Weekend Shangarh Itinerary – What to do in Shangarh in Two Days?

Read Here – Why should you visit Shangarh? 

So, if you’re planning a weekend getaway to the charming village of Shangarh from Delhi, you can follow this weekend Shangarh itinerary, which includes the journey details from Delhi to Shangarh.

Read Here – Why I visited Shangarh

How to plan a weekend Shangarh itinerary – Things to remember 

Shangarh is among those few villages in Himachal Pradesh that are still untouched by heavy commercial activities and that’s what I loved most when I reached there. Though it was cold but I still loved the air, passing through my hair, hitting my face, giving me a sense of tenderness. It was October month and when I was passing through a narrow, spiral road in the rented cab, I could spot snow patches on the way. One of the biggest challenges coming to Shangarh is the lack of public transport. I am not sure if there is any local bus to Shangarh from Sainj or even if there is any that must be once a day. In this weekend Shangarh itinerary, I will share how I traveled to Shangarh from Delhi.

Read Here – 5 Family travel tips

A brief about Shangarh Village 

Shangarh is a small meadow-village located in Sainj Valley which is a part of the Great Himalayan National Park (A UNESCO site) in the Kullu region. The village is surrounded by giant deodar trees; located tucked away from the hustle-bustle. There is an open ground which is known as Devta Ground; the main highlight of the village when you reach Shangarh. The ground remains green most of the time and you will spot animals grazing. During the snowfall months, everything turns white, covered with snow.

Next to the ground is the temple of Shangchul Mahadev, the local deity of Shangarh village. Legend has it that the deity protects the village. A fair is organized every year. Shangarh has a small population. When I was in Shangarh, I read on a board that the population was around 1300 something. Thus, it is less crowded, less chaotic, more and more nature only. That’s what we need. That’s what we crave!

How to reach Shangarh from Delhi – Shangarh Weekend Itinerary

So, I am assuming that you will go to Shangarh from Delhi, since I traveled to Shangarh from Delhi so I will talk about how to reach Shangarh from Delhi in this weekend trip plan. I have no idea if there is any direct bus to Sainj Valley from Shangarh. The easiest way is to take a bus going to Manali and get down at Aut which is the main transfer point. So you reach Aut in the morning if you take the bus in the night.

From Aut, you need to take another bus to Sainj village. There are local bus services are regular intervals so you don’t have to wait too long. Once you reach Sainj, you need to rent a cab to Shangarh. As I mentioned earlier, I am not sure if there is any bus service to Shangarh. If you get a bus, you will save good money as the cabs may cost you around 1000 INR approx. Try bargaining a little.

As per Google Maps, the following table shows time and distance:

Kindly ensure that the above data is based on Google Maps. The times and distance can vary depending on several factors.

So, overall it will take anything around 12-13 hours to reach Shangarh village from Delhi. This means it is better that you travel overnight. Take the bus in the night from ISBT Kashmiri Gate and then reach Shangarh the next day.

Note that this weekend Shangarh itinerary is based on my personal experiences and I created it after visiting Shangarh several times. It may not match with your requirements.

Where to stay in Shangarh – Homestays or Hostels

During my first visit to Shangarh, there were not many homestays in Shangarh. Sainj was the nearest big city. I stayed in a homestay which charged me 1000 INR per day. It was a basic homestay with a large-sized bed, attached washroom. The room had two chairs, a table, etc. The homestay owner was kind enough to pick me up as I was unable to find a way to the homestay. So I called him and told him the situation.

The homestay, Snowline Homestay, was located at a good height and it was itself a hike to reach there from the main village. I did wander in the village and when it was dark in the night and I was going back to the top, the surrounding was filled with an eerie feeling; the sky looked like a black mattress with a full moon. A small hiss somewhere in the bushes at a distance gave me goosebumps.

Update (May 16, 2022) – Shangarh has not got several options. You can choose to stay in a local homestay or you can choose Zostel, Woodzo, etc. I stayed in TreeStays many times. During my recent trip to Shangarh (May 7-8 2022), I stayed in Ted’s Cabin which is located just behind Mountain View Cafe.

During my last visit to Shangarh (Jan 2023), I found some more homestays, such as Plant Pot Cafe and Homes, Whispering Pines Camp, etc.

During my second visit of Shangarh of 2023 in February, I spent a night at House of Stories. Note – This homestay is permanently closed.

