Things to do in Sarahan — 5 stops, and which need a car
How this list is built
Sorted by distance from Sarahan, because that is how a day here gets planned: what is a walk, what needs a car. The minutes are our own road routing. Each entry sits inside one of our copyable itineraries.
Photos: Gerd Eichmann (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
In Sarahan itself
1. The Bhimakali Temple
The temple of the goddess who presided over the rulers of the old Bushahr state, with three courtyards, four carved gates and twin towers of stone and deodar, built in the 13th century. Bhimakali Temple.
2. The town and the old road
The temple stands within walking distance of the market, and the King's and Queen's palaces sit beside it. The trading history is still on the ground: traces of the old Indo-Tibetan road run through Shalabag, near Sarahan, and the temple's Hindu and Buddhist decoration reflects the trade that came up that road. Allow an hour for the town on top of the temple.
3. Down to the Satluj
The Satluj lies about 7 km below the town, or 17 km by road. It is the same river that Rampur and Nirmand stand beside, so the drive down is also the start of the day's trip to them.
By car
4. Rampur Bushahr
The winter capital of Bushahr and a trading town on the Satluj, 79 minutes down the road, known for the Lavi fair each November. Rampur Bushahr.
5. Nirmand
Seventeen kilometres up the valley from Rampur, a large old village of kath-kuni temples to Ambika Devi, Parashurama and Shiva, 115 minutes from Sarahan, so plan a night. Nirmand temples.
Putting it together
The temple and Rampur make one day, and Nirmand makes a second. See the Sarahan guide for the one-day and two-day plans in full. For arrival, see how to reach Sarahan, and for timing, when to visit Sarahan.
Plans that include this
All Sarahan itineraries →
Questions people ask
What are the best things to do in Sarahan?
Visit the Bhimakali Temple, walk the town and look for the traces of the old Indo-Tibetan road, then drive down to Rampur Bushahr, the winter capital of the Bushahr state. A second day adds the old wooden temples of Nirmand, which are a further 17 km up the Satluj valley.
What can you do in Sarahan for free?
Walk the town, look at the outside of the temple complex and the palaces beside it, and follow the old road at Shalabag. We have no verified entry fee or hours for the temple itself, so ask in the town. The only real cost is a taxi down to Rampur and Nirmand.
How many days do you need around Sarahan?
One day covers the temple and a drive down to Rampur Bushahr. A second day adds Nirmand. Many visitors treat Sarahan as an overnight stop between Shimla and Kinnaur, and the temple alone fills a long morning, so one night here is the usual choice.