Rahagir
Parvati Valley near Kasol

Destinations / Himachal Pradesh

Kasol and Parvati Valley

A riverside backpacker village in the Parvati Valley, with hot springs and treks close by.

FamousTrekRiverVillagePilgrimage

Kasol sits beside the Parvati River and is the usual base for Manikaran's hot springs, the Kheerganga trek and villages such as Tosh, Chalal and Malana. It suits backpackers, young travellers and walkers who want cheap stays, cafes and short treks. Three to four days is the usual length of stay.

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Parvati Valley near Kasol
Parvati Valley near Kasol
Mountains seen from Kasol
Mountains seen from Kasol
Parvati river at Kasol
Parvati river at Kasol
Bridge at Kasol
Bridge at Kasol

Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.

Best time to go

WhenWhat to expect
March to JunePeak season. Pleasant and mostly dry, about 15 to 30 C by day, with clear trails for trekking. Crowds and prices are highest.
July to SeptemberMonsoon, about 10 to 25 C. The valley is green and rooms are cheaper, but landslides, road blocks and cloudbursts are a real risk.
October to FebruaryCold, about 0 to 15 C, and January nights can drop just below freezing. Snow is possible and heavy snowfall can block roads.

Sights and activities

1

Parvati River at Kasol

The river runs through the middle of the village. People sit on the rocks by the bank and walk the riverside paths.

Distance
In Kasol
Entry
Free
Timings
Open all day
Time needed
1-2 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

2

Chalal village

A quiet village reached by a walk of about 30 minutes from the centre of Kasol, at about 5,300 feet.

Distance
About 1-2 km on foot
Entry
Free
Timings
Open all day
Time needed
2-3 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

3

Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib

A Sikh pilgrimage site at Manikaran, at 1,829 m, sacred to both Sikhs and Hindus. It serves a free community meal (langar).

Distance
About 4-6 km from Kasol
Entry
Free
Timings
Reported as 5 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 9 pm
Time needed
2 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

4

Manikaran hot springs and temples

Hot springs on the river bank at the entrance of the village, hot enough that rice is cooked in cloth bags in the pools. The Naina Bhagwati and Raghunath temples are nearby.

Distance
About 4-6 km from Kasol
Entry
Free
Time needed
1-2 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

5

Tosh village

A hill village at about 2,400 m, popular with backpackers and used as a base for treks. It has the Jamdagni Rishi temple.

Distance
About 13-21 km from Kasol (sources differ)
Entry
Free
Timings
Open all day
Time needed
Half a day

MapWrong fee or timing?

6

Kheerganga trek

A trek from Barshaini to a meadow at about 3,000 m with a hot spring and a Shiva temple. The walk is reported as 9 to 12 km each way.

Distance
Trailhead at Barshaini, about 20 km from Kasol
Timings
Reported as 6 am to 9 pm
Time needed
1 full day, or 2 days with a night up there

MapWrong fee or timing?

7

Malana village

A self-governing village with its own old customs, which visitors are expected to respect. It is reached by a steep uphill walk through pine forest.

Distance
About 8 km from Kasol in a straight line; longer by road and trail
Entry
Free
Timings
Daytime visit
Time needed
1 day

MapWrong fee or timing?

Getting there

By bus
Overnight buses run from Delhi (ISBT Kashmiri Gate) and Chandigarh (Sector 43) to Bhuntar and Kasol. HRTC and private buses and taxis run up the valley from Bhuntar.
By train
No railway in the valley. Joginder Nagar (narrow gauge) is about 145 km away; Pathankot (broad gauge) is about 150 km away.
By air
Kullu-Manali Airport at Bhuntar, about 31 km from Kasol. Chandigarh is the nearest large airport.
Where to base yourself
Stay in Kasol village itself, which is small enough to walk around and has most of the hostels, guesthouses and cafes.

Getting around

  • Kasol itself is small and best covered on foot.
  • HRTC and private buses run along the valley road to Manikaran and Barshaini.
  • Local cabs and shared jeeps cost about 600 rupees per group for short trips.
  • A taxi between Bhuntar and Kasol costs about 2,400 rupees one way and takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.

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Where to stay

Budget levelTypePrice per night
BudgetHostel bed or basic guesthouse room₹500 to ₹1,000
Mid-rangeHotel or riverside guesthouse₹1,000 to ₹5,000
LuxuryFour-star hotel or resort₹5,000 to ₹15,000

Food

Most people eat at the riverside cafes in Kasol, which serve Israeli, North Indian and snack food. A meal for two at a local cafe costs about 300 rupees.

Try these

  • Shakshouka (Israeli dish of eggs cooked in tomato sauce)
  • Momos (steamed dumplings)
  • North Indian meals
  • Langar at Manikaran gurudwara (free community meal)

Vegetarian food is easy to find and the gurudwara langar is vegetarian.

Daily costs

Budget levelStay per roomFood per personLocal transport
Budget₹800₹450₹100 per person
Mid-range₹2,500₹900₹600 per vehicle
Luxury₹7,000₹1,500₹2,400 per vehicle

Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.

Permits and documents

No permit requirement was found for Kasol, Manikaran or Tosh. Carry a valid photo ID, which hotels ask for.

Safety

By day
Generally fine in the villages and on the main trails. Stay well back from the Parvati River, which is fast.
At night
Villages are small and trails are unlit, so finish treks before dark.
Solo women
The area is a busy backpacker route with many hostels.
Roads
Narrow mountain road from Bhuntar. Landslides and blocks are common in the monsoon and snow can close roads in winter.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies)

Practical

Mobile network
Mobile coverage exists in Kasol but is limited in several villages.
ATMs and cash
There are ATMs in Kasol but they do not always work. Carry cash.
Fuel
There is no petrol pump listed in Kasol. Fill up at Bhuntar before the valley road.
Medical
The nearest towns are Bhuntar and Kullu.

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Accessibility

Seniors
Kasol and Manikaran are reachable by road and manageable. Kheerganga and Malana involve steep walking.
Children
Riverside walks, Chalal and Manikaran suit children. Keep them away from the river edge and the very hot spring pools.
Wheelchair users
Village paths and trails are uneven and steep.

Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.

Culture and responsible travel

  • Manikaran is sacred to both Sikhs and Hindus; dress modestly and follow the gurudwara rules.
  • Malana has its own customs and governance. Follow local instructions and behave respectfully.
  • Behave respectfully in the villages and carry your rubbish back from trails.
  • Hindi, Himachali and English are spoken; Hebrew signs are common because of the many Israeli visitors.

What to pack

  • Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
  • Proper winter wear: a heavy jacket, thermals, gloves and a cap
  • Walking shoes with a good grip, a small daypack and a refillable water bottle
  • Clothes that cover shoulders and knees, and socks for hot stone floors where shoes come off. Some temples do not allow phones or bags, so carry little
  • Some cash in small notes for autos, stalls and tips
  • Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts

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Distance by road.

All of Himachal Pradesh

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