Tired of touristy Mall Road and overcrowded viewpoints around Shimla? Places like Kufri, Mashobra and Narkanda don’t feel refreshing anymore?
Let me take you on a journey to four offbeat places near Shimla that feel like steps into another world—Kotkhai, Cheog, Fagu, and Sainj. Picture treehouses perched in apple orchards, ancient villages cloaked in morning mist, and valleys so quiet you can hear your own breath.
All these destinations I am going to discuss here in this blog are less than 2 hours from Shimla, yet give you a very refreshing and peaceful experience.
Offbeat Destinations Near Shimla
I also have a recommended place to stay at each of the location shared below. These places will complete your offbeat Shimla trip in a beautiful way. So let’s begin…
Sainj (Shimla District)
A Quiet Shimla Tehsil Village Off the Beaten Path, and Nestled in the Theog tehsil of Shimla district, Sainj village sits at about 2,086 m elevation, just 24 km east of Shimla town and a short 3 km from Basa Theog.
Before I proceed, I want to bring to you a very beautiful property we stayed at and explored during our 2-night stay in Sainj. Among all other places mentioned here in this blog, this one is my top favourite…
What Makes This Sainj Offbeat
- Significantly less commercialized than mainstream Shimla circuit spots.
- A true offbeat place near Shimla, rewarding visitors with quiet lanes, apple orchards, terraced fields, and hands‑on cultural immersion.
- Local life revolves around cultivation—many residents are farmers, growing apples, potatoes, and seasonal grains.
Expect simple Pahari homestays, often run by families who’ve lived here for generations. On waking, the smell of woodfire chai and fresh flatbread fills the crisp air. Honest conversation awaits you at a rustic courtyard table, with the valley spread out in green tiers behind. Few sights—or sounds—intrude beyond rustling pine needles and distant crow calls.
Offbeat Experiences in Sainj Village
Take an early stroll across fields freshly raked for planting. The slope‑framed views of Shimla foothills against rising sun hues feel profoundly peaceful.
If you’re visiting post‑July, you might spot locals harvesting apples or filling bamboo baskets with potatoes—selling at the tiny local bazaar on Theog road.
While Kotkhai, Cheog and Fagu lie closer to Shimla’s typical circuits, this Sainj is quiet from the start—no guidebook or bus stop here. It’s authentic Pahari life, framed by mountain views and unfiltered simplicity. It stands in contrast to better-known offbeat spots in the Shimla district, making it a tucked‑away gem.
For SEO: It’s one of the offbeat places near Shimla that practically no traveller mentions—making it ideal for travelers seeking real village life and untouched trails.
Kotkhai: The Tree‑house Apple Valley
About 60 km from Shimla, Kotkhai is an apple‑growing tehsil, tranquil and surprisingly untouched by tourism The highlight? A tree‑house stay high above apple orchards—simple yet enchanting, wrapped in pine and mountain air.
Staying at this place feels like being invited into a forest fairytale—chalets and tents built between branches, handmade furnishings, evenings by bonfire under a sky of stars (sometimes draped with fog) making it another top offbeat places in Shimla region.
Wandering through dense rows of apple trees, you’ll hear birds more than voices. Locals still walk fields in traditional Pahari attire, checking fruit nets or lighting up incense at small shrines. There’s an old palace ruin (“Bussa” or Kotkhai Palace) on a nearby hilltop, built in Tibeto‑pagoda style — an eerie yet peaceful spot for sunset photos.
Offbeat things to do here
- Morning grape‑green views from the tree‑house balcony.
- A breakfast of fresh apple, honey, and piping hot chai.
- Walk through Kiala Forest or enjoy a picnic at Garawog point, surrounded by flower‑meadows and apple blossoms.
Pro trip: Try timing a visit during blossom season—late February to March—when orchards look like seas of pink and white, and Kotkhai truly feels like a dream.
Cheog: Shimla’s Peaceful Village Hideaway
Cheog sits just below Fagu, at around 3,000 m on the Shimla–Theog highway. It’s remote, yet only a 1‑hour drive from Mall Road. When I visited Cheog a few years ago, it instantly became the most beautiful highlight during my month‑long Shimla ride—and it’s easy to see why.
Check the video below…
You can also read more about my visit to Cheog by clicking here.
Imagine The vibe: A single‑road village lined with deodar and walnut trees, wooden cottages, apple‑and‑potato fields and no traffic noise except birds. The mornings are misty silence. Evenings are short walks through fields.
Why it ranks high among offbeat places near Shimla
- You stay in quiet wooden homestays, breakfast served in the courtyard surrounded by fruit trees.
- Push open a sliding door and step into an orchard or meadow—no fences, just open sky.
- A walk down the single market lane, a dhaba that serves fresh rajma chawal, and locals greeting you.
Locals still say “welcome” in Pahari, and the air smells of pine and woodfire.
Remember, when you’re in Cheog, doing your Offbeat Shimla itinerary…
- Ditch the car and walk the ridge trail to Fagu—about an hour.
- Explore apple farms with farmers, ask about netting, pruning, and apples named “Kotkhai red” or “Royal Delicious”.
- Sit at a dhaba at dusk, with nothing but mountain air, chai and distant rustle of insect wings.
Fagu: The Mist‑played Apple Hamlet
Fagu sits higher (~2,500 m), less than an hour’s drive above Shimla—a snow‑clad hamlet surrounded by apple orchards, cedar trees and mist. It’s often shrouded in mist (“fagu” possibly from “fog”) for much of the year. Among other offbeat places around Shimla discussed in this article here, Fagu is the most known destination. Yet, it doesn’t feel crowded.
So what makes it offbeat?
You’re neither in a tourist market nor in a high‑end cottage cluster—just simple homestays, winding dirt tracks and sun‑bleached apple nets. Food is cooked by host families, and markets consist of a small commune of local shops.
Though only 18 km from Shimla, Fagu feels worlds away, and brings serenity, sweeping Himalayan panoramas, and offbeat charm to travelers looking to unplug.
Check out the Youtube video below of my visit to a very luxurious 5-star property in Fagu:
Delightful details
- Waking up to low clouds sloshing through the valley, dew on apple blossoms.
- Birdsong. A stray Himalayan weasel passing by.
- Trek up to Talai or Tanni Jubbar lake from Fagu—route is rural and rustic, with stone huts and wild grasslands in between.
Offbeat things to do in Fagu:
- Apple‑orchard strolls at dawn, with gardener‑hosts explaining pruning and net‑covering.
- Hike toward Chakrata ridge or to the Banthia Devta temple hidden among cedars.
- Sunset viewpoints: Stop at road-edge bends; the eastern ridge lights up pink.
Shimla, with its colonial charm and bustling Mall Road, may be the face of Himachal tourism, but its true magic lies in the quiet offbeat corners—the forgotten trails, hidden cafes, and whispered legends.
So, next time you visit, skip the usual checklist and explore offbeat Shimla. Let the capital city of Himachal Pradesh surprise you—because the best stories aren’t found in guidebooks; they’re written in the rustling deodars and the misty silence of its lesser-known lanes.
