[rajcs]

Planning a trek to Churdhar (30º 52' N 77º 32' E, 3647m above msl) in Southern Himachal in first/ second week of Nov this year. One of the recommended base for the trek is Nohradhar.

There appears to be three possible routes to Nauradhar from Delhi (Google Maps) :-

1. Delhi-Ambala-Kalka-Solan-Rajgarh-Nohradhar :394 km (Conventional route, NH up to Solan, heavy traffic, NH1 widening work from Karnal to Ambala)

2. Delhi-Karnal-Shahabad-Kala Amb-Nahan-Dadahu-Sangrah - Nohradhar : 365 km (State Roads from Shahabad, less traffic. possibly more scenic)

3. Delhi-Karnal-Shahabad-Kala Amb-Nahan-Banethi-Rajgarh-Nohradhar : 374 Km (State roads from Shahabad)

Driving own car. Would prefer to go by route 2 /3, but not sure of the road conditions post monsoon.

Anyone who has traveled in southern Himachal recently could pse advise on the routes and any other info on trek to Churdhar?

[akshay4587]

During monsoons roads around nahan were bad.
and this region is known for not so good roads,so plan accordingly.
my pick would be route 1 as you cant really go wrong with it.

[breezydrive]

I have travelled up to Sangrah (route no.2 as per your options), the road is good and quite scenic after Renuka ji (Ddahu). post monsoon it has been reported OK.

[rajcs]

Not too many inputs on this one...May be not a popular route.

I tried both these routes during my recent trekking holiday to Churdhar 05-07 Nov 11. Here are the inputs...

05 Nov. Start Delhi 05:55. MMI programmed for route via Solan. Estimated distance 388 km.
Smooth driving till Panipat zipping across the flyover at 150. Diversions started soon after and got stuck in traffic jam at Gharaunda diversion for over 30 min. Diversions continued every two km till Ambala.
Ambala to Chandigarh was smooth dual carriage. MMI (updated in Oct) disappointed by not indicating flyover at Zirakpur, missing turn to Kalka and forcing to enter Chandigarh. Further traffic jams at level crossing at Kalka and Parwanoo. Road till Solan is good. Solan-Rajgarh State Highway is patchy but scenic. Traffic is moderate.
Arrival Nauradhar (Nohra as per google maps and MMI) 16:30. Distance by Odo 404 Km. Total driving time (excluding food/fuelling halts) 8 hrs 55 min.

07 Nov Start Nohra 14:05. MMI programmed for route via Nahan. Estimated distance 380 km. Locals advised route via Nohra-Bogdhar-Pallar-Sangrah-Renuka rather than Nohra-Haripurdhar-Sangrah-Renuka, the latter being longer. But Nohra-pallar 24 km stretch is dirt track. Pallar onwards roads are fine. Very sparse traffic and beautiful scenery. Followed MMI routing: Nohra-Pallar-Renuka-Dadahu-Nahan-Kala Amb-Narayangarh-Saha-Shahabad-NH1 (Shahabad-Karnal-Delhi stretch). Roads are generally good except at Kala Amb and Narayangarh, where they are non-existent.
Arrival Delhi 23:05. Total distance 388 km. Total driving time 07 hrs 55 min.

Conclusion
Delhi-Ambala-Zirakpur-Rajgarh-Nauradhar is better roads but with heavy traffic and frequent diversions.
Delhi-Shahabad-Saha-Naryangarh-Kala Amb-Nahan-Dadahu-Renuka-Sangrah-Nauradhar is OK roads and sparse traffic.
Take the latter if you enjoy winding hill roads and scenic route. I did.

[akshay4587]

Thanks for the update.
my folks would be travelling on this route some time soon.
Can expect a travelogue?,or at least a few pics?

[rajcs]

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Thanks for the update.
my folks would be travelling on this route some time soon.
Can expect a travelogue?,or at least a few pics?

A short travelogue to Churdhar is in the assembly line..

In the mean time here are some pics of the routes

Onward: Delhi-Panipat-Karnal-Ambala-Kalka-Parwanoo-Solan-Rajgarh-Nohra

Traffic jam on a diversion in NH1 between Panipat and Karnal


Zirakpur-Kalka road is a beauty...


...Except for traffic jams at Kalka and Pinjore. Took 45 min to clear railway crossing at Kalka


Once you enter Himachal, Shimla road is great


Turn right at Solan to head for Rajgarh


Solan - Rajgarh state highway is patchy, but scenic


Road is well marked for easy navigation


Beyond Rajgarh, road to Nauradhar worsens, but views are that much better.


Return: Nauradhar-Bogdhar-Pallar-Sangrah-Renukaji-Dadahu-Nahan-Kala Amb-Narayangarh-Saha-Shahabad-Karnal-Delhi

There are two routes from Nauradhar to Sangrah - Longer one via Haripurdhar and shorter one through Pallar


Locals advised me to take the shorter route via Pallar.. The road turned out to be a dirt track, almost offroading..


The stony dirt track continues for 24 km almost upto Pallar. Took an hour to cross this stretch in spite of nil traffic. Gave lift to a few locals enroute. They told me this stretch was never surfaced. A pity since the route is so scenic.


Beyond Pallar the road improves...


...and the winding road is pleasure to drive with sparse traffic. Encountered only a bus between Nohra and Sangrah.


Crossed Giri river at Dadahu and drove to Nahan and then onto Delhi

[akshay4587]

Nice update.
How much time would it take from Solan-till Renuka via this route?
Is it doable in a day's time?

[rajcs]

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Nice update.
How much time would it take from Solan-till Renuka via this route?
Is it doable in a day's time?

Its very much possible to do in a day.

Solan to Nauradhar - 2 hrs 40 min including tea stop at Rajgarh.
Nauradhar to Renuka - 2 hrs 30 min.
Route via Rajgarh-Nauradhar-Haripurdhar-Sangrah may be preferable due to unsurfaced road between Nohra and Pallar in the shorter route I took.

[wanderernomad]

Even 10 kms short of Haripurdhar the road is in very bad shape. Takes about 30 mins to cover the 10 kms stretch. But then doing 10 kms of dirt track is better than 24 kms. After Solan the spots are almost 1 hr drive each to the next point that is Solan-Rajgarh-Nauradhar-Didag-Haripurdhar.