Naggar, One of the Finest Tourist Destinations in Himachal Pradesh

Earlier, Naggar was considered as the capital of Kullu district.This beautiful town was founded by Raja Visudhpal and it was regarded as the headquarters

of the State till the capital was transferred to Sultanpur in Kullu itself, by Jagat Singh in the year 1460 A.D. This scenic town is placed on the left banks of the Beas River, at a height of about 1851 m above sea level. Naggar town provides widespread breathtaking views to the North West of the valley.

Attractions

Naggar Castle- The castle is the prime attraction of Naggar. It is a medieval structure and is considered to be one of the top tourist destinations of Kullu district. The palace was built by the Raja Sidh Singh in the year 1460 A.D. The castle reflects a skillful blend of western and Himalayan style of architecture. It provides a 360 degree view of the neighboring areas. Now, the Naggar Castle has been transformed into a heritage hotel by Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation that took charge of this place in late 70s.

Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery- This art gallery is another prominent attraction of Naggar. The gallery is located at a distance of just 2 km from the main town of Naggar. It displays a private collection of paintings of the renowned Russian painter, Nikolai Reorich, who is believed to have stayed here and died in the year 1947. The ground floor of the gallery exhibits the works of the painter regarding Kullu, Sipti and Lahaul.

Jagatipatt Temple- It is a small wooden temple in the Kullu region whose chief highlight is the slab of 5' x 8' x 6". Jagatipatt Temple stands as the perfect example of Himachal architecture. The legend says that the Gods and Goddesses planned to structure Naggar as a divine seat. Hence, a legend revolves around this temple, which says that the Gods and Goddesses took the form of bees and cut the slab from Drag Dhank of Bhrigu Tung peak and placed it at this temple. The local inhabitants of this region also believe that the deities assemble at this place to protect them from any natural calamity.

Dagpo Shedrupling Monastery- This monastery was recently built and installed in May 2005 by the renowned Buddhist Guru, Dalai Lama. The gompa is situated on the left bank of Beas River and offers the scenic view of the neighboring areas, which enhances its popularity. The monastery is situated at a distance of about 10 km from Kullu.

Chamunda Bhagwati Temple- The temple is situated on the way to Bijli Mahadev in Nishala village, at a distance of about 4 km from Naggar. The temple is taken to be a famed location for film shooting.

Apart from these there are many other religious sites in Naggar.

Accommodation

Accommodation is not much of a problem at this place as there are plenty of luxurious as well as budget hotels, cottages and cottages located in and around Naggar.

Best Time to Visit

Though the place can be visited throughout the year, the best time to visit Naggar is from April to July.

How to Reach

By Road: Naggar has good transportation facilities as it is well linked by road with other major cities of Himachal Pradesh.

By Air: The nearest airport to this place is located in the region of Bhuntar.

By Train: The nearest railway head to this place is located in the city of Chandigarh.