Top 12 MUST VISIT Offbeat Places in Himachal Pradesh in 2022

Nowadays many people look out for offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh as most of the tourist places are mostly turning to concrete jungles. There is so much demand for these less-known places in Himachal that many of them are turning into tourist spots now.

When I suggest travel plans to my loved ones, including family and friends, I do ask them lots of questions. It helps me know what they are expecting from their offbeat vacation in Himachal. It helps me suggest a memorable trip of their lifetime. Some of these questions include –

“Are you tired of being visiting the same old commercialized, tourist flocked, complete hustle-bustle like Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Dharamshala, etc.? Do you feel like going to some quiet, secluded, and peaceful place where you can spend quality time with your family, friends, and nature? Do you believe in off the beaten track travel and love to explore new places? “

Well, many times I get a positive reply to most of these questions. Every other person, who frequently travels nowadays, is looking out for some quiet, peaceful, less commercialized, and non-touristy place in Himachal to spend their valuable vacation time.

So, in case the answer to any of these questions is YES for you too, then this article is for you only. 

What are some Offbeat Places in Himachal near Delhi?

Here is the preview of the top 12 offbeat destinations in Himachal Pradesh near Delhi. We will look at them in this article in more detail.

Name of the Offbeat Place in Himachal

1. Tirthan Valley – Gushaini, Nagini

2. Pabbar Valley – Rohru, Shelapani, Kharapathar, Chansal Pass

3. Chindi – Karsog Valley

4. Daranghati – Daran Village

5. Barot

6. Prashar Lake

7. Bir – Biling

8. Parvati Valley – Kasol, Tosh, Kheerganga, Malana

9. Naggar Castle – Jagatsukh

10. Jibhi – Shringipur – Shoja – Jalori Pass

11. Rajgarh – Nohradhar – Haripurdhar

12. Chamba – Bharmour – Hadsar – Bairagarh

13. Other places – More than a day drive from Delhi

Himachal Pradesh offers a variety of hidden tourist places, but many of them take at least two days to reach Delhi/NCR. However, in this article, I am going to share with you my favorite offbeat places in Himachal.

These undiscovered places in Himachal Pradesh can be reached in a day from Delhi/NCR. You should be OK with traveling about 12-14 Hrs a day (the usual time for Manali / Dharamshala / Dalhousie).

In case you haven’t, then do not forget to check my list of Top 12 MUST VISIT Offbeat Places in Uttarakhand.

You can go through these peaceful places in Himachal below. I am sure you will add many of them to your next travel plans for a trip to Himachal Pradesh.

Download your FREE high-resolution version pdf copy of this infographic guide of these lesser-known & offbeat places in Himachal. If you liked it and found it helpful, please feel free to share it with your family and friends to help them too.

1. Tirthan Valley

If you have not been to Tirthan Valley yet, then I am sure that you have not experienced nature in its purest form. Surrounded by the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), this beautiful valley situated beside the Tirthan River is one of the hidden tourist places in Himachal.

Tirthan Valley is an awesome place to relax in the lap of mother nature. It tops my list of offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh any day if you have never been to it. I love this place most in the whole Himachal region for my family outings.

If you haven’t got a chance to visit it, then the best time to visit Tirthan Valley will be the coming Spring season and early summers. Though the Tirthan Valley is open all around the year, its beauty magnifies to the greater magnitude with blooming flowers in the valley in the Spring season and early summers. Also, the water in the Tirthan river is soothing to sit beside and get lost in peaceful nature.

There is a nearby waterfall in Gushaini, Tirthan Valley and you have a Great Himalayan National Park that offers one of the best hikes around the world. You can go for day hikes in GHNP or stroll in the village or woods around it. Perfect place to spend some quality time with your family.

2. Pabbar Valley

Pabbar is one of the most enchanting places in Himachal Pradesh, isolated from the tourist rush as of now. It offers some awesome panoramic views, especially from the Chansal pass, along with numerous nature walks/hikes in the dense orchards and forests all along the valley.

So, there is no surprise it makes in my list of less-known places in Himachal.

