Snow-covered peaks tumble down into emerald green valleys and roaring rivers in India’s Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. Tourism activity in Himachal Pradesh was once limited to pilgrims on journeys to sacred sites. Then came the British, who established picturesque villages and summer retreats on lush hillsides. Today the state allures with spiritual villages and adrenalin-charged pursuits amid a gorgeous countryside.
Shimla is the queen of the British hill stations and reachable via the meandering Kalka-Shimla Toy Train. Watch for mischievous monkeys while strolling The Mall and admiring a blend of colonial and Gothic architecture. Views sweep over the hilly surroundings from The Ridge.
Travel along a breathtaking mountain pass to high-altitude Manali. This busy vacationers hangout is the place to arrange paragliding, rafting, skiing and trekking tours. Carve up on powdery pistes in the Solang Valley, hike the Hamta Pass and crash through rapids on the Beas River. Loomed over by cloud-breaking Parvati Parvat mountain, Pin Valley National Park is a trekker’s paradise.
In the shadow of the Dhauladhar range, Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj are home to thousands of exiled Tibetans. Attend an audience with the Dalai Lama at His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Main Temple. Experience a blend of Tibetan traditions and a vibrant backpacker scene in McLeod Ganj. Peaceful Buddhist and Tibetan lifestyles await in Lahaul and Spiti, most notably at the enchanting Tabo Monastery.
Find time to hop between dozens of hill stations. Riverside Chamba was once the home of the Rajputs and nearby Dalhousie has colonial landmarks and temples spread over a chain of hills. Relax amid apple orchards in Narkanda and tea plantations in Palampur. Gaze over Indian, Chinese and Tibetan territory from Reo Purgyil, the state’s tallest peak.
Reach Himachal Pradesh by flying to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and then use public transportation from there. Public buses travel between most towns, but consider hiring a chauffeured jeep to access remote areas. Visit from November to April for snow sports. May to June and September to October present an ideal climate for hiking.
