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| Travels
States in North India |
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The
State is bordered by Jammu &
Kashmir on North, Punjab on
West and South-West, Haryana
on South, Uttar Pradesh on South-East
and China on the East.
Nestled in the Himalayas, the
world's mightiest mountain ranges,
Himachal is blessed with some
of the most spectacular and
beautiful landscapes, it is
a travellers paradise-mighty
snow peaks, deep gorges, lush
green valley, misty woods, fast
flowing rivers, enchanting lakes
and flower filled meadows. Its
high mountains and valleys are
linked by winding roads and
high passes. While the picturesque
valleys of Kullu and Kangra
are a riot of colours. In marked
contrast the stark and barren
terrain of Lahaul & Spiti
have a stunning lunar and scope
like beauty. Himachali's lead
a simple and quiet life, tending
their orchards, fields and flocks.
Keeping alive their rich art
and culture. They remain immersed
in the annual rounds of fairs
and festivals, full of music,
song and dance. For the visitor
there are superb locations for
relaxing and sight seeing. There
are also great opportunities
for trekking, mountaineering,
fishing, river-rafting, skiing
and para-gliding.
Many of these include: from
Shimla - Mashobra, Kufri, Naldehra;
those around Kullu-Manali include
Manikaran, Naggar and Brighu
Lake; the barely accessible
valleys of Lahaul and Spiti
are a trekker’s delight.
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The
British called Shimla
the "Queen of Hill
Stations." Situated
in the north-West Himalayas,
Shimla the summer capital
of India before independence
is now the capital of
Himachal Pradesh.Shimla
derives its name from
"Shyamala";-
the goddess Kali, whose
temple existed in the
dense forest that covered
Jakhu Hill in the early
19th century. The English
named it Simla. Shimla
is well connected by
air, road and rail with
all parts of Himachal
Pradesh, and the neighbouring
states of Punjab, Haryana,
Jammu and Kashimir and
the Union territory
of Chandigarh. Covering
the area of 18 sq. km.at
a height of 7,238 ft.
Shimla is surrounded
by pine, deodar, oak
and rhododendron forests.Its
well developed facilities,
easy accessibility and
numerous attractions
make it one of Indian's
most popular and biggest
hill-stations.
Shimla's salubrious
climate, easy accessibility
and numerous attractions
have made it one of
the most popular hill
stations in northern
India. The splendid
views of the show-clad
ranges of the Himalayas,
fine walks through oak
and flowering rhododendron,
enchanting resorts within
easy reach, golf Naldehra
and skiing at Kufri
and Narkanda make Shimala
an attractive destination
throughout the year.
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Situated
in the central parts of the
northern state of Himachal
Pradesh, Manali is at the
head of the Kullu valley.
In Manali, one can find high
mountains shrouded by silent
snows and deep boulder strewn
gorges. There are thick forests,
filled with cool breezes and
bird song. There are fields
of wild flowers, small picturesque
hamlets and fruit-laden orchards,
especially apples. Manali
is also famous for adventure
sports like skiing, hiking,
mountaineering, paragliding,
rafting, trekking, kayaking,
and mountain biking. |
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Dharamsala
is the main hill
station in the Kangra
Valley - a fertile,
undulating valley,
lying between the
gentle Shivalik
Hills and the foothills
of the mighty Dhauladhars
- a valley noted
for the beauty of
its scenery - lush
terraces, wooded
hills, manicured
tea gardens and
sparkling streams.
The Dhauladhars,
"the white
mountains"
that rise 4,000
m above the valley
floor, provide a
dramatic backdrop.
Picturesque
Dharamsala, built
on a spur of the
Dhauladhar range,
commands splendid
view of the surrounding
country. Originally
a little hill
resort built by
the British, Dharamsala
rambles up in
levels to very
near the snow
line. While Lower
Dharamsala (1,250
m) is the busy
commercial area
with government
buildings, the
bazar and the
bus stand, Upper
Dharamsala (1,982
m) has suburbs
with evocative
names like Forsythganj
and Macleodganj
that are quite
fascinating
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Located
1927 m above sea level is
the tiny hill - station of
Kasauli, enveloped in an air
of old-world charm. The British
developed Kasauli as a cantonment-sanatorium
over 20 years after they had
based themselves in Shimla.
Lying 15 km from Dharampur,
37 km from Kalka and and 65
km from Chandigarh. it's main
attraction are it's overall
cleanliness and it's accessibility.
The narrow winding roads which
their way up and down the
hill side offer some magnificent
sights.
At 3647 m, the Choordhar or
Choor Chandni peak, looms
over the sylvan surroundings,
and just across the ranges,
is Simla. The Upper and Lower
Malls are the two main roads
that run along the length
of Kasauli, a thick cover
of pine, oak, horse chestnut
trees embracing the entire
area. Traffic is restricted
on these roads, which is the
reason why, Kasauli is one
of the quietest hill stations
in India. The resort's colonial
aura is underlined by gabled
houses with picturesque facades,
cobbled alleys and rows of
neat orchards and elegant
gardens. |
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The
valley of gods, as the Kullu
valley has come to be known,
is perhaps the most delightful
region in the western Himalayas.
The ancient Hindus regarded
it as the furthest limit of
human habitation - Kulantapitha,
and its original name finds
mention in the epics, the
Ramayana and the Mahabharata
as well as Vishnu Purana.
Like
a slender delicate-hued
fern glistening in the morning
dew, the valley spreads
out its charm on either
side of the upper reaches
of the river Beas. Running
north to south, the main
river valley is only 80
km long and 2 km at its
broadest, yet a fairly wide
area is open to the visitors
to enjoy the spectacle of
variegated mountain scenery.
In
the spring Kullu is at its
most colourful with pink
blossoms and white flowers
while the higher slopes
are aglow with gorgeous
rhododendrons. With utumn,
clear blue skies return
and fields and forests alike
show wonderful tints of
crimson and ochre. By December,
there is no greenery except
the majestic pines and cedars
in the forests. In winter
the hillsides are flanked
in white.
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Isolated
by high mountain ranges, the
valley of Chamba is noted
for the magnificence of its
scenery. The British Governor
General, Lord Dalhousie, visiting
this area around the middle
of the 19th century for a
quiet retreat, came upon a
charming spot on a ridge overlooking
the plains. This was to become
the attractive little hill
town that was named after
him.
Set amidst thickly wooded
hills, clothed in deodar and
pine, Dalhousie has marvellous
forest trails and picnic spots
with splendid vistas over
the Chamba Valley. A touch
of the "Raj" still
lingers in the little unspoilt
town. |
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