Shimla is the capital of the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Naturally, it gets a lot of tourist traction during peak seasons. Moreover, many movies have also featured Shimla which has in turn brought over a crazy load of the crowd in the city. On the contrary, Manali is slightly outside the ‘touristy’ zone of the state. Although it is also visited by people across the nation, the hustle-bustle is quite less than in Shimla. Therefore, travelers who prefer natural ambiance and calmness should prefer Manali over Shimla.

A small hamlet situated on the Chamba-Mussoorie road, it is perched at an elevation of 2590m. In Hindi, ‘Kanaa’ refers to a dried-up condition. Once there was a lake in the village that dried up. As a result, the villagers now refer to this empty lake crater as ‘Kanaatal’ or a ‘Dried up Lake’. This small village is also known for its majestic Surkanda Temple, which is also one of the major ‘Shaktipeethas’ where the head of ‘Sati’ (An incarnation of Shakti or feminine power) fell. The climate of Kanaatal in summer is quite pleasant with temperatures ranging between 10-20C. In winter, this may drop below between -5 to -10C, causing frigid snowfall. During the latter, roads are often blocked by tremendous snowfall and are therefore not favorable for travel.

A pass is a connecting corridor that exists between two adjacent mountains. Since ancient times mountains are one of the significant barriers that have stood unshaken amidst the historical trading routes. The mountain passes have been providing the navigating routes for these pathways. A pass forms naturally as a result of erosion. It uses other geological components like the saddle (the highest point between adjacent mountains). A pass is also characterized by its general steep slope, below which it is quite common to get a glimpse of river drainage basins.

The site of Hemkund Sahib is mentioned in Dasam Grandh.  The tenth Guru has said in his autobiography that he had meditated here in his previous birth.  

But the actual location was discovered much later by a retired person from Indian army named Sant Sohan Singh. The Gurudwara was very small at first, measuring just 10ft by 10ft. Many renovations and additions were made later to enlarge the area under General Harkirat Singh

This place holds more tales…according to a tale of Hindu mythology, Lord Ram’s brother, Lakshman is also said to have meditated here. There is a temple dedicated to him close by and it is called Lakshman temple. Some local pundits also believe that even King Pandu of Mahabharata meditated here.

• Natural environs
• The location should be away from the city’s hustle bustles with some peace and quiet, lots of greenery and fresh air.

• Weather  
• You need to pack your baggage based on the weather conditions
• Check if your body can adjust to climate well and you do not have any other health issues which may flare due to the extreme weather in the workation. 

• Phone/Internet connection 

• Stable internet connection without hiccups otherwise work will be affected.  
• You could always portable routers in case that is convenient.

• Food and grocery shops

• Workation involves staying for more than 2-3 days. Eating-out everyday during this period is not feasible. Workations  with kitchen and other facilities would be a great advantage.

•  it will a great help if you can find grocery stores in proximity of your workation.

• Also look for prompt delivery service close by. The mountains are usually cut off from civilization and if your formal work  requires you to collect and send physical products that you will need a good courier service nearby else you will lose precious time in the process.

• Transportation 
• To move around the place some car, buses or taxi services travelling around for leisure or buying necessities.

• Local attractions
• Routine work may become monotonous.  If the workations has some local attractions such as religious places or places of adventure or entertainment, then it is worth considering for the next workations trip.

• Budget
• Most important is it should fit into your budget. If your company offers an allowance, the price should fit in.

Here are some of the perfect cities/towns that match all the above requirements.  So yes, you can pack your bags and book your tickets to reach these work+vacation locations at the earliest

It is the third highest peak in the world. You will be astonished to know that Kanchenjunga is actually a massif that consists of several peaks. Divided into four summits namely, the Kanchenjunga West (8505 m), Kanchenjunga South (8494 m), and the Kangbachen (7903 m), this massif is a marvel of nature. The name Kanchenjunga literally means ‘Five treasures of the snow. The base camp of this trek is a part of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. The locals consider this land to be sacred and therefore they respect each and every organism that resides in it. The pristine ecosystem is thronged by vulnerable animals like the Red Panda, Snow Leopards, and a plethora of other organisms as well. The whole trek to the summits can take a minimum of ten weeks to complete as the trail is suitable for advanced trekkers. In fact, some professional climbers often claim the trail to be congruently dangerous to Mt. Everest. So, if you are planning to summit the peaks of Kanchenjunga, you should have athlete-level fitness as you can expect everyday walks that may extend up to ten hours in frigid terrain. 

With beautiful meadows, snow-clad peaks, and expansive grasslands, Chopta is rightfully referred to as the ‘Switzerland of India’. The valley is a part of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and acts as the basal point for the Tungnath trek. If you visit Chopta, you’ll get a 3-in-1 package. Tungnath is one of the Panch Kedar which is located at a distance of only 3.5 km from the valley. Once you visit Tungnath you can upgrade your trekking experience with an adventurous visit to Chandrashila. The latter is situated at a ravishing altitude of 13,000ft and the ultimate prize is not just these three beautiful spots. You’ll also get a bejeweled view of Mount Trishul, Meru, Sumeru, Ganesh parvat, Nanda Devi, and Chaukhamba along with 41 other peaks, all at once! 

Chopta gives different vibes when visited at different seasons of the year. In summer, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful diversity of flora and fauna with the bewitching beauty of Rhododendrons, whereas, in winter, you’ll be welcomed with a fairyland of snow. Just try to avoid visiting during the monsoons of July and August, as the views are shrouded with rainy clouds. All-in-all, the Chopta-Tungnath-Chandrashila trek is the perfect valley trek to choose for a memorable winter or summer getaway.

The Kedarkantha trek of Uttarakhand should not be confused with Kedarnath. This trek involves the beauty of Govind Wildlife Sanctuary and is embellished with Himalayan lakes, and clusters of Oaks, Pines, and Rhododendrons. The crystal clear frozen Juda ka Talab and the sound of slushy snow under your trekking boots. It is said that the throat of Lord Shiva, disguised as a bull, fell here. Hence, the name. A trekker can enjoy the snowfall between the months of December to March. Moreover, you can also get a glimpse of the local culture of Sankri village on the trail. Overall, the trek is an easy one and you can enjoy the marvelous views of the Himalayas at every moment on it.

A good trekking company provides enough time for tourists to enjoy the beauty of a place. They are in no hurry and it also helps tourists to acclimatize to higher altitude climates. All of this is ensured while framing a strategically planned itinerary. So, while choosing a trekking company, it’s necessary to look into the itineraries, which will give you a direct reflection if the company is serious about a wholesome trekking experience.

This valley has a unique history too.  Nestled within the Himalayas, this area was hidden from common public for many years though Col. Edmund Smyth had discovered Pushpawati River as early as 1862.

It was accidentally discovered in 1931 by three British mountaineers Frank S. Smythe, RL Holdworth and Eric Shipton during their descent from Mt.Kamet. While descending they lost their way only to discover this heavenly valley. They named this flowery terrain, the Valley of Flowers!

One of the trekkers, Frank S Smythe an avid mountaineer, photographer, Botanist and an author,  had already taken part in various expeditions to the Alps and Himalayas.

He was so enchanted by the valley that he published a book bringing it global attention.  The book details the story of his teams’ trekking adventure in upper Himalayas and how rain and sleet made them lose direction only to descend to this amazing place and discover the valley in the monsoon season.

It also records the names and features of the rare and special flowers condensed from the findings in that 1931 trip and two later trips undertaken by the author.

Joan Margaret Legge, was the next botanist to visit this valley.  She was deputed by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1939 to collect some samples of the plants growing there. 

However she lost her life slipping from a cliff. Later her sister built a memorial at the same spot. Trekkers going on this trail do not miss visiting this memorial.

The valley was frequented by many other trekkers since Frank and Joan. 

It was  closed to trekkers for some time in the 1960s due to border disputes. It was opened again and declared as a national park in 1980.