™ City guides
History, how to reach and the best places to visit in famous Indian cities – with stays to book.
Dharamshala travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshHill town of monasteries and tea gardens below the snow-capped Dhauladhar – home of the Dalai Lama
Dharamshala is a hill town in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, spread from the lower town up to McLeod Ganj, Bhagsu, Dharamkot and Naddi. It is the home of the Dalai Lama, the base for the Triund trek and one of the most loved mountain getaways in North India.
Shimla travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshThe old summer capital of British India – colonial lanes, deodar forests and the famous toy train
Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh, built along a ridge at about 2,200 m with the Mall Road, the Ridge and Jakhoo Hill at its heart. Once the summer capital of British India, it is the gateway to Kufri, Mashobra and Naldehra and one of the most visited hill stations in the country.
Manali travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshApple orchards, deodar forests and snow peaks at the head of the Kullu valley – the gateway to Lahaul and Ladakh
Manali is a mountain town at about 2,050 m at the northern end of the Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh, on the banks of the Beas. From the busy Mall Road to the cafés of Old Manali and the hot springs of Vashisht, it is the base for Solang Valley, the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang Pass and the road to Leh, and one of the most popular hill getaways in India.
Kangra travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshOld fort town of the Katoch kings – temples, tea gardens and a toy train across the Kangra valley
Kangra is an old temple and fort town in the valley of the same name, about 15 km below Dharamshala. It is known for Kangra Fort and the Brajeshwari Devi temple, and makes an easy base for the rock-cut temples of Masroor, the shrines of Jawalamukhi and Chamunda, the Pong Dam lake and the tea gardens of Palampur.
Solan travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshThe “Mushroom City of India” on the Kalka–Shimla line – gateway to Kasauli, Chail and Barog
Solan is a hill town and district headquarters on the Chandigarh–Shimla highway, ringed by pine-covered ridges and small hill stations – colonial Kasauli, Dharampur, Barog on the toy-train line, Kandaghat and royal Chail. Known for mushrooms, tomatoes and one of India’s oldest breweries, it is an easy weekend escape from Delhi and Chandigarh.
Rajgarh travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshThe “Peach Valley” of Himachal – orchard slopes above the Giri valley and the gateway to Churdhar
Rajgarh is a small hill town at about 1,550 m in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, about 40 km from Solan. Known as the “Peach Valley” for its stone-fruit orchards, it is a quiet base for Habban valley, the Churdhar trek from Nohradhar and the Bhangayani Mata temple at Haripurdhar.
Mohali travel guide
📍 PunjabPlanned city of the Chandigarh tricity – cricket, gurdwaras and quiet Punjab farmland next door
Mohali, officially Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (SAS Nagar), is the Punjab side of the Chandigarh tricity, sharing its sector grid, airport and green avenues. It is a handy base for Chandigarh’s Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake, and its villages in Kharar tehsil, such as Madan Heri, offer calm farm stays close to the city.
Nahan travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshThe old capital of Sirmaur – a clean little hill town on a Shivalik ridge, close to Renuka Ji lake
Nahan is the headquarters of Sirmaur district, a small, green hill town at about 930 m on a ridge of the Shivalik hills in south-east Himachal Pradesh. Known for its tanks, temples and quiet walks, it is the easiest hill escape from Chandigarh and Dehradun and the base for Renuka Ji lake, Jaitak Fort, the Suketi fossil park and Trilokpur.
Kullu travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshThe “Valley of the Gods” on the Beas – Dussehra fair, river rafting and the gateway to Parvati and Tirthan
Kullu is the main town of the Kullu valley at about 1,220 m on the banks of the Beas in Himachal Pradesh. Famous for its week-long Dussehra fair, Kullu shawls and apple orchards, it is the base for Bijli Mahadev, rafting on the Beas, Kasol and Manikaran in the Parvati valley, Naggar and the Tirthan valley.
Nainital travel guide
📍 UttarakhandThe lake town of Kumaon – boats on Naini Lake, the Mall, and quieter lakes all around
Nainital is a hill town at about 2,000 m in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, built around the eye-shaped Naini Lake. With the Mall Road, the Naina Devi temple, ropeway views of the Himalaya and a ring of quieter lakes – Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal and Sattal – it is one of North India’s favourite family hill stations.
Chamba travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshA thousand-year-old hill capital on the Ravi – carved stone temples, the Chaugan and Khajjiar’s meadow next door
Chamba is an old royal town at about 1,000 m on the Ravi river in western Himachal Pradesh. Its stone temples, palace, the Bhuri Singh Museum and the open Chaugan ground make it one of the state’s finest heritage towns – and it is the base for Khajjiar, Dalhousie and Bharmour.
Kasauli travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshA small colonial cantonment in pine woods – two hours from Chandigarh, with sunset views over the plains
Kasauli is a quiet cantonment town at about 1,800 m in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. Old churches, the Mall, pine-forest walks like the Gilbert Trail and sunset views towards Chandigarh make it the easiest colonial hill escape from the Tricity.
