SHIMLA

1. Adventure Resort - Adventure Resorts New Kufri HIMACHAL’S FIRST ADVANCED AMUSEMENT PARK surrounded with great Hiking, skiing, beautiful scenes and loads of adventure that’s all about Kufri Fun campus. which is famous for Zip Line 200M, Swing it, Mini Skater, Kangaroo Jump, Wave Train, Smash Car etc..

2. Jakhoo Temple - Jakhoo Temple is an ancient temple in Shimla, dedicated to Hindu deity, Hanuman. From the hill, visitors can enjoy wonderful panoramic views of the Shivalik Ranges and the sister town of Sanjauli. The 108 feet tall idol of Lord Hanuman located at the top of the hill is a big attraction for tourists. It is situated on Jakhoo Hill, 2.5 km /1.3 miles east from the Ridge, Shimla at a height of 2,455 m above sea level. Each year, a festival is held on Dussehra. The temple is accessible by foot, horse, or taxi.

3. The Ridge - The Ridge road is a large open space, located in the heart of Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, India. The Ridge is the hub of all cultural activities of Shimla. It is situated along the Mall Road, which is the famous shopping center of Shimla. It is one of the most famous attractions in Shimla that is worth seeing with family and friends. The Ridge connects the Mall road at the Scandal point on the west side and offers a panoramic view of the snowy mountains of Shimla.

4. Christ Church - Christ Church, Shimla, is the second oldest church in North India, after St John's Church in Meerut. It is a parish in the Diocese of Amritsar in the Church of North India. The majestic appearance of the church and its stunning location makes it a prime attraction in Shimla. At night, the church literally glows when it is lighted up, while in winters, it dons the look of a magnificent castle. As it is located at the most prominent road of Shimla, The Ridge, it has become an important landmark in the city. The Church can be seen in some of the scenes of popular movies like Black and 3 Idiots.

5. The Mall - Mall Road is the main street in Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, India. Constructed during British colonial rule, the Mall road is located a level below the ridge. The Mall Road is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Shimla that enfolds many hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars, banks, shops etc. People can walk up and down the Mall road slowly and enjoy the scenic views of the nature by sipping up a hot favorite coffee.

6. Green Valley View - Green Valley is a picnic spot in Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British regime. It lies on National Highway 22, 7 km away from Shimla on the way to Kufri Hill station. This site is easily noticeable for those who are travelling from Shimla to Kufri. As the name suggests this valley surrounded by small mountains with pine forests is as green as one can imagine.

7. Kalka Shimla Railway is a narrow-gauge railway in North India which traverses a mostly-mountainous route from Kalka to Shimla. It is known for dramatic views of the hills and surrounding villages. The railway was built under the direction of Herbert Septimus Harington between 1898 and 1903 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British Raj, with the rest of the Indian rail system. On 8 July 2008, UNESCO added the Kalka–Shimla railway to the mountain railways of India World Heritage Site.

The railway has 988 bridges and viaducts and a ruling gradient of 1 in 33, or three percent. It has 917 curves and the sharpest is 48 degrees. The most architecturally complex bridge is No. 226 which spans a deep valley which required that it had to be constructed in five stages with each level having its own stone arched tier. One hundred seven tunnels were originally built, but as a result of landslides only 102 remain in use.

8. Kali Bari Temple - The famous Kalibari Temple of Shimla is a popular tourist destination, and is dedicated to Goddess Kali, who is also known as Shyamala. In the temple, a wooden image of the Goddess Kali in the form of Shyamala is worshipped.

The shrine houses a captivating idol of Goddess Kali beautifully adorned with jewellery and colourful flowers. This religious spot is very famous in Shimla and people coming here make it a point to visit the temple, which is located in Jakhu Hill. It is set amidst the lush green forests of Shimla and offers a magnificent view of the Himalayas, and this is the reason why tourists love to explore this stunning hilltop.

9. Scandal Point - Scandal Point is located to the western edge of Shimla where two of the city's most important roads, The Ridge and Mall Road, converge. This pleasant small square which is over looked by the mock-Tudor state post office has the bizarre name of Scandal Point and where there is an intriguing name there must be an equally gripping story, which sadly, can be only loosely based on facts.

10. Sankat Mochan Temple - One of the most popular tourist attractions of Shimla, the Sankat Mochan Temple is located among lush green and tranquil locales in this beautiful hill station. Tourists visit this temple to pay obeisance to the deities of Lord Rama and other notable gods of the Hindu pantheon. Shri Sankat Mochan temple in Simla is located on the Kalka - Shimla highway, on the National Highway - 22. The temple is a place where one can actually meditate and enjoy the calm and peaceful surroundings. Lush green trees surround Sankat Mochan Temple and the backdrop consists of the imposing and lofty Himalayan ranges and a light mist adds the mystical touch to that place. Let us take a look at the temple's history.

MANALI

1. Hidimba Devi Temple is dedicated to the wife of Bhim, one of the five Pandava brothers in the Indian epic Mahabharata. As the legend goes, Bhim married Hadimba and they had a son. Later on, Hadimba left the place and became a spiritual. The area surrounding the temple gives a festive look always as tourist dressed up in traditional colorful dress available at price for photography. This wooden temple is beautifully designed in a Pagoda style. There are many wooden carving works in the walls and main entrance door of the temple. The temple does not have an idol of the Goddess but a huge stone carrying her footprint is kept here.

