INDIA – HIMACHAL PRADESH, PUNJAB, CHANDIGARH, HARYANA, & UTTARAKHAND

HIMACHAL PRADESH (Shimla, Manali, Nahan, Dharamsala)

DARE: Pangi Tehsil (northernmost)

THE GREAT HIMALAYAN NATIONAL PARK WHS is a national park in Himachal Pradesh. The park was established in 1984 with a size of 1171 km², and elevations between 1500 and 6000 m. The Great Himalayan National Park is a habitat to numerous flora and more than 375 fauna species, including approximately 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects.
The GHNP is at the junction of the world’s two major biogeographic realms: the Indomalayan realm to the south and the Palearctic realm to the north. Above 4,100 m are alpine, glacial, temperate, and subtropical forests. This resulted from plate tectonics and continental drift over 100 million years ago; the Indian sub-continent broke off from the large, southern landmass, Gondwanaland and moved north. It eventually slammed into the northern land mass, Laurasia, and formed the gigantic folded mountains of the Himalaya. Due to this union of Gondwanaland and the Asian landmasses, the exchange of flora and fauna was possible, and this ultimately led to the unique biogeographical features in the region.
The conservation area covers Great Himalayan National Park plus the Tirthan and Sainj Wildlife Sanctuaries. Its high-altitude forests and alpine meadows hold diverse flora with the greatest concentration of medicinal plants known for all of the Himalayas. It is the habitat of globally threatened mammals such as Snow Leopard and Himalayan Brown Bear, and globally threatened birds including the Western Tragopan pheasant.
Getting There. The actual boundaries of the eco zone of the park start in Sairopa village located on the Banjaar – Gushaini road. The core zone is in Gushainin and take a 4-5 km trek from there (1,5 hours, one way) to the boundary. Begin on a local road on the right side of the river that turns into a path that goes through three hamlets. The first sign of national park is a further kilometer ahead (Darakhali Point).
Begin in either Kullu or Bhuntar (where Kullu airport is located). Then a bus to Aut and then Banjaar. Banjaar – Gushaini has infrequent buses so a taxi may be better (1500 Rs for full day – including waiting time). Accommodation and restaurants are common.
Mountain Railways of India WHS
Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India Tentative WHS: (15/04/2015)

Villages and Small Towns
Bashisht
Chitkul
Dharamshala
Kasol
Kibber
Komic
Naggar
Nako|
Pragpur

SHIMLA
Mall Road. Urban Legends:
The Oberoi Cecil Shiimla. Hospitality Legends:
Lakkar Bazaar
Baba Bhalku Rail Museum
Himachal State Museum
Viceregal Lodge & Botanical Gardens
Municipality Building
Christ Church Shimla
Hanuman Murti
Army Heritage Museum
Himalayan Nature Park zoo

Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars
Himalayan Express (Kalka-Shimla Railway)
Joginder Nagar funicular
Kangra Valley Railway
Solan: Timber Trail Ropeway Station
Roads, Road Bridges and Tunnels
Bridge – Himachal Pradesh – Kullu: Chicham Bridge
Scenic Road – Rohtang Pass
Tunnel – Atal Road Tunnel
History, Culture, National and City Museums
Chamba: Bhuri Singh Museum
Manali: Museum of Himachal Culture and Folk Art
The Tibet Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts
Kangra: Kangra Fort, Solan: Arki Fort
Rampur: Padam Palace
Vestiges of the Past: Masrur Temples
Art Museums: Kandi: Himalayan Art Museum
Architectural Delights: Bhakra Dam, Himachal Pradesh
Religious Temples
Jawalamukhi: Jawala Ji Temple
Key: Key Monastery
Sarahan: Bhimakhali Temple
Tabo: Tabo Monastery
Religious Monuments: Rewalsar: Statue of Padmasambhava

World of Nature: Great Himalayan NP, Inderkilla NP, Khirganga NP, Pin Valley NP, Simbalbara NP
Waterfalls: Bhagsunag Waterfall, Jogini Falls
Caves, Sinkholes and Saltmines: Tabo Caves
Trails 1 – Treks: Himachal Pradesh: Pin Valley Trek
Trails 2 – Hikes: Chalal Trek Trail, Gilbert Nature Trail
Zoos
Gopalpur (Himachal Pradesh): Gopalpur Zoo
Theme Parks, ‘Fun’ Museums and Miniatures: Mohli Lahrandi: Losel Doll Museum
Well-being: Springs: Manikaran Hot Springs
Ski Resorts: Manali Ski Resort, Tethys Ski Resort
Indigenous Peoples: Kinnaura
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PUNJAB (Amritsar, Sangrur, Gurdaspur, Mansa, Patiala)

