Himachal Pradesh

Chandigarh is the best-planned city in India, with architecture which is world-renowned, and a quality of life, which is unparalleled. As the capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh it is a prestigious city. The face of modern India, Chandigarh, is the manifestation of a dream that Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru envisaged and Le Corbusier executed.

Serenity and a city are two diametrically opposite concepts, which however, get belied in the ‘City Beautiful’. Chandigarh is a rare epitome of modernization co-existing with nature’s preservation. It is here that the trees and plants are as much a part of the construction plans as the buildings and the roads. India’s first planned city, is a rich, prosperous, spic and span, green city rightly called “ THE CITY BEAUTIFUL ”.  Read More…

Mohali (Punjab)

Mohali is a city adjacent to Chandigarh, 18th District in Punjab, India. It is officially named after the eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS Nagar, or “House of Sahibzada Ajit Singh”). It along with Chandigarh and Panchkula form a part of the Chandigarh Tricity. It was earlier a part of the Rupnagar District, and was carved out into a separate district in the recent years. Read More..

Kharar (Punjab)

Kharar is a small city and a municipal council in Mohali district in the state of Punjab. It is at a distance of about 10-15 kilometers from Chandigarh and about 4 kilometers from Mohali. Read More…

Kurali (Punjab)

Kurali is a city located 16 kilometres southeast of Punjab. It is 26 km away from the state capital Chandigarh, situated on National Highway 21. Nearby towns include Kharar, Ropar and Morinda on its respective three sides. Read More..

Ropar (Punjab)

The district of Rupnagar is named after its district headquarters, the town of Rupnagar. Formerly known as Ropar, the town of Rupnagar is said to have been founded by a Raja called Rokeshar, who ruled during the 11th century and named it after his son Rup Sen. The town is of considerable antiquity. Recent excavations and explorations conducted at Rupnagar indicate that the first civilized folk to settle here were the Harappans, who apparently reached the upper Satluj towards the close of third millenium B.C. District was carved out on Ist November , 1966 at the of re-organization of the State. The District has rich historical and religious significance behind it. Read More…

Bharatgarh (Punjab)

Bharatgarh is an ancient village associated with Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru. Located about 18 km north of Rupnagar, this village is one of the major Sikh sites in Punjab. Tradition has it that the guru had halted here in 1675, in the course of his journey to Delhi. Main attraction is a beautiful gurdwara with a flat roofed rectangular hall. Built in 1932, the gurdwara attracts a large number of devotees to Bharatgarh. Kiratpur Sahib is about 10 km from here. Kiratpur Sahib Railway Station is the major railhead nearby and the nearest airport is Chandigarh Airport.

Kiratpur Sahib (Punjab)

Kiratpur Sahib was established in 1627 by the 6th Nanak, Guru Hargobind, who bought the land from Raja Tara Chand of Kehloor through his son, Baba Gurditta. The place is also associated with the memory of a Muslim saint, Pir Buddan Shah who was gifted with a very long life (legends say about 800 years). It is situated on the bank of the Sutlej about 10 km south of Anandpur, about 30 km north of Rupnagar and 90 Kms from Chandigarh on the Nangal-Rupnagar-Chandigarh road (NH21). Read More…

Anandpur Sahib (Punjab)

A holy city in Punjab whose historical significance to the Sikhs is second only to Amritsar. Hundreds of Sikhs once embraced martyrdom here. Two Gurus and families of four Gurus lived here for many years. Sikh history is deeply marked by their struggle for survival in a volatile land, especially during the peak of Mughal persecution under Aurangzeb, which radicalized the Sikhs (many paintings in the museum at the Golden Temple, Amritsar, record the horrifying persecution stories retold across the land). Read More..

