Narkanda travel guide
Apple town
Narkanda is a serene hill town surrounded by dense forests and apple orchards, known for scenic mountain passes, trekking routes, high-altitude lakes, temples, and peaceful villages, attracting nature lovers, solo travelers, and adventure seekers looking for quiet Himalayan experiences.
Best time to visit Narkanda
Go May–Jun and Sep–Oct for clear, cool weather. Dec–Feb brings snow and skiing but very cold nights, and Jul–Aug is wet with landslide risk on the highway.
| Month | Verdict | Temperature | Rain | Crowds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | mixed | -6–5 °C | 45 mm | medium | Snow likely; the highway can close for hours; bitterly cold nights |
| February | mixed | -4–7 °C | 45 mm | medium | Snow still likely; skiing and winter sports possible |
| March | good | 0–12 °C | 45 mm | low | Snow melts at lower levels; mornings stay frosty |
| April | good | 4–16 °C | 40 mm | low | Cool and mostly clear; good for walks and the drive to Hatu Peak |
| May | best | 7–20 °C | 50 mm | medium | Cool, clear days; comfortable for walks and Hatu Peak |
| June | good | 10–21 °C | 120 mm | medium | Pleasant by day; showers build up through the month |
| July | mixed | 12–20 °C | 260 mm | low | Cloud and rain most days; landslides can block the highway |
| August | mixed | 12–19 °C | 260 mm | low | Cloud and rain most days; views are often hidden |
| September | good | 9–17 °C | 140 mm | low | Rain eases; clearer spells return and roads dry out |
| October | best | 4–14 °C | 15 mm | low | Dry, clear and crisp; cold nights |
| November | good | 0–11 °C | 10 mm | low | Cold, dry and quiet; first snow possible by month end |
| December | good | -3–8 °C | 10 mm | high | Cold; snow possible later in the month; busy at New Year |
How many days to spend in Narkanda
One day covers Hatu Peak and its Hatu Mata temple; a second adds Thanedar and the Stokes Farm apple orchard, or skiing in winter.
How to reach Narkanda
- By air: Chandigarh (IXC) — 180 km by road. More flights than Kullu (KUU), the nearer airport by road
- By train: Shimla (SML) — 61 km by road. End of the Kalka–Shimla narrow-gauge line; road or bus on to Narkanda
- By road: From Shimla — 61 km. By bus or taxi on NH-5, the Hindustan–Tibet road
Getting around
The town is small and strung along NH-5. Hatu Peak and Thanedar are several kilometres away, so hire a local taxi for them.
Things to do in Narkanda
- Mall Road — Market
- Baba Sri Ram ji office ( guruduvara manikaran sahib ) — Temple
- Sri Raghunath Temple — Temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Chail Palace — Palace (1 h · ₹100)
- The Ridge — Ridge (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Great Himalayan National Park — National park (8 h · Paid entry)
- Kheerganga Hike Camps — Trek (8 h · Paid entry)
- Bijlimahadev temple — Temple (4 h · Free entry)
- Gilbert Trail — Nature walk
- Chail Cricket Ground — Ground
- Mahashu Peak, Kufri — Peak (3 h · Free entry)
- Hatu Peak — Peak (2 h · Free entry)
- Shree Hanuman Temple, Jakhu, Shimla — Temple (2 h · Free entry)
- Tosh Village View Point — Village (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Naggar Castle — Castle (1 h · Paid entry)
- Parvati Valley — Valley (Free entry)
- Sunset Point — Sunset (45 min · Free entry)
- Kali Tibba Temple — Temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Himalayan Nature Park Kufri Zoo — Nature park (2.5 h · ₹50)
- Hatu mata temple, nihari — Temple (2 h · Free entry)
- Chanshal Pass — Mountain pass (2 h · Free entry)
- Pin Valley National Park — Park (6 h · Paid entry)
