Asia >> South Asia >> India >> Himalayan North >> Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh [1] is a state in north-western India, and offers much for those looking to experience the Himalayas. While it doesn't claim the highest peaks in the range, there is plenty to do aside from mountaineering.

Districts

There are twelve districts in Himachel Pradesh State:

Cities

  • Shimla - the state capital and once the summer capital of the British Raj, it's a cool and charming Himalaya outpost
  • Bir - a small town with a large Tibetan community and several Buddhist monasteries.
  • Dalhousie - a sleepy little town which retains its Victorian charm
  • Dharamsala - the home of the Dalai Lama and India's largest Tibetan community, and a major Buddhist center
  • Kullu - a few km south of Manali
  • Manali - a buzzing and popular hill station, it's one of the hubs for travel around this part of the Himalaya

Other destinations

  • Rewalsar (Tibetan: Tsopema) - a lake sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus

Culture and History

Talk

Hindi, Pahari, Punjabi and English are the main languages found in the state.

Travel to Himachal Pradesh - Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Himachal Pradesh

Shimla, Kullu (for Manali) and Kangra or Pathankot (for Dharamsala) have small airports, with services largely limited to Delhi. Flights are frequently cancelled or delayed by adverse weather. In addition the airport in Pathankot (Punjab) can be a convenient connection for Dharamsala and Dalhousie.

By train

Few points in Himachal are easily accessible by train, but there are narrow-gauge railways from Pathankot (Punjab) to Kangra and Kalka (Haryana) to Shimla. This will take you through beautiful rural Himalayan regions. The ride beyond Kangra is amazing. You ride along the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas via Palampur and Baijnath to Joginder Nagar. The region is criss crossed by rivers and streams.

Buses to Himachal Pradesh

Bus is the only practical means of getting to many points in Himachal. All cities of interest have direct services to Delhi, and the Dharamsala-Manali-Delhi triangle is fairly well served. Note that travel times are long and the roads often hair-raisingly hilly.

Tours and Getting around Himachal Pradesh

By bus

Travel by bus can be done throughout for very little (15 hour bus rides are rarely more than a few hundred rupees) on the public buses, and though uncomfortable, are a great way to meet people. Though be careful, as riding an Indian bus is already a hair-raising experience, and riding an Indian bus on steep mountain roads is even more intimidating!

By motorcycle

Enfield motorcycles can be rented here for less than 5 dollars a day, with no verification of a motorcycle license. Note that the area may not be the best place to learn how to ride.

Himachal Pradesh tourist attractions and sightseeing

Himachal Pradesh city tours

Learn

  • Buddhism. Classes for study of Buddhism are taught in Dharamsala and Bir.
  • Yoga. There are several places to study yoga in Dharamsala.

Himachal Pradesh Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Himachal Pradesh nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Himachal Pradesh cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Sunrise Tourist Home - Home away from home!!! Nice, quiet and homely atmosphere with full view of the Dhauladhar range on one side and the mystique Kangra valley on the other. Call owner Atul Verma at 09816335360. (He's a Royal Enfield biker, trekker and a tourist guide as well.) My all time favourite place in Kangra district.

Himachal Cottage Villa, http://himachalcottagevilla.blogspot.com Village Bashkola, Katrain, Distt. Kullu (H.P.), +91-98164269827, Email: karunafly@gmail.com Website: http://himachalcottagevilla.blogspot.com. A lovely modern cottage-villa. Reasonable. Beautiful surroundings.

Indian Himalaya Homestay [2] - Try a homestay experience where you are cared for by a local family - simple accommodation set high on the mountainside overlooking the beautiful Kullu Valley.

Hotel Valley View Crest, ☎ +91 1892 - 220091, [3]. Hotel Valley View Crest is located just below the hills of Dhauladhar ranges, few kilometers from the major tourist town of Dharamshala. The hotel is 5 kms from Dharamshala and 3 kms from Mcleodganj which is famous tourist destination for westerners and Indians and is also known for the settlement of exiled Tibetan community and official residence of noble laureate His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Valley View Crest has 25 rooms. Satobari Hills, Near Dal Lake, Naddi, Upper Dharamsala, Distt. Kangra - Himachal Pradesh)INR 1200.  

  • sunrise villa homestay in himachal(homestay himachal), shoghi near shimla(0.5 Kms from shoghi bus stand and railway station, 13 kms before shimla), ☎ 91 177 2860075, [4]. checkin: 12:00; checkout: 12:00. Sunrise Villa homestay hotel (Department of Tourism, HP Government approved home stay unit) is located at a very picturesque location at Shoghi, a suburb of Shimla, amidst the lap of nature in a peaceful, calm and serene environment, naturally blessed with breathtaking views of the distant Chail and snow clad Himalayan ranges. Sunrise Villa has the best of the luxuries and facilities required for a peaceful and comfortable stay.900.  

Get out

Destinations in Himachal Pradesh:

This page was last edited by Wikitravel user Vidimian. Based on work by Biplav Arya, ajay and Jani Patokallio, Wikitravel user(s) Cacahuate, Kiwitraveller and Episteme, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license

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