I don’t really like making listicles. It is one thing that has single-handedly destroyed the substance and depth of online content. However, I think the time has come to make this one. In recent times, I have noticed that the word “offbeat” is used very frivolously nowadays. There are offbeat lists that include places that have been in the tourist radar since the age of Roerich. I understand that familiarity is also relative but still… no… Kasol and Malana are NOT offbeat!

I wanted to make a genuine top 10 unexplored list but too many names came up! That too after completely excluding the entire Parvati Valley and anything in the 50 KM radius of Manali, Dharamshala and Shimla. It is possible that you can still find something good around these places but you will never be too far from a crowded marketplace. For that matter, I have decided not to mention Lower Kinnaur (Kalpa-Peo-Sangla-Chitkul) and Spiti either. Yes, they still remain a great destinations but you know that already, don’t you?

The primary criteria I am using here is the lack tourists on ground and lack of chatter on the social media as per my observation. Some of these names will be a bit more familiar than the others but overall, they can offer you that much needed dose of desolation. Most of these areas don’t have expensive resorts but HRTC buses connect them all.

So, what I am doing is that I am listing out entire regions or circuits and not just solitary towns or villages. You can easily spend a week exploring any of these regions and you can find secluded hill stations, villages, cultures and treks in these regions. Some of these should also be ideal for quick weekend road trips from Delhi.

Top 10 Unexplored Tourist Circuits in Himachal Pradesh

1. Sach Pass and Pangi Valley

Enough can’t be said about Pangi, but I have already said whatever I had to say about it in numerous posts about the Sach Pass, Killar, Hudan, and Sural. It is practically the last frontier yet to be broken by the Himachal tourism boom. In the olden days, it used to be a site for Kala Pani (exile) for criminals of Chamba Kingdom. Biker gangs and SUV enthusiasts travel there mainly to prove their mettle on what they call one of the “most dangerous roads” on earth. However, I think this is only one of Pangi’s charms. The real joy of Pangi lies in its frontier villages, and the inclined slopes that lead to them. I will soon make a detailed guide on the valley.

How to Reach Pangi: Bus or shared cars from Keylong (130 Kms) or Chamba town (160 Kms) to Killar. Both routes will take the whole day. From Killar you get local buses to the villages and you can also opt for a long walk/hike like I did on many occasions.

Stay in Pangi Valley: There are two hotels and one homestay in Killar. Inner villages have no private accommodations but there are a couple of Government rest houses in Hudan and Sural that need to be pre-booked from Chamba.

Further Reading:

As mentioned earlier, I have far too many posts on this circuit. You can start with the following and move on to related posts,

My first visit of Sach Pass in 2012

Getting stuck on Sach Pass in 2016

Killar to Hudan Walk 2016

Sural Valley 2017

2. Bahu-Gadagushaini-Chhatri

Firstly don’t confuse Gada Gushaini with Gushaini in Tirthan. These are two different places. I hadn’t considered this route even till the beginning of this summer. But once I left Jibhi end entered that stretch, it took me by surprise. It is a part of Mandi district, and not far from very popular Jibhi-Jalori stretch. Yet, the roads were as dangerous as Pangi and finding ATMs and homestays was a challenge. But this is what keeps this region pristine and you can have a view of the culture of the seraj region in its rawest form in various ancient temples in this region. Eventually you can go out of this region through Janjehli, which is described in the next section.

How to Reach Gada Gushaini and Chhatri: You can get buses from Jibhi or Banjar. Number of buses will not be very high so be careful and aks locals about the timings. Jibhi to Gadagushaini is around 10-11 KMs. Chattri is another 15 odd KMs from Gada Gushaini. Interestingly, it is of the last remaining areas that have still not been properly mapped by Google. So, if you check Google maps, you will get nothing but confusion. All you can do is to trust me and then trust those HRTC drivers.

Where to Stay in Gada Gushaini: Gadagushani has a new budget homestay where I stayed, Bahu has a more luxury homestay as per my knowledge. There may be a couple of options in Chhatri and in fact the temple pries invited us to stay, so you are in safe hands.

