Escape the Heat: Unearthing the Best Offbeat Summer Destinations in Himalayan State of India, Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful state with a number of popular tourist destinations like Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala. However, there are also a number of lesser-known destinations in Himachal that are worth exploring. Here are some not so popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh:

Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful state with a number of popular tourist destinations like Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala. However, there are also a number of lesser-known destinations in Himachal that are worth exploring. Here are some not so popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh:

Dhankar Village - A spectacular village in Himachal Pradesh overlooking Spiti river and Pin river, with very old Gompa, stunning lake and a wonderful fort telling tails of Tibetan Culture

Lahual and Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh:

Dhankar Village - A spectacular village in Himachal Pradesh overlooking Spiti river and Pin river, with very old Gompa, stunning lake and a wonderful fort telling tails of Tibetan Culture

Keylong: Keylong is a small town located in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its stunning landscapes, ancient monasteries, and the Bhaga River.


Tandi: Tandi is a small village located in the Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty, ancient temples, and the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers.

After wonderful journey from Shimla to Kaza through Jeori, Nako, Gue, Tabo & lot of other villages in Kinnaur & Spiti valley it was time to explore other places around Kaza and gradually head back. When you go from Shimla to Kaza, there are 2 ways to return back - one is to take the same route through some detours which I am going to explain in my future posts and other is to move ahead towards Manali & then head back to Delhi or wherever you want to go. In second option you don’t need to hit Shimla and folks who plan it well do the same way. We were traveling in a Santro car and road ahead was not very favorable. Also we had some time constraints, so didn’t want to risk things. In today’s post I will be sharing about our explorations around Kaza, which includes visit to Kye Monastery, drive till jibber village which is supposedly world’s 3rd highest village, Langza, Koumik & then Dhankar along with some interesting experiences on the way to Dhankhar from Koumik.
Kaza: Kaza is a small town located in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its stunning landscapes, ancient monasteries, and the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.

Jispa: Jispa is a small village located in the Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty, trekking trails, and the Bhaga River.

Kibber Village of Himachal Pradesh - A magical place with stunning landscapes, unique monastery and the popular wildlife sanctuary of Spiti Valley

Kibber: Kibber is a small village located in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its stunning landscapes, ancient monasteries, and the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.

We started our journey from Shimla in a car and drove through Jeori, Pooh, Nako, Tabo, Kaza, Key, Kibber, Langza, Koimik, Dhankar, Gue & Kalpa, along with various smaller stops on our way. It was last day of our road trip and this post talks about the day spent around Kalpa and on the way to Shimla. And not only that, we will share how to reach Kalpa, main things to do and some of the not to miss experiences in this part of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh.

Kinnaur Region of Himachal Pradesh :

The photograph above shows Kalpa village. We were staying in one of the hotels on top hill from where village was clearly visible. Some of the main places to explore in Kalpa are - - Trekking to Chakka, - Kinner Kailash Views, - Suicide point near Roghi village, - Narayan-Nagini temple, - Hu-bu-lan-kar monastery, - Sapni Fort - & walks around the woods.

Kalpa: Located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, Kalpa is a small village known for its apple orchards, ancient temples, and stunning views of the snow-capped Himalayas.

Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful state with a number of popular tourist destinations like Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala. However, there are also a number of lesser-known destinations in Himachal that are worth exploring. Here are some not so popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh:

Chitkul: Known as the last inhabited village on the Indo-Tibetan border, Chitkul is a scenic village located in the Kinnaur district. It is famous for its natural beauty, wooden houses, and the Kinnauri shawl.

Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful state with a number of popular tourist destinations like Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala. However, there are also a number of lesser-known destinations in Himachal that are worth exploring. Here are some not so popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh:

Sangla Valley: Sangla Valley is a beautiful valley located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its picturesque landscapes, apple orchards, and traditional wooden houses.


Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful state with a number of popular tourist destinations like Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala. However, there are also a number of lesser-known destinations in Himachal that are worth exploring. Here are some not so popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh:

Chamba Region of Himachal Pradesh :

Lush green meadows, grazing sheeps, beautiful cottages, high deodars and high hills of Khajjiar makes it a popular destination for traveller, explorers and tourists from India & abroad. Khajjiar is also known as mini Switzerland of India. Khajjiar is located on the way from Dalhousie and Chamba. This Photo Journey shares more about the ways to reach Khajjiar and other interesting things to explore & do around Khajiar/Dalhousie.How to reach?Here I am sharing details about reaching Khajjiar from Delhi and then will share some pointers about options from Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar etc. HRTC bus for Chamba starts from Delhi at 7pm. The link shares has more details about booking bus from Delhi to Dalhousie. The one which starts at 7pm is 2*2 AC bus. Apart from this 2 ordinary buses go from Delhi to Chamba/Dalhousie. Any of these buses can drop you at Dalhousie, which is closest main station near Khajjiar. Khajjir is just 22 kilometers from Dalhousie. Other option to reach Khajjiar is by taking a train from Delhi to Pathankot. From Pathankot, you can either hire a taxi or board local bus from Dalhousie. Please note that most of the buses going to Chamba can drop you at Dalhousie but there is rare possibility to find direct bus for Khajjiar. There are few buses from Dalhousie to Chamba which cross through Khajjiar. There is one which starts from Dalhousie at 9:15am. When I was staying in Dalhousie, I chose to take this bus to reach Khajjiar and then took 2:30pm bus to come back. Expect lot of passengers in these buses between Dalhousie and Khajjiar. If you are coming from other cities like Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Dharmshala or Shimla; there are various bus routes. Check HRTC, PRTC websites to know timings. Apart from these private buses are also available for Dalhousie. Hope these details are helpful. If not, please drop a comment with your specific question and I will try to share appropriate details. Let's talk about options to stay around Khajjiar. Where to stay? I have been to Khajjiar many times, but most of the times stayed in Dalhousie. I wish to spend a night around Khajjiar. There is one HPTDC hotel which faces Khajjiar lake (dry lake). Apart from this there is one forest guest house and a HPPWD guest house around Khajjiar. All of these beautiful properties are best located around lush green meadows of Khajjiar. Apart from these prime location properties, there are few resorts around Khajjiar, but they are not around the main lake. 3 options mentioned above offer brilliant views of lush green grounds of Khajjiar. During summers, it's hard to get booking in Khajjiar. The next good option is Dalhousie. Dalhousie has comparatively more hotels & resorts. But it's recommended to do advance booking if you are going to Khajjiar or Dalhousie in main tourist season. Activities at Khajjiar - 1. Paragliding - Now you can enjoy paragliding at Khajjiar. Like Solang nala, kids can also enjoy small flights within Khajjiar and adults can enjoy the longer flights from surrounding hills, which usually land in Khajjiar. 2. Horse riding - You can ride around the Khajjiar. There is a proper path defined for horses and this is one of the early & popular activity to enjoy at Khajjiar. The horse owners also tell you few tricks to ride the horse. On the halfway, you feel like controlling the horse on your own :). That's fun ! 3. Zorbing - You would see zorbing balls rolling on other side of Khajjiar lake. 4. Photo shoot in Himachali dress - This is typical activity which is offered in most of the hill stations in Himachal and Kashmir. I think, I need not explain this more. 5. Interacting with rabbits and getting some photographs clicked - You would find few kids with rabbits. They allow you clicking photographs with these rabbits and charge 10 rs. During tourist season, they may ask 20 rs or so. 6. Enjoy local folk music - There is a gentleman, who sings local songs around the dry lake of Khajjiar. He sings brilliantly and you can find his videos on Youtube.You can carry your own stuff with you. Many times, we carry Badminton, frisbee, a football and picnic stuff. Khajjiar is appropriate place for picnic. Folks living in Dalhousie and Chamaba usually come to Khajjiar during sundays with friends and family.Main places to explore around Khajjiar - Dalhousie - Churches, Mall road, walks Panchpula Waterfalls Dainkund TrekKalatop wildlife sanctuary trek, Chamera Lake Dam, Chamba Town - Bhuri Singh Museum, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Chattradi Temple, Chugan and lot more , Ravi river , View of snow covered Pir Panjal mountain ranges, I was there in Khajjiar again in August and it looks awesome in the month of August & September. It was a day out with my niece Urvi and enjoyed clicking her photographs. Above photograph shows deodar cones. August is the month when you can see all these cones on deodar trees. Khajjiar is surrounded by dense forest of high deodars. There is water in the middle of the lake. More than water, it's quicksand. This wooden pathway takes you to the water pond and this time I saw lot of fish in this. Although scene is not very interesting. Kids really enjoy to see fish in the pond. A gentleman sits around this place and sell some eatable for the fish. That's a good way for kids to interact with fish. Direct sunlight, fresh & cold breeze, lush green meadows, grazing sheep & cows, beautiful huts surrounded by dense forests of Deodar make Khajjiar a irrisistable place in Himachal Pradesh . Khajjiar is my favorite place around Dalhousie and Chamba regions of the himalayan state. Here is a panorama of Khajjiar. Notice the size of people walking around and try to imagine the size of this beautiful green meadow. It's huge. If you love walking, this is perfect place with appropriate weather. At times sun can be too harsh, so choose to walk around the edges with shade of deodars. Hope this post would help you plan your trip to Khajjiar and by now you must have an idea about things to expect at Khajjiar. Please feel free to drop your comments for further questions or suggestions.

Khajjiar: Khajjiar is a small hill station located in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its picturesque landscapes, beautiful lakes, and the Khajji Nag Temple.

Lush green meadows, grazing sheeps, beautiful cottages, high deodars and high hills of Khajjiar makes it a popular destination for traveller, explorers and tourists from India & abroad. Khajjiar is also known as mini Switzerland of India. Khajjiar is located on the way from Dalhousie and Chamba. This Photo Journey shares more about the ways to reach Khajjiar and other interesting things to explore & do around Khajiar/Dalhousie.How to reach?Here I am sharing details about reaching Khajjiar from Delhi and then will share some pointers about options from Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar etc. HRTC bus for Chamba starts from Delhi at 7pm. The link shares has more details about booking bus from Delhi to Dalhousie. The one which starts at 7pm is 2*2 AC bus. Apart from this 2 ordinary buses go from Delhi to Chamba/Dalhousie. Any of these buses can drop you at Dalhousie, which is closest main station near Khajjiar. Khajjir is just 22 kilometers from Dalhousie. Other option to reach Khajjiar is by taking a train from Delhi to Pathankot. From Pathankot, you can either hire a taxi or board local bus from Dalhousie. Please note that most of the buses going to Chamba can drop you at Dalhousie but there is rare possibility to find direct bus for Khajjiar. There are few buses from Dalhousie to Chamba which cross through Khajjiar. There is one which starts from Dalhousie at 9:15am. When I was staying in Dalhousie, I chose to take this bus to reach Khajjiar and then took 2:30pm bus to come back. Expect lot of passengers in these buses between Dalhousie and Khajjiar. If you are coming from other cities like Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Dharmshala or Shimla; there are various bus routes. Check HRTC, PRTC websites to know timings. Apart from these private buses are also available for Dalhousie. Hope these details are helpful. If not, please drop a comment with your specific question and I will try to share appropriate details. Let's talk about options to stay around Khajjiar. Where to stay? I have been to Khajjiar many times, but most of the times stayed in Dalhousie. I wish to spend a night around Khajjiar. There is one HPTDC hotel which faces Khajjiar lake (dry lake). Apart from this there is one forest guest house and a HPPWD guest house around Khajjiar. All of these beautiful properties are best located around lush green meadows of Khajjiar. Apart from these prime location properties, there are few resorts around Khajjiar, but they are not around the main lake. 3 options mentioned above offer brilliant views of lush green grounds of Khajjiar. During summers, it's hard to get booking in Khajjiar. The next good option is Dalhousie. Dalhousie has comparatively more hotels & resorts. But it's recommended to do advance booking if you are going to Khajjiar or Dalhousie in main tourist season. Activities at Khajjiar - 1. Paragliding - Now you can enjoy paragliding at Khajjiar. Like Solang nala, kids can also enjoy small flights within Khajjiar and adults can enjoy the longer flights from surrounding hills, which usually land in Khajjiar. 2. Horse riding - You can ride around the Khajjiar. There is a proper path defined for horses and this is one of the early & popular activity to enjoy at Khajjiar. The horse owners also tell you few tricks to ride the horse. On the halfway, you feel like controlling the horse on your own :). That's fun ! 3. Zorbing - You would see zorbing balls rolling on other side of Khajjiar lake. 4. Photo shoot in Himachali dress - This is typical activity which is offered in most of the hill stations in Himachal and Kashmir. I think, I need not explain this more. 5. Interacting with rabbits and getting some photographs clicked - You would find few kids with rabbits. They allow you clicking photographs with these rabbits and charge 10 rs. During tourist season, they may ask 20 rs or so. 6. Enjoy local folk music - There is a gentleman, who sings local songs around the dry lake of Khajjiar. He sings brilliantly and you can find his videos on Youtube.You can carry your own stuff with you. Many times, we carry Badminton, frisbee, a football and picnic stuff. Khajjiar is appropriate place for picnic. Folks living in Dalhousie and Chamaba usually come to Khajjiar during sundays with friends and family.Main places to explore around Khajjiar - Dalhousie - Churches, Mall road, walks Panchpula Waterfalls Dainkund TrekKalatop wildlife sanctuary trek, Chamera Lake Dam, Chamba Town - Bhuri Singh Museum, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Chattradi Temple, Chugan and lot more , Ravi river , View of snow covered Pir Panjal mountain ranges, I was there in Khajjiar again in August and it looks awesome in the month of August & September. It was a day out with my niece Urvi and enjoyed clicking her photographs. Above photograph shows deodar cones. August is the month when you can see all these cones on deodar trees. Khajjiar is surrounded by dense forest of high deodars. There is water in the middle of the lake. More than water, it's quicksand. This wooden pathway takes you to the water pond and this time I saw lot of fish in this. Although scene is not very interesting. Kids really enjoy to see fish in the pond. A gentleman sits around this place and sell some eatable for the fish. That's a good way for kids to interact with fish. Direct sunlight, fresh & cold breeze, lush green meadows, grazing sheep & cows, beautiful huts surrounded by dense forests of Deodar make Khajjiar a irrisistable place in Himachal Pradesh . Khajjiar is my favorite place around Dalhousie and Chamba regions of the himalayan state. Here is a panorama of Khajjiar. Notice the size of people walking around and try to imagine the size of this beautiful green meadow. It's huge. If you love walking, this is perfect place with appropriate weather. At times sun can be too harsh, so choose to walk around the edges with shade of deodars. Hope this post would help you plan your trip to Khajjiar and by now you must have an idea about things to expect at Khajjiar. Please feel free to drop your comments for further questions or suggestions.

Bharmour: Bharmour is a small town located in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its ancient temples, beautiful landscapes, and the Manimahesh Lake.


Pangi Valley: Pangi Valley is a remote and secluded valley located in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its rugged landscapes, ancient temples, and the Sach Pass.

Shimla is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North India and that's why we also receive lot of queries through form on our blog. Most of the folks commonly ask - Shimla Weather, Shimla Hotels, How to reach Shimla from Delhi/Chandigarh, main places to visit in Shimla, Shimla mall road etc. In past, we have shared some of these details on our blog, but here is an attempt to write a comprehensive post which helps you with details about various ways to reach Shimla from Delhi, Chandigarh or Kalka.

