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Hillsborough (Northern Ireland)

Hillsborough is a village historically in County Down in Northern Ireland, but nowadays part of Lisburn and Castlereagh District. It's an attractive Georgian village dominated by Hillsborough Castle, the official residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and of the King whenever here. It's only 12 miles from Belfast so it's become a commuter town, with a population in 2011 of just under 4,000.

Visitor information centre
The tourist information centre is in the old Courthouse in the village square, open M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-4PM.

Get in
Goldline Bus 238 runs hourly from Belfast Europa bus station via Sprucefield retail park (south edge of Lisburn) to Hillsborough (20 min), and continues to Dromore, Banbridge and Newry, which has buses and trains from Dublin.

Ulsterbus 538 runs hourly from Belfast via Dunmurry, Lisburn and Sprucefield, taking just under an hour to Hillsborough, and continuing to Dromore, Banbridge and Newry.

Bus 26 trundles cross-country three times M-F from Newcastle via Dundrum and Ballynahinch to Hillsborough, continuing to Lisburn.

Lisburn 4 miles north is the closest railway station, with frequent trains on the Bangor-Belfast-Lisburn-Portadown line. By road follow A1.

Get around
The village sights are easily reached on foot. Take the Newry bus for Dromore.

See

 * Hillsborough Courthouse on The Square is a stout Georgian building that now houses the TIC. There's also a display on the court in the 18th and 19th centuries, free.
 * Hillsborough Courthouse on The Square is a stout Georgian building that now houses the TIC. There's also a display on the court in the 18th and 19th centuries, free.
 * The monument south edge of the village (resembling Nelson's Column in London) is to the 3rd Marquess of Downshire (1788-1855), a strong supporter of Irish language and culture.
 * is a village 5 miles southwest of Hillsborough. The Cathedral (Church of Ireland) was built in 1660 and extended in the 19th century. The River Lagan flows beneath an impressive viaduct and through the bosky town park; east downstream it's overlooked by a Norman motte and bailey.
 * is a village 5 miles southwest of Hillsborough. The Cathedral (Church of Ireland) was built in 1660 and extended in the 19th century. The River Lagan flows beneath an impressive viaduct and through the bosky town park; east downstream it's overlooked by a Norman motte and bailey.
 * is a village 5 miles southwest of Hillsborough. The Cathedral (Church of Ireland) was built in 1660 and extended in the 19th century. The River Lagan flows beneath an impressive viaduct and through the bosky town park; east downstream it's overlooked by a Norman motte and bailey.

Do

 * Golf: see Lisburn for Lisburn Golf Club and Down Royal Park Golf Club.

Buy

 * Spar and Co-op Food are the convenience stores in village centre, both open daily.
 * For a big shop head to Sprucefield retail park, 3 miles northeast on the edge of Lisburn.

Drink

 * Plough Inn and The Parson's Nose are village centre pubs with good food.

Sleep

 * Premier Inn is at M1 Sprucefield junction, 3 miles northeast of the village, see Lisburn.
 * Premier Inn is at M1 Sprucefield junction, 3 miles northeast of the village, see Lisburn.
 * Premier Inn is at M1 Sprucefield junction, 3 miles northeast of the village, see Lisburn.

Connect
As of Oct 2021, Hillsborough has 4G from all UK carriers. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Lisburn is was where Ireland's modern linen trade was founded, as depicted in its museum.
 * Lurgan and Portadown are industrial commuter towns but have access to Lough Neagh.

title: Hillsborough (Northern Ireland)


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Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County is in West Central Florida.

Cities

 * – circus sideshow freak town
 * – the largest city in the county, home to Busch Gardens
 * – circus sideshow freak town
 * – the largest city in the county, home to Busch Gardens
 * – the largest city in the county, home to Busch Gardens
 * – the largest city in the county, home to Busch Gardens
 * – the largest city in the county, home to Busch Gardens
 * – the largest city in the county, home to Busch Gardens
 * – the largest city in the county, home to Busch Gardens

Understand
As the most populous of the three counties in the Tampa Bay Area, Hillsborough County is home to one of the state's most important cities, Tampa. This city is a principal city in the third largest important metro area in the state, after Greater Miami and Greater Orlando. The county is in the northeast corner of the Tampa Bay and, having a fairly small land area, is dominated by Tampa and its eastern suburbs. Across the bay, to the west, is Pinellas County and to the south is Manatee County. The county is a little overshadowed in tourism by the other two counties in the region, which both have extensive beach resorts.

The suburbs of Tampa are not marketed toward tourists. Although Brandon and Riverview have decent populations and appear on the map, as part of the Tampa metro area they are little more than this. Most Floridians have hardly heard of these suburbs, particularly Riverview. The points of interest to visit are in Tampa, including commerce, entertainment, a museum and universities.

By bus

 * Hillsborough Area Transit (HART) Public Transportation in Tampa and in the surrounding areas within Hillsborough County.

Go next

 * Pasco County - north
 * Polk County - east
 * Hardee County - southeast corner
 * Manatee County - south
 * Pinellas County - west

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Hillsborough County


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Hillside

Hillside is a village of 8,155 people in the Western Suburbs of Chicagoland. It is the eastern terminus of Interstate 88.

See

 * Mount Carmel Cemetery contains the graves of a number of organized crime figures, including Al Capone and Dion O'Bannon. It's also the final resting place of many bishops and archbishops of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

title: Hillside


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Hillswick

Hillswick is a small village on the Mainland of the Shetland Islands. It's the main settlement on the Northmavine peninsula, connected to the rest of Mainland by the road along Mavis Grind, the narrow isthmus by the village of Brae - so narrow you can almost hurl a stone from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea side. All of Northmavine in 2011 had a population of 741.

Get in
Hillswick is 35 miles north of Lerwick along A970, say 50 min by car.

Bus 21 runs 3 times M-Sa from Lerwick via Tingwall airport, Voe and Brae, taking 70 min to Hillswick. Bus 23 also runs from Lerwick to Brae then turns northeast to Sullom Voe and Toft.

Get around
Hillswick is a tiny village, but you need wheels to get around the peninsula.

See

 * is the inlet north of Hillswick. In 1674 the Dutch East India ship Wapen van Rotterdam was storm-damaged and took shelter here but was trapped by four British ships. The ensuing one-sided artillery battle was the last act of the Third Anglo-Dutch war, with a treaty already signed. An unknown number of Dutch seamen were killed, perhaps as many as 300, and lie in a mass grave by the shore with a small granite marker. Their ship was taken as a prize: it was later just used as a hulk until scrapped.
 * Tangwick Haa Museum near Esha Ness didn't open in 2021.
 * has cliffs notched by the deep Calder's Geo, and with a Stevenson lighthouse. 1 km north is an Iron Age broch by a freshwater lake, and Holes of Scraada a sea-filled chasm that kayakers can enter.
 * Hamnavoe is the inlet north of Esha Ness. The Giant's Stones are a pair 20 m apart on the heath: probably aligned with something, as many were, but it's difficult to place two stones 20 m apart without them creating a line.
 * is an islet with a great natural arch that looks like a horse drinking deeply from the water.
 * Isle of Stenness is the low-lying islet southwest of Stenness beach. It's just grazing land and its main job is to shelter the beach.
 * or Giant's Garden is the boulder-littered hillside by the road north to Isbister. The two main stones of 2 m and 2.7 m are indistinct at the foot of the hill.
 * Aircraft in a garden: look right half a mile north of North Roe village for this unusual garden ornament, a Potez 840. F-BMCY was a 1960s French single-engine 18-seater plane. On 29 March 1981 on approach to Sumburgh, the landing gear jammed and the pilot opted to make a belly-flop wheels-up landing. It slithered to a halt and the two crew and five passengers were unhurt. It was left on the perimeter as a hulk until 2007 then the fuselage was brought here.
 * is the most northerly point of Mainland, though the islands of Yell and Unst stretch beyond. The public road ends at Isbister but rough tracks continue. Fethaland is an abandoned fishing station: it was only occupied seasonally. Fishing was by long line from open boats, easily upset or swamped in high seas, and rendered obsolete by 19th century trawlers. There's also remains of a prehistoric house. Near the tip of the peninsula, the lighthouse is a modern metal tower, functional but not photogenic.
 * is the most northerly point of Mainland, though the islands of Yell and Unst stretch beyond. The public road ends at Isbister but rough tracks continue. Fethaland is an abandoned fishing station: it was only occupied seasonally. Fishing was by long line from open boats, easily upset or swamped in high seas, and rendered obsolete by 19th century trawlers. There's also remains of a prehistoric house. Near the tip of the peninsula, the lighthouse is a modern metal tower, functional but not photogenic.

Do

 * Walk around. There are some lovely walks just beyond the village.
 * is the highest peak in Shetland at 450 m / 1480 ft, a "Marilyn". There's a Neolithic chambered cairn near the summit. These moors are the only place in the UK with Arctic tundra.

Eat

 * St Magnus Bay Hotel (see "Sleep") has a good Sunday carvery.

Drink

 * St Magnus Bay Hotel (see "Sleep") has a bar, packed on some evenings, deserted on others.

Sleep

 * Almara B&B at Urafirth 2 miles north of Hillswick didn't open in 2021.
 * Almara B&B at Urafirth 2 miles north of Hillswick didn't open in 2021.

Connect
As of Nov 2021, there is a patchy mobile signal in Hillswick from EE but nothing from other carriers, and virtually no signal elsewhere on the peninsula.

Go next

 * You have to return south through Brae to reach the rest of the Shetland Islands.

title: Hillswick


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Hilmar

Hilmar is a small town in the San Joaquin Valley of California. It boasts the world's largest single site cheese plant.

title: Hilmar


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Hilo

Hilo is a town on the Big Island of Hawaii. The county seat and largest city in Hawaii County, Hilo is the one of the best starting points to explore the eastern half of the island, including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Understand
Although the largest city on the Big Island, Hilo has a small population (44,186 in the 2020 Census) and a relaxed pace of life. It is on the rainier, less touristy east side of the island, and the city itself is not a huge draw for tourists, although there is an excellent farmers' and craftsmen's market on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to the attractions within city limits, there is good snorkeling nearby, extremely lush botanic gardens in the area and Volcanoes National Park is a splendid day trip.

Climate
Hilo has a warm, somewhat muggy tropical climate with over 100 inches of rain a year, making it the rainiest town in the United States outside of Alaska. January and February are the only months with fewer than 20 rainy days on average.

Get in
Most of the visitors bound for Hilo will arrive via one of the inter island airlines (Hawaiian), or as a day stop from one of the frequent cruise ship visits. Unless you're sailing your own craft, this is only way of getting in by sea, as inter-island boat services were suspended in 2009.

