Located in the Himalayas in the northern part of India, Himachal Pradesh is a state with breathtaking beauty which attracts the nature lover and adventure seekers. Himachal Pradesh offers snow-capped peaks, lush valleys and serene lakes that captivate the heart of every traveler. The state is a heaven on the Earth with charming hill stations such as Shimla, Manali, and Dalhousie. Himachal Pradesh has vibrant culture which is influenced by the co-existence of the religion- Hinduism and Buddhism. McLeod Ganj, a town in Himachal Pradesh which is home to the Dalai Lama and has vibrant Tibetan culture. Due to varied elevation, the region has variations in the weather.

Top Attractions in Himachal Pradesh:

Shimla

Shimla is the popular destination for traveler. During the British Era, Shimla was known as the summer capital. The city is a combination of colonial heritage and Indian culture and history. The city has colonial architecture based old houses which attracts history buffs.

Manali

Manali attracts tourist who are adventurous to try new things. Tourists can perform adventurous activities such as trekking, hiking, biking, and rock climbing. Top attractions of Manali are Hidimba Devi Temple, Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass, Manu Temple, Manali Sanctuary, Mall Road, and Old Manali.

Dharamshala

Dharamshala offers stunning scenery and Buddhist monasteries which is influenced by the Tibetan culture. The city has spiritual importance because the 14th Dalai Lama resides in the city. Other attractions in Dharamshala are Triund hill, Bhagsu waterfall, Kangra fort. The city offer calm and pleasant weather which attract tourist from all over the world.

Dalhousie

Dalhousie is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh founded by British Governor Lord Dalhousie. Dalhousie offers meadows, dense forests and waterfalls.  The city has lot of visitors in summer due to its calm and pleasant weather. Top attractions in Dalhousie are Ganji Pahari, Rang Mahal, Francis Catholic Church, Garam Sadak, Sach Pass and Rock Garden.

Kasauli

Kasauli is a town located in the Solan District in Himachal Pradesh. Kasauli offers scenic beauty and pleasant weather making it one of the best destinations to explore. One of the main attractions of Kasauli is the Christ Church which belongs to the Colonial era. Other places of Kasauli that are worth visiting are Gilbert Trail, Monkey Point, Kasauli Brewery, Kasauli club and sunset Viewpoint.

Khajjiar

Khajjiar is a hill station situated in the Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh. Khajjiar is a popular destination among the tourist due to its pleasant weather and picturesque scene. Activities such as paragliding, zorbing and trekking can be performed in Khajjiar. One of the main attractions of Khajjiar is the Khajjiar Lake which attracts the soul from all over the world. Other attractions of Khajjiar are Khajji Nag Temple, Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary and Dainkund Peak.

Bir Billing

Bir Billing is a village located in Himachal Pradesh. Bir Billing offers snow-capped peaks and beautiful temple. Bir billing also have monasteries and meditation centers for people visiting from all over the world. Bir Billing offers adventurous activities of paragliding, trekking and camping to the travelers.

Things to do in Himachal Pradesh:

Tourist can perform various activities in Himachal Pradesh 

Eye-witness the Sunset viewpoint at Scandal point

Scandal Point is located in Shimla. Tourist visiting Shimla should not miss this golden opportunity to witness the breathtaking scene from the Scandal Point. The point offers breathtaking views of Himalayas. The sunset view makes the tourist calm and content with the scenic beauty.

Trekking to Triund

Triund is a hill situated near McLeod Ganj in Dharamshala. The hill offers trekking starting point for the tourist. The trek offers breathtaking views of Kangra valley and Dhauladhar ranges. During the trek, the tourists can enjoy serene views of Himalayas. It takes six hours minimum to complete the trek.

Paragliding in Bir Billing

Bir Billing is a popular destination for paragliding activities. Bir Billing has also organized World Paragliding Championship. Bir is the take-off site while Billing is the landing site for the paragliding activities. The instructors are available who are trained in the paragliding activities.

Visit Apple Orchards in Manali

Beside the breathtaking beauty and scenic view of Himachal Pradesh, visiting Apple Orchards in Manali is a must-do activity for the traveler. Tourist gets opportunity to know about the varieties of apple and know the practices of the farming and harvesting.

Ride toy train in Shimla

Riding toy train in Shimla is a must do activity if you are visiting Himachal Pradesh. The train starts from Kalka to Shimla and offers the traveler majestic view of the dense forests, green valleys, mountains and waterfalls. This Toy train was built in 1903 in the colonial era, comes under UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Zip lining in Solang Valley

Solang Valley is the popular destination for the zip lining activity. In this activity, the traveler gets opportunity to view the peaked mountains, lush valleys and amazing scenic beauty.