Shimla Region of Himachal Pradesh :

Now that lot of travellers are moving away from typical tourist destinations, people are choosing places like Narkanda and the popularity of such places is increasing fast. Narkanda is located on NH-22 which connects Shimla with Kinnaur and surrounded by snow covered peaks. Beautiful landscapes with snow covered peaks, blue sky and high deodars make this place very special. Narkanda is not only a small town in Himachal, but it's a region which has lot to offer for explorers/travellers.How to reach Narkanda - Narkanda town is 60 kilometers from Shimla and very well accessible through local buses. The road from Shimla to Narkanda is superb except a stretch near Shimla/Sanjauli towns. It takes approximately 1.5 hours from Shimla to Narkanda. If you are driving in your own vehicle, it's recommended to stop at Shilaroo Hockey stadium Dhomri is closest camping place to Narkanda. It's at a walking distance from the town. First photograph of this Photo Journey is clicked at Dhomri. This was clicked few years back during MTB Himalaya rally . And this is the place where skiing trainings and competitions happen in winters.If we look at Narkanda Pictures on internet, you wold find lot of hikes around Narkanda and Hatu peak is one of the most popular place amongst hikers, Trekkers, bikers and adventure lovers. Check out the link above to know about this place. This place is also surrounded by beautiful forests. This place is also quite interesting for camping. Hatu peak is probably the highest peak in this region and it's must to experience the wind on the top.Most of the Narkanda Hotels have great view of snow covered peaks. I have stayed in HPPWD guest house and HPTDC hotel in Narkanda. Both of these properties are very well located around the town.Narkanda tourism is picking up and it's quite encouraging. Most of folks who plan shimla kinnaur trip should definitely consider taking a break around this region of Shimla. As you move further from Narkanda, the landscapes become more beautiful. Road passes through deodar forests and suddenly you come across great views of snow covered peaks Another interesting place around Narkanda is Tani Jubber lake which is close to Kotgarh. It's a beautiful lake surrounded by deodar forest. I was also fortunate to camp at Tani jubber as well. Once, we had installed our tents in playground of government school which is near to Tani Jubber lake. And one night was spent in an apple orchard. If you keep walking on the road adjoining lake, you would find lot of apples. July/August is best time to see red apples on these trees.Kotgarh shimla region is popular for it's export quality apples and cherries. As you enter Kotgarh region, you see apple orchards all around. Apart from apple, you can find cherries, kiwi, apricot, peach, wallnut, almond trees as well. There are some nice home stays in Kotgarh region. I have never stayed in homestays of Kotgarh, but that's in my list. And I want to visit this region again in July time, which is harvest season for villagers.If you keep driving towards Kinnaur, you hit the place where Satluj will start following you.I am sure that Narkanda has lot more than what I have shared in this post. If you are keen in knowing more, click on links embedded in this post which talk about specific destinations around Narkanda and what makes them so special. Camping is definitely something that should be planned in this part of Himachal Pradesh. Hope to share more camping photographs soon.

Narkanda: Narkanda is a small town located in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty, apple orchards, and skiing slopes. There are beautiful hikes like Hatu peak around Narkanda. 

During sabbatical we were roaming around Shimla and Kinnaur regions. While going towards Kinnaur, we stayed at Jeori which is 25 kilometers away from Rampur Town in Shimla district. After one night stay at Jeori, one of our friend planned for day trip to Sarahan which was not on the way to Kinnaur. This Photo Journey shares some of the moments from the same day and mostly about Bhimakali Temple in this town.Sarahan town is just 30 minutes away from Jeori town. Jeori town is on main highway which connects Chandigarh with Kinnaur via Shimla, while Sarahan town is 30 minutes away from main highway. It takes approximately 45 minutes by bus. It's a steep climb from Jeori through various villages and some army cantonments. Whole stretch has lush green orchards of Apple, Peach and dry fruits. Not sure if cherry is also grown in those orchards or not, while cherry is found in abundance in Shimla region. Especially Kotgarh orchards are known for amazing quality cherries.During this Joureny, Aneesh was accompanying me. Both of us were travelling on his brand new KTM. Although I think that KTM is not a bike for longer travels, especially for two people. It could be a very good bike for riders, but seats are not that comfortable. In fact, while going from Jeori to Sarahan we got a pillow to fix it on our seat and travel further :). It was really a painful experience for first two days and slowly things settled down. It was not new to Aneesh but for me, it was really a disappointing experience.The most popular place in Sarahan town of Shimla is the famous Bhimakali Temple, whichis centrally located in the town. As we enter into the town, there are some old houses in the beginning followed by some budget hotels, guest houses & few shops etc. After that there is a downhill of 200 meters to reach Bhimakali Temple parking. Main entrance of Bhimakali Temple is just in front of this parking area. We parked the bike here, handed over our stuff to one of the shopkeepers there and entered into the temple campus. After depositing our shoes outside the temple and cleaning our hands we entered into the temple. It's a huge campus and during that time some construction was going on in one of the temples. There is a huge cafeteria within the campus which serves different kinds of snacks and breakfast. When we reached, breakfast time was over. So we planned to have darshan first and then have something to eat in the market. Above photograph shows the silver carved gate of Bhimakali Temple. It is second door of the Bhimakali temple. The first one is golden colored with exceptional height. There are few lines written over these gates - few in Hindi(devnagari) and some in Tibetian script.Every section of Bhimakali Temple has huge space all around and a very decent place to spend time with your family and friends. In fact, temple authorities have built a beautiful park on one side of the temple. This park is approachable through temple only, although can be seen from market through boundary-walls. Although we were wondering that why an artifical green place is required in such a beautiful place surrounded by forests and green areas all around.This is a view which we get on looking back from second gate of the temple. After 10-15 stairs we reach to the second gate of Bhimakali temple. The gates were really beautiful of Bhimakali Temple and it applies to most of the stuff being used inside the temple. There is a museum kind of setup inside temple where we also huge steel pots. Security folks didn't allow us to click the photographs, so unable to share the size.Here is the view of Bhimakali Temple from Shrikhand View Palace.There is a beautiful palace in Sarahan town which belongs to Raja Virbhadra Singh, present Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. To know more about this palace, just click on the link above which shares an amazing Photo Journey of this palace surrounded by apple orchardsIt was a great trip to Bhimakali Temple in Sarahan town of Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh. Looking forward to my next visit in this region and explore more around Sarahan, Jeori and Rampur...

Sarahan: Located in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, Sarahan is a beautiful village known for its ancient Bhimakali Temple, stunning views of the Himalayas, apple & Cherry orchards.

When seen from a purely tourist perspective, Chail doesn't have too much to do. However there are several hidden treasures that are worth exploring. One of them is the World's highest cricket ground. I have a suspicion that the place would have been quite dull if the weather wasn't so magical. The board indicating that this is indeed the world's highest cricket ground at 7500 feet from the sea level. The cricket ground is used by the Chail Military School, which is close to capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla. The ground was built in 1893 and is still frequently used and well-maintained.

Chail: Chail is a small town located in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, ancient temples, and the Chail Palace.

Kotgarh: Kotgarh is a small town located in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its apple orchards, beautiful landscapes, and the Stokes Farm.

The Tani Jubber Lake is placed among the scenic surroundings of Thanedar nearly 4 kilometers. Here is a quick Photo Journey to the real place in Himalayas !!!Thanedar has a very special place in the history of Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. The first apple sapling was planted here in Kotagarh near Thanedar... Kotgarh is 15 km. from Narkanda which is a famous hill station for its Apple, Apricot Orchards that are found all over the area. During this trip we also enjoyed fresh Apples and Apricots from Kotgarh... One of our friend borough all that stuff from his home in kotgarh !!! The beautiful Tani Jubber lake lies between the snow-covered mountains in the backdrop of lusting greenery and apple orchards... Soon I will be sharing some photographs from a Orchard-house where we stayed at Tani Jubber !!!Tani Jubber is mainly surrounded by high cedars but surrounding village overlooks the enchanting valleys and on a clear day Himalayan snow peaks as well are visible. The place is surrounded by dense forests and is very picturesque in appearance.Tani Jubber Lake is the home for many kinds of birds. During winters one can see very colorful birds in different shapes and sizes...The lakeside is famous for the Nag-Devta temple in Thanedar, where many devotees offer their prayers to the serpent god.There is another local temple on the side of the lake, which is open to only locals... A fair takes place at the lakeshore during the month of June, which attracts many people... Local artisans and craftsmen display their products and artisan mastery during this fair...There are many places around Tani Jubber lake where tents can be installed to enjoy wild nights of Himalyas :) ... There is a government school near Tani Jubber lake with a huge ground and many times various adventurous groups take appropriate permissions to install there tents during the night and clean up the space before school starts...An old man walking around Tani Jubber Lake near Thanedar, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh... During the visit to Tani Jubber, Mr. Pawan Khimta was accompanying us Naturally beautiful Tni Jubber Lake is a good place to have a visit. This is not a very popular place on Tourist map of Himachal but there is no doubt about it's beauty. Lake is small but surroundings are amazing and worth a visit...Tani Jubber Lake can be visited throughout the year. However, temperatures vary with the seasons. April - November are pleasant days (light woollens would work) and cold nights. December to March mainly get snow and minimum temperatures touch zero degrees Celsius...

