Chandigarh trip- where to go to see the himalayas- need advice!!

also · Jun 2nd, 2005, 19:09

Hi,

am visiting Chandigarh for a few days as part of my india trip in October. The himalayas are quite near. Would be a shame not to visit them.

Where could i go

? want to see the lofty peaks and experience being in the great ranges? But have 2 handicaps

-dont have too much time- a day at most and baby.

Help please.

Thanks!

shere · Jun 2nd, 2005, 19:19

I have never found anything worth seeing or doing in Chandigarh. The gardens are just like any others. The garden made out of rubbish by Nek Chand is exactly what it is made of ie rubbish. Just in case anyone has not guessed I do not enjoy visiting Chandigarh very much and think it is the most overrated place in Punjab/Haryana.

If time is very limited, I would head towards Himachal straight away, on the way you can stop off and check out the mughal garden at Pinjore (Pinjore Garden aka Yadvinder Garden) which looks great at night when it is lit up. After that the nearest and most pleasent hill station is Kasauli (1.5 hours drive maximum form Chandigarh). Kasauli is very peaceful (apart from when all the hordes from Chandigarh head up there, run riot and drop litter everywhere). Or you could head towards Chail.

SHIMLA · Jun 2nd, 2005, 19:20

Cut a couple of days at Chandigarh and head for Shimla or Narkanda.

dumb_bacchus · Jun 2nd, 2005, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by also

Hi,

am visiting Chandigarh for a few days as part of my india trip in October. The himalayas are quite near. Would be a shame not to visit them.

Where could i go

? want to see the lofty peaks and experience being in the great ranges? But have 2 handicaps

-dont have too much time- a day at most and baby.

Help please.

Thanks!

i work at chandigarh - this place has nothing to see. Head up the mountains.

also · Jun 2nd, 2005, 20:25

Thanks for the insights guys!

Kasauli sounds an option then. Can one see the high mountains there?

What about this place called Chail?? How far is that?

Whats the best way to get to these places? Car or train or bus?

SHIMLA · Jun 2nd, 2005, 20:42

Kasauli is 64 kms. from Chandigarh, Chail is 115. Both can be reached either directly by road or by a combination of rail and road.

Narkanda is 180 kms. from Chandigarh, and perhaps offers the best view of the mountains; among Kasauli, Chail and Narkanda.

Attached is an image of the snow view from Narkanda, photograph taken from this fantastic website.

xbhp.com · Jun 2nd, 2005, 20:56

u could also take the highway-22 to shimla and then from shimla towards Kufri. kufri is around 14kms from shimla but is at 2510mtrs (as compared to 2290mtrs of shimla)

if time permits , dont miss narkanda
i could see snow on top of mountains from narkanda on 31st may

in oct , its rare that it snows in the higher region , so dont know if u will see snow..

still , one day is very very less.. even if u take a taxi , it will around 4 hours min to reach shimla and another 30mins to kufri. but it will quite cool in kurfi in october (around 10degrees at night)

also · Jun 2nd, 2005, 21:37

Well then it seems that either Kasauli or Chail.

The other places are too far.

Has anyone been to Chail? Its twice as far as Kasauli (64km versus 115 km)..is it twice as good?

Thanks for all your super duper quick replies. They are all very helpful!

Alsö

SHIMLA · Jun 2nd, 2005, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by also

Has anyone been to Chail? Its twice as far as Kasauli (64km versus 115 km)..is it twice as good?

Kasauli and Chail are each lovely in their own right. Kasauli has an old world charm, with bungalows, cobbled streets, etc. The views of Chandigarh on a clear day are great too, as is the long walk from the bazaar to monkey point.

Chail is a quiet, tiny hamlet near(45 kms.) Shimla. The principal attraction here is the palace built by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala; now converted into a luxury hotel. It also has the highest cricket ground in the world. One can view the Choor Chandni peaks on a clear day.

Both the places are great for quiet relaxation.

also · Jun 2nd, 2005, 21:55

thanks!!

xbhp.com · Jun 2nd, 2005, 22:04

go for chail. it will be more cooler (hence u will get a better feeling of being in himalayas!)..

dumb_bacchus · Jun 2nd, 2005, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by also

Thanks for the insights guys!

Kasauli sounds an option then. Can one see the high mountains there?

What about this place called Chail?? How far is that?

Whats the best way to get to these places? Car or train or bus?

About 7 hr (bus ride) from Chandigarh you can visit places like Kasol (NOT Kasoli), Toash, Zari etc. These are villages in the Kullu valley.

iwanttogoback · Jun 2nd, 2005, 23:18

must be something wrong with me, but i enjoyed chandigarh, particularly the rock garden.
oh well...
why were you wanting to go to chandigarh - we went because we are architecture students and we had to see corb's work.

also · Jun 3rd, 2005, 01:16

The rock garden is kind of famous. Whatever i have read about it reminds me of gaudi's "craziness" or hundertwasser.

