Himachal Pradesh |
|---|
High mountains, snow - covered peaks, beautiful green hills and slopes, and quiet little resorts and hamlets make up this beautiful state. In summer, Himachal Pradesh has always been a refreshing change form the heat and oppression of the plains of north India. Travellers, tourists and even governments have resorted to its cooling effects and found relief in escaping to its hills. |
|
| Shimla, its capital, had for years been the British Government’s seat during the hot summer months of Delhi. Bag, baggage, files and households moved every year to its hills. To this day, Shimla holds a special place among the hill resorts of India. Himachal’s other destinations include the Kulu Valley, Manali, Chail, Chamba, Kangra, Dharamshala and Dalhousie — all of which have proved wonderful holiday resorts. Excellent trekking, hiking and skiing facilities are available at different places in the state. |
|
Important tourist places in Himachal: Shimla, Dalhousie, Kulu, Manali, Chamba, Dharamshala, Lahaul, Kinnaur, Spiti, Palampur, Kangra, Other Places For further information, please contact: The Director of Tourism, Govt of Himachal Pradesh, Block-28, SDA Complex Kasumpti, Shimla 171009; or the Area Manager, Himachal Tourist Information Officer, Chandralok Building, 36, Janpath, New Delhi 110001. |
Himachal's Tribal LifeThe remote areas of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti are bound together by a rich cultural tradition and geographical features like rivers, steep mountains, valleys and passes. Kinners, the natives of Kinnaur, are halfway between humans and gods, according to Hindu mythology. Sarahan is the gateway to Kinnaur and is revered as one of the Shakti Peeths. From here one can approach Sangla valley that holds out one of the most beautiful sights of Kinnaur. The stark and forbidding heights of Lahaul and Spiti conceal an ethereal beauty comprising Buddhist monasteries, high passes, glaciers, lakes and rivers. A rugged road over the Kunzam pass leads to Keylong which has willow-lined water courses, green fields and a wonderful marketplace. From here one can go to Chandra Tal, the kilometre-long lake. Short of Keylong is Gramphoo where the roads to Kaza, Keylong and Manali meet. One can use Keylong as a base and visit a few gompas around. One such is the 8th-century Guru Ghantal gompa which houses an extensive library of Buddhist scriptures and exquisite Thangkha paintings. There are two more gompas at Shashur and Baralacha. Sarchu is the last point in Himachal Pradesh from where one can drive to Leh. If Kinnaur is "God’s gift", then Spiti is the place "where Gods live". The gompa at Tabo is called the "Ajanta of the Himalayas". Further above is Kaza, the base to visit the Hikim, Komik and Langja monasteries. En route from Tabo is Dhankar gompa : a masterpiece of local architecture. Still farther is the monastery at Ki and Kibber - the region’s highest permanently inhabited village at 4,205 metres above sea level. The route off the national highway from Theog towards the Pabbar valley leads one to a pristine world of nature’s charm coupled with the splendour of old-world architecture. The Pabbar river fed with melting glacial snow, the palace at Jubbal, the Mahishasurmardini temple at Hatkoti and a Shiva temple with wood carvings - all are breathtaking sights. There are some excellent ski slopes in the snowclad Chansal above Pabbar valley. All said, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti have all the nature’s charm and excitement of adventure in store for a tourist. |
The Buddhist LagacyHImachal is not only rich in natural beauty and Hindu art, culture and temples, but abounds in Buddhist monasteries. In fact, a visitor to the state can make a complete itinerary covering only the monasteries. There are those monasteries which are barely a few decades old, of around the time when the Dalai Lama left Tibet and came to India with his followers. And, some gompas go back to the time around the 7th century AD when Buddhism was just a Pledgling in the region. Kinnaur has about 32 Buddhist monasteries and temples, while the spiti region has thirty of them spread over its rugged terrain. Lahaul too has a good number of them, about twenty nine, almost all affiliated to the Drug-pa sect. Manali is an important tourist centre and has four recently-built monasteries in and around it. The main one is located close to the bazaar. Rewalsar is the place from where Padmasmbhava left for Tibet to spread Buddhism in the 8th century AD. The lake here has three monasteries around it. Mcleodganj in the Kangra region is now known for the residence of the Dalai Lama. The impressive Namgyal monastery here is surrounded by a row of prayer wheels and houses huge images of the Buddha, Padmasamshava and Avlokteshwara. Kalka - ShimlaThe Shivalik Deluxe Express, chugging
its way up the beautiful hill sides, There are modern fittings and amenities like wall to wall carpet, cushioned chairs, cabin for couples, music system, tables for meals, tube lights, microphone connection with the guard, improved toilet facilities, and much more. The fare of Rs 340 includes breakfast in UP direction and dinner in DOWN direction. Bookings are available on the Computerised Reservation Systems. Special Tourist Coaches The Railways also offers a luxury tourist coach for the upmarket tourist called the Shivalik Palace. Facilities here include exclusive kitchen ware, on-board catering, decorative lights, musical cordless bell, music system, indoor games, magazines & books, modern bathroom, folding beds, and dining table with cushioned chairs. Plus, you get two complimentary retiring rooms at Shimla for one day. The fare is Rs 8,225 both ways, Rs 4,850 for UP , and Rs 3,375 for DOWN direction and is excellent for a party of 6 persons. And, for the honeymooners the exclusive Shivalik Queen Coach offers total privacy. Plus, you get wall to wall carpeting, big windows with curtains, alarm bell to the driver and a microphone to the guard. And, if you also need to keep in touch with the world outside, you get free newspapers at both Kalka and Shimla. Reasonably priced at Rs 750 per couple, the fare also includes meals. These special Tourist Coaches can be attached to any train from Kalka to Shimla. For bookings of these coaches, please contact the booking offices at Ambala, Chandigarh, Kalka, Shimla or Divisional Railway Manager, Rail Vihar, Ambala. Tel: 91-171-610125, 610800. Fax: 91-171-610103, 610596. |