Thanedar: Thanedar is a small town located in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its apple orchards, beautiful landscapes, and the Tani Jubbar Lake.


Pabbar Valley: Pabbar Valley is a beautiful valley located in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty, trekking trails, and the Hatkoti Temple.


Chanshal Pass: Chanshal Pass is a beautiful mountain pass located in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty, trekking trails, and the Chanshal Lake.


Camping around Dhomri /Narkanda :

Now that lot of travellers are moving away from typical tourist destinations, people are choosing places like Narkanda and the popularity of such places is increasing fast. Narkanda is located on NH-22 which connects Shimla with Kinnaur and surrounded by snow covered peaks. Beautiful landscapes with snow covered peaks, blue sky and high deodars make this place very special. Narkanda is not only a small town in Himachal, but it's a region which has lot to offer for explorers/travellers.


Now that lot of travellers are moving away from typical tourist destinations, people are choosing places like Narkanda and the popularity of such places is increasing fast. Narkanda is located on NH-22 which connects Shimla with Kinnaur and surrounded by snow covered peaks. Beautiful landscapes with snow covered peaks, blue sky and high deodars make this place very special. Narkanda is not only a small town in Himachal, but it's a region which has lot to offer for explorers/travellers. 

Hidden among the snow covered hills of Shrikhand Mountian Ranges, which are known for their mythological significance and is said to be one of the adobe of Lord Shiva, this unknown village beckon those with an adventurous spirit as its beautiful landscape and lush green valley will take your breath away.

Kullu Region of Himachal Pradesh :

A wonderful place for adventurous campers: Sarahan, Kullu : Vandana Bhagra, Shimla : Hidden among the snow covered hills of Shrikhand Mountian Ranges, which are known for their mythological significance and is said to be one of the adobe of Lord Shiva, this unknown village beckon those with an adventurous spirit as its beautiful landscape and lush green valley will take your breath away. Many of you may get confused with Sarahan in Shimla district with its beautiful Bhimakali Temple but those you know and have been to Kullu will know this Sarahan better at 3200 metres height, and that too if they have had the zeal to walk all the way to picture its magnificent beauty.If you start your journey from Shimla then head towards Narkanda about 63 kms and then towards Nirmand which is another 28 kms approximately, with panoramic views of the Satluj Valley. From there you reach Bhagi Pul and then an uphill narrow road covering a distance of about 12 kms leads to this small village nestled among the mountains in all is pristine. Those who wish to travel by bus should be prepared for a long journey as it is nearly 176 kms from Shimla and can take up to 10 hours to reach, but of course with few stops and immense beauty to admire. Those planning to come from Beas side should be aware that there is no motorable road and would have to cross on foot from the Bishloi Pass.The HPPWD rest house situated outside the village offers decent accommodation which needs to be booked in advance but for the more adventurous laying out their tents (which of course you need to carry) in the open meadows can always be an option. With permission from the Government School nearby you can set your camp under the starry sky. The huge ground in the centre of the village is surrounded by fields, flora and fauna, water streams, waterfalls with amazing views of the snow covered hills nearby. With so much natural beauty around it becomes quite hard to concentrate on anything and then there were these kids studying in their open air classrooms.Those rring to go can begin their trek from Kullu Sarahan to Bashleo Pass through the dense forests and green meadows to experience this place and its serenity. A one day trek to the nearest snow covered peak is an enjoyable experience as one would come across innumerable waterfalls, small stream and unexplainable natural beauty. The freshness and the virginity of the place suddenly hits you taking you thousands and thousands of miles away from your hustle bustle city life. Other trekking options include heading towards the Jaon village to begin the Shrikhand trek through various hills, forests and streams. Village folk are often seen walking all the distance to Bangar and making it back by dinner time.The most typical feature about this village is its beautiful temple dedicated to sage Shring and gives a feeling of being a step closer to god and reaching for the sky. The use of vibrant colours, intricate artwork and unique architectural style will capture your imagination. The snow covered hills behind the templegives it a perfect backdrop of picture perfect beauty. The recently concluded two day Jhiru mela held during sangrand in April celebrates the beginning of the New Year which witnesses the village folk in their traditional dresses, dancing and singing to folk songs and wishing for prosperity.In case you plan a trip to Kullu and its better known destination do not forget to enquire about this small little village as it will equally charm you as would the other destinations.Photo credits: VJ Sharma

Tirthan Valley: Tirthan Valley is a hidden gem located in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its pristine river, beautiful waterfalls, and serene surroundings.

Tucked away in the remote recesses of the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh, lies the tiny town of Barot. To a large extent untouched by tourism, the town offers a peaceful getaway to travellers, away from the hustle-bustle of daily life. Surrounded by century-old, tall deodars, Barot is a time capsule and visiting Barot is like taking a peek into the bygone era when human beings still knew how to live in peace with their surroundings and with nature. The river Uhl runs through the town twisting its way amongst boulders and polishing pebbles till they glitter like silver and gold, and birds of all colours and sizes sing their various songs while flitting in and out of sight.

Barot: Barot is a small village located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty, trout fishing, and trekking trails. 

Hills & roads are my two best buddies. This Photo Journey is from very special region of himachal pradesh, which is little away from hustle bustle of tourists and preferred by adventure lovers. Himalayan state of India has lot to explore and especially the rural areas which are comparatively less explored. Definitely, such places are not meant for all the travelers but those who like peaceful places would never miss the opportunities. I am sharing this post for the benefit of such people. We usually hear about such places through word of mouth and folks travelled these trails would have lot to share.Jibhi, Shoja and Banjar are popular amongst adventure lovers, motorsport buffs, bikers and backpackers. There are two routes to hit this part of Himachal Pradesh. Most preferred route is through mandi which diverts from Aut.Jibhi is a beautiful place in Banjar Valley of Himachal Pradesh, which offers you some exceptional landscapes. If you are a Photographer or painter, you would love to be around these hills & capture the beauty in your canvas.Jibhi can be approached from Chandigarh-Manali Highway. There is a small detour in right just before the tunnel at AUT. Banjar is approximately 30 kilometers AUT and you need to follow the road following the river. If you are coming in overnight Volvo, get down at this cut and take local bus. This region is well connected through private buses. Jibhi is another 8 km from Banjar town towards Jalori Pass.We spent most of the time driving around these villages which are connected through temporary roads. There are many villages which are not directly connected through roads.While compiling this post about this region, I read more and came across a very detailed post . I recommend you to also check this post for planning your trip to this region. Jalori pass and Sarolsar lake are must go places in this region. There is a small trek to reach Sarolsar lake but it's fun to walk through forest.Every now and then you get magnificant views of snow covered hills when driving around this region of Himachal Pradesh. There are plenty of easy and medium level treks around this region of Himalayan State of India.The villages in this part of Himachal are different. The architecture, sizes, locations, placement, colors etc. On the way, we randomly stopped at few houses and one family also offered us tea and packed few apples.Such terrains make to realize about simplicity of life in Himachal. Things are simple, time is passing slowly, everyone has time for each other, compassionate people and there is no race. Most of it may sound cliched but that's true. One must explore these terrains to get closer to reality of life. One of the best terrains for explorers. While driving around Jibhi, Shoja & Kalori Pass, we met different folks on our. This gentleman works with HPPWD and was coming back home. He was walking and there was hardly anyone around. We asked if he needs lift. He smiled that said that he needs to visit his fields on the way, which are not actually on roadside. We spent some time with him and it's his regular routine. He hardly uses vehicles to commute from home to work. Most of his work is in surroundings. There are few moments when HPPWD trucks come and pick all these workers to take them to work-site which is at distance.Sunset hues hitting these high deodars make these terrains more beautiful. Our campsite was planned at Shaij and this place was nearby. We spent some time here and then headed towards the camps. In future, I want to go there our own tents and other camping equipments. This region is safe and best suited for camping.Above photograph would give you some sense about roads some of the villages have. Here idea is not to say that roads are in bad shape, but to highlight that many of the villages are getting connected. Its practically difficult to have equally good roads in all terrains. So it's better to keep improving situation over time. First goal should be to connect these villages. 'PradhanMantri Sadak Yogana' started by Atal Bihari Vajpayee helped lot of villages in India to get connected through roads.Now, it's easy to find home-stays around Jibhi, Shoja & Banjar.

