Himachal Pradesh - the land of eternal snow peaks, is a charming mountain state. Blessed with charming crystal lakes, pretty flowers, ancient shrines and beautiful people, Himachal Pradesh is one of the loveliest states in India. This state lies in the lap of the Himalayas towards the north, at an altitude of 460 to 6600 metres above sea level. Surrounded by Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Tibet and enveloped Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges in the northwest. Himachal Pradesh is dominated by the great Himalayas in the north and east and marked with lower ridges of the Shivalik ranges in the south-east.

Himachal has five mighty snow-fed rivers flowing through it - the Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and Yamuna. Climatically, this state is divisible into two regions - the south, which is as warm as the plains, and the north, where the summers are temperate and winters are extremely cold.

The snowy peaks, rugged slopes and wide valleys can make any adventure enthusiast's day. They are splendid not only for mountaineering, rock climbing and skiing, but also for hand gliding and river rafting. The trekking routes in this region take you to remote, undisturbed areas and are a not-to-be-missed opportunity for trekking lovers.

Himachal is also a popular site for winter sports. Courses and competitions in skiing and mountaineering, carnivals, cultural evenings, and open air skating facilities form the traditional part of winter sports. Adventure freaks can also enjoy recently added attractions including hand gliding and river rafting.

For the tourism enthusiasts, Himachal Pradesh offers a number of interesting areas. The Dalhousie, Chamba and Bharmour area gives a glimpse into the romance and tradition of the state; Shimla, Chail and Narkhanda, forming the heart of Himachal, offers an excellent skiing base with eternal snowhives and 'darshans' at famous temples; Nahan, Renuka and Paunta is a small area which offers an enchanting array of lakes and legends. Kulu, Manali and Keylong with picturesque surroundings are a must on the Himachal tour; and, Palampur, Kangra and Dharamshala form the pilgrimage circuit.