Best Time to Visit Sarahan – Weather and Sightseeing

When is the best time to visit Sarahan? This one is actually a difficult question to answer because this charming little hamlet remains beautiful for all 12 months. Sarahan is what you can truly call a hidden gem of Himachal. The natural beauty of the place is truly mesmerizing and you are sure to be pleased irrespective of when you arrived here.

Please note that in this article I am only going to talk about the weather of Sarahan and the best time to plan your trip. If you would like to get other details like how to reach here, where to stay and what to see, please read How to Plan a Trip to Sarahan – A Complete Travel Guide.

Sarahan has a different color in each season and when should you visit here depends on which one you like the most. It is white in the winter, green in the spring, grey in the summer, vivid during the monsoon, and orange in the autumn. When should you plan your trip would have to be decided on the basis of what you seek. Usually, it is the months from April to June that get termed as the best time to visit Sarahan. But will this time suit you as well? Read on to find out.

About Sarahan

Sarahan is a small village located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is at a distance of about 160 kilometers from Shimla, 270 kilometers from Chandigarh, and 500 kilometers from Delhi. The place is best known as the “gateway of Kinnaur”. Due to its pleasant weather, in ancient times, it was the summer capital of the Bushahr kingdom.

The altitude of Sarhan is 2,100 meters (6,900 ft). Other than its natural beauty, the village is also known for being the site of the Bhimakali Temple, originally known as Bhimadevi Temple, and one of 51 Shakti Peethas. The temple attracts thousands of pilgrims here each year, both from within Himachal and other parts of the country.

Also Read: Shimla Manali Trip Itinerary – How to Plan Your Journey

Weather of Sarahan

Owing to its altitude, Sarahan experiences cold weather throughout the year. It never really gets hot here and even in the months of May and June, you will need a blanket to sleep in for the night. The temperature can change in a very unpredictable manner at any time of the day. Winters here are long and freezing whereas summers are mostly pleasant but short. The town receives quite a lot of rain each year and is mostly considered unsafe to visit in July and August.

Here is a breakdown of how the weather and the overall situation changes in Sarahan throughout the year.

Sarahan in November

November marks the beginning of the winter season and is overall a bad month to visit. It is a dry month and the landscape at this time is very dull and featureless. With the average temperature ranging between 9°C maximum to -3°C minimum, it will be terribly cold and there won’t even be any snow around.

• Clothes to Carry: Heavy woolens, warmers, jacket, caps, muffler, gloves, woolen socks

Sarahan in December

Things in the first half of December will pretty much be the same as November. The chances of snowfall in Kinnaur start to build in November itself but it usually after the 15th of December that the Sarahan will receive its first spell of snow. The average temperature will range between 3°C maximum to -9° minimum. If you can only visit in December, a better time would be towards the end of the month.

• Clothes to Carry: Heavy woolens, warmers, jacket, caps, muffler, gloves, woolen socks

Also Read: Best Time to Visit Kalpa – When to go to Kalpa

Sarahan in January

January is the coldest month of the year with the average temperature ranging between -0°C maximum to -15°C minimum. Sarahan receives several feet of snow each year and January is when it majorly happens. It can snow any time of the day and sometimes it even blocks the road to Sarahan from Jeori. If snow was on your mind and you wanted to see a white Sarahan, January is the month to visit.

• Clothes to Carry: Heavy woolens, warmers, jacket, caps, muffler, gloves, woolen socks, Boots

Sarahan in February

The weather in February will remain to be cold with an average temperature of 3°C maximum to -10° minimum. It will continue to snow in this month as well, making it a good time for a winter trip. The entire Kinnaur in February remains open with an exception of Chitkul. If you had time in hand, you can even include places like Kalpa and Sangla on your trip. Hotels and Guesthouses in Sarahan will remain open both in January and February.

• Clothes to Carry: Heavy woolens, warmers, jacket, caps, muffler, gloves, woolen socks, Boots

Sarahan in March

The snow starts to melt by the end of February and is mostly all gone by March. Chances of snowfall will remain in March as well but not that much. Even if it did snow in March, it will be towards the beginning of the month only.

The temperature will remain between 6° maximum and -7° minimum. If it was the snow that you were after, it would be better to call in advance and inquire about the status. If there was no snow in Sarahan, you will find some in Sangla.

• Clothes to Carry: Heavy woolens, warmers, jacket, caps, muffler, gloves, woolen socks

Sarahan in April

April marks the beginning of the spring as well as the tourist season in Sarahan. Things will start to get a little warm and the temperature will rise up to 10° maximum and 0°minimum. The entire Kinnaur Valley opens up for tourism in this month and you can include all of the tourist destinations. The skies will be sunny and clear. Days will be moderately warm and nights pleasantly cold. It is one of the best months to be in Sarahan.

