A sleepy, pretty little town Naggar offers vast stretches of lush forests, magnificent views of the River Beas far below, along with the villages on both its sides, and the snow-topped mountains in the distance. Its beauty is enchanting, and will leave you wanting more.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

This simple town will surprise you at every turn. It has something in store for everyone: trout fishing for anglers, trekking for adventure lovers, and it is a paradise for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts.

Naggar Castle

The nucleus of Naggar is the 15th-century stone-and-wood castle Naggar Castle, located on a small clearing that offers stunning views of the valley below. Converted into a heritage hotel managed by HPTDC, the castle has magnificent rooms with high ceilings and grand fireplaces. There is also a small wooden temple and a museum onsite.

The beautiful Naggar Castle
The beautiful Naggar Castle
Wikimedia Commons

Roerich Art Gallery

Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947) was a Russian painter, philosopher, and writer. Having travelled and lived in many places, he died in this wooden house in the small town of Naggar. It now houses Roerich’s paintings, prints and family memorabilia and is jointly managed by the governments of Russia and Himachal Pradesh.

Jana Waterfall

Located 15 km from town, these perennial falls, gushing from a cluster of rocks, accumulate in a clearing and then flow downstream again. There is also a small wooden bridge, which provides the best view of the falls. Set amid deodar and pine trees and apple orchards, this small waterfall is a much-favoured picnic spot. There are food stalls in a small clearing below, which serve authentic Himachali dishes.

Tripura Sundari Temple

Tripura Sundari is the patron goddess of the locals. It is said that the temple was made by the goddess herself, and that she turned into a spider after she made the temple, which is why the structure resembles a web. The temple houses idols of Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Lakshmi. There is also a miniature idol of a demon – Tripura Rakshasa.

A view of the Kullu Valley from Naggar
A view of the Kullu Valley from Naggar

Walks and Treks

Naggar, by virtue of its geographical layout, is tailor made for all levels of trekking. There are many agents in town who can arrange treks for you. Contact Poonam Mountain Lodge (Tel: 01902-248248; Cell: 094181-49827) or Soham’s Chateau de Naggar (Cell: 09805545408).

It is also possible to take the route to Malana through the Chanderkhani Pass, or to Sarahan over Pin Parvati.

WHERE TO STAY AND EAT

HPTDC runs the Hotel Castle (Tel: 01902-248316; Tariff: ₹1,400-4,300) as a heritage hotel. Ragini Guest House (Tel: 248185; Tariff: ₹1,000-1,400) has a rooftop restaurant. Sheetal Hotel (Tel: 248250, Cell: 09218073211; Tariff: ₹900-3,000) has rooms overlooking the valley.

Soham’s Chateau de Naggar (Cell: 09805545408; Tariff: ₹1,000-2,000) has an excellent inhouse restaurant. They also organise treks.

Span Resort & Spa (Tel: 240138; Cell: 09805540842; Tariff: ₹12,000-18,000), has a spa, swimming pool and a health club.

Purnima Guest House (Tel: 248219, Cell: 09816003795; Tariff: ₹1,000-1,500), near the Naggar Castle, has clean rooms and a garden. They have no on-site dining.

For food, try the restaurant in Hotel Naggar Castle. The German Bakery serves great cakes and cookies, and Under the Parachute is good for smoked pizzas. There are a lot of bakeries and restaurants in town. Trout fish and local food is highly recommended.

When to go Mid-April to June & Sept to mid- Nov Location Located at 2,047 ft in Kullu district, Naggar is the middle point between Kullu and Manali Air Nearest airport: Bhuntar, or the Kullu Manali Airport Rail Nearest railhead: Chandigarh

Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara