There is absolutely no dearth of pleasant surprises and amazing sights, which welcome you when you visit Himachal Pradesh. In fact, each destination hidden in the remotest nook and corner of Himachal Pradesh has natural abundance which holds a great amount of excitement and fun for tourists. Each and every place of Himachal Pradesh has distinct aura and are important with respect to tourism hence it is very difficult to choose top places among most beautiful tourism destinations of Himachal Pradesh. Here is list top 5 tourism destinations of Himachal pradesh which would make your Himachal tour memorable irrespective of their ranking as top tourism destinations.
Dharamshala
The High snow clad Dhauladhar ranges from m a magnificent backdrop to the hill resort of Dharamsala. This is the principal township of Kangra district and overlooks wide spread of the plains. With dense pine and deodar forests, numerous streams, cool healthy air, attractive surroundings and the nearby snowline, Dharamsala has everything for a perfect holiday. It is full of life and yet peaceful. The headquarters of His Holiness the Dalai Lama are at upper Dharamsala. Covering a wide area in the form of twin settlement, lower Dharamsala (1380m) is a busy commercial centre. While upper Dharamsala (1830m) with the suburbs of Mcleodganj and Forsytheganj, retains a British flavor and colonial lifestyle. The charming church of St. John in the wilderness is situated here and this is the final resting place of Lord Elgin, a British Viceroy of India during the 19th century. There is also a large Tibetan community who have made this place their home. Numerous ancient temples like Jwalamukhi, Brijeshwari and Chamunda lie on the plains below Dharamsala.
Shimla
Probably the most popular hill station in northern India, Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh famous for its Mall road, the Ridge, toy train etc. among honeymooners and families alike. Situated at a height of 2200 m, Shimla is one of the most eminent tourist destination in the country. Set amidst beautiful hills and mystical woods, Shimla is one of most aesthetically planned cities in India. Shimla was erstwhile summer capital of British India, this town’s captivating natural beauty and the atmosphere are bound to leave any tourist overwhelmed. The well-knit roads, impeccable cleanliness and an efficient administration make for the most perfect combination for any tourist destination in the world. This town has colonial-style buildings alongside the historic temples and the amalgamation of the worlds leaves everyone visiting this region spellbound. Within this city one must visit the Mall Road, The Ridge, Institute of Advanced Studies and Jakhu Temple. Shimla is also used as a base to cover other nearby places like Chail, Kufri, Naldehra, Mashobra, Tattapani and Narkanda. The toy train to Shimla from Kalka passes through beautiful hills and valleys and is one of the most beautiful train routes in the world.
Manali
Situated at a height of 6260 feet above sea level, Manali is one of the most popular, beautiful and awe-inspiring hill stations in this country. Surrounded by majestic hills and woody forests, the quaint charm of Manali has captured the world’s attention and has become one of the most visited tourist destinations in India. The pristine River Beas flows right through the town, creating a mesmerizing and spellbinding landscape. Nestled at one end of the Kullu Valley, Manali is a popular hill station with attractions such as the Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley nearby. Rohtang Pass is covered with snow throughout the year and is a good experience in itself. During this season, Solang Valley comes alive as it is the prime spot to enjoy snow and snow-based activities. This is the ideal place for tourists looking to unwind and rejuvenate in the lap of nature, for there is no place in the country more vibrant and charming as Manali. This town also has a multitude of options for tourists looking for adventurous activities like trekking, paragliding, skiing, zorbing, white water rafting etc. Besides adventurous activities, Manali also has a lot of temples which all tourists and devotees love to visit including the Raghunath temple and Jagannathi Devith Temple being one of the important ones. Hadimba Temple, a 14th century temple is famous for its wooden architecture and for its religious values. Manali is also used as the base town for the Manali-Leh highway and Leh is around 479 km from here. Lahaul and Spiti district can also be accessed from here during the summers using the same highway.
Dalhousie
Known for its pleasant climate and natural beauty, Dalhousie is one of the most famous hill stations in Himachal Pradesh. Dalhousie is located in the district of Chamba at an elevation of around 2,000 meters. The hill station is situated at the Western end of the Dhauladhar range of mountains. Surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains, Dalhousie is named after its founder Lord Dalhousie, the British Governor-General in India. With several Victorian-style mansions, Scottish architecture and other charming colonial buildings, this hill station will take you back in time. The place also has few quaint churches. Dalhousie is spread over an area of 14 sq km of area and it includes five hills, namely Balun, Bakrota, Tehra, Patreyn and Kathlog. The fragrant pines, oaks, rhododendron and oaks along with several other types of tress cover the slops of the mountains. This scenic hill station if framed by the river Ravi flowing at the base of the town. Dalhousie is a popular destination for honeymooners. Dalhousie also offers you the spectacular view of the majestic snow-capped Pir Panjal mountain range located in Jammu and Kashmir, Sach Pass and Chamba’s Pangi Valley. This enchanting hill station has several tourist spots like Lohali village, Kalatop, Dainkund peak, Bakrota hills and Tibetan market. The beautiful valley of Khajiar is also quite popular among the visitors. Tourists also like visiting the region near Alla. The region offers a spectacular view of the beautiful landscape.
Bharmour
Surrounded by high lush green mountains, this quaint little town known as Bharmour, remained capital of the princely state of Chamba for over 400 years. About 69 kilometers from Chamba, this fascinating little town ( 2130 m) surrounded by high ranges was then known as Bharmour. Its ancient temples endow Bharmour with an aura of a hallowed place. The abundant alpine pastures in the region are home to the nomadic Gaddi tribesman. Bharmour, formally known as Brahmpura, situated at an altitude of 7000 feet in the Budhil valley, forty miles to the south-east of Chamba. The country around Bharmour is regarded as belonging to Lord Shiva and is sometimes called Shiva-Bhumi, abode of lord Shiva. Being the home of nomadic shepherds Gaddies it is also called ‘Gadderan’. Bharmour is also known for its delicious apples and local blankets. Life inBharmour centers around the Chaurasia – a temple square which owes its name to the data 84 shrines built with in its periphery. With varying architectural designs these temples were built between the seventh and tenth century. The towering shikara of Manimahesh templedominates a square and a life size bull idol of Nandi, in polished brass the entrance guards. The Lakshna Devi temple’s sanctum sanctorum houses the meter high goddess idol cast in exquisite brass.
