Himachal is a lovely place up north where summer never gets too hot & guess what happens in winter? Temperatures can drop to a bone-chilling -27 degrees Celsius in some areas!
In this below post, we have shared a list of the Top Coldest place in Himachal Pradesh, you can visit and also some snow points which will make you feel that you are in a European country, enjoying snowfall.
So, you guys, grab your warmest coats and gather your friends – we’re heading to these amazing Himachal spots that will give us the coziest wintertime memories! And let’s start with the coldest district of HP, Lahaul & Spiti.
Lahaul and Spiti
Lahaul Spiti is a district in Himachal where there are more than a dozen places you can visit and some of them are the Coldest in the whole Himachal state. These are:
1. Keylong
Keylong is a famous town in the Lahaul Spiti & one of the coldest places in Himachal. The lowest temperature recorded last year of -16 degrees, & it goes down to -25 to -27 degrees.
People love coming to Keylong to see snowfall, do adventurous stuff like trekking and camping, and check out awesome places like Kardang Monastery and Shashur Monastery. Oh, and don’t forget the fun local festivals like Tsheshu and Losar Festival!
2. Jispa
Jispa is a beautiful & charming town in Lahaul Spiti Valley where the temperature in winter goes down to as low as -25 degrees, and it’s just 40 km north & 40-minute drive from Keylong.
After your Keylong adventure, a visit to Jispa is a must! Here be ready to see snowy mountains, clean blue Bhaga River, and all the activities you can enjoy, like camping, trekking, etc.
3. Darcha
9 km from Jispa and 31 km from Keylong is a town that is rated as one of the coldest places in the whole of Himachal, as the temperature here goes down to -30 degrees.
Yet, even this doesn’t deter travelers from heading to Darcha. It’s a crucial base camp for trekkers exploring Lahaul Spiti and Zanskar Valley in Kashmir. The famous Darcha-Padum trek and the Darcha-Lamayuru trek both start from here.
Another landmark here is the Darcha Bridge which offers scenic views of mountains & rivers and many shepherd huts of locals.
4. Suraj Tal
In the high-altitude area of Himachal, you’ll come across two famous lakes that are something special. They’re not only among the coldest place in Himachal Pradesh, but they’re also truly breathtaking in their beauty.
Suraj Tal is one of the 2 lakes, and this one is 70 km north of Keylong, where you will pass through Jispa, Darcha.
Suraj Tal, which means the “Lake of Sun,” is at an altitude of 4880 meters above sea level & the water here is of beautiful blue shade, and guess what? You can even go trekking at the famous Baralacha La Pass nearby. A treasure for trekkers!!
5. Sissu
Sissu Village is an adorable little town, only 70 km from Manali and around 30 km before Keylong. To reach here, you can hire a cab from Manali, enjoy snow activities at Rohtang Pass & Koksar en route, or take a direct drive through Atal Tunnel, shortening the journey to just 40 km.
Winter in Sissu can get a bit cold, around -5 degrees. What’s great is that it’s nicely connected to Manali, even more so than the places mentioned earlier, where we won’t suggest travelers with medical problems visit. But Sissu is suitable for all ages, even if you’re with senior family members, you’re good to go.
You’ll love checking out spots like Chandra Bhaga River, Marikula Devi Temple, and the picturesque Sissu waterfall.
6. Rohtang Pass/ La
Rohtang Pass or La, is a very popular & one of the coldest places in Himachal Pradesh, where weather goes down to -15 degree Celsius in winter.
This is actually a mountain pass, it’s open only for a few months in summer, but when it’s open, more than 5000 travelers visit Rohtang to enjoy snowfall and adventure activities.
Here you can enjoy activities like skiing, snowboarding, snowball fights, or rent a snow scooter. Pretty amazing thing to do here.
The 6 sites mentioned above are located on the Leh-Manali highway.
You can access them by beginning your journey from Manali and then traveling through Rohtang Pass > Koksar > Sissu > Keylong > Jispa > Darcha > Suraj Tal.
Covering a distance of 172 km from Manali, exploring these sites typically requires 4-5 days.
7. Kaza
Kaza is this small but super popular town in Spiti Valley, about 190 km from Keylong. Just like Keylong, it gets really cold there, where temperatures go as low as -24 degrees.
So, when you’re in Kaza, get ready for some serious adventure.
You can camp out under the stars, go on treks, and even take cool motorbike rides. And oh, the Spiti River adds this calming touch to the whole scene, it’s really something.
Plus, don’t forget to check out the Key Monastery – it’s like stepping into history. Kaza’s got this perfect blend of nature and stories, you’ll love it!
8. Langza, Kibber & Komi
Kibber, Langza, and Komi are like quite close to Kaza, just a 45 km driveaway. And guess what? They’re all part of the coolest spots in Himachal Pradesh.
1st stop from Kaza will be Langza, famous for its Glacier point. To get here, Langza Glacier Point, from Kaza, you’ll be going on a trek. Don’t worry, it’s not super tough – more like a moderate adventure.
You need to trek for 4-5 km to reach the Glacier Point. While walking on this path you will see many spots to stop & take pictures, and when you will arrive at the point, you will be surprised to see the panoramic view of the lower Himalayas mountains.
Then from Lanza, you can leave for Komic, which is a 10 km/ 20-minute drive, and this place is famous for being the highest village in Asia, which is around 4587 meters above sea level.
The Tangyud Monastery is a major attraction of the village, and you can only come here via bike. The temperate here in winter can go up to -20 degree Celsius, so it’s advisable to visit this village with caution.
And finally, Kibber, which is also a Buddhist village, famous for Kibber Monastery, and again a good trekking point near Kaza.
9. Chandra Taal
So, when you lay eyes on Chandra Taal for the very first time, it’s like a magical moment.
Imagine a mirror – but not just any mirror. A mirror with reflection of water which is so clear, that it’s like the sky’s reflection has landed right there.
Now, let’s talk about winter. When the cold season arrives, Chandra Taal turns into this chilly wonderland, with temperatures around -10 degrees at night. But that doesn’t stop the adventure! You can totally plan a trekking or camping escapade here.
Just remember, during winter, this place might be a bit cut off from the main cities, so be prepared for that cozy, remote feeling.
10. Tabo
Now, let’s chat about Tabo – the final coldest place in Himachal Pradesh, Lahaul Spiti district.
Tabo is famous for something truly remarkable – the Tabo Monastery. Built-in 996 AD, the Tabo Monastery was built by Richen Zangpo, a great scholar. He built this Monastery to protect & promote Buddhist teachings & knowledge.
Today the Tabo Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is also referred to as the Ajanta of Himachal.
The coldest nights in Tabo is around -10 degree and here you can visit Tabo Monastery, meditation caves, and take part in spiritual prayers at the Monastery & know more about Tibetan culture.
Kullu District
There is no doubt that some of the coldest places in Himachal Pradesh are in the Lahaul District, but there are some cities, towns & villages that need to be added to this list, and 2nd to Lahaul Spiti is its neighbor ‘Kullu”.
11. Solang Valley
Just 20 km from Manali, lies Solang Valley, where in winter temperature is around -10 degree Celsius at night, and when the route to Rohtang Pass is closed, all the snow activities are organized at Solang Valley.
When you’re in Manali, so swing by Solang – it’s a treat! Here you can see snowfall, glide in the sky with a paragliding tour, or drive on ice on a snow bike. Touristy? Yep, but seriously awesome.
12. Manali
No list of Himachal Pradesh can’t be complete without Manali, which one can say that it’s a gateway to Lahaul Spiti.
Travelers who want to visit some of the coldest places in the state, start their journey from Manali, as it’s well-connected with roads and even flights. Bhuntar Airport is just 50 km from Manali.
And in winter, the coldest nights in Manali can go up to -10 to -15 degree Celsius. And to visit Manali, you can check out Rajputana Cabs Chandigarh taxi service.
Kinnaur District
Towards eastern Himachal, is the Kinnaur district, famous for its Apple Orchards, outdoor activities, and rivers, and some towns, and villages here are the coldest place in Himachal. These are:
13. Chitkul
A winter night in Chitkul can get you jitters as the temperature outside will be -20 degrees Celsius. And that’s why many travelers love to visit Chitkul.
If you love trekking then you can visit Chitkul Pass & Lamkhaga Pass in Chitkul, along with a visit to Chitkul Monastery, Mathi Temple, Baspa River & meet the locals at Chitkul Village.
14. Kalpa
Kalpa is a small town in Kinnaur district where the weather in winter goes to -15 degrees Celsius, and here travelers interested to visit Kinnaur Kailash Shivling at Kailash Range visit Kalpa.
Apart from the mountain range, you can also check out Apple farms, Hu-Bu-Lan-Kar Monastery, & visit the Suicide Point, which is a viewpoint in Kalpa offering the best view of the valley.
15. Sangla Valley
Sangla Valley is a popular site & also one of the coldest place in Himachal Pradesh, where temperatures in winter go to -20 degree Celsius.
Sangla Valley is also quite popular among travelers interested in exploring snow cap mountains, apple farms, riverside camping & fishing (along with Baspa River), & meet locals and know more about their life, food & culture.
You can stay in a homestay in Chitkul Village, which isn’t far from here.
16. Nako
Nako is a beautiful village in Kinnaur district where the weather in winter goes down to -10 degrees and it’s famous for the ancient Nako Gompa monastery.
Nako is a Buddhist area with mostly followers of Tibetan background, and you will see that the locals here are very polite and lives a minimalist life, and thus Nako is a gateway away from all life’s busy schedule.
You can here, stay in a homestay in Chango Village, and spend some time in the lush green valley, with stunning mountain views.
17. Reckong Peo
Reckong Peo is not one of the coldest places in Himachal, but still, the temperature drops to -10 degrees and it’s an amazing place to visit in Himachal, Kinnaur district.
Reckong Peo is well connected that all the above towns & villages in Kinnaur district and can be your base point to explore the above places in Kinnaur.
18. Other notable places
Above we have shared around 17 towns, and villages in Himachal Pradesh which are some of the coldest places in the whole of India, and still Himachal has much to offer.
So other notable sites which we can add to our list of the Coldest places in Himachal are Bir in Kangra district, Khajjiar in Chamba district, and Kufri in Shimla district. These are all charming places, quite cold in winter, and also well connected with all major cities like Delhi and Chandigarh.
Author Bio: This post has been written by guest author – Jatin Chhabra. Jatin is a Delhi-based travel blogger, hospitality marketer, and proud dad. He is in love with the state of Rajasthan, its stepwells, desert and you can view more of his work at jatinchhabra.com
