Himachal is full of famous destinations

Do you know what the name Himachal Pradesh means? The province (Pradesh) of the snow-laden mountains (Himachal). So when asked about Himachal Pradesh, most people would not say it is the northernmost state of India or it shares borders with Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab and Uttarakhand etc. But instead they would say Himachal is the state where you can marvel at the snow-covered peaks and beautiful ribbon-like rivers and glaring glaciers. Not only for the stunning snowy slopes, Himachal is also known as "Dev Bhoomi" (Abode of Gods) and "Veera Bhoomi" (Land of the Braves) due to the abundance of religious and spiritual places scattered all over the state and its repeated mentions in ancient Hindu texts. Now if you are interested in going to this beautiful state of Himachal, you must know the best places in Himachal Pradesh. To help you out, we are listing here the top 10 places in Himachal Pradesh.

Dharamshala

Let's start off the list with the winter capital of the state, Dharamshala. Taking its name from an old Hindu Sanctuary, Dharamsàl, Dharamshala has been one of the best places in Himachal Pradesh which attracts the most tourists. Surrounded by dense coniferous forest of Deodar cedar trees and the beautiful tea-gardens, here's a list of tourist-favoured sights in Dharamshala-

• The McLeod Ganj Town- Situated in the upper riches of the state, this town is not only among the top 10 places in Himachal Pradesh, but also famous worldwide as the abode of Dalai Lama. Attracting tourists from both India and foreign, this town is a must-visit while in Himachal.

• Trekking/rock climbing spots- If you are a trekking and rock-climbing enthusiast, you can go for a number of treks from Dharamshala, to - the Kareri Lake lying near Kareri village, Bhangshu, Dharamkot, Triund, Ilaqa Got and so many more. Through the thick forests of Pine, Deodar cedar, oak, pink rhododendrons and streams, rivers, waterfalls and glaciers, these trekking routes are sights to behold.

Delicacies: Do try out the Dharamshala or Kangra tea when in Dharamshala.

Special mention: Dharamshala International Film Festival. If you are interested, you can drop by the time of the festival.

Shimla

Next of course, the state capital- Shimla. There is hardly any person who has not heard of Shimla or planned to go there once in their life, right? Considered the summer capital of British India, Shimla is the largest city of Himachal Pradesh. Because it was built on top of seven hills initially, Shimla is known lovingly as the "Queen of Hills" by the people. You can not exclude Shimla from the list of top 10 places in Himachal Pradesh, so let's take a look at the sights you can visit while in Shimla-

• The Ridge- A large open space with notable buildings.

• Annadale- Developed as a racecourse, it now has the Army Heritage Museum, a golf course and a helipad which are major attractions of Shimla.

• State Museum- If you like to look at the culture of any place by looking at their history, this is the place to go to for Shimla. It has an impressive collection of miniature pahari paintings, sculptures, bronzes, wood-carvings, jewellery and textiles from this specific region.

• Lakkar Bazaar- Extending off the Ridge, this market is an ideal place to collect souvenirs for your trip. The beautiful jewellery, shawls, leather-made articles and wooden sculptures are sure to take your breath away.

• Religious places- You can visit the Kali Bari temple (for the Hindu Goddess Kali), Jakhoo Temple (for Hanuman) and Sankatmochan Temple (Hanuman) and Tara Devi temple in Shimla. There is also a Gurudwara, and the famous Christ Church to see.

Special mention: The 3-4 day long Shimla Summer Festival, the seven-day long Winter Carnival, Ice Skating Club's carnival. The first two are celebrated on the Ridge, the third on the club, you can schedule your visit around any one.

