The Ridge has always played a key role in the royal history of Shimla. Being located at the heart of this hill town, the ridge lies on the side of the Mall road. It is a wide-open clean and the majestic road that attracts the major tourists visiting the ‘British summer Capital’. Description: The Ridge, Shimla has everything to gather around tourists. It has many shops on its sides which can be spotted selling exquisite artifacts all through the day. Tourists can spend several hours here by watching the outstanding view of the snow-laded mountain tops under the bluish hued sky. This space is a perfect delight for all sorts of tourists including families and honeymooners. In a true sense, the Ridge has been classified as the most acknowledged face of Shimla. The Ridge is not just a shopping center but is a popular social hub of Shimla. Tourists who are bored with local sightseeing often throng the open place along with nature enthusiasts. Traveler Tips: • Remember no vehicles are allowed here. • Do not leave your disposals here and there as the local people and Shimla government is strict about keeping the place clean. Things to Do: Besides sightseeing, Ridge is famous for shopping. The roadside is lined with a wide range of shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars and cafes which attract travelers visiting the Mall Road, Shimla. The wide road of Ridge connects the scandal point at its east and reaches the famous Lakkar bazaar in its west. It is to the most photographed area of Shimla mainly due to its spectacular scenic beauty. It remains covered with Himalayan oak, pine, rhododendron and firs trees. History: Three historical statues are there on the Ridge which includes Y.S. Parmar, Indira Gandhi, and Mahatma Gandhi. It also hosts an ancient library of 1910. There is a beautiful old church on the side of Ridge, which was built in 1850. Architecture: Due to its climate conditions and abandoned natural beauty, Shimla was officially declared as the summer capital of India. With its 2205 meters altitude, the old British establishments here make the Ridge heart of the hill town. The majestic past of Shimla is apparent from the gothic structures standing on the sides of Ridge. Apart from being the cultural hub, the Ridge houses the lifeline of the hill town, the water reservoir. It was built in 1880 and is worked with single lime mortar. It can store up to 1000000 gallons of water. All these water tanks are placed beneath Ridge and are responsible for supplying water to the whole city. Festival: All the government organized fairs and festivals are held on the Ridge, Shimla. Among these functions, the most popular one is the summer festival which is organized during April – May of the year. It was first celebrated in 1960 and since then every year Shimla enjoys this colorful festival. The whole area of Ridge gets a blast with booming colors and cultural activities. It becomes a five-day-long extravaganza. Various events also take place on the eve of this festival those include flower shows, folk dances, ice skating festivals, Himachali film festivals, and food festivals. During winter, the Ridge hosts the winter sports festival. Do you know that Shimla is the only place in the entire Asian continent that has a natural ice skating rink? During December – February, a national level ice skating competition is held here. Various dance and music shows take place during that. Best Time to Visit: The Ridge, Shimla hosts tourists from all over the world throughout the year. Though the best time to make a visit here is during April- August and December – January (most crowded here!). Moreover, festival times are a must-visit here! How to Reach? • By air –You need to board a flight for Chandigarh airport (115 km away). After reaching the airport hire any public transport to reach Shimla. • By road – Shimla is very well connected with Chandigarh and Delhi via roadways. Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) runs many bus services fr Shimla. Or, you can hire a private cab. • By train – Kalka – Shimla toy train is the most-hyped medium for reaching Shimla through railways. Kalka is well connected by railways with Chandigarh and Delhi. Nearby Attractions: • The Mall Road • Jakhoo Temple • Ropeway ride Plan your trip now!
