Safest place to visit in India for girls traveling solo

Trip dated: December 2018

Let me take you to the mesmerizing points of serene land- HIMACHAL PRADESH!

Himachal is one of the most rejuvenating tourist destinations of India. Arguably winter is the best season to travel to Himachal and experience the breathtaking scenes of valleys, snow-capped mountains, and frozen lakes and also to indulge in some winter sports activities. Himachal Pradesh experiences heavy snowfalls in winter and hence when you are searching for some best tourist places in Himachal to visit, the following should be added to your itinerary.

There are so many beautiful places in Himachal Pradesh that needs to be cherished. Few months back I went on a 7 days trip to Himachal Pradesh with my friends. I must tell you that it was one of the best trips of my life. Our trip started from Jaipur, Rajasthan. At first, we went to the lush green Kasol and Parvati Valley. We opted for a home stay there.



Here are some of the best tourist places in Himachal Pradesh that are a must to visit this winter season…



KASOL-

KASOL, famously known as ‘Mini Israel’ of India due to strong Jewish history and heritage found here. It is situated in Parvati Valley, on the banks of the Parvati River. There is nothing wrong in saying that Kasol is the Himalayan hotspot for backpackers. This one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Himachal has emerged out as one of the favorite getaways for the city crowd and into the lap of nature's best landscapes. Kasol acts as a base for easier treks like Malana and Kheerganga & some professional treks like Pin Parvati.

The weather of Kasol stays good throughout the year and receives fair amount of snowfall from late December to February. The Parvati valley is one of the best places in Himachal. It is full of surprises, treks, beauty and all things good to make anyone who comes here from a desert land like Rajasthan.



As soon we enter the state of Himachal, I went crazy and mesmerized at the same time after seeing that place. It was all foggy in the early morning. The most exciting thing about our stay in Kasol was the Parvati River, which was flowing just near our home-stay. This river was just an addition to this our amazing trip. There are so many beautiful places in Himachal.

We stayed in Kasol for two days. In this two days trip we went on trekking and also to the Manikaran which is a pilgrimage centre for Hindus and Sikhs. I was amazed to see the natural hot water springs at this place. The hot water springs are considered extremely auspicious. A pilgrimage to this place is thought of as complete. If you are going to Kasol, don’t forget to visit Manikaran.

TOSH-

After Kasol, we moved to small yet utterly scenic village of TOSH in Himachal Pradesh. It is described as a "traditional village turned hippie colony". Surrounded by lush green mountains, Tosh is located at about 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) in elevation on a hill near Kasol in the Parvati Valley. In the meadows and valleys around Tosh are Himalayan blue poppies, irises, marsh marigolds, primulas, buttercups, and Himalayan balsam flowers.

The view of half snow covered mountains from our hotel was simply breath taking. Many people who are visiting Himachal or planning a trip to the state doesn’t know about Tosh Village. But you will surely include this place in your itinerary after reading my experience. You will find mesmerizing water falls, lush green treks and amazing people here. The weather of this place is very chilling, so don’t forget to take woolens with you.



KHEERGANGA TREK-

Next thing on our itinerary was the KHEERGANGA TREK. It is a beautiful day trek on a narrow cliff side path going by numerous waterfalls and few isolated villages. There are usually about 30-50 people at the village site during the high season. It took us around 5-6 hours to complete this trek.

On top of Kheerganga, we placed camps and enjoyed the bonfire. We met 10-11 tourists from the other states of India as well. Kheerganga is said to be a sacred place of Himachal Pradesh.

You can again experience the refreshing hot water springs at this place. If you are thinking to go for trekking, then Kheerganga trek is just perfect for you. But I would like to suggest you to take warm clothes and especially camps from the starting point of Kheerganga. You can rent the camps easily on very cheap rates.

Sit in a natural hot spring and enjoy the dramatic scenery of the valley, especially these beautiful places in Himachal.

MANALI-

After a tiring one day of trekking, we decided to move towards one of the other beautiful tourist destinations in Himachal that is Manali which is a RESORT TOWN. Manali is nestled in the mountains of the Himachal Pradesh near the northern end of the Kullu Valley in the Beas River Valley. The distance between Kheerganga and Manali is around 97.3kms.



We had a stay at OLD MANALI which is another amazing tourist place in Himachal. Some of the tourist points in Manali are as follows:

1. Manu Temple

2. Hidimba Devi Temple

3. Jogini Waterfall

4. Solang Valley

5. Club House and more…

Well, the most interesting and best part about this place is the NIGHT LIFE. In my eyes, Manali, especially OLD MANALI is a perfect spot for a hippie soul. You will find so many cafes and restaurants that organize musical nights for the tourists. We had so much fun in Manali. The club house is a hub for sports and game lovers. You will find almost every kind of sport here. Manali is also a great spot for water adventures such as ‘River Rafting’.



SOLANG VALLEY-

We rented electrical cycles to reach SOLANG VALLEY. It is a side valley at the top of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India 14 km northwest of the resort town Manali on the way to Rohtang Pass, and is known for its summer and winter sport conditions. The sports most commonly offered are parachuting, skating and many more. But if you desperately want to do Paragliding, then visit ‘Zorbing’ on the green slopes of SOLANG VALLEY.

If you are going to Solang Valley in winters then you will find the most magnificent mountains covered with snow. This place is also a hub for SKIING for tourists.



You can also visit ROHTANG PASS from Manali, which is located high on the snow covered mountains of Himachal. Well, you need to make a pass before going to Rohtang. There are so many travel agents in Manali who can help you in renting a vehicle as well as the pass for this place. The distance of Rohtang from Manali is around 51 kms.

Overall my whole trip to Himchal Pradesh is a lifetime experience that will cherish till I die.

Go To these best tourist places in Himachal and Experience the Best Winters of Your Life!

Contributed by Ms. Nalini Sharma (Traveler at heart stuck in the corporate world)

Jaipur, Rajasthan

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