Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are two neighboring North Indian states that encompass parts of the Indian Himalaya. Both states house some of India's most majestic, remote landscapes and national parks, yet they are also easily accessible from major North Indian cities, especially Delhi. Himachal Pradesh borders Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir to the north and is home to the Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala, while the River Ganga travels through Uttarakhand and the Hindu pilgrimage towns on the river–namely Haridwar and Rishikesh–attract crowds of visitors. Here are some things to do in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand rise in altitude as the plains on the southern edges of both states turn into the high mountains of the Himalaya. This means there’s a lot of climatic variation throughout the states. Each state generally experiences mild summers that provide a respite from the scorching hot North Indian plains and cold winters with heavy snowfall. Travelers interested in skiing might want to visit Himachal in winter, whereas most prefer to visit in the warmer months between March and October.
Both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are well-serviced by public and private buses. Public buses, which you can easily catch by turning up at the main bus stations in any town, are the best way of making shorter journeys around the state and are very affordable. Private buses may be more comfortable for longer or overnight trips. Hiring a private car and driver is a good option for visiting more remote areas in both states or to get you to trailheads for trekking.
While many hikers may like to travel independently, the logistics of multi-day trekking in Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand means recruiting professional help from a trekking agency makes sense. Unlike in neighboring Nepal, where there are networks of teahouses, accommodation while trekking in the Indian Himalaya usually requires camping or staying in private homestays. Having guides and porters who can arrange these for you (and carry equipment) means you can focus on the experience of walking–and the incredible views.
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Whether you visit Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand depends on your interests and what you want to do. Himachal Pradesh is predominantly mountainous and offers many outdoor adventure activities, including hiking, paragliding, and skiing. As well as the mountains, Uttarakhand contains the lowland Jim Corbett National Park and the Hindu pilgrimage towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh.
...MoreThe first consideration when planning a trip to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand is your interests and priorities because the two states contain vast mountains, major rivers, wildlife reserves and national parks, interesting towns, and pilgrimage sites. The second consideration is the season because the mountainous areas of both states have mild summers and frigid winters.
...MoreHimachal Pradesh is famous for its mountains and outdoor adventure activities. Manali is a well-known and popular tourist town and the gateway to overland trips to Ladakh. Dharamshala is home to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Government in Exile. Shimla is Himachal Pradesh’s famous capital, built by the British Raj as a summer capital.
...MoreTo enjoy some easy sightseeing in the major towns of Himachal Pradesh, such as Shimla, Dharamshala, and Manali, three or four days is enough in Himachal Pradesh. However, you could easily spend more than two weeks in the state, hiking in the mountains and enjoying other adventure activities like rafting and paragliding.
...MoreIf you want to ski, visit Himachal Pradesh between December and February for the best conditions, especially around Manali. The rest of the year provides milder conditions for general sightseeing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. The monsoon falls in July–September, so expect a lot of rain at this time.
...MoreJanuary is the coldest month in Himachal Pradesh, as it is mid-winter. The average temperature in January is 24°F (-4°C), but remember that this includes higher-altitude mountain areas, and most towns are at slightly lower altitudes and aren’t quite this cold. December and February are almost as cold as January.
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