Himalayas (Hill Stations, Valleys, Meadows, Rivers…)

Annandale: It is a famous place in Shimla which hosts a playground, a golf course, a cactus museum and an Indian Army Museum. Surrounded by oak and deodar trees, Annandale stands within a deep valley in the western part of Shimla.

Lakkar Bazaar: Lakkar Bazaar is a marketplace adjoining the Ridge in Shimla, India. One can shop for local handicrafts, shawls, woolens, exquisite jewelry etc. here. There is also a roller skating rink in Lakkar Bazaar.

Mall Road Shimla: Enjoy a leisure walk on the famous Mall Road in Shimla. You can indulge in shopping or sit on the benches and enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayas.

Shimla Christ Church: Located on the Mall Road, it is one of the oldest churches in India. With stained glass windows, brass church bell, and arresting towers, it presents a picture of matchless beauty. While the church looks majestic during the day, it turns into an enchanting sight when illuminated at night. Moreover, it houses the largest pipe-organ in India.

Visceral Lodge: Fateh Sagar Lake is named after Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar. It was constructed in the 1680s. Within the confines of the Fatah Sagar Lake, there are three small islands; the largest of these is the Nehru Park, the second island houses a public park with an impressive water-jet fountain, and the third island has the Udaipur Solar Observatory.

Batasia Loop: The Batasia Loop is a spiral railway created to lower the gradient of ascent of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in Darjeeling. At this point, the track spirals around over itself through a tunnel and over a hilltop. There is also a memorial to the Gorkha soldiers of the Indian Army who sacrificed their lives after the Indian Independence in 1947.

Ghoom Monastery: It is one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Darjeeling famous for the tall statue of Maitreya Buddha.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute: The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was established to encourage mountaineering as an organized sport in India. It regularly conducts Adventure, Basic and Advanced Mountaineering courses. Not a bad idea to check out this place, especially if you are into trekking and hiking!

Kanchenjungha During Sunrise: From the Tiger Hill you can get the most amazing panoramic view of Mount Everest and Mt. Kangchenjunga together. During sunrise, the peaks of Kangchenjunga change their colors as the first rays of the sun fall on it. It is a phenomenon that one can hardly afford to miss.

Mall Road: Enjoy a leisure walk on the famous Mall Road in Darjeeling. You can do some shopping or sit on the benches and enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayas.

Peace Pagoda: The Peace Pagoda, or the Japanese Peace Pagoda is one of the peace pagodas designed to establish unity, harmony and goodwill amongst people belonging to different sects of society. Famous for its tranquility, it offers stunning views of snow-clad peaks including the Kanchenjunga peak making it an ideal place for peace and nature lovers.

Ropeway or Gondola Ride: The gondola or ropeway ride takes you over a vast stretch of lush green tea gardens. On a clear sky you can catch a glimpse of the and the majestic Kanchenjunga peak, which is truly mesmerizing.

Tea Estates: Darjeeling is known to be home to some of the best tea estates in the world. Take a tour among these tea gardens and smell the sweet aroma engulfing you!

Tenzing Rock: It is a large natural rock named after Tenzing Norgay, the first man to climb Mt. Everest along with Edmund Hillary in 1953. The place also serves as the training area for both amateurs and professional climbers.

Zoological park: The Darjeeling Zoo is the largest high altitude zoo in India. It is the only specialized zoo in India which is internationally recognized for its conservation breeding programmed of Red Panda, Himalayan Newt, Snow Leopards, Tibetan Wolf and other highly endangered animal species of Eastern Himalaya. One can see here animals like Indian Tiger, Snow Leopard, Black Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Asiatic Black Bear, Red Panda, Blue Sheep, Yak, Musk Deer, Barking Deer and Jackal. The zoo also houses various species of birds such as Kalij Pheasant, Golden Pheasant, Ring Necked Pheasant, Red Jungle Fowl, Rose-Ringed Parakeet etc.

Hidamba Temple: The Beauty of the Hidimba Devi Temple is the ambience. This ancient cave temple is surrounded by a dense cedar forest, which will leave you mesmerized.

Mall Road: Enjoy a leisure walk on the Mall Road, the main street in Manali. It has a number of showrooms, department stores, shops, restaurants and cafes, emporiums that offers local handicraft products like locally designed woolen clothes, branded clothes, pottery items, wooden products, and jewelry.

