Thanedar

Shimla, the majestic hill station in the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, extends its magnificence and charm to many nearby hamlets and Thanedar is one of them. Located in the Shimla District, Thanedar enjoys the backdrop of snow-clad Himalayan peaks, while it boasts of lush green mountain slopes of its own. Covered with orchards, especially those of apples, it has River Sutlej flowing down in a deep gorge and blessing the place with unparalleled splendour. Picture perfect for the nature admirers and honeymoon couples, Thanedar is also popular as an adventure destination. Tourist places include hillocks, orchards, forest trails, lakes and some beautiful religious sites.

‘Thanedar’ is the amalgamation of ‘thandi’ and ‘dhar’, which translates to ‘cool mountain’. Its history is as old as the birth of apple plantations in the region. Popularly called the ‘Fruit Bowl of Himachal Pradesh’, Thanedar was the place chosen by one Samuel Stokes for the first apple plantation in the state. Today, it is a well-known orchard country with impressive production of apples, cherries, strawberries, raspberry, almond, peach, walnuts and many other fruits. Pretty valleys and pleasant weather (during summers as well as winters) at an average elevation of 7,250 ft. makes sightseeing in Thanedar extremely fascinating. What adds to the pleasure is the place’s virginity and unexplored beauty that offers a stimulating treatment to holidaying.

October to July

Some of the must visit places at Thanedar are stated here:

Resorts and retreats at Thanedar have their-in house restaurants that serve delicious cuisines, which include local preparations as well as South Indian, Chinese and Continental. One can enjoy tasty and healthy herbal teas at the local teashops. It is recommended to try the locally prepared wine from apples, rhododendrons and peach. Needless to say, enjoying fresh apples from the trees would be the most joyful experience.

Apple is the key highlight of Thanedar and one can shop for the locally prepared apple products like wine, jams, pickles, juice and dried apple sweets. One can also find handicrafts brought from Shimla and sold here. Pashmina shawls are among these items.

Thanedar has good road connectivity and regular bus services connect the place with top destinations of Himachal Pradesh. One can also hire taxis from these cities to access Thanedar. Kalka has the nearest railhead which is about 171 km. away while the closest airport is at Shimla, about 93 km. away. Use cabs or private vehicles to access few tourist attractions of Thanedar. Reaching other places require pleasurable trekking or hiking expeditions and a tourist guide is recommended for the same.

The nearby places like Narkanda (an exciting skiing resort) and Kotgarh (an extension of the apple country) are equally popular. Attractions here include Mahamaya Temple, Hatu Peak and Jalori Pass. Get out on nature walking trips to Saroga Forest which boasts of diverse fauna like oaks, Christmas tree, silver spur, blue pine, horse chestnut, wild roses and many more. Use tourist information and hire a travel guide to indulge in the adventures like rock climbing, camping, mountain biking, hiking and trekking.

Kufri (about 56 km.): Nestled amidst picturesque settings, the place is famous for Mahasu Peak, Great Himalayan Nature Park and few temples in its vicinity. Shimla (about 68 km.): Shimla, the state capital, has a heart-warming colonial charm and many attractions like Jakhu Temple, The Mall, Christ Church and more. Kotkhai (about 70 km.): another apple country of the region, Kotkhai is also home to the attractions like Kotkhai Palace, Mahamai Temple, Nera Ghati Kaila Forest and more. Jubbal (about 70 km.): Another hotspot for the nature lovers, it has attractions like Hatkeshwari Temple, Jubbal Palace and Chandra Nahan Lake. Sarahan (about 80 km.): Home to the famous Bhima Kali Temple, it also boasts of spellbinding natural beauty. Chail (about 90 km.): Famous for the world’s highest cricket pitch, the hill town also has amazing attractions like the Chail Palace and Kali ka Tibba. Sangla (about 149 km.): The marvellous Sangla Valley is every traveller’s dream as it has claim on unadulterated natural beauty and attractions like River Baspa, Kamru Fort, Trout farm and some ancient holy sites.

Many other exciting places in the region include Tattapani, Naldehra, Shoja and Kalpa.