Nangal (Punjab)

Nangal is a town 60 km from Rupnagar in the state of Punjab in northwest India. It sits at the foot of the Shiwalik Hills and is surrounded by beautiful hills, the Satluj River and canals. It is an important center for tourists. Read more…

Mehatpur (Himachal Pradesh)

Mehatpur is one of the major industrial centers in Una District, Himachal Pradesh. Nearby destinations are Gagret, Dehlan, Una, Talewala and Pandoga. Accommodation facilities are available. Nearest international airport is at Amritsar. Nearest railway station is at Hoshiarpur in Punjab. By road, Mehatpur is well connected with Chandigarh and Una.

Una (Himachal Pradesh)

Una has been carved out of Hoshiarpur district of Punjab in 1966 where the hilly areas of Punjab were transferred to Himachal Pradesh and the whole area is warm. It has borders with Kangra Hamirpur and Bilaspur and then acts as a gateway to these regions. Efforts are being made to develop same places in Nangal and Bhakra areas.

Mubarakpur Chowk

The road from Una to Mubarakpur Chowk was smooth and covered the 36 kms in around 25 mins. From Mubarakpur Chowk is the link to 4 major places Amb, HoshyarPur, ChintPurni and Daulatpur.

Bharwain (Himachal Pradesh)

Bharwain is a small picturesque hill station located about 29 km from Hoshiarpur in Una District of the indian state Himachal Pradesh. It lies at an elevation of about 3,896 ft on the Kangra – Hoshiarpur road. Othre road gose from Bharwain to ChintPurni Mata Mandir distance only 3km.

Dehra Gopipur (Himachal Pradesh)

It is situated on the bank of the Beas. It is possible to use Dehra as a base for different fishing areas like Pong Dam, Pattan, kurn and Nadaun. There are PWD & Forest rest houses for a night stay . one can also visit the famous temple of from here.

Bankhandi (Himachal Pradesh)

The Bankhandi is located on the Dehra-Dharamsala road and is about 10-15 Kms from Dehra and about 20-30 Kms from Jwalaji in Kangra. Bagala Mata Mandir is the main and famus temple in Bankhandi.

Ranital (Himachal Pradesh)

Ranital lies in the tranquil Kangra Valley, on the Mubarakpur-Dharamsala road, in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh. Baroh is around 12 km east and Dehra Gopipur is nearly 10 km south-west. Surrounded by the Shivaliks Hills, Ranital and its neighboring areas are ideal for bird lovers. Tomb of a 17th century Muslim saint is located here. Baba Baroh Temple and Pong Dam are near the town. Gaggal Airport serves Ranital. Ranital Railway Station is on the Pathankot-Joginder Nagar railway line.

Kangra

Kangra is located in the western part of the state of Himachal Pradesh, in the northern region of India. It is 18 km south of Dharamshala and is one of the prettiest valleys of Himachal with its lush green terraces & orchards, overlooking a gushing stream – the Banganga. Kangra valley starts near Mandi, runs north, then bends west and extends to Shahpur near Pathankot.

Dharamsala

Dharamsala is a city in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley and is surrounded by dense coniferous forest consisting mainly of stately Deodars. The town is divided into three parts—Upper Dharamsala called McLeod Ganj, the middle Kotwali Bazar and the lower Kaccheri area.

- Kangra Art Gallery, Home of the Dalai Lama
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharamsala

Jubbal situated in Himachal Pradesh this is the Headquarters of the erstwhile Princely State, Jubbal has a superbly maintained Palace which was designed by a French architect in the 1930 and is remarkable mix of European and indigenous styles.

This is one of the beautiful places which attract tourists from all over. This former hill kingdom is in the hills east of Shimal, near the valley of the Pabbar River, 444 km north east of Delhi. This is one for lovers of reclusive and exclusive natural retreats, connoisseurs of the eccentric a declectic with a yen for the good life. Headquarters of an erstwhile princely state, Jubbal’s newest claim to fame is its superbly refurbished palaceturned heritage property.

You almost expect to walk in and find a sleeping beauty, but it is snow white’s bane that is the fruit of this valley of temples. When your palate wants refreshing after the local dainties, walk into the region’s renowned orchards for a bite of the local crop non pareil apples.

