Himachal Pradesh - - The Land of Snow

One of the most beautiful states of India, Himachal Pradesh is situated in the northern part of the country. Himachal Pradesh encompasses natural wonders like magnificent valleys, snow-covered peaks, shimmering rivers criss crossing each other. Besides, the fruit orchards, green meadows, gurgling brooklets, ancient temples and magnificent Buddhist monasteries add more variety to the state.

Basically a hilly state, Himachal is criss-crossed by three rivers namely Beas, Ravi and Sutlej. Hidden away from the heat and dust of the plains, it seems Himachal takes in the transition zone from the plains to the high Himalayas. The picturesque mountain state provides welcome respite to the tourists from the scorching summer heat. During summers people from different parts of India throng Himachal Pradesh to get respite amidst the natural environment. Apart from domestic tourists, foreigners also visit Himachal Pradesh round the year. Visit the state of Himachal Pradesh to enjoy a vacation of lifetime and return back with some lifelong memories.

Top Destinations of Himachal Pradesh

Shimla : Once the summer capital of the British, Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and one of the famous hill stations of India. The main attraction of Shimla lies in its calm promenades flanked with lush green hill dotted with fir and pine, mountain flowers and the unique British-style houses and buildings. Sightseeing at Shimla include the Old Viceregai Lodge and the Jakhu Temple.

Kufri : Situated 19 kms away from Shimla, Kufri is an ideal place for adventure sports like hiking and skiing. With its scenic beauty Kufri draws the common travellers as well as adventure seekers round the year. Himalayan Nature Park and Indira Tourist Park are some of the must visit places in Kufri.

Chail : Located 45 km south-east of Shimla, Chail is nestled amidst the towering deodars and pines of the Shivalik slopes. Once the summer capital of Maharaja of Patiala, Chail is home to world’s highest cricket ground and provides the splendid views of the Himalayan peaks.

Manali : Manali a lovely small hill town, is encircled on three sides by calm mountains, beautiful meadows, lush orchards, river and terraced fields. Some of the highlights of Manali include the Tibetan Monastery, the 450 year old Hadimba Devi Temple, the Handicraft Centre, the marvellous Solang Valley and the Rohtang Pass (3,978 mts).

Dharamshala : A beatiful hill town, Dharamshala has a magnificent setting along the Dhauladhar range varying in altitude from 1250 mts. Set against the picturesque backdrop of lofty peaks on three sides with fantastic views of the Kangra Valley and the Shivaliks, Dharamshala offers some unmatched beautiful scenery. Apart from common tourists, Dharamshala attracts Buddhist pilgrims as it was an adopted home of Dalai Lama in exile. Places to be visited in Dharamshala would be the MCLeodganj and the Baijnath Temple.

Dalhousie : One of the serene hill stations of north India, Dalhousie lies at an altitude of about 2,000 mts. Highlights of Dalhousie include the seven springs – Satdhara and the Martyrs Memorial.

Khajjar : Just 20 kms from Dalhousie, Khajjar is a huge meadow fringed by pine trees with a lake in the middle. Also referred as Mini Switzerland, Khajjar has a golf course, a Devi temple and a 14th century temple.

Nalagarh : Situated 60 kms from Chandigarh, Nalagarh overlooks the plains of Punjab. A relax destination, Nalagarh makes an ideal base to explore the less visited parts of Himachal.

Adventure Options in Himachal Pradesh - For adventure enthusiasts Himachal Pradesh is a paradise. Round the year, especially during winters, the adventure seekers visit Himachal Pradesh to enjoy their favourite sports. With its rugged terrains, snow-covered mountain ranges, thrilling slopes, Himachal Pradesh plenty of opportunities for a variety of adventure sports. Some of the famous adventure sports that you can enjoy in Himachal Pradesh are trekking, skiing, heli skiing, paragliding and ice skating.

People and Culture - Lifestyle of the people of Himachal Pradesh are similar to other hilly states of India. In Himachal Pradesh scores of races, communities and cultures have intermingles or new birth, provide them chance to celebrate by dancing and singing. The people of the hill state love colour and their dress patterns follow the local climate. For instance people of Lahaul area wear long gowns and trousers, grass or leather boots. Caps of the people indicate the region they belong to.

