Himachal: A guide to tourist activities

Seasons: Winter Dec to Mar temp minus 5 deg C to 25 deg C in valleys, minus 5 deg C to 15 deg C in hills; Summer Apr-Jun 15 deg C to 35 deg C in valleys, 10 deg C to 20 deg C in hills; Monsoon: Jul 15 to Sep temp 15 deg C to 30 deg C in valleys, 10 deg C to 25 deg C on hills; Autumn: Sep-Nov temp 10 deg C to 30 deg C in valleys, 5 deg C to 25 deg C on hills.

Transport: Narrow gauge railway stations are Shimla and Jogindernagar, broad gauge railway stations Chandigarh, Kalka, Pathankot and Nangal. The airports are Shimla, Bhuntar in Kullu, Gaggal in Dharamsala.

Trekking Routes: Rohru-Chanshal-Dodrakwar-Rupin-Sangla; Sangla-Badrinath; Jalori pass; Chandrakhani pass; Kullu-Manali-Chandratal-Manali-Parvati valley-Dharamsala-Triund-Chaamba-Bharmour-Manimahesh-Chamba-Killar-Sachi pass; Bharmour-Baijnath; Bharmour-Lahaul; Chandratal; Barashigri glacier; Kinnaur-Kailash-Bhaba-Pin valley.

Skiing (Jan-Mar): Solang Nalla (Manali), Narkanda and Rohtang pass

Ice Skating (Jan-Mar): Shimla

Heli Skiing (Jan-Mar): Manali

River Rafting: Rivers:- Sutlej, Beas and Chenab; Locations: Shamshi (Kullu), Tattapani, Rampur and Jispa (Lahaul)

Para Gliding and Hang Gliding: Bir, Manali, Bilaspur and Rohru

Lake Sports: Gobindsagar (Bilaspur), Pongdam (Kangra)

Fishing: Rohru, Sangla, Saini, Katrain, Barot (trout)

Wildlife: Great Himalayan national park, Parvati valley, Kullu, Pin valley national park, Spiti, Renuka sanctuary, Pongdam sanctuary, Sarahan, Kufri, Gopalpur zoo

Rivers: Beas, Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, Yamuna, Pabbar, Giri, Parvati, Baspa

Lakes: Prashar, Khajjiar, Renuka, Giobundsagar, Dal, Pongdam, Pandoh, Manimahesh, Brighu, ChandratalTemples: Jwalamukhi, Chamunda, Brajeshwari, Chintpurni, Baijnath, Laxminarayan, Chaurasi, Chhatrari Taranadevi, Rewalsar, Raghunath, Bijlimahadev, Dhungri, Bhimakali, Hatkoti, Jakhoo, Sankatmochan, Kalibari, Nainadevi, Baba Balak Nath, Deothsidh.

Monasteries: Dharamsala, Key, Dhankar, Tabo, Nako, Pooh, Kanam, Jangi, Murang, Ribba, Reckongpeo

Sikh pilgrim centres: Paonta Sahib, Rewalsar, Manikaran

Churches: Christ church at Kasauli, Christ Church at Shimla, St Johns' Church at Mecleodgang, St Francis at Dalhousie

Fairs: Winter carnival, Manali - Feb; Mandi Shivratri, Ladarcha fair, Spiti - July; Minjar fair, Chamba, Manimahesh fair, Bharmour; Tribal festival, Keylong -Aug; Phulech festival of flowers, Kinnaur - Sep; Kullu Dussehra - Oct; Lavi fair, Rampur - Nov; Renuka fair - Nov; Ice Skating carnival - Dec Heritage monuments: Kangra fort, Taragarh, Rampur, Nalagah, Arki and Jubbal palaces, Bhimakali temple, Naggar castle, Kamru fort, Gondla fort, Lahaul, Viceregal lodge, Christ Church, Chapslee, Woodvilla palace, Chail palace Museums: State museum at Shimla, Kangra art gallery, Dharamsala, Bhurisingh museum, Chamba, Roerich art gallery, Naggar, Sobha Singh art gallery, Andretta, near Palampur.

Himachal Pradesh - Destinations:

For Online Booking of Accommodation (Govt Hotels - HPTDC): http://www.hptdc.in

ALSO GO TO: http://www.himachaltourism.gov.in