Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit Chamba is March – June as temperature is suitable for travelling.

Location on Google Maps:

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Route between Shimla and Chamba:

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Route between Chandigarh and Chamba:

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How to get there:
By Road: Well connected from the nearby Dalhousie. Daily bus service is available for Dalhousie and jeeps on hire are also available but it is relatively expensive.

By Air: Not a bad option, with the closest airport being at at Gaggal in Kangra valley, 180 km from Chamba. Indian Airlines operates its flights on the Delhi-Dharamsala sector.

By Rail: Pathankot is the nearest railhead, with Chamba being 122 km from Pathankot. Pathankot, is the nearest broad gauge rail head, which is linked by direct trains to Amritsar, Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta.

The Distances from other major areas are as below:
Distance of Pathankot to Chamba is 118 KM via Banikhet
Distance of Shimla to Chamba is 378 KM
Distance of Dharamsala to Chamba is 169 KM via Lahru
Distance of Dalhousie to Chamba is 41 KM

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
1. www.hotelium.com/Chamba
2. http://www.tourism-of-india.com/hotels-in-himachal-pradesh/chamba-hotels / : Gives best hotels and restaraunts in Chamba
3. www.tripadvisor.in/Hotels-g1156021-Chamba_Himachal_Pradesh-Hotels.html
4. http://www.travelmasti.com/chamba.htm

Blogs / Sites about Chamba in Himachal Pradesh (with small excerpts from these blogs):
• History and Culture: Chamba was part of Gorkha kingdom but later ruled by Gharwals.
The area is said to be a place fo Kolian tribes which were subjugated by Khasas.They were later under other peoplelike Gupta, Thakurs and Ranas but by the seventh Century , the Rajput Dynasty came to power and ruled them. Their principal diety was Lord Shiva.

http://hpchamba.nic.in/history.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamba,_Himachal_Pradesh

• Chamba is Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamba,_Himachal_Pradesh
• http://hpchamba.nic.in

Photo / Image Gallery:
• http://hpchamba.nic.in/photo.htm
• http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:mYqTubKOUrcJ:travel.sulekha.com/chamba-pictures.htm+Photo+/+Image+Gallery:+of+Chamba&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=in&client=firefox-a
• http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/India/North/Himachal_Pradesh/Chamba/
• http://www.indianholiday.com/hotels-in-india/hotels-in-himachal-pradesh/chamba-hotels/

Paonta Sahib is a place sacred to the Sikh community, and is also making its name as a growing industrial region. The religious background as to why Paonta Sahib is a significant place is: In the year 1685, Guru Govind Singh (the 10th and last human guru for Sikhism), son of Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th guru), was on the way to Anandpur Sahib for setting up the Khalsa. He took a halt at Paonta Sahib, lived there for four years and wrote Dasam Granth there.
The original name of the city was paontika – In Hindi ‘paon’ means feet and ‘tika’ means stable. So the genesis of the name of Paonta Sahin is that the horse of Guru Ji stopped there on the way to Anandpur so he decided to rest at Paonta Sahib. Guru Govind Singh set his foot at this place that is why this place was named as Paonta Sahib. It is here, where he penned the `Dasam Granth’.

Location of Paonta Sahib on Mapmyindia.com

Just a short distance away from the gurudwara, there is the beautiful sight of the river Yamuna flowing, with all the sounds that a gurgling river makes. But just short of its walls the water suddenly falls silent, not making any more sound. The story goes that it happened only at the Guru’s behest, with the Guru requesting the river to flow silently since the noise was distrubing the Guru’s meditations, and another says that the Guru found it hampered his communication with the sufi saint Bhure Shah who lived high above the opposite bank.
Climate during the summers is pleasant while winters are bit colder than plains. This religious cum tourist destination is favorable among tourists round the year because of its moderate climate.
The Gurudwara houses some interesting spots that traces the events in the life of Guru Gobind Singh. There is Shri Talab Asthan where he disbursed salaries, and the Shri Dastar Asthan where he judged the turban – tying competitions. The Kavi Durbar was the venue of the poetic symposia. A memorial dedicated to Kalpi Rishi, and a museum showcasing the pens of the Guru and the weapons of those times, are also located within the precincts of the Gurudwara

Attractions:

Sri Talab Asthan: Sri Talab Asthan located inside Paonta Sahib is the place where the Guru distributed salaries to his followers for their hard work.

Sri Dastar Asthan: There is another place of interest inside Paonta Sahib known as Sri Dastar Asthan, where the Sikh Guru used to witness the turban tying competition by his followers.

Kalpi Rishi: Kalpi Rishi is another significant locale; this is a museum that displays various weapons used by the Sikh Guru and his followers.

Sirmour: Here are the remains of the old capital of the princely state of Sirmour. The town is said to have been destroyed by flood in the 11th century, when it was cursed by a dancing girl, who was promised the kindgom by the king if she completed a hard task, and who the king killed while she was doing the task.

