Kandaghat is a small highway town, about 30 kilometres ahead of Shimla when travelling from Delhi or Chandigarh. I had crossed it many times on my way and back from the capital of Himachal Pradesh. But not until I won the Dream Trails contest with Club Mahindra did I get a chance to explore and stay here.

While Kandaghat in itself has very few things to do, it is the adjacent towns like Chail which add to the list.

What to do

Hike up to Skanda Mata Temple

From Club Mahindra Kandaghat, I could spot the white concrete Skanda Mata Temple. My first morning here began at sunrise. I tied my hiking shoes and warmed up before a moderate trek to the temple. This temple is believed to be quite old but was constructed to its current form in 2004.

The first 10 minutes of the hike was on the concrete highway and then we took a steep trail cutting through the hill. In the first half, the trail was made of stoney gravels and then it magically transformed to dry earth with a very little grass on the sides. On the other hand, the view remained static. Between the grey shaded highway and the sunny azure sky, I seemed to ascend through a few hills towards the sky. The temple, however, was nowhere in sight.

Read: How Trekking Redefined My Life

Looking downwards while hiking to Skanda Mata Temple.
Looking downwards while hiking to Skanda Mata Temple.
Skanda Mata Temple.
Skanda Mata Temple.

After a steep 50 minutes walk, Narendra, my guide, pointed to a white speck against the sky. That was the temple, which was only 10 minutes away. To me, it definitely did not look that close! Trying to maintain my stamina, I scaled upwards. And in the 20 minutes I reached the red walls of the temple.

Here we spent a short time and then began our descend. Narendra showed me tricks to walk safely through the rocky trail. In the next 20 minutes, we covered a distance of 3.5 kilometres back to the main highway.

Visit Kali Ka Tibba

About 35 kilometres away from Kandaghat, driving towards Chail is the famous temple—Kali ka Tibba. This temple has been made on top of a hill (tibba, in local language, means hilltop) .

As we (I had company) drove along the white facade of the temple, I realised how high was this temple. The temple premises also had shrines of Ganesh, Shiva and Hanuman. Neither of the temples were spectacular, though the panoramic view from the hilltop was outstanding. I walked on the marble floor around the temple premises, hoping to locate any familiar structure (my hotel), but in vain. On a clear day, one can see as far as Chandigarh from there.

Shrines lined up in Kali ka Tibba.
Shrines lined up in Kali ka Tibba.
The entrance of Kali ka Tibba.
The entrance to Kali ka Tibba.

Experience Royalty of the Chail Palace

From Kali ka Tibba we went to the neighbouring Chail Palace. Dating back to 1891, this palace was the royal resort of Maharaja of Patiala. It was a mix of modern architecture from the outside with heritage interiors. The chandeliers and carpets added the palatial feel. We spent some time in the massive lawn, soaking up the winter sun.

Chail Palace's grand interiors.
Chail Palace’s grand interiors.
Self-portrait in Chail Palace.
Self-portrait in Chail Palace.

Hotel activities

If you are a member (and staying at Club Mahindra Kandaghat) you won’t have to look too far to keep yourself busy. I tried their awesome zipline. Completely safe, I loved going through the pine trees while screaming my lungs out and attracting unnecessary attention of the villagers.

You can also try archery and other target sports. I tried shooting with air pellets and it was fun. I got 20 pellets and knocked down quite a few designs on my target board.

They other activities in the hotel premises include indoor games like table tennis, chess; nature trails in and around the property, and adventure sports like rock climbing and Burma bridge. In other words, you are unlikely to get bored!

Read: Climbing the Mountain Meadows

The lawn outside.
The lawn outside Chail Palace.
Trying the zipline. Photo courtesy: Ankita Shreeram.
Trying the zipline. Photo courtesy: Ankita Shreeram.

Where to eat

As we made our way back to Kandaghat from Chail, Sadhupul was our mid-way lunch stop. The scenes here were quite different. I opened my Club Mahindra packed lunch and noticed many cars with blaring music parked on the slim river. A number of small restaurants and tents dotted the river. After lunch, I leisurely walked along the river and then made my way back to Kandaghat.

