Himachal Pradesh is popular for its snow-capped mountains, picturesque landscapes, enchanting view points and the the cool weather. A trip to the top tourist places in the state would be a refreshing experience.
You might be familiar with some of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh. This travel guide takes you to both the popular and the lesser known places that you shouldn't miss on your next trip to Himachal Pradesh.
Shimla – The Summer Refuge
Shimla is a place that you can escape to during peak summers in India. The climate here is favourable during summers and summers is the best time for sightseeing and family trips.
Not to Miss: Do make sure you don't miss the toy train ride here. The pastries and freshly baked bread that you get in the bakeries here are not to be missed.
Photo Courtesy: Paul Simpson
Best Places to Visit in Shimla
Some of the best places that you could visit on your trip include the Botanical Gardens, the Gorton Castle, Green Valley, Kali Bari Temple, Christ Church and the Summer Hill among the tourist attractions. The stay options in Shimla can be found here.
Photo Courtesy: Prashant Ram
Kinnaur – The Land of Orchards
The lush green valleys, vineyards and the ripe orchards make Kinnaur one of the must-see tourist places in Himachal Pradesh.
Don't Miss: Kinnauri cuisine is something you should definitely try. Some of the unique dishes here are Hotop, Sha, Gima and Ghaso-hod.
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Best Places to Visit in Kinnaur
The Nako Lake, Hangrang Valley, Kanam, Leo and Khab are some of the tourist places in Kinnaur.
Photo Courtesy: Sandeep Kaul
Manali – A Perfect Holiday Destination
Manali is one of the destinations in North India that fall in the list of top tourist places in Himachal Pradesh. Manali is suitable for every kind of traveller. Honeymooners, adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers find the place equally interesting. The best time to visit here is from May to September.
Not to Miss: Make sure you try the traditional dishes of Manali that include Chakti, Lugri and Channa Madra.
Photo Courtesy: Ramnath Bhat
Best Places to Visit in Manali
Some of the places that you should visit in Manali include Beas Kund, Manali Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhrigu Lake, Kothi and Hadimba Temple among the other attractions. The stay options at Manali are mentioned here.
Photo Courtesy: Raman Virdi
Naldehra – The Golfer's Point
Naldehra in Himachal Pradesh is popular for its golf course and other attractions that attract travellers.
Not to Miss: The Sipi Fair held in June and the 'Jotton ka Mela' held in October are the fairs here that shouldn't be missed.
Photo Courtesy: Ashish Gautam
Best Places to Visit in Naldehra
Apart from the popular Naldehra Golf Course, the other attractions of the place include the Shaily Peak, Mahunag Temple, Kogi Mata Temple, Chabba and Tattapani.
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Kufri – A Little Paradise
Kufri is a tiny hill town in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its snowy peaks and the cool weather round the clock. The place is located just 13km from Shimla.
Not to Miss: The stalls in Kufri offer hot mouth-watering noodles that is the perfect snack in the cold weather. The roasted corn served in stalls at Solan is also a speciality of the region.
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Best Places to Visit in Kufri
Some of the best tourist locations in Kufri include Fagu, Mahasu Peak and Indira Tourist Park.
Photo Courtesy: Abhishek Kumar
Kullu – The Valley of Gods
Kullu is believed to be the home to many Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Located on the banks of Beas River, the valley offers spectacular views, making it a tourist place worth exploring. The best time to visit Kullu is from March to October.
Not to Miss: Kulluvi Dham (Kullu thali) and Siddu are among the best local dishes of Kullu that are not to be missed. The sweet shops here like Sapna Sweets offer a large variety of authentic Kulluvi sweets.
Photo Courtesy: Rajarshi Mitra
Best Places to Visit in Kullu
The most popular tourist places in Kullu are the Great Himalayan National Park, Raghunath Temple, and Bijli Mahadev Temple. The other attractions of Kullu are mentioned here. Kullu is also ideal for white water rafting and trekking. For hotels, click here.
Photo Courtesy: Balaji. P
Kalpa – The Apple Bowl
Kalpa is a hamlet in Kinnaur district that baosts of stunning views of the Himalayan range of mountains. The Sutlej river that passes through the regions adds to the beauty of the place.
Not to Miss: Don't miss the morning rays that fall on the mountains of Kinner Kailash.
Photo Courtesy: Motohiro Sunouchi
Best Places to Visit in Kalpa
Some of the tourist places to visit in Kalpa include the Sangla Valley, Kinner Kailash, Sapni Fort, and Batseri among the other attractions. Click here for stay options in Kalpa.
Photo Courtesy: Nivedita Ravishankar
Kasauli – A Heaven on Earth
Visit Kasauli to experience the charm of nature at its best. This hill station is located in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. The place could be visited any time of the year for its pleasant climatic conditions.
Not to Miss: Momos available at the Tibetan Market here is mouth watering.
Photo Courtesy: Anupam Chatterjee
Best Places to Visit in Kasauli
The Baba Balak Nath Temple, Monkey Point and the Christ Church are among the best attractions of Kasauli. For hotels, click here.
Photo Courtesy: Koshy Koshy
Dalhousie – A Hilly Retreat
Spread over five hills of the Dhauladhar Range of mountains, Dalhousie is one of the top tourist places in Himachal Pradesh. It is located around 43km from Chamba and is easily accessible from Delhi, Amritsar and Chandigarh.
Not to Miss: Try river crossing and horse riding here.
Photo Courtesy: Srini G
Best Places to Visit in Dalhousie
Some of the best tourist places in Dalhousie include Gandhi Chowk, Daikund Peak, Kalatop and Laxmi Narayan Temple among the other attractions.
Photo Courtesy: Ramnath Bhat
Lahaul – To the Indo-Tibetan Border
Travel to the Indo-Tibetan border to experience the lifestyle of the locals at Lahaul. As most of the natives here practise Buddhism, the custom and traditions here reflect the same.
Not to Miss: Take a ride on a pony to view the beautiful surroundings of Lahaul.
Photo Courtesy: Urmimala Singh
Best Places to Visit in Lahaul
The Key Monastery, Kunzum Pass and Kibber are the popular attractions of Lahaul.
Photo Courtesy: Shiraz Ritwik
Khajjar – The Mini Switzerland
Khajjar in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh is known as the Mini Switzerland for its resemblance to the topography of Switzerland.
Not to Miss: Nature Walks, rock climbing and paragliding are among the adventure options to be tried out here.
Photo Courtesy: Srini G
Sightseeing and Activities in Khajjar
The lush greenery of the place is what makes it a heavenly retreat. Away from the buzz of the town, this little paradise is an ideal escape for a peaceful holiday. Trekking and other activities are also done here.
Photo Courtesy: Sandeep Brar Jat