Kasol is a beautiful village, situated in Parvati Valley, on the banks of the River Parvati, in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. Kasol often referred to as the “MINI ISRAEL OF INDIA“, is an ideal tourist attraction that is rapidly gaining fame, and has recently transformed into a Hubspot for backpackers, trekkers, and nature enthusiasts, due to its scenic valley, untouched mountains, and good climate throughout the year. Kasol is about 30 Km from Bhuntar, which is situated at an altitude of 1640 m above sea level and is one of the best places in the country, just to sit back and chill out in the panorama of snow-clad mountains, pine trees, and gurgling river. Due to the high percentage of Israeli tourists, this destination is known as ‘Mini Israel‘ and throughout the valley, one can witness the street signposts inscribed in the Hebrew Language. While you’re in Kasol, you must try on that luscious Israeli cuisine namely Shakshouka, Bourekas, and Lemon cake which is the best. Along with this cuisine, you will find other cuisines like German, Italian, Indian and Nepalese served on your table to delight your taste buds. Kasol is famous for its trekking trails, which include treks to Kheerganga Trek, Yanker Pass Trek, Sar Pass Trek, and Pin Parbati Pass Trek. Most of the treks are organized by the Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI) and the base camp for the treks to Sarpass and Kheerganga is Kasol.
Located in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, Kasol lies between Bhuntar and Manikaran. Kasol - an unexplored destination with low population density has iconic landscapes with pleasant weather all around the year. Kasol referred to as "Mini Israel of India", is nestled in the lap of Parvati valley alongside the streaming and gurgling Parvati River. It is ideal for a vacation if one wants to chill in the snow-clad Himalayas and is one of the best summer gateways for backpackers, trekkers, and nature enthusiasts who wish to enjoy the lap of nature.
About Kasol
Kasol leaves you amazed with its exquisite beauty, not only you will experience mountain sightings but also you can explore some of the most adventurous activities (trekking, camping, rafting, sightseeing, rave parties, or seeking spiritual awakening) in the Himalayas. The river abounds with trout and it’s the perfect place for angling in Kasol but one must have an angling license and permission from the forest department for trout fishing in the river. Visitors are attracted to the town because of its hospitality, beautiful environs, and wild charas, hand-made hashish (which is made from cannabis) is plentiful in the area. Kasol is an ultimate destination for Rave Parties. Many festivals happen at Kasol, but Kasol’s Trance Music Festival (a 2-day event) has its unique shine in Himachal Pradesh. Kasol has a flea market that sells a variety of items, where you can buy locally made trinkets and souvenirs (woolen sweaters, caps, gloves, aromatic oils, rugs, carpets), pendants, and even semi-precious stones for family and friends. Apart from destinations and shopping, it has many cafes and restaurants that serve Israeli cuisine (Shakshouka, Hummus, Pita bread, Lemon cakes, Chicken shipudim, Bourekas, Lafa), Continental cuisine along with local dishes(Maggi, Momos, Thukpa). The experience of sitting and enjoying a meal amidst the dark green forests, awe-inspiring landscapes with pleasant weather makes the meal even more enjoyable. It will be an amazing experience if you try Rice-Beer in Kasol also known as ‘Chang‘ in the local language, which is famous due to its delicious taste with no alcohol content in it.
Places To Visit In & Around Kasol
Take a stroll by the Parvati River
The river originates from the Man Talai Glacier, reaches Manikaran, flows towards Kasol village, and finally joins the Beas River. As mentioned earlier, it’s a great place, just to sit back and chill out in the panorama of snow-clad mountains, gurgling rivers, along with rich flora and fauna. White water rafting in the Parvati river at Kasol is one of the best experiences that one can adventure and there is probably no place in Kasol where you can not hear the hypnotic sound of gushing water and chirping birds amidst pine trees.
Kheerganga Trek
It’s a 9 km long trek from Kasol, on your way to Kheerganga you will be experiencing emerald green hills with lush greenery. After reaching the top of Kheerganga, you will find yourself accompanied by magical clouds in between pine trees and apple orchards. Kheerganga Trek is one of those memorable treks because of the snow-clad mountains that create a mesmerizing atmosphere. On reaching the top, you will find a beautiful and mystical temple of Lord Shiva where you can enjoy taking a bath in hot springs.
Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara
Apart from the adventurous face of Kasol, there is also a spiritual side to this town, which is located at a distance of about 5 Km from Kasol its nothing but Manikaran. Manikaran is situated at an altitude of 1760 meters above sea level in the Parvati Valley between river Parvati and Beas, famous for the natural hot springs. Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara is one of the top pilgrimage centers for Sikhs as well as Hindus and it is said that this Gurudwara belongs to the era of the first religious leader of the Sikhs, the founder of the Belief, Guru Nanak. Many pilgrims from all around the world come to visit this sacred place to take a dip in the holy water to wash away their sins. You can also visit the Langar which serves delicious food cooked inside the Gurdwara.
Malana
To get a real feel of the culture in this region, one should go on a visit to the village of Malana. Since there is no motorable road to reach Malana one has to undertake a short trek which is located a few kilometers away from Kasol, Malana is a tiny hamlet inhabited by people living in self-imposed isolation. The people of Malana village claim themselves to be Aryan descendants (descendants of Alexander the Great), as a result of which they avoid interaction with outsiders. This majestic little town (Malana) is the gateway to the famous Magic Valley Trek. Taking on a trek in this secretive nature, which has plenty of scenic sights, smoothes the eyes and soul of the travelers.
Pin Parvati Pass Trek
It’s a 100 km long trail highly recommended for proficient trekkers, who love mountaineering. This trek allows you to experience both actions as well as thrill at the same time. This trek gives you all, taking you through the spectacular landscapes of Parvati Valley, walking through dense forests, and lets you see the barren mountains of the Pin Valley as well. As you keep on trekking, you will observe a subtle change in the shades of nature.
Sar Pass Trek
It’s one of the adventurous treks along the high peaks. The word ‘Sar‘ in the local language means ‘Lake‘, so the trek includes a frozen lake on which you can walk. Sar Pass Trek is considered under the easy-moderate category, and all the tourists who visit Kasol opt for this trek.
Tosh Village
A traditional village located at a distance of 21 Km from Kasol, situated at an altitude of 2400 meters above sea level, is visited by thousands of tourists every year. Tosh is well known for its cannabis plantations and is home to breathtaking views of hills that embellish themselves with Himalayan vegetation. The best time to visit Tosh is between April and October.
Chalal Village
A short trek (about 30 mins) from Kasol, which is highly adventurous, is situated by the roaring Parvati River in Kasol, Himachal Pradesh. Chalal is referred to as Little Amsterdam for many reasons but one of the reasons for the fame of this town is the presence of the Parvati river and the beauty that it brings to the whole place. This place is well-known to the world for the crazy Trance and PSYtrance parties.
Best Time To Visit Kasol
Although Kasol experiences good weather throughout the year, the best time to visit Kasol is October to June as the weather remains pleasant. If you’re an adventure enthusiast, interested in trekking then one has to visit Kasol between March and May. During this time, the weather will be pleasant with the temperature ranging from 15°C to 22°C.
Where To Stay
Accommodation
Most of the hotels, cottages, and homestays offer budget accommodation. Kasol has several mid-range resorts (Echor Palm Bliss Riverside Resort & Spa, Apple garden katagla, The Hillside, Moonlight Chojh) and almost all the hotels here offer panoramic views of the snow-clