Discovering the Hidden Charms of CHurdhar: Trekking in Himachal's Wilderness

Churdhar is visible from my house and we watch sunrise daily appearing from peak in mornings. Its highest peak of Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh. So since childhood , had a thought that some day we will trek to the peak. But mostly we think, but can never plan because of various reasons. In fact we planned in 2014 and even booked Rest house in Nauradhar but later had to cancel it.

Churdhar is visible from my house and we watch sunrise daily appearing from peak in mornings. Its highest peak of Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh. So since childhood , had a thought that some day we will trek to the peak. But mostly we think, but can never plan because of various reasons. In fact we planned in 2014 and even booked Rest house in Nauradhar but later had to cancel it. 

View from Churdhar from my house in Sarahan, Sirmour- From Archives of 2007 In 2017, one of our family friends visited us just after visiting temple on Churdhar. We got surprised when he said, he could do it in a single day. Before that we only used to know one way to reach, which is from Nauradhar ( Sirmour) which is around 18KM+ trek. He told us that there is another shorter trek which is from Sarain Sarahan, Shimla district.

View from Churdhar from my house in Sarahan, Sirmour- From Archives of 2007

In 2017, one of our family friends visited us just after visiting temple on Churdhar. We got surprised when he said, he could do it in a single day. Before that we only used to know one way to reach, which is from Nauradhar ( Sirmour) which is around 18KM+ trek. He told us that there is another shorter trek which is from Sarain Sarahan, Shimla district.

So we decided to pay a visit but in every summer vacations, pre-monsoon starts in Himachal is and it is not considered a good time for travelling. Even this year, when we went, we weren’t sure we could trek in rains as there were early rains even this year( 2023). 

So we decided to tour in such a way that even if we miss Churdhar, we would cover some other key places in Sirmour. Also I discovered that there is very ancient temple at Sarain, Sarahan, Shimla from where the trek starts. So we decided to visit Mata Bhangyani devi temple first and go to Sarain, Sarahan next day.

So we decided to tour in such a way that even if we miss Churdhar, we would cover some other key places in Sirmour. Also I discovered that there is very ancient temple at Sarain, Sarahan, Shimla from where the trek starts. So we decided to visit Mata Bhangyani devi temple first and go to Sarain, Sarahan next day.


We started our journey from Sarahan, Sirmour to Haripur Dhar to Mata Bhangyani Devi which is 110KMs approx. (4 hours) but it took us more time due to narraow road and heavy rains on the way specially after Sangrah. Sangrah to Haripurdhar stretch is quite bad and roads are narrow. 


Mata Bhangyani Devi, Haripur Dhar, Sirmour. 


We reached around Mata Bhangyani Devi around 2 PM. Since it was raining heavily , we decided to wait in car for 30 minutes. When rain fizzled out we visited temple and we were lucky to get darshan in 10 minutes. Also we could witness “Devi” in Pujaari as locals use Devi to sort out their life problems. 


Most locals come to these temples with domestic problems and Pujari ( who represents Devi or Devta) after “Khel” suggests them solutions. This faith in local Deity keeps people honest and avoids lot of court cases. In ancient times, when courts didn’t exist, local deity used to serve as court. 


After visiting temple, rain receded and we started asking locals if we can reach Sarain, Sarahan in Shimla that day. A local lady told us that we can make it in next 4 hours. Also she guided us the root which was little longer but better. 

We decided to make it to Sarain Sarahan. Since we were not aware any hotels in Sarain, Sarahan, hence I called my childhood friend to find out if we can get a place to stay. My friend was kind enough to help because with accommodation in government rest house at Nerwa which was 23 kilometers earlier than our destination.

We decided to make it to Sarain Sarahan. Since we were not aware any hotels in Sarain, Sarahan, hence I called my childhood friend to find out if we can get a place to stay. My friend was kind enough to help because with accommodation in government rest house at Nerwa which was 23 kilometers earlier than our destination.


The journey from Haripur Dhar to Nerwa was very picturesque and we saw new area of Sirmour which had boundaries with Uttarakhand.. 

Sarain, Sarahan can be reached from Delhi via Delhi – Dehradun – Nerwa, Shimla (H.P.) ( 394 KMs) or alternatively in around 10 hours. We drove from haripur dhar to nerva very slowly add reached nerva around 7:00 PM. We took rest in government rest house and started early morning for Srain, Sarahan, which was 23KMs from Nerwa.

Sarain, Sarahan can be reached from Delhi via Delhi – Dehradun – Nerwa, Shimla (H.P.) ( 394 KMs) or alternatively in around 10 hours. 


We drove from haripur dhar to nerva very slowly add reached nerva around 7:00 PM. We took rest in government rest house and started early morning for Srain, Sarahan, which was 23KMs from Nerwa.


After reaching  Sarain, Sarahan, we visited local temple which is more than 300 years old called Bijat maharaj temple .

Since we visited early morning there were very few people in the temple. This temple has idols of Bijat maharaj and Shirgul maharaj who are considered to be local deities. Bijak maharaj consider to be incarnation of Lord Indra and Shirgul maharaj is considered to be incarnation of Lord Shiva. Mata Bhangyani Devi it's also considered to be sister of Bijat maharaj and Shirgul maharaj.

Since we visited early morning there were very few people in the temple. This temple has idols of Bijat maharaj and Shirgul maharaj who are considered to be local deities. Bijak maharaj consider to be incarnation of Lord Indra and Shirgul maharaj is considered to be incarnation of Lord Shiva. Mata Bhangyani Devi it's also considered to be sister of Bijat maharaj and Shirgul maharaj. 

Sarain, Sarahan town. After visiting temple we inquired locals about weather and if we could trek to Churdar. Since its monsoon season locals told us that they cannot comment on whether but take our own decision.

Sarain, Sarahan town. 

After visiting temple we inquired locals about weather and if we could trek to Churdar. Since its monsoon season locals told us that they cannot comment on whether but take our own decision.

From here we were guided to take a road 2 the base ( Madhalni, pronounced as Madhaal - ni), local name) of the place from where Churdhar Trek starts. ( Madhalni can’t be found on google yet. Next 5 Kms was a dirt road and because of monsoons, it had become much more difficult to drive because of slush and water. There are lot of pine trees along with the road and trek. Some of these trees are more than 100 feet tall. One can't distinguish these unexplored areas from Europe.

From here we were guided to take a road 2 the base ( Madhalni, pronounced as Madhaal - ni), local name) of the place from where Churdhar Trek starts. ( Madhalni can’t be found on google yet.

