Lying in the enrapturing Himalayan region, Himachal Pradesh is a state that presents nature in its very best forms. For tourists coming to Himachal Pradesh on their vacations, a variety of tourist attractions are available ranging from religious tourism, eco tourism and adventure. The verdant valleys, snow topped mountains, tinkling streams, hospitable people and much more, makes this place no less than a heaven. The salubrious climate of Himachal Pradesh, accompanied with mind blowing natural treasures, are the major draw for the tourists.
General Information about Himachal Pradesh Tourist Places -
Himachal Pradesh is segregated into three distinct zones on the basis of the physiography - the outer Himalayas or the Shivaliks, the inner or the middle Himalayas and the greater Himalayas or the Alpines. The people of this state are extremely amiable and welcome any tourists with open arms. The majority of these people are devout Hindus with a considerable portions of them also following Buddhism.
Location: The state is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir in the north, Haryana in the south, Punjab in the west and Uttaranchal in the southeast.
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Himachal Pradesh Tourist Attractions
Himachal Pradesh Hill Stations
Being a Himalayan region, Himachal Pradesh is home to a great number of hill stations each which has an intrinsic charm of its own. However, what is common in these hill stations is the abundance of natural beauty. High peaks, lakes, streams and plenty of greenery around make these hill stations a perfect destination for all those tourists who wish to retreat from the polluted city for a while. Moreover, these hill stations are exciting destination also in the sense that they allow tourists to set out for an adventurous exploration deep into the heart of this Himalayan region.
The major hill stations of Himachal Pradesh are Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Kufri, Dharamshala and Chail.
Himachal Pradesh Pilgrimages
Religious
tourism in Himachal is a huge drawer of crowd given the fact that there are
thousands of temples, monasteries and churches in the state. People from not
only India, but also from all over the world visit these religious places to
offer their prayers to their respective gods. The architecture of these
religious places are also something that will interest the tourists. In
fact, all those tourists who do not have a religious bend of mind can visit
these religious places simply to enjoy their magnificient architecture. Temples - Himachal Pradesh houses around 2000 temples! The figure in itself explains what Hindu tourists looking forward for a religious trip, should expect from Himachal Pradesh. The architecture of these temples are not fixed, and they vary from area to area. Some of these temples and the place in which they are located are so significant from the religious point of view that tourists throng in a large number every year to offer their prayers.
Important Temples - Bajreshwari temple, Baijanath, Jwalamukhi temple, Chamunda Devi temple (all around Kangra); Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Chaurasi temple and Chattari temple (in and around Chamba); Tarna Devi temple, Prashar temple, Shikari Devi temple (around Mandi); Raghunathji temple, Bijli Mahadev temple, Dhoongri temple (in and around Kullu); Hatkoti and Jankhu and Sankat Mochan ( in Shimla).
Monasteries - As Buddhists are the second largest section of population, monasteries are also abundant in this state. In fact, Buddhist monasteries of Himachal Pradesh far outshine Hindu temples in their fame. These monasteries are located in far off places and appear as if they were a part of the nature around. These monasteries are a storehouse for a vast collection of Buddhist art and culture. The Dalai Lama who is in exile, currently resides in a small place of Himachal called Dharamsala.
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The majority of Buddhist monasteries are located in Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur.
Himachal Pradesh Adventure Destinations
For a tourist coming to Himachal Pradesh with an intention of enjoying himself thoroughly, adventure sports is the best option. In fact, any tourist who visits this enchanting land and does not indulge in any sort of adventure activity, is sure to regret it later on. The mighty Himalayas along with its numerous lakes, rivers and forested ares provides umpteen opportunities for tourists to enjoy some exciting adventure sports.
Trekking
- Trekking in Himachal Pradesh does not merely exposes tourists to far
flung areas of the state and let him enjoy the natural beauty, rather, it
also offers a glimpse into the wildlife of the region and takes him those
historical places that are not easily accessible. Trekking areas in Himachal
include Manali, Chamba, Sach Pass, Dharamsala, ShimlaCamping - Camping in different places of Himachal is the best way to enjoy the natural beauty of the state as well as interact with the local people. Camping can be organised by tourists all by themselves, or they can also opt for state government camps. The latter camps are more preferred because there are no tensions involved as far as organising the trip is considered. Moreover, these camps also organise other adventure activities like hiking, rafting, fishing and nature tours. These camping sites are available at Sarchu in Lahaul, Sangla and Kalpa in Kinnaur and Kaza in Spiti.
Skiing and Heli Skiing - The slopes of Kufri near Shimla is good for skiing and there is no need to be trained to enjoy skiing in Himachal Pradesh.
Paragliding - Paragliding is fast gaining acceptance as well as popularity among tourists as an exciting adventure sport in which tourists can feel like a bird flying in the sky. The important places for paragliding are Bundal Dhar near Bilaspur, the Kullu valley and the Intkali near Rohru.
Water Sports - Water sports is yet another exciting option for tourists in Himachal Pradesh. There are also different level of training imparted to tourists so that they can enjoy water sports to the maximum. The Maharana Pratap reservoir in Kangra region in Himachal Pradesh is one place where water sports like swimming, water skiing, surfing, kayaking, rowing, canoeing and sailing can be enjoyed by the tourists. River rafting can be enjoyed on the Sutlej river near Shimla, the river Beas near Kullu and the river Rabi near Chamba.
Mountaineering - Area around Manali is great for Mountaneering.
Reaching There
By Air - There are three airports in Himachal Pradesh which are located at Bhuntar, Gaggal and Jubbarhatti. From here flights connect to Delhi and Chandigarh.
By Rail - Trains from Kalka connect to Delhi, Calcutta and Amritsar by broad gauge.
By Roads - Regular bus services connect Himachal Pradesh to other cities in North India like Delhi, Jaipur, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ambala, Amritsar and Chandigarh.
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