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Region in northern India
Photo: John Hill, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Himalayan North region comprises the two states and two union territories of India at the northernmost Himalayan mountains (from west to east): Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Part of this region consists of the disputed territory of Kashmir between India, Pakistan and China. Eastern parts of Himalayan India are in the northern sections of Eastern India and North-Eastern India, which have their own regional articles.
With its mountains and lakes, this is a popular destination with travellers, although the conflict escalation between Pakistan and India has decreased its popularity.
Ladakh was an independent kingdom for centuries and still with its own vibrant culture. Offering much in the way of sightseeing, backpacking and trekking it's not to be missed.
A pleasant, laid back, predominantly Hindu state, with a Tibetan refugee population; popular with tourists.
The source of the holy Ganges and Yamuna, it has a number of pilgrimage sites, earning the nichname 'Devbhoomi', literally 'the Land of the Gods'.
By bus
Long‑distance buses are one of the most common ways to reach the Himalayan North, especially from major cities in North India.
By train
Rail access to the Himalayan North varies by state, as the rugged terrain limits the reach of India’s railway network.
By car
Travelling by car is one of the most flexible ways to explore the Himalayan North, especially given the region’s vast distances and scattered mountain towns.
By bus
Buses are the backbone of public transport across the Himalayan North, connecting even small towns and remote villages.
By train
Rail travel within the Himalayan North is limited, but where it exists, it can be both scenic and practical.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
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Dehradun (Hindi: देहरादून Dehrādūn) is the winter capital of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Nestled between the Himalayan foothills to the north and the Shivaliks to the south, the town offers breathtaking scenery.
Dharamsala or Dharamshala (Hindi: धर्मशाला Dharmshālā; Tibetan: དྷ་རམ་ས་ལ་), is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh, famed for its large Tibetan community centred on the activities of the Dalai Lama.
Haridwar (Hindi: हरिद्वार Haridvār), also spelt Hardwar, is a Hindu pilgrimage site at the Ganges River, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.
Jammu (Dogri: जम्मु Jammu), the largest city in the Jammu region of northern India, is the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, sitting at a low elevation in the mainly mountainous state. Srinagar, the state's summer capital, is at a much higher elevation.
Leh (གླེ gle or སླེ sle), the main capital of Ladakh, India, is on the Indus River Valley, at a crossroads of the old trading routes from Xinjiang, Tibet and Kashmir.
Manali is a city of about 11,000 people (2023) in Central Himachal Pradesh. A staging point for a number of treks (Beas Kund, Chandrakhani Pass) and sports such as white-water rafting, Manali is also on the road to Ladakh via the valley of Lahaul and Spiti and Rohtang Pass, which is the main attraction near Manali.
Shimla (Hindi: शिमला), previously spelt Simla, is the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is a very popular holiday retreat during the summer months and is well known for its Victorian architecture, which is reflected in certain areas of the Mall and the Ridge.
Srinagar (Kashmiri: سرینگر Sirīnagar, Urdu: سری نگر Srī Nagar) in the Kashmir Valley is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and the largest city in the Kashmir region.
Ghangaria is a village at 3,100 m in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state in Himalayan North, India. It is the gateway aka base camp for hikes into the Valley of Flowers and the Hemkunt pilgrimage site.
Gulmarg is a city of about 2,000 people (2011) in the Kashmir Valley. It is noted for lush green meadows and wildflowers in summer and endless snow fields during winter.
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