Bhangani is fourteen kilometers out of Paonta Sahib. Settling on high ground, the Guru fought his first battle at Bhangani. Guru Gobind Singh defeated a phalanx of twenty thousand professional soldiers that had expected scant opposition from the Guru’s rag-tag force of five hundred men. The Guru’s eldest son was also born during the twelve-day period of the battle.

Simbalwara Wildlife Sanctuary: 12 km off the main Paonta Sahib – Nahan road, this is known for a variety of bird life.

Fossil Park, Saketi: This was the site of the largest fossil find in the Siwalik hills. The park has a museum and life-size models of the animals that once roamed these tracts.

Katasan Devi Temple: Also known as Uttam Wala Bara Ban, this is on the Paonta Sahib – Nahan road. The shrine is revered by local people. At this spot, the forces of Sirmour defeated the marauding armies of Ghulam Qadir Khan Rohiolla.

Ram Temple: Within Paonta Sahib and also known as the ‘Mandir Shri Dei Ji Sahiba’, this is located near the Yamuna bridge. With exquisite marble work, this was built in 1889 in memory of Raja Pratap Chand of Kangra by his wife who originally belonged to Sirmour. The Kirpal Dass Gurudwara is just past the temple

Shiva Temple, Patlian: Surrounded by fields and sal trees, the linga in this temple is supposed to be steadily increasing in size.

Shrine of Baba Garib Nath: Located in a sal forest and with an excellent view of the area, the shrine is revered by childless women.

Khodri Dak Pathar : It is a beautiful picnic spot just 25 km. from Paonta. There is a beautiful park, a swimming pool and a tourist Bungalow. At this place the torrential river Yamuna has been tamed into an artificial lake by constructing a barrage. From here one can get a fantastic view of the lake and the park nearby.

Assan Lake : 4 km. from Paonta Sahib. This beautiful lake has all facilities like speed boats, rowing, paddle and sailing boats. In addition, one can enjoy water skiing and hovercraft rides. A fast food restaurant is also available.

Places to stay:

HPTDC: Hotel Yamuna, Paonta Sahib (HP) 173025. Tel: 01704-222341, 224161. (check availability)
Hotel Citizen
Hotel City View
Hotel Clock Tower
Ganga Lodge

How to reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Jubbarhatti in Himachal Pradesh about 145km from Paonta Sahib.

By Rail: The nearest rail head is Yamunanagar about 56kms from Paonta Sahib.

By Road: The Himachal Road Transport Corporation runs bus connecting Paonta Sahib to almost all places in Himachal Pradesh.

External articles:

1. Brief history (link to article):

In October 1686 the hill chieftains collected a force of 30,000 men and under the leadership of Raja Bhim Chand and Fateh Shah they rode towards Paonta Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s army consisted of around 4,000 Sikhs only besides a number of Udasis and Pathans.

2. Explore Himalayas (link to article):

That night we left Delhi and after 8 hours of journey we reached Paonta Sahib a small town, which was founded by the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. This town was situated on the banks of Yamuna River in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh. The adventure and trekking organization ‘Explore Himalayas’ is situated here.

3. History of Guru Gobind Singh (link to article):

At the request of Medani Prakash, Guru Gobind Singh laid the foundation of Paonta Sahib in Nahan and built a beautiful city and a castle there. In Paonta Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh compiled the Jap Sahib, Savaiye and Vanis of Akal Ustat.

4. Photo of Guru Gobind Singh’s weapons at Paonta Sahib (link to photo)
5. Tour to Delhi – Hemkund – Paonta Sahib (link to article)

Surrounded by the Sal forest and on the bank of river Yamuna the historic town of Paonta Sahib was founded by the tenth Sikh Guru Govind Singh Ji. When only sixteen years old, the guru left Anandpur Sahib and on the invitation of Raja Maidini Prakash of Sirmour, lived at this beautiful place for over four years. The historic gurudwara commemorates his stay and interestingly the waters of the Yamuna fall silently below this -which happened at the Guru’s behest. The word ‘Paonta’ means ‘Space for a foot hold’.

6. Legacy of a warrior (link to article)

Today Paonta Sahib’s large gurudwara gleams like an edifice carved out of snow and as the sun sets the white marble is offset by touches of pink and gold. Here the Guru wrote the Dasam Granth and with in the precincts are a number of significant spots associated with his sojourn.

