Shimla: Pine forests and apple orchards, crisp, clean air and breathtaking views - that's Shimla in a nutshell. Sprawled over 12 kms on a crescent shaped ridge, Shimla is the largest hill station and erstwhile summer capital of the British in India. Descending in layers from the top of the ridge, at 2,213 metres, Shimla straddles several hills, including the Jakhu, Prospect Hill, Observatory Hill, Elysium Hill and Summer Hill. Shimla is a tourist paradise through out the year. The town itself is worth a visit in the off-season when it is less crowded and can be explored to one’s heart's content. People here, like in the rest of Himachal Pradesh are simple, hard working and fond of music and drama. They worship the goddess Shakti and one can see small temples on hillsides, in valleys, on peaks and ridges. These hillsides are known by the name of the goddess/god itself. The interior part of the Shimla district gives one a fine view of how rural or rather real hillside folks live like. The district offers something to any kind of a visitor. The young, the old, the writers, adventurers, nature lovers and peace lovers can all find their bit of heaven here.

The district of Shimla has amazingly beautiful forests of firs, pines, oaks and rhododendron. The beautiful meadows with hyacinth, celandine, asphodel, climb gently up to the deodar forests and further up to rocky and snowy peaks of the Himalayas. A pleasant way to enjoy natural beauty of the region is to travel to Shimla on the 'Kalka -Shimla' train. It runs on the narrow gauge and winds its way through forested hills of fir, pines, walnut, apricots and through terraced hillside fields of paddy, corn and the famous capsicum known as 'Shimla Mirch'. The entire Shimla district has a number of small streams and springs and is a delightful place for nature lovers. One can walk and love to walk some more.

The houses of the locals are made of stone and mud with thatched roofs. The materials used for the roofs are plenty but the style is always similar. The roofs slant down on both sides of the house. This helps the snow to slide down during the winters and not accumulate on top of the houses. The houses built by the British mostly used a lot of timber (oak) and were built in gothic styles. The roofs are generally colored brick red or green. From the days of the British, when it was the popular retreat of the sahibs, Shimla has now become the hub of major activities in Himachal Pradesh. Being the seat of government and a major tourist attraction in north India, Shimla has grown to bursting point. The fresh air, magnificent snow peaks and refreshing green all around make Shimla worth a visit.
 
Kullu-Manali: Situated at the northern end of the kullu valley, Manali has spectacular views of snowcapped peaks and is Surrounded by towering peaks from all around. Manali's major asset is its proximity to the snowline. It has a flourishing orchard industry, a popular honeymoon destination and trailhead for numerous treks as well as a great countryside ideal for adventure sport lovers. With the majestic grandeur of the Himalayas on one side, river Beas cutting across the town, verdant valleys with rolling meadows and grazing herds dotting the hillsides, apple orchards and the folk music adding romance to the ambience and presenting a wondrous canvas to the traveller. Experience the local color and beauty in Kullu Manali's temples, quaint villages and the vibrant and festive mood of the people and their colorful clothes and handicrafts. Or encounter adventure; on the myriad trekking trails and routes, while skiing on the snow slopes, rafting down the Beas or just as you try your hand at some amateurish angling. Discover for yourself the Kullu Valley, going up to the Rohtang Pass at 13050 feet and encompassing the beautiful Manali in-between, nestled between the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges. As its magical charms enamour, you ebulliently agree that it has rightly been christened as the "Valley of the Gods".

Manali is situated near the end of the valley on the National Highway leading to Leh. The landscape here is breath taking. One sees well-defined snow capped peaks, the Beas river with its clear water meanders through the town. On the other side are deodar and pine trees, tiny fields and fruit orchards. The Manali market is crowded with myriads of interesting shops selling Tibetan carpets and crafts and the appetizing aroma of steaming noodles hangs about the little restaurants. There is a very interesting story as to how did Manali get it's name "Manali". It goes like this: Vaivasvata,the seventh incarnation of Manu found a tiny fish in his bathing water. The fish told him to look after it with devotion, for one day it would do him a great service. Vaivasvata cared for the fish till the day it grew so huge that he released it into the sea before departing, the fish warned Manu of an Impending deluge when the entire world would be submerged and bade him to build a sea-worthy ark. When the flood came. Vaivasvata and the Seven Sages were towed to safety by Matsya the fish-which is regarded as the first avatara of Lord Vishnu. As the waters subsided the seventh Manu's ark came to rest on a hillside and the place was named Manali (2050 m) after him. As the earth slowly dried. Here arose a place of breath taking natural beauty - which was only appropriate, for it was at Manali that life began again.

