The Land of Himachal
Popularly known as the Devbhumi – "Land of the Gods", Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful hill state in northern India nestled in western Himalayas. The state is landlocked with the Tibetan plateau to the east, Jammu and Kashmir to the north, and the Punjab to the west. However the state stands apart from its neighbours in terms of its sheer topographic diversity and breathtaking pristine natural beauty. From vast tracts of high-altitude Trans-Himalayan desert to dense green deodar forests, from apple orchards to cultivated terraces, from snow capped high Himalayan mountain ranges to snow fed lakes and gushing rivers.
Popularly known as the Devbhumi – "Land of the Gods", Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful hill state in northern India nestled in western Himalayas. The state is landlocked with the Tibetan plateau to the east, Jammu and Kashmir to the north, and the Punjab to the west. However the state stands apart from its neighbours in terms of its sheer topographic diversity and breathtaking pristine natural beauty. From vast tracts of high-altitude Trans-Himalayan desert to dense green deodar forests, from apple orchards to cultivated terraces, from snow capped high Himalayan mountain ranges to snow fed lakes and gushing rivers.
Getting to Himachal
Himachal can be broadly divided by its main valley. Slices of a rich and delicious cake, these, their feeder valleys and the surrounding areas, hold most of the travel destinations. The main ones are the Kangra valley, the Chamba valley, the Pangi valley, the Lahaul valley, the Spiti valley, the Kinnaur valley, the Parbati valley, The Giri valley and the Kullu valley. Shimla and the tract around it, dose not fall strictly in these valley divisions and lies off the waters of the river Sutlej.
There are four well developed core focus zones that draw the maximum visitor or act as base camps for most of Himachal – Shimla, Kullu and Manali, Dalhousie and Chamba, and Dharamshala and Palampur. In their own right they hold several draws and encompass a variety of sightseeing and adventure. They also act as pivots for a spectrum of off-beat excursions. A range of accommodation is a available in these areas – modern hotels close to city centres, resorts neatly meshed with nature and heritage properties that include colonial mansions and age old forts. The budgets they accommodate are also wide – shoestring, or velvet gloves.
Shimla
By Rail: Shimla is connected by a broadgauge line up to Kalka. Then a narrow gauge line takes over for Shimla and covers 96 km of track. The journey between Kalka and Shimla takes about six hours and is one of the finest ways of enjoying the landscape. The quaint railcar, which runs on this stretch, takes about fiver hours. A luxury coach that accommodates six persons has recentely been introduced and can be attached to any train of your choice. The Shivalik Express is a deluxe train on this route. Alternative combinations – By train up to Delhi (375 km), Chandigarh (120 km), or Kalka (90 km) and then by road.
By Road: Shimla is connected by road to all major cities in north India. Taxi cabs for Shimla are available at Delhi, Chandigarh, Ambala and Kalka. Several state-run transport corporations including the Himachal Tourism Development Corporations ply regular and non air-conditioned buses from Delhi and Chandigarh. The Himachal Tourism Development Corporation also services the route. Private coaches (air-conditioned and non air-conditioned deluxe) are available at Delhi. Buses can also be chartered.
Himachal can be broadly divided by its main valley. Slices of a rich and delicious cake, these, their feeder valleys and the surrounding areas, hold most of the travel destinations. The main ones are the Kangra valley, the Chamba valley, the Pangi valley, the Lahaul valley, the Spiti valley, the Kinnaur valley, the Parbati valley, The Giri valley and the Kullu valley. Shimla and the tract around it, dose not fall strictly in these valley divisions and lies off the waters of the river Sutlej.
There are four well developed core focus zones that draw the maximum visitor or act as base camps for most of Himachal – Shimla, Kullu and Manali, Dalhousie and Chamba, and Dharamshala and Palampur. In their own right they hold several draws and encompass a variety of sightseeing and adventure. They also act as pivots for a spectrum of off-beat excursions. A range of accommodation is a available in these areas – modern hotels close to city centres, resorts neatly meshed with nature and heritage properties that include colonial mansions and age old forts. The budgets they accommodate are also wide – shoestring, or velvet gloves.
Shimla
By Rail: Shimla is connected by a broadgauge line up to Kalka. Then a narrow gauge line takes over for Shimla and covers 96 km of track. The journey between Kalka and Shimla takes about six hours and is one of the finest ways of enjoying the landscape. The quaint railcar, which runs on this stretch, takes about fiver hours. A luxury coach that accommodates six persons has recentely been introduced and can be attached to any train of your choice. The Shivalik Express is a deluxe train on this route. Alternative combinations – By train up to Delhi (375 km), Chandigarh (120 km), or Kalka (90 km) and then by road.
By Road: Shimla is connected by road to all major cities in north India. Taxi cabs for Shimla are available at Delhi, Chandigarh, Ambala and Kalka. Several state-run transport corporations including the Himachal Tourism Development Corporations ply regular and non air-conditioned buses from Delhi and Chandigarh. The Himachal Tourism Development Corporation also services the route. Private coaches (air-conditioned and non air-conditioned deluxe) are available at Delhi. Buses can also be chartered.
PLACES TO VISIT
Shimla
Kullu/Manali
Dalhousie & Khajjar
Dharamshala
Kasauli & Kasol
Chail & Kufri
Bilaspur
Chamba
Palampur
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