By car
From elsewhere on the Big Island: for visitors, this would mean taking the Mamalahoa Highway (HI-190), the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (via a right turn) and the Saddle Road (HI-200, but without signposted route numbers on the road) across the interior of the island from Kailua-Kona at the western end, where the other commercial airport is located. Allow at least 2 hours for that trip, which goes through some curvy, hilly terrain.

Alternatively, you can take the Hawaii Belt Road (HI-19) around much of the northern shore of the island, going inland through Waimea. You may find this an easier drive, and possibly a more pleasant one if you'd like to go through more villages and see fewer starkly beautiful views of Mauna Kea and other hilly inland scenery. To be on the safe side, you should allow at least 2.5 hours for the northern route, though you may want to stop in one or more towns along the way.

Direction signs are fairly good on the Big Island, though not always with much advance notice for the driver. Traffic drives slowly (usually 25-35 miles per hour), and it's ordinary for unobstructed traffic to go slower than posted speed limits.

If you don't have a car, hitching a ride is very easy on the Big Island.

Get around
Many of Hilo's points of interest are concentrated in quite a small area in the western end of Kamehameha Avenue. There you can get around by foot easily. However, some natural attractions, beaches and shops are a mile or more away from there.

The county's Hele-On Bus system ($2 fare) serve Hilo International Airport eight times per day (except on Sunday). However, virtually all visitors rent a vehicle from one of the many rental agencies upon arriving at Hilo International Airport. It's a good idea to make car reservations in advance, as special events or active conditions at the Volcanoes National Park can quickly deplete the supply of available vehicles. If you do plan on taking the buses, look up the schedules ahead of time and keep in mind that they will leave on time from the beginning of their routes (usually the Mo'oheau Bus Terminal in downtown Hilo) but will possibly be delayed for subsequent stops depending on traffic, weather and stops.

As an alternative, taxis are also available at the airport though renting a car is almost always more practical.

There are also a few bicycle shops on and around Kamehameha Avenue, if you would like to rent or buy a bicycle.

Do
Many of the activities that are available are strictly daytime, and focus on the ocean. Surf culture is big, and boards may be rented from, located in the Bayfront district. Stan, the owner, will be happy to fill you in on where to go as well as the current conditions.

Buy
Hilo has two main shopping areas, each about a mile away from most of the hotels on the Banyan Drive loop. Follow Kamehameha Avenue west from Banyan Drive, and you will arrive at Downtown Hilo, which is home to many quaint shops and restaurants. Follow Highway 11 (also Mamalahoa Highway or Kanoelehua Avenue) south from Banyan Drive, and you will arrive at the Prince Kuhio Plaza. There are larger retail stores in and around the Prince Kuhio Plaza area. KTA Superstores, Long's Drugs, and a Wal-Mart are all present on the island.

Downtown Hilo
Most Downtown Hilo stores are located along the "Bayfront", or Kamehameha Avenue, though the side streets are also packed with excellent finds and shops to explore. The Hilo Farmer's Market is also located downtown. You can easily spend a day walking around Downtown Hilo, browsing and shopping.

While Downtown Hilo itself is walkable, parking spaces can be hard to find midday. It is possible to walk from your Banyan Drive area hotel to Downtown, though it is approximately one mile.

Prince Kuhio Plaza Area
The Prince Kuhio Plaza is the main retail center in Hilo. It is surrounded by many larger retailers and shops. It is best to have a car, as Highway 11 from Banyan Drive to the Plaza is not the most pedestrian-friendly boulevard.

Eat
Hilo is known for its locally-made ice cream. It's some of the best on earth and can be found several places, including Hilo Homemade Ice Cream downtown at 41 Waianuenue Avenue.

The Hilo Farmer's Market, on the corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Mamo Street, has lots of cheap eats. If you love tropical fruit, this is the place to go. There's a great tamale stand in the west corner of the market serving very tasty $2 tamales. Market open daily 7AM to 5PM, with extended hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The small town of Pahoa offers The Pahoa Market, which is a flea market open on Sundays and has more prepared food. Take Highway 130 on the way to Pahoa.

Bars
Hilo is a small town, and as such, there is not a lot of public drinking to be done. Despite a very lackluster nightlife, almost every bar has a cover charge. Still, there are a few places to wet your whistle, and maybe catch a live act.

Stay safe
Hilo is generally quite safe. There are usually homeless people loitering around public parks and sometimes they can be a little eccentric, so keep your distance.

If an earthquake were to strike and a tsunami warning were issued, if you are at the beach, there would be tsunami evacuation signs to guide you to a safe distance.

Respect

 * Haole = White person: Though many think that "haole" just means white person, it refers more to an attitude than anything else. Hilo is a workaday town that sees few tourists. Locals aren't as accustomed to tourists as they are in the resort areas, so respecting the local people and culture is very important.  Treat the locals with respect, and the same respect will be returned to you. There are a few Native Hawaiians who have a generally negative attitude to Haoles, and may express this attitude through looks or comments. You are best to simply ignore comments to avoid provocation. You may also find that other Native Hawaiians are quite friendly and warm if you take the time to speak with them and be friendly, yourself.

Locals refrain from wearing aloha outfits, either full body attire or partial outfits. Clothes are very casual to resort casual at best.

Go next

 * Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - The entrance to the park is in Volcano Village, roughly 40 minutes' drive from downtown Hilo. Many people can spend several days exploring all that the park has to offer. There are a number of excellent hikes, showcasing most of the flavors of Hawaiian geological activity. Of course, the thing that most people come to see is the active flow zone of Kilauea. Entrance fees are consistent with other U.S. National Parks.
 * Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - The entrance to the park is in Volcano Village, roughly 40 minutes' drive from downtown Hilo. Many people can spend several days exploring all that the park has to offer. There are a number of excellent hikes, showcasing most of the flavors of Hawaiian geological activity. Of course, the thing that most people come to see is the active flow zone of Kilauea. Entrance fees are consistent with other U.S. National Parks.
 * Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - The entrance to the park is in Volcano Village, roughly 40 minutes' drive from downtown Hilo. Many people can spend several days exploring all that the park has to offer. There are a number of excellent hikes, showcasing most of the flavors of Hawaiian geological activity. Of course, the thing that most people come to see is the active flow zone of Kilauea. Entrance fees are consistent with other U.S. National Parks.
 * Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - The entrance to the park is in Volcano Village, roughly 40 minutes' drive from downtown Hilo. Many people can spend several days exploring all that the park has to offer. There are a number of excellent hikes, showcasing most of the flavors of Hawaiian geological activity. Of course, the thing that most people come to see is the active flow zone of Kilauea. Entrance fees are consistent with other U.S. National Parks.
 * Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - The entrance to the park is in Volcano Village, roughly 40 minutes' drive from downtown Hilo. Many people can spend several days exploring all that the park has to offer. There are a number of excellent hikes, showcasing most of the flavors of Hawaiian geological activity. Of course, the thing that most people come to see is the active flow zone of Kilauea. Entrance fees are consistent with other U.S. National Parks.

title: Hilo


text:
Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island is a city and barrier island in South Carolina, just across the border from Savannah, Georgia. With an approximate population of 40,000, it is on a beautiful, sub-tropical 12-mile (19-km) barrier island. Hilton Head Island is a vacation playland with famous beaches and great golf courses that overlook the Atlantic Ocean.

Understand
Hilton Head Island was originally occupied by Native Americans, with Europeans first making contact in 1521. In 1663, Captain William Hilton came to the island and named it for himself, "Hilton's Head". The island was later settled, and activity on the island primarily consisted of farming, with the island serving as a base of operations for the Union blockade of the Confederacy. After the war, ex-slaves flocked to the island to work on plantations, with this legacy most prominent in the naming of communities on the island, which are known as plantations (though this naming convention is controversial given the ties the word "plantation" has with slavery). The first resort development occurred in 1956 with the development of Sea Pines Resort, with additional development coming over the following decades. Hilton Head Island remains a popular resort destination, and now boasts several resorts and other tourist accommodation.

By car
US Route 278 is the only road on and off the island. An interchange with Interstate 95 is along US 278 about 40 minutes west of the island. Between the island and I-95, US 278 intersects with South Carolina Route 170, which provides access to and from Beaufort and Savannah. Traffic onto the island can be particularly heavy on the weekend, when many arrive to and leave the island, so consider arriving and leaving on weekdays if you'd like to avoid the heaviest of traffic.

By plane
Hilton Head Island is served by two airports.
 * Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is about an hour away from the island and served by seven airlines. The airport is directly connected to Interstate 95.
 * Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is about an hour away from the island and served by seven airlines. The airport is directly connected to Interstate 95.

Air taxi and air charter companies such as Jetset Charter fly a variety of private charter aircraft, such as pistons and turbo props, for small groups and individuals into Hilton Head Island Airport (KHXD). Generally, private jet aircraft must fly into Savannah/Hilton Head Int'l (KSAV).

By train
The nearest Amtrak stations are in Savannah and Yemassee.

By car
Once entering the island, US 278 becomes known as the William Hilton Parkway. After traveling about a mile on the island, the road splits in two.

William Hilton Parkway continues as US 278 Business, a surface road around the eastern end of the island. US 278 Business is a four-lane divided highway, but most businesses on the island are along the road, making for a slow, 25- to 30-minute drive to the southern end of the island. US 278 branches off onto the Cross Island Parkway, a grade-separated expressway. While the Cross Island Parkway was previously a toll road, the toll has been removed and you can now drive the entire length of the Parkway for free. The parkway reduces the journey from the split to the south end of the island to five minutes.

US 278 and US 278 Business terminate at the Sea Pines Circle at the south end of the island. From this circle, cars can continue south on Greenwood Drive to enter the gated Sea Pines plantation, or east on Pope Avenue to head towards Coligny Beach, the major public beach on the island.

By bicycle
Hilton Head is quite cycling-friendly. All main roads and most major roads in the resort plantations have a companion bicycle path, and there are a few miles of paths that cut their own trail away from the roads. Although not lit for night riding, they are the perfect way to traverse the island during the day time hours. Bicycle rental stores are plentiful, although they may be expensive. Some golf courses may open up their cart paths to bicycles during non-playing hours (in the morning and at night), but other than this it is generally not a good idea to stray off the paths.

By bus
The Breeze Trolley is a public transportation service open seasonally around summertime. It operates two routes in the central part of the island, and it is free for all passengers. The trolleys arrive every 30 minutes.

See

 * Harbour Town. Visit to see how the upper class lives. Admire the multi-million dollar yachts in many different marinas and sailing in the Atlantic Ocean.
 * Jenkins Island. Right between the bridges from Bluffton to Hilton Head Island.
 * Shelter Cove. The Island's largest deepwater marina. During the summer enjoy live music and weekly fireworks.

