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Sirmour

State
Himachal Pradesh

Sirmour, located in the south eastern corner of the state, is famous for its places of pilgrimages and for the legends that surround them.

Accessibility

Air : The nearest airport in Himachal is Jubbarhatti 102 km. ( from Sarhan via - Solan - Shimla - Jubbarhatti ) and 140 km. from Nahan.

Rail : Nearest narrow guage line is Barog ( near Kalka ) 42 km.

Road : Almost each and every part of the state is linked by roads. The Himachal Road Transport Corporation is running its buses covering the whole state. There is huge network of HRTC to cater the needs of the people.
Distance : Shimla to Sarahan 175 km., Chandigarh to Nahan 87 km. Shimla to Renuka 165 km., Delhi to Renuka 315 km.

Distances : Shimla to Sarahan 175 km., Chandigarh to Nahan 87 km. Shimla to Renuka 165 km., Delhi to Renuka 315 km.

Getaways
Nahan
Topic
Upcoming

Solan

State
Himachal Pradesh

Solan, a land named after goddess “Shoolini”, is an attractive destination for holidaymakers. Located in the Solan district in Himachal Pradesh, Solan city fascinates its tourists with its several attractions. It is popularly known as the “mushroom city of India” as it is has a mushroom centre situated in Chambaghat. Solan city is ideally sandwiched between Chandigarh(Punjab) and Shimla(Himachal Pradesh). This city was established by the British during their hey-days in India. Perched at an elevation of 1467 m, Solan is a also known as the industrial hub of Himachal Pradesh.

Accessibility

Air
Nearest airport is Chandigarh 48 km. and Shimla 68 km.

Rail
It is in the midway on Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge train.

Road
Almost each and every part of the state is linked by roads. The Himachal Road Transport Corporation is running its buses covering the whole state. There is huge network of HRTC to cater the needs of the people.

Distance
Delhi 315 km., Kalka 42 km., Chandigarh 68 km. and Shimla 48 km.

Getaways
Chail
Kasauli
Parwanoo
Barog
District
Solan district
STD Code
0792
Topic
Upcoming
Termperature
Summer 15-30°C, Winter 0-25°C
Best time to visit
April to June & September to November

Spiti

State
Himachal Pradesh

Spiti, lying in the rain shadow area of rugged mountain ranges of Zaskar, is a high altitude cold desert dotted with numerous monasteries. The Spiti valley is locked between the Zaskar and the Great Himalayan ranges – the tallest ranges of Himachal. The deep gorges carved out by the snow–fed streams add charm to Spiti’s stark splendour.

image Credit:

Accessibility

By Air :
Kullu and Shimla are two closeby airports that are well connected to other parts of India.

By Rail
The nearest railheads from Lahaul & Spiti lie at Shimla and Pathankot.

By Road
Manali is well connected by road to all part of the country. From Manali, buses and taxis are available to reach anywhere in the Lahaul and Spiti valley between May to October on the basis of opening and closing of the Rohtang Pass, the entranceway to the valley.

Some important distances from Keylong are Kullu - 158 km, Manali - 118 km, Pathankot - 436 km, Jogindernagar - 284 km, Rahla - 102 km, Rohtang - 67 km, Khoksar- 46 kms, Gondhla-18 kms, Udaipur- 48 kms.

Topic
Hill Station
Upcoming
Upcoming Hill Stations

Thanedar

State
Himachal Pradesh

Thanedar is a tiny hamlet famed as the fruit bowl of Himachal Pradesh because of its apples and they are used in the preparation of some of most appetizing apple wines, apple jams and apple pickles. It remains unspoilt by commercialism and an ideal hill station getaway for adventure activities like trekking and nature walks.