Shoja: Shoja is a scenic village located in the Seraj Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, trekking trails, and the Waterfall Point.

Hills & roads are my two best buddies. This Photo Journey is from very special region of himachal pradesh, which is little away from hustle bustle of tourists and preferred by adventure lovers. Himalayan state of India has lot to explore and especially the rural areas which are comparatively less explored. Definitely, such places are not meant for all the travelers but those who like peaceful places would never miss the opportunities. I am sharing this post for the benefit of such people. We usually hear about such places through word of mouth and folks travelled these trails would have lot to share.Jibhi, Shoja and Banjar are popular amongst adventure lovers, motorsport buffs, bikers and backpackers. There are two routes to hit this part of Himachal Pradesh. Most preferred route is through mandi which diverts from Aut.Jibhi is a beautiful place in Banjar Valley of Himachal Pradesh, which offers you some exceptional landscapes. If you are a Photographer or painter, you would love to be around these hills & capture the beauty in your canvas.Jibhi can be approached from Chandigarh-Manali Highway. There is a small detour in right just before the tunnel at AUT. Banjar is approximately 30 kilometers AUT and you need to follow the road following the river. If you are coming in overnight Volvo, get down at this cut and take local bus. This region is well connected through private buses. Jibhi is another 8 km from Banjar town towards Jalori Pass.We spent most of the time driving around these villages which are connected through temporary roads. There are many villages which are not directly connected through roads.While compiling this post about this region, I read more and came across a very detailed post . I recommend you to also check this post for planning your trip to this region. Jalori pass and Sarolsar lake are must go places in this region. There is a small trek to reach Sarolsar lake but it's fun to walk through forest.Every now and then you get magnificant views of snow covered hills when driving around this region of Himachal Pradesh. There are plenty of easy and medium level treks around this region of Himalayan State of India.The villages in this part of Himachal are different. The architecture, sizes, locations, placement, colors etc. On the way, we randomly stopped at few houses and one family also offered us tea and packed few apples.Such terrains make to realize about simplicity of life in Himachal. Things are simple, time is passing slowly, everyone has time for each other, compassionate people and there is no race. Most of it may sound cliched but that's true. One must explore these terrains to get closer to reality of life. One of the best terrains for explorers. While driving around Jibhi, Shoja & Kalori Pass, we met different folks on our. This gentleman works with HPPWD and was coming back home. He was walking and there was hardly anyone around. We asked if he needs lift. He smiled that said that he needs to visit his fields on the way, which are not actually on roadside. We spent some time with him and it's his regular routine. He hardly uses vehicles to commute from home to work. Most of his work is in surroundings. There are few moments when HPPWD trucks come and pick all these workers to take them to work-site which is at distance.Sunset hues hitting these high deodars make these terrains more beautiful. Our campsite was planned at Shaij and this place was nearby. We spent some time here and then headed towards the camps. In future, I want to go there our own tents and other camping equipments. This region is safe and best suited for camping.Above photograph would give you some sense about roads some of the villages have. Here idea is not to say that roads are in bad shape, but to highlight that many of the villages are getting connected. Its practically difficult to have equally good roads in all terrains. So it's better to keep improving situation over time. First goal should be to connect these villages. 'PradhanMantri Sadak Yogana' started by Atal Bihari Vajpayee helped lot of villages in India to get connected through roads.Now, it's easy to find home-stays around Jibhi, Shoja & Banjar.

Jibhi: Jibhi is a small village located in the Banjar Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, traditional architecture, and peaceful surroundings.

Kasol is a small yet beautiful village in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It was always in my bucket list since I came to know about the place through my friends. During the second week of June when the temperature was soaring in Raipur, I planned the trip to the cool hill station with my college friends. It was a 5 days/ 4 nights’ trip and we were a total of six guys travelling.

Kasol: Kasol is a scenic village located in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its natural beauty, trekking trails, and vibrant hippie culture.


If you are a regular visitor of Travellingcamera, you must have noticed that title of this Photo Journey is not really matching with what we usually share. This post is inspired by lot of queries which come to us, especially in summer. One of the mostly asked thing is the options to reach Kasol and Malana. Here we are trying to share some details the option to reach Kasol/Malana, places to stay, things to do and lot more. While compiling this post, old memories are coming to my mind. I started this blog in 2008 and never got a chance to go again to Kasol, but my only trip to this region was very exciting with college friends. We planned a trip to Kullu Manali from Shimla and thought of visiting Kasol/Malana as well. This was a week long trip and we spent 3 days walking & trekking around Kasol. When it comes to options of reaching Kasol from Delhi or Chandigarh, the only way to hit this region is by road. It's not connected by railway and flights are not very frequent to Kullu. There is an Airport near to Kasol, which is located in Bhuntar (Kullu) but flights are rare and would be a costly affair. In some of the portals, folks have quoted low rates like 2.5K but I could never find that. There is no rail line in part of Himachal Pradesh. Kiratpur Saheb in Punjab and Una in Himachal are two railway stations around this place. Both of these railways stations are more than 150 kilometers away from Kasol. There is another narrow-gauge line at around 100 kilometers, which is located in Jogindernagar, but it's not recommended except in a scenario when you have enough time and want to experience toy train, which starts from Pathankot and ends at Jogindernagar.So road is only good options to reach Kasol. Now transportation has improved a lot and you have multiple options. There are luxury buses by HRTC are available for Kullu from Delhi, Chandigarh & many other main cities. Even normal buses of HRTC are also quite good and cheapest way to travel. Luxury buses by Himachal Tourism are also available from Delhi. All Volvo buses by HRTC & Himachal Tourism start from Himachal Bhavan in Delhi, which is located in Mandi House near Connaught Place. All these buses go to Manali via Kullu and one needs to get down at Bhuntar to take local bus for Kasol or a taxi. Kasol is located at around 30 kilometers from Bhuntar. Kullu can be reached from Delhi by national highway NH 1 up to Chandigarh and from there by national highway NH21 which passes through Bilaspur, Sundernagar and Mandi towns. Kullu is 480 km from Delhi. There are various options available to stay in and around Kasol. Budget hotels, few resorts and luxury home-stays as well. And this place offers great atmosphere all around. Fresh air , blue sky, parvathi river, local folks, cattle grounds, green hills and lot more. There are various intresting treks around Kasol and Malana. There are various easy, moderate and difficult treks around Kasol village. Kheer Ganga is one of the main treks. Whole Parvati valley is very different and more beautiful from many surrounding hills stations of Himachal Pradesh. There is lot to explore in this part of Himachal, some can be discussed and some are not to be disclosed in public ! Kasol is a village in Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Parvati River flows through the village. There is a bridge in the village which divides it in two parts known as Old Kasol and New Kasol. Lot of Foreigners can be seen in the streets around this place. Holy place Manikaran is just 5 kilometers from Kasol. Malana is another popular village which is reachable after a moderate trek. We went till Malana and heard a lot of stories about the place. We also got to know that many of the foreigners have come to this place and living here for many years now. Lot of Israelies come to Kasol and one can see the hebrew language banners in parvati valley. Probably I will share another post only on Malana with some of the mind boggling stories associated with this place, the cannabis and local democracy. Kasol is one of the favorite places for backpackers and also a base for Himalayan trekking to SarPass, Pin Parbati Pass and Kheer ganga. Wish you a great trip to Kasol.