World Heritage Sites: Mountain Railways of India
Tentative WHS
Mountain Railways of India (Extension) (15/04/2014)
Silk Road Sites in India (20/01/2010)
Sites along the Uttarapath, Badshahi Sadak, Sadak-e-Azam, Grand Trunk Road (15/04/2015)
Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab (05/01/2004)

AMRITSAR
JALANDHAR
LUDHIANA
Ludhiana: Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort
Markets: Ludhiana: Chaura Bazaar
Museums – Various: Ludhiana: PAU Museum

Airports: Amritsar (ATQ), Chandigarh (IXC)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Kangra Valley Railway
Castles, Palaces, Forts
Bathinda: Qila Mubarak Gurudwara Sahib
Patiala: Qila Mubarak
Patiala: Sheesh Mahal
Rupnagar: Qila Anandgarh Sahib

Vestiges of the Past: Aam Khas Bagh Sirhind
Architectural Delights: Anandpur Sahib: Virasat-E-Khalsa
Religious Temples
Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)
Anandpur Sahib: Gurdwara Sri Keshgarh Sahib
Bathinda: Takht Sri Damdama Sahib
Tarn Taran Sahib: Gurudwara Sri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran Sahib
Religious Monuments: Chappar Chiri: Fateh Burj
Military, War and Police Museums: Punjab – Kartarpur: Jang-e-Azadi Memorial and Museum
Monuments: Ferozepur: The National Martyrs Memorial
Zoos: Zirakpur: M.C. Zoological Park, Chhat Bir Zoo
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CHANDIGARH

THE ARCHITECTURAL WORK OF LE CORBUSIER WHS, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement
Chandigarh Capitol Complex is a government compound designed by the architect Le Corbusier spread over 100 ha. It comprises three buildings: the Palace of Assembly or Legislative Assembly, Secretariat Building and the High Court plus four monuments (Open Hand Monument, Geometric Hill, Tower of Shadows and the Martyrs Monument) and a lake.
“Tower of Shadows” is designed so that not a single ray of sun enters it from any angle. The north side of this tower remains open because the sun never shines from this direction. Le Corbusier used the same principle for other Capitol Complex buildings as well.
The Capitol Complex was conceived in 1947 as a new capital for the state of Punjab. Le Corbusier joined in 1951. Le Corbusier reworked the radial plan into a strict grid – the Capitol Complex at the “head,” a commercial sector at the “heart,” and civic and educational sectors along the “arms” and “legs”. The Capitol Complex comprised three interlocking squares containing three principal edifices (Assembly, Secretariat, High Court) All three buildings are cast in rough-cast concrete with concrete sun-shading screens and striking cantilevers. Passive climate control. Landscaping and water features (including terraced gardens on building roofs) were conceived to moderate the harsh summer climate.
The Legislative Assembly building’s roof is a dramatic, thin hyperbolic paraboloid shell that spans the assembly hall without internal columns. Walls and facades often serve as architectural ornament: vibrant primary colours are used in doors and panels (inspired by Le Corbusier’s paintings), and patterned tapestries in the High Court chamber were created to provide acoustical treatment and symbolic imagery.

This is the largest structure in the Complex. It is a long horizontal slab of exposed concrete, about 254 m long and 42 m tall, composed of six eight-story blocks joined by expansion joints. It houses the administrative offices of both Punjab and Haryana.
Palace of Assembly is raised on pilotis (concrete columns), has a free facade, an open interior plan, ribbon windows, and a roof terrace. A monumental, upward-thrusting conical roof shelters the circular assembly chamber,
Punjab and Haryana High Court. Located across the esplanade from the Secretariat, the Court building features a grand ceremonial entrance and generous public spaces. Its most striking feature is a deep parasol roof: a wide cantilevered slab that shelters the ground-floor plaza in front of the judges’ entrance,
Open Hand Monument. Facing the Assemblies, the Open Hand is a 26 m (85 ft)-high metal sculpture conceived by Le Corbusier himself. It features a rotating wind vane in the shape of an open palm. According to Le Corbusier’s philosophy, the hand is “open to give” and “open to receive,” symbolizing peace and reconciliation. The city’s official emblem, it stands for democratic ‘give and take’ and India’s progressive ideals