Kullu

Heard of Himachal Pradesh but not of Kullu? That is simply impossible. An open valley formed by the Beas river between Manali and Larji, Kullu is one of the best places in Himachal Pradesh to visit. With its fair share of temples, Kullu is one among the top 10 places in Himachal Pradesh because of its generous forests of Deodar towering above pine trees and the lower rocky ridges. The sprawling apple orchards add more to the magnificence of this city situated between the Pir Panjal, Lower and Greater Himalayan Ranges. The places you can visit in Kullu are-

• Great Himalayan National Park and different sanctuaries- Kullu has a varied biodiversity with some of the rarest animals- Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan brown bear, the snow leopard, monal etc. You can roam around the National park and look at the marvellous flora and fauna of this Himalayan region, or you can also go to the many wildlife sanctuaries there- Khokhan, Kais, Tirthan, Kanawar etc.

• Religious places- Kullu is known for its many religious sights for Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs. You can visit the Raghunath Temple (For Rama), Shringi Rishi Temple (One of the eighteen chief deities of Kullu), Vaishno Devi Mandir, Bijli Mahadev Temple (also the highest point around Kullu). If you are interested in the architecture, Basheshwar Mahadev Temple is famous for its pagoda-like structure, intricate wooden and stone carvings alongside its religious significance.

• International Angora Breeding Farm- A grand forest and river surrounded farm where Angora rabbit's hair is cut for high-end luxury shawls and stoles.

• Shoja- A little far away, Shoja is a vantage point for a complete panorama of the Kullu area with all its forests, streams, snow-peaks and valleys.

Try to collect: The Kullu Shawl, made of many natural fibres including Pashmina, sheep-wool and angora.

Special mention- The seven-day festival of Kullu Dussehra, Kullu Holi. First one occurs around the months of October-November.

Manali

When we are talking about Kullu, how can we talk about Manali? After all, they are always uttered together- Kullu- Manali! Situated in the northern end of the Kullu valley, Manali is one of the best places in Himachal Pradesh. Formed by the Beas river, the beauty of Manali is incomparable. And the history that comes with it makes it all the more appealing to the tourists. The beginning of an ancient trade route through Lahaul and Ladakh to China, Manali is among the top 10 places in Himachal Pradesh. Named after the Sanātanī lawgiver Manu, Manali actually means "the Abode of Manu '', and has gathered its reputation as one of the most famous hill stations in India.

• Manali is the most famous for adventure tourism- skiing, paragliding, rafting, mountaineering. Each year, thousands of people come here to ski.

• The scenic Rohtang Pass and the snow-covered Solang valley are some of the most beautiful places in not only Himachal, but in India.

• Religious places- Of course, Manali has a temple of its namesake- a beautiful temple in the name of Manu. Located in the Dungri village in Manali, the Hadimba temple's intricate wood carvings, pagoda structure is also there.

Delicacies- When in Manali, do not forget to taste "Mittha", a famous street food of Manali.

Kasauli

Kasauli, located in Solan district in Himachal Pradesh is among the top 10 places in Himachal Pradesh for its exceptional scenic beauty and pleasing weather. It also has an array of places for an eager tourist to look through. Let's have a glimpse at what Kasauli has to offer-

• Monkey point- Situated in the Air Force Station, Monkey point is a hill with religious significance and a point from where even Chandigarh can be seen on clear nights.

• Beja State- It was one of the 18 Simla Hill States situated just below Kasauli, even now a place of spectacular beauty.

• Baptist Church- Kasauli's famous Baptist Church is considered "a unique example of colonial architecture of the British era". Founded in 1923, it has seen a lot of colonial rule in India.

• Central Research Institute- A historically significant research institute of immunology and virology which also works as a collaborating centre with WHO (World Health Organisation).

• Religious places- The Gurudwara Sri Guru Nanak Ji is also there in Kasauli, near Garkhel Bazaar, for you to visit. There is also the Nahri temple for Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva, people from far away come to visit this temple.

Special mention- Festive celebration of Dussehra and Shivratri in Nahri Temple.

Chail

Now the destination we are going to talk about is Chail, a hill station in Solan district, Himachal. It is indeed one of the best places in Himachal Pradesh, because it has a lot to offer alongside its salubrious beauty and virgin forests-

• The Chail Palace- Well known for its architectural value, Chail Palace is also significant for its history.