River Rafting in Beas: One of the most thrilling experience in Manali is to embark on white water river rafting. So, if you are looking for some adventures, you might want to try this!

Rohtang Pass: Rohtang Pass is one of the major attractions of tourists visiting Manali. This mountain slope is so beautiful that people from every corner of the country visit this place to take part in adventure sports such as skiing, ice-skating, paragliding, etc. You can watch the majestic mountain range all aroud you at the Rohtang Pass.

Solang Valley: Located 13 kilometers from Manali, Solang Valley is famous among tourists for its stunning views of snow-capped mountains and magnificent glaciers that attract ski fanatics from all over the world. Its beauty is unparalleled. You can do a lot of interesting activities here like ski (in winter), para-gliding, 4-wheel mountain biking and lots more.

Bhagsu Falls: Bhagsu Falls is considered as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in India. It is about 20 meters in height. The effect of the cold water and the lush greenery around makes it a perfect site to rejuvenate and scenic beauty. Especially during and after the monsoon, this waterfall is a sight to behold.

Bhagsunag Temple: Surrounded by lovely pools and lush greenery, the Bhagsunag Temple is one of the oldest ancient temples located about 3 kilometers from McLeod Ganj. The two pools around the temple are believed to be sacred.

Dalai Lama Temple Complex: This place is the official home of the 14th Dalai Lama. The whole vicinity is decorated with colorful prayer flags and this makes it perfect for long serene walks. One gets to know a lot about the Tibetan people and their religion from this place.

Naddi Village Walk: This walk through hamlets of the Himalayas is the best way to enjoy the serenity of the place. As you take the nature trail, you can also view the massive Dhauladhar Range at such a close distance. Naddi is a village of the shepherd, which is situated away from the hustle and bustle of McLeod Ganj and provides complete peace of mind.

A walk through the village is a must as it takes you through fields, houses made of stone and mud. One can experience the lifestyle of local people with a view of mountains. Rejuvenate yourself through this guided tour.

Shopping and Tibetan Food: In the evening you can visit the market area for some shopping and delectable Tibetan food.

St John’s Church: This magnificent church is built amid the picturesque valley of McLeodGanj and is located about 8 kilometers away from Dharamshala. The church lies in a dense jungle between McLeodGanj and ForsythGanj and is a monument dedicated to Lord Elgin, one of the viceroys of India. This classic church, which has a Christian cemetery surrounding it, has lovely glass windows and boost amazing architectural design. It is ideally situated in the majestic ‘Deodar’ forest in the wilderness.

Palampur: Palampur is a Beautiful Himalayan Hill Station, known for Tea Gardens, surrounded by pine forests and Dhauladhar ranges.

Aru Valley: Aru Valley is known for its lush meadows, pristine lakes and mountains. It is an attractive tourist place to visit during your holidays in Kashmir not just for the gorgeous views, but for the various activities which you can enjoy here. During winters, when it’s covered with snow, it becomes a famous destination for skiing and Heli skiing.

Baisaran Valley: Baisaran Valley is famous for its picturesque beauty. The thick pine timberland that allows the green-cover look to the dale gives a breaking glow to snow-capped peaks. The best way to enjoy this place is to take a pony ride to this place. During the pony ride, apart from Baisaran Valley, you will also come across Kanimarg, Pahalgam Old Village, Kashmir Valley Point, Dabyan and Deon Valley Point.

Betaab Valley: Beautifully surrounded by snow-clad mountains and dense vegetation, this valley is on the way to a popular cave shrine of Amarnath. The popular attractions near the valley include the lakes of Baisaran and Tullian, especially due to the crystal clear cold water flowing down from the snow-clad mountains.

Chandanwari Glacier: The Chandanwari Glacier is one of the popular places to visit in Srinagar. The road passes through old Pahalgam town with traditional Kashmiri houses. On your right side the gushes the gorgeous Lidder river. You will also find quite a few waterfalls on the way.

P

Shikara Ride on Dal Lake: Enjoy a Shikara Ride in evening on Dal Lake. Shikaras are small boats that you will find at the Dal Lake in in the heart of Srinagar. One of the most memorable experiences is to take such a boat ride in the evening, during sunset. The mountains at the backdrop provide the perfect ambience for one of the most romantic boat rides in your life.