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Dhankar Village is not a popular name today but once it was the capital of the entire Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. The Nono kings used to seat here for ruling over Spiti. This small village is located at a distance of 34 km from Shimla. The entire village includes a total of 70 approximate odd houses. The major attraction of the village is its age-old monastery which is called Dhankar Gompa. In total two monasteries are there in Dhankar Village, one is new and another is old. The older one is an ancient piece of wonder that attracts many tourists from the globe. The word ‘Dhang’ replies cliff and ‘Kar’ replies fort. So, the name ‘Dhankar’ for the monastery suggests a fort on the cliff, which it truly is. It is founded on 100 feet high edge on the hill. Traveler Tips: • Traveling from April – September? Carry lots of sunscreen lotion, sunblock lip balm, cold cream and also some thermals. Otherwise, regular cotton clothes are enough. • Traveling from October – March? You should definitely pack all the heavy woolens, thermals and good quality jackets. • There are no hotels available for staying in Dhankar Village, only homestays. • Only the BSNL network is active here. Don’t you have a BSNL connection? Be ready to spend your holidays without your mobile phones. Only the new monastery has land phone connections. Things to Do: Dhankar Gompa, Lahaul & Spiti Valley tour is for those who want to spend some pleasant and undisturbed holidays in the lap of nature. There are not many things to do here. You will get a serene and tranquil surrounding to relax, far away from the daily humdrum of the city life. Enjoy the beautiful views of the confluence of two Rivers – Spiti and Pin. From the hilltop, it is worth getting captured with your camera clicks. You can also enjoy an early morning trek here through the hills. And, last but not the least, talk to the monks and lamas, listen to their stories and understand their simple lifestyle. You can also visit the Dhankat lake. You need to trek for 2 km uphill from Dhankar Gompa. Architecture: Dhankar Gompa, Lahaul & Spiti Valley was constructed as a fort style monastery. The entire structure is really spectacular. A Dhayan Buddha or Vairochana statue is there that consists of four figures and those are seating in a row. This is definitely a noteworthy attraction of Dhankar Gompa. Apart from that, there is a small museum where you can spot some scriptures of the Buddhists, murals showing Medicine Gautam Buddha, protector idols and several thangkas for visiting too. This monastery is almost 1200 years old and offers a phenomenal view of the surrounding. Today, all the lamas reside in the new one and not in the older monastery. The older monastery has connections with Rinchen Zanggpo, who is a famous translator. The monastery complex includes several perched multi-story structures. The monastery has five separate halls – Dukhang, Lhakhang and Kanjur. A giant-sized Vajradhara image is there which is kept inside a glass altar and decorated with flowers and scarves. Popular Culture: There are about 150 lamas who reside in the new monastery. Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Dhankar Gompa in the Dhankar Village is between May and September. Actually this time all the roads remain open and tourists may travel here through Shimla and Manali. In fact, to cover the entire valley of Spiti, you can enter through one end of it and exit via another on the other end. Weather remains pleasant this duration. To be here in winter require expertise and experience of living in this cold at this high altitude. How to Reach? By air –you need to reach Kullu airport as it is the nearby airport of the Spiti region. Hire a cab from there to reach Dhankar Village. By train – you need to take trains for Joginder Nagar railway station or Shimla railway station to reach Spiti Valley. By road – Spiti remains well-connected via roadways during May and November. You can travel by any transport via Kunzum la Paas. There is another route from Shimla which crosses the Kinnaur district. There are two alternative roads too to reach Spiti Valley which remains open throughout the year, are – Via Shimla – Kinnaur valley -> Kinnaur -> Nako -> Sumdo ->Tabo -> Kaza Via Manali – Rohtang Pass -> Gramphu -> Chattru -> kunzum Pass -> Kaza (capital of Spiti valley) Nearby Attractions: • Dhankar Fort • Dhankar Lake • Kye Monastery • Kaza • Kunzum Pass • Pin Valley National Park • Kibber • Tabo Monastery • Tabo Cave • Langza Village, etc. The authorities of Dhankar Village are concentrating on increasing tourist flow to raise the basic standard of living for the people and the village. Dhankar Gompa, Lahaul & Spiti Valley is definitely a heaven for the nature-lovers, peace-seekers, and photographers.
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Every tourist destination you visit, whether it is a hill station or a desert, a beach, or an urban jungle, you can be sure to find a point where tourists would flock every day to witness the beautiful sunrise and sunset. Even the queen of hill stations, Darjeeling is blessed with one such mesmerizing location and this is the Jhandi Dara Sunrise Point. This beautiful sightseeing attraction makes people fall in love with the beauty of the city. Tourists can travel to Jhandi Dara Sunrise Point – Darjeeling to experience the breathtakingly beautiful scenery of the sun rising from behind the mountains. From the top of the Jhandi Dara viewpoint, you can easily bring together the plains of Dooars, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kanchenjunga, and Nathula all in a single frame. Traveler Tips: It is important that you go to this sunrise point early in the morning itself so that you can catch the perfect spot to witness the sun rising from the snow-capped mountains in its full glory. Reach there at least an hour before the actual sunrise time to see the hues of the sky changing from dark to subtle shades of red and orange. You might have to undertake a small hike or trek to reach the top of the viewpoint. So, it is advisable that you wear hiking shoes and avoid wearing anything uncomfortable to climb up easily. Things to Do : You can pick a perfect spot here and enjoy the sunrise. This is the perfect place to soak in peace and tranquility. You can also be sure that traveling to this Jhandi Dara sunrise point would fill your mind, body, and soul with positivity. You can come here with your loved ones and engulf in the peace and tranquility that the place offers. Apart from that, you can also lookout for the lush green and dense stretches of Sal and Pine trees. The forests are spread evenly before the top of the Kanchenjunga mountain range from where the sun plays peek-a-boo if there are clouds. The backdrop of the snowy mountains, the green forests in front of them, and the fiery red sun rising from there, the scene looks like taken from a picture book. Best Time to Visit: Sunrises are beautiful irrespective of the time of the year. However, if you want to view the mountain ranges draped in a sheet of white, it is important that you visit this beautiful sunrise point during the months of September and November. These three months are ideal as the mountains are covered in snow and the temperature is still moderate and hasn’t dropped sub-zero. Avoid visiting this sunrise point during the rainy season and during the winters as the climate could go really harsh on you. How to Reach: Reaching the Jhandi Dara Sunrise Point in Darjeeling is not very difficult. Once you are in this hill station, you can ask any taxi driver, autovala, or book a can to reach the Jhandi Dara sunrise point. Tips For Visiting: Don’t forget to carry your camera to capture the beautiful scenes that this Jhandi Dara Sunrise Point in Darjeeling offers, While the camera lens can do no justice to the mesmerizing view that your eyes would witness, you can still take the pictures as a souvenir of the view.
