Nowadays many people look out for offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh as most of the tourist places are mostly turning to concrete jungles. There is so much demand for these less-known places in Himachal that many of them are turning into tourist spots now.

When I suggest travel plans to my loved ones, including family and friends, I do ask them lots of questions. It helps me know what they are expecting from their offbeat vacation in Himachal. It helps me suggest a memorable trip of their lifetime. Some of these questions include –

“Are you tired of being visiting the same old commercialized, tourist flocked, complete hustle-bustle like Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Dharamshala, etc.? Do you feel like going to some quiet, secluded, and peaceful place where you can spend quality time with your family, friends, and nature? Do you believe in off the beaten track travel and love to explore new places? “

Well, many times I get a positive reply to most of these questions. Every other person, who frequently travels nowadays, is looking out for some quiet, peaceful, less commercialized, and non-touristy place in Himachal to spend their valuable vacation time.

So, in case the answer to any of these questions is YES for you too, then this article is for you only. 

What are some Offbeat Places in Himachal near Delhi?

Here is the preview of the top 12 offbeat destinations in Himachal Pradesh near Delhi. We will look at them in this article in more detail.

Name of the Offbeat Place in Himachal
1. Tirthan Valley – Gushaini, Nagini
2. Pabbar Valley – Rohru, Shelapani, Kharapathar, Chansal Pass
3. Chindi – Karsog Valley
4. Daranghati – Daran Village
5. Barot
6. Prashar Lake
7. Bir – Biling
8. Parvati Valley – Kasol, Tosh, Kheerganga, Malana
9. Naggar Castle – Jagatsukh
10. Jibhi – Shringipur – Shoja – Jalori Pass
11. Rajgarh – Nohradhar – Haripurdhar
12. Chamba – Bharmour – Hadsar – Bairagarh
13. Other places – More than a day drive from Delhi

Himachal Pradesh offers a variety of hidden tourist places, but many of them take at least two days to reach Delhi/NCR. However, in this article, I am going to share with you my favorite offbeat places in Himachal.

These undiscovered places in Himachal Pradesh can be reached in a day from Delhi/NCR. You should be OK with traveling about 12-14 Hrs a day (the usual time for Manali / Dharamshala / Dalhousie).

In case you haven’t, then do not forget to check my list of Top 12 MUST VISIT Offbeat Places in Uttarakhand.

You can go through these peaceful places in Himachal below. I am sure you will add many of them to your next travel plans for a trip to Himachal Pradesh.

Lesser-known & offbeat places in Himachal
Lesser-known & offbeat places in Himachal

Download your FREE high-resolution version pdf copy of this infographic guide of these lesser-known & offbeat places in Himachal. If you liked it and found it helpful, please feel free to share it with your family and friends to help them too.

1. Tirthan Valley

If you have not been to Tirthan Valley yet, then I am sure that you have not experienced nature in its purest form. Surrounded by the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), this beautiful valley situated beside the Tirthan River is one of the hidden tourist places in Himachal.

Tirthan Valley is an awesome place to relax in the lap of mother nature. It tops my list of offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh any day if you have never been to it. I love this place most in the whole Himachal region for my family outings.

If you haven’t got a chance to visit it, then the best time to visit Tirthan Valley will be the coming Spring season and early summers. Though the Tirthan Valley is open all around the year, its beauty magnifies to the greater magnitude with blooming flowers in the valley in the Spring season and early summers. Also, the water in the Tirthan river is soothing to sit beside and get lost in peaceful nature.

There is a nearby waterfall in Gushaini, Tirthan Valley and you have a Great Himalayan National Park that offers one of the best hikes around the world. You can go for day hikes in GHNP or stroll in the village or woods around it. Perfect place to spend some quality time with your family.

Tirthan tops among the offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh
Tirthan River at Night, Tirthan Valley

2. Pabbar Valley

Pabbar is one of the most enchanting places in Himachal Pradesh, isolated from the tourist rush as of now. It offers some awesome panoramic views, especially from the Chansal pass, along with numerous nature walks/hikes in the dense orchards and forests all along the valley.

So, there is no surprise it makes in my list of less-known places in Himachal.

You can also experience a wide range of activities like camping, trekking, fishing, and other adventure activities that are also gaining attention including rafting and paragliding.

You may have heard about the names of these undiscovered places in Himachal like Rohru, Shelapani, Karapather, or Chansal Pass. All these lesser-known villages come under the Pabbar Valley region.

So, in all honesty before this “becoming popular” destination gets polluted by the maddening tourist rush, high-end commercialization, and goes away from the list of offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh, you should travel to Pabbar Valley soon in your upcoming trip to Himachal Pradesh. I am sure you will love every bit of it.

You can read about the route details and directions in my article on my trip to Chansal Pass – Rohru – Chakrata.

Lucky to Spot this Rainbow in Pabbar Valley while coming down from Chansal Pass
Lucky to Spot this Rainbow in Pabbar Valley while coming down from Chansal Pass

3. Chindi – Karsog Valley

Chindi is yet another offbeat place in Himachal Pradesh that offers an inspiring set of beauty, peace, and calmness. Once, you reach Chindi or Karsog Valley, you have all the time in the world to rejuvenate, relax and spend some quality quiet moments with your loved ones.

You have ample hikes around in the dense orchards and can explore several temples around Chindi. You can visit Karsog Valley situated just below Chindi, which also offers some lush green wide views of the mountainscapes in Spring and Summers.

If lately, you had some “not so good” time with your better half, or you had a great time with him/her but still want to make it better by listening to each other, or you want to introspect a few things about yourself then Chindi is an ideal place for you.

If required you can discuss with me an itinerary for Shimla, Chindi, Karsog, and Kullu Valley and visit these offbeat places in Himachal near Delhi.

A Golden Sunset at Chindi, Himachal
A Golden Sunset at Chindi, Himachal

4. Daranghati – Daran Village

Daranghati near Sarahan is one of the remotest and unexplored places in Himachal Pradesh situated just above Daran village. It is famous for Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary, but you cannot take anything from the jaw-dropping beauty it offers you.

Since Daranghati is near to Sarahan (which itself offers nice beauty and peace) and lacks too many accommodation options (just two as of now), it can always be covered as a day trip from Sarahan. However, one-day camping at Daranghati is highly recommended to feel nature in its best form.

The general route to Daranghati goes through Mashnoo (alternate routes are also there) and for cars it is almost an off-road type of experience. If you plan to visit in hatchback or sedan, then I guess you need to have some excellent driving skills. You should be cautious to drive on this adventurous plus narrow road.

If you are especially a rider or driver who loves to enjoy some adventurous roads to reach a secluded place in Himachal for ultimate relaxation, then you should plan a trip to Daranghati very soon. You will not be disappointed at all.

Even if you drop Daranghati then Sarahan, entrance to Kinnaur Valley, itself offering some picturesque beauty and peace, is worth a place to visit in Himachal Pradesh. But, going to Sarahan will give you peace, nothing much exotic. (For just Sarahan, read more in comments by doodlings though via email)

A view enroute Daranghati
A view Enroute Daranghati, thanks to Vikas Shokeen for the picture

5. Barot – Luhardi Villages

Barot was used to be on my travel bucket list of offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh for a long time. However, finally, in 2013, I got a chance to travel to this secluded place in Himachal besides the Uhl river.

Barot is another off-the-beaten-track destination in Himachal that is yet to gain the attention of the general tourists. It has some wonderful terraced fields, thick cedar forests, and a range of outdoor activities on offer for the tourist.

The Uhl river flowing next to the Barot village mostly on both sides adds every bit of its unique beauty. So, if you love serenity, nature walks, or you are a backpacker or one who loves to do some angling, then do not hesitate by any means to visit Barot village in your upcoming travel plan for Himachal.

You can read my comprehensive travel guide of Barot to know everything about this offbeat place in Himachal Pradesh near Delhi.

Silky Waters of Uhl River near Barot Village, Himachal
Silky Waters of Uhl River near Barot Village

6. Prashar Lake

Prashar Lake, which is located about 49 odd km north of Mandi at an altitude of 2730 Mtrs, is one of the popular offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh. The lake has a depth unknown to anyone so far. People who know about this place can’t stop going there again and again due to the extreme solitude and peace it offers to you.

However, I only like Prashar Lake in two states, one, when it gets surrounded by green colors topped with a varied variety of flowers in the monsoon months of July – August. And, the other state is when the white carpet of snow surrounds this surreal lake and gives it a feeling like a jewel-studded & shining midst white gold around it, in January – March.

You can take Delhi to Manali overnight Volvo and reach Mandi. Buses are running from Mandi to Prashar lake / Baggi village, the base of Prashar. Spend a day at Prashar either in FRH or PWD Guest House or camping near the lake. Finally, on Day 3, you can return home. So, a trip to Prashar can easily be made over an extended weekend.

As I said, it looks beautifully green in monsoon time, Prashar lake is also one of the top offbeat places in Himachal to visit in August. Of course, with rains, there is always a risk.

You can read my snow trek to Prashar which I did in January and it was pure bliss.

Prashar Lake, offbeat places in Himachal near Delhi
Prashar Lake, frozen in time

7. Bir – Billing

I have already mentioned Barot above in this article but let’s deviate a bit now. Just about 70 odd KMs from Barot, there lies India’s favorite destination for Paragliding by the name of Bir Billing.