7. Sikh pilgrimage tour covering Delhi- Hemkund Sahib – Paonta Sahib – Anantpur Sahib – Amritsar (link here)
8. Photos of Paonta Sahib (click here)
9. Photo of entrance to Paonta Sahib gurdwara (click here)
10. Road directions to Paonta Sahib from Delhi on oktatabyebye.com (click here)
11. Beautiful photos of Gurudwara at Paonta Sahib (click here)

Shogi is located in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Shogi is a good place for a family trip, especially if you believe in going to places that are not so crowded, and where there is more nature and less commercialization. A lot of the tourist camps over there offer tents or cottages (the tents are Swiss type tents with bathrooms having running hot and cold water) having some incredible views of the majestic Himalayas. The Tara Devi Temple is nearby, located on a hilltop. You get untouched countryside with some incredible views of the mountains. In addition, you get the chance to do numerous village treks, and wander among pine, oak and rhododendron forests, in the lap of nature.
The invigorating weather of the town and is proximity to Delhi make it a popular weekend gateway for the people of Delhi and North regions. Dotted with numerous temples, Shoghi is renowned for its fruit products, with the brand name Minchy’s Fruit Products and for locally made pickles, juices, syrups and jellies.

Location on Google Maps:

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Things to do:
Many of the Adventure sports offered by the different resorts located in Shogi are: Para-gliding, River rafting, Snow boarding, Snow skiing, Snow scooter, Rock climbing, Rapelling, River crossing.
If you are an avid bird-watcher, then you can see many beautiful birds such as the White Eared Bulbul, Black Drongo, Spot Winged Tit, Blue Magpie, Kalij Pheasant, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Brown Fronted Woodpecker, Black Headed Jay and Trumpeter Finch. The resorts will be able find the proper trails inside the forest (refer to this link for more information for bird-watching)

Places nearby to see:
Chail
Kufri
Solang Valley
Manali

Places to stay (not many):
Park Woods (link)
Toshali Royal View
Sunrise Villa (link)

How to get there:

By road: 6.5 hours from Delhi via Sonepat, Karnal, Panchkula, Kalka, Solan, and Kandaghat.

By rail: Morning and overnight trains to Kalka which is 73 kms from Shoghi. Thereafter Shoghi is 2 hours by road. Cabs are easily available at Kalka Railway Station.

By Air: Go to Shimla or Chandigarh, and then you need to go by road.

Link to external article:
1. Beautiful sunset photo (link)
2. Photos of Shogi on oktatabyebye.com (link)
3. Trip to Shogi at Ghumakkar.com (link)
4. Enjoying Park Woods at Shogi (link)
5. Camping and trekking at Shogi (link)
6. Visit to stream with photo (link)
7. Brief description with photo of sunset (link)

There are three ways to reach Shrikhand Mahadev
1. via Shimla-Narkanda-Rampur Busharhr-Arsu-Baghipul
2. from Kullu side—last village conneted by road is Bathad in Banjar Block of distt. Kullu…From Bathad a steep track leads to BASHLEU PASS and then it leads to a very beautiful village SARAHAN
3. Third track is via Rampur Bushahr-Jeory…. but this is very hard and usually local people from Shimla-SARAHAN area use this track…

Devotees set forth on foot from Nirmand town in Kullu district, around 140 kliometres from Shimla, to offer prayers at the shrine of Shivpindi on the Himalayan peak, which is 18,500 feet above sea-level. It is a 70-km two-way track passing through dense forests, water streams, sprawling meadows and lofty mountains. The climb is difficult but it offers a panoramic view.
This pilgrimage is described to be as significant as the famous Amarnath Yatra. It is usually undertaken to coincide with the Ashada Poornima or, full moon day of June to July) as per the Hindu Vikrami calendar. It continues till the Poornima of Ashwani month (full moon day of September to October).
A detailed description of the journey to Shrikhand Mahadev and the routes to it, along with difficulty level and the facilities available is on this site.

Other articles:

1. Video on Youtube on Shrikhand Mahadev

2. A blog on Shrikhand Mahadev with photos as well (link)
3. Many Many photos on a trip to Shrikhand Mahadev by Vijay (posted on Ashish’s Photoblog) (link)
4. Trip to Shrikhand Mahadev posted on Ghumakkar.com (link)
5. HimalayanCamping.com Part 1 (link)
6. HimalayanCamping.com Part 2 (including a photo of the natural Shiva Lingam at top) (link)

Kasauli has a colonial ambience that is reinforced by its cobbled paths, quaint shops, gabled houses with charming facades and scores of neat little gardens and orchards. Mixed forests of chir-pine, Himalayan oak and huge horse chestnuts surround Kasauli and give a nice air to the whole sleepy town. In addition, such a beautiful surrounding gives a new meaning to the concept of walking, and make such walks very enjoyable. Most of the hillsides are covered with pine and the ground underfoot is thickly carpeted with resin rich needles. There are oaks too, and rhododendron, firs, horse chest hut, wild cherry and several varieties of deciduous trees. The flora is decidely very rich.

