Shoja is the place where peace, solitude and nature meet. Located just 5 Km from Jalori Pass, Shoja is a small village in Himachal Pradesh. Dotted with rich flora & fauna, high mountain ranges, adventurous waterfalls and breathtaking lush greenery, Shoja is a perfect getaway for nature lovers. Away from the crowd of Kasol, Manali & Shimla, Shoja is a must-visit place in Tirthan valley. The untouched natural beauty and rustic charm of this place force you to fall in love with nature again.
If you’re planning to visit Shoja then here we bring the complete guide to visit this hidden gem of Himachal including best time to visit, places to visit, things to do, how to reach, places to stay and places to eat. So, lets dive into the natural beauty of Shoja –
Let’s Quickly Dive Into The Details
- Is Shoja Worth Visiting?
- Best Time To Visit Shoja
- Places To Visit In Shoja
- How To Reach Shoja
- Places To Stay In Shoja
- Where To Eat In Shoja
Is Shoja Worth Visiting?
Yes, Shoja is a perfect place for a relaxing holiday. The off-beaten path of this hidden gem gives you the undiscovered feel. The spectacular natural beauty, pleasant weather conditions and refreshing breeze are meant to be perfect for a peaceful holiday. And the proximity to places like Jibhi and Tirthan Valley would not let you get bored. Overall, there is nothing much to do in Shoja but that’s what makes it special. There you can easily spend days soaking the true natural beauty.
Best time to visit Shoja
Shoja experiences comfortable weather throughout the year except in winters (Dec to Feb). The best time to visit Shoja is the time when you can soak the natural beauty, stroll around the village and visit the nearby villages. Therefore April to November is the best time to visit Shoja when the weather stays pleasant with moderate rainfall from July to September.
Shoja In Summer – From April to June the temperature hovers between 10 to 25 deg Celsius and the chances of rainfall are very low. And the same from September to November.
Shoja In Monsoon – The monsoon in Shoja starts in July and lasts till the first week of September. Although, the chances of heavy rainfall are low so if you’re ready to get wet in the shower of rain then this is the perfect time to visit Shoja. During monsoon, you can feel the raw natural beauty when the greenery is at its peak and the waterfall becomes thunderous. The temperature in monsoon varies between 15 to 30 deg Celsius.
Shoja In Autumn – The end of the monsoon brings my favorite Autumn season (September to November) when you can witness the blooming flowers adorning the surrounding mountains. It looks completely magical when the green carpet of nature is covered by the colorful flower and leaves of trees. The temperature in autumn ranges from 8 to 25 deg Celsius.
Shoja In Winter – After the magical autumn season, December brings the cold winter in Shoja that last till the end of February. The winter in Shoja can be very harsh as the temperature sometimes drops down to minus too. During winter the temperature ranges from -2 to 7 degrees Celsius. If the low temperature doesn’t bother you then winter is the perfect time to enjoy snowfall in Shoja. It looks fascinating when the white blanket of snow covers the green landscape.
Places to visit in/near Shoja
1. Jalori Pass
Just 5 KM from Shoja, Jalori Pass is situated at 10,800 feet above sea level. It is famous for its peaceful surroundings and spectacular views. Also, it is the starting point for many treks in Himachal like Serolsar lake, Raghupur fort and Great Himalayan National Park.
There is a temple at the top dedicated to Mahakali that makes it a perfect blend of spirituality and natural beauty. So, if you’re in Shoja then don’t forget to visit Jalori pass to capture some wonderful instagrammable shots.
- Best Time To Visit – Any time of year except winters (Dec to February).
2. Raghupur Fort
Built by the rulers of Mandi to protect the region from invaders, Raghupur fort is a perfect place for history buffs and nature lovers. Just 3 KM trek from Jalori Pass. Raghupur fort is nothing more than ruins but the 360-degree view from here is more than anything else. There you’ll get to see the birds-eye view of surrounding mountain ranges.
Set amidst the lush green alpine meadows, Raghupur fort is the most picturesque point near Shoja. The shepherds with goats around the fort make you feel like you’re in a village in Switzerland.
- Altitude – 13123 feet.
3. Serolsar Lake
If lake, peace and marvelous natural beauty are your priority then Serolsar lake is the perfect place for you. Situated just a 5 KM trek from Jalori pass, Serolsar lake is dedicated to the goddess Budhi Nagin, the mother of all snakes. Therefore, there is a small temple near the lake dedicated to Buddhi Nagin.