You will be torn between the orchards on the slopes and the river nearby. If you are not that keen on nature, you could sample the thousand year old temples of Durga and Siva. Also consider the challenge of driving almost 22 km in the hills before setting out on shank’s pony to a mountain lake or tribal villages not linked by road.

A 3 half hours drive out of Shimla brings you to this fairy tale palace. Perched in a little hollow amid the hills, Jubbal Palace looks gingerbread enough to eat. Himachali Gothick, Architecture buffs can debate it through, but you won’t care once firmly ensconced in its art deco interiors.

Hatkeshwari Temple and Shiva Temple

The Hatkeshwari Temple is not one of those five-by-five bathroom-titled rooms that are passed off as “ancient” temples in tourist brochures. Locals believe the Pandavas first built this temple during their exile. However, experts date it to between 800 and 1000 AD. It was originally built in the Shikhara Style, but was later restyled by a ruler of the erstwhile Jubbal princely state in the late-19th century. It now looks like a two-story pagoda in slate and deodar wood. However, the sanctum sanctorum and the idol remain unchanged.

The Shiva Temple, though built a little later, actually looks older because of its stonewalls and the idols carved on them. Here, the restyling was limited to the roof andthe temple remains a squat, single story structure. Check out the five deols, or devalayas – small stone temples — to its left. They represent the shikhara style and remain unchanged. Hatkoti is a very small village and its inhabitants begin and end their day at these temples. VIPs and devotees from other parts of the state pass through from time to time. but crowds are practically unknown. Try not to miss the evening aarti. It is a very soothing experience, sans loudspeakers and bhajans that are parodies of Bollywood numbers.

Famous Palace Around Jubbal

Khara Pathar 9 km

Just before Hatkoti, Khara Pathar towers at 8,770ft. Apart from the apple orchards, deodars and pines crowd its slopes. A 7 km jeep track from here leads up to the Giri Ganga Temple, near the source of the Giri.

Rohru 31 km

Rohru is Shimla district’s apple hub and the hills surrounding this town and Hatkoti are covered with orchards. Though the best time to see ripe fruit is in April, a breathtaking sight of pale white blooms. Just be careful not to trespass.

A modest town 31 km beyond Jubbal, this is a major centre for the apple trade and has the only running HPTDC hotel in this belt. Rohru also has a temple dedicated to Shikhru Devta, a local deity.

Kotkhai 33 km

At a height of 5,774 ft, this is the point of entry to the apple country stretching past Rohru. But the major attraction in Kotkhai is its beautiful palace with exquisite, heavily cared wooden pillars.

Chirgaon 40 km

The motorable road ends here. Two small streams, Andhra and Gumma, join the Pabbar River. Adventure seekers can take off from here on a long trek to Dodra Kwar, the remotest village across the 13,845 ft Chansal Pass, which remains open from May to October. Chirgaon also boasts a trout hatchery.

Getting There

Road Ways: The only way to reach Jubbal from Shimla 97 km is by road NH22 via Kufri and Theog, then SH10 to Chhaila, 13km away, then on to Kothai, another 19km away, then Khara Pathar 24 km away an dthen another 9 km to Jubbal. The drive from Delhi takes 11 hours.

Nearest Railway Station: Kalka 191 km/ 6 hours. Taxi to Jubbal Costs Rs 2,000.

Where to Stay and Eat

The Jubbal Palace (Telephone: 01781-252001-02. Tariff Rs 4,500)

Para gliding is the fundamental form of human flight and here in the essentials are on porous sail cloth with collapsible wing made of light wright space age material. While para gliding you can sail up to a height of 12 mts. The best time to enjoy this sport in Himachal Pradesh is when the Himalayan Para Gliding Open Championship is in its full swing.