While Bir is more of a conventional Buddhist/Tibetan town having quite nice monasteries and a stupa, 14 km north of Bir lies Billing, which is the hotspot of paragliding in India. These two places also come pretty high in the list of my favorite offbeat places in Himachal near Delhi.

You can club the trip to Bir Biling along with the Barot village trip or Prashar Lake trip. Otherwise, you can also make a dedicated trip to this secluded place in Himachal.

The stay options are available at Chowgan village. The best time to visit Bir – Billing is from April – May or September to mid of November. You may not be aware, but Bir – Billing indeed hosted the Paragliding World Cup by the Paragliding World Cup Association, France in 2015 🙂 🙂 …

So, being popular only amongst a niche of travelers, Bir Biling in Himachal makes the ideal offbeat destination in Himachal for all peace and paragliding lovers.

Bir - Billing, an aerial view...
Bir – Billing, an aerial view (Tarun Goel – Picture Credit)

8. Kasol – Malana – Tosh – Kheerganga

Now, let’s talk about a couple of beautiful unknown places of Himachal Pradesh, Kasol – Malana – Tosh – Kheerganga.

Kasol, 75 km away from Manali and about 34 km from Bhunter, lies in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is nestled between Pin Parvati ranges on one side and the mighty Beas river on the other.

Parvati river, a tributary to Beas, also passes through Kasol town. For years we have heard that Kasol is a mini Israel for its cannabis production and foreigner settlement.

But that is not what Kasol is all about.

A calm little Himalayan town, Kasol gets its unique selling point from towering hills covering this town, the wild yet forgiving Parvati river, and an abundance of multi-cuisine restaurants. On an average day in Kasol, you will find numerous German bakeries and cafes serving multi cuisines, shops selling innovative caps, jewelry and T-shirts, Firangs and hippies strolling about around the streets, and much much more.

Apart from Kasol, there are numerous hikes or treks or walks one can undertake from Kasol to reach various tranquil places around Parvati Valley.

Tosh – Kalga – Pulga – Kheerganga

You can go up to Tosh village, where a bumpy yet motorable road goes. Tosh offers some majestic views in Parvati Valley. Then there is a 3-4 Hrs trek to Kheerganga running through quaint villages of Kalga – Pulga having a hot spring up there. It is one of the most favorite spots for most people traveling to Kasol.

Malana

Finally, there is a tabooed village of Malana which is quite an unusual yet very picturesque hamlet having its one unique culture, laws/rules which amuses many people to visit this place. All these places are nearby Kasol only and you can club a 3-4 day trip to visit these places or make these villages as a base to explore the rest of them around.

Once, these used to be the most undiscovered places in Himachal, but as of 2022 Insta age and budding travelers searching for trance things have killed it a bit. However, still, you can visit these quaint towns Himachal for peace, not just a different trance and hippie culture.

Kasol - Parvati Valley, an amazing view
Kasol – Parvati Valley, an amazing view

9. Naggar Castle – Jagatsukh

Naggar Village, about 22 KMs away from Manali, is a quiet little village to enjoy the peace and calmness of the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh I have always believed that staying at Naggar Palace, a premium heritage hotel, run by HPTDC is one of the most romantic offbeat experiences of Himachal.

Naggar castle offers some amazingly beautiful views from its front row rooms and balcony-based restaurant.

The best will be that you book rooms in the first row offering a valley view. On a relaxing day, you can hike to Old Krishna Temple, visit Shiv Temple or Roerich Art Gallery and Museum at Naggar.

As soon as you reach the bus stand (I feel it was a bust stand :)) of Naggar lifts your eyes upwards and you can get a glimpse of a castle-like structure made of wood and rocks at a cliff point. It’s approx. 800 Mtrs from the bus stand.

Jagatsukh

On the way to Naggar from Manali, there comes another quiet, calm and small village by the name Jagatsukh. There is a well-known temple there as “Gayatri Temple” which is known to be one of the oldest temples of all time with relevance to “Mahabharata“.

Nowadays Jagatsukh is also gaining popularity in terms of staying away from the hustle-bustle of the Manali town at a peaceful location. So, surely needs a special mention in this list of offbeat places in Himachal.

The valley view from Naggar Castle
The valley view from Naggar Castle
Gayatri temple at Jagatsukh
Gayatri temple at Jagatsukh

10. Jibhi – Shringipur – Shoja – Jalori Pass

We have already talked much about Tirthan Valley in this list of offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh.

However, if you move from Tirthan Valley or Gushaini towards Banjar and take the road to Jalori Pass, you will come across some more peaceful yet not so known hidden tourist places in Himachal. These are popular by the names Jibhi, Ghiyaji / Shringipur / Shringi Vatika, Shoja, and Jalori Pass.

To beat the crowd and have a quiet time with your loved ones, staying at any of these villages will not disappoint you a bit. All these places now have small guest houses or homestays run by mostly local families. You can witness the flowing waters of a tributary to the Tirthan river, especially at Shringi Vatika, and enjoy local cuisines while living in complete calmness.

Shringi Vatika is a homestay/guest house run by an old couple which now they call it Shringipur. HPTDC has put up camps right at Jalori Pass in complete solitude. Apart from majestic valley views, you will not spot anything, and that makes it a perfect place to live away from civilization yet very close to it 🙂 🙂

Shringi Vatika
Shringi Vatika
On top of clouds at Jalori Pass
On top of clouds at Jalori Pass

11. Rajgarh – Nohradhar – Haripurdhar

Located in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, Rajgarh – Nohradhar – Haripurdhar villages are one of the most less known offbeat places in Himachal where you can enjoy complete peace and calmness away from any hustle-bustle.

Only a handful of people know about it, and one can enjoy the drive of about 9-10 hrs from Delhi. Rajgarh lies ahead of Solan, and you can witness pure serenity around the place once you reach.

These places lie on one of the well-known treks by the name Churdhar Trek. In the winter months, these hidden villages become one of those not-so-popular places to find snowfall near Delhi in Himachal.

You can read the entire travel tale in the DwD Community about a family trip to Rajgarh (Sirmour)

12. Chamba – Bharmour – Hadsar – Bairagarh

Many tourists visit Dalhousie – Khajjiar every year and some of them make a day trip to Chamba as well. However, the entire region ahead of Dalhousie – Banikhet is very untouched and quite less explored apart from the days of Manimahesh Yatra.

There are plenty of options of peaceful places in the entire Bharmour Valley ranging from Chamba to Bairagarh, the base of Sach Pass, or an entrance to Pangi Valley. The places around Bharmour only remain rushed during the days of Manimahesh yatra but the rest of the season mostly has fewer tourist footfalls.

However, you can always visit these places to enjoy a quiet holiday with your loved ones. You will not get much outside disturbance. Also, you can make a day trip to tourist places of Dalhousie – Khajjiar from these places to have a balance of touristy plus offbeat experience.

No doubt, these places needed a special mention in this list of offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh near Delhi.

A beautiful view in Bharmour
A beautiful view in Bharmour
A rainy day on the way to Banikhet
A rainy day on the way to Banikhet

Other Offbeat places in Himachal & FAQ

Q1. Does Kinnaur Valley comes in the offbeat places of Himachal Pradesh?

Well, indeed Kinnaur Valley including Sangla, Chitkul, and Kalpa is one of the offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh. However, in order to visit these places you need at least 5 days to make some sense of the trip. I have detailed about it in my most recommended itinerary of Kinnaur Valley, in case you have that many days in hand.
Planing for a trip to Kinnaur Valley in Winters?

Q2. Are there other offbeat places in Himachal apart from this list?

Well, there are other offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh too. If you have not been to places like Bharmour, Spiti Valley, Lahaul Valley or Pangi Valley, they all come under the offbeat tribal belt of Himachal. However, you need more than a weekend to visit these beautiful unknown destinations in Himachal.Barren beauty of Spiti Valley

Conclusion

You can reach all these offbeat places in Himachal from Delhi/NCR in a day. Hence, you can enjoy a complete offbeat vacation of 3 to 4 days at any of these places near Delhi. You can check with me for an itinerary and other details for these lovely off-the-beaten-track travel places in Himachal Pradesh.

So, after going through the complete list of a few undiscovered places in Himachal which one will you put on your bucket list?

In the upcoming articles on this similar series of offbeat places near Delhi, I will cover some offbeat places in Uttarakhand along with offbeat resorts in Himachal to stay. So, stay tuned and subscribe to my email list of travelers to get such tips delivered to your inbox.

Have a travel question?? You can follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel to ask your travel questions in a direct message on Instagram or comment on my YouTube videos.

Please share your thoughts, reviews, suggestions, and experiences as comments. I would be looking forward to them… till then Happy Traveling.

If you know your friends or family are planning a trip to Himachal Pradesh, do share this article with them to help them make a memorable trip to some of these offbeat places in Himachal near Delhi.

12 MUST VISIT Offbeat Places in Himachal Pradesh
12 MUST VISIT Offbeat Places in Himachal Pradesh
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I am Dheeraj Sharma - a traveler, techie, and Himalayan lover. Since 2009, I have been helping thousands of travelers every year plan memorable & budget-friendly trips to the Himalayas - Smartly, Safely, and responsibly.

1,114 Comments

  1. Hi Dheeraj,

    Need your guidance. We are a family of four, me, hubby, 2 daughters( 7 and 3). We are planning a 2 week trip to Himachal in May. We are interested in being close to nature and exploring various organic farms and farm stays in Himachal. Would you have any suggestions for shortlisting the places that we should cover.

