Explore the Kaleidoscopic Himalaya at Kheerganga
Magical things happen when man and mountain meet!
Elope to the mountains from the chaos of city life and you will find solace. Endless vistas of alpine and deodar offer a form of therapy to a trekker’s soul. Nestled in the core of Parvati valley, Kheerganga is at a height of 2950m. Lush green meadows, Parvati river & picturesque skies is a place where Shiva meditated for ages. Lets transport our broken soul to a doctor called mountains. Experience peace in the enthralling sights of great Himalayas. Adventure junkies are gonna have good food here and can keep some of it to cherish for their lifetime.
Why the name “Kheerganga”?
According to Hindu mythology, Kartikeya, the son of lord Shiva, lost a competition to his brother lord Ganesha and sat in a samadhi (meditation) for several thousand years. Shiva tried to lure his angry son by making a Kheerganga - stream of kheer (rice pudding). The literal meaning of the word is milky white sacred water.
Things to do in Kheerganga
Why is Kheerganga the most talked about trekking tours in India? Following are the reasons which will turn on your heart and soul to gradually unveil the beauty of the terrain by Kheerganga trekking.
Mystical Vibes at Manikarna Sahib Gurudwara
Bumpy rides on curvy terrain in Parvati valley will take you to this famous Sikh shrine wreathed by Himalayas from all sides. A small bridge of about 20 steps will take you to this milky- mighty Sikh temple. From the white mist looks out grandiose gurudwara sahib made of pristine white marble with saffron flags flowing with pride on the top of it. It adds a beautiful color to an all white shrine. Clouds flake from above and hot vapour from natural springs gushing down in the Parvati river makes it all heaven on earth. The mountains with different hues and shades evokes magical curves that give it a perfect backdrop. Let your skin feel a shooting combo of fresh cool wind and hot steam.
Deadly and beautiful sculpture of Shiva in a hardstone carving with cloudy smoke of hot water running down will amaze you to stop by. Also there is a Shiv temple with a human size nandi (cow) of brass sitting in the front.
Langar
Prasad (food) form langar (community kitchen) will shoot energy in your veins (all you need to trek for Kheerganga) Trust me you will be enamored by its beauty.
Natural hot water spring
It springs with a force making an 11 to 14 feet fountain. It is so hot that rice can be cooked in it. The water is considered very auspicious. It is said that you may wash off your ‘sins’ by taking a dip in it. It has curative powers too!
Trek
Explore the charm of silence on your way to the Shiva’s abode in the dense forest of pine and deodar trees. Kheerganga trekking is the most recommended one for the beginners by the seasoned trekkers in India. Hairy mountain dogs are best friends here. They join you out of nowhere suddenly on your trek and escort (in a way) you till the top only on a few biscuits!
Raw & wild beauty of flaura and fauna will absorb you all the way, so do take care on its slippery curves. On your way forward, pahadi temples with beautiful carvings, flowers, mud houses will take you to raw rural charm. Natural water stream bursting out suddenly on your way will help you rejuvenate and refill your water bottles. Do not think twice, its a pure Himalayan water.
The sublime route has tapri (tiny cafes) sprinkled on the way where you csn restore your energy with coffee or old favorite Maggie. Roaring Parvati is a permanent sound of nature.
Nakthan Village
It is a halfway milestone of your journey from Kasol to kheerganga. The small hamlet has less than 50 traditional houses made from wood or mud and juicy apple orchards. If you get attracted by the place you may plan a night here and take a walk across the village which is accessible by a thin trail. I saw few Israelis walking barefoot on wet muddy grass. It is a wonderful natural detoxification. Shepherd taking out their sheep for grazing is a common sight here. Get yourself photographed with the happy faces of kids busy playing.
Rudra Nag Village
A 30 minutes fun walk from Nakthan will take you to Rudranag Temple. It is a Shiva temple amidst scenic waterfalls. Snow clad mountain peaks are going to hold you down. Take your time to digest the beauty within your core. Parvati can be heard through the gorges.
Waterfalls/Streams
Small springs smile from the tricky terrain en route Kheerganga. Bigger ones cascading water on the rocky hill will amaze you from their intensity of gushing water down which finally meets with the thunderous roar of the Parvati. Wooden bridges on these springs produce thrill while crossing them. Villagers have put wooden ladders on the big rocks fallen on the way to pass through. These enormous pieces of rocks keep wet due to continuous waterfall from the mountains. I was honestly nervous to climb those sections of ladders on the extremely slippery rocky way with a heavy backpack. Guys please keep your rucksacks light.
Hot Water Spring (Parvati Kund)
Free Jacuzzi with a view of snow capped mountains is the ultimate bash that you get in your final phase to wash off all the fatigue of trekking and the muscle cramp in this Jacuzzi at an altitude of 3050 meters. Immerse yourself in this warm water to have an overwhelming sensation after a tiring trek. This narrow pathway that leads to the girls section which is covered with white sheet on the top is extremely slippery. I slipped thrice on my way. So guys, just ask someone to go along till the door of the spot, so if in case you trip (and are not able to pull yourself up, like me) you can avail a helping hand grip.
