Khajjiar, mini switzerland in India

Khajjiar is located at abpout 23 kilometers from Dalhousie by Road  and 13 kilometers from Kalatop is known as the Mini Switzerland of India. Khajjiar is placed at about 6400 feet above sea level and according to Hutchison " Khajjiar is the forest glade of great beauty 6400 feet above sea level".

Khajjiar is also referred to as the Gulmarg of Himachal Pradesh. You can see the lush green meadows  enveloped by thick pine and cedar forests, grazing herds of sheep, goats and other cattle presenting a beautiful and perfect scenery to you.  In the middle of the big meadow, there is a beautiful  lake with a floating island in the middle  which is a photographer's delight.

Attractions at the Khajjiar 
There is a temple of Khajji Nag which belongs to the 12th century AD where in the mantapa you can see the
images of the pandavas and the defeated Kauravas hanging from the roof of the circumambulatory path.  The sanctum sanctorum of the temple has been carved from wood.
The main attraction of the place is the open meadow, which is slopy in terrain,  one can just roll down to the lake without getting hurt. Children love doing this. Horse riding is also present, you can try your hand at riding the horse if you are interested.  This is a beautiful picnic spot and a hit with the locals during a sunny day.

Accommodations available at Khajjiar
There is a hotel and some cottage, where you can stay and also two rest houses of Public Works Department and the Forest Department. At present there are new private hotels also coming up in the area.

How to reach Khajjiar 
If you are traveling by air the closest airport is gaggal in the Kangra region near Dharmshala which is about 125 kilometers from Dalhousie. you will have to drive about 23 kilometers more to reach Khajjiar.
The nearest railway station is Pathankot which is about 80 kiloneters from Dalhousie.
Dalhousie is well connected by road as well There is regular bus service but service to the area is limited and the timings keep changing according to the demand.

Taxis and private buses and vehicles are also available to reach Khajjiar from Dalhousie.

Rajgarh Valley / Peach Valley of Himachal Pradesh

Rajgarh Valley is more known as the Peach Valley is a lush green one in the district of Sirmaur of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Rajgarh and Sarshan are the two divisions of Of rajgarh and a place of great natural beauty. Rajgarh is located at about 40 kilometers from Solan.

The people of the valley are religious and hard working  and worship Lord Shiva and Devi Durga. They also pray Lord shirgul whose temple is also there in the valley. You can see the yesterday blending well with the today here in the sense that there are fully integrated communication networks, a regular supply of electricity, good transport network proximity of supply centers which can make your life as urbane as you like

Attractions in and around Rajgarh
Rajgarh is well known place for camping and trekking.  there is a local Shaya temple for Lord shirgul which has many followers. It is believed that Lord Shirgul came to Shaya Village  and then later settled in Churdhar mountain which is placed at a height of 12000 dfeet.
There is a Baru sahib Gurudwara which lies in the Rajgarh Valley and is one must visit place.The gurudwara is located at about 29 kilometers from the rajgarh town and is situated beyond Kheri. Kheri is a picturesque place which is located on the  banks of the tributary of the Giri river.
Hiking, River Crossing, Obstacle Courses , rock climbing and rappelling, Bird watching and splash swimming are some of attractions of the area at the Camp site Bodhisatwa.

Accommodation facilities
You can see a rest house of Public Works Department as well as the forestry Department and are available for staying purposes for the tourists.
There are some private hotels and guest houses  which are also available.

Chamba Valley in Himachal Pradesh

Chamba valley is one of the loveliest vallies in the northern parts of the state of Himachal Pradesh of India. Chamba valley lies between Zanskar and Dauladhar in the south of the himalayas and offers unique and breath taking views of the peaks of the himalayan ranges.
The picturesque landscapes, surrounding valley and the varied wildlife found in these parts are one of the best you can find in this region.

The local Rajputs who ruled the region in the 6th century BC made the U shaped Chamba valley their capital. Bharmaur, Dalhousie and Khajjiar are the major towns in the valley and the best time to visit the area will be from march to june.

Flora at the Chamba valley
The snow clad peaks of the Himalayan Ranges leaves you spellbound with the breath taking and spectacular sights during your journey to the Chamba valley. This Chamba Valley is also known as the Ravi Valley as the river Ravi flows through it,
You can see small hamlets and villages extended over the landscape provides a wonderful sight. You can see Olive trees, Pomegranate , Peepul and Shisham trees surrounding the magnificient valleyadding charm to the already beautiful Chamba valley. This valley is very popular for the medicinal herbs and numerous flowers.

Temples of Chamba valley
You can visit the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Chamba, which happens to be the oldest and the largest temple complex in the state of Himachal Pradesh. There are other important temples like Chamunda Devi temple, Hari Yara temple and Gauri Shnakar which beckons you to come and pay homage to these ancient temples and deities.

