Himachal Pradesh

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Eagles soaring near the Dhauladhar Mountains, Dharamsala

Himachal Pradesh [1] is a state in north-western India, and offers much for those looking to experience the Himalayas. While it doesn't claim the highest peaks in the range, there is plenty to do aside from mountaineering.

[edit] Districts

There are twelve districts in Himachel Pradesh State.

• Bilaspur
• Chamba
• Hamirpur
• Kangra
• Kinnaur
• Kullu
• Lahaul and Spiti
• Mandi
• Sirmaur
• Shimla
• Solan
• Una

[edit] Cities

Tibetan temple and monks, Dharamsala

• Shimla - the state capital
• Bilaspur
• Dalhousie - a sleepy little town which retains its Victorian charm
• Dharamsala - the home of the Dalai Lama and India's largest Tibetan community, and a major Buddhist center
• Kullu - a few km south of Manali
• Manali - a ski resort
• Mandi
• Mundi

[edit] Other destinations

• Rewalsar (Tibetan: Tsopema) - a lake sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus

[edit] Understand

[edit] Talk

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Shimla, Kullu (for Manali) and Kangra (for Dharamsala) have small airports, with services largely limited to Delhi. Flights are frequently cancelled or delayed by adverse weather.

[edit] By train

Few points in Himachal are easily accessible by train, but there are narrow-gauge railways from Pathankot (Punjab) to Kangra and Kalka (Haryana) to Shimla.

[edit] By bus

Bus is the only practical means of getting to many points in Himachal. All cities of interest have direct services to Delhi, and the Dharamsala-Manali-Delhi triangle is fairly well served. Note that travel times are long and the roads often hair-raisingly hilly.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By bus

Travel by bus can be done throughout for very little (15 hour bus rides are rarely more than a few hundred rupees) on the public buses, and though uncomfortable, are a great way to meet people. Though be careful, as riding an Indian bus is already a hair-raising experience, and riding an Indian bus on steep mountain roads is even more intimidating!

[edit] By motorcycle

Although Enfield motorcycles can be rented here for less than 5 dollars a day, and with absolutely no verification of motorcycle license. It should be noted, however, that driving a motorcycle in the Himalayas, especially if it is your first time, is not a bright idea (although fun as hell!).

[edit] See

• Manali is a central Indian tourist city, and is crowded and often less than appealing.

• Dharamsala is the exiled home of the Dalai Lama, and as such has developed into a sort of mini Tibet.

• Shimla sitting majestically above the searing plains, the British designated the town as their summer capital. The higher levels of the town reflect this British connection, being comprised mostly of Victorian style buildings, while the lower slopes are occupied with Indian bazaars and restaurants. The town's most endearing feature is that traffic is banned from the central area, which means the atmosphere is calm and the air pristine (although many find it relatively boring).

[edit] Do

[edit] Learn

• Buddhism. Classes for study of Buddhism are taught in Dharamsala and Bir.
• Yoga. There are several places to study yoga in Dharamsala.

[edit] Eat

[edit] Drink

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Get out

Dmoz:Asia/India/Himachal_Pradesh/