These are some of the best tourist places in Jibhi which provide maximized visual treat. Getting a brief knowledge will provide you with detailed data about the next vacation planning. Keep scrolling down and read all about the places and what are they famous for!

• Jalori Pass: For Pine Trees And Rocky Hills
• Serolsar Lake: For A Mesmerizing Visual Treat

The distance of the Jalori pass from Jibhi is 12km. It is located at an elevation of 3000metres. This is a beautiful place where you can get dislodged in nature. You can listen to the minimal whispers of nature and also the sound of the breeze that flows. It is a must-visit place due to serenity brought due to the pine trees and the beautiful shapes of rocky hills. The surrounding of this place is mesmerizing, which makes it a must visit.

The encounter with some amazing plant life and wildlife, while passing by will let you know about the true aspects of nature. In a nutshell, the scenic beauty of this place makes it worth a visit. The feeling of being relaxed, tranquillity and free from the hectic world is the foremost reason to travel here. It simulates the paradise on earth. You should pack the desired clothes as per the season here. A trip between November to March needs proper woolen clothes as that is wintertime in this region.

Another one in the list is Serolsar Lake which is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Jibhi. It is covered up amid thick woods secured with pine trees. The lake lies calmly and is a visual treat to watch. Lake deceives the east of Jalori Pass, which is at an elevation of 3040 meters. It is a simple trail of five km, which begins from Jalori Pass. Trekking is the main choice to arrive at the lake.

Lounge around this lake or plunge your feet into the water to restore your spirit. Aside from fanciful visual treat, there is one fascinating truth related to the lake. Even though various Silver Oak trees encompass lake, one can’t see even a solitary fallen leaf on the outside of the lake. This is a direct result of two sparrows named Aabo that live close to the lake. Local people accept that at whatever point a leaf falls on the outside of the lake, these sparrows quickly take the leaves out. This is one of the most interesting stories related to this lake.

In the 8th century AD, the great Guru Adi Shankaracharya is said to have tread on these fields. The temple built by him at Joshimath still exists. For hundreds of years, the colorful semi-nomadic tribes of the Bhotiyas, of the Mongolian stock, traversed the trails at Auli, locally called Thatauli. Their longhaired yaks, laden with an assortment of goods, assisted them in conducting a flourishing trade with nearby Tibet.

Before Auli was developed as a ski resort, its slopes were the training ground for men of valor and courage-the ski-equipped men of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force. Among the awesome, legendary peaks ranged round Auli, the 23,490-feet-high Trishul (literal meaning, the strident of Lord Shiva) was the scene of a unique expedition in 1958. The mountaineers took four days to climb the peak and only 90 minutes to ski down to the base camp.

Auli can be visited anytime during the year. However, since Auli is the skiing destination and is famous for its peaked snow mountains, it is better to visit this beauty during the winter season. Reaching here during the winters might get difficult though due to road blockages, so before leaving for this place do ask for the road conditions.

Below I am listing down the months in which you can expect what kind of weather.

Summers: The summertime in Auli is from March to June. However, you won’t be able to find snow during this time. Since the mountains here are barren, the mountains will have a brown shade, with a little snow on the top of the peaks. The temperature stays about 15 degrees, which is ideal for beating the heat of the city. You can go on many treks and enjoy the sight-seeing activities due to the pleasant weather.

Monsoon: Monsoon stays between July to October in Auli. During this time, the temperature falls a little further and might go down to 10 degrees. While visiting the place during this time, do check if landslides are happening since mountains are prone to this. I would suggest you to avoid visiting Auli during this time since due to rain you might get stuck in the hotel rooms itself and exploring the place might get difficult.

Lying at the height of 2,800 meters, Auli offers the most captivating views of mighty Himalayas. It lies in Uttarakhand, which in itself offers an abundance of natural beauty. It lies in the Garhwali district and lies in the upper ranges of the Himalayas.

Auli offers amazing views with high peaks of the Himalayas. One can see Nanda Devi from here. The mighty Nanda Devi is at the height of 7800 meters. From far you can see the snow-clad mountains, and it is so relaxing to have a cup of tea while watching these mountains. The colors become even more enchanting during the sunset time when the entire sky lit up in a shade of pink color. This time is when you will get the “peace of mind.”

The high peaks can be seen in all the four corners and this panoramic view will always be stuck in your eyes.