    Thanks a lot.

    • Hey Srishti,

      As you will be visiting for couple of weeks, I will highly recommend that you include Kinnaur Valley with Kalpa, Sangla Valley. Spend time there relaxing, then come over and go to Tirthan Valley over Jalori pass and spend time there at Raju Bharti Guest House besides the river. If you haven’t booked it, first check the booking and work around your dates around those days.

      Rest of the places can just be stop overs to enjoy Kinnaur Valley and Tirthan Valley at ease. In case, it seems too monotonous, you can include Manali – Solang Valley as tourist places ahead of Tirthan Valley just to feel the touristy place as well.

  2. Hi Dheeraj,
    We are 4 adults and a 2 yrs old kid wanting to travel to offbeat but beautiful places in Himachal Pradesh between 10th to 15th Feb 2018. Please suggest best options. We will be driving from either Chandigarh or Gurdaspur.

    • Hey Gunjan,

      I will recommend going over to stay at Pabbar Valley OR Barot during this time of the year. You can also plan for Tirthan Valley with Shoja which will give you access to play in snow as well at Jalor Pass.

  3. Ayush Chauhan on

    Hey Dheeraj, I’ve been reading your posts about Spiti and my first solo ever was Spiti itself in June mid.
    I always plan two trips atleast in a year so i had a clue where to go in winters but not the information that i needed which included cheap cost travelling as i was traveling solo again. Then i read one of your posts about Kinnaur in Winters and now I’m done with Kinnaur as well.
    All thanks to you for the most relevant information.
    Looking forward for more from you.
    Wish i was a part of your team 🙂

    • Hey Ayush,

      Thank you and I am glad the info on the website has helped you plan your trip. Being part of the team, if you intend to contribute the articles on DoW Website, I can get you the account created and you can publish them in case you are interested to contribute 🙂

      Regards
      Dheeraj

  4. Jatin Doshi on

    HI Dheeraj,

    Planning a trip to the HImalayas for the end of this month and I am a bit confused. And you and your website have helped me a lot for my Ladakh and Kinnaur trips in the past. I hope you will act as a saviour now also! I have around 7-8 days in hand from Delhi to Delhi. And I want to go to some offbeat place with as many less people as possible, have some good walking trails etc and lots of snow. I read another post of yours on Barot and have been wanting to visit it since a long time. Would it be the right choice. or should I plan for Spiti..I have already done Kinnaur but i think 7 days would be too less for Spiti given that it takes a lot of time to / fro delhi – Kaza – Delhi. I am also thinking of Tirthan Valley. I’ll be a solo traveler and all my transport will be via public transport.

    P.S. Reading your articles, I am most biased towards Barot. But will the 3 things – good walking trails, availability of vegetarian food and snow be possible?!

    • Hey Jatin,

      Wonderful to see you back here again !!

      Well, yes, I will suggest you plan the trip for Barot clubbed with either Tirthan Valley OR Bir – Billing – Prashar. Choose the latter only when you can trek for about 7-8 KMs in snow to reach Prashar Lake. Otherwise for eased out trip you can plan for Barot clubbed with Tirthan Valley, Shoja, Jalori PAss visit till the point snow allows.

  5. hey Dheeraj,
    My train will reach chandigarh on 15th Jan,2018 and I am in himachal till 27th Jan,2018 after that I will go to Amritsar.Can you please suggest me offbeat places to visit and the route and where to stay.I will be obliged if you can help as soon as possible

    • Hey Harsh,

      How are you traveling buddy? Are you self driving or will be using public transport. With winters in North India, most of the places in the mountains will be quiet and kinda offbeat only 😉 … But, with so many days at hand, I will suggest 6-7 days in Kinnaur Valley, then come down and take the route from Karsog – Chindi – Rohanda to Tirthan Valley and spend some time there. You can also visit Jalori Pass from Tirthan as well and either club Prashar Lake or just spend those days in around Tirthan Valley

  6. Chaitali Arora on

    Hello dheeraj,
    Thank you for sharing off beat places, i was looking for exactly same places but in the month of december. I am planning a trip on 22nd dec with my friends to HP. It would be really helpful of you if you could suggsst a place where we can experience serene beauty and snowfall if possible with a 3 days time frame in hand.
    Thank you

  7. Ayush Kumar on

    Hello Dheeraj and thanks for a very informative post.
    I’m planning a trip to Himachal in January with my girlfriend for 5-6 days. So kindly suggest me must to go places. I really want to visit the Spiti Valley.

    • Hey Ayush,

      If you have some buffer days then may be plan a trip up to Kinnaur Valley at max. Otherwise, stick to Pabbar Valley or Shimla or Manali / Solang Valley.

      Spiti valley is kind of harsh in winters and may not give you in return what you expect.

      Regards
      Dheeraj

  8. Fritz Swaner on

    Just seen this great article if you are ready to plan your holidays for next year. Have a look, its good to know.

  9. Hi dheeraj,

    I am planning to travel in October to some untapped location in Himachal from delhi
    Heard many times about chanshal, and barot, and tirthan valley, but I have only 3-4 days to travel and don’t want to drive this time.
    Can you suggest some place and how to travel to that place as I don’t want to drive.

    Thanks

  10. kanchan Thakur on

    Great information and amazing places to visit in Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is one of the greatest place in India which is famous for its nature and tourists visiting this place to spend some quality time.

  11. Dear Dheeraj,

    I am 41 yo and I am planning a bike ride with one of my friends (on 2 different bikes) from Amritsar to Barot in early October. Please, let me know if there are any offbeat places to visit within 50-60 km area around Barot. Buddhist monasteries are also on our minds and I have heard that the areas nearby has many of those. Please suggest.

  12. Dear Dheeraj,
    Much appreciate your valued infos on Off-beat destinations in Himachal.
    I am 64, just did the Tirthan Valley last April with my wife (just two of us) self- driving from Gurgaon. Stayed at the Raju Bharti GH for 3 days. With one night in Kasol and two in Manali, the whole trip was excellent, perhaps could not have been better !
    Please can you suggest me a destination (preferably around this distance) where we can enjoy the beauty of fruit bearing orchards of Apples and Pears (plucking time) with serene and tranquillity at it’s best ? Is it too rainy in Aug/Sep ? Would anyway prefer driving myself (a sedan).
    Thank you for your time Dheeraj.

    Regds……… Abhay

    • That is wonderful to know sir. I will recommend you to either for with Barot – Prashar lake this time in September OR you should plan for a trip to Kinnaur Valley (Sangla, Chitkul, Kalpa) in September for apples.

      • Abhay Mittra on

        Dear Dheeraj Ji,
        Thank you so very much for your kind response with those couple suggestions. Heard of Barot whilst in Palampur two years back, but missed out for a serious thought. Let me sit down and look for some viable option for such trips.
        Would also like to know your suggestion, if a Rail journey up to Joginder Nagar and then taking a Taxi to Barot is a better option than driving myself to Barot. Don’t have any idea if one can leave his car at Joginder N at an authorised safe parking place for 2/3 days !

        Regds….. Abhay

  13. Tripti Sharma on

    Hi Dheeraj,

    Planning to go somewhere quite for the coming long weekend this week. Could you suggest which one should we opt for? A lil bit of adventure spot should be okay but our plan is to spend some quiet time.

    Request you to please share some options and in case you know any good property where we can chill for a few days, please share that too.

    I know its too short a notice but hoping to get a reply from you. Your itineraries have always helped in planning a trip better.

    Thanks,
    Tripti

    • Hello Tripti,

      The roads in Pabbar Valley are a bit bad otherwise you can plan a stay in Pabbar Valley which will be less touristy. Then another option will be to visit Chindi or Karsog to spend quiet time. Then, if you have not been to Tirthan Valley or Barot, you can go with that too.

  14. Ahmad Adeel Khan on

    Hi Dheeraj!
    I am planning to visit Barot along with my friends in August. What would you recommend about visiting the place during monsoon?
    If not Barot, which place would you recommend to visit during the mentioned period?

    • I do not travel in lower hills in monsoon time myself, so personally will not suggest going to a place near the river in monsoon time.

  15. Pallavi Ajay D on

    Hi Dheeraj,
    Very nice info.
    We are planning to visit Himachal in october2017 with our 3years old kid for 7to 8days from pune.
    Can you suggest places among above mentioned by you in article which we can stay in with kid safely and share a itinerary.
    Thanks

    • Pallavi, you can surely plan a trip to Tirthan Valley and Barot together in 7-8 days in hand. Book Raju Bharti Guest House in advance in Tirthan Valley.

  16. Varsha morolia on

    Hello Dheeraj , I m from Delhi n want to know about any such place where I can stay for atleast 7-10 days starting from 16 June 2017, n the place is not over crowded n lacks the mobile connectivity n is in the lap of Mother Earth.

    • Varsha, in such a case you should plan a trip to Kinnaur Valley and Spiti Valley. Either you can go from Manali side to just stay quietly in peace in Spiti Valley or you can do the complete circuit from Shimla – Kinnaur – Spiti – Manali which involves more travel. You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Spiti Valley followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 10-11 days: Most Common Itinerary for Spiti Valley.

