Kufri

Skiing, trekking & hiking amid picturesque trails

Kufri, a small picturesque hill station at the foothills of Himalayas, is located at the southern part of the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its pleasing climate and scenic beauty. It is a pleasant location near the majestic hill station Shimla.

Perched at a height of 2,510 m above the sea level, Kufri is known for its picturesque trekking and hiking trails. Adventurous travelers prefer to visit Kufri during winters to experience and enjoy the skiing and tobogganing along its snow clad mountainous slopes. Exquisite nature parks and scenic spots in the backdrop of natural settings are prime attractions in Kufri.

Kufri is a summer resort away from the busy life of urbanized regions. Those who seek secluded vacation in a cool and pleasant ambiance, picturesque environs and regions offering challenging and adventurous activities can opt for travel to Kufri. Tourists can enjoy the majestic panoramic views of the verdant valley and the snow clad foothills of Himalayas. A horseback ride to explore the awesome hilly regions is an experience not to miss. Hiking and trekking through lusting green dense forests surrounding Kufri are really challenging.

Popular spots to visit in and around Kufri are The Himalayan Nature Park and Indira Tourist Park. Kufri comes alive during the winter season when a number of skiing enthusiasts visit this place. Winter sports festival in February is a major draw. To make your holiday more exciting, also include Manali tour package in HP.

Attractions

Fagu: Fagu is a small place located around 23 kms from Shimla and 6 kms from Kufri. It is famous for its scenic views. It is a day excursion from Kufri and serves as a base camp for trekkers, campers and naturalists.

Just above Fagu there are a few temples dedicated to the local god – Banthia devta that tourists can visit. The intrinsic wooden carving on the walls of these temples depicts the great craftsmanship of the Himachali people.

Indira Tourist Park: Located close to the Himalayan National Park, Indira Tourist Park is known for striking views of the Himalayas. Pleasant climate, calm ambiance and a charming coffee shop, called Café Lalit of Himachal Tourism board are the main attractions of the park.

Indira Tourist Park is around 19 kms from Shimla and 6 kms from Fagu and it is easily accessible from all parts of the state.

The Himalayan Nature Park: The Himalayan National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh. Boasting of 180 species of birds and rare mammals, the national park is a great bio-diversity and eco tourism hub. Tourists can look forward to see musk deer and the elusive snow leopards, besides rare and endangered species of plants and animals.

Horse Riding: Horse riding is one of the most popular activity tourists can enjoy here. This is not only a leisure but to reach some places horses are the sole means of travel. While in Kufri horse riding is a must in order to explore the highland. Starting from the base of Himalayan National Park, tourists can enjoy a visit to the apple orchards and temples. If you are lucky to visit on a clear evening, the mesmerizing sunset at the Himalayan ranges can also be enjoyed.

Skiing: Skiing in Kufri is a highly entertaining adventurous sport beckoning the adventurous tourists to participate. In winter, thousands of travelers flock to Mahasu Bridge in Kufri for skiing in the snow capped slopes.

Tobogganing: This is an upcoming sport that can be enjoyed on the snow slopes of mountains at Kufri. The powdery snow peaks in Kufri are ideal for this adventure. Tobogganing is nothing but a revised form of sledging where simple sledges (contrary to the skis and sleds that have runners attached to them) ride directly on snow.

Trekking: Trekking is a wonderful way to discover the beauty of nature that cannot be visited by any other means. There are no expert crafted trekking tours in Kufri and tourists can very much explore these areas on their own. The most common trekking route in Kufri is to reach Kufri from Shimla, which is 19 kms away.

Best time to visit: The best season to visit Kufri is from March to November.

How to reach
By Train: The nearest railhead is at Shimla in narrow gauge rail route and broad gauge railway station is at Kalka (100 km).
By Air: The nearest airport to Kufri is Jubbarbhatti near Shimla, at a distance of about 13 km. Regular flight is available from this airport to Delhi.
By Bus: Buses link Kufri with Shimla, Narkanda and Rampur. State owned transport buses and private deluxe buses are available from Shimla to Kufri.