History

Historically, Thanedar was a sleepy village. Its association with apples began with the Samuel Stokes.
Stokes (1882-1946) was the scion of a wealthy Philadelphia family. He originally came to India in 1904 to work at a leprosy home near Solan (near Shimla). During his stay in India, he began experimenting with apple saplings he brought from America and was the leading force behind the apple industry in Himachal Pradesh.
Over time, th the young American became increasingly drawn towards Indian philosophy and culture. He married a Rajput girl, adopted an Indian name - Satyanand - and dedicated his life towards working with and helping the the local hill people in Thanedar.

Accessibility

Air: Jubbarhatti airport in Shimla is the nearest airport to Thanedar, which is at a distance of 94 km way. This airport has connecting flights from Delhi. International travelers can avail the facilities of Delhi International airport to travel to Jubbarhatti in Shimla. A taxi charges about Rs 2,000 from the Jubbarhatti airport to Thanedar.

Rail: Rail Nearest railhead to Thanedar is Kalka at a distance of 155 km. It is well connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Howrah by regular express train services. Taxi fare from Kalka to Thanedar is about Rs 3000.

Road: HPTC runs regular bus services connecting Thanedar with other cities in Himachal Pradesh. Shimla is connected to Thanedar by tourist deluxe bus services as well. Deluxe bus fare from Shimla to Thanedar is about Rs 750.

Accommodation

Banjara Camp near Thanedar provides the convenient accommodation.

District
Shimla
STD Code
01782
Topic
Upcoming
Termperature
Summer 15-24°C, Winter 0-12°C
Best time to visit
March - October

Tabo

State
Himachal Pradesh

Tabo, holds a special place in the hearts of Buddhist, is a small town on the banks of the Spiti River. It is also referred as "Ajanta of the Himalayas". The town surrounds a Buddhist monastery which, according to legend, is said to be over a thousand years old. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed his desire to retire to Tabo, since he maintains that the Tabo Monastery is one of the holiest.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mo-pop/6557198455/in/photostream

Accessibility

Air: One can reach Kullu by air, and take up the roadways to reach Tabo, which is 295 kms from Kullu.

Rail: Nearest railhead lies at Kalka, around 455 km away.

Road: Tabo can reached by road from Manali and Shimla. From Manali, Tabo is around 250 Km, and takes around 12 hours. Shimla is 365 kms from Tabo, and it takes more than a day to reach Tabo from Shimla.

Accommodation

There are a few hotels in Tabo, of which the Banjara Camps retreat is the most luxurious. The temperatures here plummet at night. There are other hotels and hostels like Tashi Gangsar, Menthok Dumra at Tabo, including the monasteries own guest houses.

District
Lahaul & Spiti
STD Code
01906
Topic
Pilgrim
Upcoming
Termperature
Summer 14 to 20°C, Winter -5 to 23°C
Best time to visit
Apr - Sep

Renuka

State
Himachal Pradesh

Renuka is a sacred place that attracts tourists and pilgrims alike in Himachal Pradesh, famous for enchanting Renuka Lake. Acoording to a local legend, when the evil Sahasarjuna killed sage Jamadagini and attempted to abduct the latter's wife, Renuka, she threw herself into these waters. The gods brought her back to life, and consequently, this lake is considered to be her embodiment.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33504231@N03/3121631709/

History

Renuka got its name from the Renuka Lake, which is located in this place. The Renuka Lake is considered as the embodiment of the wife of sage Jamdagini and the mother of Parashurama, Renuka ji. The mythological story goes that the devil Sahasarjuna had killed the sage Jamdagini and tried to abduct his wife Renuka. She flung into the water to save herself from the devil. The gods later restored her and the lake is regarded as her embodiment. The lake, with a profile of a woman, has a circumference of 2.5 km. It is the largest lake in Himachal Pradesh. The lake is fed by the underground springs.

Accessibility

Air: The nearest airports are at Chandigarh (95 km), and Dehradun(126 km). The nearest airport in Himachal is Jubbarhatti 158 km.

Rail: The nearest railheads are at Ambala (95 km), Dehradun, and Chandigarh. Nearest broad guage line is Yamunanagar 106 km.

Road: Renukaji is 335 km from Delhi. Taxis/buses are available for Renukaji at all places.

