Naggar is an ancient town in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu. Situated at an elevation of 1,800 metres, Naggar served as the capital of the erstwhile Kullu kingdom for nearly 1,400 years. Situated approximately 22 km from the district headquarters in Kullu, Naggar has Kullu to its South, Spiti to its east, Lahaul to its north and Drang to its west. The town was founded by Visudh Pal. The town is now among the major tourist attractions in Himachal.
The town has several important temples, historic structures and a majestic castle to attract tourists from all over the country. Being in Himachal, Naggar also has a lot to offer to adventure junkies. Activities like trekking and camping are really popular here. Naggar is known for its unique Himachali tradition, natural beauty, Himalayan huts and places of religious significance. There are a lot of places to explore in the town.
How To Reach Naggar?
- By Air: The nearest airport to Naggar is Bhuntar Airport. It is nearly 40 km far from the town. Regular flights of Air India operate between New Delhi and Bhuntar. You can easily find a taxi for Naggar from Bhuntar.
- By Road: Naggar is located 589 km from Delhi, 246 km from Shimla and 26 km from Kullu. The road connectivity to Naggar is pretty decent and Manali falls on the way to Naggar by road. Manali is barely 22 km from the town.
- By Train: The nearest railway station to Naggar is Joginder Nagar. It is well connected to Pathankot through the narrow gauge railhead.
Also Read, Kangra: A Beautiful yet Untouched Town of Himachal
Where To Stay in Naggar?
There are a lot of budget-friendly as well as luxury stay options in Naggar. You can easily book a homestay while in Naggar and enjoy the experience of staying between the mountains.
Top Attractions
Naggar Castle:
Naggar Castle is undoubtedly the most popular attraction in the town. Situated in the town’s heart, the castle is an architectural marvel and boasts royalty. It was built in 1460 AD and is a perfect blend of Himalayan and Western construction styles. In 1978, the government converted the royal property into a heritage hotel. That means you can not just visit the castle as a tourist but can also stay there. The castle has featured in several movies and songs. The key attractions inside the castle include several paintings made by a Russian artist Nicholas Roerich. In the castle complex itself is a small restaurant where you can enjoy authentic Garhwali food. The entry fee for visitors is Rs. 15 per person.
Dagpo Shedrup Ling Monastery:
Himachal is famous for housing so many monasteries and Naggar is no different. The magnificent building with a jaw dropping landscape at the backdrop makes a strong case for being a top tourist attraction in the town. Dagpo Shedrup Ling Monastery was built in 2005 and has been a centre of spirituality since then. The place is of great importance for the people of the Buddhist community, but the monastery is open to visitors from all over the country. The monastery is dedicated to Dalai Lama, the spiritual guru from the country of Tibet.
Jagatipatt Temple:
There are many temples and religious structures in Himachal, but Jagatipatt Temple is one of its kind. Located very close to the city centre, the temple is not just a place of religious significance but also an engineering marvel. The temple is actually earthquake resistant. It is because the temple has alternate slabs of Deodar timber. You must take out some time to visit the temple, not just to offer prayers but also to get a glimpse of the magnificent engineering work.
Trekking in Naggar:
Naggar is not just about sightseeing. There are also a lot of adventurous activities that you can indulge in while exploring the town and trekking is right there at the top. The challenging yet beautiful terrains of Naggar will provide you an opportunity to feel that adrenaline rush while getting a panoramic view of the entire town from a comfortable height. Naggar serves as a base for a lot of treks nearby. Besides trekking, another activity that you can try your hands into is trout fishing.
Gauri Shankar Temple:
There’s no dearth of religious structures in Naggar and Gauri Shankar Temple is another very important temple in the town. Located just below the Naggar castle, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Said to be the last standing example of Gurjara-Pratihara traditions, the temple was built in the 11th century. It is the stone carvings on the temple that attract the visitors the most. A must visit a place for devotees from all across the country, the medieval structure can be visited in barely 30 minutes.
Shopping in Naggar:
While in Naggar, you can not miss the chance to shop for local products and artifacts at the local market, Authentic shawls, traditional Himachali caps, natural oils, rugs and woollen shoes are some of the products that are easily available in the local market at very affordable prices. If your bargaining game is on point, you can get some really good products for very reasonable prices.