• Clothes to Carry: Regular cotton clothes with a few light woolens or a Jacket

Sarahan in May

With summer vacations on in the school, you will find a lot of tourists in Kinnaur Valley at this time. The weather will be very enjoyable and you will love your time in Sarahan. This is the time when people from distant parts of the country like Bengal or the South visit Sarahan and the rest of the Kinnaur. The temperature will rise further up to an average of 15°C maximum and 4°C minimum.

• Clothes to Carry: Regular cotton clothes with a few light woolens or a Jacket

Sarahan in June

With the bordering Spiti Valley opening for tourists, Sarahan in this month starts to get included in the Spiti Circuit ride. You will find a lot of bikers on the route and in Sarahan in June. The temperature will get even warmer at 18° maximum and 7° minimum.

It is a great month to arrive in Sarahan for a few days and escape the scorching heat of the plains. The bird sanctuary in Sarahan will however get closed by June end for bird mating season and will not reopen until November.

• Clothes to Carry: Regular cotton clothes with a few light woolens or a Jacket

Also Read: What to See in Shimla – Fun Things to do in Shimla

Sarahan in July

Sarahan starts to receive pre-monsoon showers by the end of June. The months of July and August completely belong to the rain gods. Generally, this is not considered to be a great time to be planning a trip but if you must, do it in the first 10 days of the month. The frequency and intensity of the rains will continue to increase as July progresses.

July is also the warmest month of the year with average temperatures between 21°C maximum and 10°C minimum.

• Clothes to Carry: Regular cotton clothes or clothes that can dry faster, like polyester. A few light woolens or a Jacket will also be required. If possible, carry an umbrella or a poncho as well.

Sarahan in August

The monsoon will continue and even intensify in August. Sometimes it can rain for days altogether, causing landslides and wash away entire sections of the roads. For a trip in July and August, it is strongly advised that you call in advance and inquire about the road conditions and the weather. All the rains will also cause the mercury to drop a little down to 17°C maximum and 10° minimum.

• Clothes to Carry: Regular cotton clothes or clothes that can dry faster, like polyester. A few light woolens or a Jacket will also be required. If possible, carry an umbrella or a poncho as well.

Also Read: Narkanda : How to Plan a Trip & What to See?

Sarahan in September

This is my favorite time to plan a trip to Kinnaur Valley. While the rain poses a significant amount of risk, it also turns the landscape heavenly. Mountains will appear as if they have washed clean and covered with a carpet of green. Waterfalls, patches of clouds, natural springs, water crossings, lush green views, flowers blooming becomes a common sight at this time.

If you are into photography, this is when you would want to go to Sarahan. September offers all that I mentioned above but without the risk of the monsoon. The temperatures will range between 15°C maximum and 8° minimum.

• Clothes to Carry: Regular cotton clothes or clothes that can dry faster, like polyester. A few light woolens or a Jacket will also be required. If possible, carry an umbrella or a poncho as well.

Sarahan in October

October marks the arrival of the autumn season. All that was green in September will now turn to orange, giving a magical golden touch to the hills and the valleys. The temperature will drop further down to 12°C maximum and 5° minimum. This is another good month to go if photography was on your mind but only towards the beginning of the month. As October progresses, the views will start to look dry and winter will start to settle in.

• Clothes to Carry: Light woolens, jacket, caps, muffler

Also Read: Places to Visit in Sangla Valley and Things to Do 

Best time to visit Sarahan

Now based on the information above, I believe it is safe to say that the best time to visit Sarahan is from April to June or in September. But it will also depend on what you seek during your trip. Below is a breakdown.

If you wanted to see snow, please visit between 20th December to early February.

For a family trip, you should plan from April to June.

If photography was on your mind, a trip in September will be the best. You can visit in July or August as well if you are ready to risk the rain.

If you were on a tight budget, plan during the monsoon season or in November or March. This is when the tourists in Sarahan are at the least and you will have a better chance of getting a good deal for accommodation and meals.

If the purpose of your visit was bird watching, you should go between November to March. Do not plan in July to September.

The apple harvesting season starts in the valley sometime in August and ends in September. This is when you should go if you wanted to see apple orchards.

Conclusion

I hope the information above on the best time to visit Sarahan was of help. If you have any questions or need any other details, please feel free to ask int he comments section below, or at our Community Forum and I will be glad to answer.