India · Theme guide
The Himalaya in India
High-altitude places in Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Several need permits, and high roads close in winter — check the seasonal note on each guide.
Quick answer
The best Himalayan places in India are Pangong Tso, Nubra Valley, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Hemis Monastery and Khardung La Pass. Uttarakhand has the most (30 of 78). Go to Ladakh between June and September, and give yourself two days to acclimatise in Leh.
Updated · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · Ranked on our published criteria
1Pangong Tso · Leh
2Nubra Valley · Leh
3Parmarth Niketan Ashram & Ganga Aarti
4Hemis Monastery
5Khardung La Pass78
Himalayan places
5
states & territories
1
UNESCO sites
52
free to enter
Jun–Sep
best months in Ladakh
Top 10 Himalayan places in India
Ranked by our editors on the same criteria as every Traveliac guide: what you see for your time and money, how well it’s kept, and how easy it is to visit.
- 1Pangong TsoLake · Leh, LadakhHigh-altitude lake that shifts from blue to greenFree5 hrs
- 2Nubra ValleyNature · Leh, LadakhSand dunes and Bactrian camels beyond Khardung LaFree24 hrs
- 3Parmarth Niketan Ashram & Ganga AartiTemple · Rishikesh, UttarakhandEvening Ganga aarti on the riverbankFree1.5 hrs
- 4Hemis MonasteryMonastery · Leh, LadakhOne of Ladakh’s largest monasteries₹50 Indian2 hrs
- 5Khardung La PassMountain pass · Leh, LadakhHigh road pass on the way to NubraFree30 min
- 6
Ram JhulaTemple · Rishikesh, UttarakhandSuspension bridge over the GangaFree20 min - 7
Leh PalacePalace · Leh, LadakhNine-storey 17th-century royal palace above Leh₹50 Indian1 hr - 8
Shanti StupaStupa · Leh, LadakhWhite stupa with sunset views over LehFree45 min - 9
Beatles AshramHeritage · Rishikesh, UttarakhandThe ashram where the Beatles stayed in 1968₹150 Indian1.5 hrs - 10
Alchi MonasteryMonastery · Leh, LadakhSome of Ladakh’s oldest surviving temple murals₹50 Indian1.5 hrs
All 78 Himalayan places by state
Showing all 78 Himalayan places.
Uttarakhand30 places
- UttarakhandFree entry
Parmarth Niketan Ashram & Ganga Aarti
Temple · Rishikesh
Free1.5 hrs
- UttarakhandFree entry
Ram Jhula
Temple · Rishikesh
Free20 min
- Uttarakhand
Beatles Ashram
Heritage · Rishikesh
₹150 Indian1.5 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryHar Ki Pauri
Temple · Haridwar
Free1.5 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryKempty Falls
Waterfall · Mussoorie
Free2 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryNaini Lake
Lake · Nainital
Free1.5 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryGun Hill
Viewpoint · Mussoorie
Free1 hr
UttarakhandFree entryMaya Devi Temple
Temple · Haridwar
Free45 min
UttarakhandFree entryNaina Devi Temple
Temple · Nainital
Free45 min
UttarakhandFree entryBhimgoda Tank
Temple · Haridwar
Free30 min
UttarakhandLal Tibba
Nature · Mussoorie
₹50 Indian45 min
UttarakhandFree entryMall Road Nainital
Heritage · Nainital
Free2 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryCamel's Back Road
Nature · Mussoorie
Free1.5 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryMansa Devi Temple
Temple · Haridwar
Free1.5 hrs
UttarakhandRajaji National Park
Wildlife · Rishikesh
₹200 Indian3 hrs
UttarakhandFree entrySt. John in the Wilderness Church
Church · Nainital
Free40 min
UttarakhandFree entryChandi Devi Temple
Temple · Haridwar
Free1.5 hrs
UttarakhandCompany Garden
Garden · Mussoorie
₹18 Indian1.5 hrs
UttarakhandPt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo
Zoo · Nainital
₹50 Indian1.5 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryShivpuri
Heritage · Rishikesh
Free3 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryBharat Mata Mandir
Temple · Haridwar
Free1.5 hrs
UttarakhandMussoorie Lake
Lake · Mussoorie
₹15 Indian1 hr
UttarakhandFree entryNeelkanth Mahadev Temple
Temple · Rishikesh
Free1.5 hrs
UttarakhandFree entrySnow View Point
Nature · Nainital
Free1.5 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryDaksha Mahadev Temple
Temple · Haridwar
Free45 min
UttarakhandFree entryGeorge Everest's House
Heritage · Mussoorie
Free1 hr
UttarakhandFree entryNaina Peak
Viewpoint · Nainital
Free5 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryCloud's End
Heritage · Mussoorie