You can also experience a wide range of activities like camping, trekking, fishing, and other adventure activities that are also gaining attention including rafting and paragliding.

You may have heard about the names of these undiscovered places in Himachal like Rohru, Shelapani, Karapather, or Chansal Pass. All these lesser-known villages come under the Pabbar Valley region.

So, in all honesty before this “becoming popular” destination gets polluted by the maddening tourist rush, high-end commercialization, and goes away from the list of offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh, you should travel to Pabbar Valley soon in your upcoming trip to Himachal Pradesh. I am sure you will love every bit of it.

You can read about the route details and directions in my article on my trip to Chansal Pass – Rohru – Chakrata.

3. Chindi – Karsog Valley

Chindi is yet another offbeat place in Himachal Pradesh that offers an inspiring set of beauty, peace, and calmness. Once, you reach Chindi or Karsog Valley, you have all the time in the world to rejuvenate, relax and spend some quality quiet moments with your loved ones.

You have ample hikes around in the dense orchards and can explore several temples around Chindi. You can visit Karsog Valley situated just below Chindi, which also offers some lush green wide views of the mountainscapes in Spring and Summers.

If lately, you had some “not so good” time with your better half, or you had a great time with him/her but still want to make it better by listening to each other, or you want to introspect a few things about yourself then Chindi is an ideal place for you.

If required you can discuss with me an itinerary for Shimla, Chindi, Karsog, and Kullu Valley and visit these offbeat places in Himachal near Delhi.

4. Daranghati – Daran Village

Daranghati near Sarahan is one of the remotest and unexplored places in Himachal Pradesh situated just above Daran village. It is famous for Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary, but you cannot take anything from the jaw-dropping beauty it offers you.

Since Daranghati is near to Sarahan (which itself offers nice beauty and peace) and lacks too many accommodation options (just two as of now), it can always be covered as a day trip from Sarahan. However, one-day camping at Daranghati is highly recommended to feel nature in its best form.

The general route to Daranghati goes through Mashnoo (alternate routes are also there) and for cars it is almost an off-road type of experience. If you plan to visit in hatchback or sedan, then I guess you need to have some excellent driving skills. You should be cautious to drive on this adventurous plus narrow road.

If you are especially a rider or driver who loves to enjoy some adventurous roads to reach a secluded place in Himachal for ultimate relaxation, then you should plan a trip to Daranghati very soon. You will not be disappointed at all.

Even if you drop Daranghati then Sarahan, entrance to Kinnaur Valley, itself offering some picturesque beauty and peace, is worth a place to visit in Himachal Pradesh. But, going to Sarahan will give you peace, nothing much exotic. (For just Sarahan, read more in comments by doodlings though via email)

5. Barot – Luhardi Villages

Barot was used to be on my travel bucket list of offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh for a long time. However, finally, in 2013, I got a chance to travel to this secluded place in Himachal besides the Uhl river.

Barot is another off-the-beaten-track destination in Himachal that is yet to gain the attention of the general tourists. It has some wonderful terraced fields, thick cedar forests, and a range of outdoor activities on offer for the tourist.

The Uhl river flowing next to the Barot village mostly on both sides adds every bit of its unique beauty. So, if you love serenity, nature walks, or you are a backpacker or one who loves to do some angling, then do not hesitate by any means to visit Barot village in your upcoming travel plan for Himachal.

You can read my comprehensive travel guide of Barot to know everything about this offbeat place in Himachal Pradesh near Delhi.

6. Prashar Lake

Prashar Lake, which is located about 49 odd km north of Mandi at an altitude of 2730 Mtrs, is one of the popular offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh. The lake has a depth unknown to anyone so far. People who know about this place can’t stop going there again and again due to the extreme solitude and peace it offers to you.

However, I only like Prashar Lake in two states, one, when it gets surrounded by green colors topped with a varied variety of flowers in the monsoon months of July – August. And, the other state is when the white carpet of snow surrounds this surreal lake and gives it a feeling like a jewel-studded & shining midst white gold around it, in January – March.

