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  • 01Dharamkot,Kangra

    Dharamkot

    Dharamkot

    Dharamkot or Dharmkot is a small village and a famous hill station in the Kangra district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. One of the best places to visit in Kangra district, Dharmkot is not very far from the well-known McLeodGanj. The village is full of hilly terrain that attracts trekking enthusiasts, as all such trails offer breathtaking views of Kangra Valley and the Dhauladhar ranges. 

    In Himachal, some call Dharamkot Tel Aviv of hills. Dharamkot is the only village in Himachal that has a Jewish community center called the Chabad house. Places in the middle of the village, Chabad house looks like 770 Eastern Parkway. People over here can be found speaking Hebrew and Israeli dishes like falafel, shakshuka, and hummus with pita are easy to get at any local Restaurant. Because a good amount of Israeli people got settled down in Dharamkot, one can easily see the signboards written in Hebrew. Even keyboards in Internet cafes have Hebrew letters. Israeli people every year mark ceremonies here to celebrate Rosh-Hashana. 

    Famous Places In and Around Dharamkot

    Dharamkot is famous for its peaceful environment. Tourists seeking a place to relax in the village can visit the Vipassana meditation center, Dhamma Shikara, and the Tushita Meditation Centre. These are the places that are known for being a center for the study and practice of Buddhism in the Tibetan Mahayana tradition. 

    The village has a single road that leads to it and the rest of the trails are either hilly or sloppy. That makes Dharamkot a place that attracts trekkers of all ages. Dharamkot serves as a base for multiple trekking trails such as Illaqua, Triund, Indrahar Pass, etc. various other viewpoints and waterfalls are also there to explore. Also, Dharamkot is very near to McLeodGanj, a suburb of Dharamshala. 9 km away from McLeodGanj, Triund is a famous trekking spot, situated at the foot of the Dhauladhar ranges, at a height of 2,827 m, and 4 km from Triund there is a place called The snow line. This is an easily accessible point in the Himalayan range that starts from Ilaqua. Dharamkot is an ideal destination to spend holidays with family and friends.

     

     

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  • 02Indian Institute of Advanced Study,Shimla

    Indian Institute of Advanced Study

     

    It is always fun to read about historical places in books and get information about them, but the fun of seeing those places is something else. One such place is the Indian Institute of Advanced Study in Shimla, which attracts tourists from all over the world along with being a witness to the history of our great country. This historical place was a bystander to the decision to create Pakistan and East Pakistan out of India. Lord Dufferin, who served as the Viceroy of India from 1884 to 1888, resided here. This palace-like building was known as the Viceregal Lodge and had all the amenities ahead of its time. Famous in Shimla, the center for advanced study and research was also known as Rashtrapati Niwas for its service to the president in the back days.

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  • 03Jamula Temple,Malana

    Jamula Temple

    Jamula Temple is dedicated to Jamula Rishi Devta, a sage who is believed to have lived in the area. Legend has it that the sage was in search of a proper place to meditate. During his search, he carried a bag of 18 pictures of different gods with him.

    At some point in his hunt, the pictures fell from his bag and spread all across the Beas Valley owing to the wind. The 18 different places, where the pictures supposedly fell, became holy sites for the locals. Currently, this temple acts as a court where the final decision is taken on any matter or dispute.

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  • 04Kibber,Lahaul

    Kibber

    Kibber is a small village in Lahaul situated at an altitude of 4270 m in Himachal Pradesh. The place lies at the top of a limestone rock in a narrow valley. A monastery built by Serkang Rimpoche of Tabo and the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary is two of the most prominent attractions of Kibber. This place is located at a distance of 16 km of Kaza, which is connected by bus service in summers.

    Kibber is known as the highest village in the world, which is connected by road.The economy of this place largely depends upon agriculture apart from bartering horses for yaks or selling them for cash. They travel for over three days from Parang La to Ladakh for trading.The village of Kibber has 80 houses, the architecture of which resembles the Tibetan style.

    All these houses are built with stones and wood. The village boasts a civil dispensary, a post office, a high school and a community television.

