Kharota Valley Hill View Point: An Offbeat Location In Dharamshala

Hi, my name is Rahul. I am a digital nomad, indie maker, and traveller.

According to Google, Kharota is located 1,713 meters (5,620 feet) above sea level.

Kharota Valley is a village-side area just around 10 km from Dharamshala and around 5 km from Khanyara.

But when a traveller or tourist looks for Kharota, they mean the Kharota hill viewpoint. This is where the tourists and locals come to sit and relax while seeing the great view of Dharamshala in front, and the view of the Kharota Valley behind you / on the other side.

In straightforward language, Kharota is a hill viewpoint with some cafes.

Besides this, Kharota is also known for the Thatharana Trek because Kharota is the starting point of the Thatharana Trek, like Bhagsu in McLeod Ganj is the starting point for the Triund Trek.

Who Should Visit The Kharota Valley (Kharota Hill View Point)

• Those who like quiet and less crowded places.
• Those who like nature, because the place offers some hiking with a great view all around.
• Those who prefer offbeat places more than touristy places.
• Those who want a short hike, make their own coffee, and drink the coffee with a beautiful view.
• Those who like to have Maggi, coffee, or chai in nature.

Food And Water Situation At Kharota Hill View Point

There is no natural water source from which you can fill your own water bottle. Maybe there will be some natural water source at some distance, but I didn’t see one around the Kharota Hill View Point.

To have water, you can carry your own bottle with you, or there are some cafes just around Hill View Point that sell water bottles.

As I said, there are some cafes around, and they serve chai, coffee, Maggi, paratha, omelette, etc.

My Preferred Cafe

This is the cafe. It is a little up from the road, and I always eat and drink there. The place is not extraordinary, but the seating is comfortable, and from the cafe, the view is also good.

Things To Do In Kharota Valley

• Hike to the main hill viewpoint and enjoy the view.
• Eat and drink at any cafe you like.
• There are some hikes other than the main hill viewpoint that take you to some good spots.
• Bring your own coffee and hot water, and make and drink your own coffee at any viewpoint.
• Just sit and relax at any viewpoint.

Kharota Valley Distance

• From McLeod Ganj: around 20 KM
• From Dharamshala: around 10 to 12 KM
• From Khaniyara: around 4 to 5 KM

How To Reach Kharota?

You can find Kharota on Google Maps, so you can follow the Google Maps.

Otherwise, if you are coming outside of Dharamshala, first you have to come to Dharamshala. Then go toward the Khaniyara, and from the Khaniyara, the road gets diverted toward Kharota Valley. Once you are on the road which goes toward the Kharota, it is the same till the location.

Kharota Valley Camping

Around the Kharota hill viewpoint, you can find camping offered by the cafes, and there are also some dedicated camping options. You can Google them and contact them.

Around the Kharota Hill viewpoint, there are some hikes, and there are some really good places to camp on your own, but I don’t know the legality of it. I have seen some local people camping there, but I can’t say anything with 100% certainty.

Kharota Valley Hotel

Near the Kharota Hill View Point, there are some hotels like La Montana. You can search for them on Google, and you will also see them on the way to the Kharota Hill Viewpoint.

Things To Keep In Mind While Visiting Kharota Hill View Point

After Khaniyara, the road is narrow; it is a proper one-way road, so if you are coming with your own car or bike, make sure you have experience with such roads.

The cafes at the Kharota Hill View Point sell water bottles, but to be on the safer side, in case the cafes are not open for some reason, you should bring at least one water bottle with you.

Most of the cafes just sell quick snacks, like Maggi, omelettes, and parathas.

If it is raining, avoid coming here because this is a viewpoint, so what is the purpose of coming here if you can’t sit around? Also, the roads are narrow, and the rain increases the possibility of small or big landslides, so during the rain you should avoid this place.

Places To Visit Near Kharota

Aghanjar Mahadev Mandir: A peaceful Shiva temple on the Khanyara side, surrounded by nature and a small stream — a good quiet stop on the way.

Juhal : A peaceful offbeat place near Khanyara in Dharamshala with village roads, water streams, greenery, and beautiful mountain views.

Nature Pool Cafe : A hidden water spot in Rakkar, Khanyara with a natural pool, riverside cafe, food, and peaceful picnic areas beside the stream.

Road Condition Till The Kharota Hill View Point

Roads from Khaniyara to Kharota Hill View Point are narrow, but while I was travelling, the roads were in good condition.

Kharota Valley Trek

In Kharota, there are some small hikes which you can take.

In case you want to do trekking near the Kharota, then you can go to the Thatharana Trek.

Thank you so much. This was Kharota Valley Hill View Point — one of the offbeat places near Dharamshala that I really enjoy.

Don’t forget to check me out on Instagram and YouTube for more travel stories, local places, and small moments from my journey.