For sheer geographical diversity, few places in the world are as richly endowed as Himachal Pradesh. Low rolling bills, just a couple of hundred metres above sea level, climb on to touch the core of the Himalaya mountains. Here lie peaks that are several thousand metres high and never lose their perennial snows. Then, past these forbidding heights, lie the visually stunning cold deserts of the Trans Himalaya. The State can be divided into two regions: the Southern part, which is almost as hot as the plains and the northern region having a temperate summer and a winter with extreme cold and heavy snowfall. The rainfall is around 180 cms. Best time to visit Himachal is during the months Mid-May to Mid-October. Himachal also store numerous wonderful hill stations, which are particularly cool in summers. Shimla, Dalhousie, Kullu, Manali and Kufri are a few of the hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh which offer breathtaking scenery and countless options of adventure sports. Dharamshala, where the Dalai Lama lives, is another important centre on the tourist map.

Built in the mid-eighteenth century, Shimla was highly popular among the British royalty after it was named the 'Summer Capital of India'. The Parliament used to move up to the hills to get a break from the hot Indian summers. The town is a picturesque place dotted with charming bungalows and shops made of stone. A perfect setting for romance or to go on a idle holiday. The best way to see Shimla is to pick up a tour book, which tells a small history of the buildings and churches.

Himachalis lead a simple and quiet life, tending their orchards, fields and flocks. The population is composed of a variety of distinctive hill tribes: Gadis, Gujaris, Kinnauris, Lahulis, Pangwalis, and Rajputs. Hindi - the official state language and Pahari are the principal languages.

Himachalis lead a simple and quiet life, tending their orchards, fields and flocks. The population is composed of a variety of distinctive hill tribes: Gadis, Gujaris, Kinnauris, Lahulis, Pangwalis, and Rajputs. Hindi - the official state language and Pahari are the principal languages.

Rivers in deep gorges and placid mountain lakes, thick forests and acres of scree, mountainsides draped with snow, and green Alpine meadows, all form a part of this immense spectrum. And the possibilities for a whole range of adventure activities is also enormous. There are day-bikes by the thousand, and the trek routes follow trails that last a couple of days - or can extend over a few weeks. These vary from gentle walks over easy terrain, to grueling expeditions.

There is skiing, helisking and ice-skating. There is the thrill of paragliding and the test of stamina with mountain cycling. You can go camping and fishing and play golf - or take a safari by car, jeep or on motorcycle. Then there is mountaineering and rock climbing. All you have to do is make up your mind and select your own activity. No special training is required for most things, age is no consideration and all you need is a reasonable level of fitness. Equipment, training and instructors are available. And then all this comes at a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere in the world. Sedentary or strenuous, for the expert or beginner, Himachal has a niche of adventure for everyone.