Rock Garden of Chandigarh. Urban Legends
Government Museum and Art Gallery
Le Corbusier Centre
High Court Building Architectural Delights
New UT Secretariat Building, Sector 9D Architectural Delights|
Chandigarh Botanical Garden
Zakir Rose Garden
Elante Mall
Rock Garden of Chandigarh. Open-Air Museums
International Dolls Museum
Rock Garden. Bizzarium
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HARYANA (Faridabad, Rohtak, Ambala, Sirsa)

World Heritage Sites: Mountain Railways of India
Tentative WHS: Sites along the Uttarapath, Badshahi Sadak, Sadak-e-Azam, Grand Trunk Road (15/04/2015)

FARIDABAD
GORAKHPUR

GURUGRAM
Gurugram: Museum of Folk and Tribal Art
Gurugram: Vintage Camera Museum
GURGAON
Gurgaon: Ambience Mall
Gurgaon: Heritage Transport Museum

Castles, Palaces, Forts
Faridabad: Raja Nahar Singh Palace
Panchkula: Morni Fort
Vestiges of the Past
Asigarh Fort
Bhirrana
Chor Gumbad
Loharu Fort
Rakhigarhi
Religious Monuments: Sirsa: Tara Baba Kutiya
Religious and Sacred Art Museums (including Islamic and Jewish Museums): Kurukshetra: Srikrishan Museum
Monuments: Bhiwani: Star Monument
World of Nature: Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary and NP
Botanical Gardens: Panchkula: Cactus Garden
Zoos: Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
Railway Museums
Nuh: NeverEnuf Garden Railway
Rewari: Rewari Heritage Steam Loco Shed
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UTTARAKHAND (Dehradun)

DARE
Kalapani-Limpiyadhura (disputed with Nepal)
Pulam Sumda area (northwest)

World Heritage Sites: Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
Tentative WHS
Serial nomination for Ashokan Edict sites along the Mauryan Routes
Sites along the Uttarapath, Badshahi Sadak, Sadak-e-Azam, Grand Trunk Road (15/04/2015)

Villages and Small Towns
MUSSPORIE
CHOPTA
KALAP
LANDOUR
MUNSIYARI
Munsyari: Tribal Heritage Museum
RANIKHET

DEHRADUN
Airports: Dehradun (DED)
Dehradun: Gun Hill Point, Mussoorie cable car
Dehradun: George Everest’s House
Dehradun: Forest Research Institute (FRI). Architectural Delights
Dehradun: Tapkeshwar Temple
Dehradun: Mindroling Monastery Buddha statue
Dehradun: FRI (Forest Research Institute) Timber Museum
Dehradun: Indira Market
Dehradun: Subir Raha Oil Museum

HARIDWAR
Haridwar: Chandi Devi Mandir Ropeway

Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars
Auli Ropeway
Bridge – Dobra-Chanti
Jhoola Bridge
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Pauri Garhwal: Garhwali Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Pithoragarh: Pithoragarh Fort ( Gorkha Killa)
Vestiges of the Past
Baijnath: Baijnath temple
Jageshwar Temples
Religious Temples
Badrinath: Badrinath Temple
Gangotri: Gangotri Temple
Kedarnath: Kedarnath Temple
Kotdwara: Shri Neelkanth Mahadev
Nainital: Naina Devi Temple
Uttarkashi: Yamunotri Temple
World of Nature: Gangotri NP, Govind Pashu Vihar NP, Jim Corbett NP, Nanda Devi NP, Rajaji NP, Valley of Flowers NP
Botanical Gardens: Nainital: Himalayan Botanical Garden
Waterfalls
Chakrata: Tiger Falls
Kempty Falls
Birthi Falls
Caves, Sinkholes and Saltmines: Dehradun: Robber’s Cave
Lakes: Roop Kund Lake, Tehri Lake
Milam Glacier Trek
Nandadevi East Base Camp
Sources of the Ganges – Gangotri Trek
Trails 2 – Hikes: Budha Kedar Trek
Zoos: Nainital: G B Pant High Altitude Zoo
Hospitality Legends: Mussoorie: Kasmanda Palace
Well-being: Thermal Spa: Gangnani Hot Springs
Ski Resorts: Auli
Pedestrian and Historical Bridges
Chamoli: Suspension Bridge of Vishnuprayag
Tehri Garwhal: Ram Jhula