Kufri

Location : Himachal Pradesh
Altitude : 2,510 m
Discovered in : 1819
Main Attractions : Annual Winter Sports Festival and the Carnival
Places of Interest : Mashru Peak, Himalayan Nature Park, Indira Tourist Park
Best Time To Visit : April to June & November to February

Some great Hiking, some skiing, some beautiful scenes and a cool environment that's what Kufri is all about. It is famous for its trekking and hiking trails. Adventure-seeking travelers throng Kufri in winters to enjoy skiing and tobogganing along its snow-covered slopes. The Skiing season spreads between November to February and the tourist inflow is at its peak during winters.

Kufri is a tiny hill station located 19-kms from Shimla on the National Highway No.22. It has a Himalayan Nature park and close by is the Indira Tourist Park with HPTDC's Cafe Lalit. Indira Park provides some great views of the nearby places. Here one can enjoy a Pony or a Yak Ride.

The region around Shimla including Kufri was once a part of the Kingdom of Nepal. This region remained obscure from the rest of the world until the British 'discovered' it in 1819. The British made
Indira Tourist Park :

The Indira Tourist Park is near the Himalayan Nature Park and provides panoramic view of the locations around.

Weather :
The weather in Kufri is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild while winters (November-February) are cold. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September. It experiences heavy snowfall in December-January. The best time to visit Kufri is in summers, between April and June. However, one may also the place between December and February to enjoy snowfall and skiing.

In Kufri
There are a number of picnic spots, hiking and trekking trails in and around Kufri. Travelers can explore Kufri and its surrounding areas also on horseback. They can hike through thick forest around Kufri to the Mahasu Peak. The other places to visit in Kufri are the Himalayan Nature Park, which has a collection of animals and birds found only in Himachal Pradesh, and the Indira Tourist Park, which is near the Himalayan Nature Park and provides panoramic view of the locations around Kufri. In winters, the snow-covered slopes of Kufri come alive with skiers and other visitors.

Simla Water Catchment Sanctuary
Simla Water Catchment Sanctuary is situated adjacent to National Highway 22 and immediately north of Kufri, which lies some 12km by road east of Simla. The area under this sanctuary is 951ha using digitised maps with an altitude ranges from 1,900m to 2,620m. The sanctuary is connected by a forest corridor to Chail Sanctuary in the south. This sanctuary comprises a moderately steep catchment which is the main water supply for Simla. Nine perennial streams flow from this area, the main ones being Churat Nala and God Ki Nala. Mean annual rainfall is 1600mm and temperatures range from 5.4 C to 32 C. Meteorological data are also available from nearby at Simla at 2,200m. Here, annual precipitation is in excess of 1500mm, over half of which falls during the summer monsoon. Mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures range from 8.6 C in January to 24.1 C in July and from 1.9 C to 15.7 C, respectively. The sanctuary is closed to visitors. There is one rest house inside, and three outside the sanctuary.

Shimla, the capital city of the state of Himachal Pradesh is only 13 km from Kufri. Fagu, which is 6 km from Kufri, is an interesting picnic spot set amongst forests and orchards.


Mashobra
The small village of Mashobra lies at about 13 km from Shimla on Shimla-Naldhera road. The village is surrounded by thick forests and offers some pleasant walks including one to Sipi where a fair is held every year. A temple dedicated to Goddess Durga is worth visiting.

Shali Tibba
A particularly interesting trek involves the highest peak in the Shimla hills, known as Shali Tibba. How to reach Shali Tibba can be approached from Shimla 35 km away by taking a bus till Mashobra and thereafter trek. Trekking arrangements can be made with the Himachal Tourism office on The Mall, Shimla.

HOW TO GET THERE

Road : Kufri does not have an airport or a railway station. However, regular buses ply from Shimla , Narkanda, and Rampur to Kufri. Travelers can also hire taxis from Shimla to reach Kufri. The area around Kufri can be explored on horseback.

NEARBY CITIES
Wild Flower Hall: 3-km
Fagu: 6-km m, Shimla : 19-km

PLACES TO STAY
Kufri Holiday Resort, HTPDC Winter Sports Club
PWD Rest House, Chini Bungalow or the Indira Holiday Home

FAIRS & FESTIVALS
An annual winter sports festival is organized every year in the month of February in Kufri. Skiing enthusiasts and adventure seekers participate in this festival.

CLIMATE
The weather in Kufri is alpine. Summers are mild while winters are cold. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September and heavy snowfall in December-January. Around Kufri :Places of Interest :

About Kufri

About 16 kms. from Shimla is the this hill famous for its trekking and hiking trails. It is also known for nature parks and picnic spots. It also has a Potato Research Station. It is famous for winter sports. This place is also full of lush green hills. The region around Shimla including Kufri was once a part of the Kingdom of Nepal. This region remained obscure from the rest of the world until the British discovered it in 1819. The British made Shimla their summer capital in 1864 and it remained so until 1939. As Shimla gained importance, Kufri also began to be recognized as an important place to visit. An annual winter sports festival is organized every year in the month of February in Kufri, when skiing enthusiasts and adventure seekers participate in this festival. There are plans to suspend tourist operations. If there is snow, the slopes are suitable for beginners and anyone with a decent plastic bag and a thick pair of trousers.

Information for tourists

Adventure-seeking travelers throng Kufri in winters to enjoy skiing and tobogganing along its snow-covered slopes. The Skiing season spreads between November to February and the tourist inflow is at its peak during winters. It has a Himalayan Nature park and close by is the Indira Tourist Park with HPTDC's Cafe Lalit. Indira Park provides some great views of the nearby places. Here one can enjoy a Pony or a Yak Ride.

Location

Kufri is on the National Highway No. 22.

Conclusion

Some great Hiking, some skiing, some beautiful scenes and a cool environment that's what Kufri is all about