Naldehra – An ideal location for nature lovers

By Ashita Goel

Naldehra is a beautiful town in Himachal Pradesh, covered with stunning natural scenery and tranquil surroundings. One can experience adventure sports like white river rafting, zorbing, zipline, paragliding, trekking and camping at this breathtaking location.

It was the month of June when my family planned a trip to this beautiful place in the mountain town for my birthday celebration. The charming little town is located 22 kilometres from Shimla and is renowned for its lush vegetation, golf course and unobstructed views of the mountains covered in pine, cedar and deodar trees. It is an ideal location for travellers seeking peace and natural scenery. With a backdrop of the mountains and the Sutlej River flowing through, Naldehra is a breathtaking site.

Our guide told us that this lovely town is located at 2044 metres above sea level and was named after combining two names- Nag and Dehra, which together mean “abode of the king of snakes.” According to historical documents, the British Viceroy Lord Curzon is credited for discovering this lovely hill station.

In addition to having an 18-hole golf course, the area is renowned for its fairs. The Sipi Fair is one among them and it takes place every year in the month of June. The annual “Jotton Ka Mela,” which is particularly well-known for its bullfights, is another well-liked festival that takes place in October. Chabba, Tattapani, Shaily Peak, Mahakali Temple and the Kogi Mata Temple are a few of Naldehra’s other top tourist destinations.

Another popular destination is Shaily peak, which is situated close to Mahakali Lake around 23 miles from Naldehra. Its steep summit, rocky slopes and surrounding forest make it the ideal location for hikers and adventure enthusiasts. To go to Shaily top, tourists can either use horses or rent motorcycles. We hired motorcycles in order to reach the top of the peak.  

Tattapani, which is 30 km from Naldehra, is well known for its hot springs. The water spring, which is located on the bank of the Sutlej River, is well known to treat a number of ailments including fatigue, skin conditions and joint discomfort. Additionally, there are many temples in this area that are devoted to Lord Shiva. In Tattapani, we also enjoyed white river rafting, zorbing, zipline, paragliding, trekking and camping. The activity I undertook for the first time in my life and found most enjoyable was zorbing. My brother and I sat in a ball-shaped structure, which was later dumped into the water. We were moving that ball into the water with our hands and legs. It was great fun for us.

This vacation was one of my favourite and most memorable ones since I got to spend my 17^th birthday with my family at one of the most beautiful and serene places.