Do

 * Beaches - Nearly 9 miles of Atlantic Ocean surf and beautiful beaches, all publicly accessible. There are several public parks that provide beach access.  From there, you can walk or bike the length of the island.  Recommended spots are South Beach, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort area.
 * Golf courses - There are almost too many to count. Among the best:
 * Harbour Town Golf Links - While it has one of the most expensive greens fees in the Hilton Head area, here you can play the same course as the pros, as Harbour Town hosts the Verizon Heritage golf tournament every April. Among the best public golf courses is Hilton Head National in Bluffton one mile from the bridge to Hilton Head.  Greens fees and rates are very affordable for all.
 * Bottle-nosed dolphins - Take a boat tour. Seeing dolphins is virtually guaranteed; getting a good picture of one is another matter.
 * Kayaking
 * Bottle-nosed dolphins - Take a boat tour. Seeing dolphins is virtually guaranteed; getting a good picture of one is another matter.
 * Kayaking
 * Bottle-nosed dolphins - Take a boat tour. Seeing dolphins is virtually guaranteed; getting a good picture of one is another matter.
 * Kayaking
 * Kayaking

Eat
Ask some service employees for their recommendations for great Hilton Head restaurants. Well-known or busy does not necessarily mean good food. Coupons and menus are available in local tourism magazines.

To get started:
 * Woody's, Palmetto Bay Marina, south end of the Cross Island. Tasty and generally fairly priced with a nice atmosphere.
 * The Quarterdeck and Topside at the Quarterdeck, 160 Lighthouse Rd. +1 843-842-1999. Great views of Harbour Town, fantastic sunsets and outstanding food and service.
 * Tapas Restaurant, 11 Northridge Plaza, +1 843-681-8590. Cozy locals place. Incredible food.
 * Alexanders, take the entrance to Palmetto Dunes and it's further down on the right. Popular seafood restaurant, but also does a great fillet mignon.
 * Stacks, past the entrance to Palmetto Dunes on William Hilton Parkway in the direction of Sea Pines. Excellent for breakfast, diner-style, fast, friendly service. Be prepared to queue if you're not an early riser.
 * Woody's, Palmetto Bay Marina, south end of the Cross Island. Tasty and generally fairly priced with a nice atmosphere.
 * The Quarterdeck and Topside at the Quarterdeck, 160 Lighthouse Rd. +1 843-842-1999. Great views of Harbour Town, fantastic sunsets and outstanding food and service.
 * Tapas Restaurant, 11 Northridge Plaza, +1 843-681-8590. Cozy locals place. Incredible food.
 * Alexanders, take the entrance to Palmetto Dunes and it's further down on the right. Popular seafood restaurant, but also does a great fillet mignon.
 * Stacks, past the entrance to Palmetto Dunes on William Hilton Parkway in the direction of Sea Pines. Excellent for breakfast, diner-style, fast, friendly service. Be prepared to queue if you're not an early riser.
 * Alexanders, take the entrance to Palmetto Dunes and it's further down on the right. Popular seafood restaurant, but also does a great fillet mignon.
 * Stacks, past the entrance to Palmetto Dunes on William Hilton Parkway in the direction of Sea Pines. Excellent for breakfast, diner-style, fast, friendly service. Be prepared to queue if you're not an early riser.

Sleep
Being such a popular vacation destination, Hilton Head has many lodging choices. There are several hotels on the island, however a great and widespread accommodation alternative is the vacation rental. Vacation rentals are available in many types, from large condo buildings to quaint homes, new and old.

Go next

 * Savannah
 * Tybee Island

title: Hilton Head Island


text:
Hilversum

Hilversum is a medium-sized city in the Gooi area of North Holland in the Netherlands. Once called the Garden of Amsterdam, most travellers still come over to cycle and hike through the surrounding forests and heathland. The city is also known for its modern architecture, with Dudok's Hilversum Town Hall being the most significant design. Hilversum is known as "media city", being the home of the radio and television broadcasting industry of the Netherlands.

Understand
Unlike most of the Netherlands, Hilversum is in a hilly area on sand soil. The town is between the major cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht, and most travellers visit it as a relaxing day off from the urban mayhem. The forests, lakes and heathland surrounding the town can best be explored by bicycle or on foot. Most of these lands are property of the Goois Natuurreservaat Foundation (GNR), a non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting the nature reserves. Another goal is to connect nature reserves that have been separated by motorways and other human-made structures. For this end, the wildlife crossing Zanderij Crailo was completed in 2006, and it is the largest wildlife crossing in the world. It connects the Spanderswoud and the Bussumerheide, and is part of a larger programme to connect nature reserves from the Utrechtse Heuvelrug to Naarden.

The city is also green and breezy with trees pretty much everywhere. A total of 660 different types of trees to be exact, the largest variety of species in the Netherlands. Typical for the city is the way forests and city building naturally blend into each other. Hilversum is called a villadorp (villa village) because of its many villas with large surrounding gardens. The botanical garden Pinetum Blijdenstein is the most remarkable one with an enormous collection of rare and endangered trees and plants, some of which are exotic. It is home to one of the most complete collections of conifers in the world. Hilversum is nationally known as the media city, and goes by its nickname Hillywood. It is home to the country's broadcasting industry and has the two largest television studios in Europe within its borders. Every year, the Dutch points given in the Eurovision Song Contest are announced from Hilversum. Many Dutch celebrities live in the area, and their daily lives are often a topic of national interest.

History
Hilversum is one of the firstly inhabited areas of the Netherlands, as shown by earthenware from the early to mid-Bronze Age (1800-1200 BCE). This prehistoric civilisation is called Hilversum culture and is characterised by the use of barrow cemeteries. The urns show similarities with the Wessex culture of Southern Britain, where the population might have migrated from. This people lived in the area from Hilversum to northern Belgium and spoke an Indo-European language of unknown origin, not related to the Germanic language spoken today. In the early Middle Ages, Hilversum was an agricultural area. Around 900, the first bricks were laid, but no official mention of Hilversum was made until 1305. Then called Hilfersheem, ethymologists explain the name of Hilversum to derive from Hilvertshem, which means 'houses between the hills'. First the town was a part of Naarden, which is also worth a visit for its medieval remains, but it received an official independent status in 1424. Daily life was characterised by farming, raising sheep and wool manufacturing.

Economic growth came in the 17th century when Holland became one of the richest trading nations in Europe. Canals were built to indirectly link Hilversum with Amsterdam, though fires in 1725 and 1766 destroyed most of the town. A railway link to Amsterdam in 1874 aided a substantial textile and tapestry industry. Rich traders from Amsterdam built themselves large villas in the wooded surroundings of Hilversum, that still characterise the town. Many of these wealthy families were Catholics, giving Hilversum a relatively Catholic demographic (compared to the Protestant surroundings). As Hilversum never got city rights, locals still refer to the town centre as het dorp ("the village"). In the early 1900s, modern architects W.M. Dudok and J. Duiker from the New Objectivity School placed many remarkable buildings here (and even entire neighbourhoods). Dudok's masterpiece, the Hilversum Town Hall from 1931, features in many architecture textbooks. The transition to a media economy started in 1920, when the Nederlandse Seintoestellen Fabriek (NSF) established a radio factory. Many radio broadcasting organisations settled in the large villas in the leafy areas of the town. The textile industry had by then declined and the last factory closed in the 1960s. Television gave a renewed boost to the local economy and the number of inhabitants grew to 103,000 in 1964. Hilversum became the media capital of the Netherlands, and Dutch television celebrities moved in the leafy neighbourhoods surrounding the town centre. Hilvertshof was opened in 1973 as the first shopping centre of the Netherlands.

In the next decades, there was a decline in the number of inhabitants to an all-time low of 80,000 in 1999. The renovation of the Town Hall, which took place during 1989-1996, almost plunged the municipality of Hilversum into bankruptcy. It took five years to restore the building to its original state, and it was much more costly than originally anticipated. There is a permanent exposition about this renovation in the Dudok Dependance at the Hilversum Town Hall. The decline was further caused by suburbanisation, the economic downturn, smaller households, and the inability to expand as the town is surrounded by protected nature areas. As of the 2000s, there has been a renewed interest in Hilversum. With financial issues a matter of history, many new infrastructure projects and parks have been built. Its main train station has expanded from 3 to 5 tracks and regained Intercity status. Urbanisation has made Hilversum an attractive target for yuppies, who appreciate the town's new hip bars and boutiques, and its image as a green and affluent media town. Nowadays, Hilversum scores highly on national "best town to live in" polls.

By train
Because of the central location of its train station, Hilversum can best be reached by the NS railway service. Trains run roughly every 15 minutes between 05:00 and 01:00 to and from Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Utrecht, Amersfoort and Almere. The smaller train stations Hilversum Media Park and Hilversum Sportpark are within walking distance of the main train station.

Every day, six international trains to and from Berlin and Hanover stop in Hilversum. You can reserve seats at NS International. This is not required, but can be advised as prices are lower and rush hours can be crowded.

By car
Hilversum can be reached by motorways A1, A2 and A27. From the northwest and east (Amsterdam and Amersfoort), take A1 exit 9 at Laren, drive south on N525 and follow the signs. From the west (Schiphol Airport and Leiden), get on motorway A2 and take exit 4 at Vinkeveen. From there, drive east on N201. From the north and south (Almere and Utrecht), take motorway A27 and exit 33.

The provincial roads can be used to get to Hilversum as well. By driving on these smaller roads, you see more of the forests and rural areas around the town. N524 is a ride through the Spanderswoud from Bussum in the north. Two other forest rides are N525 from Laren in the northeast and N415 from Baarn in the east. From the south, the rural road N417 makes its way through farm fields and villages. N201 from Vinkeveen in the west goes through flat farmlands as well.

By plane

The closest international airport is Schiphol Airport. From 06:00 till 00:00, a train leaves for Hilversum every 15 minutes from platform 3. The journey takes about 30 minutes with the direct Intercity train. The Sprinter train takes about 45 minutes and a transfer at the Weesp train station is required. You can also come to Hilversum from airports in Eindhoven and Rotterdam, but expect train journeys to be 1.5 to 2 hours.

On foot
As nearly all stores, restaurants and bars are in the centre, walking is a good way to get around Hilversum. From the main train station, it's a short walk through the Leeuwenstraat to the centre and most of the attractions. The streets in the centre are pretty much free of cars and bicycles, except for the Groest on which bicycles and a limited number of cars are allowed.