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Rupin Pass is a traditional hiking option and route that is loved and recommended by hike lovers and various trekkers. It is situated in the state of Uttarakhand and begins from Dhaula. The Pass ends near sangla in Himachal Pradesh. Rupin Pass sangla has an altitude of about 4650m and it is a delight for various trek lovers to go for. The trek is believed to be a beautiful journey around the Rupin Pass where every step brings in new scenery. The Rupin river flows close by to the Pass as well. You are expected to find almost everything around this Pass be it a hanging village, deep pine forest or even glacial valleys and waterfalls. It is an amazing trek that is widely loved by the people of all genres mainly because of the great scenery the Rupin Pass has to offer. The Rupin Pass generally has the rupendra river which flows alongside the trail melting down from the glaciers that you will be seeing right in front of you. The Rupin Pass Trek which people mostly opt for is moderately difficult Trek done at a stretch of about 10 kilometres. the natural essence and greenery of this area has attracted people all over since the last few decades and continues to do so. Traveller Tips • Majority of the people opt for the Rupin Pass Trek instead of any other medium of transport because of the beautiful natural essence it has to offer • the track is believed to be moderately difficult and hence proper guidance is extremely recommended. • As you cover the Rupin Pass Sangla you are expected to be visiting two States at the same time. One is Uttrakhand while the other is Himachal Pradesh. • It is about 15,000 feet in elevation and therefore you are expected to see snow at mostly all times during the year and hence scaring on clothing accordingly e is a wise decision. • The drive from Dhaula to Rupin Pass is a very mountainous terrain drive and therefore you are expected to go through some bumpy roads. Hence brace yourself for those bumps. Things to do • The most ideal thing to do while being in Rupin Pass Sangla is Trek. It is an extremely favourable and recommended trekking option which a lot of people of for when they are visiting this place. • Another very amazing thing that most travellers opt for when they are visiting group in Pass is to camp around in this place. As you are expected to get encountered with a lot of green beautiful meadows spending a little more time there is something that you should think of. • Visiting the waterfall that directly comes from the melting of glaciers is something that you cannot miss when you are around the Rupin Pass Sangla. It is a beautiful thing in which you will witness how glaciers melt and become rivers. • While camping at Rupin Pass most travellers like to stargaze as well. The area is extremely pollution-free and therefore you are expected to get one of the cleanest quality of air which makes the entire process of stargazing all the more appealing. Availability Be it for accommodation or any other reason you need to check on the availability before finally visiting this place. Human habitation is very scanty in places like these with greater Himalayan terrain therefore accommodation or any other arrangement takes about a prior notice to be done. It is therefore absolutely recommended that before you finalize the time to visit, you should check on the availability. As more and more people are being aware of the existence of this place they are being more interested to visit and hence the availability becomes a very major thing to look out for. History It is believed that inhabitation in Rupin Pass Sangla is something that has happened over the past few decades. Initially, the place was always covered with ice and snow and hence it was next to impossible for the people to live in places like these. Hence with the glaciers turning into water and the Rupin river coming into existence people have started to live in this area. Architecture People living near the Rupin Pass Sangla generally have a very Pahari architecture to their culture. Most of the houses are made up of wood a few of them have now transferred to cemented homes with chimneys on top to keep their home warm during winters. Festivals As Rupin Pass Sangla is very close to both Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh is generally has festivals like both the states. Buddhist dominating the area Buddha Purnima or guru Purnima is a major festival that they celebrate. Culture There exist a perfect harmony and cultural diversity in places near Rupin Pass and therefore all the festivals and cultures live together amongst the people of the area. Best time to visit It is believed the best time to visit Rupin Pass Sangla is during May and June. As the weather remains warm and pleasant it is extremely recommended to visit during this time. monsoon can be troublesome and therefore is advisable not to travel during monsoon. Months from September to October can also be ideal for travelling to Rupin Pass as the weather is cool and the temperature doesn't drop too down. How to reach? The easiest way to reach Rupin Pass is by taking a drive from Dhaula to be an area close by. You have to stop near Rupin waterfall and then take to walk to the Rupin Pass. Another extremely accessible and recommended way to reach Rupin Pass is through trekking. You can also travel from Sangla to Rupin Pass. Interesting Facts • Rupin Pass Sangla newage destination for travel lovers and something that is being recommended through a lot of mountaineers. • Rupin Pass Trek is believed to be one of the most highest Himalayan Trek • The area of Rupin Pass is filled with all kinds of the forest with various varieties of trees and shrubs • The glacier water that comes and falls from the Rupin waterfall is from the Saraswati glacier. Nearby Attractions • The lower waterfall side is an amazing campsite and has proper amenities as well. • The top of the waterfall is also something that people look out for • The Pass crossway is a must-visit that you need to make while being in Rupin Pass • The nearby pine forest is also something people visit.
