the indian himalayas, the thar desert and the indo-gangetic plain dominate the natural scenery of north india. the region encompasses several of the most highly regarded hill destinations of india such as srinagar, shimla, manali, nainital, mussoorie, kausani and mount abu. several spots in the states of uttarakhand and himachal pradesh provide panoramic views of the snow-clad himalayan range. the himalayan region also provides ample opportunity for adventure sports such as mountaineering, trekking, river rafting and skiing. camel or jeep safaris of the thar desert are also popular in the state of rajasthan. north india includes several national parks such as the nanda devi biosphere reserve, jim corbett national park, keoladeo national park and ranthambore national park.