If you want to experience the charm of old-world Europe without leaving the Indian subcontinent, Himachal Pradesh is the place to go. Known as nature and adventure capital of India, Himachal Pradesh is famous for its stunning river valleys, towering peaks, and mesmerizing natural landscapes. The state has become a popular destination for travelers from all over the world, offering activities like rafting, skiing, paragliding, and trekking, as well as serene, untouched beauty and remote locations.
Each region in Himachal Pradesh boasts its own unique religions, customs, traditions, and cultures. Exploring ancient villages and connecting with the warm, friendly locals is one of the best ways to experience the state’s fairy-tale architecture, colonial remnants, and mountain vistas. Bookmundi highlights the top 10 things to do in Himachal Pradesh, helping you focus on the most beautiful and exciting adventures the state has to offer.
Kullu (above image)
Kullu is undoubtedly the most popular destination in Himachal Pradesh. Nestled along the banks of the Beas River, the “Valley of the Gods” is a truly enchanting place, offering stunning views typically seen only in the feeds of top travel photographers on Instagram. With a history that dates back to the 1st century and a landscape filled with lush apple orchards, tranquil rivers, deodar forests, and rolling hills, Kullu offers the perfect blend of natural beauty and modern comforts, allowing visitors to enjoy the best of both worlds. While Kullu is home to various attractions like Sultanpur Palace, Raghunath Temple, and Bijli Mahadev Temple, the real highlights often lie in its adventure activities. Thrill-seekers can indulge in trekking the Ladakh Valley, paragliding in Solang, mountaineering at Hanuman Tibba, and fishing in the Beas River. For those keen on exploring the magnificent Markha Valley, Bookmundi offers a tailor-made tour just for you.
Relevant Tours:
Manali (Old and New)
No visit to Kullu is complete without a stop in Manali. Think of Manali as its more lively and energetic counterpart. What makes Manali special is that it’s not just a feast for the eyes; it’s also a great boost for your health and skin. With plenty of sporting activities to keep you active and the fresh, pollution-free air benefiting your skincare routine (as long as you don’t skip the basics like C-E-M), Manali offers both physical and aesthetic rewards. The town is known for its adventure offerings—climbing, paragliding, trekking, canyoning, and skiing—but it’s also a favorite destination for honeymooners and families due to its picturesque scenery and romantic ambiance. Some of the top things to do in Manali include Beas River adventures, visiting the Hidimba Devi Temple, exploring Solang Valley, and taking a trip to Rohtang Pass.
Spiti Valley
The Spiti Valley is one of those hidden gems that most travelers tend to ignore while visiting Himachal Pradesh. Home to a number of Buddhist attractions, whitewashed houses, ancient monasteries and breathtaking gorges, Spiti feels even more remote and rugged than Ladakh, the traveler favorite. The valley is also home to the Spiti-Kinnaur loop, one of the best road trips in Asia.
Shimla
Such is Shimla’s beauty that even the British didn’t think twice before declaring it as their summer capital. Long considered to be one of the top hill stations of India, Shimla has always attracted a steady stream of travelers and has also become somewhat commercialized. Despite all that modernization and the constant crowds, this magical place still hasn’t lost out on its splendor, colonial influence, breathtaking scenes and inspiring locales. The perfect way to experience the best of Shimla is through the toy train, the crown jewel of British India, a journey that crosses 864 bridges and 102 tunnels and presents 100 years of charm in a single ride.
Dharamsala
Dharamsala, popularly referred to as the Scotland of India, boasts of an incredibly enviable location – a valley on one side and snowy mountains on 3 other sides. Every alley in the city offers magnificent views of these mountains and there is always magic in the air. Home to the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala has always attracted visitors from all parts of the world, and its picture-perfect surroundings are now attracting travel enthusiasts as well. The town and its surrounding areas are full of pine, cedar and oak trees and this makes for some of the most exciting walks as well.
Dalhousie
Dalhousie, a beautiful hill station spread across 5 hills, looks pretty much the same as Dharamsala, with the only difference being that it attracts even lesser crowds, and hence feels even more remote. The best things to do here usually involve strolling along those tree-shaded roads and exploring historic markets such as Subhash Chowk and Gandhi Chowk. Don’t forget to miss out on the sunset views from the Mall Road while visiting Dalhousie. And if you must visit an attraction or two, try adding the Khajjiar Lake and Kalatop Khajjair Sanctuary into your itineraries.
Malana
Popularly called the Greece of India, Malana is perhaps one of the best destinations in Himachal Pradesh for those in search of digital detox holidays. Located close to the Kullu Valley, Malana is a spellbinding village that lets you disconnect from the rest of the world and spend a few days in a traditional village gawking at majestic mountain sceneries of the Chanderkhani Pass and exploring a rich indigenous culture. Those of you into cannabis and the like would be interested to know that Malana is also home to the world famous Malana Cream.
Prashar Lake
Considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in India, Prashar Lake isn’t just about blue waters and alluring surroundings, it is equally about the fact that it is very difficult to imagine seeing so much natural beauty in a single spot. Magical meadows, snow-capped mountains, exotic aromas, pagoda-like temples, ancient hamlets and stunning adventures all find a place here, and if you’re dreaming of mixing some camping and adventure to your next nature expeditions, this is where you need to be.
Kasauli
Located at a height of 1927 meters, Kasauli, a place that has literally remained unchanged since the British left India, is another destination that is perfect for those who love to do nothing but enjoy spectacular views, watch shepherds guide their flocks through the green valleys and stay amid serene surroundings. Ambling along oak and chestnut lined roads and enjoying the peace and tranquility is perhaps the best way to relax and destress, and this is why Kasauli is slowly seeing a greater influx of tourists. Even adventure buffs have something to do in the form of hiking and trekking.
Chamba
The unspoiled and completely fascinating natural beauty of Chamba is sure to attract the nature lover in you. Located at a height of 900 meters on the banks of River Ravi, Chamba is a beautiful town that is full of temples dating back to the 4th century, a bustling market and an unspoiled medieval charm. The best time to visit Chamba is during the Minjar Festival, a week-long extravaganza of folk dances, processions and music that lets you dive into the local culture and see ancient traditions.
If things like winter locales, picture-perfect natural beauty, remote locations, untouched cultures, exotic mountains and blankets of snow excite you, a trip to Himachal Pradesh is a must. Places like Shimla, Manali and Kullu are sure to feature in your itinerary, but Bookmundi also recommends you to give one of these off-the-beaten-path destinations a try. The once-in-a-lifetime experiences and mesmerizing scenes that each of these destinations has to offer is more than enough reason to spend an extra day or two in the state.
Wow great view…..i like himachal……………