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PARVATI VALLEY- A DETAILED GUIDE INTO THIS MYSTERY ALLURE
A river valley situated in the Northern State of Himachal Pradesh, Parvati Valley holds a rather mysterious aura to itself and it could be because of how on the outside it comes off as a quaint little valley but once you explore deep into what the valley has to offer, you would be mesmerised and surprised. Parvati is definitely a true travellers’ paradise as it provides an abode of trekking and hiking routes. From alluring landscapes to hot springs to take a dip in, there’s a lot to explore in this mysterious yet mesmerising valley. Exploring the valley without knowing where to go and what to do can be very confusing, so we have simplified it for you here with a detailed guide for visiting the Parvati Valley.
About the valley and it’s geography
Situated in the ranges of Himachal, this mystical valley is in the Kullu District. Of course, as the name suggests, the valley gets its name from the River Parvati as it cuts through from Mantalai lake in the east to Bhuntar in the West and creates a suitable environment for the locals to settle in and for travellers to visit for its scenic beauty.
Known for its green landscape blanketed with deodar and pine trees, this valley is famous among all kinds of tourists, from hippies visiting for several months to students on a friend’s trips, and then there are some who simply visit to experience the place’s sense of tranquil and peace. But one of the major reasons Parvati Valley is famous is for the treks that it offers, the terrain is just perfect for trekking ranging from ease to moderate to extremely tough ones. We will go through the treks one by one later into the blog.
Best time to visit Parvati Valley
Though the valley is green and captivating throughout the year, months like monsoon and extremely cold weather can turn your trip disastrous.
Summer months start from the end of April till July, this is when the valley is the most green and pleasant, the weather is just perfect to go trekking and hiking without any hassles. It’s also when the landscapes and the sceneries are the most clear and visible, allowing you to feel truly close to nature.
Monsoon, which starts from July and goes on till September, is when there’s chances of landslides and extreme rain. Unless you are an avid rain lover, it’s best to avoid visiting during monsoon.
How to reach and transport in and around the valley
One of the cheapest and easiest way to reach the Parvati Valley is through a bus. If you take Delhi as the starting point then the bus from Delhi to Manali will drop you off at Bhuntar after a journey of 11 hours at max and there will be local buses connecting from Bhuntar to Kasol which will take another 1-2 hours to reach.
To reach by train, the nearest railway station would be Joginder Nagar Railway Station and upon reaching there, you can take a cab to Kasol which will take around 4 hours.
And if you are up for a long road trip and want to truly experience the essence of these scenic roads then you can take a cab or drive your own car, this would also make it easy for you to move in and around the valley. The roads till Kasol are suitable enough to drive and easy to get around with a GPS app on your phone.
Once you are in the valley, you can either hike or take the local sharing cabs or buses to reach places like Manikaran, Barshaini. These villages are not more than 15 kms apart from each other.
Where and how long to stay?
From homestays to hotels, you will a find range of different types of accommodations. If you want to experience everything local and truly look into how the locals live in the Hamlets by the valley, we would suggest a homestay. On top of that, homestays here cost only from somewhere between 300 to 500 rupees per day. No matter what season, it won’t be too tough to find a homestay or a dorm. Though Kasol will be on the expensive side since it acts as a gateway into the valley, it won’t be more than a 1000 rupees per day. You can also camp if you are the adventurous type, you can ask the locals residents to rent you some space to set up your tent.
To go around the valley and visit every place, from all the villages and treks, it would take not more than 15 days if you really want to experience what this valley is truly all about and what it has to offer. But if you can’t stay for too long, you can visit the major places but we know how tough it is to decide which are the major ones but no worries, we have got you!
Places and treks you must do...
Kasol-
This place has been mentioned way too many times on this blog so it must be obvious to you that kasol is in the list. Not only does Kasol acts as an entry to Parvati, it also offers things like the experience of staying by the Parvati River, trying out exotic cuisines and connecting with people from various parts of the world. Known as ‘Amsterdam of India’, Kasol will be a place for you to lay back and chill a little.
