Visit Himalaya

Trip to Himalayas

With its lofty snow-white peaks and undefined virgin beauty the Himalayan mountains attract a number of visitors. Perched at the top of India, it is just like a crown to the country. The massive Himalayas mountain range separates Indian subcontinent from Tibet plateau.

Himalayan Tourism: Basically Himalayan ranges in Asia cover four major destinations, which are:

India

Bhutan

Tibet

Nepal


Indian Himalaya Destinations: The entire Northern part of India is blessed with the magnificent Himalayan mountains, which cover five states of the country. These are Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim and North Eastern States.

Adorned with numerous Hindu pilgrimages, rich flora and fauna, deep and steep valleys, panoramic sights, the Indian Himalaya has always been the most preferred tourists spot.

Jammu & Kashmir: Have you ever seen the heaven on earth? If no, then come to the state of Jammu & Kashmir. It is the state, where mother nature resides. The state can be categorized in three Himalayan Mountains regions – foothills plain area of Jammu, deep valleys of Kashmir and high altitudes barren and mountains of Ladakh. Summers are the best time to visit Leh Ladakh.

Adventures: Mountaineering, trekking, jeep safari, mountain cycling, river rafting, motorbike safari, kayaking and canoeing etc.

Himachal Pradesh: If you want to get rid off the hustle and bustle of day to day life and want to have some soothing moments in the lap of nature, then Himachal Pradesh is your cup of tea. Kulu Manali is one of the most visited attractions of Himachal Pradesh.

Adventures: Rock climbing, hang gliding, mountaineering, heli skiing etc.

Uttarakhand: Located in the Western Himalayan region Uttaranchal houses eight hill destinations. Dehradun (capital of the state), also known as Devbhumi comprises numerous tourists spots, waterfalls and pilgrimages. Besides Nainital, Ranikhet, Tihri, Valley of flowers are another major hill stations of the state.

Adventures: Trekking, camping, river rafting, jungle safari, rock climbing and mountain biking etc.

Sikkim: Sikkim is one of the smallest state of India, but the world's third highest peak-'Kangchenjunga' guards this state and highlights it as one of the major tourist destinations.

Adventures: Sikkim trekking, Yak safari, river rafting, mountaineering and kayaking are the major adventures of the state.

North Eastern States: These states are collectively also known as 'seven sisters', which are Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Tripura. These are the places, where you may experience the unexplored beauty of nature.

Adventure: Angling, boating, jungle safari, hiking, rafting and trekking.

Other Asian Himalayan Destinations:

Bhutan: Bhutan, also called as the 'Land of Thunder Dragon' or 'Druk Yul', is most popularly known for its mountainous region. Its snow covered high Himalayan altitudes vary from 23,000 feet to 7,000 m.

Adventures: Its rich vegetation, forests and steep slopes are the paradise for trekkers.

Tibet Tourism: Located at an high altitude of 4,000 m, Tibet is called as the 'roof of the world'. It is a rich blend of nature and spiritualism.

Adventures: Trekking, mountaineering and jeep safari.

Nepal: With its amazing geographical location, Nepal is a wonderful travel destination. The height of mountains in Nepal varies from 4877 m to 8848 m, having eight of the highest 14 summits. The world's highest mountain peak Mount Everest is also situated in Nepal.

Adventures: River rafting, rock climbing, mountaineering, angling, fishing, Himalaya base camp trek, skiing, wildlife safari, motorbike safari etc.

So plan your next holidays to magnificent Himalayan mountains and preserve the lifelong memories.

Hill Stations of India

Topographically India is varied land comprises of mountains and plains. Out of India’s total land area, a fair portion is occupied by the mountains and hills. Great Indian Himalayas runs almost all through the northern part of the country. However, the western ghat range runs from Maharashtra to Kerala, Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India. The British East India Company developed a number of hill stations in these mountain ranges, which still flourish.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the cities, the hill stations of India provide a welcome break and take one close to mother nature. Hill Stations of India are famous worldover for their cool salubrious climate and their spectacular scenery. Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world visit the hill stations to enjoy the pleasant climate and getting rejuvenated by the rolling meadows and serene ambience. India is home to more or less around fifty hill stations, some of the popular hill stations are :

Darjeeling : Situated in the Indian state of West Bengal, Darjeeling is often referred to as the 'Queen of all hill stations.'Darjeeling is known for its pristine natural beauty, clean fresh air and year round present weather. Above all, you will be certainly pleased by the warm hospitality of smiling and welcoming local people. World's third highest pick mount Kanchenjunga lies very close to Darjeeling and provides clearest view. The toy train running between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling is a major attraction and you should not miss the adventurous journey. A World Heritage Site, the Darjeeling toy train takes you through the winding railway tracks,flanked by the lofty mountains all across. Other popular destinations in and around Darjeeling include Ghoom, Kalimpong and Mirik.


