30 Stunning Holiday Destinations in Himachal Pradesh

This travel blog post reports about the 30 sightseeing places in Himachal Pradesh, India. All of them are very ideal holiday destinations irrespective of the season. Yes, they take your breath away even during the rainy season when you can spot most of the rare birds that live only in the Himalayas and insects that sport extraordinary color combinations on their back. In addition, the hotels are dead cheap during rains.

30 Stunning Holiday Destinations in Himachal Pradesh

Each place is only briefly mentioned and I intend to explore them in complete detail that include places to see, things to do, hotels, food and drink, and how to reach, in due course. Therefore, you can read ultimate guide for 30 different hill stations in Himachal Pradesh. Each hill station is likely to beg you to stay at least for 4 days. Your next 30 years of vacation planning will be done by me in advance.

1. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

This is the second most visited hill station in India. The first place is always occupied by Srinagar, Kashmir. Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh famous for the toy train that will take you to Shimla from Kalka railway station. In addition, Shimla is the most preferred destination by the honeymooners. There are two major shopping areas in Shimla namely ‘The Mall’ and the ‘Lakkar Bazar’. Both are very popular among tourists for myriad handicrafts made of wood and wool.

2. Manali, Himachal Pradesh

This is the second most popular holiday destination in Himachal Pradesh. It is located in the Kullu valley. Manali is the gateway to the world-famous Rohtang Pass. Hundreds of adventure sports lovers stop briefly at Manali only to head to Solang Valley, which is a skiing and paragliding destination. Solang Valley is only 13 km from Manali. The place is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and offers a terrific view of glaciers. The Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali is located here.

Other adventure activities in Solang Valley are paragliding, zorbing, and parachuting. I would like to try zorbing once which involves getting into a transparent white ball and roll inside the ball on a gentle slope.

Watch a video of how zorbing is done.

Horse riding is also popular among children during summer.

3.  Mcleodganj

The name Mcleodganj is a mixture of English and Indian and though it is a lovely holiday destination in Himachal Pradesh located near Dharamsala, it is not as popular as Dharamsala. It may be due to heavy dose of a mixture of Tibetan and English culture. Nevertheless, it is favored by the Westerners.

4. Spiti

It attracts few visitors because of lack of good staying options though not lacking in attractions some of which are Chandratal Lake and Kunzum Pass. The world-famous Buddhist monastery Key Gompa is located in Spiti, at a height of over 12,000 feet. The Spiti River is in the vicinity of Key Gompa.  Spiti has several trekking trails.

5. Khajjiar

The most visited attraction here is the Kalatop wildlife sanctuary which houses deodar, oak, coniferous and fir forest and is also home to pheasants, serow (a kind of goat that is bigger than the sheep), and black bear. At a height of 6200 feet is the Khajjiar Lake. The forests and lakes-what else do you want in a hill station? Because of verdant meadows, vast green pastures and rolling hills, Khajjiar is called as the ‘mini-Switzerland of India’.

6. Dalhousie

Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh is a wonderful holiday destination. It has been in existence since the British period in India and naturally, the town carries an air of English fragrance in hotels, food, architecture, and culture. It is very close to Satdhara falls and Khajjiar. The stunning Panch Pulla waterfalls is a major attraction. Water from five mountain streams joins to drop down. Overall, Dalhousie is a pristine hill station in Himachal Pradesh with great views and pleasant climate that the British people loved.

7. Kaza, Himachal Pradesh

The hilly towns in Himachal Pradesh are scattered with Buddhist monasteries. Kaza as a holiday destination in the Spiti valley, Himalayas is home to the ‘Komic Village’ situated at over 15,000 feet altitude. It is the world’s highest village. Just for this reason, Kaza attracts tourists from Asian countries.

8. Nalagarh

The name Nalagarh doesn’t sound like a Himalayan village-right? Because the Rajputs ruled here and built a typical Rajput fort called Nalagarh fort, the name is unique in Himachal Pradesh.  Another fortress known as Ramgarh fort is also nearby. Nalagarh is the gateway to Himachal Pradesh attractions as it is situated near Chandigarh which is 40 km away. Chandigarh city is in the plains.

9. Kinnaur

Kinnaur is a well known holiday destination in Himachal Pradesh and is located near Tibet. It is 235 km northeast to Shimla.  It is known as the ‘Land of Gods’ and I could not find the reasons behind the name. Mountain lovers, especially the Himalayan Mountains, visit Kinnaur just to see the three towering Himalayan mountain ranges namely, the Zanskar, the Greater Himalayas, and the Dhauladhar. In addition three majestic rivers the Sutlej, Spiti, and the Baspa flow through Kinnaur.

