5 Lesser Known Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh in India is known as ‘Devabhoomi’ or ‘The land of Gods’. This hilly state is famous for its awesome weather and picturesque locations. Tourists throng Himachal especially during the hot Summer season to beat the heat and break the monotony of the daily routine. We all are aware of Shimla, Dalhaousie, Dharamshala, Manali etc which are the most sought after tourist destinations but there are many lesser known hill stations in Himachal which are equally captivating. Since these are lesser known, they are not crowded with tourists and so are pocket friendly too. Here are 5 lesser known hill stations in Himachal Pradesh:

At an altitude of 6000 ft above sea level, Barog is a popular tourist spot in Solan district. It is a small hill station surrounded by pine and oak forests. It is just 60 kms from Chandigarh and lies on Kalka-Shimla highway (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Barog tunnel is the longest of all 103 tunnels on Kalka- Shimla highway. Most of the tourists halt here while travelling to Shimla. The places worth visiting at and nearby Barog are Sholoni Devi temple, Dolanji Bon Monastery, Vishal Shiva temple and Renuka lake.

Chamba is a small hilly town which is popular for its unexplored beauty and natural surroundings. It is situated on the bank of the mighty river Ravi. Chamba is full of tall deodar and pine trees. Its apple and apricot orchids are worth a visit. This is a dream destination for someone who loves nature and wants to spend some days in peace amidst nature. Chamba is well known for its arts & crafts especially its Pahari paintings. Chamba has numerous temples and palaces worth visiting. It also hosts two popular fairs- ‘Suhi Mata Mela’ and ‘Minjar Mela’ which last for several days and are famous for music and dancing.

Mashobra is a popular tourist spot situated in Shimla district. It is notable for housing one of the two Presidential retreats in India. The President visits Mashbra at least once a year.This small beautiful hill town mesmerizes tourists with its cool climate and picturesque sceneries. Mashobra is ideal for camping, trekking and family picnics. Mashobra is a part of Shimla Water Catchmentanct Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sangla is the major town in the Baspa Valley or Sangla valley in Kinnaur district and is close to Tibetan border. Sangla offers a great view of beautiful Himalayas. Baspa river flows through the valley which has apple orchards, apricot, walnut, cedar trees and small glacial streams which add up to its charm. Kamru Fort (Now converted into a temple dedicated to Kamakhya Devi), Mata Devi Temple & Bering Nag Temple dedicated to Lord Jagas are the main tourist attractions of Sangla Valley. Walk through Sangla meadows which lush green meadows with a magnificient backdrop of snow-covered Himalayas is an experience to be cherished. Brelengi Gompa is a Buddhist monastery which is worth a visit. Basteri village is famous for shopping some local handicrafts, Pashmina shawls and Kinnauri caps. Baspa river is an ideal place for fishing, camping and trekking. You may also visit the Tibetan Wood Carving Center to buy Tibetan products made of wooden carvings.

Naldehra is a quaint and serene town close to Shimla. At a distance of 22 kms from Shimla, Naldehra is a paradise for tourists. It has the oldest 9 hole golf course in the country. The well-kept golf course is a venue for many golf competitions. This high altitude golf course requires membership for entry but one can roam around the serene surroundings of the golf course. One can ride by pony or go for a walk. The golf course was built under Lord Curzon’s supervision during the early 1900. It used to be his favorite camping site and soon he transformed it into an impressive golf course and named it after his second daughter, Alexandra Naldehra. Today Naldehra Golf Course is a grand 18-hole golf course which is one of the oldest and the best in the country .Some say that Naldehra derives its name from the Nag temple situated here which is frequented by the tourists. Tattapani which is nearby is famous for hot sulphur springs which have medicinal value.