10 Best scenic places in Himachal Pradesh

At a distance of 42 km from Kullu, 61 km from Naggar and 80 km from Manali, Manikaran is located in Parvati Valley between the rivers Beas and Parvati in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It lies at an altitude of 1760 m. Manikaran is famous for hot water springs, Ramchandra Temple and a Gurudwara. It is a top pilgrimage site and among the best Kullu & Manali tourist places.

According to legend, Manikaran is associated with Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Once while roaming through the valley, Shiva and Parvati came across the place called Manikaran and they decided to stay for some time. During their stay here, Goddess Parvati lost her Mani (precious stones) in the waters of a stream. Upset over the loss, she asked Shiva to retrieve it. Lord Shiva commanded his attendant to find the Mani for Parvati. However, when they failed he was extremely angry. He opened his third eye. An appeal was made before the serpent god, Sheshnag, to pacify Lord Shiva. Sheshnag hissed thereby giving rise to a flow of boiling water. The water spread over the entire area resulting in the emergence of precious stones of the type Goddess Parvati had lost. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were happy at the outcome. The water of hot springs here is considered auspicious.

Manikaran is also a pilgrimage centre for Sikhs. The Guru Nanak Devji Gurudwara also known as Manikaran ...

At a distance of 17 km from Dalhousie Bus Stand, Dainkund Peak is a mountain peak situated at Dalhousie. Perched at an altitude of 2755 m, is the highest mountain peak in Dalhousie, and among the famous trekking places near Chandigarh.

Dainkund is also a famous place for short trekking near Dalhousie. The name Dainkund is said to have been derived from Dain - Kund, which means Lake of the Witches. It is believed that in old days this mountain was the residence of witches. The sound of the breeze passing through the trees makes a musical sound, due to which this peak has also acquired the name, the singing hill.

This peak has two major attractions; one is the Indian Air Force base and the other is the Pholani Devi temple, which is a temple of great importance. One of the most interesting facts about this temple is that there is no idol of the deity, except a trident inside the temple premises. The peak offers a clear view of the flow of the rivers Ravi, Chenab, and Beas which flow at the base.

Trekking is one of the best things to do in Dalhousie, and is a beautiful experience, with great views and fresh cool mountain air. Being the highest peak, it gets maximum snowfall during the winter season. The ascent to the Dainkund begins after crossing Lakkar Mandi. About a 6 km drive from Lakkar Mandi leads to ...

At a distance of 16 km from Shimla Railway Station, Kufri is a small hill station in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Positioned at an elevation of 2,510 m on the National Highway 22, it is one of the best places for skiing in India, and among the must-include places in Shimla tour packages.

Kufri is quite famous as a ski resort. Kufri derives its name from 'Kufr' which means lake. It is especially popular among trekkers and it is a popular place for adventure sports in Himachal Pradesh. The British discovered it in 1819. As Shimla gained importance, Kufri also began to be recognized as an important place to visit near Shimla as part of honeymoon tour packages.

Kufri is known for its pleasant climate and picturesque beauty. It is popular for its trekking and hiking trails. Kufri is also renowned for other adventurous activities such as skiing, tobogganing (sliding downhill on a sled). It has the oldest skiing slopes in Himachal Pradesh. During winters, when snow spreads over the slopes of Kufri, lovers of skiing know that they will have an exciting time ahead, and skiing is one of the must-experience things to do in Shimla. Ski courses for beginners are conducted every winter by Himachal Tourism.

Kufri is also a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers as the ...

At a distance of 14 km from Gushaini, 63 km from Bhuntar, 75 km from Kullu, and 113 km from Manali, the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is a high altitude national park situated in Himachal Pradesh. It is one of best national parks in India, and among the must-include places in Kullu sightseeing packages.

The Great Himalayan National Park spreads across Parvati valley, Thirthan valley, Sainj valley & Jiwa Nal valley of Kullu region. It is one of the best national parks in Himachal. The park was established in 1984 and is spread over an area of 754 sq km at an altitude varying between 1500 to 6000 m. GHNP was formally declared a national park in 1999. In June 2014, the Park was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The GHNP is situated adjacent to Pin Valley National Park, Rupi-Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Tirthan and Sainj Wildlife Sanctuaries, making it one of the biggest areas for wildlife conservation in the whole Himalayan range. It is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries near Delhi.

The Park is home to more than 375 fauna species including approximately 31 species of mammals and 181 species of birds. More than 15,000 residents of 160 villages in the buffer zone are dependent on GHNP's natural resources. The fauna of ...

At a distance of 4 km from Manikaran, 30 km from Bhuntar, 38 km from Kullu, and 76 km from Manali, Kasol is a small village in Parvati Valley of Kullu district. It is one of the famous Kullu sightseeing places.

Situated at an altitude of 1640 m, Kasol is a picturesque village with traditional wooden houses having slanted stone roofs. The place is dotted with small orchards of apple, plum, peaches, pears, apricot, and almonds. A mountain stream called Grahan Nallah divides the village into two parts. This stream flows into the Parvati River.

Kasol is a favorite tourist destination, especially for Israelis. Thousands of Israelis visit this region every year and stay for months as part of their Himachal tour. Frequented by tourists and hippies, Kasol has everything from Reggae Bars to Internet Cafes and cheap guest-houses. Kasol is an ideal destination for backpackers, trekkers, and nature enthusiasts due to its scenic beauty, untouched mountains, and great climate throughout the year. It is an important base for trekking towards SarPass, Yanker Pass, Pin Parvati Pass, and Kheer Ganga.

