Places to Visit in Himachal

[AkashBhola]

There is so much to see and do in Himachal Pradesh, and yet the only places which people visit are Shimla, or Kullu and Manali.
I have decided that I would like to explore more of Himachal Pradesh and see the real beauty of the state.

Although I would love to make day trips to little villages or towns, I would ideally be staying at a hotel, where it would be easy to find a place to eat.
So please list the places to visit in Himachal including the smaller towns as well as, the larger scale areas.

 

[briannagodess]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

I'm glad that you want to explore other less commercialised areas in Himachal Pradesh. Shimla, Kullu and Manali have their own charm but you'll also find these lesser explored places interesting and beautiful. Here they are:

Offbeat Destinations in Himachal Pradesh

1. Chitkul. This is a village in the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh. This is the last point in India where you can travel without a permit. It's about 28 kms away from Sangla. It's better to find accommodations in Sangla since it's just nearby anyway. Places to visit are:

• The Goddess of Chitkul Temple. This is said to be 500-years old already. This goddess is named Mathi, she is the only Hindu deity that the Parikrama pilgrims must pay respect to which is why Chitkul is an important pilgrimage place for them.

• The Kagyupa Temple. Another must-visit, this houses an ancient and valued image of Buddha.

• The Sangla Valley. Best known for growing great tasting potatoes and peas. The valley is an image of greenery with the Himalayas in its background. It's truly a treat for the eyes.

• The Baspa River. From your journey from Sangla to Chitkul, you'll be accompanied by the sparkling waters of this river which is another treat for the eyes. On its one side, there's the Himalayas and on the other side, you'll see apple orchards and the wooden houses of the villagers.

2. Barot. This is located in the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh. It is about 66 kms away from Mandi. Back then, Barot cannot be accessed easily. But in 1975, the government opened a road which lead to direct access to Barot. You can reach it via buses from Mandi, Palampur and Jogindernagar. Places to visit are:

• The Trout Breeding Centre. Go fishing and angling in this place.

• The Uhl River. You can also fish here or just enjoy the beautiful river.

• The Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary. Home to the Ghoral, Himalayan Black Bear, Leopard, Monal, Kite and Kasturi Deer.

• The Danasur Lake. A high altitude like offering great views of the mountains. It is about 14,000 feet above sea level.

3. Thanedar. This is about a three hour drive from Shimla. It is also more elevated than Shimla at 7,400 feet. This place is known for its fruit orchards like apple orchards, strawberry orchards and more. There's also several retreats here offering accommodations for tourists. Otherwise, you can opt to stay in nearby places like Shimla. Places to visit are:

• The Tani-Jubbar Lake. A great place for a picnic and enjoying the glorious scenery around you.

• The Nag Devta Temple. You'll find this just beside the lake.

• The Hattu Peak. Offers mesmerising views of the snow-clad Himalayas.

• The Parmjyotir Temple. Built by Stokes using Pahari style of architecture, about one km from Thanedar.

• St. Mary's Church. One of the oldest churches in India.

4. Kalpa. This is another town in the district of Kinnaur, about 250 kms from Shimla. This is the biggest village of the district as well. Places to visit are:

• The Suicide Point. This is about 10 minutes away from the town proper. As the name suggests, it's a very dangerous point because its vertical slope and trench.

• The Kamru Fort. The fort has a picture of Buddha in the main gate. There's also a temple dedicated to Kamakshi Dev inside.

• The Kothi Temple. Dedicated to Goddess Chanadika Devi.

• The Chaka Peak. Around 15,000 feet above sea level, this can be a long trek but the view from above is amazing.

5. Gushaini. This is about 207 kms away from Shimla. You cannot do much here except enjoy its river and waterfalls. Places to visit are:

• The Tirthan River. Enjoy camping beside the river or just catch some fish as trouts are plenty here.

• The Tirthan Waterfalls. The water from this falls come directly from the glaciers. It is as pure as can be and can even be drank. You'd need to trek a bit to reach this place though.

I hope this helps!