Himachal

A former princely summer capital with the world's highest cricket ground and deodar forest all around.

A small colonial cantonment town on a ridge an hour above Chandigarh, with pine walks and old churches.

The former summer capital of British India — the Mall, Ridge, Jakhoo temple and the toy train.

The last village on the Indo-Tibet road, along the Baspa river in Kinnaur.

An old Kinnauri village of slate-roofed houses facing the Kinner Kailash range across the Sutlej.

The sub-divisional capital of Spiti — base for Key Monastery, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim and Komik.

A high village around a turquoise lake on the old trade route to Tibet, with a 1,000-year-old monastery.

A dramatic crossover trek from Himachal into Uttarakhand, over a 4,650 m pass above the Rupin gorge.

A high cold-desert loop through Kinnaur and Spiti — monasteries, fossil villages and Chandratal lake.

A 1,000-year-old mud-brick monastery often called the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'.

A short trek from Solang Nala to the glacial source of the Beas, under Indrasan and Deo Tibba.

A steep, short climb to a high alpine lake above Manali.

A crossover trek from Naggar over a 3,660 m pass into the Malana side of Parvati Valley.

A high meadow trek to the base of Deo Tibba (6,001 m) beside the blue Chandratal lake.

A crossover trek from green Kullu into the barren Lahaul valley, often extended to Chandratal.

The classic honeymoon and family hill station, with winter snow at Solang and Atal Tunnel.

The first Lahaul village past the Atal Tunnel — waterfalls, the Chandrabhaga river and bare high mountains.

Riverside cafes in Kasol and a hike to hot springs at Kheerganga.

A steep village climb above Barshaini to Tosh, then a further walk to the Kutla meadows.

A hidden Uhl-river valley of trout hatcheries, deodar forest and the Rajgundha trek.

Wooden homestays by trout streams, Jalori Pass and Serolsar lake, Great Himalayan National Park at the door.

A floating-island lake and pagoda temple on a high grassy bowl.

India's paragliding capital, with Tibetan monasteries and a slow cafe scene below.

Home of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan government-in-exile, and a strong cafe-and-monastery scene.

A shallow freshwater lake at 2,934 m below the Minkiani Pass, through cedar and rhododendron forest.

Kangra tea gardens and pine forest below the Dhauladhar, with the Neugal Khad at its edge.

A short ridge hike above McLeodganj with the Dhauladhar wall right in front of you.

Five hills of colonial charm plus the 'Mini Switzerland' meadow of Khajjiar at 1,920 m.