Himachal Pradesh

Himachal is situated in the western Himalayas. Covering an area of 55,673 kilometres (34,594 mi), Himachal Pradesh is a mountainous state with elevation ranging from about 350 metres (1,148 ft) to 7,000 metres (22,966 ft) above the sea level.

The drainage system of Himachal is composed both of rivers and glaciers. Himalayan rivers criss-cross the entire mountain chain. In fact the rivers are older than the mountain system. Himachal Pradesh provides water to both the Indus and Ganges basins. The drainage systems of the region are the Chandra Bhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, the Sutlej and the Yamuna. These rivers areperennial and are fed by snow and rainfall. They are protected by an extensive cover of natural vegetation.

There is great variation in the climatic conditions of Himachal due to extreme variation in elevation. The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical in the southern tracts to cold, alpine and glacial in the northern and eastern mountain ranges with more elevation. The state has areas like Dharamsala that receive very heavy rainfall, as well as those like Lahaul and Spiti that are cold and almost rainless. Broadly, Himachal experiences three seasons; hot weather season, cold weather season and rainy season. Summer lasts from mid April till the end of June and most parts become very hot (except in alpine zone which experiences a mild summer) with the average temperature ranging from 28 °C (82 °F) to 32 °C (90 °F). Winter lasts from late November till mid March. Snowfall is common in alpine tracts (generally above 2,200 metres (7,218 ft) i.e. in the Higher and Trans-Himalayan region).

Districts

There are twelve districts in Himachel Pradesh State:

• Bilaspur
• Chamba
• Hamirpur
• Kangra
• Kinnaur
• Kullu
• Lahaul and Spiti
• Mandi
• Sirmaur
• Shimla
• Solan
• Una

Cities

• Shimla — the state capital and once the summer capital of the British Raj, it is a cool and charming Himalaya outpost. Major attractions are Jakhoo Hills, British era buildings, Mall road, The Ridge, IIAS, Potters Hill, Tara Devi. It is a largest city in Himachal Pradesh. There are lots of hotels with big names. It can be reached by train, bus and plane.
• Bir — a small town with a large Tibetan community and several Buddhist monasteries
• Dalhousie — a sleepy little town which retains its Victorian charm
• Dharamsala — the home of the Dalai Lama and India's largest Tibetan community, and a major Buddhist center
• Kullu — District HQ of kullu district, a few km south of Manali. Manali is tehsil of Kullu district.
• Manali — a buzzing and popular hill station, it's one of the hubs for travel around this part of the Himalaya
• Jogindernagar — popularly known as Electric City or The City of Powerhouses, the town has scenic hill resorts and tourist attractions nearby.
• Keylong — a small town and HQ of Lahul & Spiti district. It lies on way from Manali to Leh. Last petrol pump (gas station) of Manali-Leh highway is here, next petrol pump is at Leh, which is nearly 350 km away.
• Bilaspur — District HQ of Bilaspur district. First city in himachal pradesh on way to Manali. Main attraction is GovindSagar Lake. It's hot in summer and cold in winters.
• Sundernagar — first town of Mandi District on way to Manali. Main attraction is Sundernagar Lake.
• Mandi — District HQ of Mandi district. Major town. Main attraction is revalsar lake.
• RAMPUR BUSHAHR home of Raja virbhadr singh ,and have nathpa jahkri hydtro power station of 1500MW

Talk

Hindi, Pahari, Punjabi and English are the main languages found in the state. Pahari is a dialect more closely related to Dogri language in lower Himachal. In upper Himachal language of Tibetan origin are used in daily conversation. Every district has its own dialect e.g. bilaspuri mandyali.

By plane

Shimla, Kullu (for Manali) and Kangra or Pathankot (for Dharamsala) have small airports, with services largely limited to Delhi. Flights are frequently cancelled or delayed by adverse weather. In addition the airport in Pathankot (Punjab) can be a convenient connection for Dharamsala and Dalhousie. If you are on a tight budget you might want to skip this option as it is way more costly than other mode of transportation. Airfare on this route is one of the highest in world for a given unit distance. Airport in Shimla is at Jubbal Hatti which is around 40 km away from main Shimla City.