The most celebrated destination for para gliding in Himachal is Bir and Billing, proudly known as the paragliding capital of India. The bald peaks of Billing and the Buddhist monastery at Bir in Kangra Valley are the host of three international and five national hang gliding rallies. Though this sport might be categorized as recent and nascent, but with due course of time it has gained huge recognition in the world. Due to the deep valleys this sports is possible all over the state. The other major spots that provides the options for this adventurous sport regularly are Bundla Dhar near Bilaspur, at Intkali in the Pabbar Valley near Rohu and in Kangra Valley. Other options for para gliding in Himachal Pradesh are In Kullu, you enjoy para gliding at hill tops like Bijli Mahadev, Rohtang Pass, Kothi and Solang Nallah. All the beginners should try their hands in Solang and Bijli Mahadev. Bilaspur is also one of the most favored destination for this sport.

Paragliding in Himachal Pradesh

Kangra valley is the main center for paragliding in Himachal Pradesh. Bir and Billing in Kangra are considered to be among the hottest venues for enjoying both paragliding and hang gliding. The sport is possible at various other places in the state too including Bundla Dhar near Bilaspur, in the Kullu valley and at Intkali in the Pabbar valley near Rohru in Shimla district.

The Himachal Aero Adventure Institute Bilaspur runs paragliding courses for Bilaspur, which is fast turning into one of the most popular sites for paragliding all over the world. You can enjoy paragliding in Himachal Pradesh even if you are not an accomplished para glider. Not only do you get to witness professional and amateur pilots glide to glory, you can also soar with them.

Himachal Tourism conducts paragliding training programs and events from time to time, at different parts of the state. Equipments for paragliding are available at Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. The department also provides guides and instructors for tourists’ benefit.

If you wish to enjoy Paragliding in Himachal Pradesh, keep the following things in mind.

1. Physical and mental fitness are of utmost importance for the sport.
2. You should refrain from indulging in the sport if you are a patient of high/low blood pressure or are overweight.
3. Follow the safety instructions given by the instructor under all circumstances.

Chadwick Falls of Shimla is one of the beautiful tourist attractions in the state. The place attracts most of the tourists that visit Shimla round the year. It is just 7 km from Shimla. The Chadwick Falls is located 45 minutes walk away from the Summer Hills of Shimla. Sheltered by dense woods, the cascade falls in its glorious splendour, from an awesome altitude of 1586 meters. The best time to visit the falls is after the monsoons. Private taxis are available from Shimla to Chadwick Falls.

The surrounding environment of pine and deodar trees adds serenity and beauty to the Chadwick Falls. The water of the falls is chilly and refreshing, the quantity of which is generally increased after the monsoon is over in the month of September. After the monsoon, the cascade looks dazzling; like scattered crystals. The view of this sparkling waterfall eases eyes of everyone and surprises them at the amazing gift of the nature. This beautiful gift of nature pleases tourists for years and invites them to Shimla repeatedly.

There are some ancient temples in the vicinity of the Chadwick Falls. Local people of the region also celebrate an annual festival in the month of April. Succinctly, Chadwick Falls is an ideal place to savour nature in its quiet glory, where woods which are lovely, dark and deep, whisper to you that there are many promises to keep, to the world, but more importantly to yourself.

Angling is a fast developing sport in India, and the northern state of Himachal Pradesh at the foothills of the Himalayas, is fast emerging as the prime angling destination in the country.

Angling is a form of fishing which is often used synonymously with terms like ‘sport fishing’ and ‘recreational fishing’. Angling in Himachal Pradesh can be nothing short of superb!

The streams of Himachal Pradesh can be categorized as General-Water streams and Trout-Water streams. The main fishes that are available in these streams include Trout and Mahseer, besides some other varieties like Nemacheilus spp, Barilus sp, Schizothoracids Crossocheilus sp, Glyptothorax spp. Etc.