The Parvati River abounds with trout fish and is the perfect place for angling. However, permission from the forest department is required for trout fishing in the river. Parvati River at Kasol is also ideal for white water rafting. It is one of the best ...

At a distance of 84 km from Shimla, Kalka is a town located in Haryana State. Kalka Railway Station is the northern terminus of the Delhi-Kalka line and the starting point of the legendary Kalka-Shimla Railway. This railway was added to the UNESCO world heritage list in July, 2008. A ride in the toy train is one of the top things to do in Shimla and it is extensively used in promotion of Himachal tourism.

The Kalka-Shimla Railway was built by the British in 1903 to provide access to their summer capital of Shimla. The distance of 96 km between Shimla and Kalka passes through 102 tunnels, 864 bridges and an incredible 900 curves. There are more than 20 stations in this route. It connects Kalka at an altitude of 656 m to Shimla at 2076 m. The five hour journey is one of the best train journeys operated by Indian Railway. It is popular for the picturesque views of hills and the surrounding villages.

The longest tunnel, which stretches for more than a kilometer, is near the main railway station at Barog. Total 864 bridges were constructed on this line. Most of the bridges have multi arched galleries like the ancient Roman aqueducts. Bridge No. 493; historically known as the ''Arch Gallery'', situated between Kandaghat and Kanoh stations, is an arch bridge in three stages constructed with stone masonry ...

At a distance of 22 km from Manikaran, 56 km from Bhuntar, 64 km from Kullu, and 102 km from Manali, Khir Ganga is a small village situated at an altitude of 3050 m in Parvati Valley. Khir Ganga is one of the best places for trekking in Himachal Pradesh, and among the top places to places to visit near Kullu.

Kheer Ganga is a holy place with a hot water spring. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to legend, Kartikeya the younger son of Lord Shiva and Parvati meditated for thousand years at Khir Ganga making it an important religious place for Hindus.
The name Kheer Ganga or Khir Ganga came due to the milky waters of the Parvati River flowing into Parvati valley.

Kheer Ganga trek starts from the village Barsheni which is reachable from Manikaran. From Barsheni, one needs to trek 11 km to reach Kheer Ganga. Hiring a guide to trek this route is recommended. At Barsheni one can see the confluence of Tosh River and Parvati River. While trekking from Barsheni, travellers can visit attractions like Rudra-Nag, the serpent-shaped waterfall, the rock formation of Pandu Pul, and the Pin-Parvati Pass (5400 m). The Pin Valley National Park is another tourist attraction and is known for its resident wildlife population including snow leopards. This is usually a 2-day trek from Barsheni / Kullu. It is one of the popular trekking places near Chandigarh.

The ...

At a distance of 70 km from Kullu, 75 km from Mandi, and 105 km from Manali, Tirthan Valley is a mountain valley located inside the Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most beautiful places in Himachal Pradesh, and among the famous Kullu places to visit, especially for adventure enthusiasts.

Tirthan Valley is one of the four valleys situated in the GHNP, and among the must include places in Kullu holiday packages. Situated at an altitude of 1600 m, Tirthan Valley derives its name from the Tirthan River, which originates from the glaciers of the Himalayas. Tirthan valley stretches from Banjar to Bathad, dotted with a number of villages on the river bank. The entire valley is verdant green with alpine grooves and deciduous forest. Gushaini is the entry point to start trekking into Tirthan valley.

Tirthan Valley has several trekking trails ranging from one day to 8 days starting from Gushani with the distance varying between 10 to 60 km (round trip). It is one of the best trekking places near Delhi. Tirthan valley also serves as a base camp for trekkers to start their trekking into GHNP. The valley is green and good for Trout fishing, overnight camping, river crossing, rappelling, and all kinds of adventure activities. Trout fishing requires ...

At a distance of 77 km from Shimla, 62 km from Kufri and 14 km from Jubbal, Kharapathar is a small village situated at an altitude of 8,770 ft. This place is known for its scenic beauty and several trekking trails.

Kharapathar derived its name from a huge egg shaped rock. Kharapathar is a perfect leisure destination. It is surrounded by apple orchards and lush green forest.

Kharapathar is a hotspot for tourists because of its natural beauty and picturesque landscape in Shimla district. Kharapathar's lush green slopes together with apple orchards, wide views, excellent walk and hike trails make this a perfect leisure. Visitors can also enjoy delicious food, including local dishes at the food stalls.

The source of River Giri Ganga is just 7 km away from here. The trekking trail to Giri Ganga is an enjoyable one through thick deodar forest.

At a distance of 12 km from Manali Bus Stand, Solang Valley locally known as Solang is a beautiful valley situated at Solang village near Manali, Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most well-known places to visit near Delhi for skiing, mountaineering, and trekking activities.

Among the top tourist attractions in Manali, Solang Valley is situated between Solang village and Beas Kund. It lies at an altitude of 8500 ft and is covered with green dense forests. It offers panoramic views of the surrounding snowcapped mountains and glaciers.

The beauty of Solang Valley is unparalleled and many people visit the valley every year during their Manali trip just to enjoy its pristine, snow-white magnificence, especially in winter, when the entire place is covered by white snow. With the groves of emerald green trees dotting the pure white landscape, clear blue skies, and magnificent mountains, Solang is truly at its most splendorous in winters.

Besides admiring its unmissable picturesque landscapes, people also visit Solang Valley to enjoy various winter sports. Solang Valley has fine ski slopes. The Mountaineering Institute of Manali has installed a ski lift for training purpose here. The Directorate of Mountaineering & Allied Sports also organizes basic, advance, and intermediate level courses in ...