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  • 05Kunzum Pass,Lahaul

    Kunzum Pass also known as Kunzum La in Tibet is a high mountain pass situated in the east of the Kunzum Range. It is located at an altitude of 4590 m and is placed about 122 km away from Manali. The pass connects the Kullu Valley and the Lahaul Valley with the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh.

    Travellers who are religiously inclined can also visit the temple of Goddess Durga situated at the top of this pass. A drive of 20 km from the Rohtang Pass and a right turn from Grampoo lead to the Kunzum Pass.

    A drive through the pass offers visitors with the opportunity to witness the magnificent view of the Bara-Sigri glacier, which is the second largest glacier in the world. Batal C.B. or Chandra-Bhaga, Manali, Keylong, Darcha, Baralacha La, Sarchu, Tanglang, and Pangi Valley are some of the attractions situated near Kunzum Pass.

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  • 06Adi Brahma Temple,Bhuntar

    Adi Brahma Temple

    Adi Brahma Temple is one of those few temples in India which is devoted to the Hindu god of creation, Brahma. This temple is situated in the village of Khokhan, situated at a distance of around 4 km from Bhuntar. The temple is made of fine wood and enshrines an idol of Brahma, which is placed in the middle of the temple along with a chariot with mohras or monumental masks.

    These mohras are made of brass, silver and ashtadhatu, an amalgamation of eight metals. An idol of the Hindu Lord Vishnu is also enshrined in the temple. Featuring four roofs, the temple displays the Pagoda style of architecture. The entrance gate of the temple has carvings that narrate stories related to mythology.

    The site also has temples of Garh Jogni and Manikaran Jogni standing on either sides of the temple. Earlier, a natural spring flowed in the vicinity of the temple, which has now run dry. Some of the festivals celebrated here include the Naagni Birshu, Khokhan Festival, Mohal Festival and Bhulang Birshu.

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  • 07Amter-Nadaun Fort,Nadaun

    Amter-Nadaun Fort

    Amtar-Nadaun Fort is a famous tourist destination nestled on top of a hill in Nadaun. This fort still has some ancient paintings, which represent the royal heritage of Maharaja Sansar Chand of Katoch Dynasty. Though the fort is decaying, it still attracts tourists from all over the country.

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  • 08Arki Palace,Arki

    Arki Palace

    Constructed by Raja Prithvi Singh in the 18th century, Arki Palace is quite popular for its frescos, which have been done in the Arki Kalam style. Though the palace is decaying now, the mural paintings that display different subjects from Puranas, folklores, Kalidasa, and Kumarasambhava are worth visiting even today. Converted into a heritage hotel, this palace offers alluring views of the snowy mountains of the mighty Himalayan ranges. Moreover, it has numerous sculptures and artefacts, which represent the progressive kingdom of the Baghal period.

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  • 09Bhagsunag Temple,Bhagsu

    Bhagsunag Temple

    Bhagsunag Temple, a prominent religious centre, is situated at an altitude of 1770 m above sea level. Devoted to Hindu Lord Shiva, the temple depicts the art and culture of the medieval period. This ancient temple is considered sacred by the Hindu and the Gorkha communities. There are beautiful pools within the premises of the temple.

    Travellers can see several tiger-head water spouts in the pools. Local people believe that the water of these pools has healing property. In addition, the idols enshrined in the temple are believed to possess incredible powers. There is a double storey rest house within the premises where pilgrims visiting the temple can stay.

    According to a legend, this temple was built by King Bhagsu. As per folklore, King Bhagsu and the Snake God, also known as the Nag Devta, fought a battle because the king stole the water from the Nag Dal Lake. Later, King Bhagsu built this temple to seek forgiveness from the Nag Devta.

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  • 10Bhimakali Temple,Sarahan

    Bhimakali Temple is a prime pilgrimage site for Hindus located at Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh. Devoted to Goddess Bhimakali, this temple is believed to have been built around 800 years ago. It is known for its unique architecture, which is a blend of Hindu and Buddhist architectural styles.

