The Dalai Lama, little Tibet with nuns and monasteries, a spectacular international cricket ground where the bowler seems to ‘run in from the Himalayas’, this and so much more to un[travel] in Dharamshala. Literally bursting at the seams with everything Tibetan, from momos to monks, there are Tibetan souvenir shops around every corner and nirvana-searching...
Shimla offers much more than charming colonial buildings against a backdrop of the magnificent snow-capped Himalayas. Much more than the dozens of Bollywood songs set on Mall Road or its oldest boarding schools. The upper reaches around the Shimla region offer skating on natural ice as well as host the MTB Himalaya (South East Asia’s...
Everyone loves Shimla, and what’s not to like? However, maybe it’s time you took a step away from the madding crowd? Somewhere close but not too far? A mere 60-km drive from Shimla takes you to the town of Narkanda. Higher reaches, plentiful summer sunshine or vibrant white winters in abundant apple orchards – all...
Stunningly beautiful throughout the year, the road to Sangla is certainly paved with good intentions. Loose rocky terrain makes most of the drive to Sangla seem like an adventure in itself with gorgeous apple orchards and ‘hanging’ villages on the other side of the gorge. The valley’s largest inhabited settlement, Sangla has interesting Tibetian eateries...
Fascinating deciduous forests of spectacular green interspersed with quaint little villages by the Tirthan river make this valley one of Himachal’s favourite weekend getaways. Stunning backdrops and fantastic camping, trekking and fishing opportunities make this the perfect holiday. The gateway to the Great Himalayan National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Tirthan valley is the...
Travelling through Spiti is the closest you could get to Shangri-La, albeit on some inspiring tarmac. While you’re certainly not going to be allowed forty winks on the Dalai Lama’s bed, used on his visits here, Spiti offers much more than monasteries and pristine glaciers. Impressive decorations signal the onset of festivals here in Spiti,...
Of snow-capped mountains and smokey lore, Himachal Pradesh is so much more than hill stations with colonial hangovers. There are legends to be followed through Shimla’s mall road and Old Manali’s cobbled streets, ancient lore to be listened to and nirvana to be attained. Tirthan valley with its trout-laden rivers and Narkanda’s snowy slopes draw...
Once a sleepy village lying on the way to Manikaran, Kasol is now a huge destination for backpackers and travellers from around the globe. Tourism has progressed to such an extent, that this little village in the Parvati Valley can often get mistaken for a mini-Israeli town (thanks largely to signboards in Hebrew as well)....
A slice of heaven in the midst of some seriously spreading urbanization around the area, Manali offers that perfect mix of cultural serenity in a rapidly growing town. Usually the base for high-altitude trekking and mountaineering, Manali now offers much in the way of adventure tourism with splendid opportunities for mountain biking, paragliding, rafting and...
There’s something about Shimla. No matter how many times you may have been to the summer capital of British India, you’ll never get tired of it. For those who have done the Shimla holiday packages, visited all the tourist places and stayed at luxury hotels in Shimla, there are still reasons to head to the...