10. Shoghi

When Shimla gets crowded in the summer, some solitary seekers escape to Shoghi which is located outside the Shimla city. Being a small village, it offers unspoiled scenic beauty and excellent trekking and hiking trails and paths.  Shimla is only 13 Km away.

11. Kasol

Kasol is another Himalayan village situated on the banks of Parvati river. The location is also Parvati Valley. The famous Kheerganga trekking spot is one of the attractions in Himachal Pradesh among adventure lovers. Because Kasol is frequented by trekkers, there are a number of cheap staying options that have been put up by the locals. Smart business idea!

12. Bir

Bir in Himachal Pradesh is an eco-tourism center and known for offering excellent paragliding facilities. It is so conducive to paragliding that it is called as ‘Paragliding Capital’ of India. Not many people are aware of this unique feat. Apart from paragliding,  Bir is known as a place of meditation in the Sherab Ling Monastery that attracts thousands of Buddhists because it is a place for higher Buddhist studies. All the paragliding starting points offer stunning views of the green mountains and the snow-clad hills surrounding the place.

13. Tirthan Valley

The Great Himalayan National Park (a UNESCO Heritage site) is the major attraction in Tirthan Valley situated on the banks of Tirthan river.  The Tirthan valley is situated at an altitude of 5000 feet. Set close to the giant mountains, the place looks absolutely beautiful with scenic walking trails, gentle slopes covered with green lawn and interspersed with tall trees that are native to the Himalayas. There are several small waterfalls and many mountain streams where trout live and play. Nature lovers flaunt Tirthan valley for the range of wildflowers and rare species of Himalayan birds.

14. Sangla

Sangla is a village that lies close to Tibet, in Kinnaur district. It is a beautiful location surround by the Himalayan hills on both sides and a river or mountain stream flows in between. The habitation lives around the river. The Sangla Meadow is a unique place with green hills and snow-peaked mountains surrounding it. The Kamru fort in Sangla is a major attraction as it is said to have built by the Lord Badrinath Himself. From the fort built at an altitude of 5200 feet, the view of Sangla valley and apple gardens is beautiful.

15. Kasauli

Kasauli is known to be famous among the British rulers who set up their cantonment. It is not too far from the Chandigarh city. The major attraction is the mist covered Monkey Point that is said to be the highest peak in Kasauli. The Monkey Point is an observation platform to view the Sutlej River,  ‘Choor Chandni’ peak, and the city of Chandigarh. There is a Hanuman temple here and people believe His footmarks are found on the hill whose top appears like a foot. Kasauli is a popular holiday destination in the Himachal Pradesh.

16. Shojha

Shojha is a mini hill station in Himachal Pradesh located in the Banjar Valley. Not loaded with time-pass solutions, it is best appreciated and enjoyed by those who cherish sitting at a quiet spot and looking at the mountains with wildflowers, plucking the grass occasionally and speaking with the trees.

The major attraction of Shojha is the Jalori Pass, about 5 km away. In addition, Shojha has a pleasant weather perennially. Surprisingly, there is another fort nearby; it is known as Raghupur Fort.

17. Nahan

Nahan is a quiet vacation destination in the Himachal Pradesh located in the Shivalik mountain range. The major attractions are the Suketi Fossil Park and the Renuka Lake. The Suketi Fossil Park is also called as the Shivalik fossil park from where several extinct animals’ fossils were excavated.

18. Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh
    

Kalpa is known as the ‘apple town’ because of several apple orchards surrounded by Buddhist monasteries. A holy place called Kinnaur Kailash is located at towering height of over 18,000 feet in the Sutlej River Valley.

19. Mashobra, Himachal Pradesh
    

Mashobra is located on Lord Dalhousie built India-Tibet road. Its elevation is 7700 feet. Not much of an active place but suited still for the quiet vacation seekers. Mashabro has a lovely picnic spot cum walking trail known as Craignano.

As it is only half an hour from Shimla, plenty of tourists make it a point to go to Mashobra to enjoy the stunning views filled with myriad flowers that include celandine, hyacinths, daffodils, and asphodels.

20. Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
    

Kullu valley is even known to those who have never visited the Himachal Pradesh as it is a highly talked-about vacation spot in India. The newspapers are often filled with advertisements of honeymoon tour packages to Kullu valley known for majestic views of the Himalayas.

21. Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh
    

Dharamsala is where the world’s highest cricket stadium is located. The religious Buddhist leader Dalai Lama resides here. Dharamsala is more of a religious center for Buddhists than a hill station but it still acts as a holiday destination in the Himachal Pradesh for mostly Indians and Sri Lankans.

22. Parwanoo

Parwanoo is a town located at the foothills of Shivalik Mountain Range and is close to the plains. The major attraction in Parwanoo is the Timber Trail Heights, a serene location that acts as a haven for the city dwellers. There is a cable car ride meant to entertain the children of the Chandigarh city.

Video of the cable car ride.

The town is a major producer of fruits and as such, there is a big whole sale market for Himalayan fruits. Other two gardens are the Cactus Garden and the Mughal Gardens.

23. Tattapani

Tattapani village situated on the banks of Sutlej River, is located at a distance of 50 km from Shimla. As the name suggests, there are several hot water springs here. It’s a weekend holiday destination in the Himachal Pradesh. People stay here mainly to take several dips in the hot water springs because of its healing power.

24. Chail

It is a famous town for film shooting because of numerous scenic spots and also for its proximity to Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh.

The Chail wildlife sanctuary is home to several well-known wildlife that includes pheasants, barking deer, and sambar.

25. Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh
    

Narkanda is a popular skiing center. The Hatu peak is the starting point for skiers. For nature lovers, there are several wooded areas to walk through quietly giving company to the birds and ants.

26. Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh
    

The only famous attraction here is the artificial lake called Gobind Sagar on Sutlej river. It is actually a reservoir for the Bakra dam. There is another one called Koldam dam, 18 km away from Bilaspur. Bilaspur is located at an elevation of 2100 feet.

27. Manikaran Sahib

This oddly named small town is full of temples and gurudwaras of which  Sri Guru Nanak Devji Gurudwara is more popular than others. Among the revered places by the Hindus, the Vishnu Kund and the Kulant Pith are thronged by the visitors. A large number of devotees take a dip in the Vishnu Kund, a hot spring. This holy hill station is near to Manali located in the Parvati Valley. The river Parvati flows through this pilgrim hill station. Plenty of staying options are available because of pilgrim crowd.

28. Palampur, Himachal Pradesh
    

Palampur is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh and an ideal holiday destination because of tea gardens and plenty of forests that offer thrilling trekking trails, Kangra valley, and the majestic Dhauladhar mountains. One of the trekking trail takes you to Birni Devi temple located on a hilltop.

One more attraction in this hill station is the Saurabh Van Vihar nature park that has a man-made lake where you can enjoy a paddle boat ride. Plenty of birds will give you company as you ride on the water. It is major picnic spot in Palampur.

A couple of more attractions in Palampur are the Neugal Khad with pine and deodar trees and the Tashi Jong Monastery.

29. Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
    

Kangra, the vacation destination is a city in Himachal Pradesh that is known to attract tourists with the Kangra Fort and the Kareri Lake. The majestic Beas River, one of the five rivers of the PUNJAB flows through Kangra that is also known as the Land of the Gods.

Tourists visit to see the Himalayan Pyramids which are otherwise known as the  Masroor Rock Cut Temple. The Kangra fort is located on the outskirts of the Kangra city.

The Kareri Lake is a freshwater natural lake at a height of about 10,000 feet.

30. Kufri, Himachal Pradesh
    

This vacation destination in the Himachal Pradesh is located only 20 km from Shimla but situated at a higher altitude than Shimla. It is a major skiing spot. For children, there is the Kufri Fun World, a theme park with the usual fun rides.

So, that it folks. I have covered briefly all the 30-holiday destinations in Himachal Pradesh, India.

This travel blog post reports about the 30 sightseeing places in Himachal Pradesh, India. All of them are very ideal holiday destinations irrespective of the season. Yes, they take your breath away even during the rainy season when you can spot most of the rare birds that live only in the Himalayas and insects that sport extraordinary color combinations on their back. In addition, the hotels are dead cheap during rains.

Each place is only briefly mentioned and I intend to explore them in complete detail that include places to see, things to do, hotels, food and drink, and how to reach, in due course. Therefore, you can read ultimate guide for 30 different hill stations in Himachal Pradesh. Each hill station is likely to beg you to stay at least for 4 days. Your next 30 years of vacation planning will be done by me in advance.