SHIMLA - MANALI - AMRITSAR (FROM CHANDIGARH)

At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 1.2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, The Ridge is a large open space located in the heart of Shimla. It is among the most visited Shimla tourist places and among the prime place to visit on a Shimla tour. The Ridge is situated along the Mall Road which is the famous shopping center of Shimla.

Several major places of Shimla like Lakkar Bazaar, Mall, Scandal Point, Jakhu Hill, etc. are connected through the Ridge. The movement of vehicles is strictly prohibited here. The Ridge in Shimla always remains crowded with hundreds of people. Tourists from all over the country visit this awesome place for the view of the sunset.

The Ridge at Shimla also provides the tourists a view of the age old Christ Church built in the Neo-Gothic style of architecture as well as the new Tudor library. The statue of YS Parmar .....

At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 1.3 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Christ Church Shimla is the second oldest church in North India. The majestic appearance of the church and its stunning location makes it one of the top places to visit in Shimla.

The church was designed in neo-gothic style in 1844 by J.T. Boileau but it was consecrated after 1857. The Christ Church is situated on The Ridge where is stands out as one of the prominent landmarks of Shimla. Colonel Dumbleton in 1860 donated the giant round clock that adorns the front facial of the church. The porch was added to the structure in 1873. It started as a shrine to serve the Anglican British community in Shimla and hence is considered as one of the most visited places of worship in the country's most celebrated hill town. It is governed under the diocese of Amritsar belonging to the Churches of North India.

The interior .....

At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Mall Road is the main street and the busiest commercial areas of Shimla. The Mall extends from Barnes court on the eastern side to Vice Regal Lodge on the western side. Shopping in Mall Road is one of the top things to do in Shimla.

Built by the British during the colonial rule in India, the Mall Road was constructed keeping in mind the traffic on this route. Entry of vehicles was banned though cycle rickshaws were allowed. It has been built in a very strategic and planned way. The Mall Road has located a level below the ridge. The offices of the Municipal Corporation, fire service, and police headquarters are located here.

The Mall Road also has all major hotels, restaurants, and recreation centers of Shimla. The Mall Road is full of shops that sell woolen clothes, branded clothes, handicraft items, pottery items, .....

At a distance of 16 km from Shimla Railway Station, Kufri is a small hill station in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Positioned at an elevation of 2,510 m on the National Highway 22, it is one of the best places for skiing in India, and among the must-include places in Shimla tour packages.

Kufri is quite famous as a ski resort. Kufri derives its name from 'Kufr' which means lake. It is especially popular among trekkers and it is a popular place for adventure sports in Himachal Pradesh. The British discovered it in 1819. As Shimla gained importance, Kufri also began to be recognized as an important place to visit near Shimla as part of honeymoon tour packages.

Kufri is known for its pleasant climate and picturesque beauty. It is popular for its trekking and hiking trails. Kufri is also renowned for other adventurous activities such as skiing, tobogganing (sliding .....

At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 3 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Vice Regal Lodge also known as Rashtrapati Niwas is located on the Observatory Hills of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. The lodge is one the best places to visit in Shimla city. It was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy of India Lord Dufferin.

The Vice Regal Lodge was designed by British architect Henry Irwin and built in the Jacobethan style during the regime of Lord Dufferin. Its construction was started in 1880 and completed in 1888. Only the local woods like pine and cedar were used to construct this marvel. Vice Regal Lodge is the only building of Shimla that occupies an entire hill by itself. The building now serves as the center for the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS).

The entrance opening to South leads one to the reception hall which stands adorned by a splendid fireplace and a grand spiraling staircase. The building .....

At a distance of 1 km from Shimla Railway Station and 2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Shimla State Museum is situated at the top of Mount Pleasant. Also known as Himachal State Museum and Library, it was built in the year 1974. The Himachal State Museum is a colonial building that was built with the aim of preserving the state's rich cultural and archaeological artifacts. The colonial style building amidst marvelous lawns in itself is an inspiring sight. It is one of popular Shimla tourist places. It gives you an in depth view of the city's glorious past.

Himachal State Museum has a rich display of the cultural, artistic and archaeological heritage of Himachal Pradesh. The various galleries in the museum are Pre-Historic Gallery, Wood-Carving Gallery Archaeology Gallery, Wall Painting Gallery, Coin Gallery, Pahari Painting Gallery, etc.

The lifestyle and culture of the people of the Himalayas are reflected in the paintings. Rajasthani and Mughal paintings are awe-inspiring. .....

At a distance of 7 km from Shimla Railway Station, Jakhu Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated on Jakhu Hill in Shimla. It is one of the famous religious Shimla places to visit.

Jakhu Temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Hanuman, and is located at an altitude of 2455m on Jakhu Hill, the highest point in Shimla. According to mythology, a deadly arrow injured Lord Rama's brother Lakshmana when he was fighting the battle with the demon king Ravana. To save his life, Lord Hanuman came to the Himalayas to get the Sanjeevani herb. Upon reaching the Himalayas, Hanuman couldn't make out as to which herb was the Sanjeevani. So he dug up the entire mountain and flew back to where Lakshmana was lying injured. After Lakshmana was cured, Hanuman went back to place the mountain in its original site. He rested on top of the Jakhu hill for some time. It is said that the top of the hill got flattened due to Hanuman's .....

