Shangarh is a secret village stationed in the Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh. The area that this place falls in has been named UNESCO World Heritage Site. I visited this place in August last year and have been there thrice after that already. This place has my heart for so many reasons the biggest of which is House of Stories hostel where I found my home away from home. Shangarh is one place that will surely force you to slow down, look around and appreciate the little things in life. Atleast it did that for me.
Shangarh is situated in Sainj valley on the same route as Tirthan Valley.
Where I stayed
If you’re someone who loves deep meaningful conversations, a chill yet homely vibe, are not expecting luxury and like to enjoy the not-every-minute-planned scenes, House of Stories hostel run by Vrinda, is perfect for you. This place has beautiful cozy dorms and private rooms, a large outdoor area for you to play outdoor games, enjoy bonfire nights, do yoga, or just relax and soak in the sun. The common room has a tandoor where I would spend all the cold evening playing the most interesting (read rare) board games that they have. Did I mention they also have a telescope? YEASSS!!
And the best part about this place has to be Butter & Fly, Vrinda’s two dogs. I can guarantee you’re going to Miss Fly’s cuddles long after you’ve left. (Looking at her pictures and crying rn)
I’ve seen people who came for a few days staying for months at a stretch because of the hospitality, views, and everything else. Even I had planned to be there for two days but ended up spending more than 12 crazy days.
I stayed in their upper dorm which is undoubtedly the best dorm I have ever stayed in!!! It’s the coziest, most comfortable place to stay in and looks so stunning I could literally spend all my day inside. I still can’t forget the view of the snow-capped mountains from the dorm room. You have to see it to believe it!!
Do yourself a favor and spend some time looking at the night sky from right your room after switching off the lights.
To top everything – the facilities, the services and the beauty of the place, what will make your experience memorable is how warm Vrinda and the staff is. Trust me when I say this, they left no stone unturned to make sure I felt at home. You know you have your family in Shangarh once you’ve stayed at House of Stories. As a parting gift, the first 100 guests got Bamboo toothbrushes and I was lucky to get one too.
As someone who travels on a budget, I found this property one of the most affordable and totally worth every penny. I would recommend it 100% for anyone visiting Sainj Valley.
Dine with a view
The staff at House of Stories are the warmest people who serve the best tasting home cooked meals from their in house kitchen. They make the best paranthas I’ve ever had in my life. And they even surprised us with pakodas on a very cold rainy day. They say “The secret ingredient is always love” and they just proved it to me. Food is always served with a smile.
Vrinda, the host at House of Stories also own a café, 15 minutes from the hostel – Café Stories n’ More. This is the only standalone café in whole of Sainj and the only true hangout place in Shangarh. Good music, good people, great food, gorgeous views of the snow-covered Himalayas, board games, Art books, good lighting – You name it and Cafe stories n’ more has it!
Café Stories n’ More serves the best food not only in Shangarh but in all of Himachal and you have to try it to believe it. I know people who’ve travelled to Shangarh from far only and only for this cafe! This place has a vibe in itself that one cannot get enough of.
Cost
Starting price
Dorms – 700 pp
Private Rooms – 1800
They also have packages that include all meals.
What to do
Unwind and relax in the Shangarh Meadows –
The scenery of the Shangarh meadows is so spectacular that it looks straight out of a painting and has a whole countryside vibe to it. The most popular place in Shangarh; the meadow has the presiding deity, Shangchul Mahadev’s temple, and so, holds a lot of importance for the locals.
You cannot miss going to the Shangarh meadows if you’re in Shangarh. And if you consider my suggestion, do not just enter the meadow, take pictures and return. The meadow looks different during different times of the day and from all its corners.
Take a dip in the Barshangarh Waterfall –
Barshangarh waterfall was 45 mins hike from my place (House of Stories). The starting half an hour is a very easy walk down the road. The next 15 mins are a little tricky, where you might have to climb some fallen trees but the hike will be worth it. This is one of the most popular hikes in the region!
Raila twin towers
Raila is another village in Sainj valley, which is just an hour drive away from Shangarh. Standing tall, the Raila Twin towers offer a 360 view of the scenic valley.
Raila Waterfall, because you can never have enough waterfalls –
Raila waterfall is absolutely stunning and one of my favourite places in Sainj valley. I’ve been there thrice and still cannot get enough of it.
Sunset point-
When the folks at Café Stories n’ More discovered this vantage point with a stunning view of the sunset, they started calling it the sunset point and it has now become a hike that almost everyone knows about. It’s 15 minutes away from House of Stories and is one of the most serene walks you can take in Shangarh. On the way, you’ll see some of the best views of the Shangarh meadows and the villages.
Hikes and Treks
Since Shangarh lies in the Great Himalayan National Park, it is a paradise for trekkers and Bird watchers. Over 80 treks and hikes start from the region and you can pick treks of your choice depending upon the time you have at hand and the difficulty level– from day hikes to 7-8 day treks
How to reach
Your first destination is Aut bus stand.
You can take any bus from Delhi, Chandigarh or anywhere in Himachal to Aut bus stand.
From there you can either take a direct cab or bus to Shangarh.
Or you can take a direct cab or bus to Sainj and from there another cab or bus to Shangarh.
Seasons of Shangarh
Jan-March – During this time you can find Shangarh covered in a blanket of snow and the whole scenery looks breathtaking! This is the best time for people looking for absolute peace and solitude.
April-June – The weather is pleasant in the evenings and allows you to go for trekking/hiking/drives without worrying about the cold and snow. Most of the travellers prefer this time to visit the mountains.
July-Aug – July to August is the monsoon season and someone once told me, the best time to visit the mountains is the monsoons. Yes it gets a little risky, but the views are absolutely breath taking. You can see the colours of the valley popping or as I like to call it breathing. I myself visited Shangarh in August and I can vouch for this myself.
Sept-Oct – The mornings and evenings are colder in these months but pleasant. This is the most colourful time for the valley. You will find all shades of green
Nov-Dec – This is the time when this wonderland starts showing its winter colours. Druing this time you can see the transition from green to brown to white which looks absolutely stunning. Imagine seeing brownish-greenish mountains for a couple of days and then suddenly waking up one day and finding everything white.