Himachal

The northernmost state of India situated in the Western Himalayas, Himachal is considered to be one of the thirteen mountain states, characterized by an extreme landscape and uncountable viewpoints. Also, the river system that flows through the heart of Himachal is very extensive in nature. Himachal shares its borders with Jammu & Kashmir to the north, Punjab to the west, Haryana to the southwest, and a very narrow borderline with Uttar Pradesh. The state’s international borders comprise Tibet Autonomous Region (in the east) in China. People also call Himachal Dev Bhoomi which means “Land of Gods” and also Veer Bhoomi meaning “Land of the Brave”.

Himachal is equally popular for its adventurous activities. Therefore, people who are looking out for some thrill and fun to introduce a little change into their boring lives can try these adventurous activities:

Spiti valley is quite popular among adventure-loving people which is located in the Spiti District and is situated at an altitude of over 3000 meters. Also, Himachal is the hub of some of the oldest Buddhist Monasteries across the globe.

Much away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the very beautiful and enchanting Hadimba temple is located which always remains surrounded by deodar trees. The main deity of this temple is Hidimba, the wife of Bhima (one of the five Pandava princes from the great epic Mahabharata). Tourists can plan their trip during the three-day Hidimba Devi festival that takes place every year and is known to be attended by thousands of devotees from all over the World.

Known to be an awesome destination that remains covered by a green blanket of pine and Deodar trees, Panchpula is also famous for its enfolding refreshing water streams. If you are planning for a picnic to spend some quality time with your family and friends, this place can rightly serve the purpose to enjoy the breathtaking views of exotic waterfalls and refreshing streams.

It is considered to be a 4,414-meter-high mountain pass occupying the Chamba district in Himachal on the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas. Though this road or pass is mainly used by the Indian Army and falls under the category of a protected area, this place is famous for its picturesque views and white landscapes that mostly remain covered with snow almost throughout the year.

This peak holds the record of being one of the highest points in the Dalhousie area. It is also known as the Singing Hill where tourists can get the opportunity of having a 360-degree view into the depths of the beautiful valleys. Daikund is also known as “Witch’s Pond”.

Continuing to be the main shrine in the Chamba district of Himachal, the Laxmi Narayan Temple is an ancient yet significant temple that was constructed in the 10th century under the supervision of Raja Sahil Verman. The temple remains protected from heavy snowfall due to the presence of wooden chattries and a shell roof at the top. A metallic image of Garuda (the mount of Lord Vishnu) is present inside the temple having great historical significance.

The Dalai Lama is the founder of Dharamshala in Himachal and he established Dharamshala as an ideal place to establish his “capital in exile” at McLeod Ganj. Therefore, the state has received a unique religious status that follows Buddhist traditions. It can be seen that the influence of Buddhism is quite strong in this region (Trans-Himalayan) which remains bounded by the Indus River on the extreme west and the Tons-Yamuna River gorge on the east.

Himachal cuisine is a perfect blend of Punjabi and Tibetan dishes, accompanied by lentils, pulses, rice and red meat constituting most of the delicacies here. One of the most popular dish of Himachal is Dhaam- which is a complete meal. This dish contains a spicy curry of red kidney beans, fried dal, aromatic rice, boor ki kadi, curd, sweets salad and some jaggery. Another popular dish is Madra which is prepared using soaked chickpeas or vegetables, with a range of spices like cumin, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, coriander powder and turmeric powder that adds a rich flavour to it.

Tourists can book their tour package to Himachal from February to June because it is the best time to visit this place. Besides, the most popular time to visit Himachal is during winters (between October and February).