2. Manu Temple which is believed to be the only temple of Manu in India, who is considered as the creator of the human race on earth. Located at a distance of 3 km from the main bazaar in Old Manali, the temple is believed to be the abode of Manu, the ancient law-giver of India. The temple is one of the prime attractions in Manali and is believed to be the same place where sage Manu meditated after stepping on earth. Though this area is quite congested, the presence of the River Beas adds to its attraction. The popularity of this majestic temple lies in the fact that it is the only temple dedicated to Manu; so whoever visits Manali makes it a point to visit this temple. The travellers are advised to wear dresses covering the knees and shoulders, while inside the temple.

3. Vashist springs and temple in a tiny hamlet situated on the bank of Beas River that turns towards Rohtang. It is well known for its hot sulphur springs and temples. Taking a dip in this water is considered sacred by many. Vashisht village is a green patch of steep hill hanging at the base on a cliff. The village is 6 km from Manali at the banks of the Beas River opposite Old Manali. Vashisht is reachable from Manali by half an hour walk or a short drive up a slanting road by Auto Rickshaw for Rs.50. Most foreign tourists preferred staying here or at the Old Manali than the downtown Manali. The Vashisht temple is believed to be more than 4000 years old. The Vashisht Hot Water Spring is one of the famous attractions of this region.

Timings: Vashist Temple: 7 am to 9 pm,

Vashisht baths: 7 am to 1 pm, and 2 pm to 9 pm on all days.

4. Nehru Kund - The Nehru Kund is a natural spring which was named after the first prime minister of India Late Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru. The prime minister loved visiting the place and drinking the crystal clear water from the spring when he used to stay in Manali. The graceful clean water spring is said to have its source at the Bhrigu Lake. The sound of the bubbling water amidst the peaceful silence of the place will play like music to your ears. The Nehru Kund is conveniently located on the National Highway on the way to Leh. It has emerged as a must visit for the tourists in Manali. One of the many exciting Manali Tourist Attractions, the Nehru Kund is only a 6 km journey from the heart of the Manali Town towards Keylong. The serenity of the place will please any mortal on earth.

5. The Manali Gompa which serves as an important gathering place for Buddhists from Lahaul, Spiti, Kinnaur, Ladakh, Nepal and Tibet. Built in the 1960s, the new monastery is famous for its wall paintings, Chortens and a large statue of Lord Buddha. It's always pleasing to visit the monastery as it is situated amidst the lush green natural surroundings of Manali. Besides its pristine location, the monastery is famous for its wall paintings, Chortens and a large statue of Lord Buddha. Within the complex, there are small shops that sell unique Tibetan handicrafts and carpets. It is mostly visited by Families, Backpackers, Senior Citizens.

6. Van Vihar which is a municipal garden is situated in front of the Tibetan market on Mall Road. In the lake located within the park, tourists can opt for boating. The park is adorned with big deodar trees. The park is open to tourists as well as locals for sightseeing and also provides recreation facilities like horse riding and camping.

Timings: 8 am - 7 pm in summer and 8 am - 5 pm in winter.

Entry Fee: Rs 5 per person, Boating Charge - Rs 30/ Person for 15 mins.

7. Jogini Falls - At a distance of 4 Km from Vashisht Temple and 7.5 Km from Manali Bus Stand, Jogini or Jogni Falls is a beautiful waterfall situated near Vashisht Village in Manali. The waterfall is formed by a stream which is merged in to Beas River in the downstream. The waterfall can be reached by trekking from Vashisht Temple. The trek to Jogini Falls is one of the best short treks near Manali. It passes through a narrow lane adjacent to Vashisht temple and goes through apple orchards, tall pine trees and small water streams. Few restaurants and guest houses are also available on the way to the fall. A gentle walk will take 1 hour to reach the base of waterfall. Top point of the waterfall can be reached by a walk of another 15 mins. The whole trek route is very scenic through beautiful villages aligned with the sprawling valleys.

8. Apple Orchard - Shimla & Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh are known as the apple country for they are the apple bowl of India, producing juicy red apples that are enjoyed across the globe. Just before the crop is ready to be plucked in August end or early September, all you see on both sides of the road and in deep valleys is apples hanging from the branches of short trees. The visit to apple orchard will certainly be a fruitful experience.

9. Solang Valley - When heading to Manali, two absolutely essential destinations in the itinerary are Rohtang and Solang Valley. Located at a distance of 13 kms from Manali, Solang Valley lies between Solang village and Beas Kund. A favourite for adventure enthusiasts, parachuting to paragliding, horse riding to driving mini-open jeeps specially available for tourists of all age groups, Solang Valley has it all. It offers a beautiful view of glaciers and snow capped mountains. Since the valley has fine ski slopes, it is a perfect place for skiing. When snow melts in the summer, skiing is replaced by parachuting, zorbing, paragliding and horse riding. For snow lovers, the best time to visit Solang Valley is between the months of December to February.

TIMING: All days of the week 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

ENTRY FEE: Rs 500 per person for zorbing Rs 1200 per person for paragliding Rs 500 per person for ropeway (both side)

10. Rohtang Pass - Located at a height of 3978 mts and at a distance of 51 kms from Manali, Rohtang Pass is on the highway to Keylong/Leh. In winters, the pass remains closed but is open from June to October for motor vehicles. This pass is a gateway to Lahaul Spiti, Pangi and Leh valley. The best time to visit the pass is between May/June to October/November. In the month of May, Rohtang becomes a hotspot for adventure enthusiasts. Tourists can go for various thrilling activities like snow scooter, skiing and mountain biking. Nature lovers can enjoy beautiful views of glaciers, peaks and Chandra river that flows down in the Lahaul valley. There is a waterfall named as Rahala, which is located at a distance of 16 kms from Manali on the way to Rohtang Pass. This waterfall flows down from an altitude of 2,500 metres and looks amazingly wonderful. Photography buffs must visit this pass as they get to click one of the most beautiful pictures of nature.