Himachal Pradesh
The lovely little 11th-century sikhara-style Gauri Shankar Temple is unusual in lacking a protective wooden roof, which allows unimpeded views of its…
Must-see attractions in Himachal Pradesh
Mcleod Ganj
Three floors of displays explain the sophisticated sciences of Tibetan astrology and medicine.
Mcleod Ganj
Visiting the Tsuglagkhang clockwise, as is required by Buddhist convention, you pass a prostrating area then a door leads into the westernmost building,…
Shimla
Whimsical and photogenically dilapidated, this 1880 red-brick mansion looks like a place for a Scooby Doo adventure. There's a wobbly central spire-turret…
Himachal Pradesh
This fascinating complex in Sangla's old, lower town combines half a dozen stone and carved-wood sub-temples from very varying eras, all topped with…
Parvati Valley
The village's central open space is somewhat scrappy but its northern corner retains an age-blackened wooden pavilion with delicately carved columns plus…
Himachal Pradesh
On the road towards the Saal Valley, 80 steps lead up from opposite a medical centre to this exquisite 12th-century sikhara-style temple, dedicated to…
Himachal Pradesh
Creating a strong visual icon for central Kalpa, this striking 2014 tower-style temple-fort is a reconstruction of an 1869 edifice that fell down in the…
Himachal Pradesh
Dating from 1762, this single-storey wooden temple is well worth the steep 378-step climb from near the Old Bus Stand for wonderful views over Chamba and…
Lahaul & Spiti
This unique temple has a very unusual wooden roof, half of which forms a spiky spire. Inside, fabulous, detailed wood carvings dating from the 11th to…
Mcleod Ganj
Upstairs in the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives is a small but interesting cultural museum with statues, old Tibetan artefacts and books, and a couple…
Himachal Pradesh
For the best valley views, continue up the road from the Chaurasi temples gate to the shabby but panoramic Brahmani Mata Temple, 3km above town. The route…
Spiti
Offering beautiful reflections of the mountainscape plus chorten, this small lake sits high above Dhankar, accessed on foot by a steep 2km path that…
Himachal Pradesh
The central temple in the Chaurasi compound is a classic stone sikhara dedicated to Shiva. Built in the 7th century AD, it's now dwarfed by a huge cedar…
Lahaul & Spiti
A logistical nightmare or a scenic highlight depending on your experience, the Rohtang La (3978m) is, at least physically, the high point of a journey…
Himachal Pradesh
Padmasambhava reputedly meditated in a location high on the ridge above Rewalsar. The supposed sites are almost 10km by road (bus ₹30, taxi one way/return…
Lahaul & Spiti
On concrete stilts facing Keylong across the valley, Kardang Gompa has existed for 900 years, but was refounded in 1912. Maintained by an order of Drukpa…
Dalhousie
Stations of the cross lead up from Subhash Chowk to this 1894 Catholic church.
Himachal Pradesh
Naggar's most magical temple sits on a hilltop terrace with lovely views. This was the site of the ancient town of Thawa, which pre-dated Naggar by around…
Mcleod Ganj
Spiritually (if certainly not architecturally) the Tsuglagkhang's 1969 central temple room is the exiles’ concrete equivalent of the Jokhang temple in…
Himachal Pradesh
Though little to look at, this is Kullu's pre-eminent temple enshrining the valley's major deity, a tiny bronze idol of Raghunath Ji (Rama), star of the…
Himachal Pradesh
Rebuilt after the 1905 quake, this highly revered temple has a centrepiece that's richly endowed with embossed silverwork. Four large bronze lions stare…
Himachal Pradesh
This sprawling monastic complex's extensive series of buildings and stupas lie semi-hidden in rolling pine woods, halfway along the pretty, narrow lane…
Parvati Valley
The 1940 Sri Guru Nanak Ji Gurdwara looms over the north bank of the Parvati River. It's entered either by a dark, semi-underground passage from the…
Lahaul & Spiti
Founded in the 17th century by the Zanskari lama Deva Gyatsho, Shashur's original gompa, featuring 5m-high thangkas, is now encased within a modern…
Himachal Pradesh
The tower-temple of Inner Seraj's most powerful deity honours a sage whose prayers are said to have brought about the birth of the god Rama. There's a…
Himachal Pradesh
Up a curling road, 200m from Kangra Fort ticket gate, this well-displayed one-room museum exhibits ornate palanquins, pashmina fly-whisks and silver…
Spiti
Probably founded in the 14th century near Hikkim, Tangyud monastery relocated to Komic after a devastating 1975 earthquake. The oldest section is within…
Himachal Pradesh
Sulphur-laden hot springs are channelled into small public baths inside the compound of Vashisht Mandir. The three-level wood-and-stone temple within…
Himachal Pradesh
On the western edge of Nako, Nako's Gompa combines recent monastery buildings with elements that date back to the 11th century. Inside are some fine…
Lahaul & Spiti
The masterpiece within this outwardly unremarkable 16th-century temple hides in a chamber at the back of the main idols: walk around to the right and…
Manali
This squat, striped tower house with wraparound carved balcony is one of the most appealingly antiquated buildings in Old Manali, but hurry to see it as…
Lahaul & Spiti
At the west end of town, this semi-interesting museum can give context to what you've seen in local villages, ideas of other places to go and potted…
Lahaul & Spiti
Locals have no idea who carved them or how old they are but several of the town's springs are sanctified by stone facias with obviously ancient carvings…
Himachal Pradesh
One of the Kangra Valley's oldest tea estates, Wah has been continuously cultivating since 1857. Half-hour visits let you walk through tea and herb…
Dharamsala
About as far as you can drive into Dharamsala's rugged mountain backdrop, the tiny temple of Gallu Devi is a good destination for a short but satisfying…
Spiti
A number of small caves, whose openings are easily visible on the hillside just above the main road, were once part of the old monastery complex. Access…
Mcleod Ganj
Amid tall cedars 1.5km west of McLeod, this brooding Gothic church dates from 1852, and though rebuilt after the 1905 earthquake which destroyed its tower…
Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute
Himachal Pradesh
Inaugurated in 2004, the Dzongsar Khyentse Institute is a Tibetan Buddhist college of higher learning catering for devotees of 300 monasteries covering…
Himachal Pradesh
Hatkoti's 8th-century Kinnauri-style Hatkeshwari Mata Temple is dedicated to Durga in the guise of Mahishasurmardini (slayer of the buffalo demon…