The Mughal Gardens: There are 3 Mughal Gardens in Srinagar:

Shalimar Bagh: It is a perfect blend of artificial structures and natural marvels. The garden has umpteen varieties of colorful flowers as well as tall trees of walnuts and almonds.

Chashmeshahi: Famous for its natural spring, it is again a 3 layered terraced garden showcasing Persian style architecture. Tourists visit this attraction in Srinagar to drink the water from the spring which is believed to have medicinal properties.

Nishat Bagh: It is 12 layered terraced garden packed with green trees, scented flowers, and beautiful fountains. With the majestic Zabarwan Mountains forming its backdrop, Nishant Bagh makes for one of the most scenic places to visit in Srinagar and attracts a huge number of photographers.

Gondola Ride in Gulmarg: Asia’s largest and highest and world’s second-largest and second highest cable car project, Gulmarg Gondola provides scenic views of mountains and valleys that are unforgettable and unmatched. There are 2 phases for this ride. Take this memorable trip for the stunning view of the grand Himalayan range.

Thajiwas Glacier: Thajiwas Glacier is blessed with magnificent beauty. Overlooked by the Thajiwas mountain and surrounded by meadows, conifer trees and frozen lakes, it is one of the most beautiful sights you will ever come across. Tourists visit Thajiwas Glacier for enjoying its breathtaking sights, building snowmen and enjoying a sledding ride.

Alchi Monastery: Known as the oldest monastery in Ladakh, this is also perhaps one of the only places in the world where you can actually get a chance to look at the cells in which monks spend their lives. Due to its history and beauty tourists love coming here.

Bactarian Camel Safari: After breakfast, enjoy a bactarian camel safari in the Hinder region of Nubra valley. Bactarian camels have two humps, instead of one. Enjoy the rustic beauty of the region during the camel ride.

Chang La Pass (En-route Leh): Chang La Pass is a high mountain pass and one of the highest motorable roads in the world.

The 15km long pass is especially popular amongst bikers. The roads are mostly paved and are drivable by any vehicle. Changla is open for tourists from Mid May to October.

To avoid high altitude sickness, doctors suggest not to stay at Changa La Pass for more than 20 minutes. The Pass is guarded and protected by the Indian Army as it is located close to the Chinese border. Reverberating with serenity and tranquility, the place remains covered with snow throughout the year. The world’s highest research station established by DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) is located at Changla. The Chang La Temple, dedicated to Changla Baba, is also located here.

Diksit Monastery: The oldest and largest Buddhist monastery in Nubra valley region of Ladakh. Because of the river Shyok flowing at the foothills and rich green vegetation in the vicinity, Diksit has been named as “The orchard of Ladakh”. Since the monastery is at elevation it is a great spot to capture images of the Karakoram Range and the village below.

Hemis Monastery: Hemis monastery was established in 1672 AD by king Sengge Namgyal. It lies on the banks of the Indus river. The monastery houses a copper-gilt statue of Lord Buddha, numerous stupas made of gold and silver, sacred thangka paintings, and other objects of religious importance.

Khardunga La (En-route Nubra Valley): The pass is a gateway to the Nubra as well as Shyok valley and is one of the most elevated motorable terrains worldwide. It is the highest motorable road in the world at 18,390 feet. From the pass, one can see all the way south over the Indus valley to seemingly endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range and north to the giants of the Saser massif.

Nubra Valley: Famous for its white sand deserts and double-humped camels, Nubra Valley is certainly one of the best places to visit in Ladakh. Not just the scenic slopes of Karakoram range but also the confluence of Shyak and Siachen rivers is what makes Nubra valley an exquisite voyage!

Panamik Village: Panamik village is located around 140 km from Leh, nestled close to the Siachen Glacier, and is famous for the hot sulphur springs. These hot springs are located 10,442 feet above sea-level and believed to have medicinal properties. Panamik is the last frontier village of India that lies close to the Indo-Tibetan border. It is the only hot spring village in India. The hot spring here has separate pools for men and women and there are cabins for shower and changing.

Pangong Lake: Pangong Lake is amongst the most popular tourist attractions in Ladakh. This breathtaking blue brackish lake is situated at 14000 feet above sea level. It is 5 kms wide and over 133 kms long with half of it running to the other side of Indo- China border. During the day you can see numerous ducks and gulls flying around the lake.

