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About Himachal Pradesh
 As the name connotes ('Him' means snow), it is a land of
snow-clad mountains, snow-fed rivers and sparkling streams,
the beauty of which has lured many to this enchanting place.
Himachal Pradesh is a hallowed land, a land of gods, goddesses
and saints. Religion is the bed-rock on which the culture,
arts and crafts of this state are founded. This is more than
evident in the numerous Hindu and Buddhist shrines and
monasteries, where the people of Himachal have surpassed in
stone and woodcarvings.Nestled in the Himalayas, the world's
mightiest mountain ranges, Himachal is blessed with some of
the most spectacular landscapes anywhere.
Truly a travellers paradise, with
mighty snow peaks, deep gorges, lush green and golden valleys,
flower filled meadows, misty woods, fast flowing icy rivers,
glaciers and enchanting lakes. While the picturesque valleys
of Kullu, Kinnaur and Kangra are a riot of colours, in marked
contrast the barren terrain of Lahaul & Spiti have a
stunning lunar landscape like beauty.
For the visitor there
are superb locations for relaxing and sight seeing. There are
also tremendous opportunities for trekking, mountaineering,
fishing, river rafting, skiing, para-gliding, ice skating and
golf. Himachal Tourism has been divided into four interesting
travel circuits The Sutlej
Voyage circuit passes through the shiwalik foot hills
through apple orchards, forests of pine, oak and deodar,
majestic monuments of the Raj, snow covered ski slopes and the
furious Sutlej river.
This circuit covers Delhi - Rohru -
Rampur - Sarahan - Narkanda - Naldehra - Tattapani - Shimla -
Kiarighat - Delhi. This voyage also includes Renuka, Paonta
Sahib and Nahan. The Beas Voyage covers the highly picturesque
Beas valley - the valley of gods. Flower covered meadows,
terraced fields of apple, paddy, maize and the sparkling Beas
river. It covers Delhi - Shimla - Mandi - Rewalsar -
KulluManali - Rohtang - Nagar Manikaran - Delhi. One can also
continue to Leh across the Baralacha pass.
The Dhauladhar Voyage circuit
passes in the shadow of the mighty and majestic snow clad
Dhauladhar ranges, which dominate the beautiful Kangra valley,
dotted by flower filled meadows, temples, tea gardens and
flocks of sheep. It covers: Delhi - Chintpurni - Jwalamukhi -
Kangra - Dalhousie - Khajjiar - Chamba - Dharamsala - Chamunda
- Palampur - Jogindernagar - Delhi.
The Tribal Voyage Circuit passes through a
spectacular terrain of river valleys, cold desert mountains,
high passes, snow capped peaks, icy lakes, mighty glaciers-an
exotic tribal country dotted by monasteries. It covers: Delhi
- Shimla - Narkanda/Hatkoti - Sarahan - Sangla - Kalpa - Pooh
- Nako - Tabo - Dhankar - Kaza - Losar - Kunzam - Koksar -
Sissu - Keylong - Udaipur - Trilokpur - Rohtang - Manali -
Delhi.
 Himachal Tourist Information :
Area : 55673 sq. km Population
5.2 million Literacy 64% Average rain fall 1400 mm.
Climate : Temperate.
Clothing : Cotton in summer and woollen in
winter.
Season : Winter
(Dec-March) Av. temp. -5C to 25C in lower hills. -5C to 15C in
mid hills Summer (April-June) Av. temp. 15C to 35C in lower
hills. 10C to 25C in in mid/higher hills Monsoon (July
15th-Sept.) Av. temp. 15C to 30C in lower hills. 10C to 25C in
mid/higher hill Nearest Railway Station (Broad gauge)
Chandigarh, Kalka, Pathankot and Nangal. (Narrow gauge)
Shimla, Jogindernagar.
Airport :
Jubbarhatti (Shimla), Bhuntar (Kullu) and Gaggal
(Dharamsala)
Important Trek
routes: Rohru - Chanshal - Dodrakwar - Rupin - Sangla;
Sangla - Badrinath; Jalori pass; Chandrakhani - Pass (Kullu
Manali - Chandratal Manali - Parvati valley Dharamsala -
Triuns - Chamba Bharmour - Manimahesh Chamba - Kullar over
Sach pass; Bharmour - Baijnath; Bharmour - Lahaul; Chandratal;
Barashigri glacier; Kinner - Kailash Bhaba - Pin
Valley.
Skiing and Ice Skating :
(January to March) Solang Nalla (Manali) Narkanda and Rohtang
Pass. Ice Skating Shimla, Heli-skiing Manali.
River Rafting : In Sutlej, Beas and Chenab
rivers, Shamshi (Kullu), Tattapani, Rampur and Jispa. (Lahaul)
Para-gliding & Hang-gliding :
Bir, Manali, Bilaspur and Rohru
Lake
sports : Gobindsagar (Bilaspur) Pongdam
(Kangra)
Fishing : Rohru, Sangla,
Sainj, Katrain, Barot for trout fishing
Wildlife Parks and Sanctuaries : Great
Himalayan National Park Parvati Valley, Kullu. High altitude
Pin valley National park, Spiti. Renuka Sanctuary, Pongdam
Sanctuary, Sarahan Phasentry, Kufri and Gopalpur zoo.
Lakes and Rivers : Beas, Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, Yamuna,
Pabbar, Giri, Parvati, Baspa
Lakes : Prashar, Khajjiar, Renuka,
Gobindsagar, Dal, Pongdam, Pandoh, Manimahesh, Brighu,
Chandratal.
Temples : Jwalamukhi,
Chamunda, Brajeshwari, Chintpurni, Baijnath, Laxminarayan,
Chaurasi, Chhatrari, Taranadevi, Rewalsar, Raghunath,
Bijlimahadev, Dhungri, Bhimakali, Hatkoti Jakhoo,
Sankatmochan, Kalibari, Nainadevi and Baba balak nath,
Deothsidh.
Buddhist Monasteries : Dharamsala Tashizong, Rewalsar, Manali, Kardang, Sashur, Key,
Dhankar, Tabo, Nako, Pooh, Kanam, Jangi, Murang, Ribba,
Reckongpeo.
Sikh Pilgrimage
Centres : Paonta Sahib, Rewalsar and
Manikaran.
 Churches : Christ
Church Kasauli, Christ Church Shimla, St. Johns Church,
Mecleodgang, St. Francis Dalhousie.
Fairs : Winter Carnival Manali, (Feb.)
Mandi, Shivratri (March), Ladarcha fair, Spiti, (July) Minjar
fair, Chamba, Manimahesh fair, Bharmour and Tribal Festival,
Keylong (August) Phulech (festival of flowers), Kinnaur
(Sept.) Kullu Dushera (October), Lavi fair, Rampur (Nov.),
Renuka fair, (Nov.) Ice Skating Carnival, (Dec.).
Heritage
Monuments : Kangra fort, Taragarh, Rampur, Nalagarh, Arki and
Jubbal palaces, Bhimakali Temple, Naggar Castle, Kamru fort,
Gondla fort (Lahaul Vice regal lodge, Christ Church, Chapslee,
Wood villa palace, Chail Palace.
Museums : State Museum, Shimla, Kangra art
Gallery Dharamsala, Bhurisingh Museum Chamba, Roerich art
gallery Naggar, Sobha Singh art gallery
Andreta.
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