Himachal

Overview

I have a strong instinct that I should just say 'you are in the most beautiful region on earth' and leave it at that. But the editors don't agree and besides, living our cramped lives in cramped cities - when do we follow instincts anyway? They do that only in the mountains. Which, paradoxically, is why we'd like you to read this section. Follow your eyes, a brook, a trail, a village belle. Revive, revitalise, rejuvenate. I think they say these three words in those strange roadside metaphors that you find all over the roads of Himachal. It is apt, in any case - as much as 'the road is hilly, don't drive silly' is.

Adventure Himachal
Himachal has it all. Rivers, lakes, forests, alpine meadows, treacherous passes, snow-peaked high mountains, spread-out valleys – simply ideal for a wide variety of adventure sports.

Heritage Himachal
Somehow, when you think Himachal, heritage is not the first thing that comes to your mind. The mountains tower so tall that all other aspects are somewhat dwarfed.

Arts & Crafts
The arts and crafts of any region are a reflection of its environment, people and traditions. So it is in Himachal.

Fairs & Festivals
Somewhere before the winter sets in, all paths in the Kulu valley lead to but one place - the Dhalpur Maidan. The hill devatas come in grand procession to pay their respects to Raghunathji.

Himachal Highlands
Located in the dizzy heights of the Himalayas, with passes that remain closed for six months, Kinnaur, Spiti and Lahaul were till now, a forbidden land.

Himachal Lowlands
Lying spread out in the lower Himalayas, where the breeze is mellow and the summers enchanting, is the Kangra valley. People come here from the plains for a whiff of universal spiritualism, for religious pilgrimage, for history, heritage, hippidom and holiday.

Himachal Hill Stations
“…But it was all pure delight – the wandering road, climbing, dripping, and sweeping about the growing spurs; the flush of a the morning laid along the distant snows; the branched cacti, tier upon tier on the stony hillsides; the voices of a thousand water channels; the chatter of the monkeys; the solemn deodars...”
Rudyard Kipling, Kim