INDIA

                           HIMACHAL PRADESH 

Himachal Pradesh is totally a mountain state and a delight for the visitors, particularly during the summer season when people flock to this tiny hill station to escape the scorching heat of the plains

Nestled amidst the Western Himalayas, the state of Himachal Pradesh is often referred as "Devbhumi" meaning "Land of the Gods". It is a captivating hill state where on one hand you would find the snow covered rivers and lakes and on the other the mighty Himalayas. While there is the lush greenery of forest, Himachal Pradesh also has the Trans-Himalayan Desert. 

                                                 FAMOUS ATTRACTIONS

SHIMLA

Until the British arrived, there was nothing at Shimla but a sleepy forest glade known as Shyamala (a local name for Kali). Then a Scottish civil servant named 

Charles Kennedy built a summer home in Shimla in 1822 and nothing was ever the same again. By 1864 Shimla had developed into the official summer capital of the Raj. Every summer until 1939, the entire government of india fled here from the sweltering heat of the plains, with all their clerks’ books and forms filled out in triplicate. When the Kalka–Shimla railway line was constructed in 1903, Shimla’s status as india’s premier hill station was assured. The city was even briefly the capital of punjab until the map was redrawn in 1966.

The capital city and an evergreen name in the tourism scenario of the country. Shimla enjoys the popularity as a hill station right from the British period. The numerous old buildings are reminiscent of the British architectural excellence, which gives an old world flavor to the modern city of today.

  

MANALI

The surrounding mountain scenery lures tourists to Manali year-round. Domestic tourists come here for honeymoons and mountain views, while foreigners come for adventure sports or, more commonly, to hang out in the hippie villages around the main town. Until the 1960s there was nothing here but a few old stone houses and temples, but modern Manali is crammed with concrete hotels and the town is in severe need of some town planning – stay in the villages of Vashisht or Old Manali for a more peaceful mood.

approximately June to October. Many tourists are also lured here by the famous Manali charas but be warned – local police are more than happy to arrest people for possession or sting them for bribes.

Manali is a major tourist destination in Himachal, North India for Indian & western Holidaymakers. Manali is famous as "Honeymoon Destination among Indian tourists &  Western tourists visit Manali for trekking and leisure trips in Himalayas as it has become a hub for multi adventure activities and specialised trekking with gateways to spiti & leh region.

Manali is a magnet, attracting many tourists from all over the    world. Over the years, Manali has come up as a major tourist destination for Indian holiday makers. It has been popularized as a “honeymoon destination” for newly weds. The Manali himalayas lure foreigners who get attracted by culturally distinctive hill people & scenic treks this part of Himalaya offer.

ROHTANG PASS

Traveling northward from Manali, past the sulphur springs, of Vashishta and the Brighu Lake is the breathtaking region of Lahaul. Across the Rohtang Pass it is located at a height of 4,111 meters (13,400 ft.), reached by the world's highest jeepable road right up to and even beyond, Keylong. It is 117 kms from Manali the capital, to Lahaul. The threshold of the Lahaul plateau is nourished by the Chandra and Bhaga rivers. Dry and very cold, it is surrounded by high mountains on all sides, the Great Himalayas to the the 

 

north, the Pir Panjal to the South and

the Spiti-Chandra watershed  to the east. Higher and colder than Pangi valley there are many glaciers and high peaks in Lahaul. The biggest glacier is Bara Shigri. The road, that passes through Lahaul, starts from Rahalla falls, enters Lahaul by the Rohtang Pass, goes through Lahaul through Khoksar and Keylong and crosses out by the Baralacha-La. From Lahaul the Himalayas can be seen in all their mighty splendor. The barren landscape and sparse vegetation lends a magnificent charm to this otherwise bleak country. With their slant Mongol eyes, prominent cheek bones and cheerful smiles, the people give visitors an enthusiastic welcome. 

LAHAUL-SPITI  valley

spiti valley

Separated from the Kullu Valley by the 4551m Kunzum La, Lahaul is greener and more developed than Ladakh and Spiti, but most travellers whistle straight through on the way to Manali or Leh, missing most of what Lahaul has to offer. The capital, Keylong, is an easy stop on the popular Leh–Manali bus trip and you can detour to a number of mountain villages and medieval monasteries that are blissfully untouched by mass tourism.

Lahaul is marked by a central mass of uniformly high mountains and massive glaciers. The two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga which rise on either side of the Baralacha La, flow through the narrow Chandra and Bhaga valleys. Lahaul is a land of fascinating Buddhist art and culture. The monasteries of Lahaul-Spiti are rich repositories of ancient murals, thankas, wood carving and golden images of Padmasambhava. The valley lies at a height of 2745 metres above sea level. Summer in this valley is cool and pleasant with green grass and alpine flowers. There are little monsoon in both these valleys and this enables climbers & trekkers to enjoy a long and unbroken season in perpetual sunshine to explore the wilderness and grandeur of the inner Himalaya. This unique feature makes Lahul-Spiti as an ideal destination for tourists and trekkers in the month of July, August and September. Keylong is 115 kms. from Manali and is the District Headquarters of Lahul-Spiti District. 

