2. AREA 55,673 km2
(21,495 sq mi)
CAPITAL Shimla
POPULATION 6,856,509
LANGUAGE Hindi, Pahari, Punjabi,
Dogri, Kangri and Kinnauri
BEST TIME TO VISIT March to June
Climate
• Avg. Winter 7 °C (45 °F)
• Avg. Summer 28 °C (82 °F)
Precipitation 1,469 mm (57.8 in)
3. HISTORY
Himachal Pradesh is called the “Devbhumi” as it is regarded as
the Land of the Gods.
Himachal Pradesh literally means a 'region of snowy
mountains’. The word 'Hima' actually means snow in Sanskrit
terminology. Acharya Diwakar Datt Sharma, an eminent
Sanskrit Scholar from Himachal Pradesh named the state.
Located in the northern part of India, Himachal Pradesh is
known for its glorious hill stations.
In the year 1950 Himachal Pradesh was declared as one of the
Union Territories of India . Later on however, with the passing
of Himachal Pradesh Act of 1971, it emerged as the eighteenth
state of India.
Himachal pradesh is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir on the
north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and
Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous
Region on the east.
4. Tourist Places In Himachal
Pradesh
Himachal is peppered with the awesome landscape that is
a dream of everyone.
With lofty Himalayas draped with snow, deep valleys, vast
woods, chilled rivers, green surroundings, scenic lakes and
deep gorges, Tourist attractions in Himachal appeals to
your sight and mind.
In addition to this, there are a number of tourist places in
Himachal Pradesh that add to its overall charm.
Various adventure sports such as trekking, skiing, ice
skating, river rafting, paragliding, etc. that give many
reasons to tourists to get drawn to Himachal.
5. Shimla
Shimla is one of the best
refuges during vacations and
a perfect destination for
tourist.
Various tourist attractions
are Mall Road, Kali Bari
Temple, Christ Church,
Summer Hill, Shimla Ridge,
etc.
The place is a wonderful
abode for nature lovers who
feel like exploring all the
tourist places in Himachal
Pradesh.
6. Manali (265 Kms. away
from Shimla)
Manali is an amazing
destination for
mountain lovers and
especially the snow
capped mountains.
People can have fun
over the snow blanket
of the Solang Valley
and Rohtang Pass or
can visit the holy
Hadimba Temple or
the Vashisht Temple.
7. Dharamshala (245 Kms. ((Via
Hamirpur) away from Shimla)
Dharamshala presents you with
all the amazing charm of a hill
resort.
Awesome spots such as the St.
John’s Church, Dal Lake,
Kangra Art Museum, Namgyal
Monastery, Nurpur Fort,
Maharana Pratap wildlife
Sanctuary, Chamund Devi
Temple, etc., Dharamshala is
there to fascinate you
completely.
8. Lahaul and Spiti (Tabo (Spiti) – 355
Kms away from Shimla)
Lahaul and Spiti showcase a
number of heritage spots and
primitive places.
Here, you come across monasteries,
lakes, valleys, rivers, gorges,
mountains, temples, etc. that make
the place completely arresting.
One can explore the royal heritages
of Gondla or can have the sacred
essence of the Guru Ghantal
Monastery.
This makes Lahaul and Spiti one of
the best Himachal Pradesh tourist
spots
9. Dalhousie (340 Kms. (Via
Hamirpur) away from shimla )
Dalhousie appears to be
extremely charming due to the
existence of Kathlog, Balun,
Porteyn, Moti Tibba and
Bakrota hills.
The hill station is ideal for
tourists, who can explore it by
visiting the spots such as the
Laxmi Narayan Temple,
Satdhara Springs, various
churches, picnic spot named
as Dalhousie Panchpula,
Kalatop, etc.
10. Chamba ( 347 kms away from
shimla )
Chamba’s charm is gets enriched
with the lively River Ravi and
Chamba’s art, culture, museums,
temples as well as natural
attractions are more than enough
to let you glued to it. One can
behold the arresting Dhgauladhar
Ranges or can visit the Chaurasi
Temple Complex or the famous
Champavati Temple. People fond
of historical findings can head
towards the Bhuri Singh Museum
11. Kangra ( 220 kms away
from shimla )
Kangra is marked with the
stunning views of the
Dhauladhar Hills and the
picturesque Kangra Valley. The
place is marked with an array
of attractions including the
Jwalaji Temple surprising you
with the natural flames
emerging from the rocks,
Brajesshwari devi Temple, etc.
