Top 16 Places To Visit In Himachal Pradesh

If you like anything and everything about snow, you may be inspired by the meaning of the word Himachal. ‘The land of snows’, the meaning, is adequate to give you an idea of what to expect here. Himachal Pradesh is located in the western Himalayas. Surrounded by majestic mountains, out of which some still challenge mankind to conquer them, the beauty of the land is beyond imagination. Shimla, one of the most captivating hill stations, is the capital of the state. Given below are the top 16 places to visit in Himachal Pradesh.

1. Kullu

Kullu in Himachal Pradesh is one of the most frequented tourist destinations. Often heard along with the name Manali, yet another famous tourist spot, Kullu is situated on the banks of Beas River. It was earlier called as Kulanthpitha, meaning ‘The end of the habitable world’. Awe-inspiring, right? Kullu valley is also known as the ‘Valley of Gods’. Here are some leading destinations in the magical land.

The attractions in Kullu are more. Trekking, mountaineering, angling, skiing, white water rafting and para gliding are some of the adventurous sports available here.

2. Manali

Located at an altitude of 6726 feet, Manali offers splendid views of the snow-capped mountains. The land is not just a feast to your visual senses; it also offers you the chance to ascertain your fitness level with the sporting facilities here. Given below are some top destinations in Manali for you to enjoy and bring out the adventurer in you.

3. Shimla

The enchanting beauty of Shimla made British declare the land as their summer capital. The colonial influence is still evident in the city. The hill station offers spectacular views of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges. With lakes and rich greenery around, Simla welcomes tourists round the year, of course, if you don’t mind the ‘below zero’ temperature in winter. Here are the leading destinations in Simla.

4. Chamba

The spectacular beauty of Chamba has made this place dear to nature lovers. Located on the banks of River Ravi and at an altitude of over 900 meters above sea level, Chamba makes an excellent holiday retreat. Here are some important destinations in Chamba.

  • Akhand Chandi Palace
  • Champavati Temple
  • Lakshmi Narayan Temples
  • Chamunda Devi Temple
  • Bhuri Singh Museum

5. Dharamshala

The Scotland of India’, as Dharamshala is famously referred to, has snow-clad mountains on three sides and valley on one side. The mountains being over 4000 m height, you can have an excellent view of them from every viewpoint. Pine trees and tree gardens along with snow covered mountains render magic to the air. Here are some top attractions in Dharamshala.

6. Dalhousie

Photo by BOMBMAN, CC BY 2.0

Retaining not only the colonial looks but also the name, Dalhousie, was named after Lord Dalhousie, who was the British governor in the 19th century. This hill station is spread across five hills. The varying altitudes of the land have a wide range of vegetation including pine, oak and deodar. Here are the leading attractions in Dalhousie.

7. Kangra

Kangra Fort, Photo by Aleksandr Zykov, CC BY-SA 2.0

One of the scenic valleys in Himachal Pradesh, Kangra, is not just rich in nature but also in history and culture. It has a rich past, which could be gauged by the fact that its name is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. This picturesque valley has some of the beautiful attractions to offer.

  • Kangra Fort
  • Nadaun
  • MaharanaPratap Sagar Lake
  • Taragarh Palace
  • Gopalpur Nature Park
  • Nurpur
  • Nadaun
  • Indrahar Pass
  • Tatwani Hot Spring
  • Kareri Lake

8. Kasauli

Kasauli is situated at an altitude of 1927 meters and like a few other places in Himachal Pradesh, reflects the influence of colonial rule. The views from here are spectacular. The serenity of the place is enchanting. Here are some top attractions in Kasauli.

9. Hamirpur

Photo by Alexthomascv, CC BY-SA 4.0

Being in the lower elevation, Hamirpur is warmer. The altitudes vary from near flat lands to higher levels of land that reach up to the heights of cliffs. The hilly ranges here offer great scope for trekking. The land is said to be the most literate district in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Given below are some of the tourist attractions in Hamirpur.

  • Deotsidh Temple
  • Sujanpur Tihra
  • Awah Devi Temple
  • Bilkeshwar Temple

10. Parwanoo

Photo by Giridhar Appaji Nag Y, CC BY 2.0

Parwanoo, surrounded by hills is yet another beautiful hill station in the land. The town, surrounded by lush greenery, lies near the border of Haryana and hence, it is a convenient location from where you could visit many tourist attractions nearby. Here are some of the tourist attractions in and around Parwanoo.

  • Kalka
  • Pinjore
  • Mughal Gardens
  • Fruit Orchards
  • Gurudwara Nada Sahib
  • Cactus Garden
  • Timber Trail

11. Solan

Photo by Garconlevis, CC BY-SA 3.0

Solan, famously called ‘The mushroom city of India’, is a beautiful city located amidst scenic snow-clad mountains and forests. Mushroom farming being very extensive here, the land is named thus. It is a great place for trekking and it is heaven for those who love to feel oneness with nature. Here are the top attractions in Solan.

