Kurukshetra, Chandigarh, Kasauli, Churdhar and Karsog

Day 1: Kurukshetra

1 night · Easy · Pilgrim town in Haryana linked to the Mahabharata war and the Bhagavad Gita.

Day 1: Kurukshetra

• Arrive and check in near Brahma Sarovar.
• Visit Sri Krishna Museum.
• See Sannihit Sarovar and Bhadrakali Temple.
• Watch the evening aarti at Brahma Sarovar.

Getting here from Kurukshetra: Road, about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Day 2: Chandigarh

1 night · Easy · A planned city by Le Corbusier at the foot of the Shivaliks, known for gardens and a lake.

Day 2: Chandigarh

• Morning walk on the Sukhna Lake promenade and a boat ride.
• Explore Nek Chand's Rock Garden next to the lake.
• Afternoon guided tour of the Capitol Complex.
• Evening at Sector 17 Plaza for food and the fountain show.

Getting here from Chandigarh: Road, about 1.5 to 2 hours. About 50 km by road.

Days 3 to 4: Kasauli

2 nights · Easy · A small, quiet cantonment hill station in Solan district with pine walks and colonial churches.

Day 3: Kasauli

• Arrive from Kalka or Chandigarh and check in near the Mall.
• Visit Christ Church beside the bus stand.
• Walk the Mall Road for lunch and shopping.
• Walk the Gilbert Trail in the afternoon.
• End at Sunset Point between 5.30 and 6.30 PM.

Day 4: Kasauli

• Go to Monkey Point after it opens at 9 AM, with ID and without phone or camera.
• Stop at Baba Balak Nath Temple on Graner Hill.
• Drive to Dagshai for a short look around if time allows.
• Return to Kalka or Chandigarh for the onward journey.

Getting here from Kasauli: Road via Solan and Rajgarh to Nauradhar, about 3.5 hours. About 85 km by road.

Days 5 to 6: Churdhar

2 nights · Challenging · Highest peak of Sirmaur, reached by a forest trek to the Shirgul Maharaj temple at 3,647 m.

Day 5: Churdhar

• Reach Nohradhar from Solan by late morning.
• Pay the sanctuary fee and start the climb through the Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Walk about 7 km to Jamnala.
• Stay the night in a hut or tent at Jamnala.

Day 6: Churdhar

• Leave Jamnala early and climb to Teesri.
• Continue to Churdhar Peak for the mountain views.
• Visit the Shirgul Maharaj Temple below the summit.
• Return to Jamnala or Teesri for the night.

Getting here from Churdhar: Road via Solan and Shimla, about 6 to 7 hours. About 200 km by road.

Days 7 to 9: Karsog Valley

2 nights · Easy · A quiet valley of old wooden temples, apple orchards and villages between Shimla and Mandi.

Day 7: Arrival day

• Travel from Churdhar to Karsog Valley (about 6 to 7 hours).
• Visit Mamleshwar Mahadev Temple at Mamel, 2.3 km from town.
• Drive 7 km to Kamaksha Devi Temple at Kao before it closes at 6 pm.
• Go up to Chindi for the Chindi Mata Temple and sunset over the orchards.

Day 8: Karsog Valley

• Start early by taxi or the 11:00 am bus to Mahunag Temple, 26 km away.
• Carry cash, as there is no ATM at the temple.
• Return to Karsog for lunch.
• In the afternoon drive 19 km to Pangna Fort and the Mahamaya Temple.
• Back to Karsog by evening.

Day 9: Karsog Valley

• Leave Karsog on the Shimla road after breakfast.
• Stop at Tattapani, 46 km away, for a hot spring bath at a guesthouse pool.
• Have lunch by the Sutlej.
• Continue about 50 km to Shimla for onward travel.