Best Places in Himachal Pradesh

Situated at the lap of Himalaya Mountain, Himachal Pradesh is one of the most loved places among tourists. From lush green valleys to scenic snow-covered mountains, this state can steal your heart with the beauty of nature. If you are planning for your next trip, here is our list of the best places in Himachal Pradesh. Let’s find out:

Best Places in Himachal Pradesh

The meaning of Himachal Pradesh is ‘The Land of Snow’. Being a neighbor of Uttarakhand, this place adds an extra charm to North Indian tourism. In the following, we are covering the ten best places in Himachal Pradesh you can visit. 

Manali

Without any doubt, Manali is one of the best places in Himachal Pradesh. Manali not only offers picturesque snow-packed mountains but also brings out the adventurous side of you. Yes, Manali is a place where you can enjoy various adventurous sports. Additionally, don’t forget to witness the local culture of this place. 

Attractions

• Solang Valley
• Rohtang Pass
• Gulaba
• Hadimba Devi Temple
• Manu Temple
• Kothi
• Vashist Hot Water Springs
• Naggar

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Manali is from October to June. However, avoid Monsoon months.

How to Reach

Manali is well connected with medium to large cities in North India by road. The nearest railway station is Joginder Nagar. However, this station has limited rail accessibility. So, people prefer the Chandigarh Junction railway station which is located around 95 km away from Manali. 

If you want to reach this place by air, then Chandigarh is the nearest airport. However, it takes almost 8 hours to reach Manali from there. Kullu Manali airport has irregular service. So, it’s better to avoid this airport. 

Kullu

Situated at the bank of the Beas River, Kullu is one of the most visited tourist destinations in this state. The previous name of Kullu was Kulanthpitha which means ‘The end of the habitable world’. This valley is also popular as ‘The Valley of God’.

Attractions

• Parvati Valley
• Great Himalayan National Park
• Sultanpur Palace
• Basheshwar Mahadev Temple
• Manikaran
• Brighu Lake
• Bijli Mahadev Temple

Best Time to Visit

October to June is the ideal time to visit Kullu.

How to Reach

Chandigarh is the nearest airport from Kullu and takes nearly 6 hours to reach. The nearest railway station is Joginder Nagar. However, because of the narrow broad gauge, it has limited trains. This is Chandigarh is the ideal station to reach Kullu. If you want to reach this place by bus, then the bus service is available from various cities of North India. 

Shimla

Shimla is the most liveable city in the Government’s Ease of Living

(source)

Not only in Himachal, but Shimla is also one of the most visited hill stations in India. Shimla is a place where you can see a beautiful balance of natural beauty and history. This city was the summer capital of British India. The best thing about Shimla is you can visit this place throughout the year. However, visiting Shimla during winter could be fantastic.

Attractions

• Kalka-Shimla Railway
• The Ridge
• Christ Church
• Jakhoo Hill
• Annandale
• Arki Fort
• Mall Road
• Summer Hill

Best Time to Visit

You can visit Shimla throughout the year. However, it’s better to avoid Monsoon months.

How to Reach

The nearest railway station is Shimla Railway Station which is located around 1 km from the center of the city. This station lies on the famous Kalka-Shimla line which is a heritage itself. Jubbarhatti is the nearest airport from Shimla and it is well connected with Delhi. However, you can reach Shimla from Chandigarh airport. It will take about 4 hours to reach Shimla from there.

Himachal Road Transport Corporation provides regular buses to connect Shimla with other cities in this state. Additionally, this place is well connected with other cities by road. 

Dharmasala

Dharmashala is one of the most visited and one of the best places in Himachal Pradesh. Surrounded by snow-clad mountains and lush green valleys, this place can make your trip more magical. Moreover, you can witness the Tibetian culture while visiting Dharmashala. 

Attractions

• Namgyal Monastery
• Masrur
• Tsuglagkhang Complex
• Kereri Lake
• Dal Lake
• Naddi Village 

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Dharmashala is from September to May.

How to Reach

Dharmashala has good connectivity with other major cities. The nearest airport is Dharmashala airport which is located around 13 km away from the city. Pathankot railway junction is the nearest railway station, and it’s located 83 km away from Dharmashala. If you want to reach this place by bus, then HRTC provides regular buses to connect Dharmashala with other cities. 

Kalpa

Being one of the beautiful remote villages, Kalpa deserves to be included in this list of best places in Himachal Pradesh than any other places. Well, Kalpa is a village in the Kinnaur district and surrounded by lush pine forests. 

The best thing about Kalpa is the picturesque snow-clad mountains of Kinnaur Kailash. Besides these, Kalpa is also popular for apple production. 

