Narkanda Thanedar & Mashobra - The Apple Country of Himachal

Thanedar Apples

When you think of apple,  Himachal and Kashmir are two names that definitely spring to mind. Himachal has 3 distinct apple producing regions - Shimla Manali and Kinnaur.
Mid August to Early October is the apple plucking season of Shimla District , while the ones at Manali and Kinnaur starts getting picked tentatively a month later.
We visited this heartland of Shimla's apple producing region of Narkanda & Thanedar this season. The experience of watching those luscious apples dotting the orchards and tasting them fresh from the garden was a pure bliss.

Narkanda - The Hatu Peak

Our first stop was Narkanda. Located strategically halfway between Shimla and Kinnaur, Narkanda is a beautiful destination. All around Narkanda you will find lofty hill slopes densely populated with thick Deodar, while the lower slopes of the hills are full of orchards dotted with the red royals.

Hatu Peak in Monsoon

While in Narkanda a visit to Hatu Peak is mandatory. Hatu peak is around 10 kilometers from Narkanda but significantly higher in elevation. At 11200 feet it's one of the highest peaks in Shimla district.

We started our journey towards Hatu Peak on a sunny day which soon turned out to be pretty cloudy. The climb to Hatu Peak is extremely treacherous. The road is narrow and winding and hardly one car can go through it. However when you reach the top you forget all the pain. During the monsoon the hilltop was dotted with yellow wildflowers all around. Those yellow wildflowers with the dense green forest in the background really created a visual treat.

Wildflowers at Hatu

On top of the mountain a beautifully crafted wooden temple of Hatu Mata is located. Hatu Mata is a representation of Goddess Kali and revered all over the region.
Himachal is famous for its wooden temples, and Hatu temple seemed one of the finest example of that artistry.

There is exquisite craftsmanship displayed all over the interior and exterior of the temple. The intricately carved pillars with motifs of flowers and dragons( Buddhist influence) , the various depiction of Hindu mythology and the wood carvings of goddess Kali is just awe inspiring.

Wood Carvings of Hatu Temple

The deity of goddess Hatu sits on the main sanctum sanctorium in an extremely peaceful environment. The deity is simple but beautifully blends with the ambiance.  The interior of the sanctum sanctorium is also richly carved and the entire place evokes a sense of spirituality.

Guesthouse at Hatu Peak

Hatu top is a beautiful place to view the surrounding mountainscapes. The clouds were playing hide and seek, and through the veil cloud of cloud, the lush green valleys seen below was a treat. At the highest point of the peak a PWD bungalow is set up and from its courtyard we got the best views.

Tani Jubbar Lake enroute Thanedar

Our next stop was Thanedar. While climbing down from Hatu Peak a little drizzle started which soon became a downpour. So we had to wait until the rain gets a little light. Thanedar is around 15 kilometers from the base of Hatu Peak. The road this time was smooth. The moment you enter in this route you will understand you have come to the apple country. On both sides of this route are apple orchards with branches full of the luscious fruit.

Driving past Thanedar Orchards

Acres and acres of land has been used for apple cultivation and driving through this route is like driving through the famous vineyard trails of Europe.

Tani jubbar Lake is in between Narkanda and Thanedar. Tucked a little away from the main road the lake is a hidden gem. The lake is encircled with high mountains full of deodars. The rippling effect of the little drizzle on the still waters of the lake looked magical.

Tani jubbar Lake in the rains

There is a stone paved walkway that encircles the lake and a walk along that promenade while enjoying the vistas is refreshing.
There is a temple of Nag Devta constructed by the side of the lake which looked serene.
We appreciated the natural beauty of the place and waited until the rain stops. Around half an hour later the sun once again came out. We soon started for Thanedar.

Thanedar - A visit to the orchards

Thanedar is a beautiful hamlet full of orchards. We visited one such orchard. The owner Dheeraj was a real gentleman. He took us to his factory and showed us how after plucking the apples they are polished using a small machine. He explained how the machine also segregates the apples based on size.

Apple Packaging at Thanedar

There are different grades of apple that comes from the orchards. The biggest ones are called Royal, then comes the Richard and so on.

We also tasted the fresh royal apples on his request and it was one of the most juiciest and crunchiest apples I have ever eaten.
We discussed about the cultivation season, the average amount of production. He explained each year 2500 box of apples get packed from his garden, each pack roughly contains 60 to 70 apples of highest quality.

Machine separating the apples based on size

We also bought a box of red royals for home and it was way lower than the market price.
We had a guided walk through his orchards, and it was a really cherishing experience. Bidding him good bye we started our journey towards Mashobra.

Mashobra - Endless walks through woods

Mashobra a small little town situated just 20 kilometers away from Shimla is pure bliss. Situated within the Shimla water catchment sanctuary, all around Mashobra you will find thick forest of silver Oak, Deodar and Pine. We just walked and walked through the forested path, enjoying the rolling mountains all around when we were in Mashobra.

Walks through Mashobra Forests

We spent a day in Mashobra in total seclusion. Our host 'Mahasu House' was amazing and took care of us with great hospitality.
Mashobra is a perfect place for doing nothing and spending some quality time with your loved ones. We used to sit at a view point at our hotel with a hot cup of tea and a book and enjoy the clouds moving along.

Views from Mahasu House

Mashobra is also famous for its orchards. We saw a lot of orchards in the Purani Koti village area in Mashobra. The apples here seem to mature earlier than the ones in Thanedar, and most of them had already been plucked from the branches.
With the mix of thick Deodar forest and isolated apple orchards Mashobra certainly looked enticing.

Deodars at Mashobra

Mashobra is also famous for its beautiful sunset and we were lucky enough to experience that vista. The myriad hues in the sky and the silhouette of the rolling hills marked a perfect end to our lazy sojourn at Mashobra.

Sunset from Mashobra