Further Reading:

Bahu and Gada Gushaini

Magru Mahadev Chhatri

3. Janjehli-Karsog-Chindi-Rohanda-Kamru Nag

Janjehli and Karsog are no far from aforementioned places but these two have better connectivity and faiclities. Especially Janjehli is a more popular tourist spot with a lot of homestays. You can trek to the Shikari Devi temple from both these towns or you can start from one, do the trek, and move on to the other town. This area is very fertile and scenic. Apple orchards are common too and so are various ancient stone temples. Choose the summer or post-monsoon to trek for Shikari Devi as raisn make it difficult. However, Karsog in Monsoon is a heavenly sight. The trek to Kamru Nag is also in the same region but directions may be confusing. It is another nice day trek to an ancient temple and lake.

How to Reach Janjehli or Karsog: You get buses to both places from Mandi (around 90-100 KMs). Karsog is also directly connected to Shimla (110 Kms). For Kamru Nag get a bus to Rohanda from Mandi.

Where to Stay in Janjehli or Karsog: Janjehli is full of nice homestays in INR 300-500 range, that too set amidst apple orchards. At Karsog, back in 2013, there were a couple of not very sophisticated hotels. But newer things must have come up now. For Kamru Nag, you can get a basic room at Rohanda.

Further Reading

Karsog Valley Trip from 2013

Janjehli to Shikari Devi Trek 2017

Kamru Nag Trek 2014

4. Bharmour-Kugti Region

Bharmour, which is a very small town with a disproportionate number of homestays, was the ancient capital of Chamba Kingdom. It is around 60 KMs from Chamba town and the starting point for the epic pilgrimage called Manimahesh Kailash Yatra and even more epic Kugti Pass Trek to Lahaul. Even if you don’t do the big treks, you can find enough local trails and detours around the region to keep yourself occupied. Unfortunately I reached Bharmour at the fag end of a very long summer and only managed to pay a visit to the Chaurasi Temple. I had lost the energy to explore much and I will have to return soon.

How to Reach Bharmour: Bus from Chamba- 60 Kms- 3 Hours (Difficult roads with occasional roadblocks)

Budget Hotels in Bharmour: There are many hotels and homestays in Bharmour in the 500-700 Range. Some of them even offer free Wi-Fi. There should be a FRH in Kugti Village too.

Further Reading:

Here is a good post by Travelshoebum on Bharmour-Hadsar-Kugti stretch, that too in the winter.

5. Pabbar Valley-Rohru-Chanshal Pass-Dodra-Kwar

Rohru is a pretty big town located on the banks of Pabbar River. However, I found it to be too crowded for such a remote location and also it was one of the least touristy places I had ever seen in Himachal. Hatkoti is a smaller place near Rohru with an ancient temple but the main attraction is the Chanshal Pass (3750 metres). If you cross the pass, you reach Dodra, and then Kwar, two of the remotest villages in the state. You get buses from Rohru although I could not undertake this epic trip this time due to various reasons. But I will do it soon.

How to Reach Rohru: Bus from Shimla ISBT (110 Kms but takes ages due to bad roads).  It is also connected to Uttarakhand through the Har ki Doon side. You can get buses going towards that side too and I did undertake this journey to Hanol along the Tons river and then walked 15 Kms to Mori for no particular reason.

Stay in Rohru: It is a big town with many hotels catering to various budgets including a HPTDC one.

Further Reading:

While I have not done much in this region here is a good post on reaching Dodra-Kwar.

6. Sainj Valley

One of the shortest yet best detours this year for me has been the one to Shangarh Village. And there is much more to do in Sainj. The reason why I am including this is because Sainj somehow gets overshadowed by its cousin Tirthan Valley, which is more touristy and more expensive. Sainj and Tirthan are the primary constituents of the Great Himalayan National Park, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sensuous meadows, tower temples, rarely visited treks, local cultures, everything can be experienced if you are willing to take that leap of faith.

How to reach Sainj: Buses run from Aut Tunnel to Sainj and Neuli. Beyond that you may have to look for local cars or hike.

