Height: Most of the town lies between 2,100 m and 2,300 m Languages spoken: Hindi. Also English, Punjabi and Pahari. Religion: Mostly Hindu. Also Sikh, Muslim and Christian Medical Facilities: Good Telecommunications: Worldwide links by the net, telephone and fax, code: 0177

With all its intricacies, history seems to have been the mortar for every brick and stone that has built Shimla. As the Summer Capital of the British in India, Shimla was the country's focus for the better part of every year and now, is the state capital of Himachal Pradesh.

Height: 2,050 m Languages: Hindi, Pahari, Punjabi, English

40 Km away from Kullu to the north, 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 meandering through the town. On the other side are deodar and pine trees, tiny fields and fruit orchards. It is an excellent place for a holiday, a favorite resort for trekkers to Lahaul, Spiti, Bara Bhangal (Kangra), and Zanskar ranges. From temples to antiquity, to picturesque sight-seeing spots and adventure activities, Manali is a popular resort for all seasons and for all travelers.

Height: 1,230 m Area: 5,503 sq.kms Population: 3,81,571 Languages: Hindi, Punjabi, Pahari, English are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade

The most charming and beautiful Kullu valley spreads out its charm on either side of river Beas. Awe inspiring glens and mossy meadows encircled by the rushing streams and meandering brooks, flung east & west, a fairly wide area is open to the tourists, the trekkers, the mountaineers, the artists and to anyone who wishes to escape the heat & dust of the plains to breathe the exhilarating air of the Himalaya and enjoy the spectacle of the variegated mountain scenery.

Height: Between 1250 m to 1550 m Area: 5739 sq. Km. Population: 13.39 lakh Languages: Hindi, Punjabi, English and Pahari are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade

This is a hill station lying on the spur of the Dhauladhar range about 17 Km north- east of Kangra town. This hill station is wooded with oak and conifer trees and snow capped mountains enfold three sides of the town while the valley stretches in front. The snowline is perhaps more easily accessible at Dharamsala than at any other hill resort and it is possible to make a day's trek to a snow-point after an early morning's start. Dharamsala is also the headquarters of the Kangra district.

Height: 1,350 m Area: 1936 sq. Km Population: 5.00 lakhs Languages: Hindi, Punjabi, English are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade.

Blessed with a pleasant climate all the year round, Solan has the district headquarters and has the famous temple of Shoolini Devi. From Solan, Jatoli village and the temple of Lord Shiva and on Rajgarh road the Buddhist Dolanji Bon Monastery may be visited. Known as the "Mushroom city of India", Solan has an old brewery and a sprawling horticulture and forestry university at Nauni. Rajgarh is full of orchards that grow stone-fruit like plums, apricots and peaches; en route you may stop for fishing at Gaura.

Height: 960 m Area: 3950 sq. Population: 9.01 lakh Language: Hindi, Pahari, Punjabi and English

The historic town of Mandi is built along the banks of the river Beas. It has long been an important commercial centre and the sage Mandva is said to have meditated here. This one time capital of the princely state of Mandi is a fast developing town that still retains much of its original charm and character. Today, it is a district headquarters. Mandi is renowned for its 81 old stone temples and their enormous range of fine carving, it is often called the 'Varanasi of the Hills'.

Height: 4,570 m

Spiti is the sub division of Lahaul & Spiti district with its headquarters at Kaza. Spiti also means "Middle Country". It is called "Little Tibet" because it has almost the same terrain, vegetation and climate. Some inhabitants have adopted Buddhism as their faith and Bhoti is the spoken language. The people are simple and honest. It lies between Tibet, Ladakh, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Kullu. From Shimla via Kinnaur there is a motorable road which remains open up to Kaza for 8 to 9 months. About 10 Km. ahead of Pooh, Satluj enters India near Shipki la & Spiti River joins it at Khab.

Height: 2,036 m

Dalhousie (2036 m) is a hill station full of colonial charm that holds lingering echoes of the Raj. Spread out over the five hills (Kathlog, Potreys, Tehra, Bakrota and Balun) the town is named after the 19th century British Governor General Lord Dalhousie. It was popular with the British Army personnel in 1860's. The town’s varying altitude shades it with a variety of vegetation that includes stately grooves of pines, deodars, oaks and flowering rhododendrons.

Height: 3340 m (Keylong) Area: 13835 sq. Km Population: 33,224 Language: Lahauli, English, Hindi, Bhoti are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade.

Lahaul and Spiti are two remote Himalayan Valleys of H.P. lying on the Indo-Tibet border. Strange, exciting, primitive, these valleys are unsurpassed in mountain scape, in the rugged beauty of their rocky escapements and the splendour of their snow covered peaks. Lahaul is marked by a central mass of uniformly high mountains and massive glaciers. The two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga which rise on either side of the Baralacha La, flow through the narrow Chandra and Bhaga valleys.

Height: 1167 sq. Km Population: 3.40 Lakh Language: Hindi, Punjabi, English are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade.

Formerly the seat of the ruler of the State is now submerged in the Gobind Sagar; it was situated on the south east side of the Satluj. Bilaspur Township is situated just above the old town of Bilaspur at a height of 670 m. above sea level. The new Bilaspur Township can be truly described as the first planned hill town of the country.

The town of Chamba, the district headquarter of Chamba district is situated in the western Himalayas between north latitudes 32°10' and 33°13' and east longitudes 75°45' and 77°33'. The town stands on a plateau on the right bank of the Ravi river valley between Dhauladhar and Zanskar ranges south of the inner Himalayas. This town was founded by Raja Sahil Varman when he conquered the lower Rani valley from the petty chiefs called Ranas and Thakurs in the beginning of 10th Century. It seems the original name of the town was Champa as mentioned in Kalhan's Rajtarangani.

Height: 785 m Area: 4.12 lakh Languages: Hindi, Punjabi, English are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade.

This is another area situated at lower elevation and is comparatively warmer but has some hilly ranges covered with Pine forests. These hills can be developed for trekking and camping during winter months. This district was made in 1972 by carving it out from the Kangra district. It is well connected by roads from all sides and thus can be promoted as a tourist destination by developing some historical and religious places.

Height: Between 1,250 m to 2,000 m Area: 1892 sq. Km Language: Hindi, Punjabi, English and Pahari are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade.

The Kangra valley is one of the most picturesque valleys of lower Himalayas. The valley, sheltered by the sublime Dhauladhar range, is green and luxuriant. It provides a tremendous contrast in nature of places to be visited. Dharamsala is full of Buddhist air whereas ancient Hindu Temples like Bajreshwari Devi, Chamunda Devi, Baijnath Shiva temple and Jwala Devi ji dot the country side. The history of Kangra valley dates back to the Vedic times more than 3500 years ago.

Located in the dizzying heights of the Himalayas, with passes that remain closed for six months linking them with the rest of the world, Kinnaur, Spiti & Lahaul were till now a forbidden land. Only a chosen few were granted permission to visit this secret world, officials, Moravian missionaries who settled here in 1853 and a few mountaineers.

Height: 932 m Area: 2825 sq Km Population: 4.58 lakhs Languages: Hindi, Punjabi, English are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade.

Nahan is situated on an isolated ridge in the Shiwalik hills, overlooking Greenfields. Nahan is a well laid-out picturesque town, known for its cleanliness and dust free streets. Saint and princes are linked with the origin of Nahan. The city was founded as a capital by Raja Karan Prakash in 1621. Another version recalls a saint who lived with a companionable Nahar on the site where the Nahan palace now stands "Nahar" means a Lion and probably the town takes its name from this saint.

Height: 1,219 m Population: 70,000

The town of Palampur is situated in an idyllic valley priding itself with tea gardens, and hills covered with pine trees. The place enjoys a year-round pleasant climate and the pine scented air is said to have curative properties. The scenery presents a sublime and beautiful contrast- the valleys presents a picture of rural innocence and repose, while the hills are majestic. Overlooking this town are the majestic Dhauladhars, whose tops remain covered with snow for most of the year.

Height: 350 m Population: 20,000 Language: Hindi, Punjabi, English are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade.

Paonta Sahib is a sacred town built in the memory of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. The road passes through Sataun and follows the Giri River along the beautiful scenery. Situated on the banks of Yamuna River, Paonta Sahib is a bustling township with growing industries. It is one of the important holy places for the Sikhs. It retains tangible memories of Guru Gobind Singh in the form of his weapons and a majestic Gurudwara.

Area: 1540 sq. Km Population: 4.48 lakh Language: Hindi, Punjabi, English are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade.

Una has been carved out of Hoshiarpur district of Punjab in 1966 where the hilly areas of Punjab were transferred to Himachal Pradesh and the whole area is warm. It has borders with Kangra, Hamirpur and Bilaspur and thus acts as a gateway to these regions. Efforts are being made to develop same places in Nangal and Bhakra areas.