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The Kullu valley has an ancient town in its lap called Manali. Surrounded
by towering peaks at an arm length, Manali's major asset is its proximity to
the snowline. It is a flourishing orchard industry, a popular honeymoon
destination and trailhead for numerous treks as well as a great countryside
ideal for adventure sport lovers.
Manali literally means the 'Home of Manu'. Manu is the mythological
character who is supposed to have survived when the world was drowned in
Flood. He then came to Manali and recreated human life. Thus, the area of
Manali is sacred and Hindus treat the temples over here as pilgrimage.
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ArrShimla
(also spelt as 'Simla') derives its name from goddess 'Shayamla Devi', which
is another manifestation of Goddess Kali. The capital of Himachal Pradesh
came into light when the British discovered it in 1819. Till then, it was a
part of the Nepalese kingdom. In 1864 Shimla was declared as the summer
capital of India. After Independence, Shimla became the capital of Punjab
and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. In 1903 a rail line was
constructed between Kalka and Shimla.
Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of.
Dwelling on a panoramic location, the hilly town is surrounded by green
pastures and snow-capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by
the structures made during the colonial era create an aura, which is very
different from other hill stations. .
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Kullu
was once known as Kulanthpitha, which means the end of the habitable world.
Beyond rose the forbidding heights of the Greater Himalayas, and by the
banks of the shining river Beas, lay the fabled 'Silver Valley'. Here is the
core of an intricate web of numerous valleys - each of which is a visual
delight and seems more beautiful than the other. The mountain scapes remain
spectacular whether in brilliant sunshine or in the haze of the mist. The
'Silver Valley' has nature's treasures that lie carelessly scattered as
flowers on the high meadows. The town of Kullu has long been a centre of
faith. In the 17th century, Raja Jagat Singh installed here an idol of Lord
Raghunathji, which he brought from Ayodhya. As a mark of his penance, he
placed the idol on his throne and it became the presiding deity of the
valley.
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great Hiking, some skiing, some beautiful scenes and a cool environment
that's what Kufri is all about. It is famous for its trekking and hiking
trails. Adventure-seeking travelers throng Kufri in winters to enjoy skiing
and tobogganing along its snow-covered slopes. The Skiing season spreads
between November to February and the tourist inflow is at its peak during
winters.
Kufri is a tiny hill station located 19-kms from Shimla on the National
Highway No.22. It has a Himalayan Nature park and close by is the Indira
Tourist Park with HPTDC's Cafe Lalit. Indira Park provides some great views
of the nearby places. Here one can enjoy a Pony or a Yak Ride.
The region around Shimla including Kufri was once a part of the Kingdom of
Nepal. This region remained obscure from the rest of the world until the
British 'discovered' it in 1819. The British made Shimla their summer
capital in 1864 and it remained so until 1939. As Shimla gained importance,
Kufri also began to be recognized as an important place to visit near
Shimla.
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Dalhousie is a quiet town, with a sense of enchantment. This hill station
spreads over five low-level hills at the western edge of the Dhauladhar
range, just east of the Ravi River. The picturesque town is interspersed
with the colonial-era buildings, low roofed stalls and hotels. The
pine-covered slopes around it are intersected with paths and treks, which
are ideal for short undemanding walks.
The gateway to the Chamba Valley, this colonial town was established in
1854 by the British governor-general Lord Dalhousie. Covering an area of 14
sq.-km and surrounded by alpine vegetation, Dalhausie has charming
architecture and panoramic views of both plains and the whitecapped views of
the mountainous ranges.
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Shaped like a saucer, this huge bowl of 7 emerald-turfed meadows, 1.6-km
long and 0.9-km broad, lies embedded beneath a dense pine forest surrounded
by high mountains, and fringed by gigantic deodars. Along its fringes,
amidst the thick forests above the woods and in the centre of the glade, is
a small lake fed by streams that traverse the green carpet. Hutchinson
wrote, "Khajjiar is a forest glade of great beauty, 6,400 feet above
sea level". Khajjiar is often referred as the "Gulmarg of Himachal
Pradesh. On 07-07-1992, Mr. Willy T. Blazer, Vice Counselor and Head of
Chancery of Switzerland in India, brought Khajjiar on the world tourism map
by christening it "Mini Switzerland". He also put a sign board of
a yellow Swiss hiking footpath showing Khajjiar's distance from the Swiss
capital Berne-6,194-kms. Khajjiar is among the 160 locations in the world
that bear topographical resemblance with Switzerland. The Counselor also
took from Khajjiar a stone, which will form part of a stone collage around
the Swiss Parliament to remind the visitors of Khajjiar as Mini Switzerland
of India.
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The former 'summer capital' of Patiala, Chail is 43-km from Shimla
and dwelling in the midst of a lush green setting. At 2,250m, it has the
world's highest cricket pitch and a polo ground, the old palace, now a hotel
and the possibility of some angling are added attractions. Chail is hiker's
paradise. The area is very peaceful away from the hustle and bustle of
Shimla. 3-kms from the hotel is the worlds highest Cricket ground. Close by
is a National Park, which has limited number of birds and deers.
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77-km from Shimla and 35-km from Kalka, at 1,927m, Kasauli is a
quaint little town that seems to exist in a time wrap of an era that reminds
one of the 19th century. Its colonial ambience is reinforced by cobbled
paths, quaint shops, gabled houses with charming facades and scores of neat
little gardens and orchards. Mixed forests of chir-pine, Himalayan oak and
huge horse chestnuts surround Kasauli. Its narrow road slither up and down
the hillsides and offer some magnificent vistas