How to Reach Chamba valley 
If you are traveling by air the nearest Airport to Chamba is  Gaggal. The Gaggal airport is located in the Kangra District. Afyer you reach Gaggal airport you can get  regular transportation easily for Chamba.
If you are traveling by Rail the nearest railway station for Chamba is at Pathankot (127 kms) or ChakkiBank (116 kms). These stations are well connected with Buses and Taxis for driving to Chamba Valley.
The Road Route to take is National Highway 1 to Jallandhar via Ambala and Ludhiana and then National Highway  1A to Pathankot. From then on the State Roads are available to go to Chamba via Dalhousie and Khajjiar.

The other valleys of Himachal Pradesh
Rajgarh / Peach Valley

Accommodation Facilities in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh

Hotel GK Conifer
Deluxe Hotel
Civil Lines, Dharamshala,
Himachal Pradesh, India
Tel : +91 1892 227777 / 78
Fax : +91 1892 227779
Mob : (0) 98575 70000
Website : www.GKConifer.com
Email : info@gkconifer.com

Grace Hotel
Welcom Heritage Group
558, Old Chari Road,
Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala
Himachal Pradesh 176215 INDIA
Tel. +91-11-46035500
Toll Free No. 1-800-102-2333

Bella Heights ( 3 star )
Temple Road, McLeodganj,
Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219
Tel:082638 39825
EMail : bookbellaheights@gmail.com
Website: http://bellaheights.com

Fortune Park Moksha
Strawberry Hills, Satobari,
Near Dal Lake, McLeod Ganj,
Dharamshala Cantt. - 176 216,
Himachal Pradesh
Tel :+91-1892-242424
Fax :+91-1892-242425

Hotel Bhagsu
HTPDC Hotel
Temple Road, McLeod Ganj,
Himachal Pradesh - 176219
Tel : 0189 222 1091

Villa Paradiso
Potala Road (Old Jogiwara Rd),
Mcleodganj, Dharamsala,
District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh - 176219
Email: info@villaparadiso.in
Website: www.villaparadiso.in
Central Reservations (10.00 hrs - 18.00 hrs IST)
Tel: +91 99107 44466 / 11 4630 1137
For Directions and Assistance : +91 98055 23040

Nishaad Resorts,
Naddi, Dharamshala Cantt.,
Upper Mcleodganj 
Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh
Tel: 01892-221707 / 232367
Mob: +91-9418021707
Email: info@nishaadresorts.com
Website: http://www.nishaadresorts.com

Blossoms Village Resort
Sidhpur, Dharamshala
District Kangra
Himachal Pradesh - 176057
Tel:  +91-867 924 6880 / +91-1892 - 246 880 / 81
EMail: info@blossomsvillage.com
Website : www.blossomsvillage.com   

Dharamshala inn Himachal Pradesh

Dharamshala is a city in the state of Himachal Pradesh, earlier known as Bhagsu located in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley, in the shadow of the Dhauladhar mountains. Dharamshala is the administrative headquarters of the Kangra District in the state.
Dharamshala is the winter capital of the present day Himachal Pradesh. The Legislative Assembly is located at Sidhbari, which is near the Chinmaya Tapovan Ashram. Winter sessions of the state government are held at sidhbari

The city is surrounded by dense coniferous forest. Dharamshala is placed at an altitude of 4780 feet. Dalai lama has its residence here and runs his government in exile from the city. CTA, the Central Tibetan Administration, was moved from Mussooriein the year 1960 to the village Mcleodhanj of Dharamshala.

Dharamshala is divided in to two distinct divisions Lower and Upper Dharamshala. LOwer Dharamshala consists of most of the government offices, Schools, the local Hospital, and commercial areas. It is just that you can enjoy while driving through Lower Dharamshala, except one or two tea gardens you don't have anything worth while visiting.

Upper Dharamshala is better known as McLeodganj where Tibetan exile Government is located.  It is home to the Tibetan community as well as the centre of tourist activity. Bhagsu, a small quiet urban area, full of shops and restaurants, is located at about 2 kilometers in the north east.
Dharamkot, is placed to the north of McLeodganj at about 3-4 kilometers away. It is divided into lower and upper Dharamkot, where in Lower Dharamkot is similar to Bhagsu.

Upper Dharamkot is nestled among the woods and is loved by those wanting quicker access to the trekking trails that start just of the edges of Dharamkot.

Adventure tourism in Dharamshala
Dharamshala is a starting point to a number of trekking trails that especially lead trekkers across Dhauladhar into the upper Ravi Valley and Chamba district. En route, trekkers cross through forests of deodar, pine, oak and rhododendron, and pass streams and rivers and wind along vertiginous cliff tracks, and the occasional lake waterfall and glacier.

