Situated in the Himalayan ranges, Kufri is a
picturesque hill station situated 20 km from Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.
Founded in 1819 by the British, the popularity of the hill station as a tourist
spot grew only in the last 50 years.
Kufri derives its name from ‘Kufr’ which means
lake. It is especially popular among trekkers. Popular treks to Manali, Shimla,
Rewalsar, Fagu, etc. start from Kufri. Kufri, Shimla and Chail form the Golden
Triangle of Himachal Pradesh.
The
salubrious climate and stunning natural beauty makes Kufri a perfect summer
getaway. Kufri is also the venue for annual winter sports festival held in
February. Organized by the travel and tourism department of Himachal Pradesh,
the festival is a major attraction with tourists. Skiing competitions are the
main event at the festival.
Kufri is also renowned for other adventures
activities such as skiing, tobogganing (sliding downhill on a sled), etc. Kufri
has the oldest skiing slopes in Himachal Pradesh. One can experience adrenaline
rush by taking fast cuts and turns in the Go-Karting circuit in Kufri.
Kufri
is also a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers as the Himalayan
Nature Park is situated on the outskirts of the town. The Park is home to over
180 varieties of fauna.
Not much is known about Kufri’s history. The
region surrounding Kufri was part of the Kingdom of Nepal until it was ceded to
the British. However, Kufri was founded in 1819. It remained a sleepy hamlet
and took off only after 1930. Kufri has become a famous tourist destination
only after 1970.
