Visit Himachal in the month of May and the weather will be perfect. In Manali, you can enjoy day treks, paraglide at Sulam, and go on a rafting trip in the River Beas. Check out Rohtang Pass, the gateway to the Lahaul region from Manali, and an adventurer’s dream destination. Be awestruck by the scenic snow point as well as the majestic peaks, mountains and glaciers. Most of the peaks in this range are about 5,000m and are covered with snow all around the year.

Shimla
The little village of Shimla, a retreat
for British officers, was the glamorous summer capital of the British in India. Within the town are a host of splendid colonial edifices, quaint English country cottages dotting the landscape and charming walks. It
was, after all, a hill-station where the
British aristocrats retreated to with
their memsahibs and entourage during
the scorching heat of the plains. The
British presence has manifested itself
in buildings that recall the days of theRaj. These days, the neo-Gothic styled churches, snobbish English residential schools and the town’s resident Anglo- Indian community try to preserve that legacy.

The Mall, the main market place at
Shimla and main meeting point for its
residents, is a good place to indulge in
some people-watching or exchanging
friendly camaraderie with locals. The
Ridge, a large open space in the heart
of town, also presents excellent views of the mountain ranges. With great views around every corner, it can be hard to capture all of it on a camera, so, instead, just give up on the snaps, and focus on connecting with the elements at a very fundamental level.

Honeymooning couples, joyfully bustling children and elderly people engrossed in their tasks or taking in nature, all add to the panorama. Stretch yourself a while at the Ridge before moving on to the other attractions. And there are many:
museums, temples, churches, historical monuments, flea markets and scenic picnic spots in the ‘queen of hill stations’, Shimla.

The Valley of Gods: KULUMANALI

The spectacular Kulu Manali Valley,
blessed with lush green forests, is
surrounded by ranges of snow capped Himalayas, with peaks and passes of up to 6500m and above. It is full of folklore, and is celebrated as the Valley of Gods, because of the presence of temples related to all major Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The beautiful Kulu valley spreads out its charm on either side of river Beas. The valley runs north to south of this river and is 80 km long and about 2 km at its broadest. The valley is also famous for its exquisitely woven colourful hand made shawls and kullu caps.

40 km away from Kulu, to the north,
Manali is situated near the end of
the valley on the National Highway
leading to Leh. The landscape here is
breathtaking. One sees well-defined
snow capped peaks. The Beas River with its clear water meanders through the town. On the other side are deodar and pine trees, tiny fields and orchards.