This Nek chand guy sounds quite amazing- building a fantasy world out of waste and on his own time!

Corbusier - well! Another cool guy who was disconnected from reality at times...ahem..some would say most of the time.

So guys.... I dont care about temperatures....-10 to +40 i can manage. I just want to see some high mountains. The question is, if i can see them from Kasauli- if yes then i am happy. Dont forget..i am lugging a baby around.

SHIMLA · Jun 3rd, 2005, 07:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwanttogoback

must be something wrong with me, but i enjoyed chandigarh, particularly the rock garden.
oh well...
.

There's certainly nothing wrong with you, as I love Chandigarh too and I do not think there's anything wrong with me !

Jun 2nd, 2005, 19:09	#1
also Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: germany Posts: 14	Chandigarh trip- where to go to see the himalayas- need advice!! Hi, am visiting Chandigarh for a few days as part of my india trip in October. The himalayas are quite near. Would be a shame not to visit them. Where could i go ? want to see the lofty peaks and experience being in the great ranges? But have 2 handicaps -dont have too much time- a day at most and baby. Help please. Thanks!

Jun 2nd, 2005, 19:20	#3
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	Cut a couple of days at Chandigarh and head for Shimla or Narkanda. __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Jun 2nd, 2005, 20:42	#6
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	Kasauli is 64 kms. from Chandigarh, Chail is 115. Both can be reached either directly by road or by a combination of rail and road. Narkanda is 180 kms. from Chandigarh, and perhaps offers the best view of the mountains; among Kasauli, Chail and Narkanda. Attached is an image of the snow view from Narkanda, photograph taken from this fantastic website. Attached Thumbnails

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Jun 2nd, 2005, 19:19	#2
shere Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: England Posts: 1,105	I have never found anything worth seeing or doing in Chandigarh. The gardens are just like any others. The garden made out of rubbish by Nek Chand is exactly what it is made of ie rubbish. Just in case anyone has not guessed I do not enjoy visiting Chandigarh very much and think it is the most overrated place in Punjab/Haryana. If time is very limited, I would head towards Himachal straight away, on the way you can stop off and check out the mughal garden at Pinjore (Pinjore Garden aka Yadvinder Garden) which looks great at night when it is lit up. After that the nearest and most pleasent hill station is Kasauli (1.5 hours drive maximum form Chandigarh). Kasauli is very peaceful (apart from when all the hordes from Chandigarh head up there, run riot and drop litter everywhere). Or you could head towards Chail.

Jun 2nd, 2005, 20:25	#5
also Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: germany Posts: 14	Thanks for the insights guys! Kasauli sounds an option then. Can one see the high mountains there? What about this place called Chail?? How far is that? Whats the best way to get to these places? Car or train or bus?

Jun 2nd, 2005, 20:56	#7
xbhp.com himalayan lover Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: new delhi,india Posts: 111	u could also take the highway-22 to shimla and then from shimla towards Kufri. kufri is around 14kms from shimla but is at 2510mtrs (as compared to 2290mtrs of shimla) if time permits , dont miss narkanda i could see snow on top of mountains from narkanda on 31st may in oct , its rare that it snows in the higher region , so dont know if u will see snow.. still , one day is very very less.. even if u take a taxi , it will around 4 hours min to reach shimla and another 30mins to kufri. but it will quite cool in kurfi in october (around 10degrees at night)

Jun 2nd, 2005, 21:37	#8
also Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: germany Posts: 14	Well then it seems that either Kasauli or Chail. The other places are too far. Has anyone been to Chail? Its twice as far as Kasauli (64km versus 115 km)..is it twice as good? Thanks for all your super duper quick replies. They are all very helpful! Alsö

Jun 2nd, 2005, 21:55	#10
also Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: germany Posts: 14	thanks!!

Jun 2nd, 2005, 22:04	#11
xbhp.com himalayan lover Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: new delhi,india Posts: 111	go for chail. it will be more cooler (hence u will get a better feeling of being in himalayas!)..

Jun 2nd, 2005, 23:18	#13
iwanttogoback is sorry Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: perth Posts: 1,571	must be something wrong with me, but i enjoyed chandigarh, particularly the rock garden. oh well... why were you wanting to go to chandigarh - we went because we are architecture students and we had to see corb's work.

Jun 3rd, 2005, 01:16	#14
also Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: germany Posts: 14	The rock garden is kind of famous. Whatever i have read about it reminds me of gaudi's "craziness" or hundertwasser. This Nek chand guy sounds quite amazing- building a fantasy world out of waste and on his own time! Corbusier - well! Another cool guy who was disconnected from reality at times...ahem..some would say most of the time. So guys.... I dont care about temperatures....-10 to +40 i can manage. I just want to see some high mountains. The question is, if i can see them from Kasauli- if yes then i am happy. Dont forget..i am lugging a baby around.

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