  • Mohan Shakti National Park
  • Karol Tibba
  • The Mall Road
  • Shoolini Mata Temple
  • Motilal Nehru Central State Library

12. Pragpur

Judges Court, Photo by Dave Kleinschmidt, CC BY-SA 2.0

At an altitude of 2000 feet, Pragpur, the first heritage village in India, offers spectacular views of Kangra Valley. Everything about Pragpur is interesting; natural beauty, rich culture, historical importance, friendly climate, beautiful greenery, easy access and anything you would consider when you travel to a place. Leading destinations in Pragpur include:

  • Chamba Pattan
  • The Taal
  • The Judge’s Court
  • Jwalamukhi Temple

Apart from visits to these places, you can indulge yourself in trekking, bird watching and fishing.

13. Sirmaur

Photo by Ashish Gupta, CC BY 2.0

Sirmaur is located on the south-eastern part of the state. The district is famous for its peach, which is from Rajgarh region, famously called the Peach Bowl. Fossils aging 85 million years have been found here. Every one of the destinations here is important and interesting.

  • Shivalik Fossil Park
  • Churdhar Peak
  • Renukaji
  • Haripur
  • Habban Valley

14. Chail

Photo by Abhishek Kumar, CC BY 2.0

Chail is a famous hill station in Himachal Pradesh that is known for many things. It was founded in the year 1891 by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. The pleasant atmosphere in Summers and the scenic views of Shimla, Solan and Kasauli can also be seen from here. It is also the place where the highest cricket ground is located and is visited by many cricket enthusiasts from all over the world.

  • Cricket Ground
  • Maa Kali Temple
  • Chail Palace Hotel
  • Sidh Baba Ka Mandir
  • Chail Wildlife Sanctuary

15. Una

Una
Pong Dam, Photo by Sankara Subramanian, CC BY 2.0

At an elevation of 1210 feet, the hottest district in the state, Una, is referred to as the Gateway to Himalayas. The land seems an exception in Himachal Pradesh, where most of the cities are in the hilly region. If you intend to visit the place in summer, you need to have cotton clothes to make your stay comfortable. Here are the destinations in Una.

  • Pong Dam
  • Chintpurni Temple
  • Thaneek Pura
  • Kaleshwar
  • Kila Baba Bedi Ji

16. Taragarh

Taragarh is one of the most picturesque areas in the land of Himachal Pradesh and not much explored too. Lying on the foot of Dhauladhar Mountains, Taragarh offers spectacular views of the snow-clad peaks around. The tourist destinations here are few but you have a good deal of sporting activities. Check what you can do here:

  • Tashijong Monastery
  • Andretta Pottery Village

Annual international competitions in para gliding and hang gliding are held here.

Those who have visited Himachal Pradesh would agree with me if I were to say that words can do no justice to the exquisite beauty of the land. I have tried to give information on the tourist destinations as I am sure any attempt to describe the beauty of the land is equal to scaling even a small mountain without adequate training and experience. Do write to include the destinations I have missed to include.

About Rohit

An architect by profession, Rohit Agarwal is a curious traveller, seeking out the minutest detail about the places he travels to, and that’s what one will find in his writings. His writings have appeared in various blogs, he’s currently trying to bring forth as many different places a traveller who shares the same level of curiosity like him would like to visit through his writings.

50 thoughts on “Top 16 Places To Visit In Himachal Pradesh”

  1. Photos are very nicely shooted… very colorful!!

    Reply
  2. This is good, however, the most beautiful places in Himachal are left out: Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti.

    Reply
  3. Hi, I am going to visit Himachal Pradesh in few days.
    I will be going there from Dehradun and would like to visit Shimla,Manali,Dharamshala and Dalhousie.
    Can you suggest me an itinerary ?
    Thanks.

    Reply
  4. Hi,

    Palampur is very beautiful too. Also Mandi (Parashar Lake), Kalpa are very good places.

    Reply
  5. Sir you ignore Mandi dist likely rewalsar lake, parashar lake & barot valley.

    Reply
  6. Hi m going to visit himachal in end of december cn u pz tell most attractive places in hp. I jst wnt to travel in whole hp in 4 days.

    Reply
    • very funny..not possible in 4 days

      Reply
  7. I need Package for me & my wife with 2 kids age 8 years & 4 years. Need Package for 4 nights & 5 days. My budget is approx is 35 to 40 K including every thing.

    Reply
  8. I just completed my himachal visit shimla ,kullu ,manali , rampur ,sarhan ,kinnour,kalpa ,sangla,chitkul ,kaza ,tabo ,keylong ,rohtang ,kufri ,palampur ,dharamshala ,mclodgunj ,dalhousie …..and return from pathankot .I am from jabalpur mp .hptdc helped me lots to make my trip successful .and my taxi driver so much co-operative .excellent place i visit.

    Reply
  9. East or west shimla is the best.