Samstanling Gompa: Samstanling Monastery lies between the villages of Kyagar and Sumur in the Nubra Valley. The monastery was founded in 1841 by Lama Tsultrim Nima, and is currently home to about 50 monks. In 1962, the Dalai Lama inaugurated the Gompa. It’s location, just 1km above the small town of Sumur, is well sorth a short visit. The entrance of the Monastery is lined with religious flags and the inside halls are lined with wall paintings representing Buddha and his lectures, Dharamchakra, the Four Heavenly Kings and the other facts of Buddhism.

Shey Palace and Monastery: Situated at a distance of only 15 km, Stok or Shey Palace is found in the Stok Village. It is famously known as the summer home to the royal family of Leh. It is housed in the same complex as the palace. The monastery is famous for its 39 ft. tall Shakyamuni Buddha statue made of gold and copper and covering three stories of the monastery.

Thiksey Monastery: Thiksey Monastery is around 5 kms ahead of Shey complex. Thiksey Monastery is a 15th century monastery. It is famous for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Tibet.

Tso Moriri Lake: Like the Pangong Lake, but lesser known is the Tso Moriri Lake. The reflection of snow-clad mountains on the placid waters and the exotic migratory birds flying above is abound to leave you speechless. It is an ideal travel destination for offbeat travelers looking for the untouched beauty of Ladakh.

Turtuk Village: Turtuk is a small village located in Nubra Valley region of Ladakh, on the banks of Shyok River. It is the northernmost villages in India lying very close to the India Pakistan border, in the Baltistan region. Turtuk is an unexplored and offbeat place, opened to tourists only in 2010. The picturesque village with its tiny houses and fields is surreal. The charm of Turtuk is its people and culture. It is one of the few places in India to experience the Balti culture as Turtuk is one of the four Baltistani villages under India’s control. The rest are controlled by Pakistan. The postcard village houses a few homestays and guesthouses with locals welcoming tourists with warmth.

Vishwa Sanchi Stupa: One of the seven Buddhist Shanti Stupas across the world, the Shanti Stupa in Leh, Leh is an abode of peace and serenity. Set against the backdrop of the surrounding mountains of Leh, the purely white, dome shaped structure commands excellent views of the scenic locale.

Yarab Tso Lake: The holy Yarab Tso lake, often referred to as “the hidden lake”, is the best-kept secret of Ladakh. Regarded as one of the holiest and high altitude lakes in the Nubra Valley, Yarab Tso is highly revered among the locals of the region. It is advised not to wash your feet or try to swim in this enrapturing lake. Simply sit by the rocks, breathing in the unpolluted mountain air, relishing the site of colorful prayer flags fluttering around the crystal clear aquamarine water and experience the sense of calmness it brings.

A Walk Along the Ganges: Take a walk along the River Ganges and watch the activities, the ashrams and temples, the “sadus” and the locals. If you are into photography, then you are sure to capture some wonderful moments!

Evening Aarti: The Ganga aarti or worshipping of the river Ganga is a grand ceremony that is worth a watch. It starts around dusk. You may visit the Parmath Niketan or Triveni Ghats to watch the spectacle. The aarti ceremony involves chanting of Vedic mantras, blow of conch shells, lighting of small hand-made earthen lamps or diyas, providing an electrifying atmosphere.

Kailash Niketan: The Kailash Niketan Temple, located at one end of the Laxman Jhula, is famous for its towering architecture. It is a 13 floor structure and each floor has many small temples dedicated to many Hindu gods and goddesses. The top floor of the temple offers panoramic view of sunset over the mountains of Rishikesh.

Laxman Jhula: The Laxman Jhula area, which is the iconic structure of Rishikesh built across the river Ganga and connecting the two bank of the river in Rishikesh.

The Beatles Ashram: Beatles Aashram is where the famous Beatles band stayed for a few months when they were in India. It’s truly amazing with some exquisite artwork/graffiti and amazing derelict buildings. Definitely worth a visit if you’re into street-art, the Beatles or abandoned buildings.

Cable Car Ride in Mussoorie: Take a picturesque cable car ride from the Mall to Gun Hill. This is one of the most scenic cable rides in the entire Himalayas. On a clear day, you can get the most amazing view of several Himalayan peaks around.