Shimla : Once the capital of British India, Shimla is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Set at an altitude of 2,196 mts above sea level, Shimla is one of the most popular hill stations of India. Of course, the British are no more here, but even today you can experience the bygone era in colonial structures here. With lofty snow-covered peaks all around flanked by pine, cedar, oak and rhododendron forests, the hill station makes a prefect base for a leisurely holiday. Shimla is easily accessible from India’s capital Delhi (343 km). Trains, Buses and Air services are available to Shimla from Delhi. Ridge, Lakkad Bazaar, St Michael's Cathedral, Institute of Advanced Studies and Tara Devi Temple are the main attractions of Shimla. Don’t forget to enjoy the toy train journey between Kalka and Shimla.

Manali : An important hill station of northern India, Manali is situated in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Literally meaning the abode of Manu or "Home of Manu", Manali boasts of cool atmosphere. Dotted with a number of temples, Manali is also treated as an important pilgrimage destination. If you are an adventure seeker, then Manali is a perfect place for you. Situated at an altitude of 2050 meters above sea level, along the banks of the river Beas provides excellent opportunities for a variety of adventure sports. Here you may enjoy the adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, para gliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking. Some of the attractions of Manali include Arjun Gufa,Hadimba Temple,Jagatsuhk, Kothi, Manu Temple, Monasteries, Rahala waterfalls, Rohtang Pass (3979 m), Solang Valley, Vashist Hot Water Springs and Temple.

Ooty : Ooty also called Udhagamandalam is one of the most popular hill stations of South India. Nestled amidst the lush green hills of the Nilgiris, Ooty was developed as a hill station by the British in the early 19 th century. Bestowed with a landscape perpetually enveloped in mist, Ooty’s beauty has a timeless appeal. Peaches and plum orchards, terraced tea plantations, and eucalyptus, pine and wattle lining the landscape, add more to the beauty of Ooty. Government Botanical Garden (2 Kms), Artificial Lake, Mini Garden, Doddabetta, Hindustan Photo Films, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Deer Park are some of the attractions of Ooty.

Nainital : Nainital, literally meaning the ‘city of lake’ is the gateway of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand state. A beautiful hill resort, Nainital is visited by thousands of domestic and foreign tourists. Flanked by the lofty peaks, Nainital provides a heaven like feel. Enjoy the boating in Naini lake, horse safari or reach to snow-view by ropeway. From the snow-view enjoy the spectacular view of the snow-covered Himalayan ranges. Some of the popular attractions around Nainital are Bhimtal (22 km), Khurpatal (12 km), Nakuchiyatal, Sattal, Kainchi, Kilbury (12 km), Ranikhet (63 km) and Kausani (120 km).

Mount Abu : Mount Abu, the only hill station of Rajasthan, is just like a green oasis in the barren desert scape. Set at the southern tip of the Aravali range, Mount Abu is covered with varied floral species that include coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. Gaumukh Temple, Dilwara Jain Temple, Adhar Devi Temple, Sunset Point, Honeymoon Point, Shri Raghunathji Temple,Museum and Art Gallery, Guru Shikhar(Highest peak), Nakkilake etc. are famous attractions of Mount Abu.

Kodaikanal : Kodaikanal lies 120 kms away from Madurai on the southern crest of the Palani hills. Set at an elevation of altitude of 2100 mt, Kodaikanal is surrounded by wooded slopes, waterfalls and precipitous rocky outcrops. Established by American missionaries in 1845, Kodaikanal is steeped in history. Even today you can see the relics and artifacts of the Paliyans who once lived in these hills in the Shenbaganur Museum. You can also see a few Paliyans near Kukal Cave.

Other Popular Hill Stations of India : Mussoorie (Himachal Pradesh), Almora (Uttarakhand), Khandala (Maharashtra), Lonavala (Maharashtra), Gangtok (Sikkim), Gulmarg (Jammu and Kashmir), Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir), Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) Panchgani (Maharashtra), Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra), Patnitop, Munnar, Dalhousie and Kufri.