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Himachal - Destinations

Tourism is the single largest industry in Himachal. In the lap of the mighty Himalayas, its snow-clad mountains, lush-green valleys, rivers, lakes, glaciers and the heritage atract domestic and foreign tourists. It has some of the most spectacular landscapes in the country. Himachal also has some very popular holiday resorts which are easily accessible.

Apart from sight-seeing, adventure sports like trekking, rock climbing, paragliding, rafting and skiing are popular here. Shivalik, Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal are the major mountain ranges in the state. Tibba, Indrasan, Kullu Pumori, Leo Pargial, Menthosa, Mulkila, Papsura, White Sail are some of the peaks which rise above 6000 mts. And there are mighty rivers like Beas, Ravi, Sutlej and Chandra in which white water rafting is a a rage with youngsters.

There are also monasteries, ancient temples and tea gardens.

The people are warm, humble, honest and hospitable.

Himachal has good roads and communication facilities.

There are Government and private agencies providing good tourist services such as transport, accommodation, catering and trekking and rafting.

The Government's Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has a large network of hotels, restaurants and transport fleet.

Unlike in the plains, the paths are meandering because of the mountains and so the travel time will be several times more. As all the regions are not interconnected because of the hills dotting all over, the traveller also needs to select his destinations accordingly, and follow certain set circuits.

There are mainly six such circuits:

General Info

Climate: 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, Chandratal.

Temples: 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 - Jul; 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.
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