Malana: Malana is a small village located in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its unique culture, ancient temples, and beautiful surroundings.

Well this write-up gives you some insight of my experiencewith KheerGanga. I am not a avid trekker but I love to travel. So while lookingfor an outstation trip I was searching some place in Himachal. This time mysearch gave me KheerGanga as an option. I had done Triund trek (Mcleodganj)twice before this.So before finalizing KheerGanga, I have read lot about it. And fromall my reading I concluded that it is more challenging than Triund. Lots ofpeople had mentioned the beauty of this trek. So I decided to do it.We were total three college friends. Its been 7 years sincewe are out of college and since then we were trying to find time to go on atrip together.We started on Friday evening from Delhi at around 8 PM. Wereached Murthal at around 10 PM where westopped for Dinner. After having aquick break we started around 10.45PM and then we drove for next 5 hours. Wethen stopped for a Tea Break. So after crossing Mandi, Sunder Nagar, Kasol wereached Barshaini. Barshini is the point till where you can go by Car/Taxi.Himachal State Transport also ply buses from Mandi to Barshaini.Barshaini gives you option to stay but they give you verybasic facilities. Although we didn’t halt at Barshaini. The point from wherethe Trek starts is basically a Dam construction site. They are constructing ahug dam on Parvati river. We parkedthe car. We then took our trekking bagswith necessary stuff like jackets, extra socks, towels, gloves, cap, torch andthen we headed towards our target. Its been said that the trek is 12 Kms long.The view of the Parvati valley from the point where trek starts wasspectacular. It gives you energy to start the trek. It attracts you and thenyou without wasting any time starts heading towards it.Along the trek you will find good number of shops which are managedby local villagers. They serve you Maggi, omlette chai etc along with dry snacksand fruits as well. You dont really need tocarry any food item for this trek.We started our trek at around 12 noon. After 2 kms we foundone café/shop and we stopped there for a quick break. After having maggi wethen started our trek and reached Rudranag. It is almost at the middle of trek.There is a waterfall at this point which looks like snake and thus this pointis named after it. To reach Rudranag it took almost 90 mins from the last stop.We had fruits/tea at a shop here and then we started again.So, after having a good break of about 20 mins we startedour journey again. And immediately therecomes an interesting wooden bridge over river Parvati. This pics says all. Iwas quite scared crossing this bridge. JAfter this point the terrain becomes more difficult, and it isalmost 2 hours from this point to reach our destination. In this part there arewater streams, steep paths and beautiful views.We reached at around 4 PM to the top. And the view from here are spectacular. Heris a glimpse of that.To my surprise, there were so many eating outlets along withplaces to stay. I must stay rooms and halls for stay were way beyond myexpectations. Here you will even find currency exchange counter as lot offoreigners come to this place.Atthe top there is a temple and close to it there is a Hotwater spring. It has proper arrangements for women. Water is quite hot but itis very very relaxing. We booked one room with three beds. The rent was veryvery nominal. He charged us 200/- per bed. The sky view at night was awesome.It was clear and mind blowing. We slept early as we were really tired. We wokeup at around 4 AM next morning. After roaming here & there for some time,we started our back journey at around 5 AM. Slowly slowly we have reached fromwhere we started. Surprisingly it took us almost 4 hours to descendwhichincludes 40 Mins break for breakfast. On this way we found apple and peachtrees. Kheerganga was a beautiful experience but I was greatlydisappointed after realizing that it is becoming more & morecommercialized. We should respect the nature JI found this written over a rock on the trek.

Naggar: Naggar is a small town located in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its stunning landscapes, ancient temples, and the Naggar Castle.


Tosh: Tosh is a scenic village located in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, trekking trails, and the Tosh Glacier.

Well this write-up gives you some insight of my experiencewith KheerGanga. I am not a avid trekker but I love to travel. So while lookingfor an outstation trip I was searching some place in Himachal. This time mysearch gave me KheerGanga as an option. I had done Triund trek (Mcleodganj)twice before this.So before finalizing KheerGanga, I have read lot about it. And fromall my reading I concluded that it is more challenging than Triund. Lots ofpeople had mentioned the beauty of this trek. So I decided to do it.We were total three college friends. Its been 7 years sincewe are out of college and since then we were trying to find time to go on atrip together.We started on Friday evening from Delhi at around 8 PM. Wereached Murthal at around 10 PM where westopped for Dinner. After having aquick break we started around 10.45PM and then we drove for next 5 hours. Wethen stopped for a Tea Break. So after crossing Mandi, Sunder Nagar, Kasol wereached Barshaini. Barshini is the point till where you can go by Car/Taxi.Himachal State Transport also ply buses from Mandi to Barshaini.Barshaini gives you option to stay but they give you verybasic facilities. Although we didn’t halt at Barshaini. The point from wherethe Trek starts is basically a Dam construction site. They are constructing ahug dam on Parvati river. We parkedthe car. We then took our trekking bagswith necessary stuff like jackets, extra socks, towels, gloves, cap, torch andthen we headed towards our target. Its been said that the trek is 12 Kms long.The view of the Parvati valley from the point where trek starts wasspectacular. It gives you energy to start the trek. It attracts you and thenyou without wasting any time starts heading towards it.Along the trek you will find good number of shops which are managedby local villagers. They serve you Maggi, omlette chai etc along with dry snacksand fruits as well. You dont really need tocarry any food item for this trek.We started our trek at around 12 noon. After 2 kms we foundone café/shop and we stopped there for a quick break. After having maggi wethen started our trek and reached Rudranag. It is almost at the middle of trek.There is a waterfall at this point which looks like snake and thus this pointis named after it. To reach Rudranag it took almost 90 mins from the last stop.We had fruits/tea at a shop here and then we started again.So, after having a good break of about 20 mins we startedour journey again. And immediately therecomes an interesting wooden bridge over river Parvati. This pics says all. Iwas quite scared crossing this bridge. JAfter this point the terrain becomes more difficult, and it isalmost 2 hours from this point to reach our destination. In this part there arewater streams, steep paths and beautiful views.We reached at around 4 PM to the top. And the view from here are spectacular. Heris a glimpse of that.To my surprise, there were so many eating outlets along withplaces to stay. I must stay rooms and halls for stay were way beyond myexpectations. Here you will even find currency exchange counter as lot offoreigners come to this place.Atthe top there is a temple and close to it there is a Hotwater spring. It has proper arrangements for women. Water is quite hot but itis very very relaxing. We booked one room with three beds. The rent was veryvery nominal. He charged us 200/- per bed. The sky view at night was awesome.It was clear and mind blowing. We slept early as we were really tired. We wokeup at around 4 AM next morning. After roaming here & there for some time,we started our back journey at around 5 AM. Slowly slowly we have reached fromwhere we started. Surprisingly it took us almost 4 hours to descendwhichincludes 40 Mins break for breakfast. On this way we found apple and peachtrees. Kheerganga was a beautiful experience but I was greatlydisappointed after realizing that it is becoming more & morecommercialized. We should respect the nature JI found this written over a rock on the trek.

Kheerganga: Kheerganga is a scenic village located in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its stunning landscapes, hot springs, and trekking trails.

