Naggar Castle, Manali - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit
#30 of 43 Places to Visit in Manali
Distance (From Manali Bus Station): 20 Kms
Trip Duration (Including Travel): 2-3 Hours
Place Location: Naggar Village
Transportation Options: Bus / Cab
Travel Tips: Following places are located in Naggar and can be visited as one day tour from Manali / Kullu:
- Naggar Castle
- Gauri Shankar Temple
- Arjun Gufa
- Tripura Sundari Temple
- Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery And Museum
- Uruswati Himalayan Folk Art Museum
At a distance of 20 km from Manali, and 22 km from the Kullu, the Naggar Castle is a famous castle located in Naggar. It is one of the best heritage places in Himachal, and among the not to miss in during your Manali tour.
Naggar Castle is a magnificent historical structure that overlooks the Kullu valley. The castle was built by Raja Sidhi Singh in 1460 AD. The Castle was used as a Royal residence and state headquarters until the British took over the whole Kangra and Kullu from Sikh's in 1846. Raja Gyan Singh sold it to the first assistant commissioner, Major Hay for a Gun. The northern wing of the castle was later converted to the European way of living by putting in staircase, fire place and chimneys. He later sold it to the Government when it was used as a courthouse. In 1947, with the departure of the British the court-activity ceased.
The castle was built in an impressive combination of European and Himalayan architectural styles. The castle has traditional architecture called Kathkooni, which uses a combination of stones and wooden beams. In the year 1978, the castle was converted into a rest house and more recently into a heritage hotel that is run by Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC). The Naggar Castle has been recently renovated while keeping its heritage structure intact. It is one of the famous Manali sightseeing places.
There are three small shrines present within the premises that hold religious significance. Here, a gallery houses the paintings of the Russian artist Nicholas Roerich. From the castle one could see the far-off snow-covered peaks, the delightful Beas valley below and the lush green hillsides dotted with apple orchards.
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Timings: 10 AM - 5 PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 20 for Person