You can take Delhi to Manali overnight Volvo and reach Mandi. Buses are running from Mandi to Prashar lake / Baggi village, the base of Prashar. Spend a day at Prashar either in FRH or PWD Guest House or camping near the lake. Finally, on Day 3, you can return home. So, a trip to Prashar can easily be made over an extended weekend.

As I said, it looks beautifully green in monsoon time, Prashar lake is also one of the top offbeat places in Himachal to visit in August. Of course, with rains, there is always a risk.

You can read my snow trek to Prashar which I did in January and it was pure bliss.

7. Bir – Billing

I have already mentioned Barot above in this article but let’s deviate a bit now. Just about 70 odd KMs from Barot, there lies India’s favorite destination for Paragliding by the name of Bir Billing.

While Bir is more of a conventional Buddhist/Tibetan town having quite nice monasteries and a stupa, 14 km north of Bir lies Billing, which is the hotspot of paragliding in India. These two places also come pretty high in the list of my favorite offbeat places in Himachal near Delhi.

You can club the trip to Bir Biling along with the Barot village trip or Prashar Lake trip. Otherwise, you can also make a dedicated trip to this secluded place in Himachal.

The stay options are available at Chowgan village. The best time to visit Bir – Billing is from April – May or September to mid of November. You may not be aware, but Bir – Billing indeed hosted the Paragliding World Cup by the Paragliding World Cup Association, France in 2015 🙂 🙂 …

So, being popular only amongst a niche of travelers, Bir Biling in Himachal makes the ideal offbeat destination in Himachal for all peace and paragliding lovers.

8. Kasol – Malana – Tosh – Kheerganga

Now, let’s talk about a couple of beautiful unknown places of Himachal Pradesh, Kasol – Malana – Tosh – Kheerganga.

Kasol, 75 km away from Manali and about 34 km from Bhunter, lies in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is nestled between Pin Parvati ranges on one side and the mighty Beas river on the other.

Parvati river, a tributary to Beas, also passes through Kasol town. For years we have heard that Kasol is a mini Israel for its cannabis production and foreigner settlement.

But that is not what Kasol is all about.

A calm little Himalayan town, Kasol gets its unique selling point from towering hills covering this town, the wild yet forgiving Parvati river, and an abundance of multi-cuisine restaurants. On an average day in Kasol, you will find numerous German bakeries and cafes serving multi cuisines, shops selling innovative caps, jewelry and T-shirts, Firangs and hippies strolling about around the streets, and much much more.

Apart from Kasol, there are numerous hikes or treks or walks one can undertake from Kasol to reach various tranquil places around Parvati Valley.

Tosh – Kalga – Pulga – Kheerganga

You can go up to Tosh village, where a bumpy yet motorable road goes. Tosh offers some majestic views in Parvati Valley. Then there is a 3-4 Hrs trek to Kheerganga running through quaint villages of Kalga – Pulga having a hot spring up there. It is one of the most favorite spots for most people traveling to Kasol.

Malana

Finally, there is a tabooed village of Malana which is quite an unusual yet very picturesque hamlet having its one unique culture, laws/rules which amuses many people to visit this place. All these places are nearby Kasol only and you can club a 3-4 day trip to visit these places or make these villages as a base to explore the rest of them around.

Once, these used to be the most undiscovered places in Himachal, but as of 2022 Insta age and budding travelers searching for trance things have killed it a bit. However, still, you can visit these quaint towns Himachal for peace, not just a different trance and hippie culture.

9. Naggar Castle – Jagatsukh

Naggar Village, about 22 KMs away from Manali, is a quiet little village to enjoy the peace and calmness of the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh I have always believed that staying at Naggar Palace, a premium heritage hotel, run by HPTDC is one of the most romantic offbeat experiences of Himachal.

Naggar castle offers some amazingly beautiful views from its front row rooms and balcony-based restaurant.

The best will be that you book rooms in the first row offering a valley view. On a relaxing day, you can hike to Old Krishna Temple, visit Shiv Temple or Roerich Art Gallery and Museum at Naggar.