Jalori Pass at 11000 in Himacha Pradesh is one of the favorite place for Trekkers, Bike Riders and Adventure lovers. Jalori Pass comes on the way to Banjar Mountain ranges of Himalayas. This was second time, when we visited Jalori Pass in Himachal Pradesh. Let's check out this Photo Journey to Jalori Pass and surrounding areas with relevant details.This photographs shows Temple near Sarolsar Lake, which can be reached after 1.5 hrs of wonderful trek through dense forests, hills and colorful places with various flowers in the valley.Here is a photograph of Sarolsar Lake which is near Jalori Pass and a must go place around Banjar Region. This is a natural lake and in winters it's not noticeable as water freezes.There are some old villages around the place and some of them are in unused state. Mud houses are construct at appropriate places, so that there is minimal impact of rains. It was something unique that houses were having natural roof on top.Banjar Hills and Jalori Pass are very well surrounded by various natural water resources. Beautiful waterfalls with chilling water...Check out one of the interesting travelog about Jalori Pass at http://www.ghumakkar.com/2009/12/29/ambitious-drive-to-jalori-pass/ Many foreign tourists can be seen in these forests, who come here to explore virgin forests of Himalayas. Many times people spend multiple days with their tents and some eating stuff... Here is another interesting write about bike ride to Jalori Pass - http://www.himachaltravelblog.com/2010/01/06/glorious-jalori-a-ride-to-remember/Clouds keep tracking all activities of Jalori Pass and surrounding areas. They keep walking on the roads near Jalori Pass and at times reduce the visibility to 1 meter or so. This helpful cloud is trying to disperse colors of sunset...Most of the villages around Jalori Pass and Banjar are used to the tourists and trekkers from various parts of the world.There is very popular temple in small Jalori Market. Most of the folks, who visit the place, also go to this temple with their prayers. Tinkling bells of such temple on vibrant hills make whole environment very cheerful and energetic.There are various guest houses around Jalori Pass - ranging from very basic home stays to luxurious resorts, tents etc.A view of snow capped hills of Banjar mountain ranges ... Such wonderful views can be enjoyed from Jalori Pass Market, which has some very basic shops to serve tourists during summers. During winters, this regions is isolated from rest of the world.Jalori Pass is one of the favorite destinations among bike riders, Many bike-groups from Delhi and South India visit the place & also explore other places like Banjar, Sarolsar Lake etc.Jalori Place is one of the beautiful places in Himalayan mountain ranges, which is surrounded by snow capped hills and dense forests.

Jalori Pass: Jalori Pass is a beautiful mountain pass located in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty, trekking trails, and the Serolsar Lake.


Mandi Region of Himachal Pradesh :

Tucked away in the remote recesses of the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh, lies the tiny town of Barot. To a large extent untouched by tourism, the town offers a peaceful getaway to travellers, away from the hustle-bustle of daily life. Surrounded by century-old, tall deodars, Barot is a time capsule and visiting Barot is like taking a peek into the bygone era when human beings still knew how to live in peace with their surroundings and with nature. The river Uhl runs through the town twisting its way amongst boulders and polishing pebbles till they glitter like silver and gold, and birds of all colours and sizes sing their various songs while flitting in and out of sight.

Barot Valley : Tucked away in the remote recesses of the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh, lies the tiny town of Barot. To a large extent untouched by tourism, the town offers a peaceful getaway to travellers, away from the hustle-bustle of daily life. Surrounded by century-old, tall deodars, Barot is a time capsule and visiting Barot is like taking a peek into the bygone era when human beings still knew how to live in peace with their surroundings and with nature. The river Uhl runs through the town twisting its way amongst boulders and polishing pebbles till they glitter like silver and gold, and birds of all colours and sizes sing their various songs while flitting in and out of sight.


Karsog: Karsog is a small town located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty, apple orchards, and ancient temples.

Kamrunag hike is popular because of faith and I love such places where tourists don't go but only locals for religious regions. Why? Usually locals don't make the place dirty and respect local vegetation and culture. And what can be better than that to explore. But at the same time, we need to follow same principles when we visit these places. Kamrunag is a day hike which exposes you to varied vegetation, culture, food and lot more. It's located in Mandi region of Himachal Pradesh. Do check out the title link

Kamrunag hike is popular because of faith and I love such places where tourists don't go but only locals for religious regions. Why? Usually locals don't make the place dirty and respect local vegetation and culture. And what can be better than that to explore. But at the same time, we need to follow same principles when we visit these places. Kamrunag is a day hike which exposes you to varied vegetation, culture, food and lot more. It's located in Mandi region of Himachal Pradesh. Do check out the title link.

Few other photo journeys have already been shared about Parashar Lake but this one is little special which shares some moments spent around The Parashar Rishi Lake while camping under twinkling stars. When I saw the stunning photographs on Ankit's account, I requested him to share this interesting story with PHOTO JOURNEY viewers and I was really happy to see a quick and positive response.Prashar Lake is located at around 50 kilometers from Mandi town of Himachal Pradesh, which is popularly known as Himalayan State having major tourist inflow. There is a three storied pagoda-like temple dedicated to the sage Prashar, which is located on the side of a beautiful lake, which is shown in photographs on left. The Parashar Lake is located at a height of approximately 3k meters having deep blue waters which we can see in the aerial shot being shown on left. There are green meadows around Parashar Lake & Ankit had planted his tent in one of the open areas. These photographs are very inspiring and I wish to do something like this in near future. Sometime back I had a beautiful star-trail photograph of Parashar Lake on Flickr. Today I couldn't locate the source but that was one of my first inspiration to visit Parashar Lake & try to stay around that place for one night to experience the twinkling stars in blue sky.The Parashar Lake can be approached via Drang. The temple near Parashar Lake was built in the 13th century and legend has it was built by a baby from a single tree. The lake has a floating island in it and it is said to be unclear how deep it is, with a diver not being able to determine its depth. Check out more about the place at http://himachaltourism.gov.in/post/Prashar-lake.aspx & https://www.facebook.com/prasharrishilakeHere is a photograph of Parashar Rishi Temple which is near to the lake. The Parashar lake is surrounded by snow covered peaks and this place also gets snowfall sometimes. As we start the journey from Mandi, we need to pass through Runjh, Katidhi village then village Kamand. Kamand is the place where IIT Mandi is being established. If I am not wrong, one batch has already started in this campus. Kamand is very beautiful place along the riverside... There is a river Uhal near Kamand. After Kamand we hit a place called Kataula which is one of the main place in the valley. Here is another interesting account on Parashar Lake - http://disttmandi.com/journey-to-prashar-lake/Th beautiful Prashar Lake is located very high as stated earlier as well. It's very high in the green mountains in Himachal Pradesh. Some of thecolorfulbirds can be seen in this area and recently I have seen birders exploring this region of Himalayas.Thanks to Ankit Sood for sharing great Photographs from Parashar Lake. Photo Credits for 2nd/3rd Pics : https://www.facebook.com/prasharrishilake

Prashar Lake: Prashar Lake is a beautiful lake located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It is surrounded by snow-capped peaks and is a popular destination for trekking and camping.

Rewalsar: Rewalsar is a small town located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its religious significance, beautiful lake, and peaceful surroundings.


Janjehli: Janjehli is a small village located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty, trekking trails, and the Shikari Devi Temple.


Chindi: Chindi is a small village located in the Karsog Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its apple orchards, beautiful landscapes, and the Karsog Valley.


Tattapani: Tattapani is a small town located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its hot springs, scenic beauty, and river rafting.

Kangra Region of Himachal Pradesh:

