Shimla to Kaza

India | 417 km

This ride takes you along the mountain roads where you’ll have the best views of Himalayan scenery and Himachal Pradesh. Start the route at Shimla, where you can watch the sunrise on the Nanda Devi massif 200 km away, then take the swift tarmac roads to Narkanda and on to Sain. Turn off to see the hanging valley of Sangla then on to Batseri and then follow the fast and winding road through the Sutlej Valley before passing through Nako and Tabo en route to the rugged landscape of Kaza. Note that some sections are narrow and unpaved so the route is best covered in two days with an overnight stop in Batseri, where you can rest surrounded by apricot and apple orchards.

Shimla, the Himachal capital, is one of India’s most beautiful and evocative hill resorts providing an escape from India’s summer heat and still exuding a faded grandeur of colonial charm. The Kinnaur Kailash range is arguably the most beautiful range of the Lahaul-Spiti Valley and is best viewed in its full magnificence by taking a short diversion to Kalpa if you have the time.

THE DEVIL’S EYE AIKEN SPRING
Of all the spectacular and bizarre sights found along this route, the ‘Devil’s Eye’ at Aiken Spring is one of the most awe-inspiring. The water coming from the spring is extremely high in sulphur, creating a sparse and barren landscape surrounding it.

Click here to view this route in the Harley-Davidson Ride Planner and start planning your next adventure.

Originally published in 2023.

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