By bike
If you want to see more of the city than just the inner city core, cycling is the way to go. Hilversum is very safe to explore by bike, as all arterial roads have designated bike lanes, which can be recognised by their reddish-purple appearance. Bikers should follow the red and white signs for directions. Bicycles can be rented for €3.15 per day at all three train stations.

By bus
Connexxion offers bus connections from Hilversum's main train station to the surroundings. You can plan your trip door-to-door using 9292.nl, though results vary. Especially in the evening, buses run infrequently and, for close destinations, walking is often faster than waiting for the bus to arrive. Bus transportation can best be used if you want to visit sights in the outskirts or in the surrounding villages. Fares are €3 for city trips, €5 for regional trips. Having an OV-chipkaart saves money.

By car

The road network of Hilversum used to be a nightmare, and still is difficult to navigate through with its one-way roads, traffic congestion and limited parking space. Roads and directions often change, which make old maps unreliable. The roads operate in a double ring system. The outer ring around the city has two-way traffic, while the inner ring around the centre only has one-way traffic. If you miss an exit, you will have to drive around the whole inner ring again for a second try.

Free parking options are available between the inner and the outer ring, but it's a 10- to 15-minute walk to the centre. The closest free parking area can be found at the Wandelpad between the main train station and train station Hilversum Sportpark. Be careful not to leave any valuables behind in this area. Parking at the parking lots is more convenient. Signs along the inner ring display which of the following parking lots have space available:

There is one car rental agency in Hilversum:

By taxi
Like elsewhere in the country, taxis in Hilversum carry a hefty price tag. The first 2 km will be around €7.50 with each additional kilometre €2.20. A 10-minute ride from the centre to the outskirts is around €14. Longer distances are more dramatic, a 35-minute ride to or from Schiphol Airport costs around €85. Taxis are generally available at the main train station and at night around the Groest. If you are elsewhere in the town, you will need to call the taxi company to pick you up. There are two taxi companies operating in Hilversum, which generally only accept cash:

See
There are many modern architectural masterpieces in Hilversum, but finding these buildings scattered across the town can be a frustrating experience. The modern architect W.M. Dudok shaped most of 20th-century Hilversum and approximately 75 buildings still bear his stamp. Dudok's distinctive mix of styles is heavily influenced by the New Objectivity style, a radical movement in urban architecture in the Netherlands, Germany and France in the period 1915-1960. The best way to explore Dudok's designs is by walking or biking the W.M. Dudok Architectural Route, as explained in the Do-section. Start your journey in the world of modern architecture with his masterpiece, the Hilversum Town Hall.

Churches

Outdoors
Once called the Garden of Amsterdam, most tourists come to Hilversum for a relaxing day off from the hectic city. The best way to spend your time is by hiking or biking in the forests and heathlands surrounding the city.

Forests and heathlands

 * Anna's Hoeve is a hilly area between Hilversum and Baarn offering forests, ponds, heathland and grassy areas. It is being rebuilt, but is still accessible for the public. The lakes and hills are created by large masses of unemployed people in the Great Depression, as the municipality of Hilversum tried to combat the high levels of unemployment at that time. If you're up for it, go on to Baarn or the Soestdijk Palace.
 * Bussumerheide, Westerheide and Zuiderheide are heathlands in the north of Hilversum. The remains of a prehistoric civilization called Hilversum Culture come from this area. Clearly visible in the landscape are the 3000- to 4000-year-old burial mounds. The Aardjesberg, formed in the penultimate ice age, can be recognised by a group of trees. In the last ice age, the Netherlands probably was an arctic tundra. Remains of a levallois arrow have been found here, which were probably used by Neanderthals for mammoth hunting. Consider continuing your way to Laren.
 * Corversbos, the closest forest on the west side of town. It's a bit bland and plenty of high school pupils use it as a shortcut to school. It was created after World War II with conifer trees and robinia flowers, which were widely available back then. Interesting is a beekeeper place from the 19th century, where you can see 40 to 60 beehives and the beekeepers' tools. You might come across buzzards, green woodpeckers, goshawks and tawny owls. Easy to combine with Gooilust or the Pinetum Blijdensteijn.
 * Hilversums Wasmeer is a forested lake with interesting fauna. During warm days, insects from the odanata order can be seen, like dragon flies and damselflies. There are plenty of birds, like hobbies (falcons), as well as coots, tufted ducks, pochards, shelducks, and, if lucky, eared grebes and little grebes. From the south east side, you can have a great view on the lake.

 * Hoorneboegse Heide is a heath that makes up for most of the south. Its slightly sloping landscape was formed in the penultimate ice age 150,000 years ago. The estate (and conference centre) Hoorneboeg is located on a hill and gives great vistas over the heath. Sundays is a great day to head through the Maartensdijkse Bos to Lage Vuursche for traditional Dutch pancakes. Further options are the artificial lakes and dykes in Loosdrecht and Loenen.
 * Laarder Wasmeer (Laarder Waschmeer) is a protected area and can only be partly accessed (in a guided tour, see the Do section). It has a combination of lakes, groups of trees and limited sand storms. There are plans to open larger parts of the area to the public in the future.
 * Spanderswoud is an interesting forest on the north side of town. Authorities have not interfered in natural processes of the forest since the 1980s, which make it more authentic. Several summer residences are at the west side of it, while Trompenberg, one of the wealthiest and leafy neighbourhoods of the country, is at the south side. You can continue to the Bussumerheide, Westerheide and Zuiderheide by taking the Wildlife Crossing Zanderij Crailo, the largest wildlife crossing in the world.

If you want to explore these areas, first head over to the tourist office for some quality maps. It can be found at the Kerkbrink, which also happens to be the beginning point for most hiking and biking routes.

Hiking
If you want to go hiking, buy a map of a particular hike you are interested in for around €1.50 at the tourist office. You can always ask the staff for help, or let them choose a particular hike for you. There are plenty of hiking trails available through Hilversum or its surroundings:

 * W.M. Dudok Architectural Route — 10 km; 3 hours. The best way to explore Dudok's highlights is by taking this route. It is just a couple of hours and shows some important buildings of the famous architect. Instead of re-doing everything here, be sure to take a look at the brochure, print it and bring it with you during the route. White signs showing 'Dudok' show the way, but keep in mind that the route of the signs is slightly different from the route of the brochure. The route starts at Hilversum Town Hall. If open, visit the Dudok Dependence for an overview of Dudok's life and work. Then start the route, which shows the following buildings in this order: Multatuli School, Snellius School, Rembrandt School, Fabritius School, Bosdrift, Geranium School and Bathhouse. Other buildings are listed as optional in the brochure. They are just as interesting, but are located slightly further away. They are best visited separately by bike: Northern Cemetery, Laapersveld Pumping Station, Wildschut Sports Pavilion, Grandstand and Zuiderhof Cemetery.
 * Corversbos Route — 5 km; 1 hour. Probably the easiest route, and even accessible for wheel chairs. Signs show the way, you will see a 19th-century place with beehives.
 * Goois Natuurreservaat Hiking Trail — 25 km; 6 hours. This trail is basically a large circle around the entire town. It was designed in 1938 as going through forests and heath only, but as Hilversum expanded, it also goes through a limited amount of urban areas. More information in the guidebook Voetstappenpad, available for €1.60 at the tourist office.
 * Laarder Wasmeer Guided Tour — 5 km; 2 hours. Probably the only way to access the protected area of Laarder Wasmeer. It's organised every first Sunday of the month at 10:00. It starts at the Meerweg and will take you to lakes, limited sandstorms and an old bird hut for birdwatching.
 * Peerlkamp Route — 7 km; 2 hours. This trail is steeper and thus slightly more challenging. It's a hilly route through Hilversum itself and combines parks, gardens and the Corversbos. If you want, you can walk back to the centre through the Old Harbour Park.

Biking
For cycling, the easiest map is the Toeristische Fietsroutekaart Gooi en Vechtstreek eo (Touristic Biking Route Map Gooi and Vecht Region and Surroundings) for €4. It covers 4 cycling routes through Hilversum and the Gooi area. Unfortunately, the map misses out on the popular towns Baarn and Lage Vuursche, as they are not a part of North-Holland. Another map is the Utrechtse Heuvelrug en Vechtse Plassen (Utrecht Hill Ridge and Vecht en Plassen) map for €8, which features a wider area, but does not include any pre-made routes, so you have to make your own route (most locals do this, it can easily be done with a little research). Of course you can get both maps if you want to be well-prepared. Both are in Dutch and in English, and the routes are clearly marked. Just as with hiking, you can also ask the staff for advice, as they have dozens of different maps for sale. Most biking routes do not just feature Hilversum, but also include many other villages in the Gooi en Vechtstreek:

 * Lage Vuursche Royal Cycle Route. Royal palaces and pancakes in the woods. Distance: 20 km. Also suitable for children.
 * Gooi Richness Route (Gooise Rijkdomroute) — 33 km; 3 hours. Start cycling at the Kerkbrink in the centre of Hilversum. You will cycle through heathland to Blaricum and Laren, two of the wealthiest villages of the Netherlands with plenty of villas, wealthy society, expensive cars, expensive brands and the like. Then cycle over the wildlife crossing Zanderij Crailo to Spanderswoud, and go on to 's-Graveland with plenty of expensive summer residences from the Dutch Golden Age (such as Gooilust with an impressive garden). Then go back to Hilversum via the Corversbos forest. The route is featured in the Toeristische Fietsroutekaart Gooi en Vechtstreek eo.
 * Lakes Route (Plassenroute) — 41 km; 4 hours. This route shows artificial lakes, most of them created through the extraction of peat for fuel. From Hilversum, cycle through the Corversbos and Kortenhoef on to Vreeland, passing the Loosdrecht Lakes (Loosdrechtse plassen). Cycle north along the Vecht to Nigtevecht and on to the historic centre of Weesp. The route further extends south through the Ankeveen Lakes (Ankeveense plassen), and from there head back to Hilversum. The route is featured in the Toeristische Fietsroutekaart Gooi en Vechtstreek eo, though this one is slightly modified.
 * Royal Route (Koninklijke route) — 25 km; 3 hours. The 'royal' route goes through forestland and shows the Soestdijk Palace, the former residence of Queen Juliana. The route also passes Queen Beatrix' castle Drakensteyn, but unfortunately it cannot be seen as it is not open to the public. Start in Hilversum and cycle east, passing the Laarder Wasmeer and Anna's Hoeve, to the wealthy town Baarn. Then cycle south to the Soestdijk Palace, and from there, west to Lage Vuursche through the castle Drakensteyn area. Eat a pancake in one of the quality restaurants, and go west, pass the A27 motorway and make your way back to Hilversum through the Hoorneboegse Heide. This is a custom route not featured in any guide, but you can plan it yourself with the Utrechtse Heuvelrug en Vechtse Plassen map.
 * Villages Route (Dorpenroute) — 30 km; 3 hours. This route shows forests, heathland and the traditional villages Laren and Lage Vuursche. It starts in Hilversum and goes through Corversbos, Spanderswoud, wildlife crossing Zanderij Crailoo and the Westerheide to Laren. Laren is one of the wealthiest villages of the Netherlands, with large villas and high society passing by. From there, cycle on through Zuiderheide to Lage Vuursche, which is a popular village among cyclists for its quality pancake restaurants. Then head your way to Hilversum through the Hoorneboegse Heide, passing over the A27 motorway. This is a custom route not featured in any guide, but you can plan it yourself with the Utrechtse Heuvelrug en Vechtse Plassen map.

