2 Stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Himachal Pradesh

The acknowledgment by UNESCO represents a significant accomplishment in its own right. Only a select few among the thousands of sites worldwide receive such an esteemed recognition. The designation of UNESCO status is granted to a location solely if it possesses notable scientific, cultural, or historical significance. The culturally vibrant and diverse nation of India boasts 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are distributed across various states throughout the country. Among these, two are located in Himachal Pradesh, among the must-include places in India tour packages. Renowned for numerous reasons, including its snow-capped mountains, exquisite cuisine, and rich cultural heritage, Himachal Pradesh is recognized for its UNESCO sites—one being a manmade wonder, while the other remains untouched by human intervention. Below is a compilation of the remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Sites that can be explored as part of Himachal tour packages.

Kalka – Shimla Railway Line

Popularly known as the Himalayan Queen, the train journey from Kalka to Shimla is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Indian Mountain Railways, along with the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway & the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Built by the British in 1903, this beautiful train journey, which starts from Kalka in Haryana, covers a distance of 96 km and passes through 20 stations, 102 tunnels, 864 bridges, and an incredible 900 curves. The longest tunnel, which stretches over a kilometer, is situated at Barog. There are more than 20 stations between Kalka & Shimla, among the top hill stations in Himachal Pradesh. This five-hour journey is one of the most scenic train journeys in India while in Shimla, among the most famous places to visit near Delhi, as it treats passengers with breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, lush pine forests, waterfalls, valleys, and picture-perfect hill stations along the way.

                         Book Here: Shimla Tour Packages  

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The Great Himalayan National Park

Established in 1984, the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is spanning over 1736 sq. km of Tirthan and Sainj valleys in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the best national parks in India and among the top places to visit in Himachal. GHNP was formally declared a national park in 1999 and got UNESCO status in the year 2014. It is part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot and includes twenty-five forest types along with a rich assemblage of several endangered species of mammals, birds, and vegetation. The site is known to have preserved Monal bird, Golden Eagles, Griffon Vultures, Western Tragopan (avifauna), snow leopards, Himalayan black bear, Blue Sheep, Musk Deer, Himalayan Tahr, Bharal, Ghoral, Himalayan brown bear, etc. Trekking is the only way to enjoy and explore the Great Himalayan National Park, among the most scenic places to visit near Chandigarh.

                          Book Here: Kullu Tour Packages

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