"Kasol is a second home for a traveler in India! Green, chill, smoke & lost"
Kasol is a small town on the banks of Parvati River in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated at roughly 35 KMs from Bhuntar on the Manikaran road. It is famous as one of the coolest tourist destination among young travellers, hikers, nature and photography lovers. Once a sleepy village lying on the way to Manikaran, Kasol is now a huge destination for backpackers and travellers from around the globe. Kasol is also known as mini-Israel and the Amsterdam of India because of a great number of foreigners and Israel visitors. After months of immaculate planning by a group of childhood friends, we finally set out to experience the enigma of Kasol in one of the most epic road-trips ever. Being the perfect holiday destinations for groups of close friends, the trip to Kasol has been one of the best times we've spent together. Kasol is paradise for photography lovers and, the nearby town of Manikaran is a famous destination for family trips. Also, trekking and mountain lovers will definitely fall in love with Kasol, as it acts as a base camp for a variety of treks. Thus, this place offers something to almost every type of traveller.
Day 1: Life is Either a Daring Adventure, or Nothing~
The journey kick-started with Delhi chosen as the point of origination towards the Himalayan village of Kasol. Couple of friends flew down from KIA Bangalore while the rest took the help of the Indian railways to reach the point of meet-up. The journey from Delhi/Noida to Kasol is a 500+ km drive on NH44 via Kurukshetra – Ambala – Bilaspur – Mandi – Bhuntar. The arduous 12 hour+ drive across hilly terrains was both exciting as well as nerve wracking to say the least. With our enthusiasm bubbling over, JBL speakers bursting Nucleya songs and euphoria towards reaching our destination, we initiated our journey at 5:30 PM in the evening. After having successfully crawled our way out of the Delhi traffic, we stopped for dinner at a dhaba for some sumptuous food before continuing our overnight journey.
How to reach Kasol?
The nearest airport to Kasol is Bhuntar Airport, which is 35 Kms from Kasol. From Bhuntar, one can either board a Bus towards Manikaran and get off at Kasol which is 5 kms before Manikaran. Another option is to take a Taxi from Bhuntar.
The nearest Railway Station to Kasol is Joginder Nagar railway station, which is 144 kms away.
The most recommended way to reach Kasol from Delhi or Chandigarh would be to go by road in taxi or a personal vehicle. This way you would enjoy the complete sightseeing on the way, including the AUT Tunnel which is approx 2.8 KMs long.
We chose option 3 of a personal hired vehicle from Delhi. Wading through the night skies, inching closer to the Himalayas with enough caution and prejudice, I must admit the skill of the person behind the wheels of our Innova was immaculate. With breaks in between, time flew and before we knew it we were staring right at sunrise. It had been almost 11 hours we were travelling and making our way towards our destination. At the first light of the sun showed its face over the hills, we were mesmerized by the beauty of the landscape surrounding us.
Some pro-tips for the Kasol Trip:
There is only one ATM in Kasol, which is mostly out of cash. Apart from Kasol there is one ATM in Manikaran and one in Jari also. However, it is advisable to withdraw all the cash you might need in Bhuntar itself.
The budget stay options provides a better connection to nature than Luxury Hotels in Kasol. No doubt the few available Luxury Hotels in Kasol have good rooms, but there are some small properties that are way closer to nature.
Try not to possess any illegal drugs, weed or hash as that might get you in trouble with the authorities.
Please do not litter and help keeping the Himalayas clean.
Respect the loving locals and have fun!
Day 2: Adventure is Worthwhile~
A 12 hour journey had indeed worn us out but the enchanting views of river Parvati, lush greenery and the ever narrowing roads leading to Kasol village had brightened our spirits. We had chosen to stay at a nature resort, “Parvati Kuteer” and make it the base of all our travels. A quaint home-stay with log huts and wooden cottages hidden away close to the banks of the river Parvati and amidst dense Deoder forests. A pathway to the banks of the river gushing below was our favorite escapade. The home-stay was located just 7 km from the famous pilgrimage site of Manikaran and a mere walking distance from the Kasol village. Having checked in, we treated ourselves to some piping hot maggi and settled in. The end of Day 2 was spent exploring the Kasol market and the various Israeli joints, German bakeries and the cafes. A sumptuous dinner later, we retired for the night in the comfort of our homestay!