      • Varsha morolia on

        Hello Dheeraj ,
        Thanku for the info.
        Do you arrange whole trip for spiti valley for solo travellers ?
        If yes than pls provide me the complete details including the stay n other charges ?

        • PLEASE note Discover with Dheeraj is a Travel Platform to share information with fellow like minded travellers for FREE. We neither organize any tours nor offer any travel packages. There are some people who do sell tours and run commercial things with same or similar names like ours with few spelling changes. Please BEWARE of such copy cats using our name to disguise fellow travelers, as they use our name or similar name to fool people for their own commercial purpose and in the past we have heard tons of complaints about them from the people who got confused in entities and ended up trips with them.

          We at Discover with Dheeraj Travel Platform offer sufficient information we possibly can from road conditions to routes to maps to hotel details to day by day plans and other advises that one need to make a successful Himalayan trip including Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand or North-East thoroughly. This will save you a lot of money and hassles too which you can use to buy something good for you or to help the ones in need in Himalayas 🙂 🙂

  17. Hi Dheeraj,
    Im Ignatius Fernandes and am planning a family trip to himachal and Amritsar in mid Oct 2017.
    I want to plan an itinerary which is not the commercialised one but one where my family can appreciate how beautiful nature is and also would love to do adventure sports while at it. We are looking at a 7-10 days trip. Hope you can guide us here in terms of stay , travel and costs etc. Thanks

    • Hello Ignatius,

      You can pretty much follow the below plan:

      Day 1 – Leave from Delhi by overnight Volvo for Manali. Get down at Aut/Bhunter near Kullu next morning (Day 2) where you can get to reach Tirthan Valley (about 40-45 KMs from there)
      Day 2 – Tirthan Valley – Relaxing day besides Tirthan River
      — Stay at Raju Bharti Guest House (you will need booking well in advance, so finalize it ASAP) other you need to stay at some other property. Raju is a pioneer in that region, so will say do not miss the stay there as it is quite an experience in itself.
      Day 3 – Tirthan Valley
      — Enjoy the walks in the GHNP. There are two Waterfalls nearby Raju GH in the woods.
      Day 4 – Tirthan Valley – Naggar Castle (about 50 KMs)
      — Stay at Naggar Castle and enjoy the place. Very romantic with great views and food. Visit Roerich Musueum, Art Gallery and do not miss the hike to ancient Krishna Temple at the top
      — It is one of the most romantic places in Himachal
      Day 5 – Naggar Castle – Manali (about 30 KMs)
      — Manali Local sightseeing including Manu Temple, Hadimba Temple, Local Monastery, Shopping at Mall road etc etc
      Day 6 – Manali – Rohtang Pass – Solang Valley – Manali
      Day 7 | Manali – Amritsar
      Day 8 | Amritsar
      Day 9 | Amritsar and return

  18. Superb information and amazing places to visit in himachal pradesh.

  19. Hi Dheeraj,

    I’ve come across your post for the first time and found it very useful. My name is Namita and am looking for a remote place with moderate weather for a 6 month solitude excursion. Ideally it should be remote but with access to a market for supplies. Would you be aware of a place like that where in i could rent a simple room for a long stay. All your inputs are highly appreciated.

    Many Thanks!
    Namita

    • Namita, Gushaini in Tirthan Valley is such a place and so as I will say any villages like Ani – Khanag towards Jalori Pass. Then, Barot, Luhardi will also not disappoint you.

  20. nivedhitha ramesh on

    Hi I read your articles and we are three sisters travelling from chennai and we are planning s a weeks trip . Can u suggest the best places we can cover himachal .
    Looking forward to hear from you .

  21. Hi Dheeraj

    Hope you are doing well.

    We are a group of 5 people, planning to visit Himachal / Uttrakhand in May-June, for 7 days. We will be coming from Mumbai

    Please help on the following: –
    1. Can we cover both states in 7 days. We all would want to cover the maximum places, of course with limited hassle.
    2. If not, then please let me know the places which can be covered during May-June

    Thanks in advance!

  22. we are planning for 2n3days trip in mid January.
    please sugest some place near to delhi where we can enjoy snowfall or snow games

  23. Nidhi Thakur on

    Great post!

    You covered very good places! I hope one day I will visit these places.
    I like Triund, Dharamshala a lot.

    Thanks for sharing a very informative post.

    • Thank you Nidhi, glad you liked them. There is another post that covers 7 more offbeat places of Himachal Pradesh worth taking a look and adding to your bucket list 🙂

  24. Sonam Raina on

    Hello Dheeraj. What are some good offbeat places to go to in HP in November last week? It is going to be very cold. What would you recommend keeping the weather in mind?

  25. Anil kumar on

    Himachal Pradesh is such a Beautiful hilly place where we get whole experience of up and downs….Greenary gives different awesome look to it and different vallies of Himachal gives us this chance.

  26. Hi Dheeraj,
    Want to plan 3 day trip in Oct to offbeat location Barot..
    Can u guide me what all activities is available? Where to stay? How long it takes from Delhi.. Mode of transportation by car or volvo.. Recommendation on hotel.. Near by must visit..
    Thanks

  27. NARESH JAKHAR on

    Hi Dheeraj,
    Nice to see all your comments & suggestions to travelers. Please help me to finalize any destination to enjoy holidays. I am planning to travel somewhere in Himachal Pardesh with my family on 22nd to 25th September, 2016. I am looking for a riverside hill station with naturally beautiful scenes and less crowded. We will travel in my own car. Please suggest.
    Thanks

    • It is more or less a simple hike than a trek, The whole route is paved mostly. Just a matter of body stamina and how much you walk in general.

  28. Hi dheeraj ,

    Planning a trip with family for appx 5 days in the month of october ( 10th to 15th )
    Priorities
    1. Decent travelling conditions by road,
    2. Off beat less explored locations with some activities nearby.
    3. group Tour would also be fine

    Could you suggest an itenary

  29. Ratheesh R Nath on

    Great information about Himachal Pradesh, everyone should visit Himachal….

  30. Hey Dheeraj, by any chance do you have any idea of how are the roads to Daranghati and Sarahan at this time.

    • Atul, there have been landslides all around Himachal in the lower hill. Near Solan there was a landslide which blocked NH-22. So, at this time conditions of roads are not so well anywhere due to excessive rains.

  31. Hello, Excellent blog. Please help me frame my itinerary. I have 4 – 5 days in Himachal and want to visit Dharamshala. Will be starting from Gurgaon on fri night. I planned for Paragliding but all sports are closed now due to the monsoon 🙁

    My tentative itinerary

    Saturday – Reach Amritsar Sat morn by train. Visit Golden temple and Wagah border and start to Dharamshala the same evening and reach by midnight.

    Sunday – Sight seeing around Dharamshala

    Monday – Triud trek. How are places to stay at the top? Can I check out Dharamshala room and stay at Triund top? Or do I need to come back down and stay at Dharamshala?

    Tues – Dalhousie / Khajjar???? How are these places? Are they worth going the extra 100 kms? If not pls suggest some place for Tuesday. I m planning to get a flight by Wed late morning !

    Wed noon – Flight back home from Dharamshala.

    • Chendur, the plan seems fine but I will advice you to drop the dalhousie and spend time at Triund with easy trek up, stay overnight and come down the trek next day.There are couple of dhabhas and a room to stay.

  32. Hi dheeraj
    Hope u r doing great
    We r a couple and planning a trip to Tirthan, starting from delhi on 3rd August and be back by 7th August night.
    We have already covered Shimla.
    This time want to visit Tirthan and nearby places
    Kindly suggest if narkanda Wil b a gud option or pabbar valley can be covered in this time period.
    Else if not above two then what could be added to our trip
    Please suggest and we r planning to stay at Raju Bharti guest house.

    Thanks in advance

    • Please check with raju about the river water level during this time and is right time to visit or not. He will be able to guide you. You should plan Narkanda – shoja – Jalori pass along with Tirthan valley

  33. Hi Dheeraj!
    Telhanks a lot for sharing your travel experience.

    I want to travel to Himachal this week ( 14 th June to 18th June)
    1) This will be my first solo trip
    2) I want to go to some place which is non commercial and full of nature
    3) Will be taking bus from Chandigarh
    4) I dont want to spend too much time in travelling ( an overnight journey from Chandigarh is fine )so that I don’t loose time in admiring nature
    5) Has to be a budget trip for me
    Need your help in suggestions for a place which has all these for me.
    Thanks,
    Sumit

    • You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Spiti Valley followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 10-11 days: Most Common Itinerary for Spiti Valley.

      PS: Do pay a visit to our DoW Spiti Library in Kaza. Who knows you short walk there may help it remain active for the kids up there for much longer time 🙂 :)…

  34. Ravindra Rathore on

    Hey Dheeraj … hope you are doing great ..

    We are a group of 6 people and planning to visit dharmashala in mid july by bus or train for 3-4 days. Can you kindly share some itinerary and some offbeat places around dharamshala to visit.

  35. Nipun Jain on

    Hey hie..

