Sometimes, when you’re busy sticking to itineraries, life takes an unexpected turn. And that’s when magic unfolds!
This thought became a realisation on a regular day in the hills of Dharamshala, an absolute favourite among Indians for its Tibetan charm. However, while tourists flock to the more popular places in the district, namely, McLeodganj, Kangra Valley, and Dharamkot, beyond these places rest some offbeat, uncommercialized villages that are sure to take your breath away.
For us, that place was Naddi. It was our second visit to Dharamshala and we were seeking experiences sans the adventure, activities that will calm us and make us feel content.
And that's how when we came across two diverging roads a few kilometres into Dharamkot, and of course we couldn’t travel both. Who knew we would have our very own Robert Frost moment? And just how life would have it, the one road that was mostly unkempt and did not attract many people was the one that we felt most intrigued by. A local informed us that if we keep walking and hiking through the meandering road, we’ll reach Naddi village. He even suggested that rather than walking through the village, we should head towards Naddi’s sunset point, which is more popular among the tourists.
But we weren't sure if we would like to head somewhere touristy! Thus, without knowing where this path would lead us, we started our journey, soaking in the breeze and relishing everything around us.
However, half an hour later, we reached a dead end. Soon, we figured that there was absolutely no one around us. And even sooner, we realised that we were lost. We climbed uphill and saw an endless line of prayer flags, with no sign of roads that can take us further. While it scared us a little, it made us feel more at home. We were sitting there, in the midst of nowhere, expecting the unexpected, staring at the endless beauty with nothing in mind. In short, it was absolute bliss.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
However, it doesn’t just end right there. We came across the only thatched house and decided that we should knock. Trust me, it was awkward. But when we finally knocked, a monk opened the door and was kind enough to ask us to hike through some untrodden paths, which would eventually connect us to the path that led to the main village.
The next half an hour was all about making our way through pipelines, dry leaves, and thick, uprooted trees. While driving to Naddi would have certainly been easier, hiking through the unknown felt like an adventure in itself. And soon, we were in the midst of nature.
Stunned by the gorgeous views of the sun kissing the Himalayan peaks, we spent the afternoon just sitting and had our eyes feast upon the mesmerising views for the next few hours. With time as finite as it could be, we experienced an infinity like never before.
And that's how this picturesque village in Dharamshala is the best detour we took during our trip!
If you’re planning to visit Naddi, here’s what you need to know:
How to reach:
If you’re unwilling to get lost and figure out your way to the village like us, this isn’t for you ;) Jokes apart, you can reach Mcleodganj from Delhi by boarding a bus that takes approximately 12 hours for the trip. From here you can either find a cab or hire an auto rickshaw for an onward journey to Naddi.
Things to do in Naddi:
Visit the Naddi sunset point, Dal lake, or just hike through the village.
Best time to visit Naddi:
The end of February to mid-April gives you the best of winter chills and spring blossoms.
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