Himachal Pradesh

A Himalayan mountain state of hill stations, Tibetan Buddhist towns and Spiti, a hidden high-altitude valley.

Himachal Pradesh lies in the Himalayas of northwestern India, with snow peaks, pine forests and river valleys forming its main landscapes. The capital, Shimla, was the British summer capital and has a World Heritage–listed narrow-gauge mountain railway; Manali is a base for trekking, skiing and adventure sports; McLeod Ganj in Dharamshala has a strong Tibetan cultural atmosphere; and the high, stark and majestic Spiti Valley is dotted with ancient monasteries. Lower-altitude areas are good in both spring and autumn, while high-altitude Spiti is usually accessible from June to September. You can fly to Chandigarh or the state's small airports and continue from there.

Destinations

• McLeod Ganj & Dharamshala
• Manali
• Spiti Valley (Kaza)
• Kinnaur (Kalpa)
• Shimla
• Dalhousie
• Chandigarh

Itineraries

• Kinnaur & Spiti Valley Circuit – Enter Spiti clockwise via Kinnaur, cross Kunzum Pass to Chandratal, and finish in Manali.
• Himachal Hill Stations & Amritsar Loop – Take the toy train to Shimla, and connect Manali, Dharamshala, and Dalhousie to the Golden Temple.
• Manali-Leh Highway & Tso Moriri Overland – Cross the four major passes of the Manali-Leh Highway, then detour to Tso Moriri and Tso Kar.