    6 of us are planning to go to a trip from delhi to Himachal mainly Manali.
    We are thinking to leave on 9th night and return by max 13th night or 14th morning.
    Can you suggest us a good itinerary which covers a good luxury stay near manali along with some off beat places visit nearby ( within 100 kms ) and other adventures. Also we are planning to travel via Innova.
    Please help us 🙂

  36. We are 2, planning a budget trip from jaipur. We have our own bajaj avenger. We will be travelling in september so wanted to know which place will be the best. We had plans for leh but that didnt come out so now i want the best from himachal and i am sure there are places beautiful than manali.
    Please tell about a place. We have 4 nights in our schedule. So i want you to

    1) tell the best time to travel in September. Will rainfall create any trouble?
    2) approx. price of budget hotels per night
    3) places which can be covered in 3 days
    Appreciating your help in advance 🙂

  37. Mukesh mangla on

    Hi bro
    So confused
    Had plans to go to manali for 3 days from delhi n stay at a home stay n relax..
    But now want to go to naggar kasol tirthan…
    Pls suggest how to go about it….
    Have a max of 7 days incl journey time from delhi..1 june onwards

    • Day 1 – Leave from Delhi by overnight Volvo for Manali. Get down at Aut/Bhunter near Kullu next morning (Day 2) where you can get to reach Tirthan Valley (about 40-45 KMs from there)
      Day 2 – Tirthan Valley – Relaxing day besides Tirthan River
      — Stay at Raju Bharti Guest House (you will need booking well in advance, so finalize it ASAP) other you need to stay at some other property. Raju is a pioneer in that region, so will say do not miss the stay there as it is quite an experience in itself.
      Day 3 – Tirthan Valley
      — Enjoy the walks in the GHNP. There are two Waterfalls nearby Raju GH in the woods.
      Day 4 – Tirthan Valley – Naggar Castle (about 50 KMs)
      — Stay at Naggar Castle and enjoy the place. Very romantic with great views and food. Visit Roerich Musueum, Art Gallery and do not miss the hike to ancient Krishna Temple at the top
      — It is one of the most romantic places in Himachal
      Day 5 – Naggar Castle – Manali (about 30 KMs)
      — Manali Local sightseeing including Manu Temple, Hadimba Temple, Local Monastery, Shopping at Mall road etc etc
      Day 6 – Manali – Marhi/Gulaba Snow Points towards Rohtang Pass – Solang Valley – Manali
      – You can enjoy the first half of the day at snow point MArhi/Gulaba (whichever is accessible) and if interested may also visit Solang Valley snow point for other adventure activities
      Day 7 | Manali – Delhi by overnight Volvo
      — Relax in Manali by evening and leave from Manali by overnight Volvo.

  38. hello… last year I was reading this page for our trip to ladakh.. a nice trip it was indeed with our 4×4. explored some really less traveled paths. this time planning to spend some quite time and to do some nature walks…have 5-8 days. will it be ok to do sarahan and barot both .. or any one of them should be done with some different combination of places. with the same 4X4 …

      • lahaul spiti interests me a lot. last time also, we could not take this route to leh.. as roads were blocked. we are planning to explore lahaul spiti next summers, when we have 8-12 days or more in hand.. what about great himalayan national park. but that would be in tirthan route i guess.. and it wud be complete trekking thing? I think with less days in hand, and with the motive to get peace and some relaxation, we should restrict ourselves to camping in darahanghati and some nearby places like sarahan..

  39. Amit Jaiswal on

    Hey Dheeraj,
    You are a rockstar man..doing great work of helping people with their travel itinerary.
    From your blog I am already in love with Barot. I am planning my trip from Delhi in June 1st week (07-12) and got 5 days in hand. Can you please help in finding other areas around barot, which can be covered during this 5 day trip?
    I’ll be travelling with wife and 4yr kid so our only plan is to relax and enjoy the nature.
    please also suggest some good places/hotel to stay around these areas.

    below route shared in your blog looks perfect to me.
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    By Train: The closest railway station is at Joginder Nagar and there is a narrow gauge railway line connecting Joginde Nagar to Pathankot. When travelling from Delhi, here’s the route: Delhi – Pathankot (480KM) and the narrow gauge track from Pathankot – Joginder Nagar (153KM). From Joginder Nagar to Ghatasni (35 KM) and then to Barot (25 KMs), shall be covered by road.
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    Many Thanks
    Amit J

  40. Hi dheeraj,

    can u pls suggest me any good place(hilly area in HP) to go from delhi in may ’16.

    i have only 5N/4day. own car(dezire).

    manali/shimla/kausauli/dalhousie already covered last year pls exclude them.

  41. Shreya Bahadure on

    Hi,
    You are doing a great job helping us out with traveling the best and its real helpful.
    So, we are planning (mom, dad and me) a trip to Himachal say around 23 may this year for maybe 6-8 days
    and we love going off beat instead of the regular tourist destinations we would love seeing the real beauty of the nature, we love to go hiking trekking and adventurous sports as well. accomodation can be adjusted we are willing to stay at home stays as well if the view is to die for or hotels resorts are fine by us too.
    So, if you could help me out with an itinerary which could cover the rich beautiful peacefull and off beat places in Himachal it would be really helpfull.
    Thank you

  42. Abhishek Garhwal on

    Hi Dheeraj,

    First of all thanks for the awesome work of helping people with their travel. I am planning for a 6-7 day trip in may start in himachal. I have my 50 year old mom and young sister along with me so i would prefer someplace where we could just relax & enjoy scenic nature . I don’t want any trekking as i have mom with me. I don’t want to go to heavily commercialized places like manali and shimla. Please suggest the destinations along with travel plan. I would be using public transport only. (Few places that i came across while reading your comments are tirthan valley, barot, chindi etc. . Please share the most optimized one in my case. )

    Thanks in advance 🙂

    • Hi Abhishek,

      Between Tirthan Valley, Barot, Pabbar Valley, you will not go wrong with any of them. Let me know which one you opt and I can suggest plan accordingly.

      • Abhishek Garhwal on

        Hi Dheeraj, I have decided to stick with tirthan valley and jibhi. Kindly suggest according to it . We would be going through our own vehicle. Thanks

        • Hi Abhishek,

          Day 1 – Delhi – Tirthan Valley (about 40-45 KMs from there)
          Day 2 – Tirthan Valley – Relaxing day besides Tirthan River
          — Stay at Raju Bharti Guest House (you will need booking well in advance, so finalize it ASAP) other you need to stay at some other property. Raju is a pioneer in that region, so will say do not miss the stay there as it is quite an experience in itself.
          Day 3, 4 – Tirthan Valley
          — Enjoy the walks in the GHNP. There are two Waterfalls nearby Raju GH in the woods.
          Day 5 – Tirthan Valley – Jalori Pass – Chindi
          — Enjoy the stay at Chindi
          Day 6 – Chindi – Karsog – Chindi
          Day 7 | Chindi – Back home

  43. Hi.

    Me and my wife are looking to take a road trip to Himachal from Delhi.

    Car – Wagon R (Personal).

    Days at hand – 10-12

    Please suggest a good plan, also stay over points / budget shall be a great help.

      • Hi Dheeraj.

        There is a slight change now to the plan.

        We shall be at Mcleodganj on Sunday, 8th May 2016 (Done with Triund and Mcleodganj nearabouts). We can start anytime after 2 pm.

        We need to be back in Delhi latest by 14th May 2016.
        Car – Wagon R (Personal).

        Please suggest a good plan, also stay over points / budget shall be a great help.

        • So, you have 5 days in hand and can follow the below plan:

          Day 1 – Mclead Ganj – Tirthan Valley
          Day 2 – Tirthan Valley – Relaxing day besides Tirthan River
          — Stay at Raju Bharti Guest House (you will need booking well in advance, so finalize it ASAP) other you need to stay at some other property. Raju is a pioneer in that region, so will say do not miss the stay there as it is quite an experience in itself.
          Day 3, 4 – Tirthan Valley
          — Enjoy the walks in the GHNP. There are two Waterfalls nearby Raju GH in the woods.
          Day 5 – Tirthan Valley – Delhi over Jalori Pass

        • Thank you Dheeraj. Thank you for the help.

          One more small trouble please.

          Starting :- Chandigarh 2nd May 2016
          Ending :- Delhi 14th May 2016.

          Commitments :- Have to be in Triund from 6th Evening to 8th Afternoon rest all is flexible.

          Me and my wife on my Wagon R.

          Please suggest something for this. I would like to cover Kaza / Chitkul / Sangla if possible.

          Can it be done. ?

        • In just 5 days in hand, you cannot make a visit to Kaza. If you want you can go to Chitkul, Sangla and Kalpa but beyond that will take too much of time.

          8th: Reach Mandi
          9th: Mandi – Sarahan
          10th: Sarahan – Sangla/Chitkul
          11th: Sangla/Chitkul
          12th: Sangla/Chitkul – Kalpa
          13: Kalpa – Narkanda
          14: Narkanda – Delhi/Chandigarh

  44. Hey Dheeraj,

    Hope you are doing fine.

