Top Ten Places To Visit In Himachal Pradesh

If the Indian states could participate in a beauty pageant, Himachal Pradesh would be the prime contender to win it. Sweetly nestled in the Northern part of India, Himachal Pradesh offers stunning snow-capped mountains, exquisite lakes, scrumptious fruits, gigantic Pine trees, surreal scenery, gorgeous landscapes, adorable gable houses, and kind people.

As I write this article, I am trying to curb my desire to visit Himachal Pradesh, once again. With this article, we are going to tell you about ten of the must visit places in our beloved state, Himachal Pradesh, in no particular order.

1. Lahaul and Spiti

Lahaul and Spiti are two of the hidden gems of India. If you want to experience the beauty of Pangong Tso or Tso Moriri sans the maddening crowd, Chandra Taal is the place for you. If you want to trek a valley like Nubra, Lahaul is the one for you. If you want to visit the stunning Thiksey monastery without having to go to Ladakh, Kye Monastery is there for you. Populated mainly by Buddhists, Lahaul and Spiti are the mini Ladakh of India. Visit the snow point Kunzum during the winters. If lucky, you can witness the endangered Snow Leopard(s).

Best time to visit: May to July.

2. Dharamsala

If you want to experience the Tibetan culture without visiting Tibet, Dharamsala is the place for you. Exquisitely nestled in the town is the most beautiful Cricket stadium in the world. A little over ten kilometers from Dharamsala is McLeod Ganj which is the home of His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama. Adjoining McLeod Ganj is Upper Bhagsu. The other most popular attractions in Dharamsala and its suburbs are Triund, Bhagsu Waterfalls, Norbulingka Institute, and Dalai Lama Temple Complex.

Best time to visit: April to June and October to February.

3. Bir Billing

Bir Billing is the Mecca of adventure sports in India, especially Paragliding. It was here where the 2015 Paragliding World Cup was held. If you are an adventure freak, Bir Billing is the place for you. With activities like Mountain Biking, Camping, Paragliding, Trekking, and Hand gliding, Bir Billing has a lot to offer. The other major attractions in Bir Billing is the Deer Park Institute.

Best time to visit: April to June.

4.Mandi

Mandi is located in the center of Himachal Pradesh. It is fairly oblivious to most of the people visiting the state. It is home to one of the new IITs in the country. In the outskirts of Mandi lies one of the most gorgeous and most underrated lakes in India - Prashar Lake. The trek to the is equally stunning. Other noteworthy attractions in Mandi are Barot Valley and Rewalsar Lake. There are also many spiritual centers in Mandi that are worth visiting.

Best time to visit: October to May.

5. Nahan

Nahan is a small hill station located in the Shivalik Hill Range. The town is situated at an altitude of approximately 930 metres above sea level. Choordhar Peak is the most attractive place in Nahan, known for trekking and rock climbing. Renuka Lake, Trilokpur Temple, and Suketi Fossil Park are the other must-visit places in the region. The roads are well maintained and clean. What makes Nahan an even better is that it is an offbeat place to visit.

Best time to visit: The hill station offers breathtakingly beautiful sceneries, pretty much throughout the year.

6. Manali

Manali can be casually termed as the former Honeymoon Capital of India. Today, it is much more than that. A lot of youth visit this beautiful town, making it one of the most visited places in Himachal Pradesh. Solang Valley, situated 13 kilometers Northwest of Manali offer a bevy of adventure activities like Paragliding, Skiing, Zorbing, etc. Places like Hadimba Devi Temple, Jogini Falls and Beas Kund are some of the other major tourist attractions in Manali.

Best time to visit: April to June and November to February.

7. Shimla

Shimla is arguably the most popular hill station in India. The Queen of hill stations is the hybrid form of India's Pahadi culture and British sophistication. Its exquisite weather make it a tourist hot spot. When in the capital of the state, enjoy a visit to Jakhu Temple, a ride in a toy train, a trek to Jakhu Hill, a game of polo in Annandale, and shopping at Mall Road.

Best time to visit: May to July and December to February.

8. Kasol

Kasol is a small town, nestled in the Parvati Valley. It is known as Mini Israel, because a lot of Israelis visit Kasol and stay here for months. It is on the way from Bhuntar to Manikaran. It is famous for its locally grown drugs, so it is not an ideal place to visit for families. However, the famous trek to Kheerganga begins from Kasol, so a lot of trekkers visit this place.

Best time to visit: May and June.

9. Kasauli

Kasauli is an army cantonment. People usually visit its neighbouring city, Shimla, for it is more popular. That, thankfully, has kept the crowd away from Kasauli. It has an old, colonial environment which can be seen in its cobbled roads, gable houses coupled with a lawn or a facade, crafty shops, and tens of orchards and gardens. It offers stunning view of the landscapes surrounding the hill. Some of the places one should visit in Kasauli are Christ Church, the Manki Point, the Sunset Point, the Monkey Point, Baptist Church, Kasauli Breweries, Kasauli Club, and Kasauli Regency Hotel for its rooftop bar, etc.

Best time to visit: November to March.

10. Malana

This village in Himachal Pradesh is unlike any other. The villagers consider themselves descendants of Alexander The Great. Therefore, it is also called the Greece of India. Interestingly, villagers believe in untouchability with outsiders, and consider themselves superior than outsiders. It offers beautiful view to its landscapes and snow clad Himalayas. It is famous for Malana crAme, the best hash known to humans.

Best time to visit: May to August.