Free1.5 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryTiffin Top
Nature · Nainital
Free2.5 hrs
UttarakhandFree entryHanuman Garhi
Temple · Nainital
Free45 min
Himachal Pradesh24 places
Himachal PradeshFree entryHadimba Devi Temple
Temple · Manali
Free45 min
Himachal PradeshFree entryMall Road
Heritage · Shimla
Free1.5 hrs
Himachal PradeshFree entryMcLeod Ganj
Buddhist site · Dharamshala
Free4 hrs
Himachal PradeshFree entryRohtang Pass
Mountain pass · Manali
Free1.5 hrs
Himachal PradeshFree entryThe Ridge
Heritage · Shimla
Free1 hr
Himachal PradeshFree entryTsuglagkhang Complex
Museum · Dharamshala
Free1.5 hrs
Himachal PradeshFree entryChrist Church
Church · Shimla
Free30 min
Himachal PradeshNaggar Castle
Museum · Manali
₹50 Indian1.5 hrs
Himachal PradeshFree entryNamgyal Monastery
Monastery · Dharamshala
Free1 hr
Himachal PradeshGaiety Theatre (Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex)
Heritage · Shimla
₹10 Indian1 hr
Himachal PradeshFree entryJogini Waterfall
Waterfall · Manali
Free2.5 hrs
Himachal PradeshTriund Trek
Nature · Dharamshala
₹100 Indian8 hrs
![Jakhoo Temple is an ancient temple in Shimla, dedicated to Hindu deity, Hanuman.[1] It is situated on Jakhoo Hill, 2.5 km /1.3 miles east from the Ridge, Shimla](/wm/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Jakhoo_temple%2Cshimla.jpg/1280px-Jakhoo_temple%2Cshimla.jpg)
Himachal PradeshFree entryJakhoo Temple
Temple · Shimla
Free1.5 hrs
Himachal PradeshFree entryManikaran Sahib
Gurdwara · Manali
Free2.5 hrs
Himachal PradeshFree entrySt. John in the Wilderness Church
Church · Dharamshala
Free45 min
Himachal PradeshFree entryAnnandale
Heritage · Shimla
Free1 hr
Himachal PradeshFree entryKasol
Nature · Manali
Free3 hrs
Himachal PradeshNorbulingka Institute
Museum · Dharamshala
₹50 Indian2 hrs
Himachal PradeshDharamshala Cricket Stadium
Heritage · Dharamshala
₹30 Indian1 hr
Himachal PradeshFree entrySummer Hill
Viewpoint · Shimla
Free1.5 hrs
Himachal PradeshKangra Fort
Fort · Dharamshala
₹25 Indian2 hrs
Himachal PradeshViceregal Lodge (Indian Institute of Advanced Study)
Museum · Shimla
₹200 Indian1.5 hrs
Himachal PradeshUNESCOKalka-Shimla Railway (Shimla Railway Station)
Heritage · Shimla
₹65 Indian5 hrs
Himachal PradeshKufri
Wildlife · Shimla
₹50 Indian2.5 hrs
Ladakh9 places
- LadakhFree entry
Pangong Tso
Lake · Leh
Free5 hrs
- LadakhFree entry
Nubra Valley
Nature · Leh
Free24 hrs
- Ladakh
Hemis Monastery
Monastery · Leh
₹50 Indian2 hrs
- LadakhFree entry
Khardung La Pass
Mountain pass · Leh
Free30 min
- Ladakh
Leh Palace
Palace · Leh
₹50 Indian1 hr
- LadakhFree entry
Shanti Stupa
Stupa · Leh
Free45 min
- Ladakh
Alchi Monastery
Monastery · Leh
₹50 Indian1.5 hrs
LadakhShey Palace & Monastery
Monastery · Leh
₹30 Indian1 hr
LadakhFree entryMagnetic Hill
Viewpoint · Leh
Free20 min
Jammu & Kashmir8 places
Jammu & KashmirFree entryDal Lake & Shikara Rides
Lake · Srinagar
Free2 hrs
Jammu & KashmirShalimar Bagh
Garden · Srinagar
₹24 Indian1 hr
Jammu & KashmirNishat Bagh
Garden · Srinagar
₹24 Indian1.5 hrs
Jammu & KashmirFree entryJamia Masjid Srinagar
Mosque · Srinagar
Free1 hr
Jammu & KashmirPari Mahal
Palace · Srinagar
₹24 Indian1 hr
Jammu & KashmirChashme Shahi
Heritage · Srinagar
₹24 Indian45 min
Jammu & KashmirFree entryNagin Lake
Lake · Srinagar
Free1.5 hrs
Jammu & KashmirIndira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden
Memorial · Srinagar
₹50 Indian1 hr
Sikkim7 places
SikkimFree entryTsomgo Lake
Lake · Gangtok
Free1.5 hrs
SikkimFree entryRumtek Monastery
Monastery · Gangtok
Free1.5 hrs
SikkimFree entryNathu La Pass
Mountain pass · Gangtok
Free45 min
SikkimNamgyal Institute of Tibetology
Museum · Gangtok
₹10 Indian1 hr
SikkimFree entryEnchey Monastery
Monastery · Gangtok
Free45 min
SikkimFree entryGanesh Tok & Hanuman Tok
Temple · Gangtok
Free1 hr
SikkimBanjhakri Falls & Energy Park
Waterfall · Gangtok
₹30 Indian1.5 hrs
The Himalaya compared
| Place | State | Type | Indian fee | Time needed | UNESCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pangong Tso | Ladakh | Lake | Free | 5 hrs | No |
| Nubra Valley | Ladakh | Nature | Free | 24 hrs | No |
| Parmarth Niketan Ashram & Ganga Aarti | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Hemis Monastery | Ladakh | Monastery | ₹50 Indian | 2 hrs | No |