    We have planned a road trip to North in November 2016

    30 October – 11th November
    We will precisely start our journey from delhi and end in Jammu as we have a wedding to attend in jammu on 11th November.
    Requirement is to explore Simla, kullu, manali , J&K (except leh, seems the road close down in october)
    Need your valuable suggestion and a tour plan

    • Hi Priyanka,

      You can follow the below plan:

      Day 1 – Delhi to Tirthan Valley (long drive, but relax for next few days to tip it off)
      Day 2 – Tirthan Valley
      Day 3 – Tirthan Valley – Kasol
      Day 4 – Spend a day in Kasol, nothing much but hikes around and spend some time by the river
      Day 5 – Kasol – Naggar Palace – then move to Manali / Solang
      Day 6 – Spend Day at Manali relaxing and local sightseeing
      Day 7 – Manali – Snow Point – Solang and back
      Day 8 – Manali – Dharamshala – Mcleod Ganj
      Day 9 – Mcleod Ganj and around
      Day 10 – Mcleod Ganj – Dalhousie – Khajjiar
      Day 11 – Khajjiar – Dalhousie – Jammu

  45. Gagan Choudhary on

    First of all Dheeraj take a bow. You are a true man. Managing to answer everyone here is just amazing. I salute.
    And since I saw a lot of things here I am now also in need to ask you something.
    I along with my roommate planning a trip to Himachal. We have 5 days in hand and start and stop point will be chandigarh.
    Will be having a Ford Ecosport. We thought to go somewhere in dharamshala etc and come back via Mandi.
    But its just a thought. We can change this with no issue.
    We will be two boys of 22 full of energy and adrenaline. Tell me where we should head. Less crowded places will be top priority. No problem where we stay, we can even put a tent roadside if needed.
    Please help me dhreej.

    • Thanks Gagan 🙂 ….

      Go ahead with a plan like below:

      Day 1 | Chandigarh – Shimla – Sarahan
      Day 2 | Sarahan – Sangla/Rakcham
      Day 3 | Sangla/Rakcham – Chitkul
      Day 4 | Chitkul – Narkanda
      Day 5 | Narkanda – Delhi

      • Gagan Choudhary on

        Amazing. Thanks. It’s the itinerary now. Would you like to give any suggestions about what we should carry with us in car apart from Jack, tools and a few snacks?

        Also, I guess its also good Idea to book hotels in advance wherever possible.

  46. Hi Dheeraj,
    Pretty impressed with your know how of some off beat places in HP. After some research, we (me and my wife with our 3 year old son) intend to visit Pabbar Valley, Tirthan Valley, Gushaini and Daranghati. We plan to drive from Delhi and wish to explore few of these off beat places in HP. Kindly guide us if these places can be covered in a 6 day trip. We don’t wish to exert ourselves since we have a kid however, would like to explore and spend quality time at these places. Kindly suggest of all these places are doable during a 6 day trip. Feel free to suggest any other places that are worth visiting and lie on the same/closest route. We have no idea at this point in time how we should plan our itinerary. Hence seek your guidance.

    Look forward to your response and we shall plan our trip asap.
    Thanks a lot.
    Vikas

    • Hello Vikas,

      With just 6 days in hand you cannot visit everything mentioned in the article. You should just focus upon Tirthan Valley to make a relaxing trip and realy others for some other time. May be on the way back you can stay couple of nights at Chindi.

  47. Hi Dheeraj,

    Great blog!! I am planning to visit Barot for two days days in mid june after I complete Sarpass trek …All I want to know is is it safe visiting Barot as a solo woman traveller….

    Thanks,

  48. Hi Dheeraj

    Amazing blog first of all!
    We are planning a trip from Delhi-Chandigarh-Dalhousie-Khajjiar-McLeodganj-Dharamshala-Delhi for a 7 day trip next week. However I have heard that NH1 in many places have agitations and protests and chaos. Can u please shed more light on the status and also the route.

  49. Dear Dheeraj,
    good to see your immense love for nature and travel 🙂 am sure that will be helpful for our trip too… We will be travelling to himachal from delhi in july last week,having some 5 days with us (bunch of 8-9 friends). Pls suggest the best places to visit in this short span.

    Regards,
    Annie

    • Annie, well, this will be monsoon time and mostly places are troublessome in lower hills with swollen rivers and frequnt landslides. Are you sure you want to visit it?

      • Hi Dheeraj,
        we will be in mandi for a wedding that time, hence thought to see places around. which would be the safest of places to visit at that time then.

  50. Prasoon Bhushan on

    we are planning for Himachal in Mid August, kindly sugget me the places which can be covered in 8 days
    our trip will start from delhi as we reaching delhi on 13th Aug. we are group of 8 boys.
    thanks

    • Prasoon, it is not a wise time to visit Himachal due to heavy rains of monsoons. You will mostly be stuck inside hotel room or may face monsoon hassles of landslides and high raised bloated mad rivers.

  51. Tejendra singh on

    Namaste Dheeraj ji ,

    Greetings ,myself is Tej , I am looking for off beat Trip around HP , mainly chillaxing ,enjoy ,Life ,mountains , food , i will be with my friend from Australia , so safe comfortable enough ,
    your kind suggestion will be appreciable Delhi-HP-Amritsar( Either in first or in last ) -Delhi ,

    Thanks & Regards
    Tej

      • Tejendra singh on

        Thank you so much for your reply Dheeraj Ji,
        it will be 1 June to 10 June , what you suggest in terms of ,having One Vehicel for the whole 10 days or ? any recommendations regarding accommodations,

        Regards
        Tej

        • Yes, best will be to have one vehicle for the whole trip. But, you have 10 days in hand? Then better will be that you make a relaxing trip in Kinnaur Valley and Spiti Valley

          Day 1 | Delhi – Narkanda
          Day 2 | Narkanda – Kalpa
          Day 3 | Kalpa – Nako – Tabo
          Day 4 | Tabo – Dangkar – Pin Valley – Kaza
          Day 5 | Kaza and around (Ki, kibber, gette, hikkim, komik, langza – Choose whatever you possibly can)
          Day 6 | Kaza towards Kunzum Pass, if possible Chandratal and back to Kaza OR come back to Tabo for night stay
          Day 7 | Kaza/Tabo – Geyu Mummy – Kalpa/Sangla
          Day 8 | Kalpa/Sangla – Chitkul – Sarahan
          Day 9 | Sarahan – Delhi (long drive but as last day you can rest at home)

          Take one day as buffer day

        • Tejendra singh on

          Namaste Dheeraj ji ,

          Thanks for Detailed Itinerary , what you suggest if i say :

          3-3-3 Nights at three scenic beautiful places in total

          Delhi fly to Bhuntar ( Kullu )

          3 Nights

          3 Nights

          3 Nights

          2 Nights at Amritsar

          Back to Delhi ,

          Regards
          Tej

        • Hello Tej ji,

          You can try below plan:

          Day 1 – Reach Tirthan Valley in the morning after a journey by overnight Volvo to Aut and then by cab/taxi to Tirthan or taxi from Kullu airport if you planning to fly down
          Day 2 – Tirthan Valley rest day, may be visit local waterfall
          Day 3 – Tirthan Valley rest besides river
          Day 4 – Tirthan Valley walk in GHNP
          Day 5 – Tirthan Valley – Barot (Barot does not have lavish but only basic stays)
          Day 6 – Barot Rest day
          Day 7 – Barot Rest day
          Day 8 – Barot – Prashar Lake – Mandi
          Day 9 – Mandi – Amritsar

          Alternatively, you can drop plan to fly to Kullu and visit much beautiful Kinnaur Valley

          Day 1 | Delhi/Chandigarh – Shimla – Narkanda
          Day 2 | Narkanda – Sangla Valley
          Day 3 | Sangla – Chitkul / Sangla
          Day 4 | Sangla – Chitkul / Sangla
          Day 5 | Sangla – Chitkul / Sangla
          Day 6 | Chitkul / Sangla – Kalpa
          Day 7 | Kalpa
          Day 8 | Kalpa – Sarahan
          Day 9 | Sarahan – Chail/Shimla
          Day 10 | Chail/Shimla – Delhi

  52. sarah iqbal on

    Hi Dheeraj
    You gave me advice regarding a trip to Himachal about a year and a half back. Turned out to be amazing for me and my family. This time, me and my friends are planning to go trekking in late April. Could you please suggest what should be the ideal destination for a short trip of say 4 days.

    P.S I have already been to Tirthan so looking at other options.

  53. Hi Dheeraj

    Thanks for the wonderful info and I am new to this group.

    Planning for a 7 day road trip from April 23rd to HP from Delhi and preferably to Tirthan Valley — Kasol — Manali — Rohtang Pass and back. Can you suggest a refinement to this?

    Thank you 🙂

    • Hi Krj,

      You can follow something like below

      Day 1 – Reach Tirthan Valley in the morning after a journey by overnight Volvo to Aut and then by cab/taxi to Tirthan
      Day 2 – Tirthan Valley rest day, may be visit local waterfall
      Day 3 – Tirthan Valley – Kasol
      Day 4 – Spend a day in Kasol, nothing much but hikes around and spend some time by the river
      Day 5 – Kasol – Naggar Palace – then move to Manali / Solang Valley
      Day 6 – Manali – Snow Point of Rohtang Pass – Manali / Solang Valley
      Day 7 – Spend Daytime at Manali relaxing and local sightseeing and then take the overnight Volvo in the evening to reach next early morning.

  54. Hi Dheeraj,

    This is great post with detailed description followed by a link… I really appreciate the effort given on detailing. There are not many posts for Indian offbeat destinations. keep up the good work
    I and my Husband want to do a adventurous (but doable) bike trip on our anniversary in second week of April. we can give max of 4 days. Tirthan valley or Pabbar valley sounds good because it would give romantic feel near riverside as its our anniversary.. Im thinking to reach Chandigarh via train and hire a bike from there.

