Arki Travel Essentials
Ideal duration: 1 day
Best Time: Throughout the year Read More
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"Hill Town with Frescoed Fort"
Arki Tourism
A small town in Solan district locally known for its 18th century fort, Arki is an off-beat destination in Himachal Pradesh that offers a unique blend of art, culture and heritage. Situated amidst the Shivalik hills, which form the base of the Himalayan ranges in Himachal Pradesh, Arki is contemplated to be one of the smallest towns in the region. Arki means 'a sunny place'. An immensely scenic view of the majestic mountain ranges and deep valleys surrounds it.
Arki is famous for its legendary past and has the monuments and the culture to show for it. The Arki Fort, the Luturu Mahadev Temple, the Jakholy Devi Temple are some of those numerous monuments that depict the heritage left by the rulers ruling it. Rana Ajai Dev, a Rajput, bought Arki into being. Arki was previously declared as the capital of the princely state of Baghal.
Arki is situated 52 kms away from Shimla. Being highly accessible from the capital of this state, Arki attracts a lot of tourists throughout the year. The pleasant climate and beautiful landscape of Arki make this place a favourable tourist destination. Arki also has a lot of temples which adorn striking architecture which tourists travelling here must visit.
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Things to do in Arki
1. Arki Fort
This fort was built by Rana Prithvi Singh and has now been turned into a heritage hotel. It has history full of bloodshed and has witnessed battles where the Gurkhas had displayed great valour and bra (Read More)very.
2. Diwan-i-Khaas
Built by Ram Shara Singh, the Diwan-i-Khas or Audience Hall is a glorious building which houses paintings and frescos of myriad styles like the Rajasthani, Kullu, Kangra and Arki forms of art.
3. Arki Palace
This palace, located on the western bit of Himalayas, houses countless paintings, frescos, sculptures, arms and artifacts. The palace is known for the wall painting of Kalidasa's Kumarasambhava as wel (Read More)l as many imprints of the Baghal dynasty.
4. Luturu Mahadev Temple
Situated atop a hillock in the most rugged and inhospitable of terrains, the Luturu Mahadev Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was built by the Raja of Bhagal in the year 1621.
5. Bhadrakali Temple, Arki
Constructed in the Shikhara style of architecture, the Bhadrakali Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. This temple is also considered to be one of the Shaktipeeths of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
6. Laxminarayan Temple
This temple is 1000 years old and is one of the very few temples which were not destroyed by the invading Muslims during the medieval periods.
7. Shakhni Mahadev Temple
This is a cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and built in accordance with the Shikhara style of architecture. The area is also blessed with sceneries and views from the upper ranges of Himalayas.
8. Durga Temple
This temple devoted to Goddess Durga is a specimen of Shikhara style of architecture and a hub of much color and festivity during the Navratri when an annual fair is organized by the temple.
9. City Shopping
Arki does not have too many places for your shopping spree but the nearby Shimla offers countless options.
Top Hotels In Arki
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Art, Culture & Heritage
Majority of the architecture in Arki shows a blend of the Mughal and Rajasthani architectural styles. Beautiful frescoes and vibrant pahari paintings embellish the walls and ceilings in these monuments which represent various scenes from their day to day life and festivals and celebration and the way they were commemorated. The unique thing about these paintings and frescoes is that they not only represent scenes of the various Indian cultures and traditions but also depict some from the European and Chinese cultures and traditions.
Arki is an important and exotic destination for tourists and travellers. It has several caves and mountain ranges that are used for many thrilling activities. The picturesque view and the several interesting activities offered makes Arki an immensely enthralling journey's end for anyone who needs a restful and enjoyable vacation.
Arki is an important and exotic destination for tourists and travellers. It has several caves and mountain ranges that are used for many thrilling activities. The picturesque view and the several interesting activities offered makes Arki an immensely enthralling journey's end for anyone who needs a restful and enjoyable vacation.
Restaurants and Local Food in Arki
Arki does not have an elaborate local cuisine, making your choices rather limited. It may be preferable to carry your own food or make personal arrangements. One can travel to nearby towns for a richer variety of food. You might find some fresh and juicy fruits here, as Himachal Pradesh is popular for its fine quality of fruits that are widely available.
View Top Restaurants in Arki
View Top Restaurants in Arki
Suggested Itinerary for Arki
Day 1 - Reach Arki by nightfall and wake up to an amazing view. Once you freshen up, you can visit the Arki Fort and the Arki Palace which is built at the foot of Arki fort. Here, you can enjoy and study the art and culture of the different eras the monuments have lived. Post lunch, you can spend the rest of your evening in Batal which is almost five kilometres from Arki.
Day 2 - Adventure enthusiasts can spend their morning doing activities like trekking or jungle trails. Those who have no interest in these activities can enjoy their morning in the Kunihar Valley. You can spend the rest of the day either visiting the beautiful scenic Bhakalag village or enjoy the art and culture of the Diwani-i-khas.
Day 3 - Start your day early by visiting the Lutura Mahadev Temple, an old cave temple, after which you can end your vacation in a rejuvenated frame of mind.
Day 2 - Adventure enthusiasts can spend their morning doing activities like trekking or jungle trails. Those who have no interest in these activities can enjoy their morning in the Kunihar Valley. You can spend the rest of the day either visiting the beautiful scenic Bhakalag village or enjoy the art and culture of the Diwani-i-khas.
Day 3 - Start your day early by visiting the Lutura Mahadev Temple, an old cave temple, after which you can end your vacation in a rejuvenated frame of mind.
Best Time to Visit Arki
Nearby Places
How to Reach Arki
How to Reach Overview
The closest broad gauge railway station to Arki is in Shimla, 19 km away. The closest airports are in Jubbarhatti, 40 km away and Chandigarh, 100km away. Taxis and state-run buses are easily available in this region.
How to reach Arki by flight
- The Chandigarh airport, around 100 km from Arki, is the best way to reach Arki by flight. You can hire a cab to reach Arki, which should take around 3 hours after.
- The closest airport is in Jubbarhatti, 40 km away but has very few small-carrier flights. It is also known as the Shimla Airport, 1.5 hours away from Arki by road.
How to reach Arki by road
- Arki is well-connected and best accessed by road.
- It would take a seven-hour bus journey from Delhi to reach Arki. Frequent buses are available from Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla and Dharampur.
- Travelling by bus is the cheapest mode of transport to reach Arki.
How to reach Arki by train
- The closest railway station to Arki is Shimla, 19 km away. It is well linked to some major cities, making it a better option to reach Arki. On reaching the Shimla station, you can easily hire a taxi to reach Arki.
- Another option would be to travel from Kalka railway station, 71 km away. There is. aregular train line from Kalka to Shimla.
Local transport in Arki
There are no established modes of local transport available in Arki so it's best to take a cab. You might find some rickshaws if lucky!
Arki Photos
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FAQs on Arki
What is famous about Arki?
A picturesque village. Enjoys pleasant weather through the year.
What is not so good about Arki?
Gets extremely chilly during winter. May get crowded during the vacation period. Not very accessible.
Who should visit Arki?
An amazing destination for anyone who loves art and history along with the great outdoors. It is exemplary for couples or a family vacation or for people who enjoy adventure activities.
What is the best time to visit Arki?
Throughout the year
Arki experiences pleasant summers, moderate monsoons and chilly winters. The climate is not extreme during any particular season in a year and tourists can visit Arki whenever they're comfortable to travel.
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Arki experiences pleasant summers, moderate monsoons and chilly winters. The climate is not extreme during any particular season in a year and tourists can visit Arki whenever they're comfortable to travel.
Read More
What is the local food in Arki?
Arki does not have an elaborate local cuisine, making your choices rather limited. It may be preferable to carry your own food or make personal arrangements. One can travel to nearby towns for a richer variety of food. You might find some fresh and juicy fruits here, as Himachal Pradesh is popular for its fine quality of fruits that are widely available.
Read More
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What is the best way to reach Arki?
The closest broad gauge railway station to Arki is in Shimla, 19 km away. The closest airports are in Jubbarhatti, 40 km away and Chandigarh, 100km away. Taxis and state-run buses are easily available in this region.
Read More
Read More
What are the things to do in Arki?
The top things to do in Arki are Arki Fort, Diwan-i-Khaas, Arki Palace, Luturu Mahadev Temple, Bhadrakali Temple, Arki, Laxminarayan Temple. You can see all the places to visit in Arki here