Things to do in Kasol:
Spending your holiday in Kasol village is also a journey in itself. These are some of the things to do in Kasol:
Try Israeli food in Kasol: There are a lot of restaurants/Café in Kasol like the Jim morrison café, Stone garden Café, Evergreen Café, Sunshine Cafe (just to name a few)
Shopping: For all the shopaholics Kasol presents a little different experience than the rest of Himachal. The local market is full of winter clothing having a hippy flavour.
Visit Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara: Manikaran is just 5 Kms away from Kasol. One can board a bus from Kasol to Manikaran or take a cab/taxi from Kasol market.
A Visit to Malana Village: A visit to Malana is a must if you want to experience multiculturalism at it’s best in Himachal. Titled as the “World’s Oldest Democracy, Malana is the home to the descendants of “Alexander The Great’s” Army (as per the locals).
Chalal Trek Trail: Just 30 Minutes walk from Kasol, Chalal is a beautiful village famous for the trance parties and serene nature. While in Kasol take a walk to Chalal and enjoy a cup of tea there.
Visit the other surrounding villages: You can visit the surrounding villages like Rashol, Tosh, Kalga and many others where you will be welcomed with great hospitality by the sweet local people. A great way to understand a culture is to experience it.
Relax on the Parvati riverbank: A cup of tea, a bowl of maggi, a book in hand and the gushing sound of the Parvati river sound like a perfect holiday in the mountains. While in Kasol you can easily sit near the riverbank and enjoy the beauty of Himalayas.
Day 3: A Journey is Best Measured in Friends, Rather than Miles~
Kasol, a small village situated 5 km from Manikaran in the Parvati valley is a hub for backpackers who are attracted to the scenic village, untouched hills, low population and great climate throughtout the year. Kasol is also the base for a host of trekking activities to Sar pass, Yanker pass, Pin Parbati pass & the famous Kheerganga trek. Kasol is also home to the herbal drug Charas – which is one of the most significant attractions to draw tourists from far and beyond. Excited about the opportunities that lay ahead, we made our way to Kheerganga. Perched at an altitude of nearly 3000 meters, the trek originates from Barshaini – a small town host to the last motor-able road in the valley. The trekking distance to Kheerganga is around 9-10 kms which takes around 3.5 – 4 hours for a person with average trekking speed. The most relevant route being Barshaini – Nakthan – Kheerganga. However, if you want to do a day trek, it is advisable to reach early to make it in time.
Ineffective time management cost us the trek to Kheerganga. However, we still managed to trek for around 3 hours and make the most out of the serene surroundings while interacting with fellow hikers. The sound of the Parvati river rushing through the gorges is like music to the ears. On our way back, we stopped to pay a visit at Manikaran Sahib – a place of pilgrimage for the Hindus and Sikhs, famous for its hot springs. We returned exhausted from the day outing and decided to satisfy our hunger needs in the cosy cafe nested in Kasol village – Cafe Sunshine! Pro Tip: Have a shot at the 'special cigarette'!
Day 4: I haven’t been everywhere. But it’s on my list~
Manali – the high altitude Himalayan resort town in Himachal Pradesh is one of the best tourist destinations. Set on the Beas river, it is the gateway for backpacking & skiing in the Solang valley and jumping-off point for a host of activities like paragliding, rafting and mountaineering in the Pir Panjal mountains. A 75 km drive from our home-stay at Kasol and gate-way to the Rohtang Pass – we decided to head out towards the town of Manali. We headed straight for the Solang valley – one of the most gorgeous and adventurous places to visit in Manali. Lush green valleys surrounded by snow capped mountains welcomed us as we stepped out to welcome the surroundings.
The Solang Nalah – A side valley at the top of the Kullu valley in Himachal is the gateway to the Rohtang pass. Even though the Rohtang pass was officially open to public, the work on clearing the ice and paving out the roads were still ongoing due to which we had to give it a miss. However, we did decide to try the ropeway at the Solang Valley for an unforgettable experience of the surroundings.
Day 5: Take only Memories. Leave only Footprints~
Kasol was magical. A walk by the gregarious Parvati river, roaming about the lanes of the village with the mighty Himalayas at the backdrop, the smell of the wild flowers and the winds whistling through the pine woods – it leaves you expecting much more. After a sumptuous breakfast, we started our downward journey towards the capital of Delhi, crossing a select few Hydro-electric plants along the Parvati river.
The 12 hour long journey ended at the IGI airport at Delhi at the wee hours of Day 6. With a bag full of memories and sights to behold, we took our flights back to the humdrum of city life. For all budding travel enthusiasts out there, if you need our travel experiences straight into your inbox, do visit our page and subscribe to us. You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get the weekly dose of travel experiences!!
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