Himachal Pradesh is a State in North India. It is surrounded by Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in North, Punjab in West, Haryana in South, Uttarakhand in South-East and International Border with China in East. Himachal is at the foot of Himalaya Mountains that span across the state. The Name - "Himachal" is derived from two Sanskrit words - "Hima" means Snow and "Achala" means Land or Abode. So, "Himachal" literally translates to Abode of Snow, aptly named due to existence of snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas.
In Himachal, there are multiple tourists spots that one can visit for adventure activities like Trekking, Snow Skiing, Horse Riding, Paragliding and many more. Three of the most popular spots are - Shimla, Kufri and Manali.
The capital of Himachal Pradesh is Shimla, which is 370 KM (8 Hour) drive from Delhi, the National Capital of India. Most Tourists visiting Himachal are from North Indian states like Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab due to its proximity and pleasant climate, with reasonably good accomodation and facilities available.
Shimla, being the state capital as mentioned above, offers variety of options for accomodation, dining and adventure activities. Popular sightseeing spots are Christ Church and Mall Road. The Latter (Mall Road) is very famous among tourists for shopping and hence, remains crowded all through the year. One must surely visit Mall Road to buy good quality handicrafts, clothes, fruits, foodstuffs, spices, condiments etc.
Kufri is a hill station situated 16 KM (45 Minutes) from Shimla. Kufri has a Himalayan wildlife zoo that houses various animals like Birds, Deers, Bears, Leopards, Tigers etc. It offers a beautiful view of the Himalayan valley. One can avail rides on Horses and also Yaks, which is unique to the state.
Manali is a Town, situated in Kullu district of the state. It is 230 KM (6 Hours) from Shimla. Manali offers several types of accomodation, right from Dormitories to Luxury Resorts, for Tourists to choose based on their affordability. Manali has a plethora of Adventure Activities for those who seek a dose of adventure in vacation. Activities like River Rafting, Rock Climbing, Snow Skiing and Paragliding provide an adrenaline rush, as they offer a heavy dose of Thrill to those who partake in it.
Manali is placed on the banks of Beas River, that originates from Himalayas and flows into Punjab. Manali is home to Hidimba Devi Temple, built in 1553 in the honor of Devi Hidimba, a Hindu goddess who has been mentioned in Mahabharata, a popular Hindu epic. There is Vasistha Kund, a Hindu temple made out of wood that has sacred hot spring baths.
Rohtang La is a mountain pass, nearly 60 KM (1 Hour 45 Minutes) drive from Manali. Rohtang La is 13000 feet above sea level and provides an amazing view of Himalayan Mountains and its snow capped peaks. The pass is open from May to November. It is not actually difficult to cross on foot by Himalayan standards, but it has a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards. During winter season, adventure sports like ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) and Skiing are available to tourists who want to seek adventure and fun.
Shimla and rest of Himachal is well-connected by road to all Major cities in North India. National Highway 5 (NH 5) connects Shimla to Chandigarh, which is about 110 KM (3 Hours) drive. The Airport is nearly 18 KM (40 Minutes) from the City. Shimla's airport has limited flight connections to Delhi, Amritsar and Dharamshala (which also is in Himachal). Most tourists prefer to drive to Himachal, the road trip itself being the most exciting one.