Kasauli is one of the small towns developed by the British during the `hey day` of the empire, and reached by a branch road from the Kalka-Shimla road. Historically, during the 17th century, driven by unsettled political conditions, some Rajput families from Rewari (in present day Haryana) fled their homes. They took refuge in the lower Himalayas, finally settling down at a village called Kasul where there was a perennial spring of fresh water. Today, some three centuries later, the spring is the site of a water reservoir and Kasul has grown into the delightful little hill station of Kasauli. But some locals would believe that Kasauli comes from Kausalya, a mountain stream that flows between Kasauli and Jabli. The name might even have been derived from Kusmawali or Kusmali, meaning flower maiden. Given the abundance with which the hills of Kasauli bloom from spring to autumn, this could well be the truth

Map of location of Kasauli:

Legend: Kasauli came into being when Lord Hanuman, on his way to getting the Sanjeevani herb, stepped here for jumping on to the Sanjeevani hill. At Kasauli there is a Hanuman Mandir atop the 300 m high hillock, called Monkey Point (locals call it Manki Point), where Lord Hanuman is supposed to have rested his feet. This temple lies within the confines of an air force radar station and base and is subject to security restrictions (no cameras or bags allowed). On a clear day, one can get views of nearby cities like Chandigarh. One can reach this point by road or on foot. On foot, it takes nearly two hours from Kasauli town, but the walk is a great walk.

Kasauli also boasts of a famous institute: Pasteur Institure that produces the antirabies vaccine against mad dog-bite and, at the same time, treats victims who have fallen prey to the dead disease, Hydrophobia. The institute in Kasauli set up in 1900, is the oldest in India, taking care of pet, police and army dogs as well as their masters.

Kasauli has 2 Mall Roads – The upper and lower Malls are the two principal roads that run along the length of Kasauli. Traffic is restricted on these roads, which is the reason why, Kasauli is one of the quietest hill stations in India. In addition, the narrow roads of Kasauli slither up and down the hillside and offer some magnificent vistas.

Places to see:

Manki Point: 4 km from the bus stand is a vantage position where you get some great views. There is a lovely view of the Satluj river and valley and sometimes, Chandigarh town. The view is spectacular especially on a clear starry night.

Christ Church on the Upper Mall Road, Kasauli. It boasts of an ancient gothic construction, spires, etc. that is typical of an Anglican church. It is dedicated to St. Francis

Barog: On the Kalka-Shimla highway, Barog (1680 m) has grown from a mere stopover to a full-fledged destination. Surrounded by pine and oak forests, Barog has a commanding setting. The Choor Chandni – which poetically translates as the “mountain of the silver bangle” is clearly visible from Barog – and when moonlight washes down its snow covered slopes, it seems as though thousands of icy, silver bangles are sliding down in the night.

Sanawar: Just 6-km from Kasauli, Sanawar houses one of the best schools in the country. The Lawrence school is almost one hundred-years-old and a major attraction of the town.

Dharampur: Just 15-km from Kasauli on the National Highway No.22, Dharampur is situated. Amidst the healthy air of the fragrant pines, Dharampur has one of the best hospitals in India for the cure of tuberculosis. It is also connected by Kalka-Shimla railway line.

Sabathu: A little cantonment town has a Gurkha fort built in the early years of the 19th century, situated at an altitude of 1,437m. This cantonment town quartered the British soldiers at the time of British Empire. A diversion road from Dharampur 15-km away leads to the Sabathu town.

Dagshai: Another little cantonment at an altitude of 1,925m just 19-km from Kasauli, it is accessible by a link road, which diverts from Dhrampur. Dagshai is perched on a small hill and comprises of a military public school and numerous military barracks. Across the forested hills and deep ravines is the sleepy town of Dagshal

Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir: Built in 1989 by Sai Sudha trust us a famous temple located half km. away from Garkhal. The idol of Sai Baba was built a Jaipur and the burning flame in this temple signifies the devine power of Saibabaji of Shiridi.

Baba Balak Nath Temple: 3 km On the Graner Hill top is a famous temple of Sidh Baba Balak Nathji. It is believed that BabaKasauli Travel Vacations Balak Nath ji one night appeared told in dreams of a local resident named Vijay Kumar and him to built a temple at the place, where the present temple is located.

Getting there:

By Air: The closest airports are at Chandigarh (65 km) and Shimla (73 km).

By Rail: The closest broad gauge railhead is at Kalka , 37 km away.

By Road: Kasauli is connected by road. Taxis and buses for Kasauli are available from Delhi, Chandigarh, Kalka and Shimla.
On the Kalka-Shimla Highway, take a left turn at Dharampur to follow the steep road to Kasauli on a 30 km state road. The road is narrow but with not too much traffic.