By train

Given the difficult geographical position of State there is very little penetration of railway network. Little rail network available give access to peripheral districts and capital Shimla. Nevertheless it is an amazing experience going from Kalka to Shimla. Kalka-Shimla railway track is also UNESCO world heritage site. Few points in Himachal are easily accessible by train, but there are narrow-gauge railways from Pathankot (Punjab) to Kangra and Kalka (Haryana) to Shimla. This will take you through beautiful rural Himalayan regions. The ride beyond Kangra is amazing. You ride along the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas via Palampur and Baijnath to Joginder Nagar. The region is criss crossed by rivers and streams.

By bus

Bus is the only practical means of getting to many points in Himachal. All cities of interest have direct services to Delhi. There are three different entry routes to Himachal if you are coming from Delhi.

• Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla-Kaza route.
• Delhi-Chandigarh-Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Keylong-Leh
• Delhi-Chandigarh-Kangra-Dharamsala or Delhi-Chandigarh-Kangra-Chamba

all three routes are interconnected within Himachal. It is cheapest means to travel in and around Himachal. There are Volvo buses operated by Himachal State Transport Corporation on these routes.

Get Around

You need inner line permit to visit some part of kinnaur and spiti district.

By bus

Travel by bus can be done throughout for very little (15 hour bus rides are rarely more than a few hundred rupees) on the public buses, and though uncomfortable, are a great way to meet people. Though be careful, as riding an Indian bus is already a hair-raising experience, and riding an Indian bus on steep mountain roads is even more intimidating!

By motorcycle

Enfield motorcycles can be rented here for less than 5 dollars a day, with no verification of a motorcycle license. Note that the area may not be the best place to learn how to ride.

See

Dalhousie is a world-famous hill station, located in the western part of Himachal Pradesh. Dalhousie is basically built on five different hills called Balun, Tehra, Kathlog, Patreyn and Bakrota, and covers an area of 14 sq. Km. Dalhousie is named after one of the British Governor Generals, Lord Dalhousie. Dalhousie has many beautiful churches and charming colonial architecture.

Kullu Valley is very well known as Valley of Gods. It is situated on the Beas river bank in the lower reaches of Himalayas. Rudyard Kipling has written: "Surely the Gods live here; this is no place for men". Kullu is very well known for its ancient temples, festivals and apple orchards. This place is also famous for its handicraft work and woollen work of puhla, shawls, patoos, caps and namdas. The best time to visit Kullu is during Dusshera in the month of October.

Spiti Valley is also known as the Little Tibet due to its vegetation, terrain and climate which are similar to Tibet. Spiti also means Middle Country.

Lahul Valley is green compared to Spiti Valley. It is covered with snow for most of the year. Roads are closed from late October to early May. Its main attractions are Patten Valley and Sri Trilokinath Temple, as well as lots of monasteries.

Do

Trekking opportunities are plenty in the state, here are a few:

• Baralacha-Chandratal Trek — starts from Manali, ends at Chandratal Lake ("Moon" Lake)

• Bhabha Pass Trek — known for lush green flower strewn meadows, picturesque and dense forests. he path for bhaba pass trek passes through a mixed forest of conifers as well as crop fields of Mastrang.

• Bir Bhangal Trek — Bir Bhangal Trek is only for the experienced trekkers who have the experience of solid hiking and camping. This is one of the challenging trekking trails which starts from the Kullu valley.

• Darcha Lamayuru Trek — this is one of the most popular trekking treks in the Himachal Pradesh, and one of the most traversing trek, passing through the Zanskar

• Darcha Padum Trek

• Deo Tibba Expedition

• Friendship Peak Expedition

• Hampta Pass

• Indrahar Pass

Trekking routes in Himachal

• Hamta Trek
• Malana History Trek
• Chander Trail in Kullu Valley
• Wild Trek in Kullu Valley
• Dharamsala Chhota Bhangal over sari Pass Kullu
• Morchella trek
• Manali Hamya Herbal Trek
• Kinner Kailash Parikrama
• Hamirpur Deotsidh Sri Naina Devi Trek
• Maidi to Nadaun
• Bharmaur Kugti Udaipur Manali trek

Learn

• Buddhism. Classes for study of Buddhism are taught in Dharamsala and Bir.
• Yoga. There are several places to study yoga in Dharamsala.