During my third visit to Shangarh of 2023, I stayed in Himalayan View Homestay where I stayed back in February as well. Also, another good homestay is opened near Mountain View Cafe known as Anamcara.

During my January 2023 visit to Shangarh, I got to spend a memorable night at Plant Pot Cafe and Homes. If you are planning to a weekend trip to Shangarh, you should check this place.

Here’s what the owner has to say,

“We at Plant Pot are on a mission to bring people closer to nature in the most traditional ways where we give importance to experiences that connect us all deeply. Our warm hospitality, delicious food and panoramic valley views inside the apple orchard which allows guests to relax, our property is sure to leave a lasting impression on the guests. Our homestay provides a comfortable stay with modern amenities like boutique rooms, hot water, attached washrooms and more. The rooms are spacious and sunny, offering stunning views of the farm and valleys. You can watch the sunrise & moonrise from the room.”

To book your stay, you can follow this link.

I got to stay at House of Stories during January 2023.

House of Stories is run by Vrinda along with Cafe Stories n More. The homestay is located next to TreeStays. You get incredibly beautiful views from homestay. Also, you can camp there.

Nest to Plant Pot Cafe & Homes is No Society Homestay. The homestay is located away from the Devta Ground and one has to either take a cab direct to the homestay or hike all the way to the homestay. As the name suggests, No Society nestles in the peaceful surrounding.

Where to eat in Shangarh

When I visited Shangarh for the first time in 2019, there was only one café open, Mountain View Café, and that too outside of the village, at some distance. The place where the cab driver dropped had two cafes. One was shut and didn’t look like it was in operation and one looked like a small stall. The café had basic meal options, tea time snacks, Maggi, cookies, etc.

Update (May 16, 2022) – You now have many more options in Shangarh where you can enjoy delicious meal. During my recent visit, I found this nice restaurant+homestay, Ara Cafe where I had coffee and rajma chawal. The aunty was nice lady and filled my plate to its capacity and even offered me more.

During my January 2023 visit to Shangarh, I was invited by Sumee Kashyap to visit her homestay+cafe. I spent one night there which was perhaps one of the most memorable nights of Shangarh, from playing Monopoly to watching a movie on projector.

Here’s a little about the cafe (Plant Pot Cafe and Homes – A Vegan Restaurant in Shangarh)

Plant Pot Cafe serves delicious organic food where everything is made from scratch with best quality ingredients, ensuring that guests have a healthy and wholesome dining experience. The menu includes Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and a variety of global cuisines prepared with utmost care and attention to detail. No cafe in Shangarh provides a similar as well as wide variety of menus along with an amazing panoramic view. We usually experiment and create new recipes so that we can provide the uniqueness in taste and in our menu. Overall, we do our best to give each guest a wonderful homely experience.

The mashroom soup I had at this place was one of the best I had. I mean it… 

Another very famous cafe in Shangarh is Cafe Stories n More, run and owned by Vrinda.

Café Stories n More has a well-balanced menu and you can order anything, from quick bites (fries, chilly potatoes, maggi, pasta, noodles), hot and cold beverages, snacks, to main North Indian cuisine. I being a Haryanvi look for proper meal at least once a day. So, roti and daal makhani was my dinner for two days. I relished their maggi, rajma chawal, hot coffee, lemon water, chilly potato. And the rajma chawal was some of the best I had so far. Moreover, the vibes matter most. And you have some of the coolest and most soothing vibes as far as your senses go. The rain turned everything so pleasant, sitting there in café, watching the rain drops touching the earth while sipping hot coffee was a therapeutic experience which you won’t get everything. That’s here, in Shangarh.

You can even visit Zostel’s restuarant and have your meal.

I visited Zostel’s restaurant in March 2023. Their menu has a range of lipsmacking dishes. The person who looks after the kitchen is such a humble soul. It was a random visit to Zostel Shangarh and I visited this place twice for meals during my stay for two nights in Shangarh.

Places to visit in Shangarh in one day

If you are planning a weekend itinerary of Shangarh, there is a lot you can explore in these two days. There are adjoining villages where you can hike and even camp. My initial visits to Shangarh were all unplanned just like most of the trips so I hadn’t had much information. The only thing I knew was the name of this village.

I learned about the village in depth when I started visiting it frequently. Here are the things you must visit or include in your weekend trip planning to Shangarh.