Distances : Nahan 36 km., Shimla to Renuka 165 km., Delhi to Renuka Lake 315 km. Chandigarh to Renuka Lake 123 km.

Getaways
Paonta Sahib
Accommodation

There are ample accommodation options available in Renuka. There are the standard hotels as well as the economy hotels to cater to the accommodation needs of the tourists to Renuka. Other options like the resorts and forest rest houses are also available at Renuka. The Himachal Pradesh Tourist development Corporation also caters to the needs of the tourists.

Attractions

Renuka Fair
The reunion of mother and son is celebrated at the annual Renuka Fair in November where people come to seek the goddess' blessings for a happy and prosperous family life. Caps and turbans are exchanged as symbols of brotherhood. Processions of twelve local gods visit the Devi's temple during the fair. A number of food kiosks and entertainment pavilions are also set up for visiting pilgrims.

Things to do

Lion Safari: Directly adjacent to the zoo is the Lion Safari, a large enclosure. An armoured van is the preferred means of observing these big cats, from a close range.

District
Sirmaur District
STD Code
01702
Topic
Pilgrim
Upcoming
Best time to visit
April to June and September to November

Kangra

State
Himachal Pradesh

Kangra, located at the confluence of Majhi and Bener streams, is a pleasant town in the magnificent Kangra valley, lies between the Dhauladhar range and the Shivaliks. It is renowned for its handicrafts and artifacts including paintings and marvelously embroidered shawls are world known. There are also many rock-cut temples displaying the architectural excellence of the region.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/felixdance/5101735619/in/photostream

History

The town of Kangra has a chequered past. It has been sacked a number of times because of the wealth accumulated within the Vajreshwari temple. The immense wealth of this temple attracted Mahmud of Ghazni, the famous plunderer from Central Asia. He looted an enormous treasure trove of gold and silver and jewelry from this temple in AD 1009. The Tughlaq rulers of the Delhi Sultanate again plundered it in 1360. However, the town made a good recovery, and during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir in the early 17th century, this temple was paved with plates of pure silver. This area was ruled by local rulers and was later annexed by the British, who established a garrison in Kangra.

Accessibility

Air: The nearest airport to reach Kangra is Gaggal airport, placed at distance of 13 kms from Kangra city. Other nearby airports accessible from Kangra are Chandigarh 255 kms, Amritsar 208 kms and Jammu 200 kms. Taxi cabs are available from all these airports to Kangra. The taxi fare varies depends on the season. Typically taxi charges are Rs.300 (Gaggal), Rs. 2500 (Jammu), Rs. 2000 (Amritsar) and Rs. 2500 (Chandigarh).

Rail: The nearest broad gauge railway station to Kangra is at Pathankot placed at a distance of about 90 km from Kangra. Taxi services are available from Pathankot to Kangra at a fatre of about Rs. 1000.

Road: Kangra is well connected by buses. State owned buses connect Kangra with all major cities in the state and the neighboring state. Buses ply between Kangra and Dharamsala, Palampur, Pathankot, Jammu, Amritsar and Chandigarh

Things to do

Trekking: Trekking in Kangra valley is an amazing experience for those who spend the time with nature’s praise worthy gifts of landscapes, springs, mountain ranges and lush green environments. There are many trekking trails in Kangra that are very challenging for the novices and interesting for the experienced trekkers.

Treks commence usually from Kangra Valley and go to mountain peaks and rock-cut temples. There are treks from Kangra to the adjoining Chamba Valley. Laka Pass trek, also known as Inderhara trek, and the Minkiani Pass trek are very popular among the tourists. These treks commence from Dharamshala or McLeodgunj.

Five important trekking routes in Kangra valley are Dharamshala-Laka Pass, McLeodgunj-Minikiani Pass-Chamba, Dharamshala-Talang Pass, Baijnath-Parai Jot and Bhim Gasutri Pass.