- Kalka Shimla Railway — Heritage rail
- Malana village - oldest democracy in the world — Village (3 h · Free entry)
- Tirthan River — River (5 h · Free entry)
- Dagshai — Cantonment
- Sidh Baba Ka Mandir — Temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Chail Sanctuary — Sanctuary (3 h · Free entry)
- Green Valley — Valley (30 min · Free entry)
- Jubbar — Lake
- Viceregal Lodge — Heritage (1.5 h · ₹200)
- Banjar Valley Hospital — Valley
- Timber Trail Kasauli — Ropeway (2.5 h · Paid entry)
- Sadhupul — River spot
- Fagu — Village
- Chalal Trek Trail — Village (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Parbati River — River view (1 h · Free entry)
- Parashar Lake — Lake (3 h · Free entry)
- Hatkoti Temple Parking Lot — Temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Pabbar Valley — Valley (3 h · Free entry)
- Kais Dhar Trek — Meadow (5 h)
- Fort Nalagarh — Fort (1.5 h)
- Kandaghat — Town
- Annadale — Ground
- Jana Waterfall, Jana Gaon — Waterfall (2 h · Free entry)
- Karol tibba trekk route — Peak
- Waknaghat — Town
- Jubbal Palace — Palace (1 h)
- Tara Devi Temple — Temple (2 h · Free entry)
- Rasol village — Village (3 h · Free entry)
- Sainj Valley — Valley (6 h · Free entry)
- Mud — Village
- Dharampur — Town
- Salogra — Town
- Kharapathar — Village
- Chadwick Falls — Waterfall (2 h · Free entry)
- Raison — Camp
- Parwanoo — Town
- Barog — Hill station
- Kotgarh — Village
- Deorighat — Ghat
- Nature Walking trail Glen Forest — Forest (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Waichin Valley — Valley (4 h · Free entry)
- Malana — Valley
- Solan — City
- Thanedar, narkanda — Village (2 h · Free entry)
- Barshaini Waterfall — Village (1 h · Free entry)
- Summer Hill — Hill area
- Laxmi Narayan Temple Road — Temple
- Dagpo Shedrupling Monastery - Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India — Monastery (45 min · Free entry)
- Cantonment Board, Dagshai — Cantonment
- Jubbarhatti — Airport
- Nerwa — Town
- Shoghi — Hill town
- Bhuntar — Town
- GNTARDERS — Waterfall
- solan brewery — Brewery
- Rohru — Town
- Junga — Fort area
- Choj bridge — Bridge (30 min · Free entry)
- Pabbar River — River (1 h · Free entry)
- Prospect Hill — Viewpoint (1 h · Free entry)
- Kotkhai — Town
- Kinnaur Gate (Photography Point) — Viewpoint (30 min · Free entry)
- The Army Heritage Museum Annandale Shimla — Museum (1 h)
- Central Research Institute, Kasauli, Main Campus — Institute
- Devidhar — Hill
Food to try in Narkanda
- Orchard apples from Thanedar — Red and golden apples, plus cherries, pears and plums, grow around Narkanda
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Narkanda?
Go May–Jun and Sep–Oct for clear, cool weather. Dec–Feb brings snow and skiing but very cold nights, and Jul–Aug is wet with landslide risk on the highway.
How many days are enough for Narkanda?
1–2 days. One day covers Hatu Peak and its Hatu Mata temple; a second adds Thanedar and the Stokes Farm apple orchard, or skiing in winter.
How do I reach Narkanda?
By air: Chandigarh (IXC) — 180 km by road. More flights than Kullu (KUU), the nearer airport by road. By train: Shimla (SML) — 61 km by road. End of the Kalka–Shimla narrow-gauge line; road or bus on to Narkanda. By road: From Shimla — 61 km. By bus or taxi on NH-5, the Hindustan–Tibet road.
What are the top things to do in Narkanda?
Mall Road, Baba Sri Ram ji office ( guruduvara manikaran sahib ), Sri Raghunath Temple, Chail Palace, The Ridge, Great Himalayan National Park.
Plan your Narkanda trip
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Guide checked on 2026-10-06.