Wildlife in Himachal Pradesh - Of the total area, about 78 percent area in Himachal Pradesh is covered with forests. You can see varied kind of animal and plant species in the wildlife parks of the state. Himachal Pradesh has 32 wildlife sanctuaries, providing shelter to faunal species like Tragopan, Tahr, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear and many other species. Great Himalayan National Park is the most important park of Himachal, other important wildlife sanctuaries are Simbalbara Sanctuary, Renuka Sanctuary, Churdhar Sanctuary, Chail Sanctuary, Majathal Sanctuary and Maharana Pratap Sanctuary.

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir also called J & K is the northern most state of India. Due to its natural beauty and charming places, Jammu and Kashmir has always been a dream destinations for global tourists. Since the time immemorial Kashmir Valley has been a source of inspiration for poets, and many of them named Kashmir a Paradise on Earth.

In fact, the Mughal Emperor Jehangir once said, "if there is paradise on earth, it is this, it is this". Kashmir is bestowed with lush green valleys, snow-capped mountains, gushing rivers, shimmering lakes, beautiful waterfalls and alpine meadows. Besides, the state is home to religious shrines like Hazratbal mosque, Vaishnodevi and Amarnath shrines and Buddhist monasteries.

For adventure seekers, Kashmir offers several excellent sites which have won worldwide recognition. Adventure enthusiasts can enjoy the adventure sports of trekking, skiing, angling, rafting in Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir is also famous for its rich handicrafts such as carpets, shawls, paper machie works and wood works. While visiting Kashmir, you make buy the handicraft items to bring them as souvenir alongwith you. Jammu and Srinagar are the summer and winter capitals of Jammu and Kashmir respectively. Other important destinations are Ladakh, Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

Srinagar : Situated in the heart of the Kashmir valley, Srinagar is divided into two parts by the river Jhelum. The Dal Lake is the prime attraction of Srinagar which is a maze of intricate waterways and channels. Besides Dal Lake other places of interest in Srinagar include the Mughal Gardens namely Chashmashahi Bagh, Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh, the Nagin Lake and Skaharacharya Temple.

Ladakh : Ladakh also called the Lama Land is situated at a distance of 400 kms from Srinagar. Set in varying altitudes, ranging between 9,000 feet and 25,170 feet, Ladakh is bounded by two of the highest mountain ranges, Himalayas and Karakoram. A place of great significance for Buddhists, Ladakh is home to several monasteries. Some of the famous attractions of Ladakh are Hemis Monastery, Thikse Monastery, Sankar Gompa, Hemis Wildlife Sanctuary and Nubra Valleys.

Gulmarg : A nature lover’s delight, Gulmarg can be described as a huge cut shaped meadow with undulating slopes ringed by fir trees and snow-capped peaks. Here at Gulmarg you can hear the birds song and the sound of the wind blowing through the pines. Gulmarg is a paradise for trekkers, as it is home to thrilling trek routes.

Sonamarg : Sonamarg lies 80 kms north-east of Srinagar at an altitude of 3,000 mts. Literally meaning the meadow of Gold, Sonamarg is a quiet valley carved by the river Sindh and encircled by the placid lakes and awesome glaciers.

Vaishnodevi : A holy site for Hindus, Vaishnodevi lies at 61 kms from Jammu. A 13 kms trek from Katra (50 kms from Jammu) takes you to Vaishnodevi shrine. Sightseeing places in and around Vaishnodevi shrine include Raghunath Mandir, Bhumika Mandir and Kalka Mandir. Other places of sightseeing include the Shalimar Park and the Chintamani Park.

Pahalgam : Pahalgam is situated 96 kms east of Srinagar at an elevation of 2,400 mts. Set amidst the amazing backdrop of upland meadow and hills covered with pine forests, Pahalgam offers perfect setting for a peaceful vacation. For adventure seekers Pahalgam offers excellent options of trekking and fishing.


