Leh Ladakh
Visit Himachal Pradesh
Are
you planning a trip to India and want to combine city and mountain? Or
perhaps you are already in India and need to escape the pollution and
find corners of tranquility? Well then you have to read this post the
Himalayan region in India: the route through Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal Pradesh Route: Knowing the region.
To
the northwest of India are two large states that will make you doubt
whether you are really in India or not. These are the state of Himachal
Pradesh and that of Kashmir (or Kashmir).
In
this post series we will focus on explaining the route through Himachal
Pradesh, a region that is home to great landscapes, Tibetan monasteries
and trekking routes.
Factors to consider before planning a route through Himachal Pradesh
It can only be traveled by road.
The
region is very wide and road communications are difficult. There are
main routes connecting the largest cities from which different
activities are carried out, such as trekking or paragliding.
If
you decide to make a route through Himachal Pradesh you have to take
this factor into account since it will determine a lot of the time you
need. If you want to explore more remote villages, you need at least 10
days in the area.
Kangra Region:
Dharamshala and Macgleoganj:
These
two towns are 100% Buddhist territory and haven for many Tibetan monks.
So much so that the Dalai Lama himself established his residence here.
There
are two visits if you want to experience the most typical Tibetan
environment. If you are interested, the area also offers different
volunteer options with Tibetan refugees. You can take a look at the
Mcleodganj, mcllo, lhasocialwork and dharmalaya websites.
Kullu region: Triund Trek, Thatharana Trek and Kareri Lake
In the Kullu Valley
Manali:
It is the most famous town in the entire state and therefore the one
that receives the most visits. It has been established as a “base camp”
for many trekkings as well as a reference point for adventure sports
such as paragliding and rafting. Given its fame it is also an important
point for Indian family tourism, therefore you will find both foreign
and national tourists.
In the Parvati Valley:
This
valley is made up of different villages where you can visit temples,
hot springs and have great views of the glaciers. Among these villages
stands out:
Manikaran:
small town famous for its “hot spring” hot springs. These hot springs
have water so hot that they can cook in them. Just behind the hot
springs there is a temple, the Gurudwara, a Hindu-Sikh mix that you can
visit, and as Sikh hospitality commands, eat free at their
Guru-k-Langar.
Malana and Tosh:
These are two tiny villages known for their particular cultural
heritage and strict social system. It is believed that they are the
cradle of the oldest democracies, however the social rules are very
strict, so much so that foreigners cannot touch the walls or speak to
the inhabitants without asking permission first. Malana is the most
famous and tourist of all, in fact Tosh does not appear on the maps. We
opted for the latter. In Tosh there are strictly prohibited areas of
touching and / or passing under the penalty of 5000 INR fine !!
Khirganga:
It is a small village famous also for its (free) hot springs and with
beautiful views of the mountains. A good way to get there is by doing a
“mini trekking” of about 4 hours from Barsheni. You can get to Barsheni
by bus from different towns in the valley (Kasol, Kullu, Manikaran ..).
You can also go around on foot but if you are very tired you can take
the bus in Barsheni again or return by shared taxi. This can cost you
around INR 200 per person, depending on how many you are.
These
towns can also be day trips. The small town of Kasol can be a good
halfway point to visit them in the day and come back. Kasol is livelier
and there is more accommodation on offer.
Kinnaur region
The Sangla Valley:
The
most famous towns in this valley are Recong Peo and Kalpa. Kalpa takes
the best part, with stunning views of the snowy mountains and various
Buddhist temples. You can sleep there.
Rupa Valley: Following the
road and past Recong Peo we reach the Rupa Valley. The point of greatest
interest here is the small town of Puh
Lahaul and Spiti Region
Spiti Valley:
This is the main dish of Himachal Pradesh. This valley is part of what
is known as the “Kinnaur-Spiti circuit”. A circuit that many agencies
offer and with which you can visit by jeep, a little more comfortably,
the most “inaccessible” area of Himachal Pradesh.
The most interesting places are: Nako, Chango, Tabo, Dhankar, Kungri, Kye Monastery, Kibber, and Losar.
Keep
in mind that for climatic reasons the access to the circuit from the
north (Manali-Leh highway) is closed from June to October, so if you go
at another time of the year you will need more days (at least 10) to be
able to enter from the south (via Recong Peo).
A
special permit (Protected Area Permit) is required to enter the area
between Puh (Kinnaur) and Kaza (Spiti). This permit can be obetern at
the offices of Shimla, Recong Peo, Kullu and Keylong. Also in the same
Kaza (entering from the other side). Inform yourself in tourism agencies
and / or offices because the criteria are sometimes not the same . If
you want to know what are the areas of India for which you need this
permit, you can take a look here
How to get around in the Himachal Pradesh region
Almost
all towns, except the most inaccessible (due to the state of the roads)
are connected with local or tourist buses. If you decide to use the
local bus, arm yourself with patience and do not look at the cliffs or
you will panic! To go to the most distant villages you will only have
the option of a taxi or trekking. For example, if you want to visit
Malana, the only option is to get to Jari by bus, and from there a taxi
to the village.