There are many trekking trails some of which are;
Bhagsu waterfall trek is about 3 kilometers long,
The trek to Dal Lake nestled among tall pine trees, is about 4 kilometers and goes past Naddi river.
Triund hill, the Jewel of Dharamshala, is at about a day trek at the upper reaches of the village McLeodGanj, situated at about 9 kilometers from McLeodGanj. Triund is a trek for the brisk walkers which take you to an higher altitude of 2875 meters. For this trek you will have to wear proper trekking shoes, carry water and some food along with an extra vest or coat. It is known to get sudden snow storms up there.
Trek to Toral Pass (4575m) begins from Tang Narwana (1150m) that is nearly 10 kilometers from Dharamshala.
The trek across Bhimghasutri Pass (4580m) is via near-vertical rocky ascents, steep cliffs and dangerous gorges. This is a highly difficult level trek and takes around six days to complete.
The trek from Dharamshala to Bleni Pass (3710m) and then to Dunali, when compared to other trekking trails, is much easier and takes around four or five-days to complete. The trek leads you through alpine pastures, woods, and streams, before ending at Dunali, on the Chamba road.

Rock climbing enthusiasts can go rock climbing over the ridges of the Dhauladhar range.

How to reach Dharamshala?
Gaggal airport is the nearest and is about 10 kilometers from Kangra to the north of dharamshala and about 15 kilometers from the south.

If you are travelling by rail
You have to reach Kangra, Himachal Pradesh town by Kangra Valley Railway line to Pathankot, which is about 94 kilometers away. Pathakot is a broad gauge railway head. After you reach Kangra you can take a bus or a taxi to dharamshala.

Camp Bodhisatva at Rajgadh

Bodhisatva is an activity based  holiday camp set up at a small patch of land of a fruit orchard at Haloni Pul, in  Rajgarh in the Sirmour district of the state of Himachal Pradesh. The Camp has been set up in such a way that the flora of the place is undisturbed.

This is an ideal place for the trekkers who feel adventurous  as they can challenge the Churadhar peak at an altitude of about 12000 feet above sea level. This is a rigorous trek for about 2 days  or can also be taken as a 4 day gentle trek. If you do not feel adventurous you can just laze around the camp i a hammockor can take a sun bath by the side of a stream near the camp Bodhisatva.

About The Camp Bodhisatva
Rajgarh is more like a place where past and the present meets in a perfect harmony.  You can have the best of integrated communication networks, reguar supply of electricity, transport network and the nearby supply locations make things easy for the urbanites to adjust  with, at the same time have a laidback village style and scarce population gives you a calm and serene atmosphere.

The camp set up in the fruit orchard faces a mountain and the narrow valley results in cool breeze all the time. There is a thicket of deodar trees which help maintain the temperature at acceptable high and low.

Activities which can be pursued at the Camp Bodhisatva
You can spend time wandering aimlessly around the hills near the camp, chase butterflies , watch birds,  swing in the hammock as if you have all the time in the world, read a favourite book of yours, laze around half immersed in the water, frankly doing nothing.  This camp Bodhisatva is a destination to do just that, a place for Soul Vacation, to get away from everything  and do something different.

Facilities available  at the Camp Bodhisatva
1. They have 10 - 12 feet tented accommodation witha centre table,  two beds with mattresses and sleeping bags and with weather proof and well ventilated with roll up windows. The floors are made of tiles by locally available slate rocks.

2. There is a kitchen at the camp to take care of the meals as in a buffet arrangement from the Indian, Chinese and Continental menu. Bottled drinking water is also provided if needed.

3. Toilets in the camp are provided in the central compound. 7 western toilets and one Indian toilet are made available at the Camp along with bathing units that have running water facility. Hot water is also available if required.

4. There is a doctor who lives in the camp area about 300 feet away. Rajgarh also has a government hospital and the doctors are available in an emergency. Rajgarh is just 5 kilometers away fro the Camp.

How to reach Camp Bodhisatva

If you are travelling by road
Camp Bodhisatva is about 350 kilometers away from Delhi and about 100 kilometers away from Chandigarh. Delhi Chandigarh route is mostly fast highway and the hill section starts from Kalka to Solan for about 42 kilometers and then to Rajgarh for about 45 kilometers.

The actual route is Delhi - Karnal - Ambala - Panchkula - Kalka - Barog - Solan - Ochghat - Yashwant Nagar - Sanora - Rajgarh  - Haloni Pul - Camp BodhiSatva

If you are travelling by train
Kalka / Chandigarh are the nearest railway stations. Kalka is about 90 kilometers away and Chandigarh is about 100 kilometers away from the Camp Bodhisatva.  Both the stations Kalka and Chandigarh are well connected by trains from all over India

Contact Details  of The Camp Bodhisatva
Camp Bodhisatva
Jagmila Orchards,
Haloni Pul, Rajgarh,
Dist Sirmour,
Himachal Pradesh

Head Office
5 - L, 2nd Floor, Jungi House,
Shahpur Jat,
New Delhi - 110049
Tel :  011 26493074 / 3076

Mobile Phones
Manishankar - 0  9810299733
Pankaj -  0 9810614238
Sandeep -  0 9818056962
EMail  info@questrails.com
Skype / Gtalk ID - questrails
Website : http://questrails.com/camp-bodhisatva

Kullu and Manali hill stations in India

Kullu
Kullu is located on the banks of the Beas river in the Kullu Valley. Kullu is the capital of the Kullu district  and the largest valley in the Kullu district. Kullu is a well known and one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.  The area is endowed with beautiful settings  and superb scenic beauty.
With its pine and deodhar forests, flower meadows fruit orchards, beautiful landscapes along with cool breeze and songs of the birds around  is so enchanting that the  place is called as the valley of the Gods.  This will be a perfect place for quality time with family as well as  for the honeymoon couples searching for some privacy.

Manali
Manali  is an hill station  located at a height of 2050 m,  at the northern end of the Kullu Valley, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, in India. Manali is located on the road leading to ladakh which goes through the valley of Lahaul and spiti.
Manali situated on the river Beas is a popular tourist spot for locals as well as tourists in summer and is a magical, snow-covered place in winter.  This is also the starting point for various trekking trails  of the Beaskund , Chandrakani pass. You can also participate in many of the sports activities like White water rafting.

Places to visit in the Kullu Manali
Bijili Mahadev Shrine is located at about 10 kilometers from Kullu and is one of the most striking temples of the District. The temple can be reached only after an arduous about  climb of 10 kilometers  and once you reach the temple  you will be rewarded not only the dharshan of the deity but also of the panoramic view of the beautiful  Kullu and Paravati valleys.

Raison, the camping site is located at a distace of 16 kilometers from Kullu and is an ideal place for spending some time in solitude and a quiet holiday. You can see large number of fruit orchards in the area. HPTDC has log Cabins there which can be hired for spending the night.

Bajeshwar Mahadev temple is a pyramid shaped temple  is located in Bajaura at about 15 kilometers from Kullu. This temple is said to belong to the 8th century AD. There are beautiful looking carvings which are made in stone as well as sculptures in the shikara style. The Bajeshwar Mahadev Temple is placed at about 200 meters from the village Bajaura between the main road  and the Beas river.

Manikaran is located at an altitude of about 1700 meters  and about 45 kilometers from Kullu.  As per the legends it is said that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were relaxing there when Parvati's ear rings fewll into the river. Shesh nag of the Patal Nagri too them into his custody and refused to return them to Parvati. Later when all the Gods prevailed upon him to return them, he snorted them out through his nostrils  causing a boiling fountain to erupt with the ear rings. Those are supposed to be the hot water springs there  and the water in the main spring is so hot that you can cook rice and dal in it.

Hadimba Devi  Temple is located at just about a kilometer from Manali, in the middle of a forest called the Dhungiri Van Vihar. This is an ancient cave temple  dedicated to Hidimba Devi one of the wives of Bheema and the mother of Ghadotghaja.  The Hadimba Temple is surrounded by cedar forests  at the foot of the Himalayas and is built over a rock jutting from the ground.
The Hidimba temple is said to be built in 1533 AD and has a superbly crafted four tiered  wooden pagoda type roof.  The temple also has a very exquisitely carved beautiful doorway.  This is a antique temple which is said to be more than 500 years old. The temple does not have an idol but only a foot print on the stone. On the first of the Jaith month  or 14 th of May every year Hidimbi's birthday is celebrated as a Mela. The mela held in the forests lasts for 3 days. Many people come from in and around the area to attend the mela and make merry in music and dance.

How to reach Kullu Manali ?
By Air
Bhuntar is the nearest airport located at about 50 kilometers from Manali. There are flights connecting Delhi and Chandigarh. Since Delhi is an International airport almost all the airlines operate flights to the city. From Delhi you can get a connection flight to reach Kullu Manali. Prepaid taxis are available at the airport for you to reach your destination. 

By Rail
Travel by rail to Kullu Manali is a bit difficult as the nearest railway stations are Chandigarh and Ambala in Chandigarh. Both stations are about 350 - 360 kilometers away from Kullu Manali. If you have to travel by train then charter taxis from the respective railway station to reach Kullu Manali.  From Chandigarh flights are also available.

By Road
Buses run by the government as well as by the private companies ply regularly to take you to Kullu Manali . You can find buses from the neighbouring states also plying regularly.
You can also drive by yourself if you have a car at your disposal. The route is so enchanting and breathtaking, you will enjoy your drive very much.