Patnitop : One of the most beautiful hill stations of North India, Patnitop is situated at a height of 1,950 mts. Surrounded by thick forest and lush greenery of the pines, Patnitop is an ideal place for walks and picnics. You can even indulge yourself into pony rides along the lesser known trails and camps.

Uttar Pradesh - The Rainbow Land

One of the major states of India, Uttar Pradesh is called the ‘Rainbow Land’ where from the times immemorial the multi-hued Indian culture has blossomed. Historically Uttar Pradesh is one of the most ancient cradles of India culture. Blessed with a unique heritage and rich cultural tradition, Uttar Pradesh has also been graced by a number of luminous personalities including Lord Buddha.

Of course, religion and heritage are the backbone of Uttar Pradesh tourism and they attract millions of tourists every year from across the globe. Besides, the state has a number of natural wonders as well, like the wildlife parks which provide shelter to a variety of wildlife. Fairs and festivals are other attractions of the Uttar Pradesh, and celebrated by the local people with great enthusiasm. Lucknow is the state capital, other important cities of Uttar Pradesh are Allahabad, Kanpur, Agra and NOIDA.

Buddhist Sites in Uttar Pradesh - Also called the ‘Nirvana Land’, Uttar Pradesh is the place where Buddha preached his first sermon, laid the foundation of his order and transformed it into the ‘Cradle of Buddhism.’ Even today the state is home to a number of Buddhist sites which are visited by pilgrims from across the globe. Sarnath, Shravasti, Kaushambi, Sankisa and Kushinagar are some of the important places for Buddhists in Uttar Pradesh.

Forts and Monuments in Uttar Pradesh – Uttar Pradesh is a historic land and ruled by a number of dynasties over the centuries who had build several forts and palaces. Still many of those ancient forts and palaces are in good condition and has became a tourist attraction for tourists. Taj Mahal in Agra is famous worldover and considered as a symbol of love. Red Fort in Agra is another magnificent monument, which was built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar. Other famous forts and monuments of Uttar Pradesh are Fatehpur Sikri (Agra), Sikandra (Agra), Hussainabad Imambara (Lucknow), Bada Imambara (Lucknow) and Jehangir Palace (Agra).

Wildlife in Uttar Pradesh – Uttar Pradesh is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. You can see tigers, swamp deers, sambar, elephants, leopards and many other animal and bird species in the wildlife sanctuaries of the state. Dudhwa National Park is the main wildlife park of Uttar Pradesh which natural habitat to wildlife. Chandra Prabha Sanctuary, Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary, Nawab Ganj Bird Sanctuary, Mahavir Swami Wildlife Sanctuary and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary are other important parks of Uttar Pradesh.

Temples in Uttar Pradesh – As I have mentioned that religion is the backbone of Uttar Pradesh tourism, so presence of temples in the state is obvious. Population of the state is dominated by the Hindus and they have built worship places (temples) all over the state over the centuries. Varanasi is famous as the temple town and it is home to sacred Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Mathura is known for temples related to Lord Krishna. For experiencing the spiritual peace visit the temples of Uttar Pradesh, despite the hymns and chants of priest you will get the heavenly feel inside the temple complexes.

People and Culture Uttar Pradesh – Uttar Pradesh is bestowed with rich culture and it is land where the Hindu civilization and culture reached to its height. People of different faiths live in perfect harmony in Uttar Pradesh and they also celebrate festivals of each other with equal enthusiasm. Holi, Janmashtami, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Moharram, Taj Mahotsav, Avadh Festival and Kumbh Mela are some of the famous fairs and festival of Uttar Pradesh. Music, Dance, Theatre and Stage plays are main art forms of Uttar Pradesh. Eating habits of the state people varies from region to region, like people in Lucknow love Nawabi cuisine, while in Mathura like milk-based preparations. Some of the specialties of Uttar Pradesh include Kundan Kaliya, Kababs, Nehari Khaas, Nargisi Kofta, Murg Mussallam, Lazeez Lauki, Warqui Paratha, Gobhi Mussallam, Shir Shewai and Chicken Reshmi Kabab.