Sleeping under canvas with the sound of a mountain river close by is one of the great simple pleasures of the Kullu valley. With deodar forests, apple orchards and the Beas never far away, the country around Naggar lends itself beautifully to camping — whether you want an easy riverside night or a proper high-meadow adventure.
Types of camping around Naggar
There are broadly three kinds of camping you can do from a Naggar base:
- Riverside camps along the Kullu–Naggar–Manali road and around Katrain, set on flat land beside the Beas. These are the easiest — you can drive almost to the tent, and many run rafting and bonfires alongside.
- Orchard and hillside camps tucked into terraced farmland above the valley floor, quieter and with big views.
- Trekking camps at high meadows such as those on the Chandrakhani, Hampta or Bhrigu Lake routes, where you camp as part of a guided trek.
Best season for camping
The most comfortable window is roughly March to June and again September to November. Summer nights are cool and the river runs strong; autumn brings clear skies and golden orchards. The monsoon (July–August) makes riverside ground soggy and raises the risk of flash floods, so it is best avoided for camping near water. Winter camping is possible but cold, and really only for the well-equipped.
Staying safe by the river
The Beas is beautiful but powerful, and its level can rise quickly when dams release water upstream or after rain in the hills. A few sensible rules:
- Pitch well above and back from the water line, never on low sandy islands.
- Avoid riverside camping during and just after heavy rain.
- Go with an established operator who knows the ground and the water.
- Keep children away from the current — it is colder and faster than it looks.
What to bring
- Warm layers and a good sleeping bag — even summer nights are chilly at this altitude.
- A torch or headlamp, a power bank and any medication, as facilities are basic.
- Sturdy shoes, a rain layer and sunscreen for the strong mountain sun.
- A bag for your rubbish — carry out everything you carry in.
Camping is best enjoyed as one night of an unhurried trip rather than the whole holiday, and many travellers like to pair a night out with the comforts of a warm room before and after. If you would like a relaxed base in the village, Ghar in the Hills is a homely stay in Naggar — book your room to rest up before or after a night under the stars.
Whether it is a single riverside evening or a meadow camp on a trek, a night outdoors is one of the loveliest ways to feel the Kullu valley. Plan for the season, respect the river, and leave your patch of hillside exactly as you found it.