Places to see in Manali : Hadimba Devi Temple, built in 1553 with a superbly crafted four tiered pagoda roof, is famous for its exquisitely carved doorway. Manu Temple is dedicated to the sage Manu. Vashishth is well known for its hot springs. There are old temples dedicated to the sage Vashishth and to Lord Rama. These are just beyond the Himachal tourism baths. There are three recently built Tibetan monasteries at Manali. Jagatsukh, the one time capital of Kullu has old temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and to Sandhya Gayatri. The Arjun caves are just ahead. Solang Valley has good ski slopes end picnic spots. It has the glacier closest to Manali.
  
Chandigarh: Chandigarh, also called The City Beautiful, is a city in India that serves as the capital of two states: Punjab and Haryana. However, administratively, the city is not under the jurisdiction of either state, but is instead administered by the Centre government and hence classified as a Union Territory Chandigarh is the first planned city in the country and still maintains its status as one of the best managed cities in the country. The leisure valley, gardens, sector greens, forests and trees of Chandigarh are the lungs of the city. Chandigarh has 3245 hectares under forest and most of it is hilly. The forest areas are mostly around Sukhna Lake, Sukhna Choe and Patiali Ki Rao. There are two reserve forests in Chandigarh,Kansal and Nepli. Both the places have forest Rest Houses. Permit from the Forest Department, Chandigarh Administration is required for entry to these places. A walk in these areas can be very rewarding as one may come across a large variety of wild animals such as antelopes, neelgais, hyena, jackals, hares and even leopards. The forest also offers excellent facilities for trekking in the hills. The excellent social infrastructure, large green spaces, and its compact size, make Chandigarh an ideal work destination.

Chandigarh Rock Garden: The well-ordered streets of Chandigarh lead the visitor to the northeastern edge of the city. It is here that the Rock Garden is located. Upon entering, the visitor finds winding paths which provide a perfect complement to Le Corbusier's design for the civic grid of Chandigarh. Walls built of terra cotta pots and sherds shade cobblestone paths, leading to large open areas occupied by pavilions built of concrete and stone. The buildings in the rock garden borrow from architectural precedents in India: some can be related to Mughal traditions by the use of the chattri (a domed kiosk supported on pillars) and the bangala (a curved roof whose two sides meet at a single ridge), and the pointed arch; other structures pay homage to the simple elegance of village domestic architecture.

Streams and waterfalls weave around these paths and buildings. Along the entire route, neglected and thrown-away items have been transformed into fanciful creatures placed on inclined fields of sherds and rock. All are constructed of various combinations of porcelain, concrete, and stone. People, dogs, bears, birds, elephants, mythological and hybrid creatures can be found. One figure, a three-dimensional mosaic of broken plates, reclines and holds a coffee cup. Some groups are organized by profession, such as dancers and musicians, while others are eclectic ensembles of personages and animals.

The Pinjore Garden: Pinjore Gardens, also called Yadavindra Gardens are 20 km from Chandigarh, 15 km from Panchkula, on the Chandigarh Shimla road. The gardens have cool, shady walks and flagged pathways which run to the outer reaches of the creeper-covered walls. The end structure of the doorway has recently been made into a disc-like open-air theatre. The stiff outer wall of the garden is reminiscent of the fort walls, which has now all around dieter pavilions housing the zoo. Palm trees, shapely cypresses, Mango and dense groves of trees add a touch of mystery to the Yadavindra Gardens of Pinjore. A watercourse traipsing from level to level sparkles in the sunlight, its pools reflecting white shining pavilions and balconies etched high against a blue sky. The graceful arched balconies and tinkling fountains, luxuriant green lawns and murmuring watercourse, limpid pools, shady walks and colorful flowerbeds, unusual descending terraces and monumental gateways—all were carefully planned to create a special effect.

Sukhna Lake: Another favorite recreation spot of the nature-loving people of Chandigarh is the Sukhna lake an artificial, manmade lake spread over 3 square kilometers on the northern border of Chandigarh is beautifully located with mountains and reserve forest land in its background. The lake was created by the architect Le Corbusier in 1958 by diverting the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream that flows down the Shivalik mountain ranges. The tree-shaded shores is a favorite spot for strolling and bird watching. It is a sanctuary for many exotic migratory birds and from December through February, one can see many species of aquatic birds from Central Asia and Siberia. Sukhna lake has facility for paddle boats and yachting and is the venue of the Asian rowing championships. As night descends, lights reflect in the lake from the hill resort nearby presenting a bewitching sight. The lake which is the spot for many festive celebrations has been declared as a protected national wet land by the Government of India. The lake is open to public on all days.
 

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