Narkanda to Khajjiar

Soumyadip

Hi,

I am planning for a trip end Jan'10. So far the plan is to stay in fagu and narkanda couple of days and then to go to Khajjiar.

What would be best mode to travel from Narkanda to Khajjiar? I assume i will have to hire a car...if so, what will be tentetive cost?

indracal

Narkanda and Fagu is accessible through Chandigarh/Kalka/Shimla and Khajjiar thorugh Pathankot/Chakki Bank/Dalhousie.

They are basically two different circuits - and travel time to reach the other place will be high - making you spend more time on the road than to enjoy the place you have travelled.

Also keep a day or two for reserve as in the NKD area you may get stuck by snowfall (not Fagu though). In Dalhousie/Khajjiar also, it should have snow, unless weather god play evil.

Also have a look at this thread: Dalhousie and Nainital - Mid January and this post Peach Blossom, Fagu or Hotel Pacific, Kufri?

Please note the dates to form your idea.

Note: Last year it didn't snow much in HP, but it is expected to snow earlier this year. I had seen the same in a thread from Himachal forum veterans, but can't look up the thread now.

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Aupmanyav

As Indracal said, the two places are generally done separately. You could choose places near Narkanda, perhaps Sarahan or Kharsog.

Soumyadip

First of all...Happy Diwali to all IndiaMike followers.

My basic intension is to spend laidback week in Himachal and i would love to goto Khajjiar. (I have been to spiti and kinnar side.)

This trip is in bit different mode and would like to cover khajjiar (~3days) and may be another nice and calm place like that (say Narkanda). I dont wanna go to places like dalhousie, dharamshala etc.

if not narkanda then may be i will travel to Manai(Naggar), but that is equaly far away.

Do you guys have any suggestion keeping in mind - 1) Feb begining weather 2) laid back holiday in comfortable hotels 3) i will be traveling from and to Delhi.

indracal

Feb weather - What I understand (has never been at HP around that time) is that even if some major routes are blocked, they generally becomes navigable in a day or two. So you should plan for reserve days.

Things to do in Dalhousie - Nothing! I have been there for a 2 day quick tour (family) and loved it because there was nothing to do if you wish. There are tourist "points" but you could just ignore them, nothing that you'll miss if you don't see. Better still - you could just walk down to such points with time in your hand. For a fantastic "different" things to do, refer to Pintz' post in this thread: Stopping by Himachal on Snowy Evenings - Dainkund, Dalhousie etc.

If walking doesn't come into your laidback description, then the above doesn't fit the bill though! And, and, I'm not sure if you can do this during end-winters (snow, melting snow etc).

I personally feel that Chamba is another very good place to be. Has some excellent temples, a "Chowgan" (Calcutta's maidan) to stroll, linked pic is of Nov'08), and Ravi river bank around to spend time (and also see local people pass by). Hotel Iravati is an excellent hotel to stay. Palampur could also be a very good laid-back destination. You also have off the beaten track places like Orchard Hut (http://www.himalayanlap.com/orchard.html).

For Khajiiar, I think the best place to stay is Forst Rest House at Kalatop near Lakkar mandi (permission from DFO, Chamba) - subject to reach during snow/weather during Feb-end.

EDIT: After seeing the post below I noticed that Soumya didn't mention his total travel time !

Aupmanyav

Indracal, I was not impressed with Palampur. But I agree with the rest of your post, Chamba, Dalhousie, or perhaps Mcleod'sgunj (can one avoid Tibetans there?). That is as far as Soumyadip should go. Laid back means not more than two places in a week (not far from each other), preferable, just one place. Learn the meaning of 'laid back'.

Wildhorse

What is the attraction in Khajjiar? I was there last year - it's just a meadow. Did I miss anything?

Aupmanyav

Yes, you missed getting lost in the woods.

Soumyadip

here with some more details...

As of now the plan is/was -

Day1: Get into kalka mail from delhi
Day2: Reach kalka, get into Shivalik, reach shimla, stay in Peach Blossom-Fagu
Day3: Hire a cab and go to Narkanda, Stay in Hatu
Day4: Stay in Hatu
Day5: Hire a cab and goto Khajjiar, stay in Devdar
Day6+7: Stay in Devdar
Day8: Hire a cab and reach pathankot, get into a train for delhi
Day9: Reach delhi early morning

* As of now i am keeping two buffer days... one around fagu/narkanda and another in Khajjiar.(included in the plan)


These are my preferred places to visit but (as mentioned earlier), i am concerned about -
1. Is it feasible to travel from Narkanda to Khajjiar in a day?
2. is it worth if I do a night stay in McLeod Ganj?
3. What would be cab charges for Narkanda to Khajjiar (and via McLeod Ganj night stay)?
4. can i replace Fagu/Narkanda by some quite and calm places around Dhauladhar Circuit?

I am still inclined towards Shivalik+Fagu+Narkanda experience than compromising with alternatives in dhuladhar circuit, hence bouncing off my plan with you all again

And..
My definition of laidback is … well to define..it would be…
1. Not to judge the success of the trip by no. of places visited
2. Not to have an experience like ...we drove all day and reached place A at night, next morning we drove all day and reached place B. We really enjoyed black dark himalayan night in place A and B
3. As this outcomes as… couple of days stay in place A and B… I would rather choice a good hotel with decent accommodation, view and service rather than opting for a backpacker type of room in a laidback trip.

indracal

Soumyadip, I would have also thought in your line (staying at NKD/SML side than the Dhauladhar side). However, once you switch circuits, your travel time between them becomes high, thereby the "laid back" concept takes a beating .

One night stay in McLeod is not worth I would say as you won't get the feel of the place. I've no idea for NKD-KHJ Cab charges, but they will charge you both ways anyway.

Q4 - no place is a replacement to another, so I can't answer that.

My quote above is to give you an option in case you choose to stay around Chamba (The Orchard Hut). Note that I do not have any first hand experience, and all that is shown on the net may not be true.

I was personally very impressed with Sarahan, because there is nothing much to do, and found it to be a great place to just do "nothing"! In case you plan to stay at Sarahan, there is a road going from Sarahan to Taklech (on Rampur-Rohru Road) via Mashnu around the Daran Ghati Sanctuary. There are local buses which ply on this route. You may want to take such a bus in a morning from Sarahan and get down after a couple of KMs - and then get back to Sarahan walking - how about that? Bhimakali temple Guest house or Hotel Srikhand are excellent places to stay at Sarahan.

Soumyadip

Thanx Indra... Let me search for places around shimla and in dhulagar circuit. I will bounce back again once i have a plan covering one region (rather than two as mentioned currently)