Next 5 Kms was a dirt road and because of monsoons, it had become much more difficult to drive because of slush and water. There are lot of pine trees along with the road and trek. Some of these trees are more than 100 feet tall. One can't distinguish these unexplored areas from Europe. 

After reaching ( Madhalni, the weather was clear and we saw a lot of locals tracking to the temple. We collectively decided to trek which is around 7 kilometers from ( Madhalni. 

Road from Srain Sarahan onwards

Road from Srain Sarahan onwards

Signboard put by temple management committed to guide distance.

Signboard put by temple management committed to guide distance.

Started our journey around 10:30 AM hoping to reach you know three to four hours. If you are perfectly fit one can make this journey end 2 1/2 hours. The track difficulty is moderate and can be done by most of amateur trekkers like me. You don't get fruits on the way so in case you need to eat fruits you should bring it from previous town.

Started our journey around 10:30 AM hoping to reach you know three to four hours. If you are perfectly fit one can make this journey end 2 1/2 hours. The track difficulty is moderate and can be done by most of amateur trekkers like me.

You don't get fruits on the way so in case you need to eat fruits you should bring it from previous town.

That's to Churdhar peak, there is a Shiva Murti and as Shiva Linga. The 360 view from here was spectacular. Churdhar trek is open from 15th of March till 15th of October. The weather conditions may would be difficult till April as there is heavy snowfall on the peak during winters. Those snow starts melting only after may. There can be snowfall even in may or June. The other track from Nora dhar is little longer and around 18 kilometer . So if you have shorter time one should use this particular track to reach to the peak during summers. One should avoid monsoon rains season yes there are landslides on the roads in Himachal.

Temp structures to sell tea/eatables

You will be surprised that cost of you tables are very reasonable in this shops. It took us almost 4 hours to reach Shirgul Maharaj temple which is 1 kilometer from Churdhar peak. It started raining very heavily after 3:00 and we had to wait to visit temple till rain stops.

You will be surprised that cost of you tables are very reasonable in this shops. It took us almost 4 hours to reach Shirgul Maharaj temple which is 1 kilometer from Churdhar peak. It started raining very heavily after 3:00 and we had to wait to visit temple till rain stops.

The temple committee had made very great arrangements for all the visitors. We enquired about stay since we knew that we can't make it back to the base today. For stay there are arrangements made for gents and ladies separate. These are big halls with mattresses. There is no charge to stay at temple which comes to a very big surprise to me. The blankets can be the rented at the rate of just 10 bucks and one can rent as many number as he wants to be. 

Rain continued till 7:00 PM and we had to wait also the temple gates were closed after the rains. Be participated in temple aarti which started sharp at 7 PM. It was divine experience as there were very few people to attend ( 10-15 apart from priests). Weather becomes very very cold you winning big summers so please be prepared for with warm clothes when you visit this place. We could feel that temperature is around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. 

Shirgul Maharaj temple at Base. After the evening “Aarti” the temple committee has arrangement of free food for all the visitors.

Shirgul Maharaj temple at Base.

After the evening “Aarti” the temple committee has arrangement of free food for all the visitors.


There were around 250 to 300 people staying at the temple premise that day. We were surprised again with the arrangements of free food as it was very well managed like a gurudwara. We had food and went to sleep in the common areas. 

I was awake next morning at 4:30 AM but it was very foggy outside. I decided till it clears.

Sunrise view. The weather got cleared around 5:30 AM and I decided to go out and check. I woke up my family and ask them to see a view of sunrise. We were lucky to witness a sunrise above the clouds. It was a spectacular view.

Sunrise view.  

The weather got cleared around 5:30 AM and I decided to go out and check. I woke up my family and ask them to see a view of sunrise. We were lucky to witness a sunrise above the clouds. It was a spectacular view. 

The peak it's still one kilometer from the base temple and the rest of the track is quite difficult. We started our journey to the peak at 6:15 AM and we could make to the top within 30 minutes.

the weather was awesome, and we could see various peaks from top. Since this is the highest peak of districts Sirmour, one gets a feeling of being at top.

That's to Churdhar peak, there is a Shiva Murti and as Shiva Linga. The 360 view from here was spectacular. Churdhar trek is open from 15th of March till 15th of October. The weather conditions may would be difficult till April as there is heavy snowfall on the peak during winters. Those snow starts melting only after may. There can be snowfall even in may or June. The other track from Nora dhar is little longer and around 18 kilometer . So if you have shorter time one should use this particular track to reach to the peak during summers. One should avoid monsoon rains season yes there are landslides on the roads in Himachal.

Churdhar peak as seen from Shirgul temple. 


That's to Churdhar peak, there is a Shiva Murti and as Shiva Linga. The 360 view from here was spectacular. Churdhar trek is open from 15th of March till 15th of October. The weather conditions may would be difficult till April as there is heavy snowfall on the peak during winters. Those snow starts melting only after may. There can be snowfall even in may or June. The other track from Nora dhar is little longer and around 18 kilometer . So if you have shorter time one should use this particular track to reach to the peak during summers. One should avoid monsoon rains season yes there are landslides on the roads in Himachal. That's to Churdhar peak, there is a Shiva Murti and as Shiva Linga. The 360 view from here was spectacular. Churdhar trek is open from 15th of March till 15th of October. The weather conditions may would be difficult till April as there is heavy snowfall on the peak during winters. Those snow starts melting only after may. There can be snowfall even in may or June. The other track from Nora dhar is little longer and around 18 kilometer . So if you have shorter time one should use this particular track to reach to the peak during summers. One should avoid monsoon rains season yes there are landslides on the roads in Himachal.

East side view

That's to Churdhar peak, there is a Shiva Murti and as Shiva Linga. The 360 view from here was spectacular. Churdhar trek is open from 15th of March till 15th of October. The weather conditions may would be difficult till April as there is heavy snowfall on the peak during winters. Those snow starts melting only after may. There can be snowfall even in may or June. The other track from Nora dhar is little longer and around 18 kilometer . So if you have shorter time one should use this particular track to reach to the peak during summers. One should avoid monsoon rains season yes there are landslides on the roads in Himachal.

North side view from top. 

That's to Churdhar peak, there is a Shiva Murti and as Shiva Linga. The 360 view from here was spectacular. Churdhar trek is open from 15th of March till 15th of October. The weather conditions may would be difficult till April as there is heavy snowfall on the peak during winters. Those snow starts melting only after may. There can be snowfall even in may or June. The other track from Nora dhar is little longer and around 18 kilometer . So if you have shorter time one should use this particular track to reach to the peak during summers. One should avoid monsoon rains season yes there are landslides on the roads in Himachal.

View towards east. 

