Narkanda 

Narkanda (2708 m) is popular with tourists for skiing and ancient Hatu Mata temple. Narkanda was once a staging post along the Hindustan Tibet Road and today, this small town is famous for its wide views, forests and as a destination for a quiet holiday in the heart of nature. The area has forests of fir and spruce, with a smattering of maple, aspen and cedar trees. Narkanda has skiing slopes that include basic downhill and slalom runs. The HPTDC conducts ski courses every winter. The peak of Hattu (3136 m), above Narkanda, is amongst the highest in the mid- Himalaya. Apart from providing an interesting hiking trail, the peak is connected by a motorable road that climbs through woods of cedar and spruce and undulating meadows where sheep and horses graze. its heights unfold a magnificent vista of snow peaks and valleys. Ahead lie the Greater Himalaya and a host of famous peaks – the Kinner Kailash, Shrikhand and the Kullu ranges. The valley of the river Satluj, embroidered by the highway, has a rich fabric of woods and villages. Hatu’s banks hold stretches of apple orchards and acres of wild flowers. The top is crowned by a temple dedicated to the goddess, Hateshwari.

GETTING THERE:

• By Rail : Chandigarh railway station is at a distance of 185 kms and Kalka is 155 kms away. On the narrow gauge Kalka Shimla railway line, Shimla station is at a distance of65 kms.
• By Road: Shimla is 64 kms away and Delhi is at a distance of 440 kms.
• By Air : Shimla airport is 88 kms away and the one at Chandigarh is at a distance of 189 kms.

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ATTRACTIONS :

• Skiing: In winter, skiing is one of the main attractions of Narkanda. The slopes are covered with a carpet of snow and the HPTDC offers special packages to learn how to ski.
• Hatu Peak towers over Narkanda and has a magnificent view from the top and you can see a wide spread of the Himalayan range, small hamlets, fields and orchards. You can drive or hike 6 km to the top. The route is through a forest of deodar and spruce trees.
• Kacheri is 7 km from Narkanda and has an old temple dedicated to Mahamaya.
• Kumarsain is 16 from Narkanda and lies a little off NH 22. This has the two superbly crafted temples dedicated to Koteshwara Mahadev.
• Kotgarh and Thanedar (1830 m) are connected by a link road that bifurcates just after Narkanda to Himachal’s apple growing heartland. These contiguous settlements form the core of Himachal’s apple -growing heartland. This pocket of charming mountain countryside is also reputed to have amongst the highest per capita incomes in South-east Asia. All this prosperity is due to Samuel Evans Stokes, who introduced the American varieties of apple in the area and modern systems of marketing and packaging. ln his later life, Stokes converted to Hinduism and changed his name to Satyanand; he became an associate of Mahatma Gandhi in India’s freedom struggle. His house, Harmony Hall is a remarkable blend of indigenous and western architectural styles. The paramjyotir temple near the house has verses of the Gita inscribed along the walls. Nearby, are the small lake of Tani Jubbar and the well known Nag Devta temple. St. Mary’s Church at Kotgarh is one of the oldest in the country.

HOTELS

THE HATU – Deluxe Hotel
Sheltered in the shadow of a high mountain, Hotel Hatu derives its name from the nearby Hatu Peak. Just off the Shimla-Rampur-Kinnaur highway, this hotel, away from the small bazaar, is located among quiet surroundings. It is an ideal location for leisure and sightseeing and also serves as an excellent stopover, while moving along the Hindustant-Tibet highway.
ADDRESS : Hotel Hatu, Narkanda, Distt. Shimla – 171213
(HP) Tel : (01 782)242430, 242509.
E-mail : hotelhatu@hptdc.in