Places to stay:

Bliss Resorts, kasauli
Kasauli Resorts, Kasauli
K.K Trams, Jabli-Kasauli Chandigarh: A project of 2 hill resorts connected with cable cars
Baikunth Resort, Kasauli
Hotel Shivalik, Kasauli
HPTDC run Hotel Ros Common
Hotel Alasia

Additional Information:

Drive Uphill from Chandigarh to Kasauli (link)
Photos from Kasauli (Odzer, flickr)
Post by Anamika (link)

Situated along National Highway 22, it borders Panchkula district of Haryana, and is after the towns of Pinjore and Kalka on the Chandigarh Simla Highway. Pinjore to Parwanoo is almost a continuous urban belt. Parwanoo is most known for its cable car (connecting the 2 resorts of Timber Trail Resort and Timber trail Heights). These 2 resorts are on separate hills, with a valley in between in which the river Kausalya flows. Most tourists I know go to Parwanoo drawn by the experience of staying in the resort (the resort appears as soon as the tourist enters Himachal at Parwanoo on the national highway).

Parwanoo was a small sleepy village just a few decades back, but started getting more popular as time went by, with tourists getting drawn by this scenic hill station that has a wealth of attractions to offer. The town has some great trekking trails (not the long ones, but ones that can be done by the tourists wanting to spend a few hours at trekking), there are orchards full of fruit laden trees, and some great scenery. This makes Parwanoo popular with nature lovers, honeymooners, and the general tourist. Plus, the business type who want to hold their business meetings in the lap of nature use the conferencing facilities provided by the resort while their families enjoy the other things to offer.
Parwanoo is also slowly starting to develop as an industrial area, with fruit based products, plastics, motar parts and watch components being some of the major productions of the area.

Some of the popular places nearby:
Renuka (132-km): With a circumference of roughly 2.5-kms, this is the largest lake in Himachal. It is regarded to be the embodiment of the Goddess Renuka, and attracts a large number of pilgrims.
Dagshai (28-km): Once a British cantonment, this small town is surrounded by pine trees and offers an old church.
Subathu (16-km): Still a cantonment, it has also got the remains of a Gurkha Fort.
Pinjore (10-km): Parwanoo is an excellent base to visit the famed Mughal style gardens at Pinjore, these are really beautiful.
Kasauli, situated 37 km from Parwanoo, is a charming hill station worth a visit.

Places to stay:
Timber Trail Height, Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh (link)
Hotel Siwalik: Tel: 01792-32295, Fax: 01792-32574.
Hotel Windsmoor, Parwanoo
Hotel Monal Palace Parwanoo

How to get there:
- BY AIR nearest International Airport is New Delhi 280 kms and Nearest Domestic Airport is Chandigarh 35 kms.
- BY RAIL to Kalka Railway Station 7 kms and Chandigarh Railway Station is 30 kms.
- BY ROAD towards Shimla on the National Highway – 35 kms from Chandigarh.

Location of Dharamshala

We reached a place called The Norbulingka Institute, a center that is dedicated to the preservation of Tibetean culture. Due to Chinese domination of Tibet and the moving of more mainland Chinese into Tibet, there is a fear that the culture of Tibet is being lost. And hence the institute. It is a very beautiful place, with lots of greenery and silence inside. There is a guest house, a doll house, a Buddhist temple and learning place, and a shop that sells Tibetean products (very beautiful).

After spending a fair amount of time in the institute, we moved to the next location in our journey, which was the Chamunda Devi temple. One of the Jwalapeeths, the temple is very famous and gets a large number of disciplines on a daily basis, and many more on auspicious periods. There is a stream flowing just next to the temple, and it is considered holy to take a bath in this stream as well. The shrine also has a beautiful statue of Hanuman and Lord Ram. The temple is located around 20 KM from the town of Kangra.

Once we were done with paying our respects to the deity, we decided to move on, and moved towards the town of Palampur. Palampur is a moderately large town, but somehow we did not find much there to see, except for some tea gardens enroute. We stopped to buy some locally packaged tea right next to one tea garden (unfortunately I do not drink tea, and hence don’t know how good the tea was).
Some distance from Palampur is the Taragarh Heritage hotel, a wonderfully well kept heritage hotel. It is located in a large property, with a wonderful setting of trees and silence. There were a number of foreign tourists over there; additionally, to one side of the compound, there is an historic heritage building that was locked when we went; but we had learnt that it was well maintained.
Next, after some more travel, we reached the ancient Shiva temple of Baijnath. This is a beautiful temple made our of rock, and supposedly first built in the 15th century. It is pretty well maintained now, and is actually a functioning temple, with people coming there to offer prayers; it also has a priest in attendance who does the customary things that are done in a temple. The whole complex comprises of the temple building surrounded by a green area. The surrounding area is essentially full of shops, but you can get a bite to eat if you are hungry.

Where else to go ? There is a park that is built to honor the soldiers who laid down their lives in India’s various wars, and is good to spend some time over there. The last place that we went to was an art gallery that houses prints and paintings by Shobha Singh. The actual gallery is not very big, being one big room of a house where his relatives live; you can actually purchase reprints over there for a couple of thousand. If you are an art lover, then you should really visit this place.
After this visit, we had to leave back to the resort as it started raining, and it took us more than an hour in the rain (which was not very hard), but enough that our driver wanted to get back to the safety of the hotel. One advantage of driving in these locations was that none of the roads were steep or winding.

