The medieval village of Pragpur is an idyllic base from which to explore the breathtaking Kangra valley. A lively artisan tradition can be found in its charming market while the surrounding countryside offers ample opportunities for walks, fishing, bicycle rides and birdwatching. The annual Punjabi Lohri festival, marking the movement of the sun between the hemispheres, is joyously celebrated each January with the lighting of bonfires. Another nearby heritage village is Garli, which has diverse styles of architecture ranging from mansions to temples, evidence of its important past.

Saffron suggests a minimum stay of 3 nights at the heritage hotel Judges Court, built in 1918 and lovingly restored to its former grandeur. Tours to Kangra fort and other sights in this pretty village can be arranged by the hotel.

Known as one of the most picturesque valleys of the lower Himalaya, Kangra valley offers a contrasting array of activities and places to visit. The ruins of the regal Kangra fort, the largest fort in the Himalaya, are well worth exploring. An excellent audio guide and museum unfold the history of this ancient fort. The beautiful Masroor rock-cut temples and their elaborate carvings were conceived in the same manner as the great temple of Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. The grounds afford an amazing view of the snow-clad Dhauladhar ranges.

The unmissable Kangra Valley Railway covers a distance of 163km across beautiful sub-Himalayan terrain and a valley known for its natural beauty, rice fields and ancient Hindu shrines. The 90-minute section between Baijnath and Nagrota is one of the most scenic.

Situated on the edge of the Dhauladhar mountain range in the Kangra district of north India, about 35km from Dharamsala, Palampur is a small green hill station, surrounded by tea gardens and pine forests. Palampur is the tea capital of Himachal Pradesh, benefiting from the area’s mild climate.

Saffron can organise a visit to a working tea plantation where you can wander through beautifully manicured tea gardens, interact with the estate workers and see how tea is processed in the small factory before sampling some of their finest infusions. Palampur is also an ideal spot to stay before you hop onto the delightful Kangra Mountain Railway from Nagrota. We recommend a 2-night stay at Rakkh Resort, perched atop a hillside, to explore the area’s friendly villages and local temples.

Situated at the northern end of the Kullu valley, Manali has spectacular views of snow-capped peaks and wooded slopes. There are marvellous walks through dappled orchards and fairy-tale deodar cedar forests. The Manali market is crowded with a myriad of interesting shops selling Tibetan carpets and crafts while the appetising aroma of steaming noodles hangs about the little restaurants.

Essential sights include Rohtang Pass with its picturesque views and hidden waterfalls and the old kullu-style temples with their receding shingle-slate roofs. Hadimba Devi temple, built in 1533, is notable for its mud-clad walls and the elaborate wooden doorway adorned with miniature paintings of animals and the goddess Hadimbi herself. Also worth visiting is Naggar with its 15th-century castle, small temple and Roerich art gallery. For pure relaxation, lie back and relax in the warm waters of the Vashisht hot water springs.

One of the seven holiest sites for Hindus, the sacred town of Haridwar is set at the point where the Ganges emerges from the Himalaya into the Indo-Gangetic plain. Like Varanasi, the ghats at Haridwar attract hundreds of pilgrims from around India, who come to either offer their thanks to the river for being the source of life and prosperity or immerse the ashes of their loved ones.

However, it is the evening aarti ceremony that should not be missed; this is Haridwar at its best. Performed each evening at sunset, the ghats of Har-ki-Pauri come to life with sacred chants, the smell of incense and the ringing of bells. Musicians play while flaming torches light up the sky in a carefully choreographed ritual, providing a fascinating and spiritual conclusion to the day’s end.

Established in the 1930s in the Himalayan foothills, the Jim Corbett National Park was one of the first wildlife reserves to be set up in India and perhaps the most beautiful of all parks in the north and central Indian belt. Named after the renowned hunter turned conservationist, it was at this wildlife reserve that the Project Tiger initiative was first introduced to preserve natural habitats and ecosystems to protect tigers.

With numerous ravines, streams and a varied topography, the dense deciduous forests of Corbett support more than 400 different types of plants, 600 species of birds and a wide variety of indigenous species, including elephants and gharials. Saffron suggests a stay of at least 2 nights at Jim’s Jungle Retreat to fully explore this enchanting wildlife reserve.