Traversing the mystic lands of Himachal Pradesh

How to Reach

Bus is the only practical means of getting to many points in Himachal Pradesh. All cities of interest have direct services to Delhi. It is cheapest means to travel in and around here and there are Volvo buses operated by Himachal State Transport Corporation for travel convenience. Shimla, Kullu and Pathankot have small airports, with services largely limited to Delhi. Flights are frequently cancelled or delayed due to adverse weather. Given the difficult geographical position of the State there is very little penetration of railway network. There is little rail network available which gives access to peripheral districts and to the capital city of Shimla.

Photo Courtesy: Kamaljith K V

Arki

Arki is one of the top 12 tourist places located in the Sloan district of Himachal Pradesh. The smallest town of the district, it provides travellers an opportunity to visit some of the most exotic tourist destinations in the region. There are many temples in Arki that attract tourists from all parts of the country. Famous among them are Luturu Mahadev Temple, Durga Temple and Shakhni Mahadev Temple. Arki Fort and Arki Palace are the favoured tourist spots.

Photo Courtesy: Kumar Chitrang

Barog

Barog is a popular tourist spot located in the Solan District of Himachal Pradesh. Choor Chandni Peak is a must-visit tourist spot of the area. Other prominent sightseeing places in Barog are Dagshai, the Vishal Shiva Temple, Dolanji Bon Monastery and Renuka Lake. Tourists also frequent the Sholoni Devi Temple, Children's Park, and Jawahar Park.

Photo Courtesy: Fred Hsu

Bir

Bir is another must-visit tourist town in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is popular for its various spiritual study centres such as the Deer Park Institute and the Dharmalaya Institute. Apart from these, Bir is an adventure sports destination too. The town is popular as the ‘Paragliding Capital of India' and in the month of October, every year, the Department of Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Government of Himachal Pradesh holds the 'Paragliding Pre-World Cup' event here. This global level paragliding competition draws a large number of visitors from around the world every year.

Chail

Chail is a beautiful hill station located on Sadh Tiba Hill in the Sloan district of Himachal Pradesh. The Chail Palace is a must-visit attraction here. Another popular tourist spot is the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary that offers a rare opportunity to observe the indigenous flora and fauna of the region. Species found in the sanctuary include the Indian Muntjac, leopard, Crested Porcupine, panther, wild boar, Goral, Sambar, and European Red Deer.

Photo Courtesy: Vinish K Saini

Dalhousie

Dalhousie is one of the top 12 prominent tourist spot located in the Dhauladhar range of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Some of the noted tourist sightseeing spots include St. Andrew's Church, St. Patrick's Church, St. Francis' Church and St. John's Church.

Photo Courtesy: Sonusandhu

Kasauli

Kasauli is a famous hill station located in the district of Solan in the sate of Himachal Pradesh. The town which is situated amidst nature, is known for it's sightseeing spots that include the Christ Church, Monkey Point, Kasauli Brewery, Baba Balak Nath Temple, and the Gurkha Fort.

Photo Courtesy: Varun Kutty

Keylong

Keylong, famously known as the ‘Land of Monasteries', is one of the 12 beautiful tourist places of Himachal Pradesh. Keylong offers its visitors with the opportunity to see several Buddhist pilgrimage centres, which are famous for their unique architectural designs and have historical relevance. The Kardang Monastery and the Shasur Monastery are two of the famous monasteries situated in the region. Keylong is also a popular tourist spot for various adventure sports such as trekking, fishing, jeep safari, paragliding, skiing and camping.

Photo Courtesy: Peter Krimbacher Moebius1

Kinnaur

Kinnaur also known as ‘The Land of Fairy Tales' is a beautiful district situated in Himachal Pradesh. The scenic beauty of the place is admirable with snow covered mountains, lush green valleys, ripe orchards and beautiful vineyards. The Sangla Valley and the Hangrang Valley are two of the main valleys located in the region of Kinnaur. Travellers can go sightseeing the gigantic Kinner Kailash Mountain, which is the most prominent tourist spot of the region.

Photo Courtesy: Nick Irvine-Fortescue

Kufri

Kufri is a small town located at a distance of around 13 km from Shimla. Mahasu Peak, Great Himalayan Nature Park, and Fagu are some of the prominent tourist spots in Kufri. Great Himalayan Nature Park houses over 180 species of birds and animals. Fagu, situated 6 km away from Kufri, is a must visit tourist spot among peace lovers.

Kullu

Kullu is a beautiful district in the state of Himachal Pradesh and is often referred to as the 'Valley of Gods'. One of the popular tourist spot here is the Sultanpur Palace, also known as the Rupi Palace. The Raghunath Temple, dedicated to the Hindu deity Rama, is another major attraction of Kullu. The building of the temple displays a perfect blend of Pyramidal and Pahari style of architecture.

Photo Courtesy: John Hill

Lahaul

Lahaul lies in the Indo-Tibetan border in the state of Himachal Pradesh. This major tourist spot includes the village of Kibber, which is famous for its monastery and the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Other sightseeing attractions here include the Pin Valley National Park, the Key Monastery and the Kunzum Pass.

Photo Courtesy: Nvvchar

Mandi

Mandi, also known as 'Varanasi of Hills', is one of the top 12 tourist places located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Famous for its stone temples, the destination has more than 300 shrines devoted to the Hindu deities Shiva and Kali. Some of the popular and ancient temples include the Panchvaktra Temple, the Ardhanarisvara Temple and the Triloknath Temple.

Photo Courtesy: Ritpr9