A family trekation in the Himalayas
Explore the mini Israel of India - Kasol. It's the Himalayan hotspot for backpackers and acts as a base for nearby treks to Malana and Kheerganga.
When we were looking out for options for our upcoming summer vacations in March 23 along with our 2 teenagers, we were confused between Kasol and Sikkim. Considering the time and our budget, we narrowed down on Kasol in Himachal Pradesh. Initially, we were very skeptical since there were not many places to visit in Kasol and eight days were more than enough in this small town. However, we knew that there were a lot of places around Kasol which could be easily explored on a day trip.
Day 1 We took a flight to Delhi. From Delhi (ISBT and Majnu ka Tilla) you have a plethora of buses plying to Kasol in the evening. Though I am not a fan of buses for long journeys, bus service by Laxmi Travels was fantastic. They provide a semi-sleeper bus which is very comfortable. It is very punctual and clean. It started from the petrol pump near ISBT Delhi and dropped us at a private bus stand in Kasol early the next morning.
Day 2 - Manikaran visit
We had booked our stay at Treebo woodwards which was just 700 meters walk from the bus stand. The best part of the hotel was its central location. Thankfully, we were given an early check in by the staff. After a quick bath we walked to Manikaran which was around 5 kms from our hotel. I would recommend walking only if you are fit and you enjoy walking, else there are cabs and buses available to drop you there.The last bus available was around 5.30 p.m.from Manikaran so do ensure you check the bus timing. Don't miss to carry an extra pair of clothes since you surely don't want to miss a dip in the warm water from the hot springs at Manikaran. There was a separate section for men and women and the dip was surely worth it. Tea and food was also served at the langar. The place was truly blissful and should not be missed if you are in Kasol. We took a bus on our way back and had our dinner at “The Happy Uncles cafe” which was very close to the bus stand. It was a very good option for pure vegetarians.
Day 3 Chalal trail trek
So far we were exploring Kasol on foot and did not feel any need for a cab. We headed to “The happy Uncles” cafe for a quick breakfast. He served piping hot parathas with Buransh chutney and homemade mixed pickle.After breakfast we started walking towards Chalal village which is a 30 minute easy trek. The entire trail was along the Parvati river and we enjoyed the beautiful views and the mild sound of the flowing river. There were some cafes on the trail that served momos, Maggie, Parathas, tea, etc. If you love to trek, you can continue walking up to Rasol which is around a 3 hour trek from Chalal. There are stay and cafe options in Rasol as well. We chose to come back to Kasol. After a tiring day we had Chowmein and Thukpa at Usha's cafe and sev Tomato sabji with rotis at Hari om cafe. The food was good and I would recommend them.
Day 4 - The touch me not village - Malana village
After a quick breakfast at “The happy uncles cafe”, we took a bus to Jari. There are buses every 30 minutes and cost Rs 20 per person from Kasol to Jari. Cabs are also available from the taxi stand. After reaching Jari we hired a cab to Malana trek start point from the taxi stand which cost around Rs. 1850 for a small car. There are few cafes at the trek start point and on the trail. The food is slightly expensive given the fact that it takes a lot of effort to transport food here. The road from Jari to the trek start point is in a bad state but kudos to the drivers here who can maneuver the route quite effortlessly. The trek to Malana is easy with steps at some places. It's slightly steep at a few places but doable in shoes with a good grip.. The locals are very friendly and will share stories about their village if you show interest and you dont touch the temple over there. There are few homestays and cafes available over there. We had dinner at a small restaurant named “Greens”. Its a veg restaurant and quite reasonable. The owner of the restaurant is very friendly and enjoys chatting.
Day 5 Tosh and waterfall trek.
After having a quick breakfast, we checked out from Kasol and drove towards Tosh in a cab. A small car costs Rs. 1300 from Kasol to Tosh.The cab drops you outside Tosh since there is no road connecting to the village. Porters are available there who carry your luggage upto the hotel at a nominal price. We checked into Tosh regency. The hotel was clean and you can view snow capped peaks from the balcony of their rooms. They provide heaters as well at an additional cost. After checking in we left for the Tosh waterfall trek. It's an easy trek. There are some cafes at the waterfall. You can enjoy maggie and tea at the waterfall. After spending some time at the waterfall we headed back to the hotel.
Day 6 Kutla village and Glacier point trek.
After grabbing paranthas we headed towards Kutla village.The trek is simple until the waterfall. After that it's uphill and will take around 1 to 1.5 hours from the waterfall. The trail is beautiful and slightly steep at some places.Overall it's doable. Once you reach Kutla, you will be mesmerized with the tranquility of the village. There are few cafes, homestays and camps in case you plan to stay here. We did not stay here but headed towards the Glacier point to witness snow. The trek was around 30 - 45 minutes from Kulta village. It's a fairly straight walk through green meadows and the mild sound of the river. Overall you will love the flawless beauty of the trail. Water can be filled from the streams since it's clean and straight from the glacier. If you love to trek, you can cover the waterfall and Kutla village on the same day and stay overnight at Kutla. You can visit Glacier Point the next morning and then descend to Tosh.
Day 7 Drive towards Bir
After trekking for 6 continuous days, we decided to rest on the 7th day and took a cab and drove towards Bir for paragliding. It takes around 5-6 hours from Tosh and cost Rs. 5500. We stayed at ZhimZhim guest house which was located very close to the paragliding landing point. A double room cost Rs. 1300 and single room Rs. 500. Some of the recommended cafes are Chocho and Pindi kitchen.
Bir in Himachal Pradesh is not just paragliding. It's raw beauty is enchanting. Explore it on foot and get lost in the woods. You will not regret it. It is also one of the good options for staycation. You get good options for hostels and homestays. People are very friendly and the food is awesome. You can enjoy paragliding if the weather supports it. Do enjoy Kangri dham at Suryansh Bhojnalaya. You can easily spend 2 days here and explore Baijnath which is a 30 minute drive from Bir.
Key Learnings
- Carry a good poncho and water proof shoes. The weather might change any time in the mountains.
- Whenever you plan to trek, carry some biscuits, water , chocolates, dates , and dry fruits to munch.
- Carry a good walking stick for trekking.
- Do carry good thermals, jackets, fleece jackets and wear layers of clothes.
- Dont forget to apply sunscreen.
Do keep the mountains clean and green