We are pleased to present a new Solo Travel Destination Post from Divanshu, a member of the Solo Travel Society on Facebook. Divanshu lives in India, and submitted the following report about Himachal Pradesh. Do you have a solo travel destination that you would like to recommend? Submit your description here, along with a few photos, and share it with fellow travelers!
Solo travel rating: 1.5 (1 is easiest, 3 is most difficult. Please see chart below)
Languages spoken: English, Hindi, Dogri–Kangri
Kheer Ganga trek
Reasons to Visit Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh, a northern Indian state in the Himalayas, is known for its trekking, climbing, and skiing, and scenic mountain towns and resorts such as Dalhousie. Host to the Dalai Lama, Himachal Pradesh also has a strong Tibetan presence, reflected in its Buddhist temples and monasteries, a cuisine heavy on noodles and dumplings, and vibrant Tibetan New Year celebrations.
If you like anything and everything about snow, you may be inspired by the meaning of the word Himachal: the land of snows. This should be adequate to give you an idea of what to expect here. What is unique about Himachal Pradesh is that it is one of the rare destinations in India where people head for summer holidays, family vacations, trekking, and adventure sports like paragliding and river rafting. Himachal is also one of the best places to go for a honeymoon in north India. With an array of hill stations, Himachal welcomes you to take a nap in the lap of Mother Nature. Covered in verdant greens, surrounded by lofty valleys, and encircled by gushing rivers, the sights become etched in one’s memory for eternity.
With spectacular snowy peaks and plunging river valleys, Himachal is India’s outdoor adventure playground. From trekking and climbing to rafting, paragliding, and skiing, if it can be done in the mountains, it can be done here. A convoluted topography of interlocking mountain chains also makes Himachal a spectacular place simply to explore, by bus, car, motorbike, or jeep safari. Every pass crossing into a new valley brings you into a different world, with its own customs, gods, and even language. Villages perched on staggering slopes enchant with fairy tale architecture and their people's easygoing warmth. Hill stations appeal with holiday atmosphere and colonial echoes, while backpacker magnets lure with their blissed-out vibe and mountain beauty. Such is the variety of the Himachali jigsaw that in McLeod Ganj, the Dalai Lama's home-away-from-home, and in Lahaul and Spiti, with their centuries-old Buddhist cultures, you might even think you’ve stumbled into Tibet – Himachal Pradesh is a backpacker’s delight!
Vaidyanath Siva Temple, Baijnath
At Bir Billing
Solo Travel Destination Rating System
Safety – 1 (1 very safe, 2 safe in most areas, 3 be cautious at all times.)
Language – 2 (1 English is first language, 2 English speakers easy to find, 3 English speakers rare)
Navigation – 1 (1 easy to navigate by transit or car, 2 poor transit, car necessary, 3 not easy to get around)
Culture – 2 (1 Similar to North America or Western Europe, 2 Different from above but relaxed and easy, 3 Challenging)
Average Rating – 1.5 (1 is easiest, 3 is most difficult)