why you should not visit Kasol ? confused! You don’t have to be. Kasol is a village in Parvati valley which is often referred to as mini Israel due to the in-habitation of Israelis in the region. Youth, not only from our country but also from abroad is fascinated about this place but the main question arises that what is so special about this place and why you should not visit it and I am sure you will definitely get your answer at the end of this article.
Kasol
It is a beautiful as well as peaceful village located at a distance of 32kmfrom Bhuntar (nearest airport) in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. This village lies adjacent to gurgling Parvati river where you can sit along the river and enjoy the tranquillity and peace offered by nature. The specialty of the place lies in the trekking routes to various places like Malana, Chalaal, Kheerganga etc. Kasol is abode for the trekkers, backpackers and for those who cannot control their adrenaline rush. The cafés in the area offer you world-class cuisines which will definitely make your mouth water.
| Bridge to chalaal from kasol |
Kasol is what they call is the stoners Paradise or smokers Paradise. It is the relaxing getaway for people coming here. The town hasn’t got monuments or other such sightseeing points but the natural beauty that the heart craves for, is in abundance. You need to walk in order to commute here. But if you wish to go to Malana or Manikaran, you need to hire a taxi or catch a bus. The area is a little remote which makes it an ideal place for relaxing. The place has many hotels, guest houses which one can get at affordable prices.
Trout fishing, Camping, trekking are some of the things you can do here. Although you might need to take special permission for the fishing experience. It is considered to be as the best place for angling. There are various interesting, easy as well as difficult treks around this place and Malana. Kheer Ganga is one of the main treks.
Read – Jibhi unexplored hamlet like Kasol in the Himalayas
| Kasol market |
Kasol is also known to be as the mini Israel of Himachal Pradesh because of the many Israeli inhabitants one can see there. The sign boards of many cafes and restaurants are in Hebrew. The food that you get here is to die for. You have options from Israeli, Italian, Indian cuisines. One should not leave the place before trying the famous food and desserts. Also, one can also try the famous rice beer which is alcohol free.
Kasol is a party hotspot. The parties have international DJs and these go on for 2-3 weeks, all day-night long.
M cream
Malana is a village which lies in close proximity to Kasol and everyone knows why it is so famous. Yes definitely it’s the M cream or the Malana cream. Kasol has always been a destination for the weed lovers who want to enjoy their life in the midst of smoke offered by nature. Parvati valley offers you that which is difficult to find anywhere in the entire country and that makes this place unique. The rave parties of chalaal are renowned throughout for the magical stuff and the magical mood that will take you away from this planet. Trekking route from Kasol to chalaal is quite busy due to some above mentioned things and hence its also considered heaven for the smokers.But before visiting Malana one should be aware about the untold stories and secrets of Malana which the people believe in keeping to themselves
| Dense forest in Kasol |
The other places you can visit
Manikaran Sahib is only a few kilometers from Kasol. The place is a religious site for Hindus and Sikhs. Shri Guru Nanak ji Gurdwara and the Rama temple attracts a lot of pilgrims throughout the year. The beliefs are different for the different communities. This site also attracts a lot of tourists visiting Kullu Manali and Kasol because of the hot water springs and the religious value it holds. The water of the place is thought to have curative powers and it is so hot that you can cook rice in it. You can also plan your Kheerganga trek from here.
Read: Know more about the holy destination Manikaran
| Manikaran valley |
It is a village situated at the farther end of the valley and is the last stop of the bus route. It is at height of about 7874ft above sea level. The distance is around 20kms from Kasol. You need to get to Varshaini from where you can either trek your way up to tosh or hire a taxi. Tosh is a beautiful place at the top of a hill with majestic mountains all around. The place is flooded with hippies. The spectacular landscape that you will witness from up there will definitely make your heart skip a beat.
| Mountains of Tosh |
Trek to Malana
You can hire a taxi to get to Malana. But I will recommend you to trek to this place as the trek will offer you some exhilarating scenic views of the snow capped mountains and the gurgling Parvati river. The cultivation of the famous Malana cream makes it very popular. The village is a little isolated from the rest of the world and has its own unique rules and regulations.
| Malana valley |
Kheerganga is a difficult trek of 13 Kms uphill from Varshaini. On your way to kheerganga you will cross many bridges and waterfalls. The trek is very famous for it’s rawness and the hot water springs. People travel to Kheerganga as it has a temple of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and the holy hot water springs are believed to have healing properties. The panaromic view of the surroundings and the sky from Kheerganga is an absolute delight to the eyes.
| Parvati river |
My Trip to Kasol
Kasol is a place which had always been on my wish list. The closeness and the freshness of air which I felt here was something which I have never felt before. When I first landed in Kasol I could barely see few shops and was disappointed by the first sight of the place but later on as I explored the place I could sense there was something mysterious and special about Kasol, watching too many foreigners is not common in India so I was really amazed to observe the crowd that I witnessed. The charm of the place was reflected from the sort of clothes tourists were wearing, colorful and serene was the environment of the place. I wandered here and there in the search of a hotel and finally found one cheap accommodation for myself, I shopped for clothes from the flea market. Bargaining skills can be used here. The market is a “has it all” market for the hippies. It has stuff, from bongs, Bob Marley’s T-shirts, harem pants to all kind of hiking gears and equipment’s. You can buy souvenirs for your families and friends from here. You can also get your hair done with some dreadlocks, colorful lulus or even a Mohawk. The barbers here have some real serious talent.
Read : Why Rave party in kasol blew my mind
| Shops in Kasol |
There are only two railway stations that can be used, one is the Kiratpur Saheb in Punjab while the other is Una in Himachal Pradesh but both are at a huge distance from Kasol and you have to go by bus or a taxi from there on. You can also try the toy train from Pathankot (Punjab) to jogindernagar(Himachal Pradesh)but only if you have a lot of time to burn. Jogindernagar is about 144kms from Kasol. You have to go by road from there to Kasol too. I would not prefer for you to take this route as it is very much time consuming.
- · You should mange your waste properly in such places I have seen a drastic change in the panorama of the place near the bridge there is so much litter.
- · Avoid the plastic water bottles and be polite to the local people. Give respect and they will respect you
- · Plastic bags should be avoided or if you are too addicted to the packaged food you should dispose these properly into the dustbin.(Swachh Bharat)
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View Comments (7)
Nice����
thank you
Ossssmmmmm places
my hometown
I miss alot kasol and all my friends there. Hope to return soon.hard travel to arrive there but at the end you will find a piece of heaven.
Awesome work.Just wanted to drop a comment and say I am new to your blog and really like what I am reading.Thanks for the share
Very nice information dear, as a photographer now I will visit this place for sure.