• Chail Sanctuary- Covering about 10,854.36 hectares, this Sanctuary has 'ghoral', 'kakkar', 'sambhar', 'red jungle fowl' and 'khalij' and 'cheer' pheasants.

• Religious places- Chail Gurudwara is a spectacular piece of architecture of Indo-western style with a 22 feet high wooden roof.

• Trekking routes- Offering wonderful views of the lower Himalayas, it has good trekking routes to Junga, Kufri, Ashwani Khad etc.

Special mention- Camping is a must when in Chail.

Kufri

A resort hill station just 20 km from Shimla. On Kufri Avenue, the main thoroughfare, boutiques, restaurants and souvenir shops are to look for during a visit. The name "Kufri" comes from the word "Kufir" (lake in the local language). Places you can visit while in Kufri-

• Himalayan Wildlife Zoo- The highest point in the surrounding region, Kufri has a Himalayan Wildlife Zoo, where you can see rare antelopes, felines, birds including the Himalayan monal. You can also go skiing through the potato plantation during winter.

• Kufri Fun Campus- Kufri Fun Campus is an amusement park with various rides, pools and world's highest go-kart track.

• Chini Bungalow- The Kufri bungalow is significant for its collection of statues and beautiful architecture.

Special mention- Keep an eye out for the Kufri Yak.

Khajjiar

Known as the "Mini Switzerland '' of India with its exceptional scenic views and rare combination of lake, pasture and forest at one place, Khajjiar lies on a small plateau with a small stream-fed lame in the middle covered with weeds. One of the best places in Himachal Pradesh,it is a hill station enclosed by vast meadows and thick pine forests, so walking idly around the lake or going for long walks in the forest is the best way to spend your time in Khajjiar-

• Khajjiar Lake- It is a small lake, surrounded by saucer-shaped lush green meadow and a floating island. The dense growth of weed called vacha and thick layers of earth cover the banks.

• Dhauladhar mountains- Khajjiar is situated at the base of Dhauladhar mountains, you can get a panoramic view of the lush green meadows and deep forests from here.

• Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary- The Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary with diverse flora and fauna. Densely covered with deodar and fir, it is an ideal spot for picnics.

• Religious places- There is a Khajji Nag Temple made in the 12th century. Alongside its religious connection with the Pandavas, it has exceptional architectural value.

• Trekking routes- From Khajjiar, you can go trekking to numerous places including Dainkund which offers a beautiful camping site and excellent views.

Dalhousie

Next stop on our list- Dalhousie. The nearest city from Khajjiar. One of the best places in Himachal Pradesh to visit, Dalhousie is actually a hill-station situated in Chamba district. Named after the Earl of Dalhousie, the city has been historically considered a summer retreat for the British for its cool weather. With snowfall and frost as common occurrences, Dalhousie has been known for having pleasant climate and natural beauty.

• Saptdhara Waterfall- When in Dalhousie, definitely check out the Saptdhara waterfall. Beautiful in sunlight, it is a sight to remember.

• Burma Bridge- Check out the Burma Bridge while in Dalhousie.

• Trekking routes and adventure sports- Dalhousie is famous as the starting point of Ganji Pahari trek and activities like Zip Lining and such.

Kasol

An open glade or hamlet by the banks of the river Parvati, Kasol is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Himachal. In this charming place, clean white sand separates the lush green grass from the water. The water here is famous for trout. Also known as Mini-Israel, Kasol is famous for its bustling market.

• Trekking routes- Kasol is famously known for its thrilling treks to Malana and Kheerganga.

• Nature Park.

• There are also a lot of hot water springs in Kasol one can roam around.

Special mention- Himachal Hills Festival.

Now that our list is finished, do not think these are the only places to visit in Himachal. It is so beautiful all around that we had to sort out the most beautiful ones. So, check your calendar, pack your bag and come to Himachal!