Hilly Escapades In Himachal - Standard

• Arrive at Chandigarh and proceed to Dalhousie in western Himachal Pradesh. The hill station of Dalhousie is full of old world charm and holds lingering echoes of the Raj era. It covers an area of 14 sq.km. and is built on five hills - Kathlog, Patreyn, Tehra, Bakrota and Balun. It is named after the British governor General of the 19th century, Lord Dalhousie. The town's average height is 2036 m and is surrounded by varied vegetation - pines, deodars, oaks and flowering rhododendron.
• Dalhousie has charming colonial architecture, including some beautiful churches. Its location presents panoramic views of the plains and like a long silver line, the river Ravi twists and turns below Dalhousie. The spectacular snow-covered Pir Panjal Range of mountains in Jammu and Kashmir,Pangi Valley of Chamba and Sach Pass are also visible from this enchanting town.

After breakfast today, visit Khajjiar - Often called India's Switzerland the exquisite glade of Khajjiar (1960m) has a circumference of about 5 km. Along with its fringes thick forests of deodar climb the slopes snow-line rests above these woods. At Khajjiar there is a 12th century temple dedicated to KhajjI Nag. Within the temple are life size wooden images of the five Pandav brothers. Overnight at the hotel in Dalhousie.

• After breakfast, check out and hit the road to Dharamshala. On the way, feel the cool breeze in your hair and take in the stunning, scenic sights around you. Upon arrival in Dharamshala, check in and get comfortable. Spend the evening in leisure. The peaceful hill town of Dharamshala is an ideal holiday destination that boasts fantastic views of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges, lush pine & deodar forests, fresh clean air and all kinds of fun for a winter holiday.
• On arrival, check-in at the hotel. Later embark on a sightseeing visit to the famous Tibetan Medical Centre, where treatment is done using rare Tibetan medicines.
• St. John Church, which is one of the oldest churches of this region. It is widely acknowledged for its Belgian stained-glass windows, which were donated by Lady Elgin. Other than these attractions, some other places to visit include Kangra Art Museum, Tea Gardens and Kunal Pathri Temple. Overnight stay at Hotel.

After breakfast today, check out and begin driving to Manali, one of the most popular hill stations of India. Upon arrival, check in and get comfortable with your surroundings. Your evening is free for leisure. Both an ancient site and a modern town, Manali is a fairyland dotted with a number of tourist attractions. Whats more, it is flocked by honeymooners and family vacationers all through the year. Overnight stay at hotel in Manali.

• After an early breakfast, get ready to go on an excursion to the iconic tourist attraction in Himachal - Rohtang Pass. Enjoy a breathtaking drive through Snow Point on the road to Rohtang Pass (closed on Tuesdays). After a certain point, only vehicles with permit are allowed to proceed on Manali - Rohtang highway. You have to take the vehicle with permit (at your own cost) to travel further to Rohtang Pass.
• An iconic tourist attraction in Manali, Rohtang Pass (13,054 ft) is located on the watershed between the water basins of the Chenab River and the Beas River. Besides Lahaul and Spiti, Rohtang Pass also serves as the gateway to Pangi and the valley of Leh. Manali-Leh Highway, a part of NH 21, transverses Rohtang Pass. The Pass offers visitors beautiful sights of glaciers and mountain peaks such as Geypan and Lahaul Valley.
• Later, visit the famous Solang Valley. At 8500 ft above mean sea level, the preferred location for adventure activities in Himachal Pradesh, Solang Valley is a must-see for adrenaline junkies. You can choose to go parachuting paragliding, skating or zorbing (at own expense). Its lush forests, apple orchards, snowcapped peaks and rivers attract visitors as well. Also halt at Marhi, Rahala falls and Nehru Kund. By evening, return to your hotel in Manali and enjoy a lovely dinner. Overnight stay at hotel in Manali.

• After breakfast, walk through Manali town visiting newly constructed Buddhist Monastery and the handicraft centre. Later, visit the 450 years old temple dedicated to Hadimba Devi, Jagatsukh and Vashist kund.
• Hadimba Devi Temple - is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, wife of Bhima, a figure in the Indian epic Mahābhārata. The temple is surrounded by a cedar forest at the foot of the Himālayas.
• Vashisht, an extremely picturesque little place clinging to the steep hill side. On the way up to the village you come upon the Vashist hot baths where a natural sulphur spring is piped into a modern bath-house.
• Return to hotel by late afternoon. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at Hotel.

After breakfast today, check out from your hotel in Manali and get ready to proceed to Shimla (by road). The capital city of Himachal Pradesh and most popular hill station in the north of India was once the Himalayan summer capital of the British Raj in 1864 (2000 m above sea level). Today, happy vacactioners from all around flock here to get away from the daily hustle of city life. Set amid beautiful hills, meandering streets and mystical woods, Shimla treats honeymooners and families to captivating natural beauty. What also attracts tourists here is the chance to go trekking, mountaineering, skiing and other adventure activities. Upon arrival in Shimla, check in to your hotel, get comfortable and have a delicious dinner. Overnight stay at hotel in Shimla.

• After a delicious breakast this morning, get ready to venture into Kufri - a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. With panoramic views of the Himalayas, steep hikes, adventure sports and quite a few fun and interesting sightseeing attractions, Kufri is a great place to unwind.
• Popular specially with trekkers, the splendid weather and stunning natural beauty make Kufri an ideal summer getaway. Interestingly, Kufri is also the venue for an annual winter sports festival held in February. With the oldest skiing slopes in Himachal Pradesh, Kufri is also famously referred to as a ski destination. Himalayan Nature Park in the outskirts is home to over 180 varieties of fauna.
• After, visit the famous Mall Road in Shimla. Also check out the pleasant small square Scandal Point and Jhakoo Temple. Return to your hotel and have a tasty dinner. Overnight stay at hotel in Shimla.
• Private vehicles do not have access to Jhakoo temple because of the location. The guests can take a shared taxi available on Mall Road and visit the temple. It’s advisable to visit the temple before it turns dark; hence the guests can first visit the temple and then spend time on the mall road.

After breakfast we checkout from hotel and proceed for Delhi by road (around 9 hour journey). On arrival you will be transferred to the airport/railway station to board the flight/Train back to home.