The roads less travelled

Gurnaaz Kaur

t’s that time of the year when summer heat is beating us down, when schools break for a long vacation and when everyone seeks a respite from the seething city life. These make for the right reasons for a trip to the cooler climes. Nothing can beat the Himalayas and North India is replete with hill stations. This time around, instead of treading along the beaten track, we find out some offbeat, lesser-explored areas in the hills that are becoming the top most choice of family vacationers and solo travellers alike. 

In Himachal Pradesh, these areas are Shangarh village in Sainj Valley of Kullu district and Sethan village. Moving upwards, there is Chatpal Valley and Yusmarg in Kashmir. And,  in Uttarakhand is Dayara Bughyal, a paradise near Uttarkashi.

Of peaceful villages

Shangarh is a quaint little travellers’ haven hiding in the vastness of the Himalayas,  some 45 km from Kullu. Hidden in the serene Sainj Valley, this peaceful village offers the diversity of various life forms in its purest form. It hosts giant lush green meadows surrounded by dense deodar forest and the majestic Shenshar, Banaugi and Stogni ranges in the backdrop. Shangarh village lies under Great Himalayan National Park, which is about 7km above Ropa. It has a small market with no hotels and guest houses, even though there are many homestays and forest department rest houses. On the corner of the magnificent green grasslands, there is the three-tiered Shangchul Mahadev Temple, which is a must-visit. 

Beyond the touristy Manali 

This time around, ditch Manali and visit Sethan village, an ideal place for slow travellers. The starting point to Hampta Pass trek, it is a tiny Buddhist town hardly 15km away from Manali. It has no more than 15-20 houses and mostly no tourist visiting. Ninety per cent of the families living here migrated from Spiti Valley who were given the land by the then Government of India when Himachal Pradesh was still a part of Punjab. It is a restricted area and anyone visiting needs to obtain a permit. No public transport goes till Sethan, so one needs to hire a taxi. At an altitude of over 2700m above sea level, Sethan offers many winter and summer adventure activities. The secluded village is known for authentic homestay experiences during summers and ice igloos during winter time. 

Knowing Kashmir, inside out 

Talk of Kashmir and the places that usually steal the limelight are Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Srinagar and Leh. These mainstream destinations may not be enough for someone who is on a quest to explore the unexplored. Chatpal Valley is a place that can make you filled with wonderment. This untouched beauty in Anantnag offers serenity and forms the perfect place for a rejuvenating experience in the depths of nature. This green landscape is surrounded with gushing streams and huge white peaks. It is abound with many trekking trails.

Another destination that can leave one spellbound is Yusmarg. This hill station is located in Badgam district and is approximately 50 km from Srinagar. Dense forests full of pine trees, grassy pastures stretching to acres of land, snowcapped mountains in the backdrop, this place is sure to mesmerise its visitors. Yusmarg is known to house some unique springtime flowers. Dudh Ganga River is another attraction here. 

For the love of adventure

Of all the treks in Uttarakhand, Dayara Bugyal brings one to a highland meadow that stands tall at 12,000 ft. An excellent destination for skiing during winter, it is nestled amidst towering snow-peaked mountains. Bugyal in local dialect means ‘high altitude pasture land’ and Dayara is a relatively lesser known Bugyal due to its crisp trek, but this one pays off magnificent rewards. One can catch sight of the lake of Barnala Tal here. The trek starts from the tiny hamlet of Barsu, 32 km from Uttarkashi. Reach the Bugyal and experience a 360 degree view of great Himalayas.  

Breathtaking experiences, picturesque locales, delectable local cuisines, vibrant wildlife— the perks of travelling the lesser travelled path are many.

Experience talks

"Travelling to an offbeat location is like investing your money and time in experiences for lifetime. When away from the tourist hot spot, it gives me an opportunity to get closer to locals in that region, understand their vivid culture and relish the clean ecosystem. My travel to Shangarh meadows situated was one such experience. Living at homestay made in authentic Himachali wooden houses and experiencing the hospitality by locals, eating  organic, home grown food was something I cannot experience at a  touristy location. I just feel, when travelling to these Himalayan escapes, one must make sure they are being responsible towards the environment by not littering around, cooperating with the locals, etc."

Neetu Agrawal, Oye Chatori, Travel Influencer

"The places that are off the grid have an unparalleled charm to them. Where the connection between us and Mother Earth is not lost. The only thing lost is the signal bars on the phone and the Internet, a pleasure we’ve forgotten to indulge ourselves in. The rest of the things we find are just pure discovery. This, in a nutshell, is the reason why I keep going back to a lesser-known location, every now and then."

Mohit Behl, The Route Cause, Travel Writer and Photographer

gurnaaz@tribunemail.com