Gattadhar Valley – Travel Guide | How to reach, Where to stay!

I visited Gattadhar valley on a weekend in September 2021. I’ve written a travelogue on my experience of travelling from Delhi to Gattadhar in my car. Follow it if you are also planning a road trip to a secluded place for a weekend. In this article, I am sharing the crucial details about transportation, food and stay in Gattadhar valley.

How to reach Gattadhar Valley

• Train – Nearest main railway stations are Ambala and Dehradoon. 
• Bus – Gattadhar is connected by a 5-hour local bus ride from Nahan. Nahan is connected by direct bus service from Delhi, Chandigarh, Ambala, Dehradun. Buses from Nahan and Gattadhar are few, so please contact any local to check the current timings. Contact numbers are shared below.  
• Self-drive – A roadtrip from Delhi took me almost 11 hours to reach Gattadhar. You can make it faster will lesser breaks. The last petrol pump (fuel station) is located at Sangrah which is almost 31 kilometres before Gattadhar. 

Stay

• Regular Homestays in Gattadhar – 500 Rs/room (with toilet)
• Dogri homestays during the trek –  starting from 800 Rs/person (includes 3 meals)
  (Read – How was my experience of staying in a Dogri mudhouse?)

Food

• A few Dhaba styled restaurants in Gattadhar
• Eat with locals during the trek

Weather

• It is accessible all around the year
• Best time to visit April to July & October – November
• Snowfall from December to March  
• Rains from August till mid-September  

Helpful Contact persons

• Mr Deepak – approved tourist guide by Himachal Tourism and a native of Juinidhar – 8580617590
• Mr Atmaram – a teacher from Gattadhar –  9805161356

Trip Expenses 

How much a trip to Gattadhar can cost you? Here is a breakup of the basic traveling expenditure.

• Food 
• Breakfast – Rs 30 – 50 for one parantha
• Lunch – Rs 100 for one thali
• Dinner – Rs 100 for one thali

• Stay 
  • Homestays tariff range between Rs 500 – 1000 per day per person, includes all meals. Though the availability of toilets in Dogri homestays (mudhouses) can be an issue, the locals still practise open defecation. Contact the persons listed above for updated details, as many locals showed their interest to build toilets at their place when I told them that this would be a basic requirement if you want to earn through tourism.
  • There are no luxury hotels or hostels currently in and around Gattadhar.   

• Transportation 
  • Bus fare from Nahan to Gattadhar is less than 200 Rupees. 
  • For Himachal Roadyways bus timings from Delhi, Call HRTC customer care Delhi at – 011 2386 8694

• Package 
  • The guide, Deepak who took me to Juinidhar offers a package of 1500 Rupees/ day/person which includes a 1-night stay at a Dogri house (mudhouse) with a toilet, 3 meals & a guide/porter fee. The package starts from Gattadhar. However, he can also arrange a taxi pick up and drop from Nahan, Ambala or Chandigarh. 

Watch all the videos in series based on my recent trip to Gattadhar and Juinidhar - https://bit.ly/MThimachal2021