Kaza is a popular tourist place in the Lahaul and Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is divided into two areas-the old Kaza and the new Kaza, while the old kaza is called Kaza Khas and comprises king’s palace, monasteries, gompas, and ancient buildings, the new Kaza is called Kaza Soma and houses government offices, hotels & restaurants. Tourists from all over the world visit this stunning destination to get a glimpse of the beautiful mountain terrains and pristine locals that also offer adventurous activities such as trekking, mountaineering, etc.

There are three most popular trails from Kaza that conects to the lovely villages around here, plunged in a rich natural beauty of the Spiti Valley. Also, available here are some very ancient and exquisite monasteries and gompas that depict the culture and tradition of Kaza. One can easily reach this amazing spot from the Kinnaur Valley and Lahaul Valley. The route from Kinnaur Valley is most appropriate as it remains open throughout the year, while the Lahaul Valley route opens only during the summer as the Kunzum Pass closes during winter.

Kaza can be best visited in summer as the winter is quite severe with the temperature plunging to sub-zero levels. The locals remain within the confines of their houses and venture out only if it is absolutely necessary. They stock up the supply of their food that last them through the winters; the locals also utilize their time to produce handicrafts that can be sold during tourist season i.e. summer. There are many hotels and restaurants at Kaza, so one can stay comfortably and enjoy a holiday worth remembering.

Kaza makes for an ideal base camp for all the treks and tours within the valley and provides guides, porters, and most importantly permits for treks.

According to some texts I purchased at the monastery’s book shop, the Tabo gompa came up under the patronage of the ancient Tibetan royal dynasty of Purang-Guge; it was one of the 108 constructed between the tenth to twelfth centuries AD, when the second diffusion of Buddhism was supposed to have taken place. These were spread across the Lahaul-Spiti valley, Kinnaur region and Ladakh, all a part of present day India, as well as what is now Western Tibet.

These were located along the trade routes of the time and involved heavy financial outlays; traders could take night halts here securing their lives and possessions from bandits. The monastery is currently home to about 50 lamas or monks, many still very young.

Tabo Monastery is an ancient monastery that was established in 996 CE. It is considered to be an important monastery and is often referred to as the Ajanta of the Himalayas. The complex has 9 temples and many stupas—all of which are made in mud and have been standing like this for more than 1000 years.

The main temple is an assembly hall where monks used to pray together. This hall has all its walls painted with Buddhist stories. There are stories of the life of Shakyamuni (the Buddha) and various Bodhisattvas. There are also 33 stucco sculptures of Bodhisattvas on the walls with their names mentioned for recognition.

You can go around the hall and admire the paintings, some of which date back to the time when the monastery was built, but most of them are from a later period when probably conservation and restoration work was carried on. The paintings do seem to be inspired from Ajanta paintings though the style of is a bit different. Other temples are usually closed, but monks might open them for you on request.

These temples belong to Buddhist deities like Tara and Buddha Maitreya. No photography of the paintings is allowed at Tabo Monastery though you can take pictures of the complex outside. However, picture postcards of these beautiful paintings are available with monks for sale.

Nako is the last point of the Kinnaur district if you travel from Sarahan to Spiti Valley and this quaint village is also the most remote village.

In fact it’s that remote that you can’t expect any mobile range during the day and Internet is still a huge commodity!

Yet, I fell in love with Nako village, from head to toe, so that we even ended up staying one more day there then what we had initially planned.

Situated above 3 kms above the Hangrang valley road and is 119 kms from Kalpa on the western direction of the huge mountains of Pargial. This is the highest village in the valley and the existence of lake formed out of the masses of the ice and snow above adds beauty to the village.The lake is fringed with willows and populars. Yaks, kine, horses and asses are reared here in abundance. Local village deity is Deodum and another Lagang temple with several idols exist here.There is a staying hut for visitors.There are small, but significant Buddhist temples and a rock is regarded to have the imprints of the saint Padmasambhava. This is the base for the trek to pargial peak and is en-route to the Thashigang monastery, where an image is said to grow hair.

Nako Lake is a small secluded reservoir which can charm anyone with its pristine natural beauty and cultural innocence. The spiritual lake is the secret hideaway in the mystical land of the Himalaya. The lake is nestled at an elevation of 3662 m, surrounded by willow and poplar trees. Groves of willow trees surround the lake, making for a fascinating sight.

Nako lake is bounded by 4 Tibetan temples. Close to the temple, there are four caves which are believed to be the meditation site of saint Padmasambhava. These were the caves from where Guru Padmasambhava gave disclosure to his followers.

There is a waterfall nearby the lake which as per legends and locals is regarded as the heavenly abode of fairies. It is also said that, it’s not at all easy to find the waterfall as there is no marked trail leading to it. During the month of September, tourist can enjoy boating on the shimmering lake or relish the beauty of the enchanting mountains.

A tour to Nako Lake requires a special permission from the inner line as the place is quite close to Tibet border. If tourist are looking for a relaxing and rejuvenating session on their tour to Himachal then Nako is a must visit site. The natural scenery all around and the view of the eternal snow are picturesque and charming. Explore the strange, exciting lake of Himachal Pradesh, Nako lake.

The north Indian town of Dharamshala (also spelled ‘Dharamsala’, ‘Dharmshala’ and occasionally ‘Dharmsala’) is a true ‘global village’. Perched on a spur of the Dhauladhar range in the foothills of the Himalayas, this bustling town of 35,000 people is a bridge between worlds.

Dhasa, as it is often called (as a compound of ‘Dharamshala’ and ‘Lhasa’), is the exile home of H.H. the Dalai Lama of Tibet and the Central Tibetan Administration (the ‘Tibetan government-in-exile’).

The heart of the Tibetan community of Dharamshala is the settlement of McLeodGanj, which runs along a ridge overlooking the town of Dharamshala proper.

The colonial origin, the tibetan influence and the kangra air make an invigorating cocktail with a unique blend. Dharamshala stands out amongst the other hill-stations of india. It is also an archetypal getaway for the jaded city souls with thatched cottages nestling amidst thick coniferous forests. As one looks up, the green fringes merge with the snow-clad mountains and as your eyes shift downwards, the vast panorama of the kangra valley embraces you. It is a no holds barred battle of the eye with the scenery and one wonders how much the eyes can behold this quiet rhapsody of the nature.

Is it a tale of two cities? The town is divided in flesh and soul into two halves, each with its own character. The lower dharamshala is the main town at 1250 meters. The upper dharamshala or mcleod ganj from dharamshala by road, it is a 10 kilometers drive, which takes almost the same time as you would, walking up the steep path. The only reason that you would like to visit lower dharamshala would be to see the kangra art museum, which has a treasure trove of the art and crafts of region.

The vestiges of the raj dot the town – foremost is the church of st. John in the wilderness. There is a well-maintained, old graveyard. It reminds one of other old graveyards in hill-stations like mussoorie and shimla. These are perhaps the only peaceful places left in the hustle and bustle of these touristic places and your best bet if you are looking for peace!

McLeodGanj is a small but bustling international centre which blends flavours of Lhasa with elements of a modern Euro-American town in the setting of an Indian shepherds’ village.

Dharamshala attracts a diverse assortment of people from all corners of the earth who come to study and meditate and to make contributions to the Tibetan cause.

Some travellers come just for the scenery (or for the ‘scene’), but those who take the time to explore under the surface are usually transformed by their experiences.

Many return home to enjoy life more deeply and positively transform their own lives and communities. But others seem to get ‘stuck’ here for months or even years, finding the beauty of the natural surroundings, the warmth of the people, the wisdom of the Tibetan and Indian spiritual traditions and the urgency of the Tibetan crisis compels us to stay awhile to learn and to serve.

Located at an altitude of about 7000 ft above the sea level, Chakrata in Dehradun District of Uttarakhand State of India is a hill station and a famed tourist destination ideal for mount climbing, trekking and skiing. The town was known earlier as Jaunsar bawar, a small hamlet of Jaunsari tribe.

Yamuna valley is located down the hilly town. Chakrata was developed by the British rulers and was a summer retreat for the high executives of English East India Company. Presently Chakrata encloses military cantonment and the access is restricted here for civilian travelers.

Kharamba peak is the highest mount in Chakrata with an altitude of about 10,000 ft. Nature lovers, Trekkers, bird watchers and wild life enthusiasts can spend days together here in the lap of Chakrata exploiting the nature’s hidden treasures and beauties. The forest around Chakrata is habitat to an amazing flora and fauna including panther, spotted deer and wild fowls.