Camping
After admiring the beauty all around, you finally settle down in the camp hugged by lush alpine and gigantic mountains. Grab your food from nearby cafes and eateries and get cozy in your sheets with your tribe. Darling, if you are carrying alcohol to settle you for the night, do it, just ensure that you are carrying the emptied bottles along with you back and dump them properly. We gotta promote responsible tourism, right?
Campfire
You will find campfires organized by cafes or homestay managers. It's good to join them and share your trekking experience with folks around the world. Rub your shoulders with fellow trekkers while dancing on groovy music. If you want some me time, you may arrange this set on your own. You will get some pieces of wood to burn at night. Get cozy with your mate while playing old school melodies on your phone.
Stargazing
An open eye night beneath star studded sky is all you need to pacify the riding horses within you. Lay beneath it with open arms. The night beauty of Kasol offers a mesmerizing stargazing experience that you will take home.
Sunrise
My eyes refused to shut down to drink the midnight beauty of the hills. My heart was rhyming on the beats of gushing Parvati. Twinkling stars were shining in my eyes. Adrenaline was racing from my heart to my toes. How could one sleep like this? So I kept talking to the drizzles till dawn and waited for it to get some light outside. If you manage to nap, just wake up early in the morning to catch the beauty of the smiling sun unfailingly.
Drench yourself in the warm ambience of the shining aura on the morning mountain. Talk a walk across when most of the gentry is still in their deep sleep in their sleeping bags. Furry friends will accompany you till wherever you plan to go on that piece of plain land on the peak.
Yoga
Why to miss the exclusive opportunity to practice yoga asana on your favorite spot. Get loads of food for your insta stories too! I will definitely recommend you pranayama (breathing exercises). What could be more pure than the morning’s fresh mountain air? Stuff your lungs with it so that the quota of the entire year is complete!
Lord Shiva Temple
You will spot a small shrine dedicated to lord Shiva on the top near the hot water spring. I went there in the morning and sat near Nandi (stone sculpture of a cow). It was an epitome of peace. I spotted a board written “kartik raasta” with an arrow indicating a way upward. I didn’t go there as I had to pack up to descend early. Guyz, do explore it and let me know your experience.
Best time to visit Kheerganga
If you are a real time trekker, any time in the calendar is a good time to travel. For those who want to “play it safe”, plan between May to November when weather is pleasant and favorable. The snow makes the trail difficult to tread as the rocks become slippery so try to avoid winter months.
How to reach
Kasol is where the action begins. Also called as mini Israel of India, you will spot many Hebrew signboards and cafeterias with scrumptious Israeli cuisines.
There are three different ways to reach to your dream destination. You may opt for any, as each one will give you natural beauty in abundance. We took the last one to ascend and the second one to descend the mountain.
Kasol to Barshaini
If you have enough time, skip hiring private taxis which cost around 1000 bucks and opt for local buses. Experience the confluence point of Beas River with Parvati River.
Bhuntar - Tosh - Kheerganga
Relish a relaxed walk on a serene trail eying the rustic beauty of the village. People usually opt this route if they want to stay in tosh for a night and trek in the morning light. You will meet tosh river which eventually joins Parvati later. Homestays are recommended to taste the pahadi flavour. Many people offer this option at very reasonable rates. Bridges of fallen trees and stones will transport you to picturesque beauties ahead. I will definitely recommend you to take a route less travelled and see something more awesome like, untouched mountains.
Bhuntar - Nakthan - Rudra Nag - Kheerganga
When you turn left from the bridge after Barshaini, you are on your way to Nakthan village. On the way to a steep climb, you will be accompanied by the pristine Parvati river on your left along your trekking. Laced with stunning views, the place is perfect for photo enthusiasts. These villages will not fail to mesmerize you on your trekking trail. You may opt to relax here and restore your energy with some hot drinks or juices and noodles. Trekkers take this route to descend as the trail is covered with trees blocking the direct heat of the sun.
Bhuntar - Barsaini - Kalga - Kheerganga
You have to trek approximately 9 to 10 kilometers to reach your beloved Kheerganga top.
This route is the most preferred one as it is the easiest and the shortest of the three. We got down from our cab and were welcomed by mountain drizzles. Two guys were standing there selling one very thin white sheet (vegetable carrying polythene) to cover the entire body making you look like a huge duck, costing us 125 rupees. Carry your gumboots and mackintosh to avoid such frauds.
After walking a few steps we got on a bridge. I looked down to feel the thrill seeing the water thundering down. I was delighted to feel that nervousness of the deadly sounds of the river gushing down.
We took right and started trekking to Kalga. A small village amidst apple orchards.
Dreamy views from the glass panes are just worthy enough to pen those moments to create storytelling products.
Things to Ponder
Mobile network:- Dhaba has network 50 per call
NO ATMs in Kasol
Take Away (Beyond Marijuana!)
Memories
Mountain brings tears, smiles and loads of memories to cherish for a lifetime. Each trek has its own story. And a good life is certainly a bundle of wholesome happy memories.
Madness
Insane desire is what we need to ascend up the hill. Only rule here is not to follow any (society based) rule. Let your inner beast have fun in its total intensity.
Mountains
My beloved Ruskin Bond (who is a hardcore mountain person and great writer) once said, “Once you have lived with them for any length of time, you belong to them. There is no escape”.
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