The lake water looks so pure and clean that you can easily spend hours watching the reflection of the surroundings. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see any garbage like leaf of tree, small wood etc. inside the lake water because there is an interesting story behind it. According to locals, there is a bird named Abhi is found here which picks up everything that falls in the lake.
If you love camping in a secluded place then this is the perfect place for night camping. Do bring all your equipment and water bottles as you won’t find any shop on the trek.
- Best time to visit – March to November is the ideal time to visit. During winter the lake remains frozen due to snow.
4. Waterfall Point
Loves watching the sunrise through the drops of water then waterfall point is the place to go. Just a kilometer from Shoja, Waterfall point is the best place to watch a magical sunrise. The chirping of birds in the backdrop of mountains with the sound of falling waters makes a perfect setting to witness a picture-perfect sunrise. So, if you’re staying in Shoja then don’t miss this place.
- Best time to visit – Early morning.
5. Tirthan Valley
The home of Great Himalayan National Park, Tirthan Valley is filled with lots of adventurous treks, wildlife and many surprises. Stroll around the valley would give you the pleasure and peace that everyone craves in the modern world.
Trout fishing is the most-sought thing to do in Tirthan Valley. Ask your hotel manager to arrange all the equipment for trout fishing.
- Best time to visit – March to June and September to November
6. Jibhi
Just 7 Km from Shoja, Jibhi is a small beautiful village surrounded by dense forest, alpine meadows and sun-kissed mountains. Jibhi is famous for its peaceful surroundings, year-old Himachali culture and treehouse. Therefore, if you’re fond of staying in a treehouse then don’t forget to spend a night in Jibhi.
- Best time to visit Jibhi – March to November
- Top Places To visit in Jibhi – Mini Thailand, Jibhi waterfall, Bahu Village and Chenni Kothi.
How To Reach Shoja
Shoja is located in the Seraj Valley which forms a link between Shimla and Manali. This small village is well connected by road to most of the cities in Himachal. But being an off-beat destination reaching there sometime can be quite confusing. So here we’ve listed every possible way to reach Shoja –
By Road – There are many regular buses available from Delhi or Chandigarh to its nearby cities like Kullu. There is no direct bus between Delhi to Shoja so first you’ve to reach Aut. Take a bus from Delhi to Manali or Kullu and get down at Aut. From there you’ve two options, either take a private taxi or take a local bus to Banjar. If you’re a backpacker then take a local bus from Aut to Banjar that can cost you around 60 rupees. From Banjar, you’ve to hire a local taxi till Shoja.
Route from Delhi To Shoja –
Delhi -> Aut (469 KM or 10 to 11 hours by bus) -> Banjar (25 KM or 1 and half hours) -> Shoja (15 KM or 1 hour)
Route From Chandigarh to Shoja
Chandigarh -> Aut (238 KM or 8 to 9 hours) -> Banjar (25 KM) -> Shoja (15 KM)
And if you’re driving by yourself then follow the above route.
By Flight – Bhuntar has the nearest airport to Shoja situated at a distance of 58 KM. From Bhuntar, you’ve to take a bus to Banjar and then a taxi to Shoja.
By Train – Chandigarh has the nearest and biggest railway station to Shoja situated around 237 KM. From there you’ve to follow the above route to reach Shoja.
Places To Stay in Shoja
Shoja has some basic yet comfortable staying options including hostels, homestays and guesthouses. The Hosteller is the most famous hostel in Shoja which has both dorm and single room facilities. If you’re a backpacker then it would be the best option for you.
Raja guesthouse (mob no. 09418550549) is a local stay option in Shoja which has basic six simple well-maintained rooms. Also, there is a restaurant for food as well. Overall, the Raja guesthouse can cost you from 600 to 1000 INR per night. The forest rest house (Tel no. 01903-221226) is another place to stay in Shoja where security guard cooks food on request. Also, you can stay in the PWD guest house (Tel no. 01902-222530) which can cost you anywhere from 300 to 500 INR.
Where to eat in Shoja
Being an offbeat destination Shoja doesn’t have many options for food. There are some basic roadside Dhabas and restaurants where you can eat local Himachali food. So, it is good if you include food in your stay. And if you’re a food lover then homestay is the best option where you can eat the authentic local Himachali food made by locals. Overall, if you’re going to trek then it would be good to pack some snacks.