District
Kangra
STD Code
01892
Topic
Hill Station
Upcoming
Termperature
Summer 8 to 30°C, Winter -10 to 10°C
Best time to visit
Mid-May To Mid-October

Chail

State
Himachal Pradesh

Chail, the former 'summer capital' of the Maharaja of Patiala (Bhupinder Singh who was exiled from Shimla and created his own capital for the summer months), is built on three hills, offering spectacular views of the Shivalik Hills of Lower Himalayas as its background. It boasts the world's highest cricket pitch and a polo ground. The old Maharaja's palace has been converted into a hotel. Hiking, along with fishing and horse riding, comprise some of the key attractions of Chail.

Image Credit:

History

This hamlet of Chail in Himachal has a very interesting history. It is said that Maharaja Bhupinder Sing was banished from the summer capital of British, Shimla, after his ignoble behavior with the daughter of Lord Kitchener, the then governor general of British India. The Indian prince was enraged at this and as a result vouched to built his own summer capital, that would be better than Shimla. It was then that this small 'piece of heaven' came to his notice, and he built a city as per his requirement. It is this Palace, that today serves as a hotel and the prime highlight of Chail.

In the year 1972, this palace was taken over for restoration by the Himachal Pradesh Development Corporation.

Accessibility

Air: Jubbar Hati Airport is the nearest airport from Chail, which is 63 km away. Taxi/ Jeep facility is available from Airport to Chail, fare is about Rs 1500/-. This Airport is connected to Delhi and Chandigarh. International travelers have to get connection through Delhi Airport. Delhi Airport is connected to all major cities in India and most of the foreign cities.

Rail: Nearest railhead is Kalka, which is at a distance of 86 km. One can hire a Cab or catch a bus to reach Chail. Cab will cost about Rs. 1700/-. Another rail option is Chandigarh, which is nearly 95 km away. Chandigarh is well connected to all major cities in India.

Road: Local bus services are available from Chail to reach nearby cities. Deluxe buses are available form Shimla to Chail regularly; Shimla is 45 km away from Chail. It cost about Rs 200/-.

Shopping

Not much to shop in Chail except for wollens shawls and caps. Go to Shimla for serious shopping.
This is limited to a couple of tiny shops in the small bazaar that have a few handicrafts, wooden items, caps, shawls and other woolens.

Accommodation

Chail is a very small town on the hills with barely five to six hotels. Chail's Mall is worth walking down on. It has precisely twelve shops and half a dozen hotels on one single stretch and that is the end of it.

The brightest star on the Chail horizon is the luxurious Chail Palace Hotel maintained by HPTDC. There are other moderate and budget hotels, motels and tourist lodges as well as deluxe Swiss tents and camps. It''s best to book in advance during peak season.

Things to do

Trekking

Chail has a few trek routes for the outdoor enthusiast. Some of the easy trek routes are the Kandaghat-Chail, Chail-Rajgarh and Chur Chandini and Chail-Shimla via Junga. The trek routes provide scenic views of the hills and dales all through the way.

District
Shimla District
STD Code
01792
Topic
Hill Station
Upcoming
Termperature
Summer 8 to 30°C, Winter -10 to 10°C
Best time to visit
May to November
Famous For
Chail boasts the world's highest cricket pitch and a polo ground

Mandi

State
Himachal Pradesh

Mandi, built along the banks of the river Beas, is a historic town and is also the gateway to Himachal's most famous valleys - Kullu, Manali, Lahaul and Spiti. Often called the "Varanasi of the Hills", the town also has the remains of old palaces and notable examples of ‘colonial’ architecture.

History

It was at Rewalsar that the Buddhist monk Padma Sambhava preached the message of the enlightened one and made a substantial contribution towards the spread of Buddhism in the region, carrying it as far as Tibet. During winter Buddhist from Tibet come down in large numbers on pilgrimage to the holy Rewalsar. They approach the lake crawling on their hands and feet as a mark of humility and penance. This has now become a part of the ritual of paying obeisance to the sacred lake.

