I will be in Shimla in the later month of June for a conference which would last a day after that I have 5 days free which I would like to spend somewhere around Shimla. The kind of places I would like see are Kalpa and Kaza and I am thinking of visiting both of these places. Before I plan any further I have a few questions. What is the route from Shimla to Kalpa/Kaza like? Would you suggest any other places or routes other than the ones I have mentioned? Would it be easy finding accommodation during the peak season if I don't prebook?
The road conditions are not so great from Shimla to Kaza, but you will be able to drive, you should take the road via Rekong Peo. You did not mention where you would be coming from and what route you would take when you go back home. Other options which I would suggest would be going to Kasol and having some stop overs on the way, if that is what you would like. You route would be Shimla - Narkanda - Jalori Pass - Shoja - Tirthan Valley - Kasol. This route leads to Manali so if you wish you can go ahead to Manali is your decision. June end is less of a peak season as monsoons start. You would find problems with accommodation in places like Manali, but would be fine with the other places.
Just to let you know if you would be staying in Shima then parking is mission there, and charges are between Rs150-Rs200 for a small car and Rs400 for a large car.
you could even hire a taxi for one day and make a visit to GreenValley and Kufri both are nice places around shimla..
its a Valley of densest forests in country, on your way to kufri just get out-o-you car and click some pics of this panormic view... these forests look extremely green in colour thats why this place is named Green Valley.
What kind of place do you exactly want to go to around Shimla, a place to do some activities, some adventure sport or just sit and relax?
I think a mixture of the mentioned above would be good, but if not available then I would prefer a quiet destination simply to relax. Do you think I should drop the Kalpa/Kaza idea?
roads to "Kaza" and "Kinnaur" are dangerous in fact some of the roads in HP are very dangerous.. just a single mistake you'll first go down deep and then up directly to the almighty! despite all this these are the major roads which connects towns and are hence used by people... have a look at some of the vedios on youtube..
Monsoon season should be avoided for traveling in the hilly areas, due to rocks falling from the hills and slippery roads in the hills, travel only if necessary. If you want to travel I would suggest go to near by places in Shimla and not too far out.
As you only have five days you should not go to more than two places, as otherwise you wont have enough time to spend in the chosen places and would spend your time just driving around.
Hello and welcome to the forum! The distance between Shimla and Kalpa is about 250.4 kms. You'd have to drive at least 8 hours to reach Kalpa. Here's the route you have to take: Shimla > Rampur > Sarahan > Sangla > Chitkul > Kalpa From Shimla to Sarahan, road conditions are good. Roads are mostly paved and smooth as well. You won't encounter any problems but I suggest filling up the tank of your vehicle in Sarahan or in Jeori. After Sarahan, expect bad road conditions and you'd have to drive carefully. Roads can be round and in damaged conditions. Now, let's go to Kaza. The distance between Shimla and Kaza is about 451 kms which can take you 11 hours of travel time. You can take the same route as above: Shimla > Rampur > Sarahan > Sangla > Chitkul > Kalpa >Nako > Tabo > Kaza The same road conditions apply here. After Sarahan, expect unpaved roads and steeper curves. Otherwise, another route you can take is: Shimla > Rampur > Wangtu > Karchham > Espillo > Khab > Nako > Chango > Sumdoh> Tabo > Dhankar > Kaza From Shimla to Karchham, there's not much problem in the road conditions. Some are even wide enough for two vehicles to pass through. When you get to Espillo, it can get pretty challenging. You might encounter bad patches with rocks or unpaved roads. Since the route is uphill, you will also encounter zig-zag roads. It gets easier from Khab although the roads aren't as wide like Wangtu. From Tabo to Kaza, roads are in good condition as well. Other places near Shimla I can suggest are: Thanedar. This is just 80 kms away from Shimla. You mentioned that you'd like to explore a place where you can relax and Thanedar is just that. You can enjoy apple picking or just enjoying the view of the lake here. It's the best place to unwind and enjoy nature. Attractions here include: the Tani Jubbar Lake, the Apple Orchards and the Nag Devta Temple. Kasauli. This is about 70 kms away from Shimla. This isn't overly crowded like other tourist destinations. My favourite attractions here are the Sunset Point and the Monkey Point. Narkanda. If you'd like a little bit of adventure, consider Narkanda. It's not as commercialised as Kullu and Manali but it's a great place for skiing too. You can also visit the Hattu Peak here which offers amazing views of the mountains. Triund. An offbeat destination for trekking. The snow here is quite lovely as it's pure and almost untouched. Attractions here are: the Triund Hill and the Lahesh Cave. Chanshal Pass. This is just 180 kms from Shimla and is a great alternative to the Rohtang Pass. The view from the Chanshal Valley is amazing. It's better if you prebook as Himachal Pradesh is quite a tourist destination and you'll find accommodations fully booked in peak seasons. You might end up not having many options if you don't prebook in advance. I hope this helps! P.S. I do think visiting Kaza and Kalpa at least once in your life is a must. The views from the trek are amazing and beyond comparison to other routes. Make sure you time your visit during the summer months though, from May to June. Peak tourist season is from June to October. Avoid November and December as the roads can be dangerous during these months. Good luck!