That's to Churdhar peak, there is a Shiva Murti and as Shiva Linga. The 360 view from here was spectacular. Churdhar trek is open from 15th of March till 15th of October. The weather conditions may would be difficult till April as there is heavy snowfall on the peak during winters. Those snow starts melting only after may. There can be snowfall even in may or June. The other track from Nora dhar is little longer and around 18 kilometer . So if you have shorter time one should use this particular track to reach to the peak during summers. One should avoid monsoon rains season yes there are landslides on the roads in Himachal.

That's to Churdhar peak, there is a Shiva Murti and as Shiva Linga. The 360 view from here was spectacular. Churdhar trek is open from 15th of March till 15th of October. The weather conditions may would be difficult till April as there is heavy snowfall on the peak during winters. Those snow starts melting only after may. There can be snowfall even in may or June. The other track from Nora dhar is little longer and around 18 kilometer . So if you have shorter time one should use this particular track to reach to the peak during summers. One should avoid monsoon rains season yes there are landslides on the roads in Himachal. 

That's to Churdhar peak, there is a Shiva Murti and as Shiva Linga. The 360 view from here was spectacular. Churdhar trek is open from 15th of March till 15th of October. The weather conditions may would be difficult till April as there is heavy snowfall on the peak during winters. Those snow starts melting only after may. There can be snowfall even in may or June. The other track from Nora dhar is little longer and around 18 kilometer . So if you have shorter time one should use this particular track to reach to the peak during summers. One should avoid monsoon rains season yes there are landslides on the roads in Himachal.

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Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful state with a number of popular tourist destinations like Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala. However, there are also a number of lesser-known destinations in Himachal that are worth exploring. Here are some not so popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh:


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Away from the scorching summer - Over 30 hill stations in Himachal Pradesh that are close to Delhi


If you are visiting North India and wish to explore some of the main hill stations in North India, we have tried to make an attempt to share list of top 10 Hill Stations you should consider. Below are the names of these hill stations, along with reasons about why we picked them for you. It was certainly very hard to chose between plenty of options. Name of every place below is a link and would share lot more details in terms of what all to expect in these hill stations, how to reach these hill stations from Delhi or nearby cities, along with safety & pocket friendly tips. Let's get started and explore some of these options.


Himalayan states of India - Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh adn Uttrakhand have seen heavy snowfall in the month of January (2014). Places like Srinagar, Pehalgam, Gulmarg Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Dhanachuli & Ranikhet got snow multiple times during the month. This Photo Journey shares some photographs from Ranikhet with a blanket of snow.Ranikhet is a hill station and cantonment town in Almora district in Uttrakhand state of Indian, which is situated around Himalayan ranges. Ranikhet has Military Hospital, Kumaon Regiment (KRC) and Naga Regiment, which are maintained by the Indian Army. This beautiful town is placed at an altitude of 1800+ meters above sea level and one can see snow covered peaks of the Himalayas throughout the year. And during the winters, this town gets decent snowfall to make the environment more cheerful.Ranikhet town and areas around it becomes very cold in the winters and remains moderate in summers and is best enjoyed from March to October. Ranikhet gets snowfall in the winter season, mainly in the months of December, January and February. And in rest of the months the weather of Ranikhet remains pleasant. Visiting Ranikhet during summers is a must and at the same time an experience during winters is also recommneded.Ranikhet has a very special feel of hill station with adjoining cantonment area. Whole town is very well maintained and as you climb up, there is huge cantonment area with an army museum. Lush green hills of Ranikhet with some lovely views over the distant Himalaya make it more special. While you are walking on main road of Ranikhet, white Himalayas are always on one side. One of the focus in Ranikhet town is a busy market.Ranikhet hills are surrounded by high trees of pine, oak and deodar. Wildlife around ranikhet includes leopard, leopard cat, mountain goat, barking deer, sambar, pine marten, Indian hare, red-faced monkey, jackal, langur & fox etc. Some of the colorful birds can also be found as you move to the peaceful places around Ranikhet.If you are in Ranikhet during Apple season, you may also want to visit some of the apple orchards around the place, which is very unique experience.When I think about Ranikhet, the peaceful walks come to my mind apart from a military museum and beautiful views of snow covered Himalayan peaks. Although there are few more attractions have been discovered and marketed in last few years. And that's the good part that you have nothing much to do in the town and you get lot of time at peace. You can find some heritage properties around Ranikhet at reasonable rates and negotiation is quite easy in other hotels as well. Ensure that you plan it better.


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If you are a regular visitor of Travellingcamera, you must have noticed that title of this Photo Journey is not really matching with what we usually share. This post is inspired by lot of queries which come to us, especially in summer. One of the mostly asked thing is the options to reach Kasol and Malana. Here we are trying to share some details the option to reach Kasol/Malana, places to stay, things to do and lot more. While compiling this post, old memories are coming to my mind. I started this blog in 2008 and never got a chance to go again to Kasol, but my only trip to this region was very exciting with college friends. We planned a trip to Kullu Manali from Shimla and thought of visiting Kasol/Malana as well. This was a week long trip and we spent 3 days walking & trekking around Kasol. When it comes to options of reaching Kasol from Delhi or Chandigarh, the only way to hit this region is by road. It's not connected by railway and flights are not very frequent to Kullu. There is an Airport near to Kasol, which is located in Bhuntar (Kullu) but flights are rare and would be a costly affair. In some of the portals, folks have quoted low rates like 2.5K but I could never find that. There is no rail line in part of Himachal Pradesh. Kiratpur Saheb in Punjab and Una in Himachal are two railway stations around this place. Both of these railways stations are more than 150 kilometers away from Kasol. There is another narrow-gauge line at around 100 kilometers, which is located in Jogindernagar, but it's not recommended except in a scenario when you have enough time and want to experience toy train, which starts from Pathankot and ends at Jogindernagar.So road is only good options to reach Kasol. Now transportation has improved a lot and you have multiple options. There are luxury buses by HRTC are available for Kullu from Delhi, Chandigarh & many other main cities. Even normal buses of HRTC are also quite good and cheapest way to travel. Luxury buses by Himachal Tourism are also available from Delhi. All Volvo buses by HRTC & Himachal Tourism start from Himachal Bhavan in Delhi, which is located in Mandi House near Connaught Place. All these buses go to Manali via Kullu and one needs to get down at Bhuntar to take local bus for Kasol or a taxi. Kasol is located at around 30 kilometers from Bhuntar. Kullu can be reached from Delhi by national highway NH 1 up to Chandigarh and from there by national highway NH21 which passes through Bilaspur, Sundernagar and Mandi towns. Kullu is 480 km from Delhi. There are various options available to stay in and around Kasol. Budget hotels, few resorts and luxury home-stays as well. And this place offers great atmosphere all around. Fresh air , blue sky, parvathi river, local folks, cattle grounds, green hills and lot more. There are various intresting treks around Kasol and Malana. There are various easy, moderate and difficult treks around Kasol village. Kheer Ganga is one of the main treks. Whole Parvati valley is very different and more beautiful from many surrounding hills stations of Himachal Pradesh. There is lot to explore in this part of Himachal, some can be discussed and some are not to be disclosed in public ! Kasol is a village in Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Parvati River flows through the village. There is a bridge in the village which divides it in two parts known as Old Kasol and New Kasol. Lot of Foreigners can be seen in the streets around this place. Holy place Manikaran is just 5 kilometers from Kasol. Malana is another popular village which is reachable after a moderate trek. We went till Malana and heard a lot of stories about the place. We also got to know that many of the foreigners have come to this place and living here for many years now. Lot of Israelies come to Kasol and one can see the hebrew language banners in parvati valley. Probably I will share another post only on Malana with some of the mind boggling stories associated with this place, the cannabis and local democracy. Kasol is one of the favorite places for backpackers and also a base for Himalayan trekking to SarPass, Pin Parbati Pass and Kheer ganga. Wish you a great trip to Kasol.




Hidden among the snow covered hills of Shrikhand Mountian Ranges, which are known for their mythological significance and is said to be one of the adobe of Lord Shiva, this unknown village beckon those with an adventurous spirit as its beautiful landscape and lush green valley will take your breath away.


Every year, Himachal Tourism brings the vibrant culture, traditions, and flavors of the mountains to the heart of Delhi with Him Utsav, a grand cultural festival held at Dilli Haat. This much-anticipated event is a showcase of Himachal Pradesh’s rich heritage, offering visitors a chance to experience the state’s colorful traditions, delicious cuisine, and exquisite handicrafts without leaving the city.


Tour de Dharmshala Stadium - A Quick PHOTO JOURNEY inside the beautiful stadium at Dharmshala, Himachal Pradesh : Posted by VJ SHARMA on www.travellingcamera.com : Last project with HPCA provided a good opportunity to explore interiors of Dharmshala Stadium !!! During the break time of T20 Mahasangram finals, I entered into the stadium to see all the VIP lounges, Team Dressing rooms and other special seatings on top floor !!! Check out the quick Photo Journey inside Dharmshala Stadium !!!Dharamshala Cricket Stadium is aonly cricket stadium of international reputation in Himachal Pradesh !!! It serves as the home ground to the Himachal Pradesh state cricket team and also for the IPL team Kings XI Punjab to a limited extent... By virtue of its natural backdrop (3/5th of the stadium is surrounded by snow covered hills...) it is one of the most attractive cricket stadiums in India.In addition to Ranji matches, some international matches are also planned to be held here.. Dharmshala Stadium is going to host threeIPL macthes in 2011 !!! In 2010, a match between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Superkings held here in which His Holiness the Dalai Lama graced the match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Stadium in Dharamshala. The snow covered mountains can be easily viewed throughout the year.. On entering inside the stadium, there is a huge sitting area with lots of photographs of international cricketers from various parts of the world. And this included cricketers from oldest world cups as well !!! I am not sure how this space is utilized during international matches but on that day tea, snacks and lunch was served in this area...Chairs and Tables are well arranged to serve lunch after closing ceremony of Jaypee T20 Cricket Mahasangram !!! This is same hall on ground floor... Parallel to this hall, there are few VIP lounges which were closed on that day ! Seating arrangement inside looked like modern massage chairs :)Extended part of ground floor hall with all the walls decoraed with Photographs of various cricketers in action !!!Although Dharmshala is naturally very rich place and its completely green, flowers and green plants are used inside for decorating the stadium !!! Dharmshala Stadium looked very well maintained and minute things were taken care while designing it.. I am not an expert but I was super impressed with the quality of work saw there...This was something unexpected :) Dharmshala Stadium has different portions and interiors were completely different in all of those sections.. Some parts were were very sober with all modern fittings and furniture, while other parts looked very royal with all the classic fittings in furniture, walls and roofs...Now I started moving up for first floor of the Stadium and preferred to go through stairs instead of lift ! Whole stair areas are decorated with photographs again but sizes were small which looked perfect in these narrow walls !!! Shiny marble fittings on these stairs were giving a feel of five star hotel.. And yes, waling nside the VIP lounges was really like some five star property !!!Here is a view of back side of Dharmshala Stadium. I am not sure if these appartments are for stadium staff or something else.. and the green grounds on left are used for practice.. A wonderful model of Dharmshala Stadium is installed inside the main building of this campus !!!Conference/Meeting hall of Dharmshala Stadium !!! few software folks from Delhi were waiting for Mr. Anurag Thakur to come and launch website of Himachal Pradesh Cricket association. Launch of this website happened just after final match !!!Another photographs of same area where most of the cricket conferences or meetings take place !!! Note a large projector on the front wall with a Photograph of Dharmshala Stadium on it !!!All the walls and pillars in this room were covered with leather crafts which looked very nice and gel with overall color combination used for flooring and furniture used in this Conference Hall of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium !!!Nextto the Conference Hall, there is a VIP lounge with lot of grouped chairs with marble top tables... This whole area looked like some royal casino of Las Vegas.. I wanted to capture it better but match was about to start after a short drinks break.. So after few clicks I had to rush to other areas if any !!!Here is another photograph of VIP Lounge on first floor of Dharmshala Stadium !!!There was an adjacent hall which was decent and looked not that lavishing... But it was also closed area with decent air-conditioning... I am not sure who uses these halls/rooms during matches but after looking at India-Pakistan Semi-finals, it seemed that area shown in above photograph must be used by our leaders like Chief-Minister/Prime-Minister oe some other important people in our democracy system !!!A nice mirror was lying in the common hall which was connected to VIP Lounge, Conference/meeting Hall, and other parts which were closed at that point of timeWith this, my quick tour of 10 minutes completed and moved back tothe ground to capture electrifying actions of finalist teams of Jaypee T20 cricket Mahasangram !!!After looking at wonderful interiors of Dharmshala Stadium, I had a question that why international matches are not played in this stadium.. Last year only one IPL match help here... During the closing ceremony of T20 Mahasangram, Mr. anurag Thakur cleared by doubt. because of hospitality services in Dharmshala, international matches can't be played here. Dharmshala has not enough good standard hotels and keeping this in mind HPCA (Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association) has started constructing a Five Star Hotel there !!


The Sports Authority of India Centre in Shilaroo is located at an altitude of 8000 feet in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The ground is surrounded by picturesque Narkanda and Hatu peaks, has excellent indoor facilities for handball, volleyball, badminton, basketball, table tennis, fencing and wrestling apart from gymnasium and hostel facilities. Most of the other facilities were on other side of the main stadium. Hills in the background are famous Hatu peaks.


Small and Beautiful Railway Stations on Kalka-Shimla narrow track: Posted on www.travellingcamera.com by VJ: The Kalka-Shimla Railway built to connect the summer capital of India in 1903 at an altitude of 2076 meters offers a panoramic experience of the picturesque Himalayas from the shivalik foot hills at Kalka to several important points such as Dharampur, Solan, Kandaghat, Taradevi, Barog, Salogra, Summerhill, Shimla and beyond up to the silvery snow line near the towering peaks.Sonwara Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Himalyan Queen waits for 30 minutes at this station to let Shivalik Express pass through.... KOTI Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...I have clicked these photographs during recent visit to Shimla.... We reach KOTI Railway Station after crossing longest Barog tunnel....Jabali Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Kandaghat Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Located at an altitude of 4680 ft above sea level Kandaghat is the nice place in Himachal Pradesh for you if are looking for a quiet and peaceful vacation. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh built his palace in Kandaghat after which this place received the attention. Raja Bhupinder Singh was the ruler of Patiala and when he was expelled from Shimla, he set up base in Kandaghat. Today, this is one of the most popular destinations to travel in India. A reflection of Kandaghat Railway Station on train window...Dharmpur Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Just 15 km from Kasauli on the National highway No.22 Dharampur has one of the best hospitals in India for the cure of tuberculosis. It is also connected by Kalka Shimla railway line.... Shoghi Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...SHoghi is a small town near Shimla and now its being developed as new tourist destination in Himachal. There are many resorts with good facilities in Shoghi and have reasonable arrangements for tourist groups..Kandaghat Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Delux Rail-Car standing @ Shoghi Station...Tara-Devi Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Tara Devi temple is located on Tarav Parvat, in the western side of Shimla. Temple provides an overwhelming view of the mountains below and Shimla Town. Every year thousands of pilgrims visit Tara Devi temple, which has a great spiritual and heritage value. Historically speaking, the temple was built approximately 260 years ago ...Salogra Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Kalka Railway Station...Kalka is a town in the Panchkula district of Haryana in India. The name of the town is derived from the goddess Kali. The town is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a gateway to the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh. It is on the National Highway 22 between Chandigarh and Shimla and is the terminus of the Kalka-Shimla Railway. To the south of Kalka is Pinjore and the industrial town of Parwanoo (Himachal Pradesh) is to the north on the NH 22. Industrial development has led to a continuous urban belt from Pinjore to Parwanoo, but Kalka remains largely unaffected by these developments. Nearby is Chandimandir Cantonment where the Western Command of the Indian army is based. SHIMLA became the summer capital of British India in 1864 and was also the headquarters of the British army in India. Prior to construction of the railway communication with the outside world was via village cart.The railway was constructed by the Delhi-Umbala-Kalka Railway Company commencing in 1898. The estimated cost of Rs 86,78,500, however, the cost doubled during execution of the project. Because of the high capital and maintenance cost, coupled with peculiar working conditions, the Kalka-Shimla Railway was allowed to charge fares that were higher than the prevailing tariffs on other lines. However, even this was not good enough to sustain the company and the Government had to purchase it on January 1, 1906 for Rs 1,71,00,000.


In the belief system of Himachal Pradesh, devtas are considered divine beings who reside in the natural surroundings of the region. While they are often associated with specific temples or shrines where their idols are housed, devtas are believed to transcend physical boundaries and inhabit various elements of nature.


Road trips are special because they bring unexpected events into your life and some of those events can be worrisome, but become highlight of the trip. During our recent trip to Pong Dam wetlands, we had something similar. We spent 2 days around Pong Dam wetlands in Himachal Pradesh. There is kilometres of open land around the lake where you walk to see different kinds of birds. On second day morning, we reached there and we were finding an appropriate place to park the car and then walk around. This blogpost shares what happened, how our car got stuck, what all we tried and finally how we got out of that situation :).


Rukmani Kund, located in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, is a serene and relatively lesser-known water reservoir surrounded by lush greenery and mythological significance. This tranquil water body holds cultural and spiritual value, as it is associated with tales from Hindu mythology, believed to be named after Rukmani, the wife of Lord Krishna. The kund, nestled amidst natural landscapes, provides a peaceful retreat for travelers seeking solitude and an escape from urban hustle.


In the heart of Himachal Pradesh lies a culinary treasure waiting to be discovered – the famous Luchi of Mandi Town. Amidst the majestic mountains and lush greenery, Mandi offers not only breathtaking landscapes but also a rich gastronomic heritage. Among its culinary delights, Luchi holds a special place, drawing food enthusiasts and travelers alike to savor its delectable taste. Let's embark on a flavorful journey to explore the charm of Luchi served in various shops across Mandi Town.


During recent trip to Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh, we also thought of visiting Ellora of Himachal Pradesh - Masroor Rockcut Temple. This was approximately 12 kilometers from Nagrota Suriyan and comes on the way to Dharmshala. Let's have a quick Photo Journey to Masroor Temple in Kangra Region of Himachal Pradesh, India.Here is first view of Masroor Temple we get from the neighboring road.Masrur is 32 kilometers from Kangra on Nagrota Surian link road and is famous for remarkable group of rock cut temples. They form a group of 15 monolithic rock cut temples in the Indo-Aryan style and amazingly carved. These awesomely ornamented cave temples are the only rock shrines in the northern part of India.The main shrine contains three stone images of Ram laxman and Sita but the presence of the figure of Shiva in the center of the lintel affords a strong presumption that the temple was originally dedicated to Mahadeva.Here is the what we exactly see after climbing up few stairs from the road. Masroor Temple is on left side, which is surrounded by gated boundary. After 100 steps, there is an entry gate for this temple. Archaeological Survey of India maintains this site and a ticket of 5 Rs is applicable for each entry inside the Temple.Masroor Rock Temple being located in a sanctuary area of Pong Dam, it's away from ecological threats, but now the focus is on developing a tourism and conservation mechanism that protects it from increase in tourist inflow. In recent times Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department has been successful in making this place visible on various travel maps of India. Now people know this place and plan in their itinerary during any trip to Mcleodganj, Dharmshala, Palampur or Kangr Few days back Light shows were organized during evenings at Masroor Rockcut Temple and Himchal's Chief Minister Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal was also preset with other important folks of the state. This shows genuine interest of State Government to conserve this place and make it accessible for Tourists in Himachal Pradesh. State Government is regularly meeting with Archaeological Survey of India to better plan the growth of this placeBuses are frequent from Kangra/Dharmshala to Nagrota Suriyan and Masroor is just 3 kilometers away from this route. We exactly need to get down at Peer Bindli station. From here Masroor Temple is just 3 kilometers, which is a decent walk in hills. If not interested in walking, taxis are also available around the place. Few buses go till temple but need to wait. In Morning there is a bus around 9:10 am, 10:15 am and 11:30 am etc.. Since gap is of approximately 1 hour, one can easily walk till temple and reach in 30 minutes. If you walk, you will see lot of colorful birds on the way. There is a special mention about Masroor Rockcut temples on Himachal Tourism Website - Unforgettable Himachal !!! As of now, nearest place to stay is Kangra or Nagrota Suriyan. There are lot of lots available in Kangra, as it's a decent town around this place and Nagrota has a HPPWD Guest-House. State Government is trying to work with local folks to think about Home Stay Options. Himvani talks about some plans of government to promote Tourism in Masroor and Pong region - HerMasroor Temple is located on a Hill top from where marvelous view of Dhauladhar Mountain Ranges can be seen. We visited this place twice during two days and will share some sunset photographs from this place. Snow Capped hills of Dhauladhar Himalayas look amazing in Sunset colors. Mountains look pinkish as if all of them are colored for this special moment.Here is a Photograph showing reflection of few of the temples in this campus. There is a water pond in front of Masroor Rockcut Temples. During day time, clear reflection of Masroor Monolithic temple can be seen in this water pond. Here is a another Photograph with water reflection of Masroor Rockcut Temple in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh, India. Local panchayat of Masoor viallge is situated on left side of this location and there is Government school on the right. As of now this School is in Temple's campus area and ASI has requested State Government to move this school to another location as any construction within 100 meters of this historical temple is not allowedThere is a temple in the middle of this campus which is dedicated to Ram, Seeta and Lakshman. Above Photograph shows the same temple in Masroor Monolithic structure with one of the employee on the right. Two employees at any point of time are deputed on this location, which means 24 Hrs duty throughout the year. There are approximately 8 employees to take care of this place and all are appointed by Archaeological Survey of India.These temples are mainly double storey and the roof is accessible through add sized staircases. Height of each staircase is more than usual stairs. Some of the portions on top are bound with iron rods. It seems that water is harmful for these rocks as they seem soft and some of the parts have severe cracks and colors around those cracks made us believe that temples need more care in rainy seasoHere is a photograph of students of Government school in Masroor which is located in temple area only. This Photograph is clicked from roof top of the monolithic temples. Calm and peaceful environment around this place makes it a perfect place for school and studiesHere is a Photograph clicked from surrounding hill and shows approximately whole Temple area with Water pond in front of it. In fact, all these temples seems to be made up of a huge hill in MasrooIn India, the rock-cut style started in the reign of the Pallava king Narsingha varman I Mahamalla (630-668 A.D.) during the first half of the seventh century . It reached its climax in the Kailasha temples at Ellora which were taken in hand during the reign of the Rashtrakuta King Dantidurga (753- 756 A.D.) and finished during that of Krishna I (758-773 A.D.). Though rock-cut caves are common in South India, yet temples cut out of freestanding rocks, known to archaeologists and art critics, are only four in number-'Rathas of Mammalapuram', 'Kailashas at Ellora', 'temple-complex at Masrur in Kangra' and the 'Dharmnatha temple at Dhamnar', 65 miles to the South-East of Jhalra Patan in Rajasthan. The Rathas and the Kailashas are built in the Dravidian style, whereas the Masrur and Dhamnar ones are in the Nagara style. Masrur beats its Nagara rival in situation, size and execution. The Masrur complex has 15 temples, the Dhamnar has only 8. At Masrur temples not separate from it surround the central shrine, buat Dhamnar the smaller ones are entirely separate from the main one. Carvings and ornamentation at Masrur are of a much superior order than at Dhamnar and the length of the latter is one- third of the former. The Dhamnar group has been built in a pit-like hollow, whereas the Masrur group is on top of a 2500 feet high hill range. One looks below, the other looks up. One depresses, the other elates. In point of situation, Masrur beats the other two also. Ellora Kailasha are built in a pit a hundred feet. However, Kailasha at Ellora is a supreme creation, one of the wonders of the world. (Courtesy - http://123himachal.com/temple/masroor.htmA view of Masrur Monolithic Temples from a short-cut path which connects temple with Masrur village on a hill below it.Rockcut style is much more difficult than the structural one. In Structural, the artist shapes the materiahttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1036234607292296397l as s/he likes, whereas in the former the Material determines the way the artist should move, which must be a case of Masrur temples. The limitation makes an artist creation out of a rock a most difficult task and the ability with which the remote artist of seventh and eighth centuries carried out their purpose is superhuman. Only a few of the original shikharas stand and some of the most beautifully carved panels are now in the state museum, Shimla. The main shrine dominates the center. Although the remote location of these temples protected them from the invading army of Mahmud Ghazni and their stone construction prevented severe damage in the 1905 earthquake. This earthquake had some severe impact in Kangra region of Himalayan StateA small room is built on the entry of Masrur Temple, probably for ticket distribution. It's not in use and tickets are available on main entry gate of this temple.


If you are visiting North India and wish to explore some of the main hill stations in North India, we have tried to make an attempt to share list of top 10 Hill Stations you should consider. Below are the names of these hill stations, along with reasons about why we picked them for you. It was certainly very hard to chose between plenty of options. Name of every place below is a link and would share lot more details in terms of what all to expect in these hill stations, how to reach these hill stations from Delhi or nearby cities, along with safety & pocket friendly tips. Let's get started and explore some of these options.


Parashar Lake is a high-altitude lake in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, situated at about 2,730 meters (8,960 feet) above sea level. Surrounded by the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas, this pristine lake is not only a natural wonder but also a revered religious site, housing the Parashar Rishi Temple, a 13th-century wooden temple dedicated to the sage Parashar.


Nestled amidst the majestic hills of Himachal Pradesh, the town of Mandi comes alive every year with the vibrant colors, joyous melodies, and spiritual fervor of the International Shivratri Fair. This centuries-old tradition, steeped in mythology and folklore, beckons devotees and travelers alike to immerse themselves in a celebration of divinity, culture, and community. Join us as we embark on a journey to explore the magic and magnificence of this iconic festival.