Adventure freaks can enjoy
sports like rock climbing,
fishing, trekking,
mountaineering, etc.
12. Palampur ( 215 kms
away from shimla )
Palampur is rich with its
tea gardens and has the
beauty of the Dhauladhar
Hills. Here, you find
valleys, mountains, lush
greenery and attractions
including Mata Bundla
Temple, Newgal Park,
Saurab Kaliya Ban Vihar,
St. John’s Church, Neugal
Khad, etc.
13. Kasauli (Kasauli (Solan) –
75 Km away from shimla )
Kasauli is filled with the natural
serenity, lush greenery and
bunches of flowers. People
visiting Kasauli can enjoy the
chance of exploring the tourist
places of Himachal Pradesh
such as Monkey Point,
Dharampur, Dagshai, Sabathu,
Sanawar, etc., that take you
amidst the tranquility and
beauty of Nature. One just
can’t remain bereaved of
exploring it...
14. Kinnaur (Sangla(Kinnaur)
230Kms away from
shimla)
Kinnaur enchants you with
vineyards, valleys, orchards,
snow covered mountain and
their peaks, as well as various
fruits such as apples, apricots,
pine nuts, almonds, etc. Rivers
such as Spiti, Baspa and Satluj
add to the richness of Kinnaur
and make it serene. One can
visit the Recong Peo temple or
can forget oneself amidst the
Oak, Chestnut, Mangolia, Alder
as well as Birch forests
15. Khajjiar ( 330 kms away
from shimla )
Khajjiar appears more than
appealing with its Pine and
Deodar trees and its scenic
beauty and attractions
make it ‘Mini Switzerland’.
One can visit the Khajjiar
Temple or can behold the
lively adventure of Khajjiar
Wildlife Sanctuary. Or else,
one can bask in the beauty
of the stunning
Dhauladhar Ranges.
16. Kufri ( 12 kms away
from shimla )
Kufri is also well known for
its snow draped peaks and
Mahasu Peak and Mahasu
Ridge are some of the most
splendid attractions of
Kufri. People can try out
the sports such as
toboganning, trekking,
skiing or can behold the
amazing sight of valleys as
well as vast forests. Truly,
this hill station is enough
to make you awestruck.
17. Kullu ( 208 kms away from
shimla )
Kullu is a heavenly valley
that is considered to be one
of the best destinations for
tourists. The hill station is
marked with the splendid
River Beas as well as a series
of attractions such as Bijli
Mahadev Temple, Jagannathi
Devi Temple, various wildlife
sanctuaries, Raghunath
Temple, etc. The place is also
an amazing spot for trekkers
and adventure lovers...
18. Chail ( 50 kms away from
shimla )
Chail, an awesome hill station
in Himachal bewitches you
with its temples, palaces,
natural beauty and landscape
and a number of tourist
attractions such as the
renowned Chail Cricket
Ground, the highest cricket
ground in the world, Sidh
Baba Ka Mandir, Maharaja’s
Palace, Chail Wildlife
Sanctuary, etc. that together
make it a worth visiting
place...
23. Food & CuisinesFACT FILE
Best Dishes : Indra – A dish Prepared By Urad dal and Bada in Shimla District.
Siddu – Made from Soybean or Walnut.
Non Veg Dishes : Kullu Trout, Grilled Fishes, Chicken Anaardana
Veg Dishes : Guchhi Mattar, Sepu Vadi and Kaddu ka Khatta.
Festive Delicacies : Dham - Made of Rice, Moong Dal and a dish of Rajma Cooked in Yoghurt ( A Night Long
Preparation).
Ankalos – Made of Rice Flour
Aktori – A kind of Cake, is Prepared by Mixing Leaves of Buckwheat with Wheat Flour.
Patande – A Type of Pancake Dish.
Most Famous Drink : Tea – Made in Various Varieties, Buttermilk.
Not To Be Missed : Enjoying Makki or Fresh Corn Flour That is Grounded in Water Propelled-mill and is Eaten with
Milk at breakfast.
Crunchy Delights : Bhatoora and Chana Madra.
Sweet Dishes : Mittha of Sweet Rice Prepared During Festivals, Nasasta a Sweetmeat of Kangra Region.
Must Try : Lamb Intestines Made Specially During the Winters, Legumes Cooked over Low Heat for Extended
Period.