At a distance of 20 km from Manali, and 22 km from the Kullu, the Naggar Castle is a famous castle located in Naggar. It is one of the best heritage places in Himachal, and among the not to miss in during your Manali tour.

Naggar Castle is a magnificent historical structure that overlooks the Kullu valley. The castle was built by Raja Sidhi Singh in 1460 AD. The Castle was used as a Royal residence and state headquarters until the British took over the whole Kangra and Kullu from Sikh's in 1846. Raja Gyan Singh sold it to the first assistant commissioner, Major Hay for a Gun. The northern wing of the castle was later converted to the European way of living by putting in staircase, fire place and chimneys. He later sold it to the Government when it was used as a courthouse. In 1947, with the departure of the British the court-activity ceased.

The castle was built in an impressive .....

At a distance of 2 km from Manali Bus Stand, Hidimbi Devi Temple also known as the Dhungri Temple is an ancient cave temple located in the middle of a dense forest called Dhungri Van Vihar in Manali. It is of the top places to visit in Manali.

Built-in 1553 by Raja Bahadur Singh, the temple is dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, sister of Hidimba and wife of Bhima, one of the Pandavas from the Mahabharata. According to the legend, the Pandavas stayed in Himachal during their exile. One of the brothers Bhima fell in love with Hidimbi, the sister of the ruler Hidimba. Bhima and Hidimbi had a son but when Bhima and the Pandavas returned from exile she stayed back, performed penance, and attained the status of goddess.

The Hidimbi Devi temple is 24 meters tall and consists of three square roofs with timber tiles, surmounted by a cone-shaped fourth roof that is covered in brass. The wooden facade and windows of .....

At a distance of 3 km from Manali Bus Stand, Manu Temple dedicated to the Indian sage Manu is located at old Manali. Manali is named after the sage Manu who was the creator of human race on earth according to mythology and it is believed that he meditated here. This is supposed to be the only temple of Manu in India. Manu Temple is one of the best Manali tourist places.

Travellers can enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding hills and river Beas from the temple. Lying in the congested locality of old Manali, the temple is often visited by the tourists who arrive from different parts of the world.

Manu Temple was built in pagoda style of architecture. The temple was rebuilt in the year 1992, when the vaulted ceiling and marble floors were added. One can find various artifacts along with the idols of gods and goddesses in different postures in this temple.

To .....

At a distance of 3.5 km from Manali Bus Stand, Vashist Temple in Manali is dedicated to sage Vashisht, the Kula guru of Lord Rama in the village Vashisht across the River Beas. It is among the most famous places to visit in Manali.

The village of Vashisht was named after Rishi Vashisht one of the seven sages of Hindu. According to the legend, Rishi Vashisht was left depressed on finding out that his children had been killed by Vishwamitra. Rishi Vashisht tried to commit suicide by jumping into a river but the river refused to kill him. He then started a new life in the village here. The river which took the rishi to the village was named Vipasha, meaning freedom from bondage. The Vipasha River is now known as the Beas River.

The Vashisht temple is believed to be more than 4000 years old. Inside the temple there is a black stone image of the Rishi wearing dhoti. The Vashist temple is decorated with excellent and beautiful carvings .....

At a distance of 12 km from Manali Bus Stand, Solang Valley locally known as Solang is a beautiful valley situated at Solang village near Manali, Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most well-known places to visit near Delhi for skiing, mountaineering, and trekking activities.

Among the top tourist attractions in Manali, Solang Valley is situated between Solang village and Beas Kund. It lies at an altitude of 8500 ft and is covered with green dense forests. It offers panoramic views of the surrounding snowcapped mountains and glaciers.

The beauty of Solang Valley is unparalleled and many people visit the valley every year during their Manali trip just to enjoy its pristine, snow-white magnificence, especially in winter, when the entire place is covered by white snow. With the groves of emerald green trees .....

At a distance of 10 km from Kullu Bus stand, 12 km from Naggar and 31 km from Manali, Dhakpo Shedrupling Monastery is located in Kais village of Kullu District. It is also known as Kais Monastery.

This monastery was inaugurated during the month of May in the year 2005 by the great Noble laureate and his Holiness Dalai Lama. This Monastery is located near the left bank of Beas River. The picturesque view of the valleys which are surrounding the place make it an appealing destination.

The monastery gives a magical look and it has been strongly dedicated to Dalai Lama. The Dhakpo Monastery systemized with the traditional reasoning and scriptures of the master and disciple, the great pioneers of Buddha Dharma. The monastery serves as a boarding school and university for the study of Buddhist philosophy. This monastery houses several Tibetan monks. This Monastery has a huge prayer hall with a huge Buddha statue.