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The little town of Nichar is situated in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. This little town is so abandoned why the tourists that it has now gained popularity for its calmness quietness and it welcomes guests and tourist all over the year. This is a village which is situated in between the Wangtu and Taranda regions of Himachal Pradesh.This is a place which is pretty famous for animals like the Himalayan Black and Red Bears. This beautiful town is on the western banks of the Satlej River and known for the luscious green, rocky terrains amongst others. It is situated about 2100 metres above sea level and has a total population of merely 600 to 700 people in this region.Travel TipsThese are few travel tips that you can keep in mind whenever you are thinking of visiting Nichar Kinnaur• It is advisable to carry electronic lighting devices like a torch as this town nestled in Kinnaur often has the habit of losing power. And on top to this problem is the fact that there is thick forest all around you it is always advisable to keep a torch handy.• This little town has various antelopes and other animals which can be spotted every now and then and therefore it is recommended by the natives of this place not to wander about especially after sunset.• The temperature here is always mild and hence caring extra-warm clothes especially for this place is not necessary.• Rain is pretty common in this place and therefore carrying an umbrella will serve you better than not.Things to doThough this town has not much to offer because of the lack of population get an amazing place to visit, here are a few things that you can do while you are staying back at this location –• Wake up to greenery! The town of Nichar is so filled with greenery that's the morning freshness that you are going to get after waking up and coming to your balcony will be like a breath of fresh air right at your doorstep.• As the town is it discovered much or explored it makes the perfect and ideal thing to go and search for new things along the trail.• The Sutlej River is around 5 kilometres away from the town taking a walk to and back as a day trip would be a bad experience view as the roads are filled with green and you can cite a few animals as well.AvailabilityThough the little town of Nichar Kinnaur is not much of a tourist attraction but the budding new explorers finding this little place to perfect getaway they need. Nichar has almost no accommodation options and therefore before finalising your stay here it is recommended to check the availability of the few hotels which are situated in this place. The peak seasons luckily all throughout the year apart from the winter season as the temperature this area is mild and pleasant.HistoryNot many people are quite aware of the history of this place. Yet it is believed that earlier it was just a dense forest situated in the state of Himachal which litter suffered deforestation due to the fact that human inhabitation had to be preceded. That is one of the main reasons why animals like antelopes and Himalayan bears can still be supported in these areas. The most major number of people living here are Hindus.ArchitectureModernization has failed to dawn in this town of Himachal Pradesh where people are still a few decades back. Therefore the very old Pahari architecture still persists in this village with tiled roof along with wooden floorings and walls. Yet a few places exist after tourism has boomed in this area where modernisation has peep through. A few houses are now being built with cement and our pakka Ghar instead. Yet wall paintings are a major fascination in the architectural aspect of the people of this town.FestivalFlaich Ukhayang is the most widely celebrated in the town of Nichar Kinnaur. It is also known as the flower festival that takes place in the month of September and October. It is mostly about the people celebrating with music dance and a fair being held somewhere close to the place. Another basic Hindu to festivals like the desshara, Diwali, basant panchami etc is widely celebrated in this town of Nichar.CultureThe people of Nichar Kinnaur are very different from the other is of the state. They live life all by themselves and aren’t much bothered about the happenings of the world. They mostly have their own ways of living and therefore the cultures here is very casual. Yet the dominant religion here is Hinduism and therefore most of the cultures are related to the ethics and traditions of any Hindu dominated village.Best Time to VisitThe probable best time to visit Nichar is mostly during the summer or spring season. Spring is still a little cool but summer is ideal to visit this place. it is recommended not to visit during rainy season as already it receives quite a good amount of rainfall causing landslides or other issues. autumn again is an amazing time to pay a visit to this little town nestled in the Himalayas. Winters can surely be avoided due to the fact that it snows heavily in this area.How to reach?The nearest airport to visit this place will be Shimla or Chandigarh airport from which we can find any government buses that will take you directly to nature for personal cabs. The nearest railway station is Dehra Dun from where reaching Nichar is a cakewalk.Interesting Facts and Trivia • People in Nichar are in sync with nature in such a way that they always tend to give back at them.• They grow their own vegetables around the foothills of this region.• They have solar light panels which mostly provides their electric supplyNearby Attractions• The Tranda Maa Mandir is situated off the main road in Nichar and is a tourist favourite• Maheshwar temple has an architectural design exactly like the pahari monasteries and is surrounded by green gardens which will lighten up your mood• The Nathpa Dam off the Sutlej River is also considered as a major architectural delight in Nichar Kinnaur.
