There's nowhere on earth that inspires more spirit and poetry than the Himalayas, and nowhere in the Himalayas that does its beauty justice quite like Himachal Pradesh.
With clear blue lakes reflecting the snow-capped mountains, surrounded by fruit-filled orchards and tea plants, the Himalayas is one of nature's most mesmerising showcases. Although its magnetic charm attracts outdoor sports enthusiasts and rock climbers, lovers in search of tranquility and relaxation come here to find little need for modern equipment to scale the Everest - the feeling of love the region inspires in them takes lovers much, much higher…
But there's more to the Himalayas than its fabulous mountain range. With an array of ancient temples, solitary Buddhist monasteries and ritualistic spas promising to knead every ounce of stress from your body and soul, it's hardly surprising this is India's spiritual hub. Immersed in sparkling fresh air, miles of endless dazzling landscape and an atmosphere so relaxed, it's impossible not to find yourself in the mood for a bit of light enlightenment!

Relatively cooler than the rest of India, the Himalayas have long since been revered as a sanctuary from the heat with a cool, pleasant climate. Temperatures range from 30 degrees to two degrees and the best time to visit is from April to June - perfect for spring and summer holidays. The perfect blend of temperature and charm is what makes the Himalayas a must-see for British Asians wanting to taste a slice of the magical homeland away from the stress of the west and the sorrows of the east. And the most beautiful of them all is Himachal Pradesh. A captivating region of the Indian Himalayas, it is often referred to as the 'magical showcase of nature's splendour', ideal for the travellers to travel, enjoy and relax. Abundant green grassland and wide valleys set against imposing snow-clad mountains; crystal clear lakes, flowing rivers and spurting streams; fruit laden groves and soft terraces of corn and tea are characteristics of Himachal Pradesh.

Quite unlike any other place on earth, the area not only boasts its own beauty, but its charm spreads all across its neighbours and beyond, meaning you'll have to go far, far away before it starts to lose any of its unique identity. Places in and around the region, such as Shimla, Dharamsala, Kullu and Dalhousie all share a wonderful old colonial charm because they were developed by the British Raj. But what unites the planes stretching beyond the foothills of the mountains is not man-made but is said to be designed by the heavens above, decreeing every day here is a beautiful day blessed with perfect weather.

The state of Himachal Pradesh borders the Indian Himalayas - offering romantic settings for honeymooners and adventure for the thrill seekers, with a huge selection of festivals, trekking and more awe-inspiring landscapes and rivers than your eyes can take in. In parts, the landscape dramatically varies between wild forests and verdant valleys, and barren sweeps of rugged rock and desert.
Closed off to tourists for many years, much of the Himalayas and its culture has been secretly guarded - places such as Kinnaur, Spiti and Lahaul were considered to be mysterious lands where Gods and Demons lived - Spiti in particular has the largest and oldest monasteries dotted amongst meditation caves.
This majestic land offers the most challenging mountain trails, for the adventurer; large wildlife reserves brimming with exotic birds, animals, flowers and herbs for the naturalist; exquisite temples, tiny villages, breath-taking architecture still pristinely preserved and the tribal lifestyles for the culture enthusiasts; a place for any couple to experience the beauty of silence and the glory of nature.

DHARAMSALA

Living deity, the Dalai Lama chose to set up home here, so you can be assured to find peace of mind here - you only have to look at the peaceful and easygoing expressions on everyone's face as they float on by. Set in a thick forest with the stunning Himalayan peaks in the distance, this small town has the Dalai Lama's influence stamped upon it - the upper part of the town, known as McLeod Ganj is sometimes called Little Lhasa in reference to the Tibetan capital, teeming with ethnic markets selling woven Tibetan carpets, silverware, craft sellers, restaurants and guesthouses. In and around the town, monks stroll to and from various monasteries, paying visits to the local in a flurry of vibrant prayer flags.

DALHOUSIE

Located in the Chamba Valley, at the foot of the spectacular Dhaula Dhar range of the Himalayas, this hill station is sprawled over five hills - Kathlog, Portreyn, Moti Tibba, Bakrota and Balun. The town itself hasn’t changed much since the days of the British Raj, but even more unspoilt is the surrounding scenery. To the north, the majestic mountains of the Dhaula Dhar; to the south, the planes of Punjab, with the river Ravi meandering its way below. The lush cover of vegetation that adorns the town comprises of towering pines, deodars, oaks, and enchanting rhododendron plants, with wild creatures such as the ghoral, Himalayan black bear, barking deer and an abundant birdlife roaming freely. Dalhousie also houses some of the greatest colonial architecture, in particular, its stunning churches and temples.  Honeymooners should take full advantage of the trek routes on offer at Dalhousie resorts, with the Chamba triangle to Bharmour to Keylong via the Kugti Pass hailed as the most invigorating and romantic walk of them all.

