There is something magical about walking in the snow. The feeling is surreal like you are in your fairytale wonderland.

It has always been my dream to feel the snow, wake up to the beautiful sight of the snow-clad mountains, spend some time in peace and tranquillity in the ever charming monasteries.  So, I decided to visit Himachal for a few days.

It was a very short trip for three days due to various factors. And the Queen of Hill Stations, Shimla was our first destination.

It was worth waking up in the freezing morning of Kufri to see the sun rise from the mountains. I have never seen a more beautiful sunrise with the sky painted in orange.

We headed towards Narkanda, where we were expecting the land to be covered with a white blanket. Once we reached Narkanda, we could see the snow but we expected more. The area was covered by a large temperate forest with various species of conifers. We were in a skiing resort which had various adventurous activities. We also tried out skiing, which was a bitter sweet experience, it was funny as we fell down every time but being this the first time it was a bigger sense of achievement when we could at least take few steps.

A little further from the skiing destination is the Tannu Jubbar Lake. It is a small lake encircled with trees all around and the mountain watching over. The water is very still and there is a Nag Devi temple on its banks.

Our journey then took us to the Green Valley in Kufri. It is a beautiful and breathtaking mountain range that is surrounded by verdant hills on all sides covered with thick forests of pine and deodar. We could also sight some yaks wandering around the valley. There were also some local shacks and markets on the way.

And our final spot for the day was the Ridge of Shimla and the Mall Road. As it was the New Year ’s Eve there was a lot of crowd in the Mall Road. The Mall Road is located in the heart of the town, and is the shopping hub. It is lined up with restaurants, clubs, cafes, and attractive houses. The Ridge is a wide open street located on the mall road. It has shops selling some exclusive artefacts to the spectacular view of the mountain ranges and the beautiful pine, firs, and oak trees.

Next day we were in Dharamshala. It is a beautiful hill station surrounded by the Dhauladhar mountain ranges, thick deodar cedar trees, and quaint old monasteries. It is also known as Little Lhasa and the headquarters of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

I woke up to the view of the snow-clad mountains. This picturesque view from the balcony of my hotel room is the one I wish I could wake up to every morning.

We went to the Naddi View Point. It was mesmerizing as it gives spectacular views of the Dhauladhar Mountain ranges and the Naddi village.

Then we headed to the serene Dal lake which is named after its marvellous counterpart of Kashmir. It is surrounded by the snow capped mountains and the deodar trees.

We were also in The St. John in the Wilderness Church, enroute to McLeodganj hill station.The church was built in 1852 and is one of the prominent churches in Himachal. As we were there in New Year, we received wishes from the Father and everyone else present during the prayer.  It is an ancient stone structure with stained glass panels inside and surrounded by the pine trees.

Mcleodganj is a hill station near Dharamshala. The colorful houses and the tibetan culture makes it a unique place to visit.

Our next destination was Namgyal Monastery in Mcleodganj.  Spinning the prayer wheels inscribed with the words ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’, we entered the monastery. The lamas were in the midst of their morning chants.The beautiful diyas lit all around. The imposing figure of the Buddha and the calm ambience was fascinating.

Bhagsunath Temple was built by King Bhagsu in the dedication of Lord Shiva and the local deity Bhagsu Nag. It is surrounded by lovely pools and lush greenery. It has a waterfall nearby called as Bhagsu Waterfalls. It is a sparkling cascade of 30 ft. waterfall which is beautiful during monsoons.

Then we went shopping in Mcleodganj. The colorful and the vibrant Tibetan Market was a treat to the eyes. The innocent people and their cheerful faces were the soul of the place. The place had a rich culture and beautiful things to offer. We bought some souvenirs for our friends and family.

On the way to Kangra Fort, we stopped at the Palampur Tea Gardens. It is very famous in Himachal Region. With the backdrop of the gorgeous dhauladhar mountain ranges, the aroma of the fresh tea and the beautiful trees makes it a nice place to visit. 

Once we reached the Kangra fort it was nearing sunset. It is one of the oldest forts in India and the largest forts in the Himalayas. It is surrounded by a rivulet from three sides which makes this fort unique. The ruins tell the tales of its thousands of years of grandeur, invasion,war, wealth and evolution. After we saw the spectacular sunset, we headed to the Aghanjar Mahadev Temple.

Aghanjar Mahadev Temple is believed to be 500 years old, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that once upon a time when Arjuna, one of the Pandavas from the Mahabharata was on his way to Kailash mountains, Lord Shiva appeared at this spot and blessed him with the boon of victory over the Kauravas. This temple is surrounded by the forest, mountains and a little waterfall.

Our journey came to an end with the most beautiful drive back from Kangra to Shimla, where the orangish snow-clad mountains guided us all the way back to our hotel room.

The abode beauty of the mountains, the clear blue sky, the serene lakes, the lush green forests, the amazing culture, the nicest people makes it a great travel destination.