When cycling in the outlying forests and heathlands, follow the mushroom-shaped signs for directions. In 1919, the first mushroom-shaped sign was placed in the forest between Hilversum and Baarn, but now they are placed in nature areas all over the country. Also bring some food and drinks with you, especially when it's warm, as there are no restaurants or coffee houses in protected nature areas.

Buy

Shopping in Hilversum has a heavy emphasis on clothing and accessories. Due to the upscale demographic, most clothing stores are relatively pricey with luxurious brands. Most stores have similar hours (M 13:00-18:00, Tu W F 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-21:00, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 12:00-17:00), but some are closed on Mondays.

The easiest entry point is Hilvertshof. It was opened in 1973 as the first shopping centre of the Netherlands. It is now a modern shopping centre with world-wide fashion stores such as H&M, Mango, Primark and Zara. Adjacent to Hilvertshof is the Kerkstraat with shops similar to those found elsewhere in the country. You can stroll to the Gooische Brink and the 's-Gravelandseweg for upscale boutiques, or to the Leeuwenstraat for vintage clothing and used products stores.

Dine and drinks
Because of its affluent population and status of "media city", Hilversum is known for its "see and be seen" bar/restaurants. These establishments have a luxurious indoor appearance and it's possible to both eat and drink. Outdoor seating is available for warm summer nights. Of course, prices are higher than the other establishments in town.

Drink
Most bars and nightclubs in Hilversum are centred around the Groest. There is something for everyone's taste, from youth bars to bars for older ages, and from dive bars to upscale cosmopolitan places. On weekdays and Sundays, bars are open till 01:00, while some nightclubs will be opened till 03:00. On Fridays and Saturdays, bars open till 03:00 and nightclubs till 05:00.

Always bring your passport or official identity papers, as many bars and nightclubs require you to show it upon entry. Also keep in mind that smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas, and that bar employees won't serve drinks in these areas. Be aware on the streets when the bars close as people are drunk and some might be looking for trouble. Walking around with an alcoholic beverage on the Groest can get you a fine of €60.

Nightclubs
The best club in town is the Rex, mentioned in the Eat section as it is also a bar and restaurant.

Stay safe
There is not much to worry about in Hilversum. The town sometimes makes headlines with cases of vandalism. Be more cautious when bars and nightclubs close, particularly on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Large amounts of intoxicated people gather on the streets, which can lead to fights.

Stay healthy
Staying healthy is probably the least you have to worry about. Tap water in the Netherlands is among the cleanest and safest in the world, and tap water in Hilversum tastes even better than elsewhere in the country. Research from consumer authorities have shown that customers get tricked when ordering mineral water in bars or restaurants. One in three of them actually serve tap water instead of mineral water!

If you are hiking or biking in the forests surrounding the city, be careful of ticks and tick-carrying diseases. It is advisable to wear long sleeves and long trousers. If you want to be completely safe, tuck your trousers inside your socks. If you discover a red ring on your body in the weeks after, be sure to visit a doctor to check for Lyme disease, which can be lethal without proper medical care.

Connect
The country calling code for the Netherlands is 31, the area code for Hilversum is 035. If you want to surf the net, the Groest and Hilvertshof have open Wi-Fi access points that can be used by anyone. Doppio Espresso and Mout have free Wi-Fi available for customers.

Go next
Listed by distance, the surrounding area has plenty of interesting towns and villages.

 * Baarn is about 15 minutes east on N415 or by train. A forested area with some castles open to the public, such as Kasteel Groeneveld.
 * Laren is about 15 minutes north on N525 or bus 108. You can visit the Singer Museum or have a bite at the Brink.
 * 's-Graveland is about 15 minutes west on N201 or bus 105.
 * Amersfoort is about 20 minutes east on A1 or by train.
 * Soest is about 20 minutes east on N415 or by train.
 * Naarden is about 20 minutes north on N524 or train. Its 17th-century fortifications are among the best preserved in Europe.
 * Weesp is about 25 minutes northwest on N236 or by train.
 * Muiden is about 30 minutes north on A1 or by train and bus. It has a magnificent 13th-century castle and other medieval structures.

title: Hilversum


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Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh (Punjabi: ਹਿਮਾਚਲ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼) is a state in north India, and offers much for those looking to experience the Himalayas. While it does not claim the highest peaks in the range, there is plenty to do aside from mountaineering. Its name literally means "Abode of Snow".

Cities
Here are nine of the most notable cities:
 * — the summer capital of Himachal and once the summer capital of the British Raj

 * — the winter capital of Himachal, it is also the home of the Dalai Lama and India's largest Tibetan community and a major Buddhist centre

 * — first city in Himachal Pradesh on way to Manali

 * — a sleepy little town which retains its Victorian charm

 * — popularly known as the City of Powerhouses, the town has resorts and tourist attractions

 * — a few km south of Manali

 * — a buzzing and popular hill station, and a hub for travel around this part of the Himalayas

 * — major town with Revalsar Lake

 * — famous for tea gardens, Neugal Cafe and Sourav Van Vihar

Other destinations

 * — the ancient capital of Chamba district, and is known for its scenic beauty and ancient temples

 * — a beautiful high altitude lake in Spiti

 * — home to many species of wildlife

 * (Rohtang Pass) — on the way from Keylong to Kaza, it remains closed for nine months due to heavy snowfall

 * - Sometimes in the 8th or 9th century - but most likely in the second half of the 8th century - one of the characteristic sandstone ridges in Kangri valley was reshaped in a miraculous way.

 * — known for Hatu Peak on the famous Hindustan Tibet Road

 * — a lush green valley offering numerous treks of different grades

 * — located in the Spiti Valley (Lahaul and Spiti), several endangered animals including the Siberian Ibex and Snow Leopard can be found in this snow-covered area

 * — a lake sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus

 * — a small Tibetan settlement with a lay community of about 400 people and a Drukpa Kagyu monastery (established by the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche) with about 140 monks.

Talk
Hindi, Pahari, Punjabi and English are the main languages found in the state. Pahari is a dialect more closely related to the Dogri language in lower Himachal. In upper Himachal languages of Tibetan origin are used in daily conversation. Every district has its own dialect, e.g. Bilaspuri Mandyali.

By plane
Shimla, Kullu (for Manali) and Kangra or Pathankot (for Dharamsala) have small airports, with services largely limited to Delhi. Flights are frequently cancelled or delayed by adverse weather. In addition, the airport in Pathankot (Punjab) can be a convenient connection for Dharamsal] and Dalhousie. If you are on a tight budget you might want to skip this option as it is way more costly than other modes of transportation. Airfare on this route is one of the highest in the world for a given unit distance. The airport for Shimla is at Jubbal Hatti, which is around 40 km away from the main Shimla City.

By train
While there are few railways within Himachal Pradesh, it is an effective way to get to within a short distance of the state. Chandigarh is well-serviced and has bus connections to Manali and Shimla, and Pathankot is a good choice if heading to Dharamsala. Due to transfer time, it would likely be slower to reach these destinations by a combination of train and bus, but it would be more comfortable.

By bus
Bus is the cheapest and only practical means of getting to many points in Himachal. All cities of interest have direct services from Delhi. There are three different entry routes to Himachal if you are coming from Delhi. All three routes are interconnected within Himachal. There are Volvo buses operated by Himachal State Transport Corporation on these routes.
 * Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla-Kaza route.
 * Delhi-Chandigarh-Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Keylong-Leh
 * Delhi-Chandigarh-Kangra-Dharamsala or Delhi-Chandigarh-Kangra-Chamba

Get around
You need an inner line permit to visit some parts of Eastern Himachal Pradesh.

By bus
Travel by bus can be done throughout for very little (15-hour bus rides are rarely more than a few hundred rupees). Public buses, though uncomfortable, are a great way to meet people. Though be careful, as riding an Indian bus is already a hair-raising experience, and riding an Indian bus on steep mountain roads is even more intimidating!

By train
Given the difficult geographical position of the state, there is very little penetration of railways. Railways give access to peripheral districts and the capital, Shimla. Nevertheless, it is an amazing experience going from Kalka to Shimla. The Kalka-Shimla railway track is a UNESCO world heritage site. Few points in Himachal are easily accessible by train, but there are narrow-gauge railways from Pathankot (Punjab) to Kangra and Kalka (Haryana) to Shimla. This will take you through beautiful rural Himalayan regions. The ride beyond Kangra is amazing. You ride along the Dhauladhar Range of the Himalayas via Palampur and Baijnath to Joginder Nagar. The region is crisscrossed by rivers and streams.

By motorcycle
Enfield motorcycles can be rented here for less than 5 dollars a day, with no verification of a motorcycle license. Note that the area may not be the best place to learn how to ride.

See

 * Dalhousie is a world-famous hill station, located in the western part of Himachal Pradesh. Dalhousie is basically built on five different hills called Balun, Tehra, Kathlog, Patreyn and Bakrota, and covers an area of 14 sq. km.  Dalhousie is named after one of the British Governor Generals, Lord Dalhousie.  Dalhousie has many beautiful churches and charming colonial architecture.
 * Kullu Valley is very well known as Valley of Gods. It is situated on the Beas River bank in the lower reaches of the Himalayas. Rudyard Kipling wrote: "Surely the Gods live here; this is no place for men". Kullu is very well known for its ancient temples, festivals and apple orchards. This place is also famous for its handicraft work and woollen work of puhla, shawls, patoos, caps and namdas. The best time to visit Kullu is during Dusshera in the month of October.
 * The Lahaul Valley is green compared to the Spiti Valley. It is covered with snow for most of the year. Roads are closed from late October to early May. Its main attractions are Patten Valley and Sri Trilokinath Temple, as well as lots of monasteries.
 * Spiti Valley is also known as the Little Tibet due to its vegetation, terrain and climate which are similar to Tibet. Spiti also means Middle Country.

