Himachal Pradesh 2020! A trip just before the COVID-19 wave.

12 destinations, 11 days and 3 friends! Covered with fresh snow blankets and hill tops we girls decided to explore the amazing scenic beauty, serene landscapes and snow-clad mountains of Himachal Pradesh & Punjab in 2020! And we have never felt so fortunate since we could travel in THE PANDEMIC YEAR!

Destinations explored : Amritsar, Dalhousie, Khajjiar, Mcleodganj, Bir Billing, Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Manikaran - Kasol, Haryana, Chandigarh.

21st January - 2nd Feb.

How to reach :

We took a flight from Pune to Amritsar. We had booked a car  through a travel company in Pune for our 11 day journey. They charged us 36k for 3 people (car/driver/petrol/toll inclusive). From Amritsar to our last point Chandigarh we travelled in the car. From Chandigarh we booked a flight back to Pune.

You can also start from Chandigarh and end the tour with Amritsar.

A little tip : If you want to explore Himachal in the winters, it is going to be chilling cold outside so please make sure you book centrally heated rooms to make your stay comfortable.

Amritsar, Punjab : Golden Temple, Jallianwalla Bagh, Wagha Border. We started our day by visiting the famous preeminent spiritual site of Sikhism - The Golden temple. It took almost 2 hours for us to make through the massive crowd and queue but the visit was worth every minute. Followed by the langar, we left for Jallianwalla Bagh- a preserved garden as a memory for the wounded in the massacre, which is hardly a 2 minute walk from the golden temple. We then visited the line of demarcation between India and Pakistan - The Wagha-Attari border where we saw the marching ceremony which started at around 4:15 Pm. This beating retreat ceremony represents the beautiful camaraderie India and Pakistan hold in their hearts. We had our meals at the Brothers Dhaba and the Punjabi Dhaba located in the vicinity of the golden temple. We shopped at the Lahori Gate market where there is a variety of Pashminas and Juttis! The day ended with witnessing a beautiful sunset at the Golden temple.

Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh - Mini hike at snow hills, Chamera Lake, Cafe Dalhousie. We took an early morning drive from Amritsar to Dalhousie. We covered the Chamera lake, and Kalatop hills where we witnessed snow for the first time. Next day we went to the Chamba valley for a breathtaking view at Khajjiar also known as the mini Switzerland of India which had the best white lush meadows covered with snow. We stayed in Dalhousie for 2 days at Hotel Mount View - an extremely comfortable resort with stunning views.

MCLEODGANJ : Dalai Lama temple, HPCA, Illiterati Cafe, House of Tibet, Zostel. The place which will always have my heart is the Mcleodganj Zostel. It is a cozy backpacker hostel, extremely reasonable at the corner of Dharamkot, with bonfires being the most peaceful time at night. We started with exploring the Mcleodganj market followed by visiting the Dalai Lama temple and HPCA. Please note Illiterati Cafe is the best cafe with such a thoughtful collection of books and freshly brewed coffee in Mcleodganj. Sitting in the balcony gives you the beautiful view of the Dhauladhar range.

Who doesn’t dream of flying high in the air? We decided to do paragliding at Bir. On day 6, the moment to glide over the lofty snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas arrived. While our guide was setting up the parachute, we rested there for a while being a hell lot nervous, scared and skeptical. But above all we were ready for a crazy level of adventure. The thought of being air bound for the next 30 minutes got me super excited.

KULLU RIVER RAFTING!

KASOL-MANIKARAN : Moon Dance Cafe, Parvati Valley, Gurudwara. Pretty as a picture and with crystal clear mountain streams, Kasol is a treat to the sore eyes. We first had our lunch at the Moon Dance Cafe followed by visiting the enchanting Parvati valley. About 15 mins from Kasol is Manikaran, where we saw the finest hot springs, a majestic Hindu temple and Gurudwara, along with a bustling market nearby.

MANALI : Mall Road, Solang Valley, Hidimba temple, Naggar Castle, Sher-e-Punjab! Nestled in the mountains near Kullu valley, we first shopped at Mall road and then went for the Hidimba Temple. After picking up post cards and charms, we went for Solang valley. This place offered us brilliant snow experience including various adventure activities. Post this, we left for Naggar Castle, the shoot location of the movie Jab We met! Catch a glimpse below.

SHIMLA : Kufri, Chail, Mall road, The Ridge, Christ Chruch, Wake n Bake Cafe. Shimla offers much more than the dozens of Bollywood songs set on Mall Road. We enjoyed our day at Kufri where tried our hands on Skiing(which was not as easy for us as it looked). About 1 hour from Kufri is Chail, where we saw the Chail Palace - '3 idiots' location shoot.

CHANDIGARH : Pinjore Garden, Sector 22, Rock garden, Sukhna Lake, Niks Bakery. Chandigarh was our last spot. We saw the Rock Garden which is a massive open-air exhibition hall that displays sculptures. Next followed the Pinjore garden in Haryana. Sector 22 Market here has abundance of shopping as well as dining options. We had a superb dessert at Niks bakery near sector 22, a must try! We ended our trip at Sukhna Lake, one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in India.