Palampur is one of my favorite place to live and I visit this place at least thrice in an year. Here I am trying to share some of the photographs shot during latest trip to Palampur. Most of these photographs are shot from moving car, so excuse for bad quality, but I am sure that you will enjoy this Photo Journey around Palampur...Palampur is popular for it's natural beauty and beautiful Tea Gardens all around. Most parts of Palampur town has wonderful view of snow covered Himalayan Ranges of Dhauladhar Mountains. Above photograph shows tea gardens on both sides of road and this road connects Palampur with Baijnath. Baijnath is a very old town popular for an ancient Shiva TempleHere is a photograph of ladies plucking tea-leaves from gardens. Tea is then made out of these leaves after some processing. Leaves plucked during April are considered as best for tea. Green Tea of Kangra Valley is very popular among Teat Lovers.This Photograph is shot during evening while driving towards Chamunda Devi Temple near Palampur Town. This whole stretch shares wonderful views of snow capped hills of Dhauladhar Mountain Ranges. This road further goes till Dharmshala/Mcledoganj and a very well maintained road. Generally roads in Himachal are well maintained, at least in Kangra region of the stateAgriculture is main occupation of folks in Himachal and above photograph shows stepped fields shining in front of snow covered peaks of Dhauladhar Mountain Ranges in Kangra region of Himachal PradeshPalampur Town itself has some interesting colonial architecture and the area around is richly garnished with historical temples and forts... The stretch between Palampur and Dharmshala has most beautiful views of Dhauladhar Mountain Ranges. Several trek routes lead out of Palampur, particularly over the Dhauladhar Mountains towards the town of Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. Palampur also has numerous Buddhist monuments and is famous for its Tibetan handicrafts.Behind Palampur stands high ranges of Dhauladhar mountains, most of the times covered with white shining snow, whose tops remain covered for most part of the year. There are various water streams, which keep flowing inside the city and this place has no problem with respect to natural resources. Many parts of Himachal don't get appropriate supply for water because of challenges in building good infrastructure in hills, but Palampur needs not worry about all those things.Apart from touristic attraction, Palampur has got some of the major educational institutions on road which connects Palampur with Baijnath/Mandi. An Agricultural University is already functioning near by, which is only Agricultural university in Himachal Pradesh. One Ayurvedic hospital is situated, also one Ayurvedic medical college is there in Paprola is about 10 km away from here some tea factories are also in operation Kangra valley is also known as tea capital of India this tea was quite famous among the British.On the outskirts of Palampur, Neugal stream is a thin streak running over stony ground far below the cliff. It offers great scenic beauty with snow covered peaks. A recreational spot, called Saurabh Van Vihar, is also located in Bandla, which gets its name from Capt. Saurabh Kalia who hails from Palampur... Photo Journey will keep sharing more photographs from Palampur to express our love for this wonderful town.

Palampur: Palampur is one of my favourite places to live and I visit this place at least thrice in an year. Here I am trying to share some of the photographs shot during latest trip to Palampur.


One can say that this village is a true hidden gem in plain sight. But we will talk about the village in another post. In this post, we will focus on one specific haveli here. This haveli is now known as Chateau Garli and is a heritage hotel now. Related Blogpost - 'Dhauladhar Rangers' is re-defining camping experience around Himalayas

Heritage villages of Garli Pragpur :

On the way from Amb to Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, lies the area known as Garli- Pragpur, which is famous for its 19th and 20th fusion havelis built by the enterprising clan of timber merchants, who proudly carry the surname Sood or Sud. Though most of the descendants of these prosperous merchants have moved out to more exciting, business friendly locations, their footprint is still very much visible in the villages of Pragpur and Garli.

 

Pangna: Pangna is a small village located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its stunning landscapes, trekking trails, and the Tashijong Monastery.

Baijnath is famous for it's old Shiva temple which was built in 13th Centuary. Shiva is considered as ‘the Lord of physicians’. Baijnath was originally known as Kiragrama and it lies on Pathankot-Palampur-Manali highway (National Highway No. 20) almost midway between Kangra and Mandi. The present name Baijnath became popular after the name of the temple. The town is located on the left bank of the river Binwa, which is a corrupt form of ancient Binduka(a tributary of river Beas). Let's check out this Photo Journey to know more about this temple in Baijnath...This famous temple of Shiva is very close to main road which connects Palampur with Mandi, via Jogindernagar. Baijnath town is almost on border of Kangra Border. Mandi Boundary starts at around 4-5 kilometers from main town. This temple comes on left as we move from Palampur to Mandi via Baijnath Town.Temple is visible from main road and there is a well maintained garden in it's back. At times, monkeys can also be seen around the temple and this green garden. This temple is on a hill top but there is no climb involved to reach the main campus. On other side of the temple there is a deep valley with wonderful view of flowing river with snow capped hills in background.Overall surroundings of Shiva Temple are pleasing...Temple in current form is a beautiful example of the early medieval north Indian temple architecture known as Nagara style of temples. The Svayambhu form of Sivalinga is enshrined in main temple that has five projections on each side and is surmounted with a tall curvilinear Shikhara.Baijnath is popular for it's ancient temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Neighbouring towns of Baijnath are Palampur in Kangra district and Jogindernagar town in Mandi District.There are two balconies on two sides of main temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Above photograph shows some portions of a balcony..There is a small porch in front of mandapa hall that rests on four pillars in the front preceded by an idol of Nandi, the bull, in a small pillared shrine. Whole temple is enclosed by a high wall with entrances in the south and north. The outer walls of the temple have several niches with images of gods and goddesses. Numerous images are also fixed or carved in the walls.It is believed that durin Treta Yug, Ravana worshiped Lord Shiva in Kailash for getting invincible powers . In the same process, to please the almighty he offered his ten heads in havan kund. Influenced by this extra ordinary deed of Ravana, Lord Shiva not only restored his heads but also bestowed him with powers of invincibility and immortality.Most of the walls around main temple and outer walls have different designed carved out...The temple attracts a large number of tourists and pilgrims from different parts of India and abroad throughout the year. Special prayers are offered in the morning and evening every day besides on special occasions and during festive seasonsSculptures of Chamunda Devi and Kartikey can be seen on the walls of main Shiva Temple. To have very specific details about these designs, check out official website of Baijnath Shiva Temple at http://www.baijnathtemple.com/Makara Sankranti, Maha Shivaratri, Vaisakha Sankranti, Shravana Mondays, etc. are celebrated with great zeal and splendor. A five day state level function is held here on Maha Shivratri every year.More photographs of Baijnath Shiva Temple can be seen at Lonely Planet website - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travelblogs/751/42834/Baijnath+Shiva+Temple.+Kangra+Valley,+Himachal+Pradesh,+India?destId=356262

Baijnath & Bir Billing: Baijnath is famous for it's old Shiva temple which was built in 13th Centuary. Shiva is considered as ‘the Lord of physicians’. Baijnath was originally known as Kiragrama and it lies on Pathankot-Palampur-Manali highway (National Highway No. 20) almost midway between Kangra and Mandi. The present name Baijnath became popular after the name of the temple. The town is located on the left bank of the river Binwa, which is a corrupt form of ancient Binduka(a tributary of river Beas).


Bir Billing is nearby and a famous place for enjoying paragliding. Many pre-worldcup events happen at this place. 

Ever since I saw the photographs that VJ clicked on his first visit to Pong Dam water reservoir for bird counting, I was very curious about the area. Every year, lakhs of beautiful migratory birds fly across the continents, and choose to land around these wetlands, making them their home for the next few months. Such a place has to be special.

Pong Dam for migratory Birds in winters: Winters and Wetlands together ring a bell when we think about birding opportunities in North India. In the past, we have shared about birds and the wetland experiences from different parts of the country, but one of the lesser known wetland with brilliant birding opportunities is Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh. We have shared multiple times about Pond Dam and its birds, but we never shared about planning a birding trip to Pong Dam and other important places to explore around this beautiful place in Himachal Pradesh. 

It's a cluster of antique, unique, tall temples which remain dipped in water for most of the time in an year. Finally temples are exposed during months of March to June. Lot of pilgrims visit these temples during this time. Throughout the year, this place, commonly known as 'Bathu ki Larhi' (a string of Bathu stone-structures) enjoys the unique distinction of being a popular tourist spot. It's an awesome place for not so religious people as well. It's fun to take a boat to reach these temples in middle of huge reservoir. And this part of the region has plenty of birds all around.

Bathu Temples, Himachal Pradesh :

It's a cluster of antique, unique, tall temples which remain dipped in water for most of the time in an year. Finally temples are exposed during months of March  to  June. Lot of pilgrims visit these temples during this time. Throughout the year, this place, commonly known as 'Bathu ki Larhi'  (a string of Bathu stone-structures) enjoys the unique distinction of being  a popular tourist spot. It's an awesome place for not so religious people as well. It's fun to take a boat to reach these temples in middle of huge reservoir. And this part of the region has plenty of birds all around.  


Sirmaur region of Himachal Pradesh :

Renuka Lake: Renuka Lake is a beautiful lake located in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty, boating, and the Renuka Temple.


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There are plenty of off-beat options as well and if you click on these options, you would find more details about how to reach, where to stay and main places to explore around that specific location/region.Away from the scorching summer - Over 30 hill stations in Himachal Pradesh that are close to Delhi







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