Sarahan

Tucked inside the northern Himalayas, Sarahan is a picturesque village overlooking a deep valley. Tranquil, forested Sarahan-- with an unimpeded view of the Srikhand Mahadev peak-- is definitely worth a visit. For the more sturdy, there are hiking trails leading into nearby villages. The Bhimakali Temple is also worth seeing. One of the finest examples of Himachal architecture, the temple is quite old. Passing through the temple's inner courtyard, the massive silver doors will draw your attention. The main deity of goddess Bhimakali is covered by a beautiful silver filigreed canopy. There are few more temples within the complex.

BASICS

STD Code: 01782.
How to go: There are infrequent direct buses to Sarahan from Shimla, Narkanda and Rampur. The other alternative is to reach Jeori and then take a local bus to Sarahan. Jeori to Sarahan is a steep 17 kilometres climb.
Rampur, 116 kilometres from Shimla, is an important bus terminal. Taxis are also available to Sarahan-- pricey but a great time saver.

Best time: Pleasant round the year, except for the monsoon period between July and early September. Winter is fairly cold. Summer and autumn are the two best seasons.

Accommodation: Temple Guest house attached to Bhimakali Temple, Snow View Hotel (Tel: 74260), Himachal Pradesh Tourism's Hotel Shrikhand (Tel: 74234).

Local transport: a few jeeps; best to have one's own transport, arranged from Rampur.

Contact: Himachal Pradesh tourist office at Shimla.
Tel: (0177) 252561