Angling in Himachal Pradesh

One of the major activities, which is favorite among the visitors, is the angling in Himachal Pradesh. Over the years, angling has become a fast developing sport in India, particularly in the northern states of India. Himachal Pradesh is one of the prime angling destinations in India. It is basically a kind of fishing, more of a recreational fishing or sport fishing.

There are numerous small streams and lake that provide superb venue for angling in Himachal Pradesh. These streams can be categorized under General-Water streams and Trout-Water streams, based on the types of fishes found on the stream. The various types of fishes, which are available on the streams for angling, include trout, mahseer, nemacheilus, barilus, schizothoracids crossocheilus and glyptothorax. Brown and Rainblw trouts are the major fishes on the streams.

The state of Himachal Pradesh with numerous streams is a paradise for the anglers.

The streams of Himachal Pradesh teem with numerous fishes, which make it ideal for the anglers to try out their favorite sport. There are various resorts in Himachal Pradesh, which are ideally suitable for angling. The strategic spots for angling, Himachal Pradesh are Rohru, Chirgaon, Tattapani, Katrain, Largi, Banjar and Kasol for trout fishing. For the angling of Mahasheer, the favorite spots are Dehra, Nadaun, Pong Dam and Barot.

For a remarkable and memorable angling experience, you can reach up to the upper streams of Beas and Kullu Valley. Sarvari, Parbati, Sainj, Hurla and Tirthan offers excellent prospect for the angling lovers. There are reservoirs, which offer opportunities for angling in Himachal Pradesh. The major streams of the Himachal Pradesh state , which offers several angling opportunities are Beas, Sutlej, Ravi, Tirthan, Sainj, Uhl, Baspa, Pabar, Lambadug, Giri, Rana, Nugal Gai, Baner and Bata.

For angling in Himachal Pradesh, you need to pay a nominal amount. The best season for trout angling is between 31 March to 31 October. If you are in to Mahaseer angling, the best time for it are January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December.

You will definitely enjoy angling in Himachal Pradesh as there are numerous options for it. Next time, when you visit Himachal Pradesh make sure to try out angling in the streams. Other then angling, you can have various other things to do in Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal is the hub of adventure activities in India, has something to offer for every one. The adrenaline pumping skiing to mountain biking, tiring trekking and adventurous gliding adds to the glamour of Himachal Pradsh. But for those who want to spend some quite time, with small group of family or friends, Himachal Pradesh has something different on its platter of sports activities. Golf, the favorite past time of people globally has a strong presence in Himachal Pradesh. There are few Golf courses in Himachal Pradesh, which are among the best Golf courses in India. The Golf courses in Himachal Pradesh are carved out on the plain surfaces between Himalayan mountains. The Golf links are very well maintained. Not only Golf lovers, but also tourists visit the Golf grounds, as the courses are very picturesque.The view of towering Himalayan range from these Golf grounds is awesome.

While other destinations in India also boast of reasonably good golf clubs, Golf in Himachal Pradesh can be nothing short of superb!

Golf in Himachal Pradesh is complemented with some excellent facilities and the standards set at the premier clubs are quite high. Enjoy an exciting golfing experience at Himachal Pradesh amidst the cheer and support of your family and friends!

Some of the most popular destinations for Golf in Himachal Pradesh are:

Annandale in Shimla

There is a nine hole golf course managed by the army in Annandale in Shimla.

Khajjiar in Chamba

Another wonderful option for enjoying Golf in Himachal Pradesh is the magnificent dale at Khajjiar, located 22 km from Dalhousie and 24 km from Chamba.

Naldehra Golf Course

Naldera lies at an altitude of 3,044 at a distance of about 22 km. from Shimla. The place offers one of the oldest and finest golf courses in India. This par 68, nine-hole course is set amidst thick forests and ranks as one of the most challenging in the country. The course was originally set up in 1903 by Lord Curzon, the then viceroy of India. He was so enthralled by this scenic spot, that he named one of his daughters ‘Naldera’ after the spot. Besides the above mentioned spots, there are various other golf courses coming up in other parts of Himachal Pradesh.