It's impossible that I don't visit Viceregal Lodge, while in Shimla. I visited Shimla in Oct, 2011 and had a very quick visit to Indian Institute of Advanced Studies as well. Let's check out a quick PHOTO JOURNEY to Viceregal Lodge, Shimla !!!There is a huge lawn in front of this building and initially people were allowed to relax here, but due to some reasons now tourists are not allowed to walk over this lawn. There are dedicated paths around this lawn to enjoy the beauty of this place.Viceregal Lodge in Shimla was designed by Henry Irwin who was an architect in the Public Works Department at that timeViceregal Lodge or IIAS, Shimla is situated on a hill top near Summerhill (Shimla-05). Like other forts in India, this is place was chosen because of security reasons as most of the surrounding places were visible from boundaries of this building. There are some wonderful views of surrounding hills from this building. Now mainly Tutoo region is clearly visible and others are hidden by dense forest !!Thereare two wonderful gardens around Viceregal Lodge. One is near this lawn and other is in the backyard. The one in backward is famous one among couples of Himachal Pradesh University :) ... But now, it's not that popular as other options are available..The Viceregal Lodge had electricity as far back as 1888 which is much before the rest of the town of ShimlaThere is no ticket for getting access to Viceregal campus but one needs to buy a ticket to see it inside. various areas of Viceregal Lodge are well preserved. The room where Gandhi met other officials on Pakistan matter is well preserved along with various things used that time. A Bell made of eight metals which was presented by the king of Nepal was available to be admired by tourists.Here is top view of Viceregal Lodge in Shimla. Some text is carved on top of it, which probably explain about it's construction year and relevant details. You can notice Indian Flag on top of Viceregal Lodge !!This is first view if we reach Indian Institute of Advanced Studiesthrough a steep climb from Boileuganj. This is place is main market near Himachal Pradesh University... This is the main place to get buses for different parts of shimla. Tutoo is on one side, Chakkar is on other and Shimla Bus stand of forth angle.Viceregal Lodge which is also known as Indian Institute of Advanced Studies now, was equipped with an sophisticated fire fighting mechanism through wax tipped water ducts. Many historic decisions have been taken in Viceregal Lodge during the Indian independence movement.The Simla Conference was held here in 1945.And the decision to carve out Pakistan and East Pakistan from India was also taken here in 1947.After India gained independence, the building was renamed Rashtrapati Niwas and was used as a summer retreat for the President of India.However, due to its neglect, Dr. S Radhakrishnan decided to turn it into a center of higher learning, which was quite a good decision. The summer retreat of President was shifted from here to a building known as


Being a native of lower-Himachal, I always wanted to a Kinnauri Wedding. We had heard a lot of weddings which happen in upper himachal which is full of apple orchards and other fruits. During my sabbatical we were out for Kinnaur expidition and had few quick glimpses which we wanted to share. Check out this Photo Journey to know more about weddings which happen in Kinnaur region.Some time back Jitendra, an acclaimed Travel Photographer, shared some great photographs from Kinnaur at http://phototravelings.blogspot.com/2013/02/snow-covered-region-of-kinnaur-district.html This Photo Journey shares overall culture of Kinnaur region very well. I thought of re-sharing the link so that new viewers/readers can check out other details about the place as well. This is the typical band which is used in wedding of Kinnaur and upper shimla region of Himachal Pradesh. The main dance form during the marriages in Natti. Nati is among the most important dance forms among the Performing Arts of Himachal Pradesh. Through the slow swaying movements of body, the dancing men and women celebrate the occasion. Nati-Folk Dance in Himachal Pradesh is performed by people dancing in the form of circles, or sometimes in rows. The performers generally wear richly hued costumes, attach a feather in their hair and with a sweet smile dance in slow rhythm. Since it was a sudden encounter, so not very sure what exactly is happening here. We could not see the groom in this whole group. It seems that family & relatives of bride were going to some temple for worship. If you notice, the lady who is next to the bride is carrying a plate with leading lady having a bell, which is usually used for worship only. At current time, Kinnauras do not constitute a homogenous group and display significant territorial and ethnic diversity. For a better understanding of ethnic and cultural distribution, the Kinnaur District may be classified into three territorial units. Lower Kinnaur comprise area between Chora at the boundary of the Kinnaur District with Rampur Bushahr and Kalpa including Nichar and Sangla valleys. Which means that the photographs in this Photo Journey belongs to lower Kinnaur. The middle Kinnaur is the area between Kalpa and Kanam including Moorang tehsil and rest is upper Kinnaur. The Bridge caught Travellingcamera capturing their photographs. Surprizingly there were very few men around this whole group


Mandi Town, nestled in the serene valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India, is a place where spirituality meets natural grandeur. Stepping away from the hustle and bustle of city life, I embarked on a journey to explore this picturesque town on foot, immersing myself in its rich cultural tapestry and breathtaking landscapes.