Where to stay in Sainj: There are good homestays in Shangarh.

Further Reading:

Shungchul Mahadev, Shangarh

Complete guide to the Great Himalayan National Park

7. Miyar Valley

Miyar offers you the best of both Himachal and Ladakh. It is a high altitude valley sandwiched between Zanskar and Pir Panjal ranges. The sheer bus ride through the fecund Pattan Valley and then the surreal Miyar Valley to Shukto, the last roadhead, is an exhilarating affair and the trek beyond it is the stuff that misanthropic dreams are made of.

How to reach Miyar: You get direct buses from Keylong in the morning that passes through Trilokinath and Udaipur.

Where to stay in Miyar: The homestay is located just at the point where the bus stops and turns back.

Further Reading:

Miyar Valley Trek

8. Rest of Lahaul

Lahaul is not unknown, but it is surely underrated. People halt at Keylong to go to Ladakh. But Keylong deserves attention too. The ancient monasteries around Keylong deserve a lot of time apart from the sheer landscapes of the Bhaga Valley. There are other landmarks in places like Tandi (Guru Ghantal Gompa), Sissu, and Gandhola. The other important attraction remaining in Lahaul is the Neelkanth Mahadev, a high altitude lake that requires several days of trekking to reach.

How to reach Lahaul: Just take a morning bus from Kullu or Manali to Keylong.

Where to stay in Lahaul: Keylong if full of hotels. Many of them even offer free Wi-Fi.

Further Reading

Kardang Monastery

Shashur Monastery

Yardong Monastery

And here is a good post on Neelkanth Mahadev Yatra by Tarun Goel

9. Upper Kinnaur

Now, Kinnaur is very popular and so is Spiti. But the small stretch in Upper Kinnaur, where the roads are the roughest and the lands are at their driest, remains barely explored. At this point, you leave behind the lush green areas and enter the rain-shadow zone that continues to Spiti and then Ladakh. I am talking about places like Lippa, Asrang, Charang, Chango and many more. Eventually this stretch leads to Nako, which is again pretty famous. But in between, many of these unknown villages have their hidden temples, monasteries, and even wildlife sanctuaries. You can of course undertake the epic Kinnaur-Kailash-Parikrama to cover some of these villages. This is one area I have earmarked for the next year.

How to reach Upper Kinnaur: You will get buses from Reckong Peo bus stand to many of these inner villages, beyond that you will have to trek.

Where to stay in Upper Kinnaur: While Nako is a touristy place full of homestays, other villages are not known to have much tourism infrastructure. So, you will have to be dependent on the goodness of the locals, but they are known to be good people.

Further Reading:

Hard to find detailed information on the places I am talking about.

Here is my Nako Guide

And here is a good post on Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama by Color Odyssey.

10. Churah Region

Churah region is another enigmatic region that remains minimally touched. It is the area after Chamba but before reaching Sach Pass. It has places like Tissa (Bhanjraru), Bairagarh, Devi Kothi etc.  I have crossed, and even stayed in Bairagarh many times en route to, or returning from Pangi via Sach Pass. But the real charm of Churah is in its high altitude glacial lakes such as Ghadasaru Mahadev and Mahakali lakes beyond these small villages. This takes a bit of trekking as well as clear weather to reach any of these.

How to reach Churah: You will easily get buses from Chamba to most of these places.

Where to stay in Churah: You should find basic homestays in Tissa (Bhanjraroo) and Bairagarh. I am not sure about other places.

Here is a good post on Churah Tehsil (Not by me).

Bonus: Some more unusual places to visit in Himachal

I planned to list 10 but I know that there are many more that can be added to this list. There were a few others in my mind that I did not include due to lack of details. For example, there are regions in Sirmaur district bordering Uttarakhand taht desreves attention. Similarly, while Barot is popular, if you go beyond that, the entire Chota Bhangal as well as Bara Bhangal remains relatively unexplored. But  it will take some serious trekking you can’t just drive to them. I also had a good experience in Rewalsar this summer and I think this region also has some unexplored trails that I will explore in the future.