    This age-old temple now remains closed to public viewing except for early in the morning or evenings during the ritualistic aarti. A new temple was built within the temple premises in 1943. The temple enshrined a statue of Goddess Bhimakali depicted as a virgin and as a woman. There are two more temples in the complex including a temple dedicated to Raghunath and the Narsingh Shrine of Bhairon.

    The Bhimakali Temple is believed to be one of most important Shakti Peeths or sacred sites in India. According to religious beliefs, this is the place where the left ear of the Hindu goddess of marital felicity and longevity, Sati, the consort of the Hindu deity Shiva, fell.

    According to another legend, Goddess Bhimakali first appeared in the wooden staff of the great Hindu sage Brahamagiri. The popular Hindu festival of Dussehra is celebrated here with pomp and ceremony here every year.

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  • 11Bhootnath Temple,Mandi

    Bhootnath Temple

    Bhootnath Temple is a popular tourist destination located at the heart of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. According to records, this temple was built in 1527 AD by Raja Ajber Sen. Dedicated to the Hindu god of destruction, Shiva, this temple was constructed during the time when the state capital was being shifted from Bhiuli to its current place.

    According to a legend, Raj Madhav, the deity who ruled the state of Mandi, along with other hill deities, visits the temple and offers prayers before beginning with a procession during the festival of Shivaratri. This festival is celebrated here in a grand manner for the duration of one whole week and is attended by thousands of devotees. It is also believed that 100 local deities come to the festival.

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  • 12Chail Wildlife Sanctuary,Chail

    Chail Wildlife Sanctuary

    Chail Wildlife Sanctuary originally served as a hunting reserve for the kings of Patiala, which was later declared as a wildlife sanctuary by the government in 1976. Situated on the top of a mountain and spread over an area of 110 sq km, this sanctuary has deep forests all around covered with pines, shrubs, oak trees and grasslands.

    This sanctuary is home to numerous animal species like goral, rhesus macaque, the Indian muntjac, leopard and crested porcupine. Further, panther, wild boar, sambar, the European red deer, the Himalayan black bear, common langur and black-naped hare are also found here. Diverse species of birds including the cheer pheasant and the kalij pheasant can also be witnessed at the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary. There are many sighting posts commonly known as machans that offer a bird's-eye view of the sanctuary.

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  • 13Chaka,Kalpa

    Chaka

    Chaka is a prominent mountain peak, which is located at an altitude of 15,000 ft above sea level. This peak is a prominent trekking zone, where uphill trekking takes around 2-3 h and downhill trekking takes around 2 h. Travellers can hire local guides for trekking in the upward region alongside the water channel from Kalpa.

    It is recommended that the trekkers start early to experience the natural beauty of the place. During the day trip, travellers can pass by a lake and a beautiful valley, which is used as a grazing land around Chaka and Kalpa.

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  • 14Deer Park Institute,Bir

    Deer Park Institute

    Deer Park Institute, founded in March 2006 by the Bhutanese lama, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, known as a writer and filmmaker, is a centre for the ‘Study of classical Indian wisdom traditions'. The organisation is under Siddhartha's Intent Society and receives the support and appreciation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

    The main endeavour of the organisation is to rebuild the spirit of Nalanda University, one of the greatest and the oldest university of ancient India. This institute also conduct regular workshops and guest lectures.

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  • 15Gurudwara Of Dera Baba Bharbhag Singh,Una

    Gurudwara Of Dera Baba Bharbhag Singh

    Gurudwara of Dera Baba Bharbhag Singh, locally known as the Gurudwara Manji Sahib, is a popular religious site located at a distance of around 40 km from Una. Located on top of the hill and surrounded with beautiful eucalyptus trees, this place offers to mesmerise visitors.

    A well-known saint, Baba Bharbhag Singh founded this shrine and dedicated it to Baba Gurbarbhag Singh, the son of Baba Ram Singh, a renowned social reformer and religious leader. Every year, a festival called Baba Bharbhag Singh Mela or the Hola Mohalla Fair, is organised here between February and March.

    Baba Bharbhag Singh was popular among local people for his magical powers. During this 10 days long fair, numerous patients suffering from mental sickness come here to get cured by the priests, who are called ‘Masands’. Also, people affected by evil spirits attend this fair.

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