BIR | CHAIL | DHARAMSHALA | KULLU | MANALI | MANDI | REWALSAR | SHIMLA | DALHOUSIE | PALAMPUR |
Nestled in the breathtaking mountain peaks of Western Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh is one of the most beautiful states of India with beautiful lakes, snowcapped mountains, unusual flowers, ancient shrines and wonderful people.
Himachal is essentially a mountain state - it covers the transition zone from the plains to the Himalayas. The pleasant summers make it a popular holiday destination. The Kullu valley, the snow-capped Himalayas in the background and the sparkling Beas river, has a well developed tourist industry, and is regarded as the backbone of the Himachal tourism.
Himachal is a important summer tourist place in India. During summer tourists from North Indian plains as well South India travel to Himachal to get some relief from the hot weather. While during winter, popular tourists ski resorts like Manali receives good snowfall and tourists from around the world visit Himachal for winter sports like skiing, heli-skiing, snowboarding etc.
Himachal is also very popular honeymoon destination in India. Tourist destinations like Shimla and Manali are among the top picks of honeymooners in India.
Adventure tourism is also a huge part of Himachal Pradesh. Kullu and nearby regions offers several trekking routes for the tourists. Trekking in the Indian Himalayas is considered nothing less than walking in paradise. In total there are over 200 trekking trails in Himachal Pradesh.
What is the best way to view the beautiful scenery of Himachal Pradesh. The answer in Para gliding. The town of Bir offers paragliding opportunity to the tourists. Para gliding from the mountaintop at Billing will give you nice views of the golden roof monasteries in Bir and the beautiful landscape of Himachal Pradesh.
WHEN TO VISIT
The main tourist season in Himachal Pradesh is May to July. During this period millions of tourists, visits Himachal to get some relief from hot weather in India. The second season starts from September to December which sometimes get extended to January and February, depending on the snowfall. It is advised for tourists to avoid traveling Himachal Pradesh during the monsoon. Roads are often closed due to mudslide or landslide in monsoon that can trap tourists for several days.
HOW TO REACH
By Air - There are small airports in Shimla, Kullu, Kangra and Gaggal. All the major tourist places in Himachal are nearby these airports. Most of the flights to these airports are from Delhi. Beware that weather conditions often changes in the mountains, which leads to flights delay and cancellations.
By Train - There are few points in Himachal that are accessible by train. the narrow-gauge railways from Pathankot in Punjab that will take you to Kangra. There is a broad-gauge line from Kalka in Haryana to Shimla. The journey lasts for 6 hours that is made enjoyable by the beautiful landscapes of the Himalayan region.
By Bus - The most practical way to reach Himachal is by Bus. All major tourist places in Himachal Pradesh have direct bus services from Delhi. Tourists can also hire taxi to reach any destination in Himachal Pradesh.
