The state of Himachal Pradesh, which lies in the Western Himalayas, features several mountain peaks and extensive river systems. It’s a heaven on earth for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. Himachal Pradesh offers some great places to visit, like the Lahaul-Spiti area with the largest glacier in Asia, i.e. The Shirgri Glacier, Manali – a popular destination amongst youngsters, Kullu – which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But these all are the Tip of an Iceberg, it has many places to visit in Himachal Pradesh. Let’s have a look at “Top 10 Places That You Can Visit In Himachal Pradesh”. Other than this, look at some of the best places to visit in the monsoon in India.
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1. Kasol
Kasol is a beautiful green hamlet, situated on the banks of the Paravati River. It is very popular among young backpackers for a good reason. The stunning landscape of lush valleys, snow-capped mountains, scenic waterfalls, adventurous trekking routes attracts more and more tourists to explore such activities which can be done here very seamlessly. It is one of the top 10 places to visit in Himachal Pradesh.
Kasol has very good weather throughout the year, but snowfall happens between late December to February which makes it even more attractive.
If you are planning to visit here, then you must reach the Kullu Manali Airport also known as Bhuntar Airport, if you are coming by air. But if you want a train journey then the nearest railway station to Kasol would be Joginder Nagar railway station which is 144 km away from Kasol village. It’ll take your 12 hrs to drive if coming by road, i.e. 513 km from Delhi.
Things To Do In Kasol:
- Trek to Kheer Ganga
- Walk along the Parvati River
- Visit Tosh
- Reach Manikaran Sahib
- Visit Malana
- Camping/ Trekking
Fun Fact About Kasol: Kasol is called Mini Israel of India because of high percentage of Israeli Tourists.
2. Shimla
Shimla was declared as the Summer Capital of British India. Most people get attracted by the colonial architecture, temples, churches, and the city’s natural environment. It is one of the top 10 places to visit in Himachal Pradesh, India.
Temperature range between -4ºc to 31ºc over the course of a year. Not too much hot in summers, not too cold in winters, not heavy rain in monsoon, nor heavy snowfall, everything seems perfect unless nature wants to play.
Shimla is so popular to visit that all major cities of north India connect with Shimla directly. From Delhi, you can reach Shimla just by traveling for 380 km. And the nearest airport is Shimla Airport which is 23 km away from Shimla. The nearest Railway station is Shimla Railway Station itself.
Things To Do In Shimla:
- Visit Shimla Ridge
- Explore Mall Road
- River Rafting
- Ice Skating
- Paragliding
Fun Fact About Shimla: The Britishers had brought the green bell peppers to India and made them grow in India, since then we know it as Shimla Mirch.
3. Kasauli
Kasauli is a small hill station located at 1,927m above sea level in Himachal Pradesh. It usually has a very pleasant climate, and usually ranges between 13ºc – 27ºc throughout the year.
It is approximately 300 km away from Delhi by road. You can easily approach this place by various types of transport medium. The closest railway station to this place is Kalka which is 40 km away from the actual destination, you have to take a taxi from the station to cover up the rest of the distance. The nearest airport is Chandigarh International Airport. Despite being the nearest, it’s 70 km away from Kasauli. Again, you need to have to take to a taxi to approach the destination.
Things To Do In Kasauli:
- Experience Toy Train ride
- Visit Monkey Point
- See Sunset Point
- Visit Kasauli Brewery
- Trekking
Fun Fact About Kasauli: Kasauli is home to one of the largest breweries in the world, if you are a scotch or whiskey enthusiast then you might want to visit Kasauli Brewery.
4. Dharamshala
Dharamshala, the winter capital city of Himachal Pradesh. It is surrounded by dense coniferous forest which mainly consists of Deodar cedar tree, in the upper reaches of Kangra Valley.
Monsoon has a major influence on Dharamshala, which makes it one of the wettest places in the state. Because of this, the humidity level increases, and the temperature depletes slightly.
The nearest airport to Dharamshala is Gaggal Airport, about 13 km away from the town. The nearest railway station is Pathankot, despite being the nearest it’s 85 km away from the town. Though the journey would be 520 km long if you choose to go by road.
Things To Do In Dharamshala:
- Visit Mcleodganj
- Visit DharamKot
- Chill at Bhagsunag Falls
- Walk to St. John Church in the Wildness
- Visit the War Memorial
Fun Fact About Dharamshala: Dharamshala is the second capital of Himachal Pradesh. Other than Himachal Pradesh only Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir have 2 capitals.
5. Spiti Valley
Spiti, a cold deserted mountain valley, which is located high in the northeastern Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh. It has Key Monastery and Tabo Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world. Many Buddhists get attracted by the fact that the oldest monasteries are Dalai Lama’s favorite ones. That’s why it is one of the top 10 places to visit in Himachal Pradesh.
Thought, Spiti stays cold throughout the year, but in summer the temperature can rise as high as 15ºc. Yeah!, that’s true. During the daytime that too in the peak time of summers the temperature only rises till 15ºc and drops to 4ºc to 6ºc during night time. While in winters, the temperature averagely stays at 0ºc in daytime and drops between -20ºc to -30ºc. Be fully prepared before going to this place.
