Winter Festival

 

 

C Winter Festival in Manali and Ice Skating Festival in Shimla
In December, Shimla and Manali are the venues for the Ice Skating Festival. Various activities like ice skating, ice hockey and dance performances are held. Come February, Manali shakes of its winter hibernation for the winter carnival. Many winter sports and competitions are held during the festival.

Mandi Shivaratri Himachal

 

Shivaratri in Mandi 
The town of Mandi comes alive in March, for a whole week, during the Shivratri fair. Accompanied by folk bands, hundreds of local deities are carried on elaborately decorated palanquins to Madho Rai Temple and then finally to pay their respects to Lord Shiva at the Bhootnath Temple. There is much song, dance, drama and revelry all around.

Kullu Dussehra

 

A week-long festival celebrated in majestic style in northern India, Kullu Dussehra is one of the most popular events of Himachal Pradesh, signifying the victory of good over evil.  It draws the travelers from distant parts of the globe. It is held in the Dhalpur maidan at Kullu in Himachal Pradesh state. Kullu is known for its beautiful gorges, wondrous waterfalls, chatty mountain stream and ancient temples which are certainly going to enthrall you especially during the Kullu Dussehra festival.

Dating back to the 17th century, Kullu Dussehra starts on Vijaya Dashmi and lasts for seven days in the month of October. It is a lovely blend of rich culture, history and ritual.This festival is only held to celebrate the success of good over evil. While music and color create a peaceful ambience, thousands of people gather on the first day of celebration to pay respect to Lord Raghunathji. The first day is started with huge celebration and on this day the statue of Lord Raghunathji is installed on a beautifully designed chariot, which is graced with the presence of village gods and goddess, is pulled by ropes by the locals from its place to different sites across the Maidan.

The following days are celebrated with great devotion, and many an individual takes participate in singing and dancing during the festival. The fair is fulfilled with the burning of the Lanka. On the last day of the festival, the chariot is brought by the banks of Beas River where a mass of wood grass is burnt, signifying the burning of Lanka.

Fishing

The Beas, Sainj and Tirthan rivers in the Kullu Valley are famous for the Rainbow and Brown Trout. We can organise day trips or longer ones with experienced guides who know the best spots. Angling permits and equipment, camping/guest houses if required will be provided by us.

 

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Shimla Kullu/Manali

 

 

 

Day 01: Chandigarh to Shimla (5/6 hrs)

Drive to Shimla, stopping at the monastery in Solan along the way. Set at an altitude of 2,213m, Shimla was once the summer capital of the British administration in India and is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh. This queen of hill stations still retains its colonial charm in its architecture. Evening walk around The Mall.
Day 02: Shimla sightseeing
Visit Jakhoo, an ancient temple devoted to Lord Hanuman, situated on Jakhoo Hill. This is Shimla’s highest peak and offers panoramic views of the Shivalik Ranges. Go on an excursion to Kufri & Narkanda, popular for their trekking trails, pine-scented air and beautiful views all around. Narkanda is also located close to the prime apple belt and is a ski-resort in winter.
Day 03: Shimla to Manali (8 hrs)
Drive to Manali (2050m) at the Northern end of the Kullu Valley. Manali is surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks and the snowline is never more than a few hours’ drive away. Stop at placid Bilaspur Lake and Hanogi Mata temple set among the mountainous backdrop along the way. Check in to hotel.
Day 04: Manali sightseeing
Visit the Hadimba temple, Vasisht Baths, Manu Temple and Tibetan monastery. Chill in Old Manali, imbibe the local ambience and shop for souvenirs at the Tibetan Market on the Mall. Take a trip to Solang Valley and try your hand at paragliding.
Day 05: Manali-Bijli Mahadev-Manali
Bijli Mahadev is a famous an ancient Shiva temple situated atop a beautiful meadow. It is a 3km walk from Mansari village and offers stunning views of both the Parvati Valley and Kullu Valley.
Day 06: Manali-Naggar-Jana-Manali
On the left bank of the river Beas, Naggar is a pictureque village on the wooded slope. It used to be the capital of the Kullu rajas and you can visit their heritage castle there. Naggar was also home to the Russian artist Roerich, whose house has now been converted into a museum. Visit some of the famous temples in and around Naggar as well and continue on to Jana for authentic and tasty Himachali food. Walk up to the beautiful waterfall there and wind your way back to Manali.
Day 07: Manali – Kasol (trek to Malana and back to Kasol)
This extremely scenic drive takes you from the relatively gentle Beas river to the roaring and angry Parvati. On the way to Kasol, take a detour to Malana. The road goes almost to the village, after which its a easy and picturesque two hour walk. Malana village is a small cluster of around two hundred stone roof houses. Its inimitable culture and the temple of Jamlu distinguish the village whose inhabitants are said to have descended from Alexander The Great. The villagers here, have their own laws and customs, speak a different dialect and dress differently. Drive to Kasol and check-in to hotel.

Day 8: Kasol – Manikaran – Parashar

Continue on from Kasol and reach the famous hot springs of Manikaran, sacred to both Hindus and Sikhs. Walk around this holy town, visit the temples and gurudwara and take a dip in the hot spring baths. Continue on to Parashar lake stopping at the ancient Bajaura temple on the way. This temple is said to have been constructed by the Pandavas when they were in exile. Reach the beautiful lake, in the centre of green hillocks, held sacred to the sage Parashar. A mysterious floating island that keeps changing position throughout the year adds to the charm as does a three-tiered Pagoda-like temple dedicated to the sage. The whole vista is encircled by snow-capped peaks. The lakeside and the nearby villages are sites of various festivals held at different times of the year. Camping overnight at Parashar Lake.

Day 09: Parashar – Rewalsar

Continue on down to the scenic Rewalsar lake, past the town of Mandi. Lying in a mountain hollow, the lake is held sacred to all three communities, evidenced by the three shrines – a Buddhist Monastery, a Sikh Gurudwara and a Hindu Temple. The lake is famous for its floating islands which, according to the myths, can be moved by prayer or breeze. Stay overnight here.

Day 1o: Rewalsar – Chandigarh

Drive down to the plains from Rewalsar. Drop-off at hotel in Chandigarh.