More Photos (Link to many more photos of Dharamshala, Kangra, and McLeodganj)

Map to Dharamshala

We negotiated with the taxis, but there is apparently a union, and for a journey of around 30 minutes to the Club Mahindra Resort of Kangra Valley, none of them was willing to take less than Rs. 300. Eventually we gave in, and took a taxi. The journey was as we expected, on narrow roads resplendent with lush greenery on either side (due to it being the rainy season), and we finally reached Club Mahindra around 1:30 in the afternoon. After a quick lunch and a short break, we took a taxi from the Resort with a pre-planned package for the First day.

The package was to cover the destinations of Dal Lake, some high point, St. John’s Church, the Dalai Lama Temple, Mcleodganj market, Bhagsunath temple and waterfalls, the War memorial, another Devi temple in Dharamshala (in the valley) and that was about it, for a princely sum of Rs. 800. We did not try much negotiating because we were told that these were standard rates.
And off we headed. First we went to Dal Lake; not so good. It was all muddy and we decided to head on, climbing up in the hills till we came to a point called Neddi’s point. It was all mist and clouds over there, and the air felt nice.

We walked around a bit, and then headed off to Mcleodganj. First off we reached this ancient Church called Church of St. John’s in the Wilderness, established in a Gothic style in 1852, and in need of repairs. The settings within its set of trees was incredible, and the whole area around it was oh-so-green. We stayed for some time, put some money in the box for donations for repairs, and then headed on.

We reached Bhagsunath temple next, and it was a nice temple, with a plaque bearing the fact that it was the ceremonial temple for the First Gorkha Rifles until they moved out of Dharamshala.
Then we had a choice; it was getting around 5 PM and we could either head off to the falls or to the Dalai Temple (closes at 6 PM). I took the command decision of where to go with the approval of my spouse , and off we went to the Temple. It was so serene and beautiful, and we could see normally boisterous children also piping down a bit. There were a set of monks meditating, and a dog sleeping right next to them. The conservationist in me was thrilled to see the solar water heating apparatus in the temple. We did not get a chance to see the Dalai Lama since he was not in the location at that point of time.

After spending time over there, we headed in a steep path downhill (thanks to the knowledge of our taxi driver), and visited a Devi’s temple in the valley below (and there was almost nobody there except for a couple of locals); we rounded off the first day by visiting the war memorial, setup to honor the armed forces.
And then we were pretty tired, so had some nice grub and then zzz land.

More Photos (Link to many more photos of Dharamshala, Kangra, and McLeodganj)

Situated at 8,350 feet in the magnificent Himalayas, Wildflower Hall is an equisite luxury resort set in 23 acres of virgin woods of pine and cedar. It gives a feeling of the colonial style of architecture combined with high luxury. All guest rooms and public areas overlook the snow-capped mountain ranges and cedar forests, and you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Himalayas from here. The building occupies only five percent of the property, allowing guests ample space for walks, privacy and tranquility.

Outdoor activities include trekking, picnics, bird watching, nature walks and riding. River rafting, Mountain Biking, Horse Riding, Trekking, Archery, Ice Skating (in winter) and Golf (at Naldhera) can all be arranged.In Summer, the Resort’s Tennis Court opens. Horses and Ponies are available for hire at the Resort and must be booked in advance. The hotel also has a cards room and a Billiards Room.

Room Details:
Rooms: Each room occupies an area of approximately 42 square meters, and you get all the facilities typically available at a high end resort. There are 81 deluxe rooms. Every room has a spacious marble bathroom with separate shower and walk-in closets and personalised butler service. All rooms feature a personal bar, satellite television and DVD player and direct dial telephones with dataport.
Suites: All suites have an area of approximately 85 square metres. 3 Executive Suites feature a separate living room with a fireplace.
Lord Kitchener Suite: The magnificent Lord Kitchener suite has an area of approximately 110 square metres. This suite has wonderful panoramic views of the Himalayan range. It has a four-poster bed in the master suite and a second bedroom.

Other facilities available at the Resort include: Two restaurants, one serving a range of Pan-Asian and Continental dishes, and an elegant Indian restaurant specialising in traditional Indian cooking (Lutyens). There is a bar called The Cavalry Bar where you can enjoy from 12 noon to 10 PM. The hotel has a great spa (by Banyan Tree), Gym, heated indoor swimming pool, outdoor jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, Yoga. Meetings with complete facilities can be held over here.

The resort is about an hour from Jubbar Hatti Airport at Shimla with regular connections from Delhi. Guests can be met from Chandigarh, Kalka and Shimla railway stations by resort staff in air-conditioned chauffeur driven limousines. Guests arriving by helicopter can land at a helipad which is a three minute drive from the hotel.

