Do you want to feel Shimla minus the crowd?
Then Kufri is where you should be.

Kufri is a resort hill station about 20 km away from Shimla. It’s a place that people travel to escape the commercialization and crowd in Shimla. Before I could start explaining the real Kufri and the top 6 places you must visit, let us understand how one can reach there, what should be avoided and what to expect in this one-day detailed itinerary for Kufri Shimla.

You can also read: One Day local sightseeing Itinerary for Shimla

How to reach Kufri Shimla:

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You can take a direct bus or cab from Chandigarh or Delhi to Kufri, though the frequency is quite less. So, what I would recommend is to take a direct route to Shimla and then travel from Shimla to Kufri. You can do so by local HRTC buses, that is available every 30 minutes and takes about 1.5 hours. It can be direct or with a one-stop change, depending on which bus stop you start from.

A direct cab option is also available with a charge starting at 1200 for a 1-day trip from Shimla. Many will hike the prices and charge anywhere from 2500-3000 INR. So be wise in selecting, bargaining, and avoid being looted. The bus ride costs about 30 INR to 45 INR one way depending on direct or changed buses.

Once you get off at the Bus Stop for Kufri Shimla, you can start to explore and experience this scenic beauty. Just keep walking the hilltop. It’s a climb for a good 20 minutes to reach the main point. You can walk up the hill or take a private cab that would cost you 150 INR.

On reaching the main Kufri Point, there are a lot of vendors that provide Horse rides to and fro from the Mahasu Peak point. They would try to sell the ride by saying there are multiple points you can witness at the top and it’s too much to walk down etc. But trust me, the horse ride will stop at just one location. All the 3 points are together.

The horse ride would cost you 500 per person for a 10-minute ride. I visited at the end of February when there wasn’t any snow. There was a lot of mud due to snow melting down. So, they were also offering, knee-length plastic boots for 150 INR on rental.

You can also read: Best Places to Eat in Shimla

The horse ride is not at all pleasant, the steep area and untrained young horses make the way difficult and scary. So much so that you wished you would have just climbed the area on foot.

Also, let me tell you, a lot of people fell off the horse too. It’s quite common in that area. So keep your phones and wallets in the bag or safely in your pockets. As I’m done sharing the disclaimers with you, let’s start checking out some amazing places that you can enjoy while in Kufri.

Top 6 Places To Visit In Kufri Shimla:

1. Fun & Fair

Once your horse ride ends, you must pay an entry fee of 10 INR. You park your horse there and venture out to explore the area. There are various animals like the yak, bull, rabbits, etc on display. You can pose and get a picture with them for a fee of 150-250 INR. Further ahead, there are riffle shooting and other mini-games like we see in a mela. This is followed by food vendors selling, Maggie, momos, aloo chaat, chole, etc.

Entry Fees: 10 INR per person
Time: 30 minutes

2. Mahasu Peak 

Once you move out of this extremely commercialized area you reach the Mahasu Peak point. This point is mesmerizing and beautiful with tall pine trees all around. In the clear sky, you can also see the Badrinath and Kedarnath range.

Entry Fees: FREE
Time: 1 hour

Please Note – You can see the range from a distance. If you wish to see it from the closest spot, you will have to shell a total of 200 INR to get access to the exclusive zone. Here, you can click and record these views.

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3. Nag Devta Temple:

On the hilltop, there is a Nag Temple at the very end. The snake God is the local deity of the people in Kufri. Removing shoes in the cold to enter the temple is the only concern once you reach. But be strong and enter in 😉

Close to this point you also have an adventure point where one can undertake small adventure activities. The place provides 2-3 sporty activities for 1500 INR per person including the van ride from this point and back. So, if you want you can indulge yourself in those activities before coming down.

These are the main commercial Kufri Places to Visit. I guess when I visited here I had a lot of expectations and was disappointed seeing all the commercialization, greed, and pressure that the locals put.

Here are some places I missed out on but should be on your list.

4. The Himalayan Nature Park

Spread over 90+ hectares of land, the Himalayan Nature Park is one place you must visit. Also known as Kufri National park, you can spot animals like deer, bears, leopards, and many more. You can go trekking, camping, and even click pictures with an amazing natural background. Hence please do visit this scenic park.

Entry Fees: 20-100 INR
Time: 1 hour

5. Fagu

When you go 6kms ahead of Kufri, you get to witness the majestic beauty of Fagu. If you visit this place during the winters, there’s ample snow and you can go skiing. Make sure that you go during December and January if you love snow or wish to try skiing. As there are very few people who travel to Fagu, you’ll be able to enjoy it even more.

6. Tattapani River

If you love crystal clear blue water, then you must visit Tattapani. There’s a freshwater stream, a hot water spring near River Sutlej, and a scenic landscape where you can click pictures. Are you convinced yet? I’m sad I couldn’t make it but want to make sure no one else misses out. It’s an hour away from Kufri so it’s best to start as early as possible.

You can also read: 7 Must Visit Places in Rishikesh

FAQs:

Why is Kufri famous?

Kufri is a hill station with amazing views, adventure sporting activities, trekking, and hiking trails. All this is a package that travelers love. Add snow to the mix and you get a place that everyone will love. Hence Kufri is famous.

Is there snowfall in Kufri?

Yes. There is snowfall in Kufri during the winter months. More preferably in December and January. Also, it does not matter if there is snow in Shimla or no. It will always snow in Kufri.

Is Kufri worth visiting?

After my experience, all I can say is that go for the experience. It’s not something that will make you go “Wow”. But it sure is a good one-day trip that one must not miss.

Which is better Kufri or Shimla?

This depends on the kind of traveler you are. If you like the hustle and bustle of city life, Shimla is the place to be. If you like peace and calmness, then Kufri is the place to be.

Is it better to stay in Shimla or Kufri?

If you love to be closer to nature minus the city vibes, then Kufri is where you must visit. Shimla on the other hand will give you city vibes. But just for your information, Kufri has only a few hotel/stay options when compared with Shimla.

What is the best time to visit Kufri?

The best time to visit Kufri would be October to March.  It’s the best time to visit Kufri with temperatures staying below 25 degrees at all times.

Feel free to share your Kufri story in the comment below. Stay tuned for more Himachal travel stories in the upcoming blogs.

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