Eat

HP food is often very simple but nutritious, including daal, rice, roti, vegetables, paneer, curds and pickles in the Punjabi influenced Pahari regions. Further North, Tibetan influence is stronger and barley is the main staple grain. Some of the specialities of Himachal include Manee',Madira,Pateer, Chouck, Bhagjery and chutney of Til.

In the Tibetan influenced regions, "Chhang" (fermented rice wine) is common.

Sleep

There are plenty of hotels and restaurants in and around District HQ as well as main tourist places. There are rest houses of HP PWD at places where it is hard to find hotels.

Source: 
http://wikitravel.org/en/Himachal_Pradesh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himachal_Pradesh

Manikaran

Manikaran (Punjabi: ਮਨੀਕਰਨ) is located in the Parvati Valley between the rivers Beas and Parvati, northeast of Bhuntar in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. It is at an altitude of 1760 m and is located about 45 km from Kullu.

This small town attracts tourists visiting Manali and Kullu to its hot springs and piligrim centres. An experimental geothermal energy plant has also been set up here.
Manikaran is a pilgrimage centre for Hindus and Sikhs. The Hindus believe that Manu recreated human life in Manikaran after the flood, making it a sacred area. It has many temples and a gurudwara. There are temples of the Hindu deities Rama, Krishna, and Vishnu. The area is well known for its hot springs and its beautiful landscape.
According to legend, when the Hindu God Shiva and his consort Parvati were walking in the valley, Parvati dropped one of her earrings. The jewel was seized by Shesha, the serpent deity, who then disappeared into the earth with it. Shesha only surrendered the jewel when Shiva performed the cosmic dance, the Tandava and shot the jewel up through the water. Apparently, jewels continued to be thrown up in the waters at Manikaran until the earthquake of 1905.

Sikh Belief

According to the Sikhs, during third Udasi, his founder Guru Nanak came to this place in 15 Asu 1574 Bikrami with his disciple Bhai Mardana. Mardana felt hungry and they had no food. Nanak sent Mardana to collect food for the langar (the Community Kitchen). Many people donated atta (flour) to make Roti(bread). The one problem was that there was no fire to cook the food. Nanak asked Mardana to lift a stone and he complied and a hot spring appeared. As directed by Nanak, Mardana put the rolled chappatis in the spring to his despair the chappatis sank. Nanak then told him to pray to God saying that if his chappatis float back then he would donate one chappati in His name. When he prayed all the chappatis started floating duly baked. Nanak said that anyone who donates in the name of God, his drowned items float back.

Hindu Belief

The legend of Manikaran states that while roaming around, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, once chanced upon a place that was surrounded by mountains and was lush green. Enamoured by the beauty of the place, they decided to spend some time there. It is believed that they actually spent eleven hundred years here.
During their stay here, Goddess Parvati lost her mani in the waters of a stream. Upset over the loss, she asked Shiva to retrieve it. Lord Shiva commanded his attendant to find out the mani for Parvati, however, when they failed, he was extremely angry. He opened his third eye, a tremendously inauspicious event which led to disturbances in the universe. An appeal was made before the serpent god, Sheshnag, to pacify Lord Shiva. Sheshnag hissed thereby giving rise to a flow of boiling water. The water spread over the entire area resulting in the emergence of precious stones of the type Goddess Parvati had lost. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were happy at the outcome.
The name Manikaran is derived from this legend. The water is still hot and is considered extremely auspicious. A pilgrimage to this place is thought of as complete. It is also believed that there is no need to pay a visit to Kashi after visiting this place. The water of the spring is also supposed to have curative powers. The water is so hot that rice can be cooked in it.

The Hindu Temples at Manikaran

Lord Ramchandra Temple

The temple was constructed by Raja Jagat Singh in the 17th century. Though there is no historical evidence backing, still the idol of Shri Ram installed here is believed to have been brought straight from.

Temple of Lord Shiva

This temple is hugely revered as it belongs to Lord Shiva. However, an earthquake in 1905 caused damage to the temple and it was slightly tilted. The importance of Manikaran is also judged from the fact that devtas of Kullu valley pay regular visit to this place on specified dates.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manikaran

Kasol

State :  Himachal Pradesh 
Temperature : 8°C - 25°C (Summers) 0°C - 11°C (Winters) 
Altitude: 1720 mts 

Best Season :
Mid-March - mid-April; mid-September - mid-November. May and June could be hot months in this area and December-January are unbearably cold.

