Yak skiing in Manali

quiet resort popular with literary figures and another resort offering intriguing yak skiing have made it to the latest Time magazine issue.

And both these scenic resorts are in Himachal Pradesh.

In its annual guide to the finest in Asia, the cover story (July 4 issue) The Best Of Asia, these two spots figure in the Best for the Mind section.

Ten places have been selected from across Asia, out of which three are from India -- two of which are in Himachal Pradesh.

'Kasauli, seven hours north of New Delhi, offers the chances of bumping into a walking library of talent. Its cool air, country lanes and tall oak woods have drawn writers from generations,' the article says.

'But the undisputed king of Kasauli is the grand old man of Indian letters -- Khushwant Singh,' the article by Alex Perry (Time correspondent) says.

'In the resort town of Manali (some 12 hours from Delhi), Tibetan Peter Dorje runs an operation dedicated to the most implausible extreme sport in the world: yak skiing,' the article says.

'In winter he takes up five skiers and his herd of beasts to the hills above town, making overnight camp,' it adds.

Mumbai is the only other place from India to make it to the best of Asia in this section.