Places to visit in Himachal Pradesh

Snow peaks, apple orchards and hill towns.

Capital ShimlaPlaces in this guide 9

Places to see

Kullu

Mountain town at the head of the Kullu valley, gateway to Solang and the Atal Tunnel.

Best time: Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct

Former British summer capital with the Mall Road and the UNESCO toy train.

Best time: Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct

Lahul and Spiti

High-altitude desert of monasteries like Key and Dhankar and villages like Langza.

Best time: May–Sep

Kangra

Home of the Dalai Lama and start of the Triund trek.

Best time: Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct

Kullu

Riverside village in the Parvati valley, base for Kheerganga.

Best time: Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct

Chamba

Colonial hill station near the meadow of Khajjiar.

Best time: Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct

Lahul and Spiti

Thousand-year-old monastery on a hill above the Spiti river.

Best time: May–Oct

Chamba

Meadow ringed by deodar forest, nicknamed India's mini Switzerland.

Best time: Mar–Oct

Kangra

One of the world's top paragliding sites, with Tibetan monasteries.

Best time: Oct–Nov

Siddu, Dham, Chha gosht.

Kullu shawl, Kangra painting.

Kullu Dussehra, Kullu: Oct (starts on Vijayadashami). A week-long gathering of village deities in Dhalpur maidan.

Timings, permits and prices change. Check official sources before you travel.