What to see and things to do in jubbal, places to see in jubbal

To See & Do

Once out of doors, it's a toss-up between who has the rosier cheeks the village belles or the ripe fruit. You'll be torn between the orchards on the slopes and the river nearby. If you aren't keen on nature, sample the thousand-year-old temples of Durga and Shiva. Also consider the challenge of driving almost 22 km in the hills before setting out on shank's pony to a mountain lake or tribal villages not linked by road.

Activities


	Jubbal Palace

	Few, very few, have heard of Jubbal although state authorities did realise its potential once. HPTDC even ran the Hotel Pabbar in nearby Hatkoti, but it was closed in early 2002 due to near-zero occupancy. People didn't come because they were never told what the area had to offer. A 3 1/2-hr drive out of Shimla brings you to this fairy-tale palace. Perched in a little hollow amid the hills, Jubbal Palace looks gingerbread-y enough to eat. Himachali Gothic Architecture buffs can debate it through, but you won?t care once firmly ensconced in its Art Deco interiors. The Imperial Gazetteer of India describes the Palace thus: The Rana's residence is built in partially Chinese style, the lower portion consisting of masonry, while the upper half is ringed round with wooden galleries capped by over-hanging eaves. The palace is remarkable for the enormous masses of deodar timber used in its construction. The modern wing, where guests are put up, was built in the 1930s; older sections date back centuries. The timber frame proved perilous when a fire in the 1960s destroyed a large part of the original structure, but it is being slowly restored. The modern wing, however, is well preserved. Designed by a French architect, it?s a quixotic blend of European and indigenous styles. The elaborate wooden ceilings are stunning. Then there is all the ancient weaponry, ranging from cannons and muskets to swords and shields. The royals who lord it over this gem have a fierce and proud past, tracing their ancestry to 1027 AD and, anecdotally, much further back.


	Hatkoti

	Ruins of ancient temples dot the nearby village of Hatkoti, which is something of a Tantric peeth. No surprise, then, that it is named after the goddess Hatkeshwari. Hatkeshwar is one of Lord Shiva's names. Hatkoti is centred on a walled compound enclosing temples dedicated to Hatkeshwari (depicted as Durga slaying the demon) and Hatkeshwar. The Pabbar River, a perennial river arising in the Chanshal Range just south of Kinnaur, is born of a snow- and spring-fed lake (at 13,976 ft) called Chander Nahan or Chander Naun. Various smaller streams join it on its short journey to Hatkoti, where it meets the rivulet Bishkulti and the Rai Nala. The sprightly Pabbar River has a good deal of water, which it pours into the Tons, a major tributary of the Yamuna, at Tiuni in Uttaranchal. Places like Hatkoti and Rohru were once considered good fishing grounds but recurring floods have reduced the catch. One can, however, walk down to the water through the paddy fields.

More on Jubbal

Q & A
• Post your Question
• Help others...

Blog
• Write a Blog
• Read Blog

Hotel Review
• Write a Review
• Read all Reviews

Travel Guide