Dehradun travel guide
📍 UttarakhandUttarakhand’s green valley capital – forest institutes, river caves and the road up to Mussoorie
Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand, in the wide Doon valley between the Shivalik hills and the Mussoorie ridge. With pleasant weather, famous schools and institutes, cafés on Rajpur Road and nature spots like Sahastradhara and Robber’s Cave, it is also the gateway to Mussoorie, Rishikesh and Haridwar.
Bir travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshIndia’s paragliding capital – Tibetan monasteries, tea gardens and flights from Billing
Bir is a small village at about 1,400 m in the Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is the landing site for paragliders flying from Billing, about 1,000 m above, and home to a Tibetan settlement with monasteries, cafés and meditation centres – a relaxed base for adventure and slow travel.
Palampur travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshThe tea capital of north India – green tea gardens below the snowy Dhauladhar
Palampur is a calm town at about 1,200 m in the Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh, surrounded by tea gardens, pine forests and streams, with the Dhauladhar range rising behind. It is a lovely slow-travel base between Dharamshala and Bir, close to Baijnath, Andretta and Chamunda.
Mukteshwar travel guide
📍 UttarakhandA quiet Kumaon ridge with a 300-km sweep of Himalayan peaks, orchards and an old Shiva temple
Mukteshwar is a small village at about 2,200 m in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. Its ridge looks straight at the snow peaks of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Panchachuli, and it is known for the Mukteshwar Dham temple, the Chauli ki Jali cliffs, orchards and peaceful homestays.
Chopta travel guide
📍 UttarakhandMeadows below Tungnath – the world’s highest Shiva temple and the Chandrashila summit
Chopta is a meadow and forest area at about 2,600 m in the Garhwal Himalaya of Uttarakhand, inside the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the base for the short trek to Tungnath, one of the Panch Kedar, and on to Chandrashila peak, with Deoria Tal lake and Kartik Swami nearby.
Kaza travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshThe capital of Spiti – a high-desert valley of thousand-year-old monasteries, fossil villages and starry skies
Kaza is the main town of the Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh, at about 3,650 m in a cold desert on the Spiti river. It is the base for Key Monastery, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim, Komic, the Mane villages, Dhankar, Tabo and the Pin valley – a trip for travellers who want wide landscapes, Buddhist culture and quiet.
Kinnaur travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshThe land of apples and Kinner Kailash – Sangla, Chitkul, Kalpa and the old Hindustan–Tibet road
Kinnaur is a high mountain district of Himachal Pradesh along the Sutlej river, bordering Tibet. Apple orchards, wooden temples, slate-roofed villages, the Kinner Kailash range and dramatic roads make it one of India’s most beautiful drives – and the gateway to Spiti.
Mandi travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshThe “Chhoti Kashi” of the hills – an old temple town on the Beas, halfway to Manali
Mandi is a historic town at about 800 m on the Beas river in central Himachal Pradesh, famous for its many old temples and the week-long International Shivratri Fair. It sits on the Chandigarh–Manali highway and is the base for Prashar Lake, Rewalsar, Shikari Devi and the Janjehli valley.
Chail travel guide
📍 Himachal PradeshA maharaja’s summer capital in deodar forest – home of the world’s highest cricket ground
Chail is a quiet hill village at about 2,250 m in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, built up by the Maharaja of Patiala as his summer retreat. The palace, the high cricket ground, the Kali ka Tibba temple and thick deodar forests make it a calm alternative to busy Shimla.
Champawat travel guide
📍 UttarakhandThe first capital of Kumaon – carved Chand-era temples, Abbott Mount and Jim Corbett country
Champawat is a small, green hill town at about 1,600 m in eastern Kumaon, Uttarakhand. Once the capital of the Chand kings, it has finely carved stone temples, quiet forests and orchards, and is close to Lohaghat, Abbott Mount, the Mayawati Ashram and Devidhura.
Bageshwar travel guide
📍 UttarakhandA temple town at the meeting of the Saryu and Gomti – gateway to the Pindari glacier
Bageshwar is a pilgrimage town at about 1,000 m in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, where the Saryu and Gomti rivers meet beside the Bagnath temple. It is known for the Uttarayani fair and is the starting point for the Pindari, Kafni and Sunderdhunga glacier treks, with Kausani and Baijnath close by.
Ambala travel guide
📍 HaryanaThe railway gateway to the hills – a historic cantonment with gurdwaras, old churches and busy bazaars
Ambala is a twin city in northern Haryana – the old Ambala City and the British-era Ambala Cantt – on the Grand Trunk Road between Delhi and Chandigarh. A major railway junction and Air Force base, it is a handy stopover on the way to Himachal, with historic gurdwaras, a ruined colonial church and bustling markets.