The Himalayan Foothills of North India offer spectacular scenery as well as religious shrines and ancient monuments. The Himalayan range forms a dramatic backdrop to gentle green hills and valleys, meadows full of flowers, rushing streams, waterfalls and forests. Not surprisingly Shimla was the summer capital of the British Raj, with many grand houses still remaining. The starkly beautiful desert landscape of Ladakh is dotted with monasteries, fluttering prayer flags and high peaks. It’s villages and monasteries retain strong Buddhist cultural links with Tibet, whilst Sikkim is also famous for its Buddhist traditions and its picturesque views of the Himalayan region.
Highlights of the Himalayas include:
• Holy City of Amritsar
• Dharamsala, present home of the Dalai Lama
• The splendid colonial city of Shimla
• Village walks
• Ancient monasteries and temples of Leh in Ladakh
• The remote kingdom of Sikkim
When To Go
The summer months of May - Aug are the most time to visit to the mountainous areas of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh as this region can be extremely cold in winter, and deep snow renders many mountain passes and valleys impassable. The best time to visit the plains city of Amritsar and Sikkim, however, is in the winter, somewhere between Oct - May as it is swelteringly hot in summer and monsoons can occur.