Local Shopping

The traveler can buy handicrafts from the local market of Himachal Pradesh. Tourist can buy handmade shawls, woolen clothes and local things from the market of Himachal Pradesh.

Best time to visit Himachal Pradesh:

Tourist can visit Himachal Pradesh at any time of the months according to the activities they want to perform.

During summer

The best time to visit Himachal Pradesh is in the months of March to June. During summer, the weather is calm and pleasant and the region offers majestic beauty of the mountains, valleys and waterfalls. The temperature varies from 20℃ to 30 ℃ in summer. Tourists can visit hill stations such as Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, and Dalhousie. This is the ideal time to perform adventurous activities of camping, trekking, zip lining and paragliding.

During winter

Winter is the ideal time if you want to experience snowfall or indulge into snow based activities. During the months of December to February, the temperature varies from 0℃ to 15℃. Tourists can perform snow activities such as skiing, ice skating, and can enjoy snowfall. Tourist should pack things according to the weather.

How to reach Himachal Pradesh:

By Train

The nearest railway station is Una railway station.

By Flight

You can reach Himachal Pradesh by flight as well. The nearest domestic airport is Gaggal-Kangra Airport and the nearest international airport is Chandigarh Airport and Delhi Airport. 

By Road

You can reach Himachal Pradesh by road. Transport services are available and accessible in the State.

History of Himachal Pradesh:

Located in the northern part of India Himachal Pradesh is a hill station that offers scenic beauty. The region was ruled by many dynasties such as the Mauryas, the Guptas and the Mughals. Himachal Pradesh is one of the popular destinations of the tourist. The state is covered in dense forests, majestic landscapes and lush valleys. The state has presence of both the religion, Hinduism and Buddhism which makes the culture vibrant.  

Himachal Pradesh Cuisines: 

Located in the Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh is rich in their cuisines. The cuisines of Himachal Pradesh carry historical importance and culture diversity. The food of this state is influenced by the Tibetan culture and neighboring state. The Himachali Cuisines are rich in flavors and aromas.

 Top 10 must-try food of Himachal Pradesh

Dham: Dham is a traditional dish of Himachal Pradesh offered during religious events. It is a dish made-up of rice, lentils, Rajma, vegetable and curd that makes the dish nutritious healthy.

Madra: Madra is a dish made with vegetables, variety of beans and curd with spices.

Kullu Trout Fish: Kullu Trout Fish is a non-vegetarian dish of Himachal Pradesh made of fish with spices.

Mittha: Mittha is a Himachali dish made of rice with fried raisin, cashew nuts, saffron and sugar.

Bhey: Bhey is a vegetarian dish made of lotus stems with ginger-garlic paste and spices.

Babru: Babru is a dish similar to puri; it is made by adding black gram paste in wheat dough and served after deep frying.

Tudkiya Bhath: Tudkiya Bhath is a vegetarian pulao made with rice, lentils, potatoes and yoghurt and spices.

Khatta kaddu: Khatta kaddu is a dish made with pumpkin, tamarind and jaggery.

Chha Gosht: A non-vegetarian dish made with lamb cooked in gravy of gram flour, yoghurt, and spices.

Aktori: Aktori is a pancake-dish made with buckwheat leaves and wheat flour. 

FAQs:

Which is the best Season to visit Himachal Pradesh?

The best time to visit Himachal Pradesh is according to the experience tourist want. Summer is ideal for the activities like trekking and camping. Winter time is ideal to visit Himachal Pradesh if you want to experience snowfall.

What are the top attractions in Himachal Pradesh?

The top attractions in Himachal Pradesh are Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Kasauli and Bir Billing. Himachal Pradesh has calm and pleasant weather that attracts tourists from all over the world.

What are the activities to perform in Himachal Pradesh?

You can perform adventurous activities such as trekking and rafting and can experience Tibetan culture. In winter, you can experience snowfall and perform activities such as skiing, ice skating, snowboarding and paragliding.

What are the must-try dishes of Himachal Pradesh?

Himachal Pradesh is rich in their cuisines with aromatic flavors; you must try various traditional dishes of Himachal Pradesh such as Dham, Madra, Kullu trout fish and Chha Gosht.

What are the things tourists must buy from local markets of Himachal Pradesh?

Tourist must buy handicrafts from the local markets of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is famous for its handicrafts of woolen shawls, paintings, woodwork and metalwork.

Is it safe to visit Himachal Pradesh?

Himachal Pradesh is completely safe to travel. The crime rate of the Himachal Pradesh is comparatively low, but the tourist should keep update about the place.

What are the famous treks of Himachal Pradesh?

Himachal Pradesh offers various trekking trails from easy to hard trek, according to the preference of the tourists. Some of the trekking trails are Triund trek, Kheer Ganga trek, Hampta Pass trek, Pin Parvati trek, Sar Pass trek.