Popular Things To Do In Chakrata

Wondering what to do in this petite hamlet up in the hills of Uttarakhand? Well, we have brought you a range of activities you can try here during your trip:

Kanasar – Camping And River Rafting In Chakrata
Tiger Falls – Trek All The Way To It
Deoban – Bird Watching
Budher Caves – Venture In!
Chilmiri Neck – Admire The Scenic Sunsets
Yamuna Adventure Park – Water Activities
Deoban Forest – Rock Climbing
Kimona Falls – Waterfall Rappelling
Chakrata Forest Check Post – Horse Riding
Makhti Pokhari Village – Walk Or Bicycle
Lakhamandal Temple – Marvel At The Architecture
Mundali – Go Skiing
Ram Tal Horticultural Garden – Have A Picnic
Enjoy Local Cuisine
Witness Fairs And Festivals
Hanol – Seek Blessings At Mahasu Devta Temple

With mountain climbing as one of the popular activities in Chakrata, it is also becoming a popular destination for camping. With some of the beautiful waterfalls, especially Tiger Falls, Chakrata is a backpacker’s paradise and an ideal location for people seeking offbeat tranquil destinations. The highest peak in the hilltown is Kharamba Peak, located at an altitude of 10,000 ft surrounded by dense forests and nature’s bounties. The forests of Chakrata is home to diverse wildlife like wild fowls, panther and spotted deer.

Once a small hamlet of Jaunsari tribe called Jaunsar Bawar, Chakrata looks down upon the Yamuna valley. The place was developed by the executives of the East India Company and it also encloses a military cantonment making the access restricted for civilian travellers.

Soaked in nature’s beauty, Sarahan is flanked on the banks of the meandering Sutlej River. The way to Sarahan through Fagu, Theog, Narkanda, Rampur, and Jeori is extremely scenic-traversing through mountains flanked by steep cliffs on one side and deep ravines on the other, dense emerald pine forests, terraced farms, apple orchards. Once in Sarahan, one beholds a range of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks and one of them is the Shrikhand Peak. The rather peculiar thing about this peak is that it is only one whose tip remains uncovered with snow. In the evening, sunrays adorn the peaks and the sight is simply stupendous.

In the heart of Sarahan is the temple of Goddess Bhima Kaali, the architecture of which is very akin to a monastery. Lots of almonds, plums, and peach orchards laden with luscious fruits transport one to Eden.

Tour to Sarahan About 54 km from Sarahan lies in the Sangla valley. The road to Sangla is narrow, rough, and hazardous, taking one through Wangtu and Karchham. The Sutlej River that meanders below now emerges in all its frenzied ferocity. The sheer force with which it gushes down makes it awesome. The road to Sangla is crudely carved out of rocks and runs parallel to the river that is deep down in the forge. At some places, there is barely enough space for the bus to wriggle through the rough road and the rock above.

The entire Sangla valley is surrounded by mammoth snowcapped mountains. Pine trees standing tall and elegant bedeck these mountains and the Baspa River flows through the valley. Tiny rivulets trickling down from the melted snow merge with the Baspa-an overabundance of nature’s bounty.

Located at an elevation of around 6900 feet, Sarahan is a tiny hamlet in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is immensely popular amongst locals for its Bhimakali Temple, which is one of the ancient buildings in the village and is considered one of the significant pilgrimage destinations in India. Sarahan is located at a distance of around 180 km from Shimla and is believed to be one of the oldest living places Himachal Pradesh with its name mentioned several times as Sonitpur in the Puranas. Also known as the gateway of Kinnaur, Sarahan is situated near river Sutlej and has been the summer capital during the Bushahr kingdom.

The structure of this temple gives the hints of the early medieval North Indian style of architecture. This type of structure used to be known as ‘Nagara’ style of temple. The architectural style has been imbibed from Orissan style, which is very much unique in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The exterior walls of the temple have numerous alcoves with images of gods and Goddesses from the Hindu pantheon.

In order to enter the temple, one has to cross the vestibule that has a large ‘Mandap’ in the centre and two huge balconies on either side. The temple has fortifications, leaving space for two entrances in the north and the south. Just before the Mandapa, there is small porch placed on four columns. Here, a huge image of Nandi (the bull of Lord Shiva) is placed. The door leading to the sanctum is speckled with many images of artistic nature.

