Naggar Castle

The small hamlet of Naggar is completely dominated by the 15th century Naggar Castle. Naggar remained the capital of the Kullu kings for almost 1500 years before Kullu town was made the capital in the mid-1800s.

Naggar Castle is built in the traditional pahari style (Kathkuni); the castle has a central courtyard and there are exquisite wood carvings and arched balconies with serene views of the Beas Valley. The shock-bearing unique method of construction had this structure withstanding the earthquake of 1905, when most of the region was devastated. The traditional local architecture comprises of walls composed of alternate layers of wooden beams and proportionate stone. Essentially, the whole building including doors and windows has been fixed without the use of any metal including iron, as explained by the manager maintaining the place.

Downstairs, there is also a museum that showcases exquisite arts and crafts of Himachal Pradesh. The exhibits include shawls, carpets, local products, masks and statues of deities in traditional Himachali costume. The castle compound also houses the Jagatipatt Temple.
Naggar Castle has now been converted into a hotel, but tourists can visit it for INR 30 to explore most parts of the castle and get a glimpse of the palace of Kullu Kings.