Himachal Pradesh
Kullu
Kullu (One of the "Swarg")
Kullu is one of the Best places you will see in India. Here you will see the best snowfall in the whole region. There are various adventurous activities to do. It is also one of the highest elevated land on the Planet. The name Kullu derives from the word "Kulant Peeth", meaning "end of the habitable world". As per legends, during the Great Flood, Manu visited this valley but was unable to cross the Rohtang pass. He named the last settlement he found as Kulant Peeth and chose to settle and meditate in what has now become the town of Manali (Manu's Place). The name further devolved into "Kulut", as the kingdom was known for a long time; before finally being known by the current name of Kullu or Kulu. Kullu town has an average elevation of 1,278 m (4,193 ft). It lies on the bank of Beas River. A major tributary, Sarvari, (derived from "Shiv-Baardi") leads to the less explored and steeper Lug-valley on the west. On the east of Kullu lies a broad mountainous ridge having the village-temples ofBijili Mahadev, Anant Nag and Peej. Beyond the ridge lies Manikaran valley, along the Parvati river which joins Beas at in Bhuntar. On the south of Kullu lie the towns of Bhuntar and Aut, leading to Anni, Banjar, the Sainj Valley) and Mandi (in Mandi district). Historically Kullu was accessible from Shimla via the Sainj valley, or through passes on the west leading to Joginder nagar and onto the district of Kangra 40 km.
Best Places To Visit
Kullu Valley is a broad open valley formed by the Beas River between Manali and Larji. This valley is known for its temples and its hills covered with pine and deodar forest and sprawling apple orchards.
Kullu has a huge history in its sack. It also homes one of the most beautiful temples in India. Bijli Mahadev Temple stands out from all the other temples due to its serenity and scenic beauty. It is located at a height of 2460 m above sea level.
Hamta Pass
Hampta Pass (The Valley of Flowers)
The great Hamta Pass is almost inexpressible and its so magnificient. The high peaks covered with Snow Makes a beautiful Way for Trekking. Almost thousands of Trekkers go to Hampta Pass for Trekking. At 14,000 feet Hampta Pass in Himachal Pradesh falls under those rare, dramatic pass crossings in the Himalayas. On one side is the lush green valley of Kullu — with forests, grasslands, and flowers blooming on the side of your trail. On the other is the almost arid, stark landscape of Lahaul, with barren mountains and almost no vegetation.
Standing on the top of the pass, what’s ahead and behind are two different worlds. It changes in a matter of minutes.
Simply put, the Hampta Pass is Himachal’s Valley of Flowers. The landscape is strikingly similar to that of Valley of Flowers – a green narrow valley protected by snow-covered mountains – but there’s a bonus here.
Bonus
When you get onto the other side of the Hampta Pass, you’ll be in awe looking at the stark contrast from what you just left behind. The landscape that stretches in front of you is Spiti Valley, known for its barren stretches, rugged terrain and forget-me-not blue skies.
Adventure
What makes the dramatic changes heightened, even more, is how thrilling the climb to Hampta Pass is. For trekkers, crossing the Hampta Pass (even without the scenery changes) is a great story of adventure. They will love the nervous excitement of climbing to the pass over many ledges, almost appearing to get to the pass, but never really sure until you get there.
Manali
Manali (Snowfall capital of India).
Manali is one of the coldest place in the world. More than half a year it is covered with a thick sheet of snow. It allows you to see the best part of your life making your vacations or trip more wonderful. The high Peaks covered with snow and so far as you can see there is only snow and on the other side their is good vegetation, Hence giving you a great crave For Manali. Manali features a subtropical highland climate with warm summers, relatively cold winters, and a high diurnal temperature variation.
Adventurous Survival
The temperatures range from −7 °C (19 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F) over the year with the hottest day crossing 30 °C (86 °F) and the coldest day going below −7 °C (19 °F). The average temperature during summer is between 10 °C (50 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F), and between −7 °C (19 °F) to 15 °C (59 °F) in the winterManali is a town, near Kullu town in Kullu district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated in the northern end of the Kullu Valley, formed by the Beas River.
The town is located in the Kullu district, approximately 270 kilometres (170 mi) north of the state capital of Shimla and 544 kilometres (338 mi) northeast of the national capital of New Delhi.
Delightful Scene
Besides natural charm and unparalleled beauty, Manali is known for its unlimited adventure opportunities, the famous Hadimba Temple, the scenic Rohtang Pass, the snow-laden Solang Valley and its delightful culinary scene.
Atal Tunnel
Atal Tunnel (The Record)
The Atal Tunnel is one of the first tunnel made a height of almost 10,000 feet making it the world most highest tunnel. Atal Tunnel (also known as Rohtang Tunnel),named after former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a highway tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas on the National Highway 3 in Himachal Pradesh, India. At a length of 9.02 km, it is the highest highway single-tube tunnel above 10,000 feet (3,048 m) in the world. With the existing Atal Tunnel and after the completion of under-construction Shinku La Tunnel, which is targeted to be completed by 2025, the new Leh-Manali Highway via Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road will become all-weather road.
The tunnel reduces the travel time and overall distance between Manali and Keylong on the way to Leh. The route, which previously went through Gramphu, was 116 km (72.1 mi) long and took 5 to 6 hours in good conditions. A traveller now reaches the South Portal of the tunnel from Manali, a distance of 24.4 km (15.2 mi) in about 45 minutes.
The tunnel is at an elevation of 3,100 metres (10,171 ft) whereas the Rohtang Pass is at an elevation of 3,978 metres (13,051 ft). It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3 October 2020. The cost of the entire project is ₹3,200 crore (US$438 million).[10] The tunnel was completed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Ministry of Defence. The tunnel can be visited by citizens and students of the nation. As well as tourist also visit the Pass.
There are Extra Charges for visiting the Atal Tunnel from Inside.
Solang Valley
Majestic Solang Valley
The majestic Solang Valley is renowned for its vast slopes of greenery, contributing to its status as a favorite ski resort. The sprawling expanse of lush lawns in the valley has earned it a reputation as a popular destination for skiing enthusiasts. The resort is also known for its world-class ski school and family activities.
Solang Valley derives its name from a combination of the words Solang (Nearby village) and Nallah (water stream). It is a side valley at the top of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India 14 km northwest of the resort town Manali on the way to Rohtang Pass, and is known for its summer and winter sports conditions. The sports most commonly offered are parachuting, paragliding, skating, and zorbing.
. The village has many shops, including a candy store, which has been featured on Food Network shows.[citation needed] A few ski agencies offering courses and equipment reside here and operate only during winter.
Adventure
Snow melts during the summer months starting in May and skiing is then replaced by zorbing (a giant ball with room for 2 people which is rolled down a 200-metre hill).
The Best things to do in Solang Valley are:
Horse Riding
Parachuting
Para Gliding
Shimla
About the Shimla
Shimla (The Unparallel State)
Shimla is visited by hordes of tourists for its unparallel natural beauty. Known as one of the most popular hill stations of north, Shimal is also popularly called as “Queen of the Hills”.
In 1864, Shimla was declared as the Summer Capital of British India. After independence, the city became the capital of East Punjab and was later made the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. It is the principal commercial, cultural and educational centre of the state.
The name “Shimla” has been derived from the name of the Goddess “ Shymala Devi”, that is a form of Goddess Kali. Due to wonderful scenic terrains of Shimla, in the year 2005, MTB Himalaya biking Race has been started in Shimla. It is considered as one of the biggest events of South East Asia. Nestled among the lap of the nature, Shimla has a picture perfect look. The town is nestled among the snow-clad ranges of Himalaya and has many lakes and lush green plantation. The ambience created by this city is not found anywhere else in India.
The Winter Carnival and the Summer Carnival are the major events of this town. Almost all the major festivals of Hindus, Christians, Sikhs , Muslims and Buddhists are celebrated here. The Photo Art Gallery of Shimla is one of the best places to know about rich culture and heritage of Shimla.
A perfect event to be organized during winters. Ice skating and skiing are arranged during the winter months December-February.
Every year in the month of May, summer festival is celebrated at Ridge of Shimal where baby shows, dances, flowers shows and other events are arranged.
Lahaul Spiti
About Lahaul Spiti
Lahaul Spiti
The valley is known for its scenic beauty, with high mountains, snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and rivers. The main town in Lahaul Valley is Keylong, which serves as a base for trekking and mountaineering expeditions in the surrounding mountains.
Lahaul Valley is located at a lower altitude than Spiti Valley, with its average elevation around 3000 meters, while Spiti Valley is located at an average elevation of around 4000 meters.Valley is a high-altitude region located between the Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. The valley is formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers, which join at Tandi near Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti district.
The Cold Desert
While we know Spiti as a cold desert region, Lahaul Valley has a milder climate and is greener too. Upon entering Lahaul Valley, the first village you will come across is Khoksar. Though Khoksar can be a very difficult place in winter with regular avalanches, the village is a sight to behold in the summer season. Meadows with alpine blooms and several water channels all around turn Khoksar into a dreamy place.
The Hub of Buddhism
It is a thriving centre of Buddhism and home to several monasteries which are repositories of ancient murals, thangkas, wood carvings and massive statues of Guru Padmasambhava, the missionary who introduced Buddhism to Lahaul, Spiti and Tibet.