    1) we have never rode a bike in mountains.. would it be doable??
    2) can you help/suggest a bike rental service from Chandigarh??
    3) if we start from Chandigarh around 1 in afternoon, by what time we should reach our destination.. we would be taking early morning Shatabdi from Delhi.
    4) Any suggestions to change destination or not do a bike ride??

    Thanks in advance
    Harshita

    • Thank you HArshita, glad you liked the post.

      1. Tirthan Valley will be much better but follow the Aut route from both side and avoid Jalori Pass trip riding on your own as you guys dont have experience of bike riding in mountains.

      2. Sorry no contacts of bike rental there.
      3. 1 will be too late to start, it will take about 8-9 Hrs easily to reach Tirthan Valley from Chandigarh
      4. If you are not familiar with bike rides in mountains, I will suggest trying some closerby location first and then going deep in mountains. But, if you guys are habitual of 9-10 Hrs of journey on bike in a day and are good riders, then may be you can give it a shot.

      • Hey Dheeraj,

        Thanks for your reply. No we are actually not familiar with biking in mountains.. plus we would be taking one bike because i cannot ride gear bikes..
        could you suggest any offbeat destination which is 3-4 hour drive from Chandigarh.. around Shimla may be..

        Thanks
        Harshita

        • Hey Dheeraj,

          Thanks for your reply. No we are actually not familiar with biking in mountains.. plus we would be taking one bike because i cannot ride gear bikes..
          could you suggest any offbeat destination which is 3-4 hour drive from Chandigarh.. around Shimla may be..

          Thanks
          Harshita

          Hey Dheeraj,

          i have come up with a small itinerary pls tell if sounds good.

          day 1- delhi to Chandigarh via shatabti. hire bike and head on to shimla. stay little off like fagu. or if you can suggest any place nearby Shimla..

          day 2- stay at fagu or whichever place i decide

          day 3- Start after breakfast for Tirthan valley. Now i want to know how much time it will take from Shimla to reach Tirthan valley on a bike. and is it a good idea??
          Also, i would like to do camping by riverside or have some different experience while staying here.
          day 4- i can stay one more night also and can back also.. not sure right now..

          please suggest
          Thanks
          Harshita

        • Well, instead of Shimla/Fagu – Tirthan Valley without any bike riding experience over Jalori Pass is very very tricky and risky. I will not advice that at all. Also, Shimla/Fagu to Tirthan Valley does not make any sense to me as it is quite far. So, better roam around Shimla only OR go over to Tirthan Valley.

          Day 1 | Chandigarh – Mandi
          Day 2 | Mandi – Tirthan Valley
          Day 3 | Tirthan Valley
          Day 4 | Tirthan Valley – Bilaspur
          Day 5 | Bilaspur – Chandigarh

          This is much easy. In case you do not have that much time and with no riding experience and less amount of travel you want to do, I will suggest go with Fagu / Narkanda only.

    • Hi Dheeraj

      Thanks for the wonderful info and I am new to this group.

      Planning for a 7 day road trip from April 23rd to HP from Delhi and preferably to Tirthan Valley — Kasol — Manali — Rohtang Pass and back. Can you suggest a refinement to this?

      Thank you 🙂

  55. Hello Dhiraj. Im planning a 7 day trip to himachal from delhi. The plan is day 1- del to chd , day 2- chd to manali, after this im really confused about where to go and what all to explore. Please help.
    Im planning to do this on classic 350 and im a nature lover.
    Thanks a lot.
    Hemant

    • Hi Hemant,

      If you want to explore around Manali, then you can follow below plan:

      Day 1 – Start from Chandigarh and take turn at Aut from where you can get to reach Tirthan Valley (about 30 KMs from there)
      Day 2 – Tirthan Valley – Relaxing day besides Tirthan River
      — Stay at Raju Bharti Guest House (you will need booking well in advance, so finalize it ASAP) other you need to stay at some other property. Raju is a pioneer in that region, so will say do not miss the stay there as it is quite an experience in itself.
      Day 3 – Tirthan Valley
      — Enjoy the walks in the GHNP. There are two Waterfalls nearby Raju GH in the woods.
      Day 4 – Tirthan Valley – Naggar Castle (about 50 KMs)
      — Stay at Naggar Castle and enjoy the place. Very romantic with great views and food. Visit Roerich Musueum, Art Gallery and do not miss the hike to ancient Krishna Temple at the top
      — It is one of the most romantic places in Himachal
      Day 5 – Naggar Castle – Manali (about 30 KMs)
      — Manali Local sightseeing including Manu Temple, Hadimba Temple, Local Monastery, Shopping at Mall road etc etc
      Day 6 – Manali – Marhi/Gulaba Snow Points towards Rohtang Pass – Solang Valley – Manali
      – You can enjoy the first half of the day at snow point MArhi/Gulaba (whichever is accessible) and if interested may also visit Solang Valley snow point for other adventure activities
      Day 7 | Manali – Delhi/Chandigarh

  56. Hi Dheeraj,
    We are planning a trip to himachal..we will travelling on 5th March from Delhi..we hv 7 days plan to stay…can u please suggest best places in himachal where we might see showfall btwn this span..also please guide us with our itenary if we trying to include McLeod Ganj, Dalhousie, manali, khajiar. Also suggest if I missed out some good places dat we can include..request your help in making our trip d best one

    • Urvashi, 7 days will be less for all the places you have mentioned above in the comment. You can try below:

      Day 1 : Delhi – Ambala – Banur – Kharad – Roopnagar – Hoshiyarpur – Dasuya – Mukerian – Pathankot – Chakki – Dhar – Tunnahati – Banikhet – Dalhousie
      Day 2 : Dalhousie – Chamera Lake (21 KM) – Chamba (40 KM)
      Day 3 : Chamba – Gete (17 Km) – Jot (12 KM) – Gete (12 KM) – Khajjiar (7 KM)
      Day 4 : Khajjiar – Kalatop – Khajjiar
      Day 5 : Khajjiyar – Dharamshala – Mcleod Ganj
      Day 6 : Mcleod Ganj
      Day 7 : Mcleod Ganj – Dharamshala – Delhi

      If you want to trek Triund, you can extend the trip as

      Day 6 : Mcleod Ganj – Triund Trek, 4-4.5 Hrs onw way
      Day 7 : Triund – Mcleod Ganj
      Day 8 : Mcleod Ganj – Dharamshala – Delhi

      • thanks Dheeraj..We have now reduced the locations and planned for mcleod ganj and manali…We will be reaching delhi on 5th mrng and leaving for Chandigarh and stay over nite in chandigarh inorder to avoid continous drive to manali. 6th morning will leave for Manali and stay in Manali on 6th & 7th…now we are planning to stay over nite in some good offbeat place near manali or on the way to mcleodganj. 8th & 9th Stay we are yet to plan…and on 10th & 11th will stay in mcleadganj.Can you please suggest some good place to stay and enjoy on the way on 8th & 9th. your input will help

        • Urvashi, in Manali or around Manali, you can stay at Raison or in Naggar. It should help you avoid mad crowd. You can even go over and stay at Solang or Bahang ahead of Manali. 8th, you will be traveling from Manali to Mcleod Ganj and then you will have 9,10,11 with you to stay at Mcleod Ganj. I will suggest you trek to Triund, 4 Hrs normal trek. You will enjoy it.

  57. Hi Dheeraj, I am planning to travel to Himachal in February.
    Could you please share some information as to which all places will be accessible considering the snowfall?
    Also, do you recommend Triund in this season?

    Thanks,
    Shwetank

  58. Avnish Thakkar on

    Hi Dheeraj,

    I am a very recent member of the forum and I joined the forum hoping for some valuable inputs. I am planning for a trip in the last week of this month (March) in Himachal. The main points of my plan are:

    1.I would be travelling from Delhi, along with my wife
    2.I am planning for Delhi-Shimla-Dharamsala-Manali-Chandigarh-Delhi
    3.The first thing is – would the roads open and motorable or do I need to rethink the travel dates?
    4.I would like to rent a Avenger 220 cc for the trip. Would it able to take the punishment on these roads?
    5. I have read your above article just now and I have booked hotel at above places and have a spare day at all mentioned locations (i.e. shimal, manali & dhrmasala). Can I visit any of the above places?

    This is the basic plan and on the basis of your inputs, I look forward to refining it!

    I would be grateful for your inputs.

    Thanks

    • Hi Avnish,

      1. The roads on this route will be open Avnish, Shimla – Dharmashala – Manali remains open always all round the year. Yes, Avenger is fine to take these roads. These all are tarred roads, no issues at all. Hmm, now it will be difficult to adjust these places in between. Better make the plan to these places sometime else, currently enjoy your ride 🙂

  59. Ananda Majumdar on

    Hi Dheeraj,
    This could be a difficult one. Planing to drive from Jaipur to HP in late March . Can you suggest some places please. I have some 8 days in total. Can I do the tribal belt in March ? Your help will be appreciated very much.
    Thanks in advance.
    Ananda

      • Ananda Majumdar on

        Dheeraj,
        Is there some one I can talk to before finalizing my bookings and itinerary.
        Thanks again.
        Ananda

        • Ananda Majumdar on

          Not exactly. Me n my wife will be travelling with my 68/70yrs old in-laws ( No health issue ). Would like to take it slow and don’t want to drive more than 4/5 hrs a day unless forced in the hills. So here goes the probable itinerary.
          19th March from Delhi to Kasauli.
          2oth and 21st nite at Narkanda
          22nd and 23 nite at Kalpa
          24th to 26th nite at Chail
          Frankly can’t decide where to stay. Narrowed down to Chail Palace in Chail only. Can you help me with some hotels please and do you think the itinerary is ok. Will be able to cover some nice places?
          Thanks for your time and help in advance.

