Off-Beat Places To Visit In Himachal

Nestled in the lap of regal mountains of the western Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh is blessed with such spotless beauty and natural diversity. Meadows of rolling hills, chilled hill stations, quaint snowy villages, silent alpine forests, the sweet-fragrant apple orchards and the harsh, cold deserts of Spiti and Lahaul make Himachal one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the country. Here are some of the offbeat places you shouldn't miss visiting when in Himachal Pradesh.

Also known as "The Valley of the Gods", Kullu is one of the most exciting regions to visit in the western Himalayas. The valley spans on either side of the upper reaches of the river Beas. In spring, the valley is at its colorful best, with pink and white blossoms, with the higher slopes bursting with gorgeous, vivid-coloured rhododendrons. By December, no greenery is left in the valley except for the majestic pine trees and cedars that touch the sky in the forests. The trees on the hillsides are completely flanked in white. Scores of tourists flock to Kullu each year in search of the perfect Indian winter holiday.

This remote, high altitude desert is located in the north-eastern part of Himachal Pradesh. Spiti only opened its doors to foreign tourists in 1991 and till today, still remains elusive and relatively unexplored. Partly, this is due to the fact that it is covered in heavy snow for a large part of the year. Getting to Spiti involves a long drive from Manali.

Baspa valley's highest village is Chitkul. It comprises of three temples that are 500 years old. It's a lovely place for trekking and has some beautiful scenery. To the right of the Baspa River there are wonderful snow-clad mountain views and on the left there are apple orchards and quaint wooden houses with sloping roofs. All in all, a charming place indeed.

At the height of 996 meters above sea level, just 56 kms from Dalhousie, Chamba is a much awaited pit stop for every serious tourist. The Chamba valley is famous for the brilliance of its scenery. It has three well-defined snow-capped ranges; namely, the Dauladhar (outer Himalayas), Pir Panjal (mid Himalayas), and Zanskar range (inner Himalayas). Chamba is also well known for its beautiful temples and exquisite miniatures and handicrafts.

Pabbar is one of the most enchanting valleys of Himachal Pradesh but is still untouched by the rush of tourism. It offers some amazing panoramic views and dozens of lovely nature trails among the dense orchards and alpine forests all along the valley.  For a rush of adrenalin, opt for a wide range of activities like camping, trekking, fishing, rafting and paragliding.

The valley that gets its name from the river flowing through it, Tirthan is a hidden gem of the area of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. Tirthan valley, in every sense of the word is an offbeat holiday spot, from its virgin forests to high mountains, fishing in crystal clear lakes to unexplored hamlets. Hardly anyone ventures here because hardly anyone knows this heaven rests here. Visit the Greater Himalayan National Park, Serolsar Lake, Rolla Village, Raju’s Guesthouse in the town of Gushaini and the spell-binding Parashar Lake.