If you are looking for an adventurous getaway, now would be an ideal time for it. This time around, trek through the lesser travelled areas of the Himalayas, and experience the magic of clear skies, colourful landscapes, and uninterrupted views of the lofty peaks. Take your pick.
KHAJJIAR
At a distance of 21 km from Dalhousie and 20 km from Chamba, Khajjiar is a beautiful hill station located in the Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh. Often known as the Switzerland of India, it is situated at an altitude of 1,951 m in the foothills of the Dhauladhar ranges of the Western Himalayas and is part of the Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary. It is among the popular places to visit in Dalhousie and also one of the top Himachal tourist places.
Khajjiar was a part of the erstwhile state of the Rajput rulers of Chamba. It served as the capital of Chamba rulers. Thereafter, it was taken over by the Mughals, from which the rule passed over to various Sikh kingdoms. Subsequently, it was taken over by the British.
Khajjiar is a picturesque spot with an emerald saucer shaped meadow amidst a dense forest which has a lake with a floating island at its center and a temple with a golden spire. Khajjiar Lake is a small lake covering an area of about 5000 sq. yards. On the lake, some clusters of grasses and weeds have grown that appear like a floating island, and is the major attraction. A little away from the lake is the temple of Khajji Nag belonging to the 12th century AD. This temple is dedicated to the Lord of Serpents. The Nag that is worshipped here has a human form. The stone idol has a mace in one hand and a khanda, a double dagger in the other. In the mandapa of the temple one can see the images of the Pandavas and Kauravas near the roof of the circumambulatory path.
Khajjiar is also called the Gulmarg of Himachal Pradesh and serves as the starting point for treks to Chamba, Dalhousie and Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary among others. Khajjiar to Dainkund is a 3.5 km easy to moderate trek. The trek starts 6 km from Khajjiar on the Dalhousie-Khajjiar road and ends at Pholani Devi Temple at Dainkund. This trek with a well-defined trail and moderate ascent is an excellent trek for beginners and children. The trek offers excellent views and a beautiful camping site. Zorbing is a popular recreational activity during April and May.
RAISON – RIVER RAFTING
At a distance of 13.5 km from Kullu, 14 km from Naggar and 27 km from Manali, Raison is a small cluster of villages on the banks of Beas River which has vast camping grounds maintained by Himachal Pradesh Tourism. It is one of the top adventure destination in Himachal and also a top rafting destination in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Rafting in Raison is one of the top things to do in Kullu & Manali.
Situated at an altitude of 1433 m, Raison is well known for its camping sites and white-water river rafting. Numerous apple orchards and fruit gardens of plums and apricots add to the natural beauty of the place. Apart from the nature, Raison is famous for adventure activities like rafting, trekking, mountain climbing and river crossing etc.
By the end of the winter season, in the month of March, the whole region becomes colorful with blooming flowers. At the camping sites, there are about 14 tourist huts, which require advance booking through the Kullu Tourist Office. These wooden huts are built along the banks of the Beas River.
During winter the temperature falls down to 1-2°C and the summer weather is pleasant and enjoyable. Summer between March to June is the best season for outdoor activities like Rafting, Trekking and River Crossing. There are several rafting agencies along the Beas river between Khatrain and Kullu. These are approved agencies by HP Tourism and the prices are almost same at all the points. Rafting charges vary depending on the season and group size. The usual charges for 7 km rafting stretch cost between Rs. 500-800 per person. Additional price is charged for photos and videos. The cost can be bargained, especially if you have a group participating in the activities.
TRIUND HILL
At a distance of 8 km from McLeod Ganj Bus Stand and 13 km from Dharamshala, Triund is a beautiful hill situated in Dhauladhar Mountains in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It is located at an altitude of about 2842 m. Triund is popular trekking site in McLeod Ganj and attracts a lot of tourist every year. It is also one of the best trails of short treks in Himachal state. Triund offers the perfect view of the Dhauladhar Mountains on one side and Kangra Valley on the other.
Triund is an 8 km trek from the McLeod Ganj Bus Stand. This is a small and an easy trek, which can be done either from McLeodganj or Dharamkot, which is 2 km ahead of McLeodganj. The trail is 6 km from Dharamkot and passes through Galu Devi temple. From this temple, it takes around 3 hours to reach Triund. The initial half of the trek is a gradual incline and the last 2 km from Snowline Cafe involves a steep climb all the way till Triund. The last 1 km has 22 tiring curves before finally reaching Triund. Along the way there are many small Tea shops where one can refresh during the hike. Trek can also be started from Bhagsu Nag.
There is a Devi Temple located on the top of Triund Hill at the highest point. From here one can have beautiful view of the Moon Peak and Indra Pass. Famous among trekkers and hikers, there is a snowline at Ilaka visited by adventurers which is a further trek from Triund Hill.
There is a Guest House operated by Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and is the only option for night stay at Triund. Advance booking is required and can be done at Dharamshala. The rooms cost around Rs.500 per day. There are plenty of places to camp and is advisable to carry your own tent and sleeping bag. Tourists could even get some provisions at the tea shops here. There is no water facility so one needs to carry enough drinking water.
GREAT HIMALAYAN
NATIONAL PARK
At a distance of 75 km from Kullu, 63 km from Bhuntar, 113 km from Manali and 14 km from Gushaini, The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is spread across Parvati valley, Thirthan valley, Sainj valley & Jiwa Nal valley of Kullu region. In June 2014, the Park was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Great Himalayan National Park is one of best national parks in India and also one of the best Places to visit in Himachal state. The park was established in 1984 and is spread over an area of 754 sq km at an altitude varying between 1500 to 6000 m. GHNP was formally declared a national park in 1999. The GHNP is situated adjacent Pin Valley National Park, Rupi-Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary and the Tirthan and Sainj Wildlife Sanctuaries, making it one of the biggest areas for wildlife conservation in the whole Himalayan range. The Park is habitat to numerous flora and more than 375 fauna species including approximately 31 species of mammals and 181 species of birds. More than 15,000 residents of 160 villages in the buffer zone are dependent on GHNP’s natural resources. The fauna of the park includes some of the most exotic species of animals like snow leopard, blue sheep, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan tahr, musk deer, goral and many others. The bird species found in GHNP include golden eagles, Himalayan griffon vultures, lammergeyers, raptors, etc.