        • Ananda Majumdar on

          Extremely helpful. One more question. Hopefully there will not be any self driving issue with the local authority/ taxi associations. I face a similar issue in Sikkim couple of yrs back………..
          Thank you so much.

  60. Harshit bhatia on

    Hi

    We are 6 friends and are planning to go on extended weekend for christmas(Dec 24,2015-Dec 27,2015). We will start from delhi.
    Plz suggest some nice off beat destinations

  61. Ashok Bansal on

    Hi!
    I’ll be visiting Himachal Pradesh from 13th of December and have to be at Chandigarh on 19th morning for return journey. Please suggest an itinerary which will take me to peaceful places with sceneries.
    Thanks.

  62. Hardik mehta on

    Hi dhiraj,
    We want to do some off road traveling in 2nd week of may from Dalhousie . we have 5 days from Dalhousie to Dalhousie. We don’t want topical tourist place. We want some off bit place. Can u please suggest some place from that.

    • Hardik, in that case you can try to go towards Chamba and from there towards Bairagarh. This will mostly be offbeat with Dalhousie/Khajjiar as a day in for tourist place too.

  63. Dear Dheeraj, we four friends planned to Kalpa this January.. 11th Arrival chandigarh to Rampur.. 12th Rampur to Kalpa.. 13.. th Kalpa locals.. 14th Kalpa to sarahan.. 15th sarahan to shimla. 16th Shimla to chandigarh… Flights already booked… Is it possible to do this itenary… Or please suggest me other itenary except manali

  64. Hi Dheeraj,

    I have 5 nights-6 days in hand and planning for a family trip near 20th Nov 2015
    – I would like to cover 2 or may be 3 places
    – have been to Manali and Shimla so dont want to include them.
    – Would be travelling from Delhi.

    Please suggest a possible Itinerary.

    Thanks in Advance.

    • Hi Yajur,

      I will suggest that you do Chindi + Barot. You can spend couple of days in Barot and then you can go to Chindi from there and spend time there.

      REgards
      dheeraj

  65. Sagar Ranade on

    Hello Dheeraj,

    Good day to you.

    Can you please help me to plan one week tour in Himachal with Family..
    1. Just want to explore actual Himachal nature beauty by visiting two or three places instead of wasting time in travelling. Please suggest which places I should visit?
    2. What is the right time to visit?

    • Hello Sagar,

      You can stick your self to Barot + Prashar OR Barot + Chindi. Or else do just Tirthan Valley with Shoja + Jalori Pass. You will enjoy it in 5-6 days in hand.

      Let me know which one you like and we can discuss about your travel plan

  66. Arun kumar on

    HEllo friends i am arun from dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh). and i am a guide in dharamshala .So friend if any one want to come to Dharashala for sightseeing,So they can contact with me any time,
    Arun kumar
    PH; 09736619036
    Email arunmvesi@gmail.com
    thanx

  67. Hello
    I am planning to trip Himachal pardesh ,Shimla – Manali on 1st week of November .. we are 5 frnds and want to explore more and chill out .. soo any other suggestion where we can visit also ..
    please suggs . 🙂

    • Vijay, all depends upon how many days you have in hand. I will suggest to make a trip Manali and skip shimla as there isnt anything much special to see up there. You can spend more time around Manali or may be visit Kasol instead of Shimla.

      • Rajiv Gupta on

        Vijay, Dheeraj is right you should skip Shimla and can plan Kasol. It is better place then crowded Shimla. From Kasol you can goto manikaran it is just 4 KMS from Kasol and if you have time you can even move further to Tosh. You can find snow also on the way. The road is not good but you will enjoy.

  68. Dipanshu Bansal on

    HI,

    Can we do any of these places in January end around 26th with 20-25 people?

    Thanks

  69. anish tiwari on

    Hi Dheeraj
    I want to explore Himachal & wonder till where i can go by my car. I have never driven outside Delhi except few places like Rishikesh, Mathura, Agra etc. It is a hilly place & roads will be really dangerous. Is it okay to go by car or you can suggest. I really would like to go to solang valley, Tirthan valley etc. Waiting for your revert

  70. Dear Deeraj,

    Would like to take advantage of your in-depth knowledge of Himachal region and would like to take your advise on best places to visit in September (with no climate risks) with 4 days in hand. Me and my wife are more close to nature and looking for some places where we can actually feel and enjoy it in these 4 days time.
    I would greatly appreciate your response.
    Many Thanks Varun

  71. Manjubashini on

    Hi Dheeraj.. Really loved your post on the offbeat places.. I have visited Tirthan.. most beautiful place ever like you have mentioned..!

    I would like to take your help with the itenerary for Musoourie – Nainital – Rishikesh.

    We are from Chennai and it is going to be a ladies only trip. We are travelling to Delhi and prefer taking a cab from there to all the 3 places and back to Delhi. We have totally seven days to spend from the time we reach Delhi. It would be great if you could help me plan.. thanks a lot and keep travelling:)

  72. Dear Dheeraj,

    Really appreciate the effort your putting in. My friend and I are planning a trip to Himachal on November first week for 5 days,and as we are from the south don’t have any idea about the place.Can you suggest some offbeat places where we can camp(as we are taking tent) and what will be the climate like.? will it be snowing.
    It would be great if you could schedule a plan for us.

    Regards
    Alex

  73. Hey Dheeraj
    We (3 friends) are planning to go Himachal from Delhi for 5 days on last week of sept 2015 . Could you suggest us some some destination and itinerary .We would be using self drive rented car. We are looking for some peaceful, cooler destinations. Camping, little bit of trekking/ hiking , rafting and some adventure sports options would be really awesome.

  74. Hi Dheeraj,

    Nice blog!! I have been reading your blog since past few days.
    These places are definitely offbeat places to get close to nature. I am planning to visit tirthan valley soon and while browsing on net i came across this picture of tirthan valley:
    holidaytravel.co/userfiles/images/hanogi.jpg

    Do you know which place is this exactly in tirthan??

    An early response would help.


    Regards,
    Sunita

      • Pooja shetty on

        Hey Dheeraj,
        Loved how detailed your posts are about the places to explore in himachal. I’m planning to go with my friends to himachal for 6 days in the second week of November m could you suggest us places where we can trek /hike/camp? A place not so touristic and untouched maybe? I read that tirthan valley is good for nature lovers. Can we camp there ?

        • Hello Pooja,

          It will need some effort to camp in Himalayas in November unless you are used to quite cold conditions. Yes, Tirthan Valley will suit you guys best because it does have short hikes around villages and still quite near to civilization. So, you can surely go over there and spend some good time in nature with your friends.

        • Pooja shetty on

          Thank you 🙂 I will be reaching Delhi on the 7th and might spend a week at himachal . Can you help me make am itinenary mentioning the transport mode and accommodation? (Budget accommodation) would like to explore as much as I can! Places that will help us experience nature at its best and maybe a day at kasol! Thank you so much for your help 🙂

        • Well, in that case you can do something like below:

          Day 1 – Leave from Delhi by overnight Volvo for Manali. Get down at Aut/Bhunter near Kullu next morning (Day 2) where you can get to reach Tirthan Valley (about 40-45 KMs from there)
          Day 2 – Tirthan Valley – Relaxing day besides Tirthan River
          — Stay at Raju Bharti Guest House (you will need booking well in advance, so finalize it ASAP) other you need to stay at some other property. Raju is a pioneer in that region, so will say do not miss the stay there as it is quite an experience in itself.
          Day 3 and Day 4 – Tirthan Valley Local And Hikes
          — Enjoy the walks in the GHNP. There are two Waterfalls nearby Raju GH in the woods.
          Day 5 – Tirthan Valley to Kasol
          Day 6 – Spend a day in Kasol
          Day 7 – Kasol – Delhi (Checkout from Kasol by noon. Since, the volvo will be around 5.30 PM types, so either you can spend a sometime hanging around Kasol only and after lunch either leave for Bhunter or in the morning itself come back to Manali and hang around on Mall road and finally take the return bus). You can ask HPTDC guys if they can pick you on the National Highway somehere logical from Kasol which is most likely Bhunter as pickup point. This way you will not even need to go back to Manali.

        • Pooja shetty on

          Sounds great!! Thank you 🙂 can you please suggest me a good trek where we can camp overnight around tirthan valley or GNHP..Also are tents available on rent around tirthan? And do we need a guide for the same? I would also like to know if you have tried the kheerganga/tosh/Malana/manikaran trek from kasol? (Any of these?) I am planning to trek to kheerganga but not sure if I will have enough time.. sorry for so many questions 😛 and thank you so my for guiding me so well.. I really appreciate it 🙂

        • Hi Pooja,

          Tents will not be available on rent, may be you need to talk to some hotel guy, Raju Bharti I will high recommend in case you lucky to get the bookings. He will be able to help you with camping. It wont be easy by any means during that time for sure, so be prepared. I have not tried the trek as I am only a person who enjoy travel only where the car can go 😉 …

          It will be tough to make it to top but to an extent you can try 🙂

          PS: Sorry for delayed reply.