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Himachal Pradesh - Popular Tourist Destination
Today Himachal Pradesh is one
of the most popular tourist destination in the India. You may be looking for a
break from your hectic life and a communion with nature or exploring India's
cultural diversity, you may be seeking the spiritual upliftment of a pilgrimage
or the thrills and excitement of adventure sports - Himachal has it all. And
what is more, the State has a well developed infrastructure and is easily
accessible as well.
Rising from the plains of the Punjab in the south, Himachal is a series of valleys,
notably the verdant Kullu, Kangra and Chamba valleys which lie near the heart of the State, and the barren, high
altitude Lahaul and Spiti valleys in the north. Each of these has its own
distinctive character and appeal. Five mountain ranges run through the State -
the Shivalik, the Pir Panjal, the Dhauladhar, the Great Himalayan and the
Zanskar ranges. (The last extends into Ladakh in
neighbouring Jammu & Kashmir.) And four of the five rivers after which
Punjab gets its name (Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) originate in these ranges
and flow through the land.
The heritage culture and traditions of the
Himachal Pradesh are as fascinating and diverse as the landscape. And these can
be seen in the rich variety of customs, rituals, clothes and handicrafts. The
most fascinating are the unusual customs of the Kinnauras who live in the
eastern district, Kinnaur. These are a curious mix of the Buddhist practices
followed in Lahaul & Spiti and the hindu traditions in the rest of the
State. At all important social functions the hereditary oracle of the local
deity recites the mythology through the oral tradition of the
'chirong'.
The popular folk dance 'naati' (or 'natti') of Kullu forms a
part of all celebrations. Though earlier it used to be performed only by men
dressed in their traditional, swirling tunics, 'churidars' (pyjamas that
resemble jodhpurs) and decorated caps, accompanied by four to eight musicians,
now women join in too. There are thirteen variations of the dance depending on
the tempo. Other colourful folk dances include the 'karthi' harvest dance of
Kullu, the exhilarating 'birsu' and 'ghugti' from the upper Shimla hills, and
the 'kayang' and 'bakayang' from Kinnaur.
The isolation imposed by the
mountainous terrain of Himachal has permitted its people to develop their own
unique tradition of handicrafts. These include the extremely ornate and
beautiful silver jewellery worn by the women; richly embroidered scarves,
footwear and caps; leather embroidery; beautifully patterned rugs and carpets;
and woollen blankets and shawls of varying degrees of fineness. The State is
also internationally renowned for the exquisite miniature paintings referred to
as the 'Pahari' School which thrived during the 16th to 18th
centuries.
SHIMLA - In the early part of the
19th century the British occupied a crescent shaped hill around a tiny village
named Shymala in southern Himachal. This was developed as a retreat for British
officers and slowly grew to become Shimla (2130 m), the summer capital of the
British in India. Today, this charming hill station is the capital of the State
and one of the most popular year-round holiday destinations in northern India.
Being close to the plains of the Punjab it provides
an easy get-away from the oppressive summer heat.
Shimla and its
environs provide splendid views of the snow-clad Himalayan peaks, fine walks
through oak, pine and rhododendron, numerous pretty picnic spots such as The
Glen and Chadwick Falls (a 67 m waterfall), and several quiet retreats such as
Summer Hill (1982 m), Sanjauli (2257 m), Mashobra (2149 m), Kufri (2622 m) and
Fagu (2509 m). No visit to Shimla is complete without climbing up to Jakhoo
Hill (2438 m) which looms over the town. The steep climb is rewarding because
of the fine views it offers not only of the town but also of the surrounding
valleys and mountains out to the snow-capped peaks. The Hanuman Temple,
dedicated to the monkey-god and built at the highest point on the hill,
attracts many pilgrims.
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