Attractions

• Roghi Village
• Hu-Bu-Lan-Kar Monastry 
• Narayan Nagini Temple
• Sapni Fort
• Kamru Fort
• Basteri
• Kothi

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit this marvelous village is from June to September. 

How to Reach

Kalpa is a remote village, so the best way to reach this place is by road. Usually, people hire a cab from Shimla to reach Kalpa. You can also arrange a trip from other cities including Manali, Kullu, and Dharmashala.

Spiti Valley

If you want to visit a place that represents the magnificent beauty of India, then Spiti is one of them. This snow cladded Himalayan desert is a hidden gem of Himachal. The meaning of ‘Spiti’ is ‘The Middle Land’ as the desert is located in between Tibet and India. Spiti is also popular as one of the best Buddhist destinations in Himachal. 

Attractions

• Lahaul Valley
• Kibber
• Kaza
• Tabo
• Dhankar Lake
• Chandra Taal

Best Time to Visit

March to June is the best time to visit Spiti Valley. However, if you want to enjoy winter Spiti, you can visit from October to February. 

How to Reach

The best way to reach Spiti valley is by road. Hire a cab from Manali and reach there.

Bir Billing

Are you an adventure lover? Then, Bir Billing could be the ideal place for your holidays. Popularly known as the Paragliding Capital of India, Bir Billing is a tiny village in Himachal. This place has splendid landscapes that attacts travellers throughout the year.

Attractions

• Barot Valley
• Sherablling Monastery
• Himalayan Film School
• Chowgan Tea Garden
• Chokling Monastery
• Bangoru Waterfall

Best Time to Visit

You can visit this place throughout the year. 

How to Reach

The nearest railway station is Ahju which is located 3 km away from the village. However, most people reach Bir Billing from Pathankot station which is around 143 km away. Dharmashala is the nearest airport. Reaching this place by car is the best option. 

Kasol

Kasol is popular as ‘Little Israel of India’ because of the high percentage of Israeli tourists.

Situated on the bank of the Parvati River, Kasol is one of the most visited hamlets in Himachal. From snow-clad mountains to scenic lush valleys, Kasol is a paradise for nature lovers. This is why Kasol is one of the most favorite destinations among trekkers and backpackers.

Attractions

• Kheer Ganga
• Tosh Village
• Tirthan Valley
• Chhalal Village
• Pulga Village
• Bhuntar Town

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Kasol is from September to June.

How to Reach

Kasol is not an easily reachable place. The nearest airport is Kullu Manali. However, this airport is very irregular. On the other side, you cannot reach the place by train. The best way to reach Kasol is by road. You can hire a cab from Manali. 

Dalhousie

When we are talking about the best places in Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie is a must-visit destination. Surrounded by magnificent greenery, lakes, pine forests, panoramic mountains, Dalhousie is one of a few places in this state that welcomes tourists throughout the year. 

Moreover, this place is a paradise for adventure enthusiasts. Dalhousie offers several outdoor activities including river rafting, kayaking, camping, and trekking.

Attractions

• Khajjiar
• Panchpula
• Satdhara Falls
• Dainkund Peak
• Bakrota Hills
• Ganji Pahari

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Dalhousie is during winter (October – February).

How to Reach

Pathankot’s Chakki Bank is the nearest railway station of Dalhousie. However, you can reach this place from Pathankot Junction. Dalhousie does not have an airport. 

Kangra

If you want to visit a place that represents the historic side of Himachal, then Kangra could be perfect for it. Kangra Fort is one of the most visited places here. You can also visit places like Mcleodganj and Dharmashala. 

Attractions

• Masroor Rock Cut Temple
• Kangra Fort
• Bagalamukhi Temple
• Indrahar Pass

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Kangra is from September to April.

How to Reach

Gaggal is the nearest domestic airport from Kangra, located around 13 km from the town. Moreover, you can reach Kangra from Amritsar, Jammu, and Chandigarh. Reaching this place by road is also good. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the best time to visit Himachal Pradesh?

The ideal time to visit this state is from September to June. However, it’s better to avoid this state during the rainy season. 

Q: How many days are enough for Himachal Pradesh?

It depends on where you are going. Ideally, 8-10 days are good for Himachal Pradesh.

Q: Which is the coldest place in Himachal Pradesh?

Keylong is the coldest place in Himachal. In fact, this place is considered as one of the most coldest places in India.

Q: Is Himachal safe for solo travelers?

Yes, this state is completly safe for solo travelers. 

Conclusion

Words are not enough to describe the beauty of this Himalayan state. There are many places that didn’t make this list of best places in Himachal Pradesh. If you want to add more places, feel free to share with us.