Himachal Pradesh
Photos: Harvinder Chandigarh (CC BY-SA 4.0) · UnpetitproleX (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Amit Phulera (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mountain state in the western Himalaya: colonial hill stations, Kullu-Manali, Tibetan Dharamshala, and high-altitude Spiti, Kinnaur and Lahaul.
Plan by altitude and season: lower hills (Shimla, Kasauli, Dharamshala, Dalhousie) work most of the year, Kullu-Manali peaks in summer and snow season, and Spiti/Lahaul/upper Kinnaur are a June–October road-trip window.
Highlights: Kalka–Shimla UNESCO toy train · Manali, Solang Valley and the Atal Tunnel into Lahaul · Parvati Valley (Kasol, Tosh, Kheerganga) · McLeod Ganj and the Dalai Lama's temple complex · Paragliding at Bir Billing · Spiti Valley monasteries (Key, Tabo, Dhankar) · Kinnaur's Sangla Valley and Chitkul · Great Himalayan National Park and Tirthan Valley · Kullu Dussehra
When to go
Green best · blue good · red avoid · this month outlinedDestinations
Towns, valleys and cities worth the trip, with how they rate this month.
Shimla
Himachal's capital and former British summer capital: Mall Road, the Ridge, colonial buildings and the UNESCO toy train from Kalka.
Dharamshala
Kangra district HQ under the Dhauladhar range; cricket stadium, war memorial and the gateway to McLeod Ganj.
Kullu
District town of the Kullu Valley, home of Kullu Dussehra, river rafting and Kullu shawls; near Bhuntar airport.
Manali
Kullu Valley's adventure and honeymoon hub at ~2,050 m: Old Manali cafes, Hadimba temple, Solang, Atal Tunnel and the road to Lahaul–Spiti–Leh.
Palampur
Tea capital of north India: estates, Dhauladhar views, Andretta artists' village and Baijnath temple nearby.
Manikaran
Pilgrim town with hot springs, Gurudwara Sahib and Shiva temple, 4–5 km beyond Kasol.
Narkanda
Apple-orchard town on NH5 at ~2,700 m with Hatu Peak and winter ski slopes; quieter than Shimla.
Kasauli
Small cantonment hill town near Chandigarh with colonial lanes, the Gilbert Trail and Monkey Point.
Kufri
Small snow point 16 km from Shimla, known for winter snow play, horse rides and the Himalayan Nature Park.
Chail
Quiet forested hill station with the Chail Palace and one of the world's highest cricket grounds; easy from Chandigarh.
Solang Valley
Adventure valley ~13 km from Manali: paragliding, ropeway, skiing in winter; on the road to the Atal Tunnel.
Kasol
Backpacker village in the Parvati Valley; base for Tosh, Kheerganga, Chalal and Malana. Riverside cafes and Israeli food.
Jibhi
Wooden-cottage village in the Banjar valley near Jalori Pass; base for Serolsar Lake, Chehni Kothi and Jibhi waterfall.
Tirthan Valley
River valley at the gateway to the UNESCO-listed Great Himalayan National Park; trout, homestays and forest treks.
Sissu
First village in Lahaul after the Atal Tunnel; waterfalls, Chandra river views and the gateway to Keylong, Jispa and Chandratal.
McLeod Ganj
Seat of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government-in-exile; cafes, monasteries and the trailhead for Triund.
Bir
India's paragliding capital: take-off at Billing (~2,400 m), landing at Bir; Tibetan colony and monasteries.
Khajjiar
Meadow ringed by deodar forest with a small lake and Khajji Nag temple, ~24 km from Dalhousie.
Kalpa
Apple-orchard village above Reckong Peo facing the Kinner Kailash range; Roghi village and the 'Suicide Point' cliff road.
Dalhousie
Colonial hill station on five hills in Chamba district; churches, Gandhi Chowk and gateway to Khajjiar.
Top sights
Kangra Fort
Vast ASI-protected hill fort of the Katoch rulers above Kangra town, ruined by the 1905 earthquake, with a museum near the gate.
St. John in the Wilderness Church
1852 neo-Gothic Anglican church in deodar forest at Forsyth Ganj, burial place of Viceroy Lord Elgin.
Solang Valley
Side valley ~13 km from Manali known for skiing in winter and paragliding, zorbing, ATVs and a ropeway in summer.
Rohtang Pass
High pass above Manali on the old Manali–Lahaul road; snowfields in early summer; vehicles need an online NGT permit.
Tosh
Last village of the Parvati valley at ~2,400 m, about an hour's walk above Barshaini; guesthouses and orchards.
Chitkul
Last inhabited village before the Indo-Tibet border in Kinnaur, on the Baspa river at 11,320 ft.
Khajjiar
Meadow plateau ~24 km from Dalhousie ringed by deodars, with a small lake and 12th-century Khajji Nag temple.
Kufri
Hill station 12 km from Shimla on NH5; Mahasu peak, horse rides, Himalayan Nature Park and winter skiing.
Nature and outdoors
Prashar Lake
Lake at ~2,730 m near Mandi with a floating island and a pagoda-style temple to Rishi Prashar; Saranauhali fair in June.
Great Himalayan National Park
UNESCO World Heritage national park in Kullu (Tirthan, Sainj, Jiwa Nal, Parvati catchments); entry by permit.
Prashar Lake Trek
Beginner-friendly forest trek of about 8 km one way from Baggi village to Prashar Lake.
Kareri Lake Trek
Trek from Ghera/Kareri village (taxi from Dharamshala) to Kareri Lake at 2,934 m.
Hampta Pass Trek
Classic 5–6 day crossover from green Kullu side to barren Lahaul over Hampta Pass (14,065 ft); Jobra to Chhatru.
Bhrigu Lake Trek
Steep 4-day trek from Gulaba to a high alpine lake (~4,267 m) above Manali through meadows.
Pin Valley National Park
675 sq km cold-desert national park south of Dhankar in Spiti; snow leopard, ibex and bharal habitat.
Suraj Tal
Lake at ~4,883 m just below Baralacha La on the Manali–Leh highway; source area of the Bhaga river.
Things to do
Where to eat
Indian Coffee House
Old-school, no-frills coffee house on Mall Road known for filter coffee and South Indian snacks.
Sita Ram & Sons
One of Shimla's oldest eateries, famous for its chole bhature (locally called channa bhatura/luchi).
Himachali Rasoi
Small restaurant near Mall Road serving traditional Himachali dham and dishes like siddu, patande and babru.
Wake & Bake Cafe
Upstairs Mall Road cafe opposite the Town Hall, popular for breakfast, crepes and waffles.
Cafe Simla Times
Rooftop cafe, bistro and bar inside Hotel Willow Banks on The Mall, with valley views and wood-fired pizzas.
Cafe Sol (Hotel Combermere)
Restaurant-bar inside Hotel Combermere near the Tourism Lift, known for continental food and wood-fired pizzas.
Cafe Under Tree
Deodar-wood cafe below Jakhoo Temple, known for pahadi chai and patila coffee.
Johnson's Cafe
Garden restaurant and bar on Circuit House Road, famous for its many trout preparations.
Shopping
Mall Road, Shimla
Shimla's pedestrian shopping and promenade street lined with colonial buildings, cafes and woollen and handicraft shops.
Chauntra Market
Bir Artist Market
Tibetan Refugee market
Himachal Emporium
An excellent place to purchase locally made handicrafts at fixed prices. Run by the Himachal Pradesh Government.
Minchys
Himachal Fruit Product products such as jams, squashes and wines. The main shop is on the Delhi-Shimla Highway, you can find stalls everywhere on the highway and in the city.
Rewalsar Bazaar
Mall Road Manali
Manali's main shopping street with shawls, woollens, Tibetan goods, jams, pickles and eateries.
Food to try
- Himachali Dham: Festive rice-and-lentil feast served on leaf plates, cooked by traditional botis
- Siddu: Steamed wheat bun stuffed with poppy-seed or walnut paste, eaten with ghee — Kullu/Shimla speciality
- Chha Gosht: Kangra-style lamb in a gram-flour and yoghurt gravy
- Madra: Chamba dish of chickpeas or kidney beans in yoghurt gravy
- Babru: Fried flatbread stuffed with black gram, Himachali snack
- Thukpa and momos: Tibetan-influenced staples in McLeod Ganj, Spiti, Lahaul and Kinnaur
- Trout: Farmed river trout, common in Kullu, Manali and Tirthan
Festivals
- Kullu Dussehra: Months: 10; Description: Week-long gathering of village deities at Dhalpur, Kullu, starting on Vijayadashami
- International Mandi Shivratri Fair: Months: 2 · 3; Description: Deity procession and fair in Mandi around Mahashivratri
- Minjar Fair: Months: 7 · 8; Description: Chamba's harvest fair
- Losar: Months: 2 · 3; Description: Tibetan/Buddhist New Year in McLeod Ganj, Spiti, Lahaul and Kinnaur
- Lavi Fair: Months: 11; Description: Historic trade fair at Rampur Bushahr
- Phulaich: Months: 9 · 10; Description: Flower festival of Kinnaur