Himachal Pradesh

The name, Himachal Pradesh, literally translates to “The land of Snow” in the Sanskrit language. Located in the Western Himalayas, most part of the state lies on the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range and being a mountainous state, it is famous for its timeless natural beauty, gorgeous river valleys, the greenery, soothing climate, trekking trails, countless temples, and monasteries.

The state houses many religious Hindu sites and temples including Naina Devi Temple, Baijnath Temple, Bijli Mahadev, Jwala Ji Temple, Jakhoo Temple, Kangra Devi Temple, Triloki Nath Temple, and Renuka Lake. Himachal is gifted with many scenic hill stations including Shimla (the capital of Himachal Pradesh), Manali, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala, Dalhousie (winter capital of Himachal), Kullu, and Chamba. Apart from these hill stations, there are places that are lesser-known bu equally beautiful such as Jibhi, Kalpa, Chitkul, Barot, Palampur, Dhankar, Udaipur, etc. It is also famous for its adventure tourism activities including Skiing in Manali & Narkanda, Snowboarding in Kufri, Ice-skating in Shimla, Paragliding in Bir Billing, and trekking in various parts of the region.

Capital: Shimla | Location: North India

Best Places to Visit in Himachal Pradesh

Famous Treks in Himachal Pradesh

Hampta Pass Trek
Pin Parvati Pass Trek
Pin Bhabha Pass Trek
Bara Bhangal Trek
Indrahar Pass Trek
Deo Tibba Base Camp Trek
Kheerganga Trek
Kareri Lake Trek
Sar Pass Trek

Other destinations include Barot, Bir Billing, Narkanda, Sethan, Gobind Sagar Lake, Chandratal, Rewalsar Lake, Parashar Lake, Kamrunag Temple, Masroor Rock Cut Temple, Shrikhand Mahadev, Kinner Kailash, and Bhimakali Temple.

Check out A Guide to Himachal Pradesh

Best Time to Visit Himachal Pradesh

Summer

Summer in Himachal Pradesh starts from the months of April and stays till June. The temperature remains ideal and all the places remain accessible.

Monsoon

The monsoon season lasts from June to September. This time is ideal for hiking and exploring high-altitude destinations. It is also a good time to visit.

Winter

The winter season lasts from November till March and is considered ideal to experience snow and snowfall. During January and February, almost all the hill stations receive good snowfall.

How to Reach Himachal Pradesh

By Train

The nearest major railway stations to Himachal are Chandigarh and Pathankot. From there one can enter Himachal by taking a taxi or bus. In case, if one wants to experience the journey of Himalayan Railways then one can board the Kangra Valley Himalayan Railway from Pathankot or the Kalka Shimla Railway from Kalka railway station.

By Air

The major airports near to Himachal are Chandigarh and Pathankot. However, there are small domestic airports situated in the state namely Jubbarhatti Airport in Shimla, Gaggal Airport in Kangra, & Bhuntar Airport in Kullu. Flights to these airports remain less frequent.

By Road

Himachal Pradesh is well connected by good highways from Delhi, Chandigarh, and Punjab. Interstate ordinary and luxury Volvo buses are available from Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Amritsar.