DAY 1 : TRAVEL FROM DELHI TO SHIMLA
Park
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 9 AM - 6 PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 30 for Adults and Rs.10 for Children
At a distance of 4.5 km from Chandigarh Bus Station, Rock Garden is a sculpture garden situated in Sector 1 near Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh. The Rock Garden is one of the prime attractions of Chandigarh and also one of the must visit places in Chandigarh.
Also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden, the park was opened to the public in 1976. Spread over an area of 25 acres, the Rock Garden has been designed as an open-air exhibition hall using urban and industrial wastes by Nek Chand, a former Road Inspector in Chandigarh. Nek Chand started the garden secretly near Sukhna Lake in 1957. The site where the rock garden stands today was a dumping ground and from here Mr. Nek Chand picked many waste materials and eventually shaped them into some amazing structures of humans and other forms. It was discovered by the authorities in 1975 and might have been demolished on the grounds of being illegal, but was saved by popular public opinion. Nek Chand was then put in charge of the park and given .....
DAY 2 : SHIMLA SIGHTSEEING
Pilgrimage
Duration of visit: 2 Hours
Timings: 8 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 7 km from Shimla Railway Station, Jakhu Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated on Jakhu Hill in Shimla. It is one of the famous religious Shimla places to visit.
Jakhu Temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Hanuman, and is located at an altitude of 2455m on Jakhu Hill, the highest point in Shimla. According to mythology, a deadly arrow injured Lord Rama's brother Lakshmana when he was fighting the battle with the demon king Ravana. To save his life, Lord Hanuman came to the Himalayas to get the Sanjeevani herb. Upon reaching the Himalayas, Hanuman couldn't make out as to which herb was the Sanjeevani. So he dug up the entire mountain and flew back to where Lakshmana was lying injured. After Lakshmana was cured, Hanuman went back to place the mountain in its original site. He rested on top of the Jakhu hill for some time. It is said that the top of the hill got flattened due to Hanuman's .....
Historical & Heritage
Duration of visit: 30 Mins
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM on all days except Monday
Entry Fee: Rs. 20 for Indians, Rs 50 for Foreigners
At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 3 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Vice Regal Lodge also known as Rashtrapati Niwas is located on the Observatory Hills of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. The lodge is one the best places to visit in Shimla city. It was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy of India Lord Dufferin.
The Vice Regal Lodge was designed by British architect Henry Irwin and built in the Jacobethan style during the regime of Lord Dufferin. Its construction was started in 1880 and completed in 1888. Only the local woods like pine and cedar were used to construct this marvel. Vice Regal Lodge is the only building of Shimla that occupies an entire hill by itself. The building now serves as the center for the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS).
The entrance opening to South leads one to the reception hall which stands adorned by a splendid fireplace and a grand spiraling staircase. The building .....
Historical & Heritage
Duration of visit: 30 Mins - 1 Hr
Timings: 6 AM to 9 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 1.2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, The Ridge is a large open space located in the heart of Shimla. It is among the most visited Shimla tourist places and among the prime place to visit on a Shimla tour. The Ridge is situated along the Mall Road which is the famous shopping center of Shimla.
Several major places of Shimla like Lakkar Bazaar, Mall, Scandal Point, Jakhu Hill, etc. are connected through the Ridge. The movement of vehicles is strictly prohibited here. The Ridge in Shimla always remains crowded with hundreds of people. Tourists from all over the country visit this awesome place for the view of the sunset.
The Ridge at Shimla also provides the tourists a view of the age old Christ Church built in the Neo-Gothic style of architecture as well as the new Tudor library. The statue of YS Parmar .....
Shopping
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 9 AM to 9 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Mall Road is the main street and the busiest commercial areas of Shimla. The Mall extends from Barnes court on the eastern side to Vice Regal Lodge on the western side. Shopping in Mall Road is one of the top things to do in Shimla.
Built by the British during the colonial rule in India, the Mall Road was constructed keeping in mind the traffic on this route. Entry of vehicles was banned though cycle rickshaws were allowed. It has been built in a very strategic and planned way. The Mall Road has located a level below the ridge. The offices of the Municipal Corporation, fire service, and police headquarters are located here.
The Mall Road also has all major hotels, restaurants, and recreation centers of Shimla. The Mall Road is full of shops that sell woolen clothes, branded clothes, handicraft items, pottery items, .....
DAY 3 : VISIT NAGGAR & TRAVEL TO MANALI
Historical & Heritage
Duration of visit: 1-2 Hours
Timings: 10 AM - 5 PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 20 per person
At a distance of 20 km from Manali, and 22 km from the Kullu, the Naggar Castle is a famous castle located in Naggar. It is one of the best heritage places in Himachal, and among the not to miss in during your Manali tour.
Naggar Castle is a magnificent historical structure that overlooks the Kullu valley. The castle was built by Raja Sidhi Singh in 1460 AD. The Castle was used as a Royal residence and state headquarters until the British took over the whole Kangra and Kullu from Sikh's in 1846. Raja Gyan Singh sold it to the first assistant commissioner, Major Hay for a Gun. The northern wing of the castle was later converted to the European way of living by putting in staircase, fire place and chimneys. He later sold it to the Government when it was used as a courthouse. In 1947, with the departure of the British the court-activity ceased.
The castle was built in an impressive .....
DAY 4 : MANALI SIGHTSEEING
Museum & Gallery
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 9 AM - 5 PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 10 per person
At a distance of 2 km from Manali Bus Stand, The museum of Himachal Culture and Folk Art was established in Utopia Complex near Hidimbi Devi Temple in Manali.
