Try Chamba

I am finding that HP is getting a bit over visited these days...it's got just a few too many German bakeries and banana pancakes for me.

If you're looking for something a bit different then go to Chamba. It's a beautiful bus trip from Dalhousie. The people are lovely and some of the views are spectacular. I stayed with a family in their beautiful guest house out of town...home cooking, swimming pool! and lots of local info. I think the place was called Orchard Huts...ask at the travel agent by the Temple.

There's lots of treks around, temples and it's just a nice place to hang out for a while without all the back packer development.

Sounds really nice, Annie, What's the elevation? and do you think it would be too cold in late February/earlyMarch ?

The strange thing about Chamba is that at only about 900m (it's definitely less than 1000m) it's quite warm compared with the rest of HP.

I was there in late August and it was hot - tho' a couple of hours of walking up hill and it could be cold!

I am not sure about the dates you mention...but it should be a lot warmer than Shimla, D'sala etc - I've been to both of these places in late Feb/early March and remember them both as pretty wintery!

You won't be disappointed in Chamba if you're after a slightly more authentic experience.

hmmm... interesting. I'm going to india from mid-november to mid-march. I was thinking that there wouldn't be too many mountain places that wouldn't be freezing for either the begginning or end of my stay... i'm concidering Musoori (sp?), as i thought this may be ok in november, but i'll look into Chamba now... unless anyone else can suggest somewhere?
Thanks,
Al

normal..

if you get to mussourie then trudge along to nainital and the surrounding towns and hills. great places (and once you are away from nainital very very peaceful)

i would stringly suggest you get to mukteshwar . sattal and kasauni

That would be rather a long trudge wouldn't it, latisharma - Mussoorie to Nainital? Maybe you take longer steps than me, but it is a long haul across country to go directly from one to the other. Better to go back via Delhi on a fast train then on to Kathgodam, surely... Agreed, though, that the surrounding UP hills are tremendous.

My tip for a visit after Chamba/Mussoorie would be Brahmour. Well, I say my tip, but I've never been, always intending to but not facing the winding road through to it (always had enough of Indian moutain buses by that time). A fascinating town by all accounts, however, but maybe better reserved for late spring/autumn.

nainital and mussourie are no more than a days ride by bus !!!

thats not a lot for a big country like india, regardless of how big or small steps you take.

anyways i only intended to present that part of the country as an option for those who dont want to be among throngs of tourists!

Yes, it is long ,but one can proceed in phases and I suspect that is what latisharma is talking about. I am quite sure , if one stops along the way ,whether by foot/bicycle/scooter/car/bus , there will be lots that is interesting and quite positively there will be a paucity of tourists.

I heard a lot about Chamba especiaaly the Raj Period Hill resort of Dalhousie less crowded and very very neat and yes very less of all that is much too much in Mc leod Ganj and Manali I have been there once would like to be there again all people in to Mcleod Ganj must try this out for all fun sake