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Himalayas ! Himalayas the mountain range of India, spreading across Asia.

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Himalayas India

Area: 1,483 sq km
Population: 13.8 million
Country: India
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +5.5 (Standard)
Telephone Area Code: 11

Himalayas India

The Himalaya is a mountain range at the north in India and spreading across Asia. The Himalaya enlarge across India, Pakistan, Nepal, China and Bhutan The Himalayan mountain system is the planet's highest and home to all fourteen of the world's highest peaks. This is the source of three major river systems — the Ganga-Brahmaputra, the Indus and the Yangtze. Himalaya means "abode of snow" in Sanskrit (from hima "snow", and alaya "abode"). The correct name for the range is Himalaya, though the Himalayas is often used. Estimated 750 million people live in the watershed area of the Himalayan rivers.

Himalayas known for spiritual center, an exciting experience, Ultimate Adventure sport destination, beautiful vacations and mountain peak. It is the perfect holiday destination for nature lovers as its exotic beauty hypnotize everyone. For the pilgrims the Himalayas are most blessed and respected mountain ranges in the world. Himalayas is also known as the house of God as it is considered sacred among the people of different religions.
Himalayas has a beautiful collection of architecture of several temples. There are options to visit the Char Dhams, which include Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri, Kailash Mansarovar and the Holy Mountain in Tibet.
The Monasteries in the Trans-Himalayan regions is the sacred place for the Buddhists. The varied landscape of the Himalayan district makes it one of the best places to visit on earth.

Himalaya - India Attractions & Places

Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal.

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is the bunch of amazing and awesome hill stations, which are particularly cool in summers. The names first in the list, are Shimla, Dalhousie, Kullu, Manali and Kufri to name a few. Dharamshala is also known for Dalai lama where Dalai Lama resides. The valleys of Himachal Pradesh is also a bouquet of several different styles of temple architecture. Many are popular centers of pilgrimage that attract thousands each year.
Some of the famous temples are Baijnath temple, which is built in shikhara style. The Bhimkali temple is another beautiful example of hillside architecture.

Shimla, which was British summer capital of India in the mid-eighteenth century, still portrays the colonial British Raj in its architecture and atmosphere. The capital city of Hinachal Pradesh, Shimla is a beautiful example of nature beauty and man made beauty. It is a picturesque place dotted with charming bungalows and malls. A perfect holiday destination offering hikes and treks for adventure lovers. You can enjoy scenic hikes to the villages of Pabo and Kamiana. Longer hikes can be made to Kiar Koti and Tattapani but it is better to take a guide along to these places.

It is a quite and simple place with people leading a simple life. And if you talk about adventure sports then it is a perfect place for adventure sports in India and are well known destinations nationally and internationally. Billing, in Kangra valley, is the most popular destination for hang gliding in India. Similarly Manali and Dharmashala, and their adjoining areas, beckon professional climbers from all over the world to take up some of the most exciting and challenging, rock climbing options in the world. For more excitement you can indulge in heli sking. Hanuman Tibba, Deo Tibba and Chanderkhani Pass near Manali are very popular Heli Skiing sports. If you want to enjoy adventurous sport and a peace vacation on hill stations this is the best place to visit.

Tourist Destinations in Himachal Pradesh
Chamba, Kangra, Una, Lahaul & Spiti, Kullu, Mandi, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Solan, Kinnaur, Shimla and Sirmour.

Jammu Kashmir

It is picture of a true heaven on earth.
The white sheet of snow spread far and wide covering the echo beauty of this paradise. The soft snowflakes adorning the coniferous, the misty hazy breath, the chilly breeze gently tingling your senses, the tender sunlight deflecting from the ice capped peaks and spreading the much needed warmth. All so milky and pure.

Kashmir
Two major Himalayan ranges, the Great Himalayan Range and the Pir Panjal, surround the landscape from the north and south of Kashmir, set like a jeweled crown on the map of India, Kashmir is a multi-faceted diamond, changing its hues with the seasons - always extravagantly beautiful. They are the source of great rivers, which flow down into the valleys, forested with orchards and decorated by lily-laden lakes.
Kashmir is a land where countless holiday ideas are realised. In winter, when snow carpets the mountains, there is skiing, tobogganing, sledge-riding, etc. along the gentle slopes. In spring and summer, the honey-dewed orchards, rippling lakes and blue skies beckon every soul to sample the many delights the mountains and valleys have to offer.
Golfing at 2,700 m above the sea, water-skiing in the lakes and angling for prized rainbow trout, or simply drifting down the willow fringed alleys of lakes in shikaras and living in gorgeous houseboats are some of the most favoured ones.
Kashmir has four distinct seasons, these are spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Tourist Destinations in Kashmir
Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Amarnathji Yatra - a journey into faith, Sonamarg - The Meadow of Gold, Srinagar – The Lake City.

Jammu
The middle Himalayas lies the Pir Panjal Range which separates Jammu province from the Kashmir Valley. The snow-capped Pir Panjal Mountains, the region of Jammu constitutes the southernmost unit of the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Toward its north and north-east rises the ‘Outer Hills’ zone attaining heights of 2000 to 4000 ft above mean sea level. Basohli, Reasi and better parts of Rajouri district fall in this zone. The landscape here shows open scrubs that gradually thicken from low scrub to taller trees of acacias, rhododendrons, cacti, etc. Above this zone, the terrain becomes acute in incline, the vegetal cover rich and the climatic conditions increasingly healthy.
This is the region of the Middle Himalayas comprising several upland valleys of great natural beauty such as Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Poonch and higher parts of Rajouri district. The average altitude of this zone ranges from 8000 to 10,000 ft. The mountains here are covered with thick forests of oak and chestnut, and higher up with deodar and pine.
And in the extreme north-east rises the Great Himalayan Range itself, which forms a natural barrier between the Kishtwar region of Jammu and the Suru-Zanskar area of the Ladakh region. In its south-east to north-west sweeping arc, the Great Himalayan Wall soars to a maximum height of 7,135 m in the Nun-Kun massif, while dipping to 3,505 m at Zoji-la.

Jammu region is home to several ethnic communities which follow traditional life-styles with distinctive cultures of their own. Yet the region’s history is not completely bereft of traditions of art and culture.
The Pahari miniature paintings that have justly become famous throughout India, are the finest examples of their artistic achievements.
As summer draws on, the Gaddis (Gaddis, another semi-nomadic community) move up the mountain pastures with their flocks, and return to the lower area with the first snowfall. Gaddis are generally associated with emotive music played on the flute.
The city of Jammu, the winter capital of the state, is the epicenter of all socio-economic activities in the Jammu region. It is also the base for visiting various centers of tourist and pilgrimage interest in which the region abounds.
The most important pilgrimage centre is the shrine of Mata Vaishnodeviji situated in the Trikuta hills at a distance of 60 kms from Jammu. Over 4.5 million pilgrims trek to this holy cave shrine to pay obeisance to this most revered of Hindu deities every year. Jammu is the most beautiful state where you can view the various landscape of beauty.

Tourist Destinations in Jammu
Vaishno Devi Katra, Shahdra Sharif Rajouri district, Kishtawar.

Ladakh

Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 ft (2,750 m) at Kargil to 25,170 ft (7,672m) at Saser Kangri, in the Karakoram Range
Ladakh India bounded by two of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Karakoram in the north and the Great Himalaya in the south, it is traversed by two other parallel chains, the Ladakh Range and the Zanskar Range.
Ladakh was once covered by an extensive lake system, but the main source of water is winter snowfall. In Ladakh-India Dras, Zanskar and the Suru Valley on the Himalaya's northern flanks receive heavy snow in winter, this feeds the glaciers from which melt water, carried down by streams, irrigates the fields in summer. For the rest of the region, the snow on the peaks is virtually the only source of water. As the crops grow, the villagers pray not for rain, but for sun to melt the glaciers and liberate their water.
In Ladakh-India the summer temperatures rarely exceed 27C in the shade, while in winter they may at times plummet to minus 20C even in Leh. Surprisingly though, the thin air makes the heat of the sun even more intense than at lower altitudes. It is said that only in Ladakh can a man sitting in the sun with his feet in the shade suffer from sunstroke and frostbite at the same time!
Ladakh became recognized as the best trade route between the Punjab and Central Asia. For centuries caravans carrying textiles, spices, raw silk, carpets, dyestuffs, narcotics, etc traversed it.
The famous pashmina (better known as cashmere) also came down from the high-altitude plateaux of eastern Ladakh and western Tibet, through Leh, to Srinagar, where skilled artisans transformed it into shawls known the world over for their softness and warmth. Ironically, it was this lucrative trade that finally spelt the doom of the independent kingdom.
Ladakh, together with the neighbouring province of Baltistan, was incorporated into the newly created state of Jammu & Kashmir. Just over a century later, this union was disturbed by the partition of India, as a result of which Baltistan became part of Pakistan, while Ladakh remained in India as part of the State of Jammu & Kashmir.

Tourist Destinations in Ladakh
Kargil, Zanskar, Leh Town and around, Monasteries & Monuments

Sikkim

Easter Himalayas known for the the small but beautiful place Sikkim . Spread below the Mount Khanchendzonga (8534 mts), the third highest mountain in the world, and revered by the Sikkimese as their protective deity. With an area of 7,300 sq kms and measuring approx. 114 kms from the north to south and 64 kms from east to west, the elevation ranges from 300 mts to over 8540 mts above sea level.
In the middle of the splendor of the mountain peaks, , fast flowing rivers, green valleys, hill stations, Sikkim offers her visitors a rare and singular experience.

Tourist Destinations in Ladakh
Gyalshing, Mangan, Namchi and Gangtok.

Gyalshing

State of Sikkim, Gyalshing is a beautiful place set in the charming Himalayan state of Sikkim. Main attractions are trekking up to Dzongri at the base of the Kanchenjunga, and the two old monasteries of Pemayangtse and Tashiding.

Mangan

North Sikkim is known as Mangan, which is the district headquarters of North Sikkim, a place of eye-catching beauty. The little village with their flower patches, and the water wheels strung with bells set in exquisite miniature gardens more than reimburse for the simplicity of the region.
The region is famous for the Phensong and Phodong Monastery, the latter being considered one of the six main monastries of Sikkim.

Namchi

Namchi, meaning 'sky high', is nestled among the hills at an elevation of 5,500 ft, commands panoramic view of the snow capped mountains and huge stretches of valley.
South Sikkim, Namchi is also the district headquarters of south Sikkim. With it's enormous potential for all round tourist activities, it is fast developing as a tourist destination.

Gangtok

Gangtok known for its scenic beauty with its excellent views. The scenery from this hill town is spectacular and there are outstanding views of the entire Kanchenjunga Range from many points within the city. North of Gangtok is the Enchey Gompa and the telecommunication tower. The palace of the former Chogyal, or ruler of Sikkim, and the impressive Royal Chapel are lower down along the ridge. Then there is the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, an Orchid Sanctuary and a large chorten (Tibetan stupa) with an adjoining gompa.

Uttaranchal

Uttaranchal is also called a land of Gods and Goddess.
Uttaranchal is a state of natural beauty and some of the untouched and unspoilt natural places such nainita, valley of flowers, dehradun, himalaya, kausani etc. Also famous for it's lakes, national parks, mountains, forests, santuries and is also a favourate destinatioan of wildlife lovers.
Nainital, dehradun, almora, pithoragarh, bageshwar, tehri, udham singh nagar, chamoli, uttarkashi. Also know more about the tamples such as badrinath, kedarnath, hemkund sahib, kailash maan sarovar, naina devi tample etc.

The State is carved out of Uttar Pradesh. It occupies 17.3% of India’s total land area with 51,125 sq. km. It has a population of about 6.0 million at 94.4 per sq. km. International borders touched by the border of state are Tibet, Nepal Neighbor states are Himachal Pradesh and Utter Pradesh

Adventure Sports
Uttaranchal is also a major destination for adventure sports lovers. Many national and international competitions of Skiing, Mountaineering, Water rafting, Rock climbing etc. are held every year. This is also a favorite adventurous sport destination in India.

The Abode of Gods, flanked by the Himalayas, origin of heavenly rivers such as holiest Ganga alongwith Yamuna, Saraswati and their many siblings, blossomed with temple towns and holding an overwhelming history of the mankind, Aryavart and the land itself, Uttaranchal is the land of the Holy trinity Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh - The creator, The Preserver and The Destroyer. In fact, name any deity, call upon the supreme, refer to the followers and talk the sacredness, Uttaranchal is the experience which makes you vibrant and affected.
Vast, vivid and wonderful, Uttaranchal is a smaller yet an unforgettable destination hosting nearly everything which a thirsty pilgrim, casual tourist, a weekend trekker, a seasoned mountaineer, a true devotee, a knowledge seeker, a nature lover or a sage, seer and a Sanyasi may not dare forget forever.
Uttarakhand', the original identity of Uttaranchal, the Dev Bhumi, comprising of Garhwal and Kumaon creates verses and chronicles in the history and in the History of Travel, it creates endlessly. The space and landscapes, peaks, valleys, deep gorges, sacred rivers, snow clad mountains and glaciers, lakes, mesmerizing bugyals, fragrant mangroves, rainforests and jungles, and equal number of secret and mystic destinations, they qualify as a region visited from time immemorial.

Its people are warm and welcoming, simple and honest, tough and generous. Its culture rich and interesting, its space and time answers the quest to cosmic conundrums. It has a great folklore, spirited life, and a distinct identity and antiquity of India in a very natural content and form.

Uttranchal formed as a separate Himalayan state and carved out of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal is India's 27th state. Dehradun is its interim state capital. It shares borders with different states such as Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. It shares international borders with Tibet(China) and Nepal and thus it describes itself as a crucial state geographically and politically. It has following 13 districts.

GARHWAL
Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal

KUMAON
Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh and Udham Singh-Nagar

Other Important tourist attactions in himalayas:
Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet

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