Virtual Tour available here (link)
Photos of the hotel and surroundings (link)
More photos from Flickr (link1, Link2, Link3, Link4, Link5, Link6, Link7)

Contact Details:
E-mail address : gm@wildflowerhall.com
Address : Wildflower Hall, Shimla in the Himalayas,
An Oberoi Resort, Chharabra, Shimla – 171 012,
Himachal Pradesh (India)
Telephone : +91 177 264 8585
Facsimile : +91 177 264 8686

One of the picturesque hill stations of Himachal Pradesh, Manali is located at a distance of 40 km from Kullu and 521 km from state capital of India, Delhi. One of the preferred tourist destinations of Himachal Pradesh, Manali offers an excellent opportunity for adventurous sports activities like trekking, mountaineering and river rafting. Apart from the these, tourists can travel to Manali to witness century old temples and monasteries like Hadimba temple, Manu temple and the Gadhan Thekchhokling monastery. The small town was the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and, from there, over the Karakoram Pass on to Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin.
While planning a tour to Manali, keep in mind the climatic condition of the region, an ideal time for the tour would be mid-May to June and September to November. Monsoon months are to be avoided because of fear of landslides.
Manali derived its name from Manavalaya i.e. the abode of Manu. According to myth, Manu the divine law-giver, was the only survivor of the Mahajal Pralay – the great flood – and is said to have fathered the human race. 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. The actual myth is:
One day, Vaivasvata, the seventh incarnation of Manu found a tiny fish in his bathing water. The fish told him to look after it with devotion for one day it would do him a great service. Manu cared for the fish till it grew huge and he released it into the sea. The the fish warned Manu of an impending deluge when the entire world would be submerged and bade him to build a boat that could save humanity. When the flood came. Vaivasvata and the Seven Sages were towed to safety by Matsya the fish (regarded as the first avatara of Lord Vishnu).

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* Kothi – This is a quiet but picturesque spot, at the foot of the Rohtang pass, 12 km away Manali town, situated on the Lahaul-Spiti Leh Highway. It offers a magnificent view of the snow-capped peaks and glaciers and an awe inspiring gorge below Kothi, where for more than a kilometre the river Beas flows through a deep gorge, almost a subterranean passage, 30 metres or more in depth, and the cliffs which flank both sides of the canyon are a favourite haunt for rock pigeons.
* Van Vihar: This is just off the Mall with pathways between towering deodhars and also leads to a boating pond.
* Tibetan Market and Mall: The Tibetan Market is an interesting cluster of shops. Nice to browse around for knick knacks, handicrafts and imported goods. Located on the Mall. The Mall also has other shops selling local handicrafts and clothes. It also has some good restaurants. Buses, taxis and autos are easily available from the Mall for local sightseeing or excursions.
* Rohtang Pass – Situated at an altitude of 3979 mtrs above sea level and 51 kms outside Manali is the mighty Rohtang Pass – the gateway to Lahaul-Spiti valley. Open for just about four months a year, it affords a wide panoramic view of the mountains. Here one sees the majesty of the mountains at its height and splendour. At the top of the pass the air seems to glitter against the snow as you look down over herringboned ridges into the Lahaul valley. There is the beautiful Dashohar Lake left of the pass. A few km away from the pass is the Sonapani glacier and slightly to the left are the twin peaks of the Gaypan-jagged pyramid of rock, snow streaked and snow crowned peaks.
* Solang Valley – 13 kms outside Manali is the Solang Valley, offering spectacular views of the snow-clad mountains and the glaciers all around. Solang is the venue for paragliding and the annual skiing courses. The plateau is frequently used for holding camps by trekking enthusiasts.
* Rahla Falls: 2 km from Kothi. Here the river Beas hurtles down from a height of about 50 metres. Charming spot for picnics.
* Manali Sanctuary: A bridle path from the Manali log huts goes past the Dhoongri Temple and wanders into the dense deodar, kail, horse chestnut, walnut and maple forest that form a part of this sanctuary. Camping overnight in tents at Lambadug or Galiani Thatch is possible. You can see various animals such as Musk deer, monal and brown bear over here.
* Gadhan Takechokling Gumfa : Close to Tibetan Monastery, Gadhan Takechokling Gumfa is another tourist spot which was constructed in 1969. The Lakhang or the shrine hall of the monastery was built by the contributions of local people. The Gadhan Takechokling Gumfa has the idol of Shakyamuni.
* Jagatsukh Temple – About 6 km from Manali is the famous Shiva Temple in “shikara” style and nearby is the old and interesting Devi Sharvali Temple.
* Roerich Art Gallery – In Naggar, the museum, houses a collection of the paintings by the Russian artist. It is located in a grove of deodhars and has lovely views all around. Naggar is very serene and picturesque.
* Hadimba Temple – Also known as the Doongri Temple, this four-tiered pagoda-like wooden temple stands in a clearing amid tall and stately deodar trees and has beautiful carvings on its ornamental door. Dedicated to Hadimba, the wife of Bhim, this temple is the venue for an annual fair held during May. Built in 1553 and with a superbly crafted four tiered pagoda roof. It is famous for its exquisitely carved doorway.
* Vashist Spring – Across the Beas river, about 3 km away from Manali, at an altitude of 1,982 meters (6,200 feet), are the natural sulphur springs. There are old temples dedicated to the sage Vashishth and to Lord Rama. The village itself is perched on a steep hillside across the river Beas.
* Tibetan Monastery – These are new and colorful (3 of them). A pleasant place to visit. Two are located in the town and one at Aleo on the left bank of Beas river.
* Beas Kund – The tiny roundish igloo like stone hut shelters the Beas Kund, the very source of the holy river Beas. Water flows at the source of the river likfe a spring, so clear and icy cold that it almost numbs the fingers. All around is the rocky terrain with very little vegetation. The great rishi, Vyas performed “Tapa” here during the Mahabharat times.
* Manikaran: 85 km from Manali and 45 km from Kullu, lies in the Parvati Valley, the holy pilgrimage place of Manikaran. Here icy cold waters of the Parvati river co-exists with boiling water side-by-side. The hot water springs are reputed for their healing properties.
* Triloknath: Located in the Pattan Valley, its an important pilgrimage centre. Noted for its temple dedicated to six armed statue of Avalokiteshwara Bodhisattva.
* Arjun Gufa (Arjun Cave): 4kms. from Manali towards Naggar, the cave is situated near Prini village 1km. above the road where Arjun had meditated. This is good 1/2 a day excursion with a beautiful view of the striking mountains.
* Nehru Kund: 5 kms. on National Highway to Leh,a natural spring of cold clear water named after Pt. Jwahar Lal Nehru, who used to drink water from this spring during his stay in Manali. This spring is believed to originate from the Bhrigu lake situated high-up in the mountains.

