Situated in the lap of the mighty Himalayas, Kasol is a little hamlet in Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh. Located around 32 km from Bhuntar and 500 km from Delhi, this beautiful village is surrounded by alpine and coniferous forests with the Parvati river flowing right through it! Once regarded as a hideout for just hippie backpackers, Kasol has become one of the most sought-after weekend getaways around Delhi and Chandigarh in recent times. With multiple cafes and boundless serene beauty, it’s not difficult to understand why Kasol is reckoned as every youngster’s favourite destination! If you’re visiting this hippie’s paradise for the first time, make sure you take a look at this detailed travel guide to Kasol curated for first-time travellers.
Best Time To Visit Kasol
Despite it being a year-round destination, the best time to take a trip to kasol is March-June, as per every Kasol travel guide. Kasol changes shade every season, giving travellers a new set of breathtaking views to marvel at! During December, January and February, Kasol gets snowfall which turns this place into a white wonderland. As Spring approaches, shades of green start to seep into the picture. By July, Kasol and the whole Parvati Valley are covered in lush green forests bathed in sunlight. October-December witnesses the autumn season, when the same landscape turns to shades of orange and brown. Now it’s up to you to decide which colours of Kasol you wish to explore!
How To Reach Kasol By Road:
Kasol is easily accessible by road. Take a private Volvo or an HRTC/HRTDC bus from Delhi going to Manali and get down at Bhuntar (60 km before Manali). Now comes the question of how to reach Kasol from Manali. Easy peasy! You’ll find a number of local buses and cabs, both sharing and private, willing to take you to Kasol from there. If you are coming from Chandigarh, you can board a direct bus to Kasol or Manikaran.
How To Reach Kasol By Train:
The nearest railway station to Kasol is Pathankot Railhead (150 km away). Private and sharing cabs, as well as local buses, can be availed near the railway station too. From here, you can reach Kasol in two ways. One, get to Chandigarh, take a bus to Bhuntar, and then another to Kasol. Or take a bus to Dharamshala and a cab or bus from there to Kasol.
How To Reach Kasol By Air:
Kullu Airport located 32 km away from Kasol is its nearest airport. Take a private or shared cab from here to Kasol and you’ll reach in about an hour.
Things To Do In Kasol
With an endless array of activities like trekking and riverside camping, Kasol is a hotpot of adventure! However, despite there being plenty of articles on the internet talking about the major tourist attractions of Kasol, not every travel guide to Kasol among them will let you in on the unconventional and even hidden places to see and things to do there.
1. Trek to Kheerganga
The first thing every Kasol tour guide will suggest you experience is the mighty Kheerganga trek that takes you deep into lush jungles, over steep trails, past blooming apple orchards, and through the stunning Parvati Valley! Kheerganga is probably the most famous place to visit in Kasol. Mounted with surplus beauty, it’s also a place of holy significance. And the best part, after a taxing hike of about 14 km, the Kheerganga valley rewards visitors with a revitalising dip in natural hot water springs that instantly washes away all fatigue! To reach it, all you gotta do is take a bus from Kasol to Barshaini, the starting point of Kasol’s most famous trek.
2. Hike to Tosh Village
Tosh is the last motorable village in Parvati Valley located 20 km away from Kasol. Just like Kheerganga, Barshaini also serves as the starting point for this trek. You can take a local bus or cab till here and then Tosh is just 3 km uphill from Barshaini. While this 3 km route can be covered via car or cab, it is preferred to hike to Tosh if you wish to indulge in the most relaxing hiking experience amidst nature, treat your eyes with alluring views of the valley, and keep this little hamlet as far away from the noise and pollution of vehicles as possible!
From Tosh, you can also go for a trek to Kutla Village, for which you may need a local Kasol guide to show you the way.
3. Watch Sunsets At Chalal Village
. A few specific spots in Chalal offer some of the most gorgeous sunsets you’ll ever see in the hills! Chalal is a mere 1.5 km from Kasol and can be easily covered on foot. A walk from Kasol to Chalal along the Parvati river and amidst pine woods is truly an enchanting experience!
4. Taste Honey & Adventure At Grahan Village
Many refer to Grahan Village as the ‘magic honey village’ owing to its natural bee-keeping forests and the distinct taste of honey that is collected there. To reach this quaint village, one has to cross a rather picturesque bridge connecting the banks of a gushing stream. The whole setting gives people an idyllic experience of trekking to this place.
Other than this, the village serves as the base camp for the Sar Pass trek. The trek from Kasol to Grahan and then from Grahan to Sar Pass leads trekkers through surreal pine forests, rhododendron meadows, milky waterfalls, and past snowy mountains. The last point of the trek is a frozen lake that is nothing short of a vision!
5. Visit The Quirky Malana Village
Malana is unique in every way! For starters, the locals here believe they are direct descendants of Alexander the Great! They believe that they are not a part of India or any land and they have their own democracy, apparently the oldest democracy in the world!
Malana is about 20 km away from Kasol and is undoubtedly a unique settlement in Parvati Valley. The unique culture, trippy vibes and claims of the locals make it worth adding this little village to your Kasol guide.
6. Trek To Waichin, The Mini Kheerganga
While our travel guide to Kasol urges you to taste the thrill of the Kheerganga trek, we’ll also let you in on the secret Waichin Valley trek for a little tranquillity and unspoiled nature! It’s the perfect alternative to Kheerganga! In order to get here, you’ll first need to get to Malana village, and from there Waichin is only a 4 km further uphill.
Blessed with tall pine and coniferous trees, dazzling views of the snow-covered Himalayas, and minimal commercialization, the beauty of Waichin is unmatched! The charming valley and local village life offer absolute peace and calm that’ll make you want to stay longer and keep coming back!
7. Scale The Pin-Parvati Pass
The Pin-Parvati trek is one of the most beautiful and adventurous treks in Himachal. In comparison to various easy treks around Kasol, Pin-Parvati is an advanced level trek that takes around 10-12 days to complete. Along with trekking over uneven terrain and climbing boulders, the Pin Parvati trek demands trekkers to indulge in a bit of mountaineering, making it a favourite site for mountaineering enthusiasts.
This taxing 100-km long trek through the splendid Parvati Valley and the barren landscapes of Pin Valley are recommended only for proficient trekkers who are physically fit to undertake it.
8. Take A Spiritual Journey To Manikaran Sahib
The pearl-white holy sanctum of Shri Manikaran Sahib is located just 3 km from Kasol. You can take a local bus or cab to get here. Better yet, if you’re riding to Kasol from Delhi or Chandigarh, you can stop by this beautiful Gurudwara on the way itself. After all, what better way to start a trip than with the blessings of the Almighty!
Enveloped in mist oozing from the hot water springs surrounding the shrine, this gem of a place is known to embrace visitors in a refreshing and peaceful aura! When here, you can attend the heart-warming prayer, treat yourself to wholesome ‘langar’, enjoy some natural sauna inside the caves, and take a dip in hot water springs.
