Kheerganga Trek, Kasol

The Kheerganga trek is one that begins in one of the most popular hill stations in Himachal Pradesh, Kasol, and ends at Kheerganga, and back in a span of two days, covering 12 kilometres one way. Both of these hill stations lie in the picturesque Parvati Valley.

In the short 12 kilometres that you will journey through, you will see the depths of nature in its hills and water bodies and will be able to see their beauty through fresh eyes, being amidst it all. On the way, there are also tonnes of villages you’ll pass through, which opens up avenues to learn about the culture of the mountains by interacting with its civilisations. This is not all - a hot spring in Kheerganga, that is, Parvati Kund is just waiting for you to take a dip. The best part is that this trek is rated ‘easy’ on the difficulty chart for treks, which means that even if you’re a beginner, you will be able to complete the Kheerganga Trek, from and back to Kasol.

Historical references

Kheerganga is a hill station with a religious significance for Hindu pilgrims. A popular legend, Kartikeya, went to say that the older son of Lord Shiva spent a thousand years in Kheerganga meditating, making it a holy spot for many.

About the journey

From Kasol, you will go to Barshaini to begin your trek. Throughout this trek, you will find terrific views of the snow-capped Himalayas. Everything about this trek is simple but has a magic of its own at the same time. Aside from scenic views of snow-capped mountains, there are two other sublime attractions for the Kheerganga trek from Kasol.

• The first is the several waterfalls that fall along the path of your trek, such as the Rudra Nag - a snake-shaped waterfall. Yes, you have to see it to believe it.
• The second is the glorious hot spring with a view of the snow-capped peaks at an altitude of 13,000 feet, that awaits you at Kheerganga. Such an experience is one that will relax and you and remain in your memory for days to come.

After spending one night at Kheerganga, you will return the next day, following the same charming route back to Kasol. You will be able to look at anything you missed on your way there, and the same things you wanted to spend more time with the previous day.

Arriving at the starting point: Barshaini

As mentioned before, the starting point or base camp of the trek is Barshaini. There are a few ways to reach Barshaini for the Kheerganga Trek Kasol. All of them include passing through Kasol, 16 km away from Barshaini, which is how it gets its name. (Trek operators will help you reach from Kasol to Barshaini.) Bhuntar is a town close to Kullu, the place where the road leading to Kasol begins. It’s the passage you need to use to make your way to Kasol, then the base camp.

Option 1

By Air: You may arrive by air at Bhuntar Airport, drive 31 km to Kasol, then avail the transportation to arrive at Barshaini.

Option 2

By Bus: While there are no direct buses straight to Kasol, you can take any bus that stops at Bhuntar, then take a government or private bus from the town to Kasol.

Option 3

By Train: Joginder Nagar is the closest narrow gauge railway station (145 km away from Kasol). However, you will have to take a bus or cab from the railway station to Kasol.