Offbeat Himachal Pradesh

Sethan

Himachal Pradesh, India· Last updated 16 Aug 2026

Best time: December–March for snow activities and igloo stays; June for pleasant summer trekking and paragliding.
Getting there: Bhuntar (Kullu-Manali) Airport, approx. 50 km.
Stays: Negotiated for you
Rate desk: Reply in ~30 min

Sethan sits at roughly 2,600 meters, just 12-15 km from Manali but genuinely feeling like a different world — a small Buddhist hamlet perched above the Kullu Valley, framed by the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges, with views over the Beas River far below. The village has developed a specific winter reputation as India's "Igloo Village," where visitors can sleep in genuinely constructed snow igloos during the December-March season, alongside skiing, snowboarding, and snow trekking on the surrounding slopes. Sethan suits travelers wanting Manali's mountain drama without Manali's crowds — the drive up from Prini village, winding through some 40 curves, delivers a steadily unfolding valley view, and the settlement's minimal permanent population (around a dozen families) keeps it genuinely quiet even as its winter igloo-stay reputation has grown. A permit, arranged either through your accommodation or the Prini checkpoint, is required to stay overnight.

Nearby highlights

Igloo Stays

Genuine snow-house accommodation, available December-March.

Kullu Valley Viewpoints

Wide views over the Beas River and surrounding ranges.

Skiing & Snowboarding

Winter-season slopes on the surrounding hills.

Stargazing

Genuinely dark skies given the village's remoteness.

Prini Village

The gateway settlement en route from Manali.

The TripDnD Rate

Planning a stay in Sethan?

Send us the property you're considering — anywhere online. Our rate desk works our partner network and negotiates a better rate for you. No booking fee.

Typical reply within 30 minutes

Why Sethan is worth the detour

Sethan offers Manali's mountain drama at a fraction of the crowd density, its winter igloo-stay reputation adding a genuinely distinctive, memorable overnight option unavailable almost anywhere else in India.

What a day looks like

The drive up from Prini, winding through numerous hairpin curves, builds steady anticipation as the Kullu Valley view opens up below. Winter visitors might spend a day skiing or snowboarding on the surrounding slopes before settling into an actual igloo for the night, while summer visitors find a quieter village suited to hiking, bouldering, and simply enjoying mountain stillness. Evenings, regardless of season, reward with genuinely dark skies for stargazing.

Sleeping inside a real igloo

Sethan's winter igloo stays are worth planning a trip around specifically — few places in India offer genuine snow-house accommodation, and the experience of sleeping inside one, framed by the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges, is a specific, memorable novelty unavailable at more conventional hill destinations.

How to reach Sethan

Nearest Airport: Bhuntar (Kullu-Manali) Airport, approx. 50 km. Nearest Railway Station: Joginder Nagar Railway Station, approx. 160 km. By Road: From Manali, drive via Prini to Sethan, roughly 12-15 km, taking approximately 45 minutes-1 hour on a steep, winding road.

Best time to visit

December–March for snow activities and igloo stays; June for pleasant summer trekking and paragliding.

Where it is

Open Sethan on Google Maps

Frequently asked questions

How many days are enough for Sethan?

2N Shimla · 3N Manali

Himachal Pradesh · 5 Nights / 6 Days

By Easy Holidays

Honeymoon

From

₹16,000

per person

View trip →

Looking for another hidden place?

Search any offbeat valley, village or state across India.

More to explore: offbeat places in Himachal Pradesh · all offbeat India · browse every stay