Jubbal Tourist Places

Jubbal situated in Himachal Pradesh, India tourist attractions; this is one of the beautiful places which attract tourists from all over. This former hill kingdom is in the hills east of Shimal, near the valley of the Pabbar River, 444 km north east of Delhi. This is one for lovers of reclusive and exclusive natural retreats, connoisseurs of the eccentric a declectic with a yen for the good life. Headquarters of an erstwhile princely state, Jubbal’s newest claim to fame is its superbly refurbished palaceturned heritage property.

You almost expect to walk in and find a sleeping beauty, but it is snow white’s bane that is the fruit of this valley of temples. When your palate wants refreshing after the local dainties, walk into the region’s renowned orchards for a bite of the local crop non pareil apples.

You will be torn between the orchards on the slopes and the river nearby. If you are not that keen on nature, you could sample the thousand year old temples of Durga and Siva. Also consider the challenge of driving almost 22 km in the hills before setting out on shank’s pony to a mountain lake or tribal villages not linked by road.

A 3 half hours drive out of Shimla brings you to this fairy tale palace. Perched in a little hollow amid the hills, Jubbal Palace looks gingerbread enough to eat. Himachali Gothick, Architecture buffs can debate it through, but you won’t care once firmly ensconced in its art deco interiors.

Hatkoti
Ruins of ancient temples dot the nearby village of Hatkoti, which is something of a Tantric peeth. No surprise, then that it is named after the goddess Hatkeshwari. Hatkeshwar is one of Lord Shiva’s names. Hatkoti is centred on a walled compound enclosing these temples dedicated to Hatkeshwari depicted as Durga slaying the demon and Hatkeshwar.

The Pabber River, a perennial river arising in the Chanshal Range just south of Kinnaur, is born of a snow and spring fed lake. Various smaller streams join it on its short journey to Hatkoti, where it meets the rivulet Bishkulti and the Rai Nala.

Around Jubbal
Khara Pathar 9 km
Just before Hatkoti, Khara Pathar towers at 8,770ft. Apart from the apple orchards, deodars and pines crowd its slopes. A 7 km jeep track from here leads up to the Giri Ganga Temple, near the source of the Giri.

Rohru 31 km
Rohru is Shimla district’s apple hub and the hills surrounding this town and Hatkoti are covered with orchards. Though the best time to see ripe fruit is in April, a breathtaking sight of pale white blooms. Just be careful not to trespass.

A modest town 31 km beyond Jubbal, this is a major centre for the apple trade and has the only running HPTDC hotel in this belt. Rohru also has a temple dedicated to Shikhru Devta, a local deity.

Kotkhai 33 km
At a height of 5,774 ft, this is the point of entry to the apple country stretching past Rohru. But the major attraction in Kotkhai is its beautiful palace with exquisite, heavily cared wooden pillars.

Chirgaon 40 km
The motorable road ends here. Two small streams, Andhra and Gumma, join the Pabbar River. Adventure seekers can take off from here on a long trek to Dodra Kwar, the remotest village across the 13,845 ft Chansal Pass, which remains open from May to October. Chirgaon also boasts a trout hatchery.

Getting There
Road Ways: The only way to reach Jubbal from Shimla 97 km is by road NH22 via Kufri and Theog, then SH10 to Chhaila, 13km away, then on to Kothai, another 19km away, then Khara Pathar 24 km away an dthen another 9 km to Jubbal. The drive from Delhi takes 11 hours.
Nearest Railway Station: Kalka 191 km/ 6 hours. Taxi to Jubbal Costs Rs 2,000.

Where to Stay and Eat
The Jubbal Palace (Telephone: 01781-252001-02. Tariff Rs 4,500)