Kasol is a village situated in Parvati Valley, on the banks of the Parvati River, on the way between Bhuntar to Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh, northern India. It is located 42 km east of Kullu at the height of 1640 meters. Kasol is partitioned into Old Kasol and New Kasol on the either side of the bridge.


On first sight, anyone would simply traverse through Kasol. It is only after some time is invested in exploring it, that one realizes how beautiful and picture perfect it is. The population here is balanced equally between local Himachalis and foreign settlers. If one questions the presence of blonde toddlers on the village streets mingling with their Indian buddies, the story of old time angrezi (foreigner) settlers will be narrated.

Kasol has recently transformed into a hub for backpackers, who are attracted to the scenic valley, untouched hills, low population, and great climate throughout the year. Kasol is also a base for Trekking in Himalaya in the area, to SarPass, Yanker Pass, Pin Parbati Pass and Khiriganga. Most of the Trekking is Organized by Youth Hostel of India and the Base Camp For the Sarpass Trek is at Kasol. Some Psychedelic Trance parties are also common in Kasol, due to the heavy rush of the visitors.

Visitors from Israel are common in Kasol and One can see the Hebrew language Banners through out the Valley.

The Himalayan Trekking from Kasol Base Camp is famous for its location beside the freezing ice melted waters of Mighty river Parvati.One of the experience of Trekking Training at Kasol YHAI Base Camp is briefly written with Pictures here.
The shops in the village of Kasol have western food and clothes. There is only one school which has classes up to 7th grade. The nearest college is in Kullu. People in the village also grow a few vegetables and sell it. There are many restaurants on the both sides of the main road of Kasol along with Foreign Money Exchange. The nearest ATM is within 25 km at Jhari while all other facilities are available at Bhuntar (40 km). Plenty of guest houses and hotels are available at quite cheap tariffs. Bhuntar is the nearest airport which also has a couple of banks and ATM centres.

Needless to say, the river is icy cold but not enough of a restriction to wandering horses that pass through each morning, sounding their approach through the woods.

Cooking in the wild is always enjoyable but if the palate is hungry for pampering, then options of pancakes and apple-pies are easily available from the German Bakery in the village. And of course, the Indian Dhaba cuisine is unbeatable - nothing beats the stuffed aloo paratha (potato baked within flat bread) and hot chai (tea) with the mist drifting past, literally sniffing in the delicious aromas.

You can indulge in walking. Journey down the forest, climb the hills, chase off to Manikaran on the trekkers track - through streams and rocky paths, wide enough to take only one foot at a time. Just remember to step aside courteously, as large herds of sheep file past, casting secretive looks towards all those who don't look like them!

It would be an understatement to say that time comes to a standstill. Spend a week or a lifetime and go back craving for more. Kasol is not just an ordinary village. It’s not just another getaway from the heat zones. It’s an experience and the sole way to enjoy is to experience it! 

Attractions
Kasol is a pleasant place to be in for a vacation. Though the place itself is an attraction, you may stroll about amidst its beautiful orchards. Or discover the fresh green of the terraced rice cultivation. If you have the license, you can spend cool lazy afternoons fishing for trout. An angler’s paradise, Kasol is an open space by the banks of the Parvati river. Clean white sands and green grass is what makes it look a dainty beautiful place. All you need is a license and hours can be spent lolling by the side of the stream, trying to hook a catch.

Quick Getaways
You can travel to Manikaran, 45 kms away from Kasol, which is famous for its hot sulphur springs. There are separate baths for men and women. Another quick getaway is Chhalal, a quiet, pretty village that is at a distance of only a 20-minute from Kasol.

Getting There & Away
By Air : The nearest airport is at Bhuntar, 30 kms away. 
By Road : You can reach Kasol by road via Kullu, is 42 kms away. There are a number of taxis as well as local buses that ply daily from Kullu.

Hotels
www.hotelgreenvalleykasol.com
www.thehimalayanvillage.in
www.sandhyapalace.com/sandhya_kasol.html

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasol,
http://indiandiscovery.com/himachal-tourism/kasol.html