Lord Shiva is commemorated here as Vaidyanath (the Lord of Physician) and is placed in the form of ‘Lingam’ (phallic form of Lord Shiva). The main sanctum comprises five projections on every side and a tall curved shikhar (spire). The history of Baijnath temple is inscribed on the stone slabs inside the complex. As per the beliefs, Ravana (King of Lanka) had worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple.

The water of this temple is believed to contain medicinal properties, which can cure diseases of people. Due to this reason too, Baijnath Temple receives thousands of people every year. Shivratri is the major festival that is observed at this temple with full gusto and fervor. Devotees visit the temple during this time to seek the blessings from the God.

Besides the shrine of Lord Shiva, there are many other small shrines dedicated to Gods and Goddesses. In the early 20th century, the temple was suffered from an earthquake. Raja Sansar Chand made an effort to renovate the temple after the calamity. The temple complex acquires lush green gardens, which makes a perfect foreground to the ancient and unique structure of this temple. Baijnath temple is considered as a part of Indian Heritage, so security arrangements are made here to avoid any unwanted element.

The history of mansar and surinsar goes back to the time of Mahabhartata. Babar Vahan, son of Arjun and Ulpi (daughter of king Nag), was ruling this area during Mahabhartata. After the war of the mahabhartata arjun performed “Ashwamegh Yagya” to prove his supriority over the land. The horse (used as sign of power for Ashwamegh Yagya) was captured by Babar Vahan at village ‘khoon’ nearby village Ramkot on dhar Udhampur road where Arjun was killed by babar vahan. With joy of victory, babar vahan presented the head of Arjun to his mother Ulpi.

She told him that he has killed his father. To make arjun alive again, mani from sheshnag was required. Hence babar vahan made a surang through his arrow and formed surangsar which is now named as surinsar. After defeating sheshnag and capturing mani, babar vahan came out at manisar later on known as mansar.

Mansar can be reached from Jammu on the National Highway while traveling from Jammu to bordering state of Punjab. You can also reach from Udhampur (A District Headquarters, Udhampur is a town approximately 60 Kilometers away from Jammu on the National Highway while traveling from Jammu to Srinagar) on National Highway 1A.

This Mansar lake road joins to another important road that directly links Pathankot (Punjab) to Udhampur (Jammu & Kashmir, Jammu Province. Udhampur is a Town of strategic importance, again on National Highway No. 1A. The shortcut road from Mansar or Samba to Udhampur by-passes the Jammu town. Surinsar Lake, a smaller lake that is linked to Mansar, is 24 km from Jammu (via a bypass road).

Mansar is a holy site as well, sharing the legend and sanctity of Lake Mansarovar. There are ancient temples on the lake side, which are often visited by devotees in large numbers. Some Hindus from the region perform Mundan (First hair cut) ceremony of the male baby here.

Apart from its religious importance and heritage, the Mansar Lake is also picking up as a great tourist spot for all its scenic beauty, flora & fauna. The lake has proper walk way all around with required illumination, with projected view decks to enjoy flickering of seasonal birds, tortoise and fishes of different species. There is a wild life Sanctuary housing jungle life like Spotted Deer, Neelgai etc. besides other water birds such as Cranes, Ducks etc.

Being a hub of spirituality and sanctity, many devotees, especially newlyweds and babies, make their way to Mansar Jheel. It is considered auspicious to perform circumambulations (Parikrama) around this place. The ritual is performed to receive blessings from the Snake God called the Holy Sheshnag. Mansar Lake is well-connected via road. It is at a distance of 10 km from National Highway No. 1A. It is also famous for its rich flora and fauna. Mansar provides facilities for boating with all the necessary safety measures.

Mansar Lake is no ordinary lake but a blessed site where the gods live. It is believed that the sanctity of this lake is equivalent to that of Mansarovar Lake of Tibet because its water has the power to absolve a person of his or her sins. The location of this lake is in the middle of a dense forest, hills and small gardens. Although the lake is believed to be more than a mile long and half a mile wide, legend has it that there is no such end to the dimensions of this mystical lake.

There are two old shrines located at the site of Mansar Lake – Umapati Mahadev and Narasimha Temple as well a temple of Durga Devi. There is also an interested shrine of Sheshna, the first serpent born on earth, who is believed to support the globe with his hood since the ancient times. In fact, many newlyweds visit the lake shrine of Sheshnag to obtain his blessings by circumambulating the lake.