TOP 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

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• published: 19 Sep 2016
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It is a northern Indian state in the Himalayas. It's home to scenic mountain towns and resorts such as Dalhousie. Host to the Dalai Lama, Himachal Pradesh has a strong Tibetan presence. This is reflected in its Buddhist temples and monasteries, as well as its vibrant Tibetan New Year celebrations. Here we present to you top 10 places to visit in Himachal Pradesh. 1) The Ridge, Shimla It is a large open space, located in the heart of Shimla. 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. Most major places of Shimla like Snowdon, Mall, Jakhoo hill, etc. are connected through the Ridge. 2) Chintpurni, Una It is a major pilgrimage center and one of the Shakti Peethas in India. When Lord Vishnu severed the burning body of Maa Sati into 51 pieces so that Lord Shiva would calm down and stop his Tandava, the pieces were scattered over various places in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed that Sati’s feet fell at this place and is thus considered one of the most important of the 51 Shakti Peethas. 3) Pin Valley National Park It is a National park of India located within the Lahaul and Spiti district. With its snow laden unexplored higher reaches and slopes, the Park forms a natural habitat for a number of endangered animals including the snow leopard and Siberian ibex. 4) Kali Ka Tibba, Chail It has Kali Devi as the main deity. An ancient temple Kali ka Tibba attracts many including locals and also people far off from Chail. Beautiful scenery of the Shivalik Range and the Choor Chandni peak are breathtaking from Kali ka Tibba 5) Rohtang Pass The pass lies on the watershed between the Chenab and Beas basins. It is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas.The pass is open from May to November. It is not particularly high or difficult to cross on foot by Himalayan standards, but it has a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards. 6) Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla   It is also known as Viceregal Lodge and is located on the Observatory Hills of Shimla. It was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy of India.The Viceregal Lodge was designed by British architect Henry Irwin and built in the Jacobethan style during the regime of Lord Dufferin. It houses some of the most ancient articles and photographs going back to the times of the British rule in India. 7) Kangra Fort, Kangra The Kangra Fort was built by the royal Rajput family of Kangra State (the Katoch dynasty), which traces its origins to the ancient Trigarta Kingdom, mentioned in the Mahabharata epic. It is the largest fort in the Himalayas and probably the oldest dated fort in India. It is located 20 kilometers from the town of Dharamsala on the outskirts of the town of Kangra. 8 Hatu Peak, Shimla It is the highest summit in Shimla. At the top of the peak is a small wooden temple called Hatu temple. According to local belief the famous Hatu Mata temple is the temple of ‘Mandodari’ wife of ‘Ravana’. People come in great number on the first Sunday of Jyeshtha to perform rituals. Goat sacrifice is still in practice near the temple. There is an ancient stove like formation of rocks nearby the temple. Locals believe that it was used by the Pandava brothers to cook their food during Agyaat Vaas. 9) Solang Valley, Manali Giant slopes of lawn comprise Solang Valley and provide its reputation as a popular ski resort. A few ski agencies offering courses and equipment reside here and operate only during winters. A rope-way was recently opened. The sports most commonly offered are parachuting, paragliding, skating and zorbing. 10) Hidimba Devi Temple, Manali It is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, wife of Bhima. The temple is surrounded by a cedar forest at the foot of the Himālayas. The sanctuary is built over a huge rock jutting out of the ground which was worshiped as an image of the deity. The structure was built in 1553.