Manikaran-
Manikaran is a village just 4 kms from Kasol and is a good place to just hike or walk up to. You will see a lot of pilgrims visiting this place given that it’s home to a Gurudwara and Shiva temple. Despite how crowded it can get, there’s still something special about Manikaran, it has its own ‘vibe’ going on. Grab yourself a cup of ‘adrak wali chai’ while you are there and enjoy the very essence of Manikaran. You can also take a dip in the natural hot springs and wear off any stress at the end of your hike to the village.
Chalal-
Another Village close to Kasol, Chalal is a rather laid back and chill one. You can expect yourself to be up for an adventurous hike through enthralling woods and delightful sceneries. It will take you around 30 mins to reach by foot from Kasol. You can try out the food as its known to be really delicious, you can also café hop as there are many just by the Parvati River. Visiting this place won’t burn a hole in your pocket, as it is pretty affordable and budget friendly. It is a great place if you are looking for some peace and escape from the crowded places.
Malana
Referred to as ‘Little Greece of India’, a quaint little village that can be trekked to from Jari and it will take you around 6 hours. Though not too strenuous, it will be definitely tire you out since the terrain is a little steep so only trek if you are prepared or you will be up for a disastrous adventure. Visit here if you want to experience rich culture, because the people here are known to have strong religious beliefs and their own unique way of living their lives. To add a spiritual essence to your trip, you can visit the Jamadagni Temple and Shrine of Renuka Devi, which have been very carefully preserved by the locals here.
Rasol
A hike of 20 mins at max from Kasol will reach you this place which is a truly mystical place. Since it’s hardly 1-2 km from Chalal, the residents’ culture here are similar to that of Malana so you would find the place rather quiet and enchanting. Hike till this village to be met with amazing views blanketed with forest greens and see how the villagers live but also make sure to not invade personal space of the villagers and to be respectful.
Tosh
20 kms from Kasol, this place truly is a backpacker’s paradise. You can hike up to this place or the best way to reach is through a shared cab. There will many of these cabs to take you to and from the places. It has a pleasant vibe to it and you can accommodate yourself in a homestay with a view and enjoy your morning coffee sitting in the porch while enjoying the views of the mountains in the distant. The views here are truly something. Not only this, if trekking is on your list, then Kheerganga is not too far away from Tosh but we will get to that later.
Barshaini
Known to be the last place for as far as the road in Parvati Valley runs, this little village is all you need if you are looking for a quite get away. The road to Barshaini runs along the Parvati River, creating mesmerising views. It will be a place to must visit if you plan to trek places like Kheerganga and the trio of tulga, pulga and kalga. Barshaini is the starting point or the base for all these treks.
Now let’s get to the treks that you must do when in Parvati Valley.
Pulga-Tulga-Kalga
These scenic triplets will offer you with an amazing escape to the more quaint and peaceful side of the Parvati Valley. Away from commercialisation due to lack of motorable roads to these village somehow only makes it so much better to visit and trek to these places. It will be a trek of 2-3 km to each place once you reach Barshaini. As already mentioned, Barshaini will be the starting point of all these treks. There will be homestays in all of these places for you to stay a night or two. It is advisable to stay in either Pulga or Kalga since these two are more backpacker friendly than Tulga. Pulga is hardly an hour trek from Barshaini. On your way to Pulga you will be blessed with truly delightful views. Once in Pulga, you can visit its famous ‘Fairy Forest’ which is only short distance from the village. Hiking around this magical pine forest will take you around 3 hours, we suggest you take your time to truly enjoy what the forest has to offer.
If you stay a day in Pulga, you can head over to Kalga the very next day. Reaching Kalga from Pulga will take an hour or two. Kalga is known for its beautiful apple orchards, you can walk through these apple orchards and pluck yourself an apple or two. You can also try out the rustic village style cafes here that have their own vibe.
After Kalga, you can do a 45 minutes trek till tulga, which is another quaint village but more isolated than the other two. The place is sparsely inhabited and it is blessed with serene and scenic landscape. People here are occupied with agriculture and crops so you will come across alluring views of the paddy fields. The golden meadows and snow-capped mountains, together with the setting sun, create the perfect picture frame in Tulga.
Grahan Village- Sar Pass
A Village above Kasol, reaching Grahan takes 5-6 hours to by trek is a rather easy one. But to do the Sar Pass as a whole, it will require you a little bit of fitness as the trail after Grahan Village starts to get steeper. The trail for Sar pass will be somewhat like this:
Day 01: Kasol to Grahan Village (2347m)
Day 02: Grahan Village to Min Thatch (11,150ft)
Day 04: Nagaru to Biskeri Thatch (3353m) via Sar Pass
Day 05: Biskeri Thatch to Kasol via Barshaini
By the end of this trek, you will be left with memories to cherish, walking through the snow-fed patches of forest and the feeling of accomplishment once you reach the end.
Kheerganga
One of the most well-known treks in Himachal Pradesh, Kheerganga had to be on the list. The base of this trip as mentioned above is Barshaini and the trek is an easy one which is also why it’s absolutely loved among beginners. The trek is generally covered in 1-2 days. The trek to Kheerganga is an exhilarating experience that not only reveals the gorgeous Himalayan ranges, but also allows you to learn about the fascinating culture of the locals. You’ll visit a lot of settlements, and you’ll have lots of opportunities to take photos with the snow-capped peaks in the background. After the arduous journey of the trek, you will be met with the opportunity to take a dip into natural hot springs. Camping in the open sky lit with stars will be another memory added to your list that you will forever cherish. The route for Kheerganga looks somewhat like this-
Day 1: Barshaini – Rudra Nag – Kheerganga
Day 2: Kheerganga – Rudra Nag – Barshaini
Pin Paravti, Mantalai Trek
Popular amongst pro-trekkers, Pin Parvati is the one of more strenuous and advanced treks. If you are truly confident and want to put your trekking skills to test, you should try out this trek. The adrenaline rush that one experiences is truly something. The trek starts from Kheerganga and will make maximum of 9 days to finish it. The trek till Mantalai is quite okay-ish and it only starts to test you to your best after Mantalai Lake as the terrain only gets steeper and steeper. No matter how hard it gets, once you do reach the end of it, you will feel as if you are on top of the world, mesmerised by the view, with the feeling of having conquered the trek. The route for the treks works like this-
Day 1: Kasol (1539m)- Barsheni – Kheerganga (2707m) (Drive / 45 Mins) (Trek / 3 – 4 Hrs)
Day 2: Kheerganga (2707m) – Thakur Kuwan (3320m) (Trek / 6 – 7 Hrs)
Day 3: Thakur Kuwan (3320m) – Ody Thach (3600m) (Trek / 3 – 4 Hrs)
Day 4: Ody Thach (3600m) – Mantalai (3930m) (Trek / 4 – 5 Hrs)
Day 5: Mantalai (3930m) Rest Day
Day 6: Mantalai (3930m) – Pin Parvati Pass Basecamp (4450m) (Trek / 3 Hrs)
Day 7: Pin Parvati Pass Basecamp (4450m) – Pin Parvati Pass (5300m) – Pin Basecamp (4140m) (Trek / 8 – 9 Hrs)
Day 8: Pin Basecamp (4140m) – Mudh (3740m) Via Tiya (3876m) – Kaza (3800m) (Trek / 7 – 8 Hrs) (Drive / 2 Hrs)
Day 9: Kaza (3800m) – Manali (2000m) (Drive / 8 Hrs)
Kutla trek-
Kulta is an unusual village nestled amongst the mountains, where you may appreciate the thriving raw nature hidden behind the mountains. A two-hour journey from Tosh will lead you to a lush meadow known as Kulta Village, which is surrounded by snow-capped Himalayas staring down on you. One of the easy treks and you can with ease enjoy the views on your way there. You will be met with deodar and pine patches of forest on your way. This village is a true treasure and you will know why once you visit it.
Now that we have come to the end of this blog, we hope you make sure to visit these places and keep exploring, never settling!