Lush green meadows, grazing sheeps, beautiful cottages, high deodars and high hills of Khajjiar makes it a popular destination for traveller, explorers and tourists from India & abroad. Khajjiar is also known as mini Switzerland of India. Khajjiar is located on the way from Dalhousie and Chamba. This Photo Journey shares more about the ways to reach Khajjiar and other interesting things to explore & do around Khajiar/Dalhousie.How to reach?Here I am sharing details about reaching Khajjiar from Delhi and then will share some pointers about options from Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar etc. HRTC bus for Chamba starts from Delhi at 7pm. The link shares has more details about booking bus from Delhi to Dalhousie. The one which starts at 7pm is 2*2 AC bus. Apart from this 2 ordinary buses go from Delhi to Chamba/Dalhousie. Any of these buses can drop you at Dalhousie, which is closest main station near Khajjiar. Khajjir is just 22 kilometers from Dalhousie. Other option to reach Khajjiar is by taking a train from Delhi to Pathankot. From Pathankot, you can either hire a taxi or board local bus from Dalhousie. Please note that most of the buses going to Chamba can drop you at Dalhousie but there is rare possibility to find direct bus for Khajjiar. There are few buses from Dalhousie to Chamba which cross through Khajjiar. There is one which starts from Dalhousie at 9:15am. When I was staying in Dalhousie, I chose to take this bus to reach Khajjiar and then took 2:30pm bus to come back. Expect lot of passengers in these buses between Dalhousie and Khajjiar. If you are coming from other cities like Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Dharmshala or Shimla; there are various bus routes. Check HRTC, PRTC websites to know timings. Apart from these private buses are also available for Dalhousie. Hope these details are helpful. If not, please drop a comment with your specific question and I will try to share appropriate details. Let's talk about options to stay around Khajjiar. Where to stay? I have been to Khajjiar many times, but most of the times stayed in Dalhousie. I wish to spend a night around Khajjiar. There is one HPTDC hotel which faces Khajjiar lake (dry lake). Apart from this there is one forest guest house and a HPPWD guest house around Khajjiar. All of these beautiful properties are best located around lush green meadows of Khajjiar. Apart from these prime location properties, there are few resorts around Khajjiar, but they are not around the main lake. 3 options mentioned above offer brilliant views of lush green grounds of Khajjiar. During summers, it's hard to get booking in Khajjiar. The next good option is Dalhousie. Dalhousie has comparatively more hotels & resorts. But it's recommended to do advance booking if you are going to Khajjiar or Dalhousie in main tourist season. Activities at Khajjiar - 1. Paragliding - Now you can enjoy paragliding at Khajjiar. Like Solang nala, kids can also enjoy small flights within Khajjiar and adults can enjoy the longer flights from surrounding hills, which usually land in Khajjiar. 2. Horse riding - You can ride around the Khajjiar. There is a proper path defined for horses and this is one of the early & popular activity to enjoy at Khajjiar. The horse owners also tell you few tricks to ride the horse. On the halfway, you feel like controlling the horse on your own :). That's fun ! 3. Zorbing - You would see zorbing balls rolling on other side of Khajjiar lake. 4. Photo shoot in Himachali dress - This is typical activity which is offered in most of the hill stations in Himachal and Kashmir. I think, I need not explain this more. 5. Interacting with rabbits and getting some photographs clicked - You would find few kids with rabbits. They allow you clicking photographs with these rabbits and charge 10 rs. During tourist season, they may ask 20 rs or so. 6. Enjoy local folk music - There is a gentleman, who sings local songs around the dry lake of Khajjiar. He sings brilliantly and you can find his videos on Youtube.You can carry your own stuff with you. Many times, we carry Badminton, frisbee, a football and picnic stuff. Khajjiar is appropriate place for picnic. Folks living in Dalhousie and Chamaba usually come to Khajjiar during sundays with friends and family.Main places to explore around Khajjiar - Dalhousie - Churches, Mall road, walks Panchpula Waterfalls Dainkund TrekKalatop wildlife sanctuary trek, Chamera Lake Dam, Chamba Town - Bhuri Singh Museum, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Chattradi Temple, Chugan and lot more , Ravi river , View of snow covered Pir Panjal mountain ranges, I was there in Khajjiar again in August and it looks awesome in the month of August & September. It was a day out with my niece Urvi and enjoyed clicking her photographs. Above photograph shows deodar cones. August is the month when you can see all these cones on deodar trees. Khajjiar is surrounded by dense forest of high deodars. There is water in the middle of the lake. More than water, it's quicksand. This wooden pathway takes you to the water pond and this time I saw lot of fish in this. Although scene is not very interesting. Kids really enjoy to see fish in the pond. A gentleman sits around this place and sell some eatable for the fish. That's a good way for kids to interact with fish. Direct sunlight, fresh & cold breeze, lush green meadows, grazing sheep & cows, beautiful huts surrounded by dense forests of Deodar make Khajjiar a irrisistable place in Himachal Pradesh . Khajjiar is my favorite place around Dalhousie and Chamba regions of the himalayan state. Here is a panorama of Khajjiar. Notice the size of people walking around and try to imagine the size of this beautiful green meadow. It's huge. If you love walking, this is perfect place with appropriate weather. At times sun can be too harsh, so choose to walk around the edges with shade of deodars. Hope this post would help you plan your trip to Khajjiar and by now you must have an idea about things to expect at Khajjiar. Please feel free to drop your comments for further questions or suggestions.


Nestled in the picturesque Lahaul Valley, Gondhla Fort is a captivating blend of history, architecture, and natural beauty. Located in the quaint village of Gondhla, about 18 km from Keylong on the Manali-Leh highway, this fort is a testament to the region’s rich heritage and strategic importance in ancient times. Built in the 17th century, the fort was the residence of the Thakur (chief) of Gondhla, showcasing Himachali craftsmanship and traditional architecture.


Nestled amidst the picturesque hills of Himachal Pradesh, the quaint villages of Garli and Paragpur stand as living testaments to the region's rich cultural heritage and architectural splendor. Steeped in history and adorned with magnificent old havelis, these twin villages offer a glimpse into a bygone era, where opulence and grandeur were the hallmarks of everyday life. Join us as we embark on a journey to unravel the timeless charm of the old havelis of Garli Paragpur.


Nestled in the Lahaul Valley, Sissu transforms into a breathtaking spectacle of colors during autumn. Known for its tranquil beauty and proximity to the Chandra River, Sissu becomes a paradise for nature lovers as the season changes. The village, often referred to as the “Gateway to Lahaul,” comes alive with hues of golden yellows, fiery reds, and deep oranges, creating a mesmerizing landscape that contrasts beautifully against the snow-capped peaks of the Pir Panjal range.


Naggar Castle, perched in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, is a historic marvel that blends medieval architecture, natural beauty, and local art. Built in the 15th century by Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu, this castle showcases the unique Kath-Kuni architectural style, which uses stone and wood to withstand earthquakes common in the region. Naggar Castle now serves as a heritage hotel and a cultural landmark, attracting visitors eager to explore its royal past, stunning views, and ancient charm.


Recently Sourav sent us a message - ‘ Hi VJ, i am planing to visit Himachal Pradesh in this January with my friends. We are planing to visit in 4 places. Dalhousie, Dharmashala/Mcleodganj, Manali, Shimla. We have total 7 days in our bucket so can you please tell how we can split 7 days among this 4 places....Thanks in advance….’ and frankly it’s never recommended to plan for 4 places in 7 days and here we are talking about 3 corners of Himachal Pradesh. So I would recommend to skip one of the destination if you only have 7 days.


The Kalij Pheasant belongs firmly to the second category. Among the many pheasants found across the mountains of South Asia, the Kalij is perhaps one of the most rewarding birds to encounter because it rarely gives itself away easily. A rustle in the undergrowth. A sudden movement beneath an oak tree. A dark shape running across a forest trail. And then, just when you are trying to understand what you saw, it disappears.

Comments

Shyam said…
Nice post!
August 7, 2023 at 10:09 PM
Shyam. said…
Very nicely written. Thanks for sharing!
August 7, 2023 at 10:17 PM
Anonymous said…
Great experience!!
Attention to the detail and the visuals are vibrant!! ✨👏
August 7, 2023 at 10:56 PM
Nitish sharma said…
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Take care of yourself — waiting for your another story.
August 7, 2023 at 11:11 PM
Nikhil Sharma said…
Very Detailed and what a wonderful experience you have happy for you
August 10, 2023 at 4:26 PM
Narender Sharma said…
Thank you everyone for feedback in comments. Highly appreciate it.
December 6, 2023 at 3:07 PM
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