Once when the tenth guru of the Sikhs was on a visit to Mandi, the king of Mandi invited him to stay at the royal palace. The guru accepted the invitation to stay in Mandi but not with the king. He put up outside the town in a secluded place, which had once been the hermitage of a rishi (Indian sage). The guru was touched by the king's devotion and prophesized that Mandi would ever remain safe and if any enemy tries to harm it, bolts from heaven would crush the invader. A gurudwara at Rewalsar was built in memory of the historic visit of the guru. There is a small village called Bagij about 35 km from Mandi and 600 feet above sea level. A steep trek uphill of about 3500 feet from here brings you to Parashar Lake. An ancient temple built in pagoda style stands here. A trek to this place can be tricky in the wrong season as the place is quite desolate. However one can get awarded with a beautiful sight of the temple, the snow covered lake, Dhauladhar and the Pin Parbati ranges towering majestically over them.

Accessibility

Air: Bhuntar is the nearest airport to Mandi, which is 59 km away from Mandi. Taxi services are available from Bhuntar to Mandi, which costs about Rs 1200. Bhuntar is connected to Delhi by air. Delhi is the major nearest airport, which is about 460 km away from Mandi. Delhi airport is well connected with all major cities in India and many cities abroad.

Rail: Kiratpur is the nearest railway station to Mandi, which is nearly 125 km away. Kiratpur is well connected to all other Indian cities via Chandigarh. Taxi fare from Kiratpur to Mandi is about Rs 2500.

Road: State owned bus services are available connecting Mandi to other cities in and around. Mandi is well connected to other tourist destinations near by in Himachal by private deluxe bus services. Deluxe buses charge about Rs 3 to Rs 4 per km.

Things to do

Trekking: Nestled in the lap of the highest mountain peaks of the Himalayas, Mandi offers tremendous opportunities of trekking to the challenge loving people. Its verdant valleys, snowcapped mountains and thick jungles are the perfect spots of a memorable trek.

Trekking in Mandi needs great stamina and courage. Exploring the wilderness of this great Himalayan region gives one a revitalizing feeling. Summer is the best season to go for trekking since it provides a salubrious climate. But professional trekkers often take the dangerous task of trekking in the winter since the mountains and its surroundings show the beauty at its zenith.

Before attempting for a trek, the trekker must get accustomed to the rough environs. One should be aware of the coarse weather of this hilly terrain, as the climate conditions are very loutish. Before going into Himalayas, one should get permissions from the authorities. Besides this, one must abide by the guiding principles of HPTDC, and do not spoil the tranquility of the nature.

District
Mandi
STD Code
01905
Topic
Upcoming
Termperature
Summer 8 to 30°C, Winter -10 to 10°C
Best time to visit
Apr - Jun, Sep - Nov

Una

State
Himachal Pradesh

Una, carved out of Hoshiarpur district of Punjab in 1966, is located in the South-Western part of Himachal Pradesh on the Solahsinghi Dhar. The hill ranges are covered by scanty vegetation comprising mostly of shrubs.

Accessibility

By Air: The nearest airport is at Chandigarh, 120 km away.

By Rail: Una has a broad gauge railhead, which links to major cities of the state.

By Road: A regular bus service connects Una to places lie Chandigarh, Shimla, Haridwar, Dehradoon, Delhi, Pathankot, etc.

Getaways
Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh)
Dharamshala
Kangra
Shopping

Jeevan market in Una is a famous place for shopping all sorts of arts and handicrafts works. Especially the woollen products are on display and tourists can buy carpets, caps, jackets and expensive Pashmina shawls from the state owned government shops.

Accommodation

Being a hill station of Himachal Pradesh, Una has got numerous staying facilities. From the state owned heritage hotels to five star luxury hotels. Tourists are guaranteed for the state of the art services and facilities.

District
Una
STD Code
01876
Topic
Upcoming
Termperature
Summer 15-30°C, Winter 0-24°C
Best time to visit
Throughout the year
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