TRAVEL. INDIA
A Walkthrough Parvati Valley with 10 Mesmerizing Real-Life Pictures
Have you ever gone to a place that feels like your haven?
Have you ever gone to the place to which people told you not to go, as it is not as famous as it was earlier?
Have you ever gone to a place where you are determined to go when everyone else supposed to be on that trip backed out & you are left with only two others?
Yes, I have gone to that place. Two years ago, I was going through a breakup. I did not like to travel back then. But saying yes to any trip was the only escape I could think of. On those escape trips, I visited many places. The most special & soulful trip out of those places was to the Parvati Valley.
Initially, it was an official trip with around 15 people. But as the trip date got near, people started dropping out some due to personal reasons, negative reviews & some due to work commitments. A week before the trip, we were left with 3 girls (including me).
To cut the story short, we boarded the bus from Karol Bagh metro station (New Delhi) to start our 12-hour journey to Kasol. And finally, it ended up being a girls-only trip.
Now, let me walk you all through the Parvati Valley, starting from its most famous & well-connected place Kasol.
Kasol is a beautiful & small hamlet surrounded by many unexplored trek routes. It is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India.
It is becoming one of the most sought-after leisure places for working professionals in North India. Situated on the banks of the river Parvati, this place has many breathtaking sceneries.
Kasol is the most famous tourist place near the Parvati Valley. From Kasol, people go for exploration of nearby villages, trekking routes, temples & forests.
Kasol is known as the mini-Israel of India because many Israelis chose to settle here in the last decade. Some stay for few months & some for years.
Due to the presence of the Israeli population, Mediterranean cuisine options are available in local cafes.
The Day
Morning View
Mornings are particularly peaceful with the view of lush green landscapes & snow-capped mountains. As Kasol is situated near the river Parvati, the burbling sound gives solace to your soul while you are having your first meal of the day.
With rock music being played at low volumes in the background, the cafes serve bread-omelet or English breakfasts. The mornings are quiet, as here nightlife is more vibrant.
Evening View
The view is more like living in a painting. It is kind of watching your drawing dream of hut, mountains, sun & flowing river. It’s so peaceful that you just want to sit by side of the stream, watch and just feel the serenity.
Kasol feels more alive in the evening. As more people come out of their rooms, the livelier the place becomes. The night ends with rock music shows arranged in most of the cafes & hotels.
The place goes back to its cocoon around midnight. There is a restriction on playing any kind of loud music late in the night. This is due to the fear of wild animals attacking at night time.
Tosh Village
This picturesque rural village near the Parvati valley is an hour away from Kasol. Here, the trek starts from the village & leads to a scenic location, where cafes & hotels are available for the night stay beyond the village.
During the trek, you can observe the awesome scenery, beautiful views & happy village people. You can see their simple houses (huts with inclined roofs) & their simple lifestyle. The village people are very accommodating here.
You can spot some animals (especially dogs) following you during the trek for some distance. You can watch people walking with their domesticated animals like donkeys, cows, sheep & goats.
Once you finish the trek, you reach a spot from where plenty of cafes serving different cuisines are available. Some of the cafes like Pink Floyd & Stoned Age Cafe & Inn are very famous.
Manikaran Gurudwara
This place of worship is situated at a lovely location adjacent to the river Parvati. It is famous for its hot springs. You can reach here by taking a cab from Kasol.
The gurudwara has a separate room in which steam of hot springs is being circulated. Devotees believe that by taking a round of this room, diseases & ailments of the person get cured.
Most of the gurudwaras have free community kitchens, where anyone can have a meal. One can also participate in the cooking & serving food as a good-will service.
Similarly, in this gurudwara too, you can do service (Seva), either by cleaning utensils or by helping in cooking meals. It is believed that by doing the service, you get blessings from God.
Shiv Temple
Located near Manikaran Gurudwara, the Shiv temple is also a place of worship.
A large Lord Shiva statue greets you at the entrance. Near the statue, the water reservoir has been built a few inches deep into the ground. Water from the hot springs is continuously collected in this reservoir.
Some earthen pots with uncooked rice(mouth closed with lid) are kept fully merged in the hot water reservoir. Rice gets cooked from the heat of the water in 2–3 hours. Amazing concept!
Chalal Trek
It is one of the shortest treks in Kasol. It starts after crossing the main bridge built over the Parvati river. You can complete the trek in 30 minutes. The path of the trek is narrow, surrounded by long pine trees on one side and a flowing river on another.
After covering some distance, you can observe camping areas too. There are some commercial shops, very basic ones. The trek is a simple, beautiful & alluring walk.
Kheerganga Trek
This trek is one of the most popular treks in the Parvati Valley. You can start your trek from Barshaini. This place is well connected by road from Kasol. The trekkers cover 12–13 kilometers distance in around 4 to 5 hours irrespective of the route taken.
You can go there by passing Naktaan village, a more prominent trail being made, as most of the people trek from this route. Another route is by passing through Kalga Village. On this path, you get to walk through unexplored Tulga & Pulga Villages.
This trek calls for many picturesque moments, hot springs & incredible beauty. There are camping options available for the night stay.
Malana Village
It is an unexplored hamlet located near the Parvati river. It is not directly connected by roads. You need to walk around 3 kilometers from the last trail spot, after passing through Dhunkra & Chowki villages.
Villagers here are a bit particular about the cleanliness & safety laws being followed by the outsiders. They consider every visitor as an outsider.
Malana temple is a must place to visit. As this village is a bit away from any commercialization, you can sense a feeling of peace away from the chaos-free life. But you need to respect the privacy & rules of villagers.
Other Treks & Places You Can Explore
There are many unexplored places here, which are away from the hush bush of the main road connecting Kullu district(main tourist place of Himachal Pradesh) to Tosh village.
Local guides can help explore these places. There is an illustrated guide map of all the places & treks near Parvati Valley available in every tour & travel shop in Kasol.
Final Words
If you want serenity & solace, Parvati Valley is the place to go. There are ample options for treks & adventures. You will find a lot of breathtaking locations to capture through your camera.
This place is also (in)famous for the easy (but optional) availability of recreational marijuana.
It is advisable to visit between October to March if you do not want the crowd. It is off-season time. But some treks may not be open due to landslide scare. Peak Season is from April to June if want to go for long treks. In any case, you can do your Chalal trek, as it's the shortest & easiest one to follow.
Your morning walks will be beautiful. Your treks will be awestruck with tall pine trees, greenery & the flowing Parvati river.
Ending with the quote by a famous Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta,
Traveling — It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a story teller.
Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed with up-to-date curations from our editors:👇
We now offer exclusive writing services for our members. Discover how you can take advantage of our editing services and more.