CHAMBA

 

Chamba sits on a ledge above the Ravi River. The de facto centre of town is the open grassy sports field known as the Chowgan, the focus for festivals, impromptu cricket matches, picnics and promenades. Most places of interest are tucked away in the alleyways of Dogra Bazar, which runs uphill past the maharaja’s palace.

                                                                             DALHOUSIE

 The fact file containing information about Dalhousie presents an extensive range of features associated with the place. The history of Dalhousie dates back to the 1800s. In the year 1850 Lt. Col. Napier discovered a scenic spot in Chamba Valley which in 1854 was named after Lord Dalhousie, the then Viceroy of India. Previously a part of the Kangra district, Dalhousie was shifted to Gurdaspur district in the year 1861. Finally, in the year 1966 Dalhousie became a part of the state of Himachal Pradesh. As a popular tourist destination of Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie is situated in the Dhauladhar hills of the Himalayas. Having a developed array of transportation facilities, Dalhousie can be easily arrived at by one and all.

 

The flora and fauna of Dalhousie is something worth of mention. While trekking through the various forest routes of Dalhousie, tourists often get mesmerized by the beauty of the colorful flora of the place. 

Beautifully surrounded by five majestic hills, Dalhousie is literally a paradise on earth. Located 6000 feet to 9000 feet above the sea surface, Dalhousie is dotted with many Victorian and Scottish bungalows. 

THE GREAT HIMALAYAN NATIONAL PARK

Surrounded on three sides by towering Himalayan Mountains, the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) hosts some of the densest population of Himalayan wildlife species. Located 50 km from Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, GHNP was built in 1984 and is spread over 755 sq km. In 1999, it was accorded the status of a national park.

It boasts of over 375 fauna species, including 31 species of mammals and 181 species of birds. The fauna of the park includes some of the most exotic species of animals like snow leopard, blue sheep, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan tahr, musk deer, goral and many others.

Variety of birds found in GHNP includes golden eagles, Himalayan griffon vultures, lammergeyers, raptors, etc. It is also home to the endangered species of western tragopan and over 50 species of migratory birds

The flora of the national park includes trees, shrubs, herbs and medicinal plants. Rare species of spurge, buckthorn, yew, valerians, leycesteria, balsams, etc. are found here.

A major source of water for the neighbouring regions, the park has Beas, Sainj, Jiwa and Tirthan rivers flowing through it.

The park is also famous destination with trekkers. Neuli- Sarangarh loop, Neuli- Sainj valley, Sainj- Tirthan valley, Gushaini-Tinder village, Gushaini- Shilt Hut, Neuli-Manu temple, Siund- Pashi villages, Jiwa Nala- Parvati River valley, Gushaini- Tirthan valley and Shamshi- Kaza are some of the famous trails.

Its remote location has ensured villages situated inside the park have developed a culture of their own. Almost every village or community within the park has their own distinct deity. Many communities worship sacred groves.

Various fairs are held during April, May, August and September.

Dear readers this was a part of himachal pradesh.. officially knowns as "THE STATE OF himachal pradesh"

But that is not the end.

there are much more to see, just in himachal pradesh itself.

WHEN TO VISIT??....

The best time to go to Himachal depends on what you would like to do! The fragrance of spring, the activity packed summer, the romantic saga of the rains, or the crisp chill of winter are all present in Himachal Pradesh.

In Spring which is March and April, the chilly cold winter beats a retreat and the skies open up to a bright blue with temperatures in a very pleasant range of 20 degrees C in the day time with a drop at night. The tourists have not yet descended here, so there is peace and quiet in the region. 

Summers months May and June see an onslaught of the tourist rush. Granted, it is the peak season here but the hordes of tourists especially in the popular destinations like Shimla and Manali are sometimes a put off if you are looking for serenity. The Sipi fair is held in Shimla in May sometime and if you happen to be there, attend it.

The months after the monsoons(July-August)are also a good time to be in Himachal Pradesh. September to November are very good months with tourists crowd considerably thinned down and day time temperatures again in the pleasant mid 20s centigrade. This is also a time for festivals and events especially in Kullu where Dussehra is celebrated in a very big way sometime in October. 

The winter months between November and February see the slopes of Himachal Pradesh covered in a thick blanket of snow. Skiing at Kufri is very popular sport and people come from the plains to try their hand at this sport. Shimla is also quite a popular detination in the winters as the snow is a draw for the tourists. The temperatutes are freezing at the height of winter that is in January and February, but tourists still venture forth to see the powdery white snow that covers the region. 

If you happen to be visiting in the winter months, the Winter Carnival at Manali and the celebration of the Tibetan New Year at McLeodGanj in February are good events to attend.

Much more to come dear friends.... follow this blog if you wanna get updated... c ya ... and take care..... :)