1. Devta Ground

Devta Ground of Shangarh is a large open land which is probably the first thing you may get to witness when you reach the ground. It looks a lot like some foreign land. I found an old man sitting there who would ask you to click him and will talk to him. That’s an experience to talk to locals and hear the stories. This ground has mythological stories behind it and its existence is said to be belonging to Mahabharata times. It is also a perfect place for solitude seekers. To know more about Devta Ground, click this link for a dedicated blog post.

2. Shangchul Mahadev Mandir 

Next to Devta Ground is the wooden temple of Shangchul Mahadev who is the local deity of Shangarh. There are several folklores associated with the existence of this temple which you can read in my dedicated post by clicking here. The temple has a nice architecture and can be spotted easily from Devta Ground. You can visit the temple; however make sure that you follow the rituals and rules of the place or better to ask someone. Often people confuse this temple with the one in Devta Ground (Bhutnath Temple) and don’t get to see the real temple.

3. Ganjau Thatch & Thini Thatch

You can also trek to Ganjau Thatch and Thini Thatch in Shangarh. These are two meadows located at a height. The trek is moderate and can be a little bit challenging as you move toward the top. Make sure that you visit in the morning itself if you plan to cover both the places. Pack lunch/maggi, etc. as there are no stalls at the top or on the way.

4. Barshangarh Waterfall

Shangarh boasts of a beautiful waterfall which attracts travelers. Located at nearly 3.5km away from the main village, Barshangarh waterfall is a wonderful place to hangout and dive into the natural aura. The way to the waterfall isn’t concrete and remains all muddy during monsoon. You can either take a hike or if you have got your own vehicle, you can drive/ride there.

Activities to do in Shangarh

Camping in Shangarh

Shangarh is perfect land for camping. You can pitch your own camp or you can even book. Many properties in Shangarh provide this facility. Imagine spending a night in a camp, the darkest sky filled with stars you have ever seen and the perfect vibes of the mountains everywhere. Isn’t it dreamy?

Trekking in Shangarh 

If you’re someone who loves trekking, you can do that in Shangarh. There are enough options to trek in this village of Sainj Valley. You can even choose to trek to the nearby village (Lapah), Pundrik Rishi, Sara Lake, Thini Thatch, Ganjau Thatch, etc. There are guided treks. I wasn’t aware of this when I reached here. But later I got to know and if next time I plan to revisit Shangarh, I will do it. In one of the videos of Shangarh village on YouTube, I saw people camping too. So, maybe if you explore, you can camp as well.

There are multiple tracks which open from Shangarh.
Update – I trekked to Lapah Village from Shangarh and spent a night at Forest Guest House, Lapah in Oct 2023.

Read Here – Trekking in Shangarh

What is the total expenditure of a weekend trip to Shangarh?

Planning a weekend itinerary of Shangarh won’t cost you too much. There is direct expenditure from bus to cab and stay to food. I didn’t spend get to spend more than 5500 INR on my two days Shangarh trip from Delhi. That included everything. So, here I am breaking down my total expenditure of two days weekend Shangarh itinerary that I did from ISBT Kashmiri Gate

Bus from Kashmiri Gate to Aut – Approx. 1000 INR (calculate both ways)

Bus from Aut to Sainj – Approx. 50 INR (calculate both ways)

Cab from Sainj to Shangarh – Approx. 800 INR (calculate both ways)

Homestay for one night – Approx. 1000 -1200 INR

Food for two days – Maximum 1000 – 1500 INR (personal choice)

Cab from Aut to Shangarh (optional) – Approx. 1800 INR

You can also include Raila in your weekend Shangarh itinerary. This small village is located nearly 15 km away from Shangarh. The village has started to grab travelers’ attention in recent years. I stayed there at The Yellow Chalet; however, there are several other properties to stay. The village also has a lot to offer. You can visit Rupi Raila Waterfall and enjoy the calmness and fierceness of the nature at the same time. Or take a steep hike to the meadows (Bhatkanda) and sunset point view to watch the sun go down, hiding behind the mighty mountains. The place is also famous for its Twin Towers.

What is the best time to visit Shangarh?

That depends on your purpose of traveling to Shangarh. I have visited Shangarh in all seasons. The village experiences heavy snowfall from December to February. So, if you want to visit to enjoy snowfall, better to go in December or January. If you want to just casually roam in the wide openness of nature, you can visit around September to October. Mind that you pack some jackets as you may feel a little cold. The temperature of Shangarh during these months ranges from 16 – 22 degrees Celsius.