Himachal Pradesh

Reservoir district with Naina Devi and the Govind Sagar lake.

• SpiritualNaina Devi TempleHilltop Shakti shrine with fair-season crowds in Navratri.
• NatureGobind Sagar LakeLarge reservoir for boating and water sports.
• OffbeatKandrour BridgeOffbeatScenic suspension bridge over the lake.

Ancient hill kingdom of carved stone temples, Gaddi shepherds and meadows.

• HeritageChamba Town & Lakshmi Narayan TemplesCluster of Shikhara temples beside Chaugan green.
• Must-seeKhajjiarMeadow with a lake, deodars and paragliding.
• SpiritualBharmour Chaurasi TemplesCluster of 84 temples at Brahmaur, a pilgrimage site.
• HillsDalhousieQuiet British-era hill station with churches and walks.
• OffbeatPangi ValleyOffbeatRemote tribal valley with rugged roads and traditional villages.

Quiet low hills district known for the Sujanpur Tira Fort.

• HeritageSujanpur TiraKatoch fort and palace on a ridge above the Beas.
• SpiritualDeotsidh TempleOffbeatShiva-linked hilltop shrine with a cave.
• OffbeatNadaunOffbeatRiverside town with palaces and Beas bank views.

Cultural heart of Himachal: Tibetan exile hub, forts, temples and tea.

• Must-seeMcLeod GanjTibetan temples, cafes and trails to Triund.
• HeritageKangra FortAncient fort high above the town and rivers.
• HeritageBaijnath TempleNinth-century Shiva temple, a fine Nagara example.
• NaturePalampur Tea GardensTea estates under the Dhauladhars.
• AdventureBir BillingOffbeatFamous paragliding site and Tibetan monasteries.

Apple and chilgoza valley beneath Kinner Kailash with Buddhist-Hindu blend.

• HillsKalpaVillage with Kinner Kailash views and apple orchards.
• NatureSangla ValleyBaspa river valley with Kamru fort and Chitkul.
• OffbeatChitkulOffbeatLast inhabited village near the Tibet border; check permit needs.
• OffbeatNako LakeOffbeatHigh village and lake in the Kinnaur-Spiti border zone.

Beas valley of Manali, Naggar, Kasol and Dussehra.

• Must-seeManaliMall road, Hadimba temple and Old Manali cafes.
• HeritageNaggar CastleWooden-stone medieval castle with Roerich museum.
• NatureKasol & ManikaranRiverside cafes and sacred hot springs in Parvati valley.
• OffbeatJibhi & Tirthan ValleyOffbeatWooden homestays and trout streams near the national park.
• WildlifeGreat Himalayan National ParkOffbeatUNESCO site; permits and guides needed.

Cold desert and monasteries across high passes; fully isolated in winter.

• SpiritualKey MonasteryCliffside gompa above the Spiti river.
• HeritageTabo MonasteryThousand-year-old Buddhist complex with painted caves.
• NatureChandratal LakeCrescent high lake; only accessible from about June to October.
• OffbeatKibber & KomicOffbeatAmong the world's highest villages connected by road.
• WildlifePin Valley National ParkOffbeatSnow leopard and ibex habitat in the Spiti side.

Temple-town on the Beas and gateway to Rewalsar and Prashar.

• NaturePrashar LakeFloating-island lake with a pagoda-style temple.
• SpiritualRewalsar LakeSacred lake for Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.
• HeritageBhutnath TempleOffbeatOld town temple with Mandi Shivratri fair.
• OffbeatShikari DeviOffbeatTemple on a high ridge in a quiet forest.

Colonial summer capital with orchards, cedar forests and ski resorts.

• HeritageThe Ridge & Mall RoadOpen ridge and Gothic church in the heart of Shimla.
• HillsKufriSnow slopes and short ponies near the Himalayan zoo.
• OffbeatMashobraOffbeatQuiet cedar village near Shimla with homestays.
• AdventureNarkandaOffbeatSkiing in winter and apple belt views in summer.
• HillsChailPalace-turned-hotel and one of the world's highest cricket grounds.

Foothill district of lakes and Renuka sanctuary on the Haryana edge.

• NatureRenuka LakeLargest natural lake in Himachal with a lion safari.
• HeritageNahan Old TownOffbeatHill town with Rani Tal and old palaces.
• SpiritualPaonta Sahib GurdwaraHistoric gurdwara on the Yamuna bank.
• AdventureChurdhar TrekOffbeatPeak trek above 3,600 m with views of Gangotri ranges.

Mushroom city on the Kalka-Shimla road with foothill resorts.

• HillsKasauliQuiet cantonment hill station with old churches and walks.
• OffbeatBarogOffbeatOld railway halt with the Barog tunnel and pine forests.
• SpiritualShoolini Mata TempleSolan's guardian goddess temple with a June fair.

Low hills district with Dera Baba Barbhag Singh and Pong lake edge.

• SpiritualChintpurni TempleOne of the Shakti Peethas, near the Punjab border.
• SpiritualDera Baba Barbhag SinghPilgrimage site with large gatherings.
• NaturePong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary EdgeOffbeatReservoir sanctuary visited by migratory birds in winter.