Himachal Pradesh- In Arms of the Himalayas
A tranquil land where nature created magic with every turn of road is Himachal Pradesh. A land, which desires to hold the entire Himalayas in its wide spread arms, is Himachal Pradesh. Every little block of the canvas seems to have been painted in the colour of nature and makes a true vista of the state. Dense woods, meandering rivers, snow capped mountains and lush green meadows - all are here for centuries, still their sparkle has not faded little.
Climate
Due to varied topography of the state, Himachal Pradesh exhibits diversified climatic conditions in different parts of the state. While Dharamshala enjoys a rainfall of 3400 mm, Spiti is the driest with 50 mm annual rainfall. The state experiences winter from October to February. From December to March Himachal tastes snowfall at elevations of about 3000mtrs and at about 4500mtrs, the snowfall becomes continuous. The best time to visit the state is from mid-February to April when spring hits and climate becomes soothing and pleasant.
Getting There
- By Air: Himachal Pradesh has three airports - Jubbarhatti near Shimla, Gaggal near Kangra and Bhuntar near Kullu. The Shimla airport has regular connecting flights to Delhi, Chandigarh, Dharamshala and Kullu. Kullu and Kangra both are connected to Delhi by weekly flights. Due to extreme weather conditions during winters, the flights to Himachal Pradesh are operated seasonally.
- By Rail: Shimla is connected by broad gauge line up to Kalka and after that 96 km long narrow gauge rail track joins Kalka and Shimla. The famous Kalka-Shimla railway track passes through 102 tunnels and crosses 864 bridges. Kalka is well connected with almost all the major cities of the country including Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
- By Road: Regular deluxe and luxury buses run from Delhi to Shimla. Distances from Shimla to some of the major cities are – Kalka – 90 km, Chandigarh – 117 km, Delhi – 370 km, Ludhiana – 220 km, Dehradun – 240km, Kullu – 240km, Manali – 280km, Kalpa – 260km, Narkanda – 64km, Mandi – 156km, Dharamshala – 280km and Nahan – 140km.
Himachal Pradesh Attractions
It’s no wonder that the basket of Himalachal Pradesh is full of numerous attractions and jewels. An extensive tour in the state will help you to discover the best of the state and of the Himalayas as well.
Hill Stations
Skirted on the foothills of the Himalayas, Himalachal Pradesh is like a green fairy with its gown ornamented with white snow. Chamba and Dalhousie are not far from each other but are amazingly different in their vistas. While Dlahousie is a charming colonial town set against the imposing beauty of the Himalayan Mountains, Chamba chooses to be a medieval town amidst greens and pristine rivers. Perched on the high slopes of Kangra Valley, Dharamshala are wonderful with their picturesque locations, ancient temples and Gompas that add even more colour of eternity to its beauty. The capital city Shimla used to be the summer capital of the British Empire and hence is adorned with a number of colonial architectures. The twin towns Kullu and Manaliare are famous for their extremely beautiful natural beauty among the honeymooners. Lahaul and Spiti Valley are unique for their rustic and barren beauty.
Pilgrimages
Himachal Pradesh houses a number of pilgrimages across the state. While Lahaul and Spiti are adorned with the Buddhist flavour, the rest of the state is dipped into Hindu and Sikh fervour. The Temple of Jwalamukhi where a flame has been burning since centuries and Laxmi Narayan Temple built in 10th century are the major pilgrimage attractions. Chintpurni devi, Naina Devi and the temple of Baijnat are some other devotional destinations in the state. Paonta Sahib is the prime Sikh pilgrimage in Himachal Pradesh and Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru of Sikhs, made it.
Wildlife
The fact that the state has 32 Sanctuaries, 2 National Parks and 3 Game Reserves, speaks for itself of its wonderful animal treasure. Great Himalayan National Park is bordered by the majestic Himalayan Mountains and includes wild attractions like Snow Leopard, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Brown Bear, Himalayan Tahr and Musk Deer. Simbalbara sanctuary, Renuka Sanctuary, Chail Wildlife Sanctuary and Churdhar Sanctuary are the other major wildlife reserves of the state that are enough to quench your wildlife thirst.
Adventure Sports
Himachal Pradesh is a heaven for the adventure loving tourists. If you are a trekking buff, then come to Himachal Pradesh from March to August. Trek through the dense forests, fruit orchards and gurgling streams. Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges are the most famous trekking zones in the state. The four rivers – Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Satluj are all famous for offering some real challenging rafting in the water. Himachal offers some of the best skiing zones and Kufri is perhaps the best in the state to offer white challenge. No summer can pass unless Himachal adorns the sky with colourful gliders. Paragliding is enjoyed immensely here and people from all over the country come to taste the thrill of flying in the sky. Mountaineering & rock climbing, mountain cycling and angling are some other adventure sports that will enthrall you like anything in Himachal Pradesh.
Buddhist Monasteries
A number of monasteries dotted in the state make it sure that Himachal Pradesh is tied with divine bond of Lord Buddha. The Kya and Tabo Monastery in Spiti are the most famous in the state for their unique architecture and heritage. While Dhankar Monastery is famous for the image of Dhayan Buddha consisting of 4 complete figures seated back to back, Guru Ghantal Monastery is famous for its wooden idols unlike other monasteries. Rewalsar situated 20 km from Mandi is a must visit for the Buddhist tourists since Padamasambhava made it as center to spread Buddhism in Tibet. Kanum Monastery, Kardang Monastery and Shashur Monastery are the other holy attractions that you should not miss once you are in Himachal Pradesh.
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