The nearest airport to spiti is Kullu and the nearest station is Shimla. And its approx. 710 km from Delhi by road.
Thing To Do In Spiti Valley:
- Star Gazing
- Yak Safari
- Chill by Spiti River
- River Rafting
- Camping
Fun Fact About Spiti Valley: Key Monastery is the highest altitude monastery in India at the height of 4,116 m and it is the second-highest in the world.
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6. Manali
A tourist town nestled in the mountains of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh near the northern end of the Kullu valley in the Beas River Valley, known as Manali. There is so much to explore from green landscapes to snow-covered peaks; trekking, river rafting, paragliding, skiing.
People consider the best time July to September to visit Manali. But if you want to witness the snow, then you might have to visit in December or January, although you can see snow in Rohtang Pass from October.
Bhuntar Airport would be the nearest airport if you are planning to visit by plane, it is also known as Kullu- Manali Airport. But if you want to take a train trip, then this could be a little hectic for you as the nearest railhead is 165 km away from the destination, i.e, Joginder Nagar. Though it takes 12 hrs drive if you choose a road from Delhi, that’s 532 km from Delhi.
Things To Do In Manali:
- Paragliding
- Riverside Camping
- Rafting
- Skiing
- Trekking
Fun Fact About Manali: Manali got its name after the Hindu lawgiver sage Manu.
7. Chitkul
A small village that mostly remains covered in snow during winters lies in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, known as Chitkul. It lies at a height of 3,450 m above sea level, which makes it one of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh.
Because of the high altitude, it is always cold. Event the daytime of summers are cold. If you are planning to explore the place properly then the best time to visit could be March, April, and May, but if you want to witness the snowfall then do visit here in peak wintertime.
Chitkul is an isolated village, that’s why accessibility is a major problem here. The nearest airport is Shimla Airport, despite the nearest, it is 300 km away. And the nearest railway station is again the Shimla railway station. And by road, it would take a 16 hrs long drive, i.e. approx. 591 km away from Delhi.
Things To Do In Chitkul:
- Chitkul Pass Trek
- Homestays
- Walk down the river
- Lunch at Akhri Dhaba
- And don’t forget to make a wish by making a tower of 7 pebbles
Fun Fact About Chitkul: One of the studies done by the Centre of Atmospheric Science at IIT Delhi shows that the Chitkul has the cleanest air in India.
8. Bir Biling
Bir Biling is a village located in the west of Joginder Nagar Valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It’s well known for Paragliding. It is elevated at a height of 4,350 ft above sea level, while the paragliding take-off point is 8,020 ft above sea level. It is one of the top 10 places to visit in Himachal Pradesh.
The best time to visit Bie Biling is from March to May and from September to November, as this time has the clear sky and perfect pleasant weather to paraglide, which is what Bir famous for.
You can reach Bir by taking a flight to Chandigarh Airport, as it is the nearest airport to the Bir. Despite the nearest, it’s 152 km away from Bir. And also the nearest railway station is 112 km away from Bir, which is Pathankot, then you can take a toy train to reach the destination. Though the total distance from Delhi to Bir is 561 km that you can even think by doing it from a car or a bike if you want.
Things To Do In Bir Biling:
- Paragliding
- Camping
- Trekking
- Hand Gliding
- Mountain Biking
Fun Fact About Bir Biling: Bir Biling is known as the paragliding capital of the world.
9. Dalhousie
A beautiful hill station perched on five hills at an elevation of 1,970 m from the sea level in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, known as Dalhousie.
Though the place is a year-round holiday destination, it looks even more mesmerizing when covered with a white sheet of snow. No wonder if you see snow in summers, because snowfall is quite a common feature of Dalhousie.
The airport closest to Dalhousie is Gaggal Airport, which is around 130 km away. About 80 km away, Pathankot is the nearest railway station to Dalhousie. It’s approx. 562 km away from Delhi by road, if you are planning to go by road.
Things To Do In Dalhousie:
- Watch the Panch Pulla Waterfall
- Ride a Boat in Chamera Lake
- Picnic
- Hiking
- Trekking
Fun Fact About Dalhousie: This place was established as a summer retreat by The Earl of Dalhousie, the British Governor-General in India.
10. Khajjiar
A hill station surrounded by meadows and forests, which sits on a small plateau with a small stream-fed lake in the middle that has been covered over with weeds. It’s about 2,000 m above sea level in the foothills of the Dhauladhar ranges of the western Himalayas.
Although this hill station is beautiful and fun throughout the year, the best time to visit here could between November to March as the temperature remains between 6ºc to 27ºc during this time period.
Things To Do In Khajjiar:
- Visit Khajjiar Lake
- Watch Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary
- Explore Dainkunf Peak
- See Panch Pandav Tree
- Experience Panchpula
Fun Fact About Khajjiar: It is also known as Mini Switzerland of India.
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