KULLU

Located at an altitude of 1200m on the banks of the Beas River, the district headquarters of the Kullu Valley was once known as ‘the end of the habitable world’. The first recorded inhabitants of the valley date back to the 1st century, with the region only becoming accessible to the outside world following independence, which means the region has retained its traditional charm with little or no input from the modern world beyond the mountains. Dubbed the ‘Valley of the Gods’ thanks to the religious significance and myths that surround the area, the scenic array of apple orchards and wooden temples echoing songs of praise and folk dance, is certainly worthy of being called the Gods’ dwelling ground. Once you’ve treated yourself to a spiritual awakening in one of the many temples here, be sure to get at one with nature by travelling to the hot water sulphur springs in Manikaran, or really take to the waters by going white water rafting in The Beas River!

PALAMPUR

One of the major stations in the Kangra Valley, this pleasant little town with beautiful snow-views and surrounded by old colonial tea plantations, gets its name from the word ‘pulum’, meaning lots of water. No surprise then that there are so many streams and brooks crisscrossing the landscape. Where there’s water, there’s a cup of tea waiting to be made – and Kanga Tea, made right here, is considered the finest brew in all of Himachal Pradesh. Naturally, you’ll want to visit the famous tea factory, but the Church of St John in the Wildreness, Temple of Bundlamata and the Bundla Chasm are also well worth dipping into.

SHIMLA

Once part of the Nepalese kingdom and named after the Goddess Kali, the capital of Himachal Pradesh gained prominence under the British who coined it their Summer Capital. At an altitude of 7,267 feet, everywhere in Shimla offers perennially cool air and breathtaking views of the valleys and the lofty peaks of the great Himalayan range. The slopes of the ridge are made all the more colourful thanks to the local bazaars sprawled all over them, making shopping a truly dizzying experience indeed! Seeing as honeymooners are in the mood for love lifting you higher, be sure to make it up to Jakhoo Hill, the town’s highest peak, crowned with the glorious temple of Lord Hanuman.

GETTING THERE

Himachal Pradesh doesn't have an international airport but connects with Delhi and Chandigarh with regular flights by Indian Airlines. The three airports of the state are Bhuntar, Gaggal, and Jubbarhatti.
The Indian Himalayas like to retain their sense of seclusion and peaceful ambience, so public transportation is fairly limited and wholly dependent on the weather. Only a few places in Himachal Pradesh are connected by trains, as the construction of new lines are very difficult in the rugged, high altitude regions. The longest railway line is from Pathankot in Punjab to Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh. Some of the roads are closed during the winter and monsoon seasons due to the heavy snowfall and landslides that occur in this region regularly.

PLACES TO SEE

Churches & temples You don’t have to be religious to find spirituality in the glorious churches of Dalhousie, of which St Patrick’s at Balun and St John’s Church at Gandhi Chowk are must-sees. For temples, Hadimba Devi Temple in Manali and the Laxmi Narayanan in Chamba are truly awe-inspiring.
Monuments The War Memorial in Dharamsala and The Ramgarh Fort in Nalagarh
Arts & craft Head to the Kanga Art Museum in Dharamsala, a superb collection of the region’s finest arts and crafts spanning across its rich past, while the State Museum in Shimla is a treasure trove of archeological artifacts, carvings, paintings and sculptures.
Great outdoors For adventurous types, Solang Nullah in Manali has Himachal’s best skiing slopes, while white water rafting in River Beas is the stuff of high adventure. If you want to slow the pace down, take a trek across Kullu valley or a picnic beside Triund Lake in Dharamsala or the glorious Glen in Shimla. For animal and bird lovers, the Kalatope Wildlife Sanctuary in Dalhousie is a must.
Shopping  Just about everywhere in Himachal Pradesh, there’s a bargain with your name on it, but Lakkar Bazaar on the slopes of Shimla are crying out for you!

HIMACHAL UPDATE

An incredible 6.5 million tourists visited Himachal Pradesh this year alone, exceeding the total population of the state itself (6 million). To help meet the growing demand, the government has lined up a number of plans to improve transportation, with the airports in Dharamsala and Kullu being expanded to allow for the landing of larger 45-seater passenger aircrafts, plus two large airports being built in Balh in Mandi and Una. Helipads scattered across the state are to be used for introducing a heli taxi service to connect to the more offbeat locations. Getting there has never been easier, leaving it is quite another matter…

• For more details contact tourismmin-hp@nic.in or log onto www.himachaltourism.nic.in