The Museum was established in 1998 to collect and exhibit cultural and folk art antiques of Himachal Pradesh. Traditional dresses, utensils, musical and ritual instruments, wood carvings and all other traditional articles used by the people of Himachal Pradesh are present and exhibited in the museum. All these above mentioned items are basically handwork of the people of Himachal Pradesh representing the rich handicraft era of the state.
The Museum is a unique and extraordinary collection of rare antiques of the state. It demonstrates the articles that clearly display the forgotten culture, art and handicraft of Himachal Pradesh. J.R. Sood who founded the Museum traveled throughout the State to research and collect ancient antique items.
The Museum not only helped in preserving the culture and art but also brings .....
Park
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 8 AM - 7 PM in Summer & 8 AM - 5 PM in Winter
Entry Fee: Entry: Rs. 5, Boating: R. 30 per person.
At a distance of 750 m from Manali Bus Stand, The Van Vihar is a municipal garden situated in front of the Tibetan market on the Mall Road, Manali.
The Van Vihar Park is beautifully adorned by deodar trees and is a perfect place to spend memorable time with loved ones. A number of locals and tourists visit the park to relax and get the fresh breeze of the Deodar trees.
The main attraction of the park is the beautiful man-made lake situated in the middle of the woods. Tourists can enjoy boating in the lake. There are also lot of swings for the children as well as couples in the park. The River Beas runs nearby the park. Visit the park in the evening and you will get a chance to enjoy the stunningly beautiful view of sun setting against the glorious backdrop of the majestic mountains.
Timings: 8 am - 7 pm in summer and 8 am - 5 pm in winter.
Entry Fee: Rs 5 per person, Boating Charge - Rs 30/ Person for 15 mins.
DAY 5 : SOLANG VALLEY - GULABA SIGHTSEEING
Nature & Scenic
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 13.5 km from Manali Bus Stand, 8 km from Gulaba Village, The Kothi Village is located along the route to Rohtang Pass from Manali on Leh - Manali Highway.
Kothi is situated at the foothills of Rohtang pass and lies at an altitude of 2500 m. This splendid village offers a magnificent view of snow capped mountains and glaciers and of the Beas River that flows through a very deep and narrow gorge at this point.
Kothi village is one of the most scenic places to be visited in Manali. The beautiful valley view is worth watching. A number of movies have been shot at this location. Kothi is an ideal site for nature lovers, poets and painters. Kothi is also known as Koshtampi and has a temple of Goddess Shuwang Chandika, a local deity. Kothi used to be a camping site when Rohtang pass had to be climbed on foot. In recent times, the place can be accessed through jeep, bus and pony rides.
Though the village can be visited throughout the year, the most appropriate .....
Waterfall
Duration of visit: 30 Mins - 1 Hr
Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 29 km from Manali Bus Stand, 23 km from Rohtang Pass and 15.5 km from Kothi Village, Rahala Falls is a waterfall located on the way to Rohtang Pass from Manali. It is one of the best waterfalls in Himachal state.
Rahala Waterfall is a magnificent waterfall located on Leh - Manali Highway. This fall is situated at an altitude of 2501 m. It is generally believed to be the outcome of melting of glaciers and so the water of this fall is extremely cold.
Rahala Waterfalls is situated in a very pristine area surrounded with dense growth of silver birch and deodar. The area around the Rahala Waterfalls is absolutely marvelous and the location also allows a picture perfect view of the snowcapped Himalayas.
The best time to visit this gorgeous fall is from March to October when maximum water gorges down the rocks. Owing to its mesmerizing beauty, this waterfall has emerged as one of the most frequented tourist attractions .....
DAY 6 : TRAVEL FROM MANALI TO DELHI
Pilgrimage
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 10 km from Kullu Bus stand, 12 km from Naggar and 31 km from Manali, Dhakpo Shedrupling Monastery is located in Kais village of Kullu District. It is also known as Kais Monastery.
This monastery was inaugurated during the month of May in the year 2005 by the great Noble laureate and his Holiness Dalai Lama. This Monastery is located near the left bank of Beas River. The picturesque view of the valleys which are surrounding the place make it an appealing destination.
The monastery gives a magical look and it has been strongly dedicated to Dalai Lama. The Dhakpo Monastery systemized with the traditional reasoning and scriptures of the master and disciple, the great pioneers of Buddha Dharma. The monastery serves as a boarding school and university for the study of Buddhist philosophy. This monastery houses several Tibetan monks. This Monastery has a huge prayer hall with a huge Buddha statue.
Every year in the month of August His Highness Dhakpo Rinpochhe .....
Pilgrimage
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 5 AM to 9 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 0.5 km from Kullu Bus stand, Raghunathji Temple is a Hindu temple situated in Sultanpur. It is one of the famous places of pilgrimage in Himachal, and among the must-include places in Kullu tour packages.
Dedicated to Lord Rama, this temple was built in the 17th century by Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu. Lord Raghunathji is the chief deity of the Kullu region. The idol is said to be the same which was used by Lord Rama himself at the time of Ashwamedha Yagna and was brought from the Tretnath temple of Ayodhya. It is one of the top places to visit in Kullu.
According to the folklore, Raja Jagat Singh was held responsible for the death of a Brahmin family residing in the village of Tipri. It is said that the king had ordered his soldiers to go to Brahmin family and fetch their pearls. .....