Do

 * Kangra Valley Railway – Take a scenic and slow narrow-gauge train trip between Jogindernagar, Palampur, Kangra and Pathankot

Trekking opportunities are plentiful, here are a few:
 * Baralacha-Chandratal Trek – It starts from Manali, ends at Chandratal Lake ("Moon" Lake)
 * Bhabha Pass Trek – It is known for lush green flower-strewn meadows, and picturesque and dense forests. The path for the Bhaba Pass trek passes through a mixed forest of conifers as well as crop fields of Mastrang.
 * Bir Bhangal Trek – Bir Bhangal Trek is only for experienced trekkers who have the experience of solid hiking and camping. This is one of the most challenging trekking trails which starts from the Kullu valley.
 * Darcha Lamayuru Trek – This is one of the most popular treks in Himachal Pradesh, and one of the most traversing treks, passing through the Zanskar
 * Darcha Padum Trek – From Darcha village located in Lahaul and Spiti district on the Bhaga River to Padum in Zanskar Region, Ladakh via Shingo La (pass)
 * Deo Tibba Expedition – Trek to beautiful Mt. Deo Tibba peak in the Manali valley
 * Friendship Peak Expedition – Trek to one of the majestic mountains; Friendship Peak, in the beautiful valley of Kullu
 * Hampta Pass – One of the most famous trekking trails from the Manali region in the Kullu Valley ending in Lahaul and the Chandra Valley
 * Indrahar Pass – A mountain pass in the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas that forms the border between Kangra and Chamba districts.
 * Lamkhaga pass trek – A crossover from Chitkul, Kinnaur to Harsil, Uttarakhand.

Trekking routes in Himachal
 * Bharmaur Kugti Udaipur Manali trek
 * Chander Trail in Kullu Valley
 * Dharamsala Chhota Bhangal over sari Pass Kullu
 * Hamirpur Deotsidh Sri Naina Devi Trek
 * Hamta Trek
 * Kinner Kailash Parikrama
 * Maidi to Nadaun
 * Malana History Trek
 * Manali Hamya Herbal Trek
 * Morchella trek
 * Wild Trek in Kullu Valley

Learn

 * Buddhism. Classes for the study of Buddhism are taught in Dharamsala and Bir.
 * Yoga. There are several places to study yoga in Dharamsala.

Eat
HP food is often very simple but nutritious, including daal, rice, roti, vegetables, paneer, curds and pickles in the Punjabi-influenced Pahari regions. Further north, Tibetan influence is stronger and barley is the main staple grain. Some of the specialities of Himachal include Manee', Madira, Pateer, Chouck, Bhagjery and chutney of Til.

Drink
In the Tibetan-influenced regions, chhang (fermented rice wine) is common.

Sleep
There are plenty of hotels and restaurants in and around District HQ as well as main tourist places. There are rest houses of HP PWD at places where it is hard to find hotels.

Go next

 * Chandigarh
 * Jammu and Kashmir
 * Ladakh

title: Himachal Pradesh


text:
Himalayan North

The Himalayan North region comprises the two states and two union territories of India at the northernmost Himalayan mountains: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Uttarakhand. Eastern parts of Himalayan India are in the northern sections of Eastern India and North-Eastern India, which have their own regional articles.

States and union territories

 * Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are claimed by India to be parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh respectively, although they are administered by Pakistan, which conversely claims Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Since Wikivoyage articles are written from a travel point of view, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are not included in the Himalayan North region.

Cities
Here are nine of the most notable cities.

 * — famous for Chaurasi Temple and the Hindu pilgrimage of Mani Mahesh

 * — the capital of Uttarakhand
 * — a city popular amongst the backpacker community and where the Dalai Lama resides
 * — a holy city for Hindus, where the Ganges river emerges from the hills to the plains
 * — the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir
 * — one of the two capitals of Ladakh, a bustling tourist town, large numbers of Kashmiri traders
 * — a quiet picturesque town set in mountainous region by day, hosts many a rave at night
 * — the summer capital of former British India, modern India with English architecture
 * — the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Famous for Dal Lake and in a valley surrounded by the picturesque Himalayas

Other destinations

 * , Himachal Pradesh — the hill station of Kullu is home to many species of wildlife. Virtually pristine forests and alpine meadows, this fragile region makes this park a wonderful destination. The national park has also been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

 * (Hemis High Altitude Park), Ladakh — home to several endangered mammals including the snow leopard. The Tibetan wolf and golden eagle can also be found in the park. The Rumbak Valley offers opportunities for bird-watching. Snow trekking is popular here.

 * , Jammu and Kashmir — located in the Kishtwar district, this park has rugged and steep terrain, with narrow valleys leading to glaciers. This park provides habitat for the Himalayan Snowcock and the brown bear.

 * Uttarakhand — surrounded by high ridges and the Rishi Glacier, this park is home for some large mammals (i.e. Himilayan musk deer), carnivores (i.e. Snow leopard) and birds in a land with diverse vegetation

 * , Uttarakhand — a park valley of wild flowers designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * , Jammu and Kashmir — a hill station with lush green meadows and snow during winter.

Understand
After the heat and chaos in the big cities of the Plains, the Indian Himalayas make a relaxing change. Some foreign travelers make visiting this region their sole purpose for coming to India, and it is a popular destination for Indians as well. The Himalayan North, being the abode of the gods and the origin of Hinduism's holy rivers, is one of the most ancient travel destinations in the country. Pilgrims have been visiting this place for centuries.

The British, conquering India before air conditioning, found themselves defeated by the Indian summer. As a result, they had to take refuge in hill stations to escape the heat. This region, because of its proximity to Delhi, had the largest concentration of hill stations. The largest among these, Shimla, was the summer capital of British India. Shimla and other cities like Mussoorie and Dalhousie still retain their charming colonial atmosphere.

The Kashmir Valley is used to be the honeymoon destination of choice for those who could afford it. However, it has been afflicted by violence by insurgents, terrorists and the Indian Army since the late 1980s, although things have become somewhat normal since 2019.

Talk
Hindi and Urdu are understood throughout the region either as a primary or secondary language. English is widely understood, especially in the more touristed parts.

By plane
Despite its altitude, there are eight domestic airports and one international airport in the Himalayan North region. However, there are problems of altitude sickness if travellers get in the region by plane.

 * Dehradun Airport or Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun, Uttarakhand
 * Jammu Airport at Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir
 * Kangra Airport at Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
 * Kullu–Manali Airport at Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
 * Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport at Leh, Ladakh
 * Pantnagar Airport at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand
 * Pithoragarh Airport or Naini Saini Airport at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand
 * Shimla Airport at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
 * Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir

By bus
The Himalayan North is well connected to the Plains by bus.

By train
Dehradun, Jammu and Shimla are primary railheads of the region.

By bus
This is the main way to get around the Himalayan north, the only choice in many places. The winding roads and steep slopes make for some nerve wracking moments; but the views more than make up for it.

By train
Being a mountainous region there are very few rail lines, with Jammu and Kashmir being the least connected with railway and Ladakh does not have any rail line at all. However, there is a "toy train" service that connects Kalka and Shimla. In its day, this single gauge line was a remarkable engineering feat, but now it makes for a slow and beautiful tourist route.

See
This is an extremely picturesque area of the country, with much natural beauty. As a region that borders on Tibet, it also has Tibetan-style Buddhist temples, especially in Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama and many of his followers set up a kind of "free Tibet" in exile, but also in the union territory of Ladakh, which has a home-grown but Tibetan-influenced Buddhism. In addition, Uttarakhand contains the sources of the Ganges, Hinduism's holiest river, which runs past the state's holy cities of Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar. Himachal Pradesh features the hill station of Shimla, which was a great favourite of Britons during the British Raj, while the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, with its breathtaking location in the Kashmir Valley surrounded by high Himalayan peaks and its famous Dal Lake, though probably too big to be thought of as a hill station, is a very beautiful place to fly to cool off during the hot summer months in the Plains.

Do
This region is very appealing for devotees of outdoor sports, including hiking, mountain-climbing and whitewater rafting. Another thing you can do is to study Tibetan Buddhism and sit zazen in Dharamsala or study yoga in Rishikesh.

Eat
North Indian cuisine and ethnic Ladakhi cuisine has a major influence in this region. Most people in the region follow vegetarianism as many holy sites are located here. Ladakh has a unique cuisine. Yak meat, Thukpa and Momos (dumplings) are popular in this region. Except Ladakh, the other regions have the same cuisine as the rest of North India which include Naan (bread), Chapati, Dal and many more.

Drink
Like the rest of India, tea is a common beverage to people of the Himalayan North region.

Alcohol is rare in the Himalayan North region, and it is illegal in some holy sites like Haridwar and Rishikesh. However, native Ladakhis and immigrant Tibetans use their own variety of alcohol called chang.

Stay safe
The Himalayan North, especially the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, is far from being safe. It had suffered several wars, conflicts and insurgencies. Some parts of the region, especially along the border, are off-limits. If you would like to visit the Himalayan North, check on current security conditions before you decide.

Travellers visiting hill stations at or higher may suffer from altitude sickness. Therefore, they should rest at a hotel after arriving at the hill station to adapt their body for low oxygen.

title: Himalayan North


text:
Himalayas

The Himalayas are a range of mountains in Asia. The Himalaya proper stretches from the Indus River in Pakistan, through India, Nepal, and Bhutan, and ends at the Brahmaputra River in eastern India. The Greater Himalaya complex of mountains includes the Himalayas and some related ranges. On the eastern end, the Hengduan Range — which includes the Three parallel rivers, a in China — forms a T shape with that end of the Himalayas.

On the west, the Himalayas connect to a large area of high ground called the Pamir Knot, also a. Several other ranges extend in various directions from the knot — the Karakoram, running east parallel to the Himalaya and north of it, the Hindu Kush running southwest into Afghanistan, the Tian Shan Range running north, and the Kunlun Range northeast. All those ranges, and the Pamir Knot, include peaks over 7000 m. All except Tian Shan can be seen in the photo to the right.

The Himalayas region of Nepal has eight of the world's ten tallest mountains including the highest of all, Mount Everest at 8849 m. The Karakoram Range has four peaks over 8000 m including the world's second highest mountain, K2 at 8611 m. It also has the highest unclimbed mountain (as of late 2020) where climbing is not forbidden, Muchu Chhish at 7542 m.

For comparison, neither Western Europe nor the lower 48 US states have anything that reaches 5,000 m. In the Himalayan region, several of the passes are around 5000, and some nomads spend the summer at about that altitude every year so their herds can graze the upland meadows. Mount Elbrus is Europe's highest peak and Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's; both are slightly under 6000 m. On the climbers' list of Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent, only two besides Everest are over 6000 — Denali in Alaska at just under 6200, and Aconcagua, the highest peak of the Andes and the tallest mountain outside the Greater Himalayan region, at just under 7000.

In the Himalayas, peaks over 6000 m are commonplace and there are dozens over 7000. Wikipedia's list of the highest mountains in the world consists entirely of 109 mountains in the greater Himalaya region, all over 7200 m (23,622 feet) and including 14 over 8000 m.

Geography
The Indian subcontinent and the rest of Asia are on different continental plates that are colliding; the Himalayas and related ranges are along the boundary of the plates. The force of the collision creates the world's highest mountains.

North of the Himalayas is the Tibetan Plateau, the world's largest and highest (over 3000 m on average) plateau. It includes all of Tibet and the Chinese province of Qinghai plus parts of several other provinces. A few centuries back, the Tibetan Empire covered approximately the same area as the plateau.

The ranges of the Greater Himalaya define several borders. The Himalaya proper is on the southern border of Tibet, hence the China-India border, and the China-Pakistan border is in the Karakoram Range. The western border of China runs approximately along the Tian Shan, while the Kunlun is the border between Xinjiang and the Tibetan Plateau; one branch of the Silk Road follows it on the north side.

Climate
The latitudes in the Himalayas range from almost tropical along the southern edge to about 40 north (latitude of Chicago, Beijing or Rome) in the Pamir Knot. However, Himalayan weather is more severe than in other places at similar latitudes, due to the altitude and the lack of any large body of water nearby to moderate the climate. Many of the peaks have snow atop them year round and there are many glaciers.

There is a large variation in micro-climates throughout the region; two valleys only a few miles apart but isolated by the mountains may have quite different climates because one gets more sun or they are affected differently by the wind patterns.

Flora and fauna
The diversity of wildlife in the Himalayas is huge. In the lower ranges, tigers, leopards, and the one-horned rhinoceros can be found while the higher altitudes support a smaller but more unique group of animals. These include the snow leopard, Markhor goat, argali (Eurasian mountain sheep), and red panda.

Yaks are common as a domestic animal in much of the region.

Culture
The Himalayas are a home to a diverse number of people, languages, and religions. Generally speaking Islam is prevalent in the west, Hinduism along the southern edge, and Buddhism in the north. The eastern part of the Himalayas is ethnically diverse, with several tribal groups.

Talk
While there are numerous languages spoken, Hindi and Urdu will take you very far, as it is understood by the majority in the Pakistani and the Indian Himalayas. As the two languages are mutually intelligible in the spoken form, if you have to learn one before visiting, pick one of these. In Nepal, Hindi is not very useful, but it does have significant overlap with the Nepali language, and therefore gives you a head start with that language.

As a significant part of the Himalayas was under British rule, and even the nominally independent areas were under some form of British suzerainty, English is widely spoken by educated people. In the major tourist destinations, you will be able to get by with English with varying degrees of difficulty.

Get in
Most towns in the Himalayas can be reached by road, and some by train or plane, though many of the more rural areas require trekking and some of the trekking is quite difficult.

On the southern side most of the range can be reached via India, but western parts are reached via Pakistan or Afghanistan. Two small countries, Nepal and Bhutan, are located within the Himalayas on that side. On the north side, all of the Himalaya proper is in Tibet except for the small Indian trans-Himalaya region around Ladakh.

See
The Himalayas include the highest peaks on Earth and most sights relate to the mountains themselves, but because of the relative isolation of mountain valleys there is also an interesting diversity in flora, fauna and cultures. Some of the mountains are sacred to Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists and there are many monasteries, mostly Buddhist.

Do
Trekking is the most popular activity, with a wide selection of possibilities, from deserts to jungles. Some of the more popular treks are:
 * Everest Base Camp Trek, in Nepal
 * K2 base camp trek, in Pakistan
 * Various treks in the Annapurna region, Nepal
 * Various treks around Ladakh

It's also common to study yoga or meditation. There are many other possibilities, but among the most popular are:
 * Rishikesh for yoga. See Yoga in Rishikesh for a long list of schools.
 * Dharamsala for Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama is there, and there are many teachers in his entourage.
 * Bodhgaya (on the plains below the Himalayas) is where the Buddha reached enlightenment, and there are several monasteries including Thai, Japanese and Tibetan.

White water rafting is also popular in many places.

Destinations
The Himalayas spread across several countries. All Himalayan regions offer similar attractions, but there are interesting differences as well.

Pakistan

 * — offers some of the most visually stunning parts of the Himalayas. The trekking in Gilgit-Baltistan is arduous, seldom without glacier crossings, and not for the inexperienced, or unprepared. Local law, and good sense, prohibit trekking without a local guide on most routes so this is one of the more costly parts of the Himalayas for trekking. The K2 base camp trek is a famous route. The people in this area, while being almost entirely Muslim, are diverse, with numerous languages, and different types of Islam followed–some highly conservative, some noticeably liberal. The Karakoram Highway runs through the mountains to connect Pakistan with Northwest China.
 * — encompasses the lower part of the Himalayas which is considered one of the most beautiful part of Himalayas due to lush green and scenic valleys. Parts of Azad Kashmir along the border with India are off-limits for foreigners.
 * (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) — Pashton-dominated and conservative province, much of which would be unwise for tourists to visit but the western and northern parts which encompass the lower part of the Himalayas are an exception which provide fascinating and scenic landscape and unusual beauty.

India

 * With its mountains and lakes, this was a popular destination with travelers until the conflict escalation between Pakistan and India. While Srinagar is reasonably safe, much of the countryside is dangerous and some of it, especially along the border, is off-limits.
 * — Indian-administered union territory with its own culture. Offering much in the way of sight-seeing, and trekking it's not to be missed.
 * — a pleasant, laid back, predominantly Hindu state, with a Tibetan Refugee population; popular with tourists.
 * — the source of the Ganges and has a number of pilgrimage sites.
 * — situated mainly on the plains but borders the mountains, and includes some.
 * — wedged between, Nepal, Bhutan, China and West Bengal, Sikkim has many Buddhist monasteries and related sights. Trekking here is limited due to the closeness of the border with China. You must take a guide and go as a group, and there are a very limited number of routes.
 * — situated mostly on the plains, a populous region of farming and industry, but the northern edge extends into the mountains. The Darjeeling Hills are popular as a tourist destination.
 * — at the northeast extreme of India and seldom visited by tourists, this state is a fascinating mix with a large tribal population; people follow, Animist, Hindu, Buddhist, and Baptist Christian religious traditions. The territory, however, continues to be the matter of a border dispute between India and China.

Nepal
A major tourist destination, with numerous sightseeing, trekking, and other adventure sport opportunities, Nepal has a level of tourist specific infrastructure far in advance of anywhere else in the region. Here you can trek for a month and stay in guest houses every night, and need not carry more than a change of clothes or two, and your sleeping bag. Nepal has unfortunately been suffering from a Revolutionary Maoist uprising making the country less than safe.

The Great Himalaya Trail is a trekking route that crosses Nepal east-to-west and goes near many of the world's highest mountains. It is a long-distance trek, 1700 km (over 1000 miles), and some of it is through difficult terrain.

Bhutan
A fascinating little kingdom, Bhutan only issues visas to tourists on expensive group tours or to individuals who benefit the country, such as NGO workers, or to exchange students.

Tibet
The northern borders of India, Nepal and Bhutan generally follow the Ganges-Brahmanputra watershed, however the Himalaya extend north of this watershed. There are also outlying ranges rising out of the plateau northward to the Brahmaputra (or Yarlung Tsangpo as the river is called in Tibet) which are included with the Himalaya. This part of the Himalaya is less explored, often difficult of access, and has numerous unclimbed peaks.

A few centuries back, the Tibetan Empire was considerably larger than today's Tibet.

Southwest China
The old Tibetan province of Kham — now split up administratively between the two Chinese provinces and  and China's  — is closely related to Himalayan areas further west in both geography (large mountains created by the same tectonic plate collision) and people (predominantly Tibetan speakers). See Yunnan tourist trail for an overview and Tiger Leaping Gorge or Three parallel rivers for specific treks in the region. The famous scenic region of Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan was also part of Kham and named after nine Tibetan villages in the gorge, seven of which are still extant.

The Chinese province of Qinghai is also on the Tibetan Plateau. It was once Amdo province of the Tibetan Empire, and until the late 20th century its people were predominantly ethnic Tibetans. Today the Han (ethnic Chinese) are a majority, but they are mostly concentrated in the easternmost part of the province around Xining, while the rest of the province is sparsely populated and predominantly Tibetan.

Stay safe
If you are not planning to do any trekking, then you will not need any special equipment, or even warm clothing as you will be able to pick up good warm clothing on entry to the region. If you do need warm clothes, don't miss the second-hand markets selling attire from wealthy nations.

If you are trekking, the equipment you will need depends on your destination, in most of Nepal you will need nothing more than a sleeping bag and a pair of boots; the Indian Himalayas offer a large number of routes that are possible to trek independently if you have a tent, stove, and all the equipment needed for unsupported trekking.

In general the Himalayas have fewer dangers than the more densely populated plains around them. Stay up to date with the news, and be willing to change your plans, when going to places such as Kashmir, that are facing armed uprisings.

Traffic on the narrow roads is often frightening, but due to the slow speeds is less likely to result in fatalities than on the roads of the plains.

Stay healthy
Malaria is only an issue in the areas of low elevation, as the mosquito that carries the disease is not able to live at higher elevations. Take precautions when traveling through areas of lower elevation, especially the neighboring plains.

Altitude sickness is a worry, with many of the passes in the Himalaya being over 5000 m. Increase your elevation as slowly as possible, avoid flying from a low elevation to a high one, limit your physical activity; and drink lots of liquids after gaining altitude. Altitude sickness is unpredictable, and may strike people who haven't had problems before. Give yourself lots of flexibility in your plans, to avoid pushing yourself higher when you need to rest.

Go next
Flights out of the Himalayas are often cancelled due to bad weather, be sure to give yourself at least a few days before needing to catch a connecting flight.

title: Himalayas


text:
Himalayas (Nepal)

The Himalayas is the northernmost region of Nepal. It includes eight of the world's ten highest peaks, including the world's tallest - Mount Everest.

For the mountain range stretching across several countries of which this region is a part, see Himalayas.

