Narkanda

The highest point in Shimla district, at roughly 3,400 metres. You can drive up a narrow, winding road about 8 km from Narkanda, or walk it through thick deodar forest, which takes about 2 to 3 hours uphill. At the top, the Hatu Mata temple sits in a small clearing, built in traditional Himachali wooden style with carved panels and a low stone wall. On a clear day, you see snow peaks in every direction, apple orchards below, and valley floors so far down that the rivers look like lines on a map. The road is narrow and steep, with gradients that will test your vehicle and your driver. If you are not confident on mountain roads, hire a local taxi from Narkanda market. Go early morning for the clearest views. By afternoon, clouds often roll in from the west.

Thanedar is about 16 km from Narkanda, a detour off NH 5 into the heart of Himachal's apple belt. Stokes Farm is the oldest apple orchard in the region, started in 1916 by Satyanand Stokes, an American who came to India for a leprosy mission, fell in love with the hills, settled in Kotgarh, and planted the trees that eventually turned apple farming into Himachal's biggest industry. The farm produces apples, apple wine, vinegar, and jams. In April, the orchards are covered in white and pink blossoms. In August and September, the branches are heavy with fruit and the whole area smells like ripe apples. Even outside harvest season, the orchards and the story behind them are worth the drive. Entry is generally free.

A small forest lake about 12 km from Narkanda, surrounded by deodar trees and genuinely quiet. There is a small temple dedicated to Nag Devta on the bank. The lake is not large, maybe a ten minute walk around the edge, but the setting is the point. It is the kind of place where you sit on the bank for twenty minutes without planning to. Best visited between April and October. In winter, the road can be tricky with snow.

Narkanda is one of India's oldest ski destinations. The slopes near HPTDC Hotel Hatu, in the area called Dhumri, have been used for skiing since 1980. HPTDC and ABVIMAS run courses for beginners and intermediate skiers, usually from January through March when snow cover is reliable. The slopes are gentler than Auli or Gulmarg, which makes them genuinely good for first timers. Equipment is available on rent. If you are visiting in winter and have never skied, this is one of the most accessible places to try. Check course availability with HPTDC before planning, as schedules depend on snowfall.

You do not need a specific destination for this. Step off the main road in almost any direction and you are in forest. The deodar and silver fir here are old and tall, with trunks wide enough that two people cannot wrap their arms around them. The air smells like pine resin and damp earth. In spring, wildflowers line the forest floor. In winter, snow sits on every branch. A thirty minute walk uphill from the market and you are far enough in to hear woodpeckers and not much else. No entry fee. No guide needed. Just walk.

About 7 km from Narkanda, the Mahamaya Temple sits on a hilltop in the village of Kacheri, dedicated to Goddess Kali. The temple is built in a traditional Himachali style and the hilltop position gives it open views of the surrounding mountains and orchards. It is a local pilgrimage spot, not a tourist attraction, which means it has the kind of quiet that more popular temples lost a long time ago. Worth combining with a drive through the orchards in the Kacheri area.