GETTING THERE

Pragpur is 59 km from Dharamsala. There are daily flights to Chandigarh and Amritsar, which are 244 km and 200 km from Dharamsala respectively. Overnight buses from Delhi will take you to Dharamsala in 12 hours. Trains run up to Una, Pathankot, Chandigarh, and Amritsar. From there, you can take buses or taxis.

WHEN Any time of the year is good, though Kangra Valley witnesses heavy monsoons from July to September. Summers are tolerably warm (nothing over 35° C), winters are cold (down to -4° C).

STAY With its decor a quaint mix of British (Tiffany lampshades, mantelpieces, Victorian clocks) and desi (Jaipurprint blinds, brass bells, cane furniture), The Judges Court, a WelcomeHeritage property, is a winsome option (starts from ` 5,500/USD80; judgescourt.com). In Garli, try Chateau Garli (starts from ` 4,000/USD57; chateaugarli.com).

IDEAL FOR History buffs and those looking for a quiet holiday.

DISCOVER Go boating on River Beas, fishing and angling at Pong Dam, and paragliding at Bir-Billing (106 km from Pragpur). Visit Masroor Rockcut Temple, the Shaktipeeth temples of Chintpurni and Jwalamukhi, and Bajreshwari Devi temple (all in close vicinity). Spend some time in Dharamsala imbibing Buddhist vibes.