Tani Jubbar Lake
lake · 4.9 km away
temple18 min from Narkanda
Hatu Peak and Hatu Mata Temple
Hatu Peak, at 3,400 m, is the high point above Narkanda, with a small wooden temple on top that local belief calls the temple of Maa Kaali, 18 minutes by road.
What it is
Hatu Peak rises above Narkanda to 3,400 m, in a forest of conifers, oaks and maples. At the top stands a small wooden temple, the Hatu Mata Temple. Local belief holds that it is the temple of Maa Kaali, and a stove-like formation of rocks beside it is said to be where the Pandavas cooked during their year in hiding.
Photos: punit-sharma (CC0) · Chirag85 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Getting there
By road it is about 7 km and 18 minutes from Narkanda, on a steep road that cars and bikes can drive. The road gives views of the Himalayas as it climbs. There is a tourist lodge about a kilometre below the peak.
The visit
Few facilities exist on the peak itself, so bring water. The top is colder and windier than the town, so a jacket is needed even in summer. On the first Sunday of Jyeshtha crowds arrive for rituals at the temple, so expect it to be busy that day.
When to go
April to June is the clearer season, and the monsoon is July to September. In the snow months from November to March the steep road can be hard going. See when to visit Narkanda.
Around it
Tani Jubbar Lake is in the forest 21 minutes from Narkanda, and Kotgarh is in the apple belt 43 minutes away. Both plans start here: the one-day plan and the two-day plan.
Plans that include this
All 2 plans that stop here →
Day plan · First visitClassic
One day around Narkanda — Hatu Peak and Tani Jubbar Lake
A one-day Narkanda plan: Hatu Peak and its wooden temple in the clear morning air, then Tani Jubbar Lake in the fir forest. Free, copyable itinerary.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →
1 night · 2 days · First visitClassic
Two days around Narkanda — Hatu Peak and the apple belt at Kotgarh
A two-day Narkanda plan: Hatu Peak and its temple on day one, then the apple belt at Kotgarh and Tani Jubbar Lake on day two. Free, copyable itinerary.
Best Apr–May · Sep–Oct
See the plan →Nearby places
Questions people ask
How high is Hatu Peak?
Hatu Peak stands at 3,400 m, high above Narkanda, in a forest of conifers, oaks and maples. A small wooden temple, Hatu Mata Temple, stands on top. The peak is reached by a steep road from Narkanda, 7 km and 18 minutes by car.
What is Hatu Mata Temple?
A small wooden temple at the top of the peak. Local belief identifies it as the temple of Maa Kaali. Near it is an old stove-like formation of rocks that locals say the Pandavas used to cook their food during their year of hiding, and crowds gather on the first Sunday of Jyeshtha.
Can you drive to the top?
Yes. The steep road to Hatu Peak from Narkanda can be driven by car or bike, and it gives views of the Himalayas on the way up. There are few facilities on the peak itself, so bring water and a jacket, because the top is much colder than the town.