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  10. Dharamshala is very beautiful place.

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  11. You have not enter the name of District Mandi and his tourist places. please enter all of them with the name of Maa Shikari Temple near by Green Velly Janjehli as well as many other places.

    Reply
  12. Ya he did not mention mandi…various tourist destinations in mandi are : –
    1. Prashar Lake
    2. Rewalsar Lake
    3. Sundernagar
    4. Kamlah Fort
    5. Shikari Devi
    6. Kamrunag Lake
    and many more….

    Reply
  13. Sir,
    Kalpa, Lahol Spiti most beautiful place of himachal but there are lack of infrastructure.

    Reply
  14. Kalpa, Lahol spiti is gorgeous place sir..

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  15. Dharamshala is most beautiful city in H.P.

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  16. I am looking at 7 night package in Himachal. I am from Bangalore. This is my first backpack trip. This is for one person. Looking for some exploration too.

    Reply
  17. hi, these places are very beautiful one must go atleast one time.

    Reply
  18. sir the information provided by you here is very much useful for the tourists coming from outside……and the photos are of high quality……but sir as i know about the pic for una….its not of una but it is of dalhousie beacause its the front view from my home….this is hotel peace channels……thanks and regards

    Reply
  19. I am going to vaishno devi..after That i have 5 more day..i wanna visit HP..but m confused..where to go n how …so can you suggest me places to visit n everything about convenience…because this is my first time and i am with my family..so don wanna ruin all these…
    Kindly help…

    Reply
  20. I want to visit Shimla, kullu, kufri,Manali, Rohtang pass . Duration of stay 6-7 days. Can you please plan an itinerary for the same.You may add any other place . Our focus is snow and planning our trip in 20th to 28th Nov´16.we are 3 persons child wife & me.

    Reply
  21. If You want to get real heaven feel with simlicity so just come to North India Himachal Pradesh and take the fly ride in World famous paragliding site which is situated in Bir Billing Dist.Kangra .

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  22. Palampur is a big heaven for holiday. .it is a Beautiful city in all himachal

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  23. Photos are too eye-catching. Thanks for sharing such beautiful destinations.

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  24. we are from tamilnadu.we around 5 to 6 families like to visit himachal pradesh in april – may. we like to cover HP in a week time. could u please give us an itenary.

    Reply
  25. Hi am going to plan to mani mahesh Yatra from baa galore can u suggest me

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  26. Worlds richest Natural Beauty .

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  27. All of these are only outer himachal, too many actually good places are missing, like
    1. narkanda the ultimate for ski lovers,
    2. kalpa where you see the color changing kinner kailash peak,
    3. Sangla valley truly the majestic valley it is.
    4. Kaza where You see the core himachal
    5. Kunzum pass where really goddesses live
    6. Chandler Taal where you see the magic of nature.

    Reply
  28. This is most beautiful state in India.

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  29. its all fabilus place..i loved my love and this all heaven of peace

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  30. Manali is Awsome place with its spectacular beauty in all INDIA. Visit Kullu Manali

    Reply
  31. Hi,

    I look forward to visit Himachal Pradesh during mild snowfall. Request you to suggest the number of days required to cover top tourist spots in the area. Please mention the names of the places to be visited. Moreover, i would like to incorporate train journey from Kalka to Simla. If there is any other better train trip please suggest.

    Thanks & regards
    Zahid Ahmed

    Reply
  32. Himachal is a very beautiful place to go for holiday in summer. Enjoy Khajjiar, Dalhousie & Chamba,

    Reply
  33. And what about expenses ?

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  34. What about the expenses for a couple of total Himachal as described ?

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  35. What’s the fee of paragliding there?

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  36. I would like to visit the places like Dalhousie, Chamba, Dharmsala & Khajjiar from Pathankot. Can u suggest somebody the days are require during October month.

    Reply
  37. Wow! I have almost visited all places and currently in Sirmour.

    Thanks.

    Reply
  38. The information shared here is very much useful for the tourists coming from outside and the inspirational picture gallery. These places are very beautiful. Dharamshala is most beautiful place in India. I never visited there yet and want to visit soon.

    Reply
  39. Himachal Pradesh is very attractive place in India. Everyone can enjoy in these places. Shimla, Dharamshala and Manali is very nice places in Himachal.

    Reply
  40. Wow such an informative article.

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  41. There are great destinations in Himachal Pradesh. I like these places in Himachal.

    Next month we are planning a trip with the family. So, Himachal is the best place for travelling. Thanks for sharing these wonderful places.

    Reply
  42. Hi.
    How much you spend there?

    Reply
  43. Himachal pradesh is the best place according to me. It has all the elements which makes a holiday A WOW experience.

    Reply
  44. yes sunset point in naddi is very beautiful❤️❤️

    Reply
  45. These are all really beautiful places everyone should visit at least once. I appreciate your good work . I will also share this with my friends. thanks

    Reply

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