Call of The Himalayas

Himalayan destinations are most popular for Travellers across India. Destinations here offer traveller a chance to beat the heat (5000 – 15000 ft height) and offer superb views and wide ranging sightseeing / experiences.  Typically Himalayan destinations are being travelled as part of a circuit.

Covid Update (17th Sept 2020) : Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling / Kalimpong, Kashmir and Uttarakhand area are open for travellers and Sikkim expected to open soon.

Some of the popular Himalayan circuits are as under:

Kashmir  – Kashmir is the northernmost state of India renowned for its riverside areas, flowering valleys, meadows and stunning Himalayan beauty. The Kashmir circuit has ease of access (Srinagar Airport) and easy travel between destinations (never more than 3-4 hour drive), making it the favourite summer traveller destination. 

Most visited destinations of Kashmir comprise

• Srinagar (5000 ft asl) – Lakeside character, Mughal Gardens, Houseboat Stay, Wazwan Cuisine
• Pahalgam (7200 ft asl) – Riverside character with Himalayan backdrop, superb views / meadows, Activities (Walking, trekking, Horse riding, Zorbing etc.)
• Sonamarg (8500 ft asl) – Riverside character with Stunning close range Himalayan backdrop, Snow experience all through the year (Thajiwas Glacier), Offbeat stays at Kullan, Activities (Horse riding)
• Gulmarg (9000 ft asl) – Stunning Mount Affarwat Views, World’s highest cable car, Snow experience all through the year (Except Sept), Skiing (Jan-March), valley of flowers (Late April- early June)

Our most Popular Kashmir Circuits – Best of Kashmir (7 nights)

Himachal Pradesh – WhenKashmirwent through 2 decades of internal strife, tourists turned to Himachal Pradesh.  Himachal offers destinations with superb Himalayan / Riverside views, wide ranging sightseeing / adventures / experiences and excellent getaway resorts. This has made Himachal Pradesh a very popular Summer holiday destination.

Most visited destinations of Himachal Pradesh comprise

• Shimla and around (6000-8000 ft asl -Shimla,Kufri,Naldehra, Mashobra, Chail, Shoghi) – Hamlets around Shimla are popular getaways of North India and their proximity to Chandigarh Airport (100-120 kms), make them a popular 2 night stop before moving on to more exotic destinations of Manali, Dharamsala etc.
• Manali (7000 ft asl) – Manali is arguably the crown jewel of Himachal Tourism. Set in a valley with river Beas flowing through and towering Himalayas above them, Manali offers a mix of superb views, first class hotels / resorts, wide ranging adventure / experiences, snow experience (Rohtang Pass) and cool climate even during peak of May-June summer months.
• Dharamsala and Mcleodgunj (4000-6000 ft asl) – Dharamsala (4000 ft asl) and Mcleodgunj (6000+ ft asl) are twin towns 10 kms apart renowned for their views of the Dhauladhar range of Himalayas and for being the residence in exile of His Holiness Dalai Lama. Dharamsala is a popular holiday destination and one that combines well with Shimla, Manali and Dalhousie in a circuit.
• Dalhousie and Khajjiar (6000 – 7000+ ft asl) – Dalhousie (6000+ ft asl) is a colonial era hill station, retaining its offbeat character offering super Himalayan views. Khajjiar (25 kms from Dalhousie) is a Hamlet renowned for its meadows, wooded walks and superb views. Dalhousie – Khajjiar is where travellers arrive to spend a couple of days walking, hiking and exploring Himalayan character while having an quiet and relaxed holiday.

Most Popular Himachal Circuits – Full Himachal with Golden Temple (10 nights), Shimla – Manali with Chandigarh (8 nights), Dalhousie – Dharamsala with Golden Temple (6 nights)

Garhwal and Kumaon (Uttarakhand) – Having visited Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, the question typically for a traveller is what next ? The answer is Uttarakhand. Garhwal and Kumaon regions in Uttarakhand combine to offer hill station, riverside, wildlife, pilgrimage experiences alongwith some superb drives and charming stays, that translates into holidays that has everything for all age groups. 

Most visited destinations of Uttarakhand comprise

• Mussoorie and around (6500-8000 ft asl – Dhanaulti, Kanatal) – Hill Station of Mussoorie and hamlets around it offer travellers a hillside getaway with superb views.  Proximity to Dehradun Airport (50 kms), makes it a favorite start point for travellers for 2 nights.
• Rishikesh (2000 ft asl) – Riverside destination and an adventure hub (Rafting, Bungee Jumping), popular for its riverside getaway resorts, hub for yoga / spirituality and proximity to pilgrim hub of Haridwar (20 kms).
• Auli (10000 ft asl) – A Ski destination in Winter and a Mountain Resort in Summer offering panoramic views of Nandadevi Range. Auli is visited for its stunning views, cool weather, hiking / trekking and proximity to prime pilgrimage of Badrinath (50 kms).
• Nainital and hamlets around it (6000-7000 ft asl – Almora / Binsar, Ramgarh, Mukteshwar, Ranikhet etc.) – Nainital (6500+ ft asl) is a renowned lakeside hill station. Nainital and hillside hamlets  around (Almora, Ramgarh, Mukteshwar, Ranikhet) offer travellers cool climate and superb getaways for a relaxing holiday.
• Corbett (Wildlife) – Corbett is a prime National Park that offers a superb park experience, has a fantastic riverside character and where you have an excellent probability of sighting the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger. Corbett combines well with Nainital and other hamlets for an ex-Delhi itinerary.

Our most Popular Uttarakhand Circuits – Best of Garhwal and Kumaon (10 nights), Best of Kumaon (7 nights)

Darjeeling – Sikkim – EastIndian state of Sikkim and Hillside areas of West Bengal (Known as Darjeeling area) combines well to form a popular holiday itinerary that has ancient monasteries, superb views, Indo-Tibet border visits and pleasant weather all through. North Sikkim areas of Lachung / Lachen offer the ultimate adventure drives and close range views of the Himalayan ranges.

Most visited destinations of Darjeeling – Sikkim comprise

• Darjeeling (7000+ ft asl) – Renowned for the “Darjeeling Tea” and heritage Train, Darjeeling is when you arrive for pleasant weather and touristy experiences.  Proximity to Bagdogra Airport (80 kms) makes it a popular destination to arrive.
• Pelling (6000+ ft asl) – Pelling is where you arrive for Pemayangtse Monastery, Holy Lake, villages and Superb views. Pelling sits well between Darjeeling and Gangtok and popular destination with all Summer travellers.
• Gangtok (5000 ft asl) – Capital of Sikkim and a renowned holiday destination. Waterfalls, temples, view point visits are popular. However its best known for being base point to visit Tsangu Lake and Indo-Tibetan border (Via Nathu La Pass), which offers stunning panoramic Himalayan views.
• North Sikkim (10000+ ft asl – Lachung, Lachen) – North Sikkim is the remotest part of Sikkim renowned for its stunning Himalayan beauty.  Gurudongmar Lake (17000 ft asl), Zero Point (16000 ft asl) and Yumthang Valley (14000 ft sl – A Rhodendron sanctuary) are some of the high points that offer memorable experience. So despite a rugged drive from Gangtok, North Sikkim remains one of the high points of the trip and popular with travellers looking for a bit of adventure and experience.

Our most Popular Darjeeling – Sikkim Circuit – Best of Darjeeling Sikkim with North Sikkim (10 nights), Best of Sikkim – Darjeeling with Kalimpong (7 nights)

Himalayan Holidays need advance planning to avail good flight rates and except Kashmir every other circuit requires a bit of travelling. So to justify the cost and effort, most Summer holidays in the Himalayas end up being longer holidays (Typical length – 7-9 days except for travellers in North India).  

At Nivalink we have a repository of ideas and over 17 years of experience of having planned Summer holidays for 100,000+ travellers. So further clarity and ideas write to [email protected] or call +91-22-61506363 to interest with our travel planners.