| Khardung La Pass | Ladakh | Mountain pass | Free | 30 min | No |
| Ram Jhula | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 20 min | No |
| Leh Palace | Ladakh | Palace | ₹50 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Shanti Stupa | Ladakh | Stupa | Free | 45 min | No |
| Beatles Ashram | Uttarakhand | Heritage | ₹150 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Alchi Monastery | Ladakh | Monastery | ₹50 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Dal Lake & Shikara Rides | Jammu & Kashmir | Lake | Free | 2 hrs | No |
| Hadimba Devi Temple | Himachal Pradesh | Temple | Free | 45 min | No |
| Har Ki Pauri | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Kempty Falls | Uttarakhand | Waterfall | Free | 2 hrs | No |
| Mall Road | Himachal Pradesh | Heritage | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| McLeod Ganj | Himachal Pradesh | Buddhist site | Free | 4 hrs | No |
| Naini Lake | Uttarakhand | Lake | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Tsomgo Lake | Sikkim | Lake | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Gun Hill | Uttarakhand | Viewpoint | Free | 1 hr | No |
| Maya Devi Temple | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 45 min | No |
| Naina Devi Temple | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 45 min | No |
| Rohtang Pass | Himachal Pradesh | Mountain pass | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Rumtek Monastery | Sikkim | Monastery | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Shalimar Bagh | Jammu & Kashmir | Garden | ₹24 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| The Ridge | Himachal Pradesh | Heritage | Free | 1 hr | No |
| Tsuglagkhang Complex | Himachal Pradesh | Museum | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Bhimgoda Tank | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 30 min | No |
| Christ Church | Himachal Pradesh | Church | Free | 30 min | No |
| Lal Tibba | Uttarakhand | Nature | ₹50 Indian | 45 min | No |
| Mall Road Nainital | Uttarakhand | Heritage | Free | 2 hrs | No |
| Naggar Castle | Himachal Pradesh | Museum | ₹50 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Namgyal Monastery | Himachal Pradesh | Monastery | Free | 1 hr | No |
| Nathu La Pass | Sikkim | Mountain pass | Free | 45 min | No |
| Nishat Bagh | Jammu & Kashmir | Garden | ₹24 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Camel's Back Road | Uttarakhand | Nature | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Gaiety Theatre (Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex) | Himachal Pradesh | Heritage | ₹10 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Jamia Masjid Srinagar | Jammu & Kashmir | Mosque | Free | 1 hr | No |
| Jogini Waterfall | Himachal Pradesh | Waterfall | Free | 2.5 hrs | No |
| Mansa Devi Temple | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Namgyal Institute of Tibetology | Sikkim | Museum | ₹10 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Rajaji National Park | Uttarakhand | Wildlife | ₹200 Indian | 3 hrs | No |
| St. John in the Wilderness Church | Uttarakhand | Church | Free | 40 min | No |
| Triund Trek | Himachal Pradesh | Nature | ₹100 Indian | 8 hrs | No |
| Chandi Devi Temple | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Company Garden | Uttarakhand | Garden | ₹18 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Enchey Monastery | Sikkim | Monastery | Free | 45 min | No |
| Jakhoo Temple | Himachal Pradesh | Temple | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Manikaran Sahib | Himachal Pradesh | Gurdwara | Free | 2.5 hrs | No |
| Pari Mahal | Jammu & Kashmir | Palace | ₹24 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Pt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo | Uttarakhand | Zoo | ₹50 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Shivpuri | Uttarakhand | Heritage | Free | 3 hrs | No |
| St. John in the Wilderness Church | Himachal Pradesh | Church | Free | 45 min | No |
| Annandale | Himachal Pradesh | Heritage | Free | 1 hr | No |
| Bharat Mata Mandir | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Chashme Shahi | Jammu & Kashmir | Heritage | ₹24 Indian | 45 min | No |
| Ganesh Tok & Hanuman Tok | Sikkim | Temple | Free | 1 hr | No |
| Kasol | Himachal Pradesh | Nature | Free | 3 hrs | No |
| Mussoorie Lake | Uttarakhand | Lake | ₹15 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Neelkanth Mahadev Temple | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Norbulingka Institute | Himachal Pradesh | Museum | ₹50 Indian | 2 hrs | No |
| Snow View Point | Uttarakhand | Nature | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Banjhakri Falls & Energy Park | Sikkim | Waterfall | ₹30 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Daksha Mahadev Temple | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 45 min | No |
| Dharamshala Cricket Stadium | Himachal Pradesh | Heritage | ₹30 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| George Everest's House | Uttarakhand | Heritage | Free | 1 hr | No |
| Nagin Lake | Jammu & Kashmir | Lake | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Naina Peak | Uttarakhand | Viewpoint | Free | 5 hrs | No |
| Shey Palace & Monastery | Ladakh | Monastery | ₹30 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Summer Hill | Himachal Pradesh | Viewpoint | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Cloud's End | Uttarakhand | Heritage | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden | Jammu & Kashmir | Memorial | ₹50 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Kangra Fort | Himachal Pradesh | Fort | ₹25 Indian | 2 hrs | No |
| Tiffin Top | Uttarakhand | Nature | Free | 2.5 hrs | No |
| Viceregal Lodge (Indian Institute of Advanced Study) | Himachal Pradesh | Museum | ₹200 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Hanuman Garhi | Uttarakhand | Temple | Free | 45 min | No |
| Kalka-Shimla Railway (Shimla Railway Station) | Himachal Pradesh | Heritage | ₹65 Indian | 5 hrs | Yes |
| Magnetic Hill | Ladakh | Viewpoint | Free | 20 min | No |
| Kufri | Himachal Pradesh | Wildlife | ₹50 Indian | 2.5 hrs | No |
Fees are the Indian-visitor ticket; foreign-visitor and camera fees are on each place’s guide.
Ladakh and Rishikesh: two different trips
Ladakh
High-altitude desert
Leh sits at about 3,500 m. Monasteries, passes and lakes, reached by road from Leh.
Rishikesh
Foothills on the Ganga
Ashrams, bridges and aarti on the river, with rafting and forest nearby.
Map of the himalaya in India
Numbers match the ranking; the top 10 are orange. Tap a pin for its guide. 17 places have no map position yet.
Tips for visiting Himalayan places in India
Acclimatise before you climb higher
Rest for the first two days in Leh before heading over Khardung La or out to Pangong.
Permits for Nubra and Pangong
Both need a permit, arranged online or through a Leh travel agent. Carry copies of your ID.
Different seasons
Ladakh’s roads are usually open from about June to September; Rishikesh is best outside the July–August monsoon.
Carry cash
ATMs and mobile signal thin out quickly beyond Leh.
The Himalaya FAQs
Which Himalayan places in India are free to visit?
On our list, Pangong Tso in Leh, Nubra Valley in Leh, Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, Khardung La Pass in Leh, Ram Jhula in Rishikesh, Shanti Stupa in Leh, Dal Lake in Srinagar and Hadimba Devi Temple in Manali have no entry fee, along with 44 more.
Do you need a permit for Pangong Tso and Nubra Valley?
Yes. Both are in a protected area, so visitors need a permit, which can be arranged online or through a travel agent in Leh. Keep copies of your ID with you on the road.
Which Himalayan places in India are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Kalka-Shimla Railway is part of UNESCO World Heritage properties.
Do foreign visitors pay more at Indian Himalayan places?
Often, yes. Hemis Monastery, for example, costs ₹50 for Indian visitors and ₹100 for foreign visitors. 15 of the 78 places on this list charge foreigners more; each guide lists both prices.
What is the best time of year to visit Himalayan places in India?
It depends where. Ladakh is best from June to September, when its high roads are open; many close with snow in winter. Rishikesh is best outside the July–August monsoon.
How much time do you need at Pangong Tso?
Allow about 5 hours. Arrive at opening time for the smallest crowds.
Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records; see How we write these guides. Last updated . How we rank and check places · All themes