Picturesque Chamba, surrounded by lush forests, is on the south bank of the Iravati river, its stone houses clinging to the hillside. In the town’s centre is the Chaugan, a huge expanse of …

Dalhousie is known for its bracing climate, picturesque scenery and beautiful picnic spots. Named after Lord Dalhousie it was frequented during the British Raj by those who could not make it to Shimla …

Darcha is one of the overnight halts during the 3 day journey on the 485km road between Leh and Manali. This is an extraordinary journey on the second highest motorable road in the world, usually open …

Dharamsala is a hill station that was established by the British in the mid-19th century. It stands on a spur of the Dhauladhar range amidst magnificent deodar and pine forests, tea gardens and …

A small village situated in a valley, Jispa is a convenient place to break the long but spectacular journey between Manali and Leh. Its low altitude helps with acclimatization and its handful of …

Kalka, situated on the border of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana is the starting point for a toy train to the hill station of Shimla. Though a slow train it is worth a ride for those who wish to enjoy …

Katrain, in the widest part of the Kullu Valley mid-way between Kullu and Manali, is overlooked by Baragarh Peak. It is an area of beautiful deodars, horse chestnuts and fruit orchards. On the other …

Keylong is the overnight halt during the 2 day trip between Leh and Manali. This is an extraordinary journey on the second highest motorable road in the world, usually open only from early June to mid …

The Kullu Valley, or the `Valley of Gods’, hosts each year the dramatically colourful Dusshera festival. There are fruit and apple orchards, rice paddies and wheat fields along the valley floor …

Manali is situated on the Beas river (and near its source), at the northern tip of the Kullu valley. It is a popular tourist spot for Indians in summer and a magical, snow-covered place in winter. The …

The historic town of Mandi is built along the banks of the river Beas. This one time capital of the princely state of Mandi is a fast developing town that still retains much of its original charm and …

The Hindusthan-Tibet road out of Shimla leads to the attractive hill resort of Mashobra, an area of magnificent mountain ranges, beautiful valleys and dense pine forests. Mashobra is a perfect base …

Nalagarh is a pefect stop on the way from Chandigarh towards the Kulu valley. The scruffy town has a splendid fort, originally built in the 15th century but today converted into a heritage hotel. …

The town of Palampur came into being when a British doctor introduced the tea bush from Almora in 1849. The bush thrived and so did the town which became a focus of the European tea estate owners. …

The medieval village of Pragpur has wonderful cobbled streets and slate-roofed houses and it is the first notified heritage village in India. It nestles in one of the most spectacular panoramic areas …

Called the confluence of religions, for its importance to both Buddhism and Sikhism, the town of Rewalsar is built around the deep green waters of its lake. Cradled by mountains, the lake has inspired …

Sarchu and Jispa are the overnight halts on the famous highway between Manali and Leh, which opened to foreigners only in 1989. This is the second highest motor road in the world, reaching a dizzying …

This most famous of the hill stations was developed by the British in the 19th century as the summer capital of India. Now the capital of Himachal Pradesh, the town has continued to grow and now …

The town of Palampur came into being when Dr. Jameson, Superintendent Botanical Gardens, North-West Frontier Province, introduced the tea bush from Almora in 1849. The bush thrived and so did the town …