employment opportunities for the locals.”

The interior areas of Kangra, Kullu, Shimla and Solan districts have emerged as offbeat holiday destinations, she said.

Solan district, which has just six units, saw the maximum number of tourist arrivals – 2,023 domestic and three foreign.

Kullu district took the lead in attracting backpackers from abroad.

Seventy-five units hosted 132 international and 1,539 national guests.

The idyllic, pastoral settings in the Kullu Valley have been attracting a large number of tourists for mountaineering expeditions, high-altitude treks and white water rafting.

Source: Vishal Gulati, IANS

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Leh: Known as the “land of high passes”, Ladakh is a kaleidoscope of nature’s extremes — snow-capped peaks to sand dunes, sub-zero temperatures to scorching sun — all sprinkled with barren mountains in myriad shades of brown.

It is difficult to breathe in the low-oxygen atmosphere of the high mountains, especially when the wind blows at 100 km per hour. It is a place where you can get sunburnt and frostbitten at the same time.

But the stark beauty of the region lures visitors again and again, even when snow hides every natural feature, cutting off roads and isolating Ladakh from the rest of the country for nearly six months every year.

“I have been coming here on bike for the last 12 years and still there is much more to be explored. It is an out-of-the-world experience. Standing beside these lofty mountains brings you close to nature,” said Alwyn from New Delhi.

One of the must-see places is Khardung La pass at 18,380 feet above sea level, the highest motorable road in the world.

“It is extremely chilly, especially the wind. But the snow-covered mountains are breathtakingly beautiful. It was worth it,” exclaimed Anjali on reaching K-top, as Khardung La is better known, and wrapping her hands around the piping hot cup of coffee with which every visitor to the army checkpost atop the pass is greeted.

The region is sparsely populated, but one may still come across small villages with terraced farms and grazing cattle as one drives down to the Nubra valley from Leh district.

With the crystal blue Nubra and Shyok rivers rushing through, green trees and sand dunes on their banks and snow-covered peaks above, the valley proves why Ladakh has often been called the land of the moon.

And you know you are in a cold desert when you are offered a ride on a double-humped camel, more famous in the Gobi desert.

To really appreciate how clear the blue sky above is, go to Pangong Tso lake. The shades change ever so subtly as the wind ripples the water of the 135-km-long lake, more than half of which lies in China.

If you ever get there in winter, you can see army trucks parked on the surface, so solidly does the lake freeze over.

Fancy some white water rafting? Try the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers. But it’s not for the faint-hearted. Nor is anything else in this jewel called Little Tibet.

Source: IANS

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