The Hindu Business Line : Come summer...

To seek relief from a searing Hyderabadi summer, three of us embarked on a 10-day journey to the snow-peaked Himalayan ranges, traversing mostly through Himachal Pradesh, a land famous for its beautiful landscapes.

Stopover at a `designer' city

Our first stop was Chandigarh, regarded as India's first planned city. Built in the 1950s and 1960s, the city was designed by Le Corbusier. A must-see on the tourist itinerary is the unique Rock Garden created by Nek Chand that showcases art objects fashioned from scrap material like broken tiles and bangles.

The manmade, picturesque Sukhna Lake at the foothills of the Shivalik range is an ideal getaway for fun and frolic. Another interesting landmark is the Leisure Valley, which has thematic gardens running from one end of the city to the other. The 30-acre Rose Garden, situated in Sector 16, is the most famous of them all and boasts of nearly 1,600 varieties of roses.

On a heritage trail to Shimla

The welcome sight of snow en route to Rohtang Pass - Picture by the author.

Having heard a lot about the toy train's heritage route to Shimla, we decided to try it. The train zigzags its way through the mountains, across beautiful bridges, over sparkling streams and through long-winding tunnels, offering an experience that is not to be missed.

Originating as `Shumlah' — a small hamlet, Shimla became the summer capital of British India. Now it is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Known as the queen among hills, the town, is surrounded by pine, cedar, oak and rhododendron forests.

The Mall is undoubtedly the town's hub. Thronged by tourists, it buzzes with activity, especially in the evenings. As the town's main shopping centre, it is famous for its cafes and restaurants. A `lift' operated by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation connects Cart Road to the Mall, and works between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Getting around

Kufri, a small village 13 km from Shimla, is dotted with hamlets, orchards and snowy slopes in winter. It is home to a well-maintained nature park, sheltering barking deer, bears, yaks etc.

Famous for its trekking trail, this small place comes alive during February, when its annual winter sports festival draws skiing enthusiasts and adventure seekers in large numbers.

Chail, about 43 km from Shimla, was once the summer resort of the maharajas of Patiala. The palace built by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh in 1891, on a 75-acre area on Rajgarh Hill, is testimony to the opulent lifestyles of the erstwhile maharajas. Chail also has the world's highest cricket pitch..

Abode of the gods

The journey to Kullu from Shimla is a visual treat... you have snow-peaked mountains and the Beas River for constant company. Kullu is one of the most charming and sought-after destinations in the State. Popularly known as the Valley of Gods, Kullu serves as the access point to ancient temples such as the Bijli Mahadev temple, Raghunathji temple and Vaishno Devi temple. The annual Kullu Dussehra festival — which commences when Dusserah celebrations come to an end in the rest of the country — is when the valley is at its colourful best.

The next morning we left for Manikaran (45 km), a place where hot sulphur springs bubble right next to the icy waters of the Parvati River. The Gurudwara here draws both Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike.

Height of artistry

On our way to Manali, we stop at Naggar to visit the art gallery of Nicholas Roerich, a Russian émigré who left his homeland after the 1917 revolution to settle in a hamlet against the backdrop of the snow-clad mountains. The collection of paintings, capturing the various facets of the Himalayas, is proof of the artist's fascination for the mighty mountains.

Manali and its attractions

Manali, a prime holiday destination, literally means `Abode of Manu', a legendary sage. Among its places of interest is the Hadimba temple dedicated to the wife of Bhima, the strongman of the Mahabharata. Built in 1553, this temple has a superbly crafted four-tiered pagoda roof. The Vashisht temple (3 km) is famous for hot sulphur springs.

A `white' envelope...

Solang valley (14 km) is popular for paragliding. Snow-capped mountains and glaciers make this picturesque valley ideal for winter sports. Finally, we headed towards Rohtang Pass in pursuit of snow... and though unable to get there, we found a place close by where we had fun playing in the snow.

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