Kasol and the Kheerganga Trek: A Practical Guide

Kasol is a small riverside village in the Parvati valley of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, and the usual base for exploring the valley. Most visitors come for the pine forests along the Parvati river, the cafes, the hot springs and gurudwara at nearby Manikaran, and the trek to Kheerganga. One thing has changed for trekkers: since July 2024 the Forest Department has banned camping at Kheerganga, so it is now done as a day hike, with nights spent in villages lower down such as Nakthan, Barshaini, Kalga or Tosh.

Where is Kasol?

Kasol sits on the Parvati river in the Parvati valley, a side valley that branches east from the Beas at Bhuntar in Kullu district. The road from Bhuntar follows the river up through Jari to Kasol, and then on to Manikaran and Barshaini, where the motor road ends. The valley is narrow and forested, with the river loud and fast below the road for most of the way.

The village itself is small. Its main road has guesthouses, cafes, shops selling clothes and trekking gear, and small travel agencies offering treks and transport further up the valley. Many visitors use Kasol as a base and take day trips to Manikaran, Tosh, Kalga and Pulga.

How to reach Kasol

The Kullu district administration lists these routes to Manikaran, which you pass Kasol on the way to:

• Air: Kullu Manali Airport at Bhuntar is 36 km from Manikaran. The district site says flights connect it with Delhi, Chandigarh and Shimla. From Bhuntar, take a taxi or a bus up the Parvati valley.
• Train: the closest station is Joginder Nagar, on the narrow-gauge line from Pathankot, 148 km from Manikaran. Kiratpur, on the Kullu to Chandigarh highway, is 221 km away.
• Road: overnight Volvo and HRTC buses from Delhi and Chandigarh run to Bhuntar and Kullu. From there, local buses and taxis run up the valley to Kasol and Manikaran.

Road journeys in the hills take much longer than the distance suggests. Plan arrival in daylight if you can, especially in the monsoon.

Things to do in Kasol

Most of a Kasol trip is slow time by the river and walks into nearby villages. Popular options include:

• walking the forest paths along the Parvati near the village
• walking across the river to the village of Chalal
• day trips up the valley to Tosh and to Kalga and Pulga
• spending an afternoon at Manikaran’s hot springs and gurudwara

The valley also has a reputation for cannabis. Possessing it is illegal in India under the NDPS Act.

Manikaran hot springs and gurudwara

Manikaran is the main sight near Kasol. The Kullu district administration describes it as famous for its hot springs, at an altitude of 1,829 m and 40 km from Kullu. According to the district site, the water of the main spring is above boiling point, and rice can be cooked by placing it in a muslin bag in the water. The site also notes that the springs are popular with pilgrims for their supposed benefit to people with rheumatism.

Manikaran is a pilgrimage place for both Hindus and Sikhs. Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib stands beside the river, and its community kitchen serves langar. The Raghunath temple and the Shiv Parvati temple are nearby, linked to legends of Shiva and Parvati.

Cover your head inside the gurudwara, take off your shoes, and be careful near the springs. The water and the rocks around them are very hot.

The Kheerganga trek

Kheerganga is a meadow above the Parvati valley with a hot spring pool and a small shrine, reached by a trail from the Barshaini area. The usual route goes up through the village of Nakthan, and some walkers start from Kalga or Pulga instead. It is a steady climb through forest and open hillside, and most fit walkers do it in a long day. Trek times vary a lot with fitness and season, so ask locally before you start and give yourself an early start.

The camping ban at Kheerganga

In July 2024, the Forest Department banned camping in the Kheerganga area. The Tribune reported that the Divisional Forest Officer of the Parvati division said tents in the area had grown to about 500 by April that year. They were removed, and camping was banned “for the time being” to let the area recover. The News Himachal reported that all camping facilities were removed and that visitors should reach Kheerganga before 10 am and begin the return by 2 pm.

That means you should plan Kheerganga as a day trek:

1. Stay the night before in Barshaini, Nakthan, Kalga or Tosh.
2. Start walking early so you reach the top well before the cut-off time.
3. Spend some time at the meadow and the hot spring pool.
4. Start the walk down in good time to reach your stay before dark.

Be wary of anyone still selling overnight camping packages at Kheerganga. Before you go, confirm the current rules with the Parvati Forest Division office or the forest range office in Kasol, since we could not find a 2026 official notice online.

What to carry

• sturdy shoes with grip, as the trail can be muddy and slippery
• rain gear, warm layers and a torch
• enough water and snacks for the day
• a bag to carry all your rubbish back down
• photo ID

The Forest Department’s 2024 order followed complaints about garbage along the trail, so respect the shrine, keep noise down and leave nothing behind.

Best time to visit Kasol

The valley is open most of the year, but the conditions change a lot. Spring and autumn usually bring the clearest days for walking. The monsoon months bring heavy rain to Kullu district, and roads in the Parvati valley can be blocked by landslides. Winter is cold and the higher villages and trails get snow, which can close the Kheerganga route. Check the forecast and road status before you go.

Where to stay

Kasol has the widest choice of guesthouses and small hotels in the valley. For Kheerganga, it is easier to sleep further up at Barshaini, Kalga, Nakthan or Tosh, as reported in 2024. Manikaran has accommodation near the gurudwara, used mainly by pilgrims.

If you are combining the trip with other parts of Himachal, see our guides to Manali and the Atal Tunnel and Shimla.

Kasol FAQs

How far is Kasol from Manali?

Both are in Kullu district. From Kasol you drive back down the Parvati valley to Bhuntar and then north up the Kullu valley through Kullu to Manali. Check a maps app for the current road time, as traffic and roadworks change it.

How do I get from Chandigarh to Kasol?

Take a bus or drive to Bhuntar on the Chandigarh to Manali highway, which passes Kiratpur and Mandi, then continue up the Parvati valley by local bus or taxi.

Can you camp at Kheerganga?

No. The Forest Department banned camping at Kheerganga in July 2024. It is now a day trek, with overnight stays in villages lower down.

What is the weather like in Kasol?

Mild in spring and autumn, wet in the monsoon, and cold in winter with snow on the higher slopes. Carry a warm layer at any time of year.

Is Kasol good for a weekend trip?

From Delhi or Chandigarh it is possible with overnight buses, but you will have more time for Manikaran and a Kheerganga day trek with three or four days.

Official resources: Kullu district administration: Manikaran; camping ban reports from The Tribune, July 2024 and The News Himachal, July 2024.

Photo credits

Featured image: Alok Kumar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Where is Kasol?: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Where is Kasol?: Gannu03 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; How to reach Kasol: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Things to do in Kasol: Methemfetamine / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0; Manikaran hot springs and gurudwara: Mohdirfaniitmandi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Manikaran hot springs and gurudwara: Aman Gupta / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Manikaran hot springs and gurudwara: Prachurjya Biswas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; The Kheerganga trek: Vishrutpanday / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; The Kheerganga trek: Krishnendu Mazumdar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; The camping ban at Kheerganga: Krishnendu Mazumdar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; The camping ban at Kheerganga: Photos Worldwide / Wikimedia Commons, CC0.