Things to do: Manali is famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, para gliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking.

Skiing: 13 km from Manali, Solang Valley has good skiing slopes equipped with an excellent lift. A splendid valley between Manali and Kothi, it also offers views of the glaciers and snow-capped mountain peaks. Season: January – March. Gulaba slopes also provide good skiing. Facilities for skiing are available at Solang Nullah (January-March) and Rohtang La (during summer). The Mountaineering Institute at Solang Nullah is a good training institute.

Trekking: There are several good hikes from Manali. The 12 km hike up the western banks of the Beas to the Solang Valley is noteworthy. Lama Dugh meadow is a 6 km hike up to the Manalsu Nala, west of Manali town. Another great trek is from Solang Valley to Dhundhi onto Dussar Lake and terminating at Manali (a good 5 day trek)

Whitewater River Rafting: Many organized adventure companies organise rafting along the River Beas between the stretch from Manali to Aut. The points where the rafting trips start from are Raison and Mohal. Season: May to mid June.

Angling and Fishing: River Beas is said to abound with trout and salmon.

Paragliding – Organized by the local adventure companies in the summers in Solang Valley.

How to get there:
By Air: Manali has no airport of its own. The nearest one Bhuntas is around 10 km south of Kullu town and about 50 km from Manali.
By Train: Chandigarh, about 280 km away and Joginder Nagar, about 200 km away.
By Road: Manali is well connected by road to Delhi through NH-21 which goes on to Leh and is the world’s highest motorable road.

Places to stay:
Good reference article (link)
Span Resorts: Phone : (01902) 240138, 240538
Manali Resort
Holiday Inn: Tel.: 01902-52563, 53312
Manali Heights: PH no: 01902-252621-252061
Apple Country: Phone: +91 – 1902 254187 – 89
Banon Resorts: Tel: +91-1902-253026, 252490, 253994
Lords Regency
Orchard Greens
Sun Park
Ankit Palace
Beas View
Evergreen
Snow Crest Manor
Manu Allaya (Ambassador Resorts): Tel.: 01902 – 252235 – 38 Fax: 252173
Quality Inn River Country
Hotel Honeymoon Inn
Hotel Sagar Resort
Hotel Shingar regency: Tel:+91 1902 252251-52
Hotel Lord’s Regency
Glacior Resorts
Hotel Evergreen
Snow Valley Resorts (link)
Hotel Vintage
Hotel Mountain Top
Hotel Sunpark
Club Mahindra: Tel : (01902) 254181 / 82/ 83
Highland Park, Manali: Phone: 01902 256501/02/03
Vacred Manali Resorts
Hotel Manali Ashok
Piccadily Hotel
Sagar Resort
Kanishka Hotel
Hotel Chandramukhi
Glacier Resorts
Hotel Regent Centre Point

Other articles:
Some good photos (link)
Book a luxury bus (link)
Blog 1
Sandeepinlife blog (link)