Every year in the month of August His Highness Dhakpo Rinpochhe .....

At a distance of 0.5 km from Kullu Bus stand, Raghunathji Temple is a Hindu temple situated in Sultanpur. It is one of the famous places of pilgrimage in Himachal, and among the must-include places in Kullu tour packages.

Dedicated to Lord Rama, this temple was built in the 17th century by Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu. Lord Raghunathji is the chief deity of the Kullu region. The idol is said to be the same which was used by Lord Rama himself at the time of Ashwamedha Yagna and was brought from the Tretnath temple of Ayodhya. It is one of the top places to visit in Kullu.
 
According to the folklore, Raja Jagat Singh was held responsible for the death of a Brahmin family residing in the village of Tipri. It is said that the king had ordered his soldiers to go to Brahmin family and fetch their pearls. .....

At a distance of 2 km from Amritsar Junction, Golden Temple is most sacred Sikh pilgrimage site situated in Amritsar town of Punjab state. Popularly known as Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib, Golden Temple is acclaimed as one of the most visited pilgrimage centers in India.

Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, 4th Sikh Guru, started the digging of Amrit Sarovar in 1577 AD on the orders of 3rd Sikh guru Sri Guru Amar Das Ji. Which was later on brick-lined by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the 5th Sikh Guru, in 1588 and he also started the construction of Sri Harmandir Sahib. Sri Guru Granth Sahib was first installed at Harmandir Sahib in 1604 AD. The temple had to be substantially rebuilt after it was destroyed in fire accident in the 1760s. In the early 19th century, 100 kg of gold were applied to the inverted lotus-shaped dome and decorative marble work took place under the patronage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Fondly known as Swarn Mandir, Sri Harmandir Sahib is built on 67 feet square platform in .....

At a distance of 3 km from Amritsar Junction and 1 km from Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh is a memorial garden located in Amritsar town of Punjab. Situated near Harmandir Sahib, it is one of the top places to visit in Amritsar.

Jallianwala Bagh is the unfortunate site where thousands of innocents were brutally killed by British troops on 13th April 1919, which was the day of Baisakhi festival for the people of Sikh religion. In order to celebrate this festival, a big crowd of many villagers had gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh to celebrate the day that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth in 1699, and also known as the 'Birth of Khalsa.' On hearing that a meeting had assembled, Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer with his army of 150 troops ordered open fire at the crowd. According to British Raj sources, around 379 people were dead and 1500 wounded people were left to die in the well within the garden.

Today, this public garden houses a memorial, which was established in .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Amritsar Junction, Durgiana Temple is Hindu temple situated near Lohgarh gate of Amritsar, Punjab. It is a Hindu version of the Amritsar Golden Temple and also one of the top pilgrimage places to visit in Amritsar.

Durgiana Temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is also known as Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Durga Tirath and Sitla Mandir. The original temple was built in 16th century and was rebuilt by Guru Harsai Mal Kapoor in the architectural style of the Sikh Golden Temple in 1921 CE. The newly built temple was inaugurated by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. The temple is also called the Silver Temple due to its carved silver doors.

The temple stands on middle of the sacred lake known as Durgiana and a bridge connects easily to the temple. The dome of the temple is gilded and marble is extensively used in the temple's features. Its dome and canopies are similar to that of the Golden temple of Amritsar. There is a huge collection of Hindu scriptures .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Amritsar Junction and 2 km from Harmandir Sahib, Gobindgarh Fort is a historical fort located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab. Initially known as 'Bhangian Da Qila', Gobindgarh Fort is one of the famous places to visit in Amritsar.

Gobindgarh Fort was built by the army of Gujjar Singh Bhangi of Sikh Misls in 1760 CE. This fort was reconstructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh between 1805 and 1809 CE. The British authorities occupied it in 1849 CE and it was in the army's possession for nearly 150 years. The Darbar Hall, Hawa Mahal and the Phansi Ghar were added to the fort during British rule only. After the Indian Independence, Indian army took control over the fort and was used to provide temporary shelter to a large number of refugees from Pakistan during India-Pakistan partition.

Gobindgarh Fort was constructed with brick and lime on a square pattern with a parameter of 1500 square meter with two strong gates, four large bastions and well-defined .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Amritsar Junction and 4 km from Amritsar Golden Temple, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum is a popular museum situated in the middle of a beautiful Ram Bagh Garden in Amritsar, Punjab. It is one of the best museums in Punjab and also one of the top tourist attractions in Amritsar.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum was originally the summer palace of first king of Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Later, it was converted in to museum in 1977 CE. It is a treasure house of the history, art and architecture of the Sikhs of the 18th and the 19th century AD.

The museum offers insights into the life of the Sikh monarch Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Museum displays objects connecting to Maharaja Ranjit Singh such as arms and armour, outstanding paintings and centuries old coins and manuscripts. The paintings displayed in the galleries of the museum showcase the court and camp of the king. Among all the paintings, one that depicts the city of Lahore is most famous. .....