Himachal Pradesh & Punjab

Some journeys remind you how small you are — winding mountain roads, villages perched like secrets on hillsides, and rivers that roar and whisper in turns. Himachal and Punjab feel like two sides of the same story: one calm and cool, the other bold and generous. You drive from the ordered lines of Chandigarh into the folds of the Himalayas, and somewhere along the way, India slows down and stretches out.

Size & Population

Himachal Pradesh

• Area: 55,673 km²

• Comparable to: About two-thirds the size of Tasmania

• Population (2025): Approximately 7.85 million

Punjab

• Area: 50,362 km²

• Comparable to: Roughly three times smaller than New Zealand’s South Island

• Population (2025): Approximately 32 million

  
  

Main Cities

Himachal Pradesh

• Shimla: Capital city and popular hill town.

• Dharamshala: Known for its Tibetan culture and as the residence of the Dalai Lama.

• Kullu: Famous for its temples and the annual Dussehra Festival.

Punjab

• Chandigarh: Joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, known for its modern architecture and design by Le Corbusier.

• Amritsar: Home to the Golden Temple, a major Sikh pilgrimage site.

Famous Foods

Himachal Pradesh

• Siddu: Steamed wheat dumplings stuffed with spiced fillings.

• Chha Gosht: Lamb cooked in yoghurt gravy.

• Chana Madra: A yoghurt-based chickpea curry.

Punjab

• Butter Chicken: Chicken cooked in a creamy tomato-based sauce.

• Amritsari Kulcha: Soft leavened bread stuffed with potatoes and spices, cooked in a tandoor.

• Lassi: Sweet or salty yoghurt drink.

• Tandoori Chicken: Chicken marinated in spices and roasted in a tandoor.

Top Things To Do

Himachal Pradesh

• Explore the hill stations of Shimla and Manali — ideal for trekking, skiing and relaxation.

• Visit the Great Himalayan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in biodiversity.

• Attend the Kullu Dussehra Festival, a vibrant celebration of local traditions.

• Visit the Norbulingka Institute, dedicated to Tibetan culture and arts.

• Shop for handicrafts — woollen shawls, tweeds and handwoven products.

• Enjoy the tea valleys around Palampur, where green clouds of tea bushes ripple through the hills.

Punjab

• Visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a spiritual and architectural marvel.

• Explore the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial, a solemn historical site.

• Witness the Beating Retreat Ceremony at the Wagah Border.

• Explore the Rock Garden in Chandigarh, an imaginative world built entirely from recycled materials.

• Visit the Sheesh Mahal in Patiala, a historic palace with intricate mirror work.

• Attend the Baisakhi Festival, celebrating the harvest season with dance and music.

• Shop for Phulkari embroidery, traditional Punjabi handwork on fabrics.

And Did You Know…

Himachal Pradesh

• Nicknamed Devabhumi — “Land of the Gods” — for its many temples.

• The snow leopard is the state animal.

• Chail is home to the world’s highest cricket ground.

• Asia’s only natural ice-skating rink is in Shimla’s Lakkar Bazar.

• The Great Himalayan National Park shelters several endangered species.

Punjab

• Known for Bhangra, a high-energy dance that’s now gone global.

• Lassi is so loved it’s often served in glasses the size of flower vases.

• The Golden Temple serves free meals to more than 100,000 people daily — and it’s covered in real gold leaf.

• The name Punjab means “Land of Five Waters,” referring to the rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum.

Nicola’s Story Around a Corner There Was…

These two states run hand in hand from an exploring point of view. I started in Chandigarh with my wonderful driver, Milaap. We went to the Rock Garden — I’d heard of this extraordinary feat by one man, but I hadn’t understood just how extraordinary it really was. As with India, it was unexpected, creative, vast and simply joyful.

Then came one of the most amazing road trips: my first drive through the Himalayas.

Peaks and valleys, twists and turns. Giant rhododendrons and villages scattered above and below the road. The festival of Kullu Dussehra was happening in every village — local deities being carried to visit one another.

And then, in Kullu, I came to a very special hotel: Neeralaya Resort. A haven after the long drive, sitting right on the River Beas. The owner told me, “The river made this place — it gave us the rocks and land to build it here — and it can also take it away in a monsoon.” Such is the life of living with nature’s force. This is a place to breathe fresh air, eat local apples, and simply be in awe.