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A small town amidst the scenic beauty of Himachal Pradesh, Kasauli is an offbeat colonial-era hill station that is yet to gain popularity like other famous hill stations like Manali, Shimla, and others. This hill station is a perfect place for those who are looking for some alluring places where they can spend some peaceful time in summers and can escape from the heat. The serene ambiance and well-built roads among tall trees add to the charm of this destination. Besides, Kasauli is an ideal place for liquor lovers. The place houses one of the oldest and largest breweries in India i.e. Kasauli Brewery. History Of Kasauli Brewery, Kasauli: Established in the late 1820s by Edward Abraham Dyer, Kasauli Brewery is Asia’s oldest distillery located in Kasauli. This distillery is famous for producing Scotch whiskey. The tools of brewing and distilling were brought from Scotland and England by Edward in the early 19th century. One can find some of the old equipment with copper pot stills that are still in use now. Edward Abraham Dyer chose Kasauli as the perfect place for his brewery and distillery because of its pleasant weather just like Scotland and the natural pure spring water that was available there. With the aim to produce a malt whiskey as fine as Scotch whiskey, Edward started this brewery. One of the most important factors that made Kasauli as a preferred location for establishing Kasauli Brewery was its nearby market that was sponsored by civilians and British. The Indian Pale Ale was the first product that was produced in the Kasauli Brewery. With the passing years, when the place began to expand and a lot of people started to settle down here, the utilization of spring water has increased. And due to the shortage of spring water, the brewery was moved to Solan where it is still situated today. The brewery & distillery that remains in Kasauli is now considered to be the oldest operating distillery in India and Asia. This is even considered to be one of the oldest operating whiskey-producing distilleries in the world. In the year 1855, Edward Abraham Dyer established his company. This company was created as Dyer Breweries Limited and later it got associated with Meakin Breweries Limited. After the collaboration, the company operated in the name of Dyer Meakin Breweries Ltd. Today, this company still operates under the name Mohan Meakin Limited. Things To Do Here: • Visitors can go round the place and observe the manufacturing process of one of the finest malt whiskeys. • Visitors can observe the old techniques used to produce ale in this plant. • Visitors can taste and enjoy the flavor of the malt whiskey while exploring the serenity of the tiny hill station of Kasauli. • One can interact with the workers and know more about the heritage and the enthusiasm that led this plant to become one of the finest distillery and brewery in the world. Best Time To Visit Here: Kasauli Brewery remains open all year-round. Hence, visitors can visit here any time during the year to enjoy the freshly brewed drinks while enjoying the breath-taking beauty of the place. Traveler Tips: • Visitors need to wear comfortable shoes and need to avoid open-toed shoes or high heels while visiting Kasauli Brewery. • One needs to avoid taking their children to the plant. How To Reach Here: Kasauli Brewery is situated just a few minutes away from the old bus stand and other nearby bus stands. Once you reach Kasauli you can board the bus to reach Kasauli Brewery very conveniently. You can even hire a taxi or a cab to reach the place. Nearby Attractions: While visiting Kasauli Brewery, tourists can explore some of the places of interest in the Kasauli town such as the Monkey Point, The Mall, Gurudwara, Christ Church, Baptist Church, Fruit Orchards, Shri Baba Balak Nath Temple, Gurkha Fort and many more. Additional Information For Visitors: The brewery is open all day in the week and the visiting time is from 7 am to 7 pm. No entry fee is required to visit Kasauli Brewery.
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