The winter months in India are packed with celebrations and excursions. Tourists from home and abroad empty their pockets to explore some enticing locations nearby, particularly snow-capped mountain peaks, to see the verdant scenery coated in a layer of white snow.
However, India is blessed with many beautiful hill towns dispersed from the north to the south and from the east to the west. When creating the perfect itinerary, it cannot be easy to decide which hill station to visit and where to go. Although everyone is encouraged to make their own decisions depending on various reasons if you want to go through Himachal Pradesh, don’t forget to check out the top two hill towns, and explore the best tourist places in Dalhousie and Shimla.
Even though Dalhousie and Shimla are both renowned and popular vacation spots in India, besides their amazing atmosphere, weather, and kind hospitality, it is frequently visited by visitors from all over India and overseas because of their breathtaking views. Moreover, as we proceed ahead in the blog, we’ll learn more about these locations and determine which one best suit our preferences.
Natural Beauty
Dalhousie
Dalhousie, a hill town situated around 1900 meters above sea level, has become the most popular tourist destination in the past few years. It has a rustic charm that casts a magical spell on nature lovers and has many places to explore for travel enthusiasts. This region of Himachal Pradesh is a hidden paradise because of the ever-lasting fusion of the serene natural world and the mythological aura. It receives honors frequently for its undeniably breathtaking landscapes. Dalhousie offers everything for visitors of every age bracket.
Combine your itinerary in Dalhousie with the Elgin hall – homestay and enjoy a luxurious stay in the lap of the Dhauladhar range of mountains.
Shimla
Shimla is the present capital of Himachal Pradesh and the former summer capital of British India. A beautiful hill town that is a delight for landscape and historic photography enthusiasts. If you enjoy the outdoors, you will never forget the breathtaking vistas of pine and oak forests from this area’s hillsides. As you prepare to explore the town, you can also plan to partake in the connected adventure activities.
Best Time to Visit
Dalhousie
Although Dalhousie is accessible throughout the year, the ideal time to visit is in the winter, between October to January, when this region has the most to offer its visitors.
A trip of two to four days should be more than enough time to experience Dalhousie’s stunning tourist sites.
Shimla
You can visit Shimla from March to Sept to experience a pleasant climate. But if you want to experience chilly cold weather and snow, plan your winter voyage between December and mid-February.
You can plan your trip for 3-4 days to Shimla. It would be enough to explore the town and its nearby places.
Average Budget
Putting everything else aside, organizing your spending in advance makes the vacation easier and helps you stay relaxed while traveling. Although every traveler has a different estimate of how much to spend, the following is a brief overview of the essential fare and charges that should be kept in mind, particularly if this is your first visit to these locations.
Dalhousie
Calculating the average cost of accommodation, meals, transport, sightseeing, adventure activities, and other miscellaneous expenses, you can estimate an average of Rs 8000-9000 to be spent on 1 person throughout the trip.
Read more: Dalhousie or Dharamshala
Shimla
Talking about Shimla, the expenses are similar as both towns are in Himachal Pradesh. Still, Shimla has a greater number of adventure activities than tourist spots, which increases the overall trip expenses in comparison to Dalhousie. So, you can keep an estimated expense of Rs 9000 – 10,000/ per person throughout the voyage.
Places To Visit
Dalhousie
There are several wonderful natural sights in Dalhousie. Check out this list of the top choices available!
- Satdhara Falls
- Dainkund Peak
- Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary
- Subhash Baoli
- St. John’s Church
Khajjiar, also known as mini-Switzerland in India, is around 20km away from Dalhousie, do add it to your tourist destination list when visiting Dalhousie.
Shimla
While visiting the fascinating town of Shimla, be sure to check out many of its tourist attractions. Following is a few of them.
- The Ridge Street
- Jakhu Temple
- Viceregal Lodge
- Kali Bari Temple
- Narkanda
Other Nearby Sites to Explore
Dalhousie
Dalhousie is a small town with something to explore as you cross each lane. Tourists prefer to walk and admire the scenic mountain views in Dalhousie. You can also connect with local private agencies allowing visitors to hire a cab or taxi.
Also, do not forget to try the top adventure sports in Dalhousie, like – river rafting, paragliding, zorbing, rock climbing, mountain biking, etc.
Shimla
If you visit Shimla during the winter, you can experience exhilarating winter activities. Popular activities include skiing, rock climbing, trekking, and snow parks. Amusement parks offer these features, such as Hip-Hip Hurray Park.
You can book a local taxi for other sightseeing, which will be quite easy and convenient. You can also easily tour the nearby sites and areas of interest.
Conclusion
Choosing between Shimla and Dalhousie might be challenging, especially for travelers who want to experience the wonders of nature. Both of these destinations are stunning and have a lot to offer. Now, deciding what to embrace this winter is entirely up to each individual. No matter what you decide, a trip to Dalhousie or Shimla will remain unmatchable!