Kasol is a tiny village and popular tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh, India, located in a region known as the Parvati valley. It is a famous backpacker hangout in the Himalayas and the starting point for treks to Malana and Kheerganga. Kasol has been dubbed "little Israel" due to the significant number of Israeli tourists who frequent the city. In the summer of 2022, I travelled to Kasol, Himachal Pradesh, with some friends for a three-day weekend retreat. We had a fantastic experience in Kasol and Kheerganga, and it was a trip we will never forget. In this post, I'll briefly describe our vacation and share a few images to assist other travellers plan their own adventures.
Day 0: Leaving Delhi
We took a bus from Delhi to Kasol in the evening (via redBus), and the one-way ticket cost us around Rs. 1400 each.
Day 1: Exploring Kasol
The next morning, we arrived safely in Kasol. Because we couldn't sleep on the bus and had to hike up a hill to get to our hotel, we were all exhausted by the time we arrived. So we slept all morning before going into town for lunch and exploring. There are numerous good restaurants in town, and one can sample Israeli cuisine at any of the popular establishments. After lunch, we went shopping and walked along the Parvati River. The river provides a breathtaking view of the beautiful Parvati Valley. It also provides views of the adjacent forests on both sides, with pine trees towering high above them.
Day 2: Kheerganga Trek and Camping
On Day 2, we all checked out of the hotel and went to the bus stop to catch a local bus to Barshaini, which is where the Kheerganga treak begins. After arriving in Barshaini, we left some of our luggage at a local restaurant and rented a raincoat and hiking sticks from them. We also used their assistance to book a camp for a night's stay. People can either book a camp before beginning their trek or after reaching the summit. Finally, around 12 p.m., we began our ascent. There are two ways to get to the top.
Through Nakthan and Rudranag (13 km) - Difficult to climb, but easy to descend, with stunning views (ideal for photography enthusiasts). It has fewer trees and vegetation, so it can be a little overwhelming on bright sunny days.
Through Kalga (15 km) - Climbing is easier, but descending is difficult. It is best suited for bright sunny days due to its thick vegetation and dense forests.
We went up the Kalga route because we didn't know about the other route at the time and the people we were following went that way. In general, it takes between 5 and 6 hours to get to the top. There are a lot of small stores along the way, and a lot of people trekking in the summer, so you won't be alone and won't need a guide. The hike isn't too hard, and there are some amazing views along the way. We all got to the top by 5:30 PM, and then we took a very relaxing bath in the hot spring next to the temple. At night, there was a bonfire, and we had a lot of fun with other campers who were close by.
Day 3: Return to Delhi
We began our descent the following morning. This time, we took the Nakthan route. It was unintentional and happened by chance. We were following some people again and ended up taking the Nakthan route. We thought it was more beautiful because it had fewer trees and vegetation and provided a nice view of the valley
It also took us longer to descend because we stopped frequently to take in the scenery. After collecting our luggage and returning the rented items, we left for Kasol in the afternoon.
We strolled around Kasol until it was time to catch our bus to Delhi. We arrived in Delhi early the next morning, full of wonderful memories and a strong desire to return.
コメント