Kasol and Manikaran are two of the most popular villages of the scenic Parvati valley. From the laps of the mighty Himalayas to the laid-back town of Bhuntar, Parvati River has turned the valley into a paradise for travelers. Over the past few years, Parvati Valley has become the home for backpackers from all around the world. Cheap accommodation, satisfying good meals, ever smiling locals and the heaven-like natural beauty gives you a perfect blend of 'trippy' and 'peaceful'.
Recently my brother and I decided to explore Parvati valley. Although our plan originally included Kasol, Manikaran, Malana, and Tosh, but due to the shortage of time we restricted the trip to the first two destinations.
Here are the few things we learned that are worth sharing with you guys.
Reaching Kasol :
Kasol is well connected to the rest of India only by roadways. Regular bus services ply to and fro the city of Kasol; buses being operated both by private and government owners. There is no direct flight or rail connectivity to Kasol. The nearest airport is 31 km away in Bhuntar near Kullu, The nearest railway station to Kasol is in Joginder Nagar, which is 145 km away from Kasol, in terms of narrow gauge. Broad gauge wise, Pathankot is the nearest railway station available.
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A Scenic Bus Ride From Bhuntar To Kasol
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The most economical option to reach Kasol would be to reach Bhuntar ( On the way to Manali ) and then hop into a local bus which takes around ₹ 50 per person for two hours journey till Kasol.
The journey from Bhuntar to Kasol definitely adds a unique flavor to the entire experience. This ride will be the first time you witness the gushing Parvati River in its glory, you will find massive mountains surrounding you like guardians and several hamlets greeting you with their unique life and beautiful architecture.
Accommodation In Kasol:
Being a backpackers' hub, Kasol has no shortage of places to stay. As soon as you enter Kasol, you will find a number of Hotels, Home Stays, Camps and Resorts spread all around the place. If you are traveling with a restricted budget then nothing will suit you better then a homestay. During our visit, we stayed at the Rooftop Cafe, situated near the bus drop point. We were charged ₹600/night which is pretty reasonable considering the quality of the room and the views on both sides.
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| Morning Scenes From Rooftop Cafe |
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| View From Our Room |
Some other helpful resources:
- 11 Best Resorts in Kasol | Places to Stay in Kasol
- Staying options in Kasol, Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh
The Kasol Cafe Culture:
Being a center of attraction for tourist from all around the world, Kasol is a heaven for foodies. The hippie village offers you abundant options from Israeli, Italian, Chinese and Indian cuisines. The entire place is filled with a number of cafes. Each cafe themed differently and with a different ambiance.
Our stay at Kasol took us to two of such cafe, Bhoj, and Rooftop. Both of these offered amazing food that complimented the 'trippy' ambiance of the place.
Other than the cafes, bakeries at Kasol are not to be missed. They too offer a variety of fresh delicacies like Apple Pie, Apple crumbles, Rum ball, coconut cookies e.t.c.
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| Bhoj Cafe at Old Kasol |
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| Our Breakfast at Bhoj Cafe |
Here are few listicles worth reading before you visit Kasol:
- 10 Cafes In Kasol That Have Everything You Need For An Ultimate Food High!
- 8 Hippie Cafes In Kasol & Tosh That Get Us High With Good Food & Other Questionable Substances!
- You Need To Visit These 14 Cafes In Himachal That Are Instagram-Famous For Being So Gorgeous
Places To Visit:
Kasol offers multiple exploration options for casual walkers, seasoned trekkers and everyone who falls in between. The long treks from Kasol include Kheerganga which takes around 5-6 hrs. There are several shorter treks also which takes you to neighboring villages such as Malana, Tosh, Manikaran, Chalal e.t.c.
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| Beautiful Sunrise From Chalal Trail |
Chalal:
Our trek to Chalal was one of the most mesmerizing experiences of my life. Everything was so peaceful and quiet. On side of the trail was the river Parvati and on another side, the dense pine forest. This trail not only offers you a scenic walk but also has many places where you can just sit by the river and have a blast of a time.
You can read more about this trail here:
Manikaran:
Manikaran is a land of local legends and hot springs. There are many stories about the place and each is equally gripping. This place is situated at a distance of 4 Km from Kasol and 36 Km from Bhuntar. Regular buses and taxis are available from both the places. Needless to say, the route from Kasol to Manikaran is breathtaking and if you love walking as much as we do, then these 4 Km on foot will be worth it.
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| Towards Manikaran |
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| Towards Manikaran |
Manikaran is centered around the enormous multi-storied Sri Guru Nanak Ji Gurudwara. The entire Gurudwara is engulfed in the vapors from the hot spring below. Apart from the Gurudwara, this place also has several temples such as the stone hut style Raghunath Mandir, where you can have a delicious langar after a refreshing bath in the hot springs.
The Manikaran Market is a good place to buy religious idols, offerings, books, and several Tibetian products as a souvenir.
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| Raghunath Mandir |
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| Entrance to Manikaran |
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| Sri Guru Nanak Ji Gurudwara |
So this was all from our short trip to Kasol. We will soon visit again to cover the places we skipped due to a shortage of time but for you guys here are a few more interesting resources you should see before you plan your trip.
- Kasol - Kheerganga: Like Never Before Experience || Parvati Valley
- A First-Timer’s Guide To Kasol: Things To Explore, Eat, And Experience
- Kasol – Hipster Central
Hope this article will help you plan an amazing trip to Kasol and the nearby places. Thanks for stopping by.
Vineet Joshi || विनीत जोशी
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