As soon as you reach the bus stand (I feel it was a bust stand :)) of Naggar lifts your eyes upwards and you can get a glimpse of a castle-like structure made of wood and rocks at a cliff point. It’s approx. 800 Mtrs from the bus stand.

Jagatsukh

On the way to Naggar from Manali, there comes another quiet, calm and small village by the name Jagatsukh. There is a well-known temple there as “Gayatri Temple” which is known to be one of the oldest temples of all time with relevance to “Mahabharata“.

Nowadays Jagatsukh is also gaining popularity in terms of staying away from the hustle-bustle of the Manali town at a peaceful location. So, surely needs a special mention in this list of offbeat places in Himachal.

10. Jibhi – Shringipur – Shoja – Jalori Pass

We have already talked much about Tirthan Valley in this list of offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh.

However, if you move from Tirthan Valley or Gushaini towards Banjar and take the road to Jalori Pass, you will come across some more peaceful yet not so known hidden tourist places in Himachal. These are popular by the names Jibhi, Ghiyaji / Shringipur / Shringi Vatika, Shoja, and Jalori Pass.

To beat the crowd and have a quiet time with your loved ones, staying at any of these villages will not disappoint you a bit. All these places now have small guest houses or homestays run by mostly local families. You can witness the flowing waters of a tributary to the Tirthan river, especially at Shringi Vatika, and enjoy local cuisines while living in complete calmness.

Shringi Vatika is a homestay/guest house run by an old couple which now they call it Shringipur. HPTDC has put up camps right at Jalori Pass in complete solitude. Apart from majestic valley views, you will not spot anything, and that makes it a perfect place to live away from civilization yet very close to it 🙂 🙂

11. Rajgarh – Nohradhar – Haripurdhar

Located in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, Rajgarh – Nohradhar – Haripurdhar villages are one of the most less known offbeat places in Himachal where you can enjoy complete peace and calmness away from any hustle-bustle.

Only a handful of people know about it, and one can enjoy the drive of about 9-10 hrs from Delhi. Rajgarh lies ahead of Solan, and you can witness pure serenity around the place once you reach.

These places lie on one of the well-known treks by the name Churdhar Trek. In the winter months, these hidden villages become one of those not-so-popular places to find snowfall near Delhi in Himachal.

You can read the entire travel tale in the DwD Community about a family trip to Rajgarh (Sirmour)

12. Chamba – Bharmour – Hadsar – Bairagarh

Many tourists visit Dalhousie – Khajjiar every year and some of them make a day trip to Chamba as well. However, the entire region ahead of Dalhousie – Banikhet is very untouched and quite less explored apart from the days of Manimahesh Yatra.

There are plenty of options of peaceful places in the entire Bharmour Valley ranging from Chamba to Bairagarh, the base of Sach Pass, or an entrance to Pangi Valley. The places around Bharmour only remain rushed during the days of Manimahesh yatra but the rest of the season mostly has fewer tourist footfalls.

However, you can always visit these places to enjoy a quiet holiday with your loved ones. You will not get much outside disturbance. Also, you can make a day trip to tourist places of Dalhousie – Khajjiar from these places to have a balance of touristy plus offbeat experience.

No doubt, these places needed a special mention in this list of offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh near Delhi.

Other Offbeat places in Himachal & FAQ

Conclusion

You can reach all these offbeat places in Himachal from Delhi/NCR in a day. Hence, you can enjoy a complete offbeat vacation of 3 to 4 days at any of these places near Delhi. You can check with me for an itinerary and other details for these lovely off-the-beaten-track travel places in Himachal Pradesh.

So, after going through the complete list of a few undiscovered places in Himachal which one will you put on your bucket list?

In the upcoming articles on this similar series of offbeat places near Delhi, I will cover some offbeat places in Uttarakhand along with offbeat resorts in Himachal to stay. So, stay tuned and subscribe to my email list of travelers to get such tips delivered to your inbox.

Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions about traveling to the Himalayas.

Please share your thoughts, reviews, suggestions, and experiences as comments. I would be looking forward to them… till then Happy Traveling.

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