Whole Himachal – 8 Nights - 9 Days

Himachal Pradesh is a northern Indian state in the Himalayas. It’s home to scenic mountain towns and resorts such as Dalhousie. Host to the Dalai Lama, Himachal Pradesh has a strong Tibetan presence. This is reflected in its Buddhist temples and monasteries, as well as its vibrant Tibetan New Year celebrations. The region is also well known for its trekking, climbing, and skiing areas.

• Himachal Pradesh shares an international border with China. The length of the international border with China is 345 Km.
• Himachal Pradesh –literally meaning abode of ice.
• It is watered by a number of rivers namely – Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, and Yamuna.
• The state is mostly covered with mountains with altitudes ranging from 460m to 6600m.
• Reo Purgyil is the highest peak of Himachal Pradesh with an altitude of 6,816 m.
• Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh is the largest by area. Kangra district is the largest in population.
• Rohtang Pass is an important pass of the state which connects Kullu Valley to Lahaul and Spiti valleys. It is mostly closed in the winter season from Dec to April. It is located on the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas.
• Hidimba Devi Temple of Manali is a famous religious spot. It is dedicated to Hidimba (wife of Bhima) from the ancient epic of Mahabharat. The temple is built on an enormous rock structure protruding out from the ground. The temple is surrounded by lush evergreen cedar (deodar) forests.
• Viceregal Lodge (Rashtrapati Niwas) is the old glorious official residence of the British Viceroy at the time when Shimla used to be the Summer capital of India

Himachal Pradesh Climate: The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical (450–900 meters) in the southern low tracts, warm and temperate (900–1800 meters), cool and temperate (1900–2400 meters), and cold glacial and alpine (2400–4800 meters) in the northern and eastern high elevated mountain ranges.
Summer:
March to mid-June. Temperatures –minimum 22 to maximum 37 degrees. Sunny days and pleasant nights.
Monsoon:
Monsoon prevails from late June to early September. During Monsoons, Occasional thunderstorms occur.
Winter:
Winters are heavy in Himachal. The temperature ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 12 degrees. The northern portion receives heavy snowfalls during winters. It’s cold & dry. Occasional snowfall between December to March.
Best Time to Visit:
February to June (spring and summer) is the best time to visit Himachal. The pleasant and most popular time to visit is the winters, i.e., between October and February when it’s the snowfall season. The monsoon in Himachal Pradesh is from July to September. The hills turn a lush green from all sides and Dalhousie gets most of the rain. Try to avoid visiting Himachal Pradesh during the monsoons because of the unexpected rainfall and the possibility of landslides.
Local Languages: Hindi is the official language of Himachal Pradesh and is spoken by the majority of the population. Locals also speak the Pahari language which has many dialects.

Clothing: The male wears a dhoti, Kurta, and waistcoat. The female wear Ghaghris, Salwar-Kameez and Cholis. Cholis are the shirts which are worn on the upper part with a long skirt and a lot of bangles

By air – you can take a flight to Shimla or Kullu if you are heading to Manali, and Kangra or Pathankot if you are heading to Dharamsala. The flights are largely limited to Delhi, so you will need to first arrive at Delhi to explore more flight options.
By rail – Himachal Pradesh has a difficult terrain and because of that, the Indian Railway hasn’t made much progress there. There are, however, a few options for those looking to enjoy a unique experience. A narrow-gauge track connects Pathankot (in Punjab) to Kangra and Kalka (in Haryana) to Shimla. The train journey will take you through rural Himalayan ranges, giving you a first-hand glimpse into the hilly areas. Untouched and pristine, this is a train ride worth taking. This journey takes about eight hours.
By road – A cheaper and more scenic alternative is to travel by road. Himachal has beautiful roads that are connected to major cities in India. There are 8 national highways and 19 state highways that offer superb connectivity to and within Himachal. When you are traveling by road, you can reach the most remote regions of the state.
You can drive to Himachal yourself or rent a cab from Delhi. There are several state-owned and private luxury bus operators which will drop you to many big cities here. If you are driving yourself, it is advisable to travel during day time, as Himachal roads can prove challenging in some places even to the most experienced driver.
During landslides, some roads can also be closed in monsoon as well as winter. Plan your vacation time keeping that in mind.
Moving around: Bus is the cheapest mode of transport Most visitors to Himachal Pradesh make a visit to Shimla or Dharamsala, Manali. A good network of buses available. You can also rent a private car. If want to try some adventure rent a bike. You can consider renting a car on a daily basis or booking one for the complete duration of your holiday

While most places in Himachal Pradesh do not require a Protected Area Permit (PAP), foreign nationals visiting the Spiti Valley region will be required to have one. This is because of its close proximity to the Indo-China border. You can acquire permits from Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Rampur, Kaza, and Rekong Peo.

Since Northern parts of Himachal Pradesh are situated at a significant height, breathing issues are a common problem. Keep the necessary medicines handy. It is also advisable to visit a doctor before you embark on your journey. Due to the zigzag hilly roads, motion sickness is another challenge. Keep the necessary medication along with you. Keep yourself hydrated. If taking adventure sports activities High Mountain trekking registers with local authorities beforehand.

Himachal is expensive. You should plan to spend around ₨1,873 per day on your vacation in Himachal Pradesh, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. The average cost of food in Himachal Pradesh is ₨473 per day.

ATM services are available in all major places However carry cash for remote places & border sightseeing areas. Credit cards are accepted by hotels and tour operators in the city area but there will be a 2% service charge.

All major service provides offer a 3G – 4h network in Himachal. However, you may have connectivity issues in northern remote areas and border sightseeing areas. You can also use WhatsApp calls and Skype calls to stay connected with friends and family as soon as you get Internet access during your trip. Even when the connection is very slow, What’s App messages will always work. Most of the hotels offer WIFI networks free of cost for their guests.

An important Himachal festival is Halda, Sazo, Lohri, Kullu Dussera, Himachal Winter carnival, Dongri festival, Ice skating carnival.

Shopping: Himachali Hats. Himachali Hat- is the cultural headdress of peoples from Himachal Pradesh. …Local Handicrafts. Many types of ethnic and local handicrafts are sold in Shimla that are unique to the area. Woolen cloths. Handmade Items. Wooden Items, Traditional Jewelry are also good purchases.

Himachal offers a wide range of accommodations. Right from Home stays, guest houses to all ranges of hotels from basic to luxury hotels. Those taking treks can opt for staying in tents. Many hotels offer to stay with breakfast & dinner plan packages.