Where to Eat : Shimla – Goofa and Ashiana for Indian. Devicoes for Indian, Continental, Chinese. Baljees for Multi
Cuisine. Tibeto for Indian mix of Chinese.
Manali – The Red Roof Restaurant for Indian, Chinese and Continental Cuisine, The Royal
Delicious for Multi Cuisine.
Dalhousie – Amritsari, Sher-e-Punjab and the Royal Dhaba for Indian, Moti Mahal, New Metro and
Lovely for Multi Cuisine, Snow Lion – Tibetan Food.
Kasauli – Giani's Dhaba, Daily Needs.
Inside Tip : Himachal Government in the Month of May, Holds a Cuisine Festival Where Different Indian
Cuisines are Highlighted.
24. Shopping in himachal pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is famous for its handicrafts, wood,
metalwork, shawls, pullovers, local tweeds, wooden
articles, toys, Tibetan carpets and handicrafts, pickles and
jams and squashes, Kullu shawls, caps, funky jewellery
made of semi-precious stones, beads, basketry.
Festivals & events in himachal pradesh
Dussehra, Sipi Fair, Doongri Festival are some of the
festivals and events in Himachal Pradesh that are
celebrated with much fervour across the state.
25. How to Reach Himachal PradeshBy Road :
The most beautiful Indian State is well connected via road to all the major cities of the
country.
Three National Highways criss-cross Himachal Pradesh. NH- 20 enters Himachal
through Pathankot, which connect Nurpur, Dharamshala, Palampur, Joginder Nagar
and ends at Mandi.
NH-21 begins at Chandigarh and goes upto Leh via Bilaspur, Mandi and Kullu Manali.
National Highway- 22 starts from Ambala and goes upto Kinnaur via Solan, Shimla,
Narkanda and Rampur .
By Rail :
In fact, there are no railway tracks in the entire state because of the loft hills. But, Kalka
(90km away) is the nearest railway station to reach to Himachal Pradesh to explore
major tourist spots in Himachal Pradesh. There are regular trains from Ambala to Kalka
and Pathankot - Joginder Nagar through a Narrow-gauge line.
By Air :
For those tourists who come outside India the best airport is Indira Gandhi International
Airport. However, Kullu also houses an airport that is only 23km away. There are regular
flights from Delhi to Kullu.
There are three main airports in Himachal at Jabbarhatti near Shimla, Gaggal near Kangra
and Bhuntar near Kullu.
26. Do's
Himachal has an enormous range of weather conditions. Most areas of
Bilaspur, Una, Solan, Sirmour, Hamirpur and Kangra are largely warm to hot
in summer and mild to pleasant in winter. The district of Chamba, Kinnaur,
Kullu, Shimla and Lahaul-Spiti are mild to pleasant in summer and cold in
winter. Do check the clothing and other equipment you may require for the
region you are visiting.
Tourists intending to participate in adventure activities are advised to hire
the services of those travel agents and guides who are registered with the
Department of Tourism, HP Govt.
Dispose all litter carefully. Use cloth bags for carrying/shopping.
Observe local traditions and custom especially while visiting religious places.
Do not touch or remove religious objects.
For guide maps and information, contact Himachal Tourism offices.
Before part taking in any adventure activitiy such as trekking, river rafting,
paragliding, local authorities such as SDM, Police, tourist offices etc. should
be informed in advance and permission may be taken.
Keep identity card/passport handy while travelling. While visiting interior
tourist places, please enquire about local authority contacts.
27. Don’ts
Don’t leave non-biodegradable litter behind. The use of Polythene is banned
in Himachal Pradesh.
Don’t encourage beggars.
Don’t be coerced into shopping or sight-seeing tours by touts, taxi drivers or
strangers. Let the Department of Tourism, the Himachal Pradesh Tourism
Development Corporation, approved travel agents or your hotel help you.
Do not use or carry any prohibited psychotropic or contraband drugs such as
opium, heroin or marijuana, which under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances Act is a crime and a punishable offence with imprisonment under
law.
Don't stand at the edge of a cliff or on any boulder near a river bank for
photographs etc. The water current in fast flowing rivers of Himachal Pradesh
is very strong.
Do not take photograph of local inhabitants without their permission.
Don't eat anything offered by unidentified persons on trains or during road
travel. It may contain sedatives or intoxicating substances.
Do not burn bushes during trekking in the high altitude areas.
Do not park your vehicle on the road side/ unauthorized parking.