Cities

 * - the nearest roadhead for trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp
 * - airstrip in the upper Kaligandaki valley. Most basic services can be found here; end (or start) of the Jomsom Trek. Ghasa to Jomsom Bus travel is also available (NPR300 for Nepalis and NPR600 for foreigners), but you will have heavenenly images on your trek
 * - a picturesque village
 * - is in Dhading district
 * - home to the Khumbu's airport
 * - at the foot of the Mount Everest
 * - the district headquarters of Solu Khumbu district
 * - a large monastery and the surrounding settlement in Khumbu
 * - centre of Thakkali culture, important trading village, hotels and restaurants

Other destinations

 * – a mountain range bounded by various seven-thousanders. Most clibers don't climb here, though.
 * - the tallest peak of the world; located in the protected area around Everest - the Sagarmatha National Park.
 * - including Rara Tal, a large, deep subalpine lake at the foot of Kanjiroba Himalaya. Another gateway to transhimalayan Humla and Dolpa regions. If arriving by bus police are asking 3000 NRP for a permit of unspecified length
 * - in the Dolpa district
 * - including Rara Tal, a large, deep subalpine lake at the foot of Kanjiroba Himalaya. Another gateway to transhimalayan Humla and Dolpa regions. If arriving by bus police are asking 3000 NRP for a permit of unspecified length
 * - in the Dolpa district

See
Most sights relate to the mountains themselves, and to religious structures, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist. Many of the most popular destinations are sights in themselves.

Itineraries

 * Annapurna Circuit
 * Cho La
 * Everest Base Camp Trek
 * Himalayas
 * Island Peak Trek
 * The Great Himalaya Trail

Do
Trekking is the most popular activity, with a wide selection of possibilities, from deserts to jungles. It's also popular to study Yoga or Meditation. White Water Rafting is popular in many places.

Stay safe

 * Altitude sickness is a worry, with many of the passes in the Himalayas being over 5000m. Increase your elevation as slowly as possible, avoid flying from a low elevation to a high one, and physical activity; and drink lots of liquids after gaining altitude. Altitude sickness is unpredictable, and may strike people who haven't had problems before. Give yourself lots of flexibility in your plans, to avoid pushing yourself higher when you need to rest.
 * Stay up to date with the news, and be willing to change your plans, when going to places such as Kashmir or Nepal, that are facing armed uprisings.
 * Traffic on the narrow roads is often frightening, but due to the slow speeds is unlikely to result in fatalities.

Go next
Flights out of the Himalayas are often cancelled due to bad weather, be sure to give yourself at least a few days before needing to catch a connecting flight.

title: Himalayas (Nepal)


text:
Himeji

Himeji (姫路) is a city near the western edge of the Kansai region of Japan, which has a World Heritage castle.

Understand
Himeji's main attractions are its gorgeous castle, one of the largest wooden structures in the world, built in the late 1500s, and Mount Shoshazan, a temple with a history of over 1,000 years.

Because of its picturesque old Japanese appearance, Himeji has been used for filming many Japanese and foreign movies; props from these films, including "The Last Samurai," can be found in the JR station information center.

Tourist information site
Visit Himeji is the city's official multilingual guide site.

By plane

 * Kansai International Airport ( is 126 km southeast of Himeji and is the closest major international airport. Airport Limousine Buses operate every 1-2 hours between the airport and Himeji station (2 hr 20 min, ¥3300 one-way/¥5150 round-trip). More expensive, but free for users of the Japan Rail Pass, is to take the JR Haruka limited express to Shin-Osaka and transfer to the shinkansen (1 hr 45 min, ¥5020). It's also possible to buy a one-day JR Kansai Area Pass (¥2300) to reach Himeji in around 2 hours using a combination of the Haruka and the Special Rapid Service.
 * Osaka Itami International Airport ( is 85km east of Himeji. Buses operate eight times per day between the airport and Himeji station (1 hr 20 min, ¥2160). If you can't catch a direct bus, take a bus to Shin-Osaka instead (25 min, ¥500) and change to the JR line (1 hr, ¥1490 by Special Rapid Service, or 30 min, ¥3220 by shinkansen).
 * Kobe Airport ( is 65km southeast of Himeji, but has fewer flight options than the airports in Osaka. To reach Himeji, take the Port Liner to Sannomiya and change to the JR Special Rapid Service (75 min, ¥1300).

By train
Himeji is along the Sanyo Shinkansen Line (山陽新幹線) from Osaka and Kobe to Okayama and Hiroshima. The Sakura and Hikari offer frequent service to Himeji within the Sanyo region, as do the all-stopping Kodama trains. Since the station is elevated, it is possible to see Himeji Castle from a passing train.

From Tokyo, one Nozomi train per hour runs through to Himeji (3 hr, ¥16160), otherwise you have to change at Shin-Osaka. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, there is also one Hikari train departing each hour, running through to Himeji, which you can take at no charge (3 hr 40 min).

The overnight Sunrise Izumo/Sunrise Seto from Tokyo stops at Himeji. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can book a carpeted floor space at no charge; otherwise you can travel in a compartment or room by paying the applicable room fee and surcharges.

An inexpensive method of reaching Himeji from within the Kansai region is to take one of the frequent Shinkaisoku (新快速 - Special Rapid) commuter trains on the JR Kobe line (JR 神戸線) that begins in Osaka, which charges only the price of a local train. The ride takes 38 min from Kobe's Sannomiya station (¥950) or 57 min from Osaka (¥1450).

From Kyoto, the Hikari bullet train whisks travelers to Himeji in about an hour (¥5270). This trip can be taken without charge by Japan Rail Pass holders. Otherwise the local train (Special Rapid Service) reaches Himeji in around 1 hr 30 min (¥2270).

Northwest of the JR station is Sanyo Himeji, which is operated by the private Sanyo Railway. Kansai's Hanshin Railway offers direct express services to Sanyo Himeji every 10-20 minutes, with journey times of 1 hr 40 min from Osaka Umeda (¥1280) and 70 min from Kobe Sannomiya (¥960). These private lines are much slower than the JR, but are an option for those holding passes such as the 2 or 3-day Kansai Thru Pass. Discounted one-day passes include the Hanshin and Sanyo Seaside Ticket from Osaka (¥2000) and the Sannomiya-Himeji One Day Ticket from Kobe (¥1400).

By bus
Himeji is served by a few overnight buses from Tokyo. The fastest is the Keio Bus/Shinki Bus overnight service which is timetabled at 8 hr 30 min from the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal and 8 hr from Shibuya. Fares start at ¥8700 each way (¥7400 with advance purchase). Willer Express also offers an overnight run departing Tokyo Station (10 hr 20 min, starting from ¥5800) and Tokyo Disneyland.

By foot
For a large number of travelers who just want to visit Himeji Castle, Kokoen Garden, and/or some of the city's museums, you can reach the castle by walking straight for 15-minutes down Otemae-dōri from Himeji Station. To explore the city beyond the castle vicinity, it will be difficult to accomplish on foot, so consider other options.

By Sightseeing Loop Bus
Shinki Bus operates Sightseeing Loop Bus (¥190; one day pass \400), which makes a loop around the cultural area, starting at Himeji Station, with stops near the castle, garden, and museums.

By city bus
City buses operate to sights far from the castle, such as Engyō-ji Temple.

See

Parks

 * For families in particular, the park behind Himeji castle offers a decent play structure and ample space to sit down and have a picnic in the shadow of Japan's most famous castle.
 * For families in particular, the park behind Himeji castle offers a decent play structure and ample space to sit down and have a picnic in the shadow of Japan's most famous castle.

Festivals and events

 * Cherry Blossom Viewing Party, usually around the second Sunday in April. Lots of koto and taiko drumming.
 * Yukata Matsuri - mid June, runs 2-3 days. Locals criticize this festival for having no roots or real reason to exist other than an opportunity for girls to dress up in summer yukata, eat delicious food from booths, and play fair games. Which is a good enough reason to go. This festival is always packed and makes for great people-watching, as many kinds of Japanese subcultures are on display.
 * Oshiro Matsuri - early august. A large parade down the main street ending at Himeji castle. There is also a big stage to see lots of dancing, which can range from either very traditional to very hip. Often it's a combination of the two.
 * Moon viewing - in September near the time of the Harvest moon. Features traditional plays and drums.
 * Nada Matsuri
 * Aboshi Matsuri

Buy
Himeji isn't particularly famous for crafts or goods. Wind chimes made of iron tongs and white leather accessories are popular higher-end Himeji souvenirs, and they can be bought in many of the department stores or along the Miyuki dori shopping arcade. There are also numerous shops along the route to the castle selling a variety of Himeji Castle and other assorted souvenirs. Additionally, the streets in the area surrounding Himeji Station are filled with shopping arcades (particularly Miyuki dori) and the usual department stores (there are several lining the way to the Castle, including Sanyo, Forus, and Yamatoyashiki.)

 * Himeji Ceramics market - in autumn

Eat
As you exit the station facing the castle (North), the main shopping street (Miyuki dori) will be on your right and the main entertainment area on your left. Both areas have some fine restaurants. Himeji has a full selection of foods, from fast food (Western and Japanese) to gourmet dining. For breakfast there are countless coffee shops, including a Starbucks that has small waffles.

Bars
Bars tend to be frequented mostly by foreigners living in the city.

Cafes

 * Starbucks, on level 4 of the Piole shopping centre next to the station, has views down the street to the castle.

Sleep
There are many hotels near the train station. Another possibility is to sleep in Kakogawa, and prolong your trip into the country side of Hyogo.

Go next

 * Okayama is 50 km west and includes, the brooding black Crow Castle, and the lovely Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's Top 3 gardens.
 * Kurashiki, near Okayama, is famous for its large Bikan Historic District with many well-preserved buildings from the Edo Period, as well as the famous Ohara Museum of Art which contains a large number of works by the most famous European artists.
 * Tsuyama, a quiet town with rich history, is famous for Kakuzan Park, a great place for cherry blossom viewing, Joto Street, and the beautiful Shurakuen Garden.
 * Bizen features museums that display the history of Japanese sword making and pottery and Bizen pottery and swords are renowned throughout Japan as being of the best quality since ancient times.
 * Kobe is a port city, with the scenic Harborland and Meriken Park around the port and also has theHanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial Museum to learn more about the 1995 earthquake and how the city dealt with it.
 * Takarazuka is home to Japan's all-female theater troupe, the Takarazuka Revue but the plays are well-done and the actresses are so convincing, you may forget that the male characters are not really men. The city also home to the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum, which features works from all of his most famous manga.
 * Fukusaki is a small town 30 minutes north of Himeji, on the Bantan line train. The birthplace of famous author Kunio Yanagita, which can be visited for free; Fukusaki boasts many great restaurants, small shrines and shops, in a relaxed rural setting.
 * Kakogawa, 10 minutes by train to the west, is a relaxed city to have a break.

title: Himeji