There are a number of small eateries in Sadhupul. Though their service is questionable and tremendously slow, the food looked appetising. I heard customers order maggi, chicken noodles and similar dishes. Don’t expect anything too fancy or elaborate.

Lunch at Sadhupul.
Lunch at Sadhupul.
Starting the day with something sweet.
Starting the day with something sweet at Club Mahindra Kandaghat.

Where to stay

I stayed at the very big and spacious Club Mahindra Kandaghat. There rooms are huge and the plentiful open space is charming. My room opened up to the eastern side and as a result I could see the sun rise. Club Mahindra is especially good for family holidays because it has activities and spaces for people across age group. The food here caters to all tastes and palates too.

If you’re not a member of Club Mahindra, there are a number of other highway hotels you can pick from. I haven’t stayed at but Hotel Falcon Crest looked suitable.

The vast property of Club Mahindra Kandaghat.
The vast property of Club Mahindra Kandaghat.

Where to shop

While I love local markets and small grocery stores, I didn’t get a chance to shop for local ingredients and pulses on this trip. There are a number of such shops in Solan, only 18 kilometres or half hour drive away from Kandaghat.

If you would like to shop for Indian crafts and jewellery, Chail Palace has a counter of Tribes India. I have bought generously from their stores across the country. Choose between east India’s Dhokra, Ladakhi beads or Himachali jackets and shawls, you are likely to find something authentically regional here. Prices are nominal.

Getting there

The closest airport is Chandigarh airport. It takes about 3 hours or 100 kilometres drive upwards.

Alternatively, you could do the long bus journey from Delhi to Shimla and get off at Solan. Request for a pick up from there.

Read: A Summer Slowdown in Old Manali

Cherry blossoms.
Cherry blossoms.

Good to know
-I expected Kandaghat to be noisy and dusty. It was neither.
-If you’re looking for snow, you could visit Chail or Barog. The latter is about 30 kilometres ahead of Kandaghat.
-I noticed a camper/hiker pitch a tent and burn some wood to keep her/himself warm. Please don’t burn wood or light up a bonfire in the mountains.

Have you been to Kandaghat yet?

Note: This was a contest win and my stay was hosted by Club Mahindra

Amrita Das

I have been a travel and culture independent journalist. My bylines have appeared in many publications worldwide including National Geographic Traveller India, Lonely Planet Magazine India, The Indian Express and World Travel Magazine. A fellow of Media Ambassadors India-Germany 2019 program by Robert Bosch Stiftung and Centre for Media Competence, University of Tübingen. Currently, I am the photo editor for RoundGlass Sustain, a wildlife and conservation e-publication. I live in India.

More Posts - Website

Follow:
TwitterFacebook

8 thoughts on “A Guide to Kandaghat, Himachal Pradesh”

  1. I dont think I can ever try a zipline but what I will definitley try to do once. I did a flying fox in Alps and that had left me shaken and stirred both. Great writing as always

    1. Even I thought similarly before I tried zip lining. But the key thing is to keep screaming. Fear dissipates :p

  2. I passed it recently too during my trip to Kinnaur. There is indeed so much to do. I never knew there’s a zipline there!
    Chail is beautiful, without a doubt <3
    Lovely post!

    1. Thanks for stopping by, Divyakshi. Kinnaur is spectacular too. I miss Himachal!

  3. Thanks , all these detailed information will be of great help to us during our visit to Kandaghat next week.

  4. What a fantastic guide to Kandaghat, Himachal Pradesh! This post beautifully captures the essence and charm of the region. The detailed descriptions and practical tips make it incredibly easy for travelers to plan their visit. I especially appreciated the section on local attractions and hidden gems that aren’t typically mentioned in other guides. The photos are stunning and truly bring the beauty of Kandaghat to life. Thank you for sharing such an insightful and comprehensive guide—it’s a must-read for anyone planning a trip to Himachal Pradesh!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *