It is spring again and all I can think about are the beautiful Himalayas and the gentle melting of the snow. Between Kullu and Manali in Himachal Pradesh, India lies the quaint little town of Naggar. When you are traveling from Kullu to Manali, the main highway follows the right side of the Beas river while a smaller road connects Kullu to Manali via Naggar on the left side.
In my post https://wanderingtalestraveldreams.com/2017/11/24/traveling-along-the-beas-river-in-himachal-india/ , I outlined how we travelled along the Beas river in Himachal Pradesh and had a fantastic time. In the post, I briefly mention our stop over at Naggar. If you are looking for a place with beautiful mountain and valley views and are not too particular about being right near the Beas river, then Naggar is the place for you!
For us, Naggar was a stop over for a couple of hours. We really wanted to visit the Naggar Castle and the Dhakpo Shedrupling Monastery on our way from Manali to Kullu. After a heavy breakfast in Manali, we packed up our things, loaded up the cars and headed towards Naggar. It was spring time (mid-April) and the trees were just starting to bloom. The scenery around us was drop dead gorgeous! Our drivers mentioned that there was a small but beautiful temple located in one of the hillside villages along the way and encouraged us to stop and visit. So, we did. We spent about an hour walking up the narrow trails and visiting the temple. The views were truly spectacular and well worth the effort!
Next, we headed towards Naggar Castle. It is a beautiful castle with sweeping views of the valley below and mountains on the other side. You can easily spend about two hours exploring the different parts of the castle. There is also a cafeteria where you can grab something to eat (if you happen to be there when it is open). A part of the castle has been converted to a heritage hotel where you can stay if you choose to.
The Nicholas Roerich house and museum is also located in the area if you have the time to spare. He is a fascinating individual very well known for his paintings. Well worth the visit if you enjoy fine art.
Afterwards, we headed to the Dhakpo Shedrupling Monastery. Outsiders are allowed to visit the main prayer hall inside and spend some time peacefully. It was fantastic! The Monastery houses a lot of students… from young to old. It was really nice seeing all those cute kids going about their day.
After spending about an hour and half at the monastery, we continued our journey towards Kullu and reached there late in the afternoon.
Is Naggar a stop by or stop over?
If you are looking for a nice place in the Himalayas to spend some time relaxing and chilling, then Naggar is a perfect place to stay. The vibe is much quieter when compared to Kullu or Manali (don’t skip visiting Kullu and Manali though : )). There a lot of opportunities for walking and hiking. You can explore the valley or head into the trails in the mountains. Both options provide lots of opportunities to explore the outdoors… the choice is yours! So, if I were you, I wouldn’t hesitate to spend a day or two in Naggar : )
Wandering Tales Travel Dreams 