What's your favourite off-beat hill destination?

greenh0rn · 20th August 2009, 13:24

Hi guys,

September has two long weekends (in face one starting on Sep 28 can be extended to a nine-day holiday if one takes 3 days off) and I am planning to head out for the hills in the north.

I like slightly off-beat places that are in the lap of nature, and away from hustle bustle of places like Simla, Mussoorie etc. Also, I like places that are reasonably high altitude (read 1800-2000 meters), so that distance to reach them is up to 8-9 hours from Delhi. So far I've loved Fagu (ahead of Simla), Naldehra, Lansdowne (ok it's a little closer)...

I would like your suggestions on some places in Himachal or Uttarakhand... so far I am veering towards Bhimtal/Naukuchiatal (near Nainital), Binsar, but wouldn't mind a great tip in Himachal (roads are much better in that direction).

So here's the question- what's your favourite off-beat hill destination?

straightdrive · 20th August 2009, 19:27

No favourite places as such but if you are looking for an offbeat place to visit, there is a hill station called Renuka in Himachal. Supposedly named after Parashurama's mother.

Went there when I was in school and it wasn't too well known then - don't know if it has become more touristy now.

akshay4587 · 20th August 2009, 19:49

Renuka would be almost as hot as plains

I would recommend Narkanda,Shoja,Sarahan

sj_koova · 20th August 2009, 19:53

Manali would be my choice.
Bit crowded, but you can find many decent hotels for stay.

SS-Traveller · 20th August 2009, 20:17

Hey greenhorn, that's a thread right after my heart!

One of mine is a little-known place called Khirsu, near Pauri (Garhwal). Take a look:
Khirsu and Pauri, Uttarakhand, India pictures from india photos on webshots

I loved Pauri till some 10 years ago. It's a bustling, crowded and dirty town now, not worth stopping at.

Another is a small place called Chinyalisaur, about 40 km before Uttarkashi.

greenh0rn · 20th August 2009, 22:54

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by straightdrive

No favourite places as such but if you are looking for an offbeat place to visit, there is a hill station called Renuka in Himachal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Renuka would be almost as hot as plains

I would recommend Narkanda,Shoja,Sarahan

I've been to Renukaji, it is indeed rather in the foothills and gets hot, but nice lake and zoo there. It's great for a vacation in early winters.

Following tsk1979's Shoja thread, I am seriously considering to plan a trip there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sj_koova

Manali would be my choice.
Bit crowded, but you can find many decent hotels for stay.

Thanks mate, Manali might get rather crowded. However a little before or ahead of Manali can always be explored!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

One of mine is a little-known place called Khirsu, near Pauri (Garhwal). Take a look:
Khirsu and Pauri, Uttarakhand, India pictures from india photos on webshots

Thanks mate, Khirsu looks nice too. One more thing I am planning to add this time is a bit of angling/fishing. Looks like Khirsu will offer me a good base for that.

Guys, any experience with fishing?

StarVegabond · 21st August 2009, 00:13

My favourite will remain Agumbe and Sringeri in (Karnataka) eventhough Hrishikesh and Dehradun come close second.

GSMINC · 21st August 2009, 00:25

In south india, Vaalpaarai, Agumbe, Wellington, Agastiarmalai, Kollimalai, Sakleshpur, Haanbalu, Rottikallu, Mudigere, Horseley hills, etc, & the list goes on & on

hvkumar · 21st August 2009, 00:44

Dhanaulti (near Musoorie), Gwaldam (near Bageshwar), Dalhousie (near Pathankot), Chakrata (near Musoorie), Sangla/Chitkul (near Rampur)

extreme_torque · 21st August 2009, 00:49

chail is one.... i really liked it!

coolclouds · 21st August 2009, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenh0rn

Hi guys,
So here's the question- what's your favourite off-beat hill destination?

If in south, it would be Munnar, my favorite destination.

hyd_traveller · 21st August 2009, 11:26

I guess all "A" Class cities in India have their own nearby hill stations
except
Hyderabad

From Hyderabad, if you were to travel:

Westwards - start at 550 km onwards - Mahabaleshwar, Lavasa, Lonavla, Khandala, ...

Southwards - start at 550 km onwards - Horsley Hills, Tirumala, ...

Eastwards - start at 700 km onwards - Aruku Valley, ...

Northwards – flummoxed – cannot think of even one?

Pardus · 21st August 2009, 11:30

Whole of Western Ghats... AGUMBE.. Kudremukh.. & BR Hills in Karnataka.
May be Pangot near Nainital for North.

deky · 21st August 2009, 13:12

I have never been to the following places but they have all figured on travel magzines (outlook traveller) and are highly recommended by a friend who works for the magzine.

Two Chimneys, Gethia

Naukuchiatal Lake Resort, Lake Resort Naukuchiatal, Naukuchiatal,Offecial Website of Naukuchiatal Lake Resorts, Contact No Of Lake Resort Naukuchiatal, Booking of Lake resort Naukuchiatal, Lake Resort Naukuchiatal Booking and Contact Information

The Chalets, Naldehra - Resort near Shimla with log cottages.

Lodge in Bhimtal with 12 rooms for a comfortable family stay in Bhimtal Nainital Uttarakhand

greenh0rn · 21st August 2009, 15:01

Munnar is a great place, really amazing for those of us exposed mostly to the Himalayas!

The chalets near Naldehra is not VFM, a better option is Kufri holiday resort near Kufri home. But Bhimtal's Fisherman lodge looks like worth exploring!

Guys it'll be great if you could also post a one-two line description of the place- things to do or what you liked most there! Even links would help!

20th August 2009, 13:24	#1
greenh0rn BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 427 Thanked: 149 Times	What's your favourite off-beat hill destination? Hi guys, September has two long weekends (in face one starting on Sep 28 can be extended to a nine-day holiday if one takes 3 days off) and I am planning to head out for the hills in the north. I like slightly off-beat places that are in the lap of nature, and away from hustle bustle of places like Simla, Mussoorie etc. Also, I like places that are reasonably high altitude (read 1800-2000 meters), so that distance to reach them is up to 8-9 hours from Delhi. So far I've loved Fagu (ahead of Simla), Naldehra, Lansdowne (ok it's a little closer)... I would like your suggestions on some places in Himachal or Uttarakhand... so far I am veering towards Bhimtal/Naukuchiatal (near Nainital), Binsar, but wouldn't mind a great tip in Himachal (roads are much better in that direction). So here's the question- what's your favourite off-beat hill destination?
	() Thanks

20th August 2009, 19:27	#2
straightdrive BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 259 Thanked: 5 Times	No favourite places as such but if you are looking for an offbeat place to visit, there is a hill station called Renuka in Himachal. Supposedly named after Parashurama's mother. Went there when I was in school and it wasn't too well known then - don't know if it has become more touristy now.
	() Thanks

20th August 2009, 19:49	#3
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	Renuka would be almost as hot as plains I would recommend Narkanda,Shoja,Sarahan
	() Thanks

20th August 2009, 19:53	#4
sj_koova BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 673 Thanked: 620 Times View My Garage	Manali would be my choice. Bit crowded, but you can find many decent hotels for stay.
	() Thanks

20th August 2009, 20:17	#5
SS-Traveller Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 8,164 Thanked: 27,140 Times View My Garage	Hey greenhorn, that's a thread right after my heart! One of mine is a little-known place called Khirsu, near Pauri (Garhwal). Take a look: Khirsu and Pauri, Uttarakhand, India pictures from india photos on webshots I loved Pauri till some 10 years ago. It's a bustling, crowded and dirty town now, not worth stopping at. Another is a small place called Chinyalisaur, about 40 km before Uttarkashi.
	() Thanks

21st August 2009, 00:13	#7
StarVegabond Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,891 Thanked: 42 Times	My favourite will remain Agumbe and Sringeri in (Karnataka) eventhough Hrishikesh and Dehradun come close second.
	() Thanks

21st August 2009, 00:25	#8
GSMINC BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 395 Thanked: 196 Times	In south india, Vaalpaarai, Agumbe, Wellington, Agastiarmalai, Kollimalai, Sakleshpur, Haanbalu, Rottikallu, Mudigere, Horseley hills, etc, & the list goes on & on
	() Thanks

21st August 2009, 00:44	#9
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Dhanaulti (near Musoorie), Gwaldam (near Bageshwar), Dalhousie (near Pathankot), Chakrata (near Musoorie), Sangla/Chitkul (near Rampur)
	() Thanks

21st August 2009, 00:49	#10
extreme_torque Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,376 Thanked: 5,105 Times	chail is one.... i really liked it!
	() Thanks

21st August 2009, 11:26	#12
hyd_traveller BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: "Luck-City", TS Posts: 748 Thanked: 398 Times	I guess all "A" Class cities in India have their own nearby hill stations except Hyderabad From Hyderabad, if you were to travel: Westwards - start at 550 km onwards - Mahabaleshwar, Lavasa, Lonavla, Khandala, ... Southwards - start at 550 km onwards - Horsley Hills, Tirumala, ... Eastwards - start at 700 km onwards - Aruku Valley, ... Northwards – flummoxed – cannot think of even one?
	() Thanks

21st August 2009, 11:30	#13
Pardus BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 140 Thanked: 259 Times	Whole of Western Ghats... AGUMBE.. Kudremukh.. & BR Hills in Karnataka. May be Pangot near Nainital for North.
	() Thanks

21st August 2009, 13:12	#14
deky Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Jaipur Posts: 1,194 Thanked: 1,247 Times	I have never been to the following places but they have all figured on travel magzines (outlook traveller) and are highly recommended by a friend who works for the magzine. Two Chimneys, Gethia Naukuchiatal Lake Resort, Lake Resort Naukuchiatal, Naukuchiatal,Offecial Website of Naukuchiatal Lake Resorts, Contact No Of Lake Resort Naukuchiatal, Booking of Lake resort Naukuchiatal, Lake Resort Naukuchiatal Booking and Contact Information The Chalets, Naldehra - Resort near Shimla with log cottages. Lodge in Bhimtal with 12 rooms for a comfortable family stay in Bhimtal Nainital Uttarakhand
	() Thanks

21st August 2009, 15:01	#15
greenh0rn BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 427 Thanked: 149 Times	Munnar is a great place, really amazing for those of us exposed mostly to the Himalayas! The chalets near Naldehra is not VFM, a better option is Kufri holiday resort near Kufri home. But Bhimtal's Fisherman lodge looks like worth exploring! Guys it'll be great if you could also post a one-two line description of the place- things to do or what you liked most there! Even links would help!
	() Thanks