The next thing that probably comes to your mind after reaching is staying there. Himachal is the home to some lovely people and they do their level best to make you feel at home. It is a great place to shun the multi star hotel experiences and live with the locals. The lower regions of Himachal have decent network connectivity and there are some great places on Airbnb. Hostels for backpackers are another great option, especially if you are travelling solo or in small groups. Once you reach the higher areas, you sometimes would have no way to make prior reservations and just have to rely on the cozy home-stays where you live and dine with the locals. For the uninitiated, that might not sound like the most sound plan to have while traveling. But a part of the experience and adventure lies in this. The local delicacies are an additional perk. From the Bhagsu Cake to Sidu, these dishes are definitely going to tickle your taste buds enough to leave you asking for more. And the simple villagers are always ready to welcome you to stay with them. The warmth of their hospitality often leaves me wondering as to how rich they must be. Rich, not in gemstones or shiny metals; but humanity. Something we have a hard time spotting in our daily lives metropolitan cities. And you get to experience an essence of Himachal which otherwise would have eluded you. From getting to know the culture to the history to the nearby geographies, the locals are a library of knowledge. From staying in monasteries to hanging around with a local for a day can take you to places which aren't there on the map. I remember this time when I met this girl on my way to Banjar Valley and she was kind enough to show me around the whole area the next day. Took me to her village, and then to her home where her mother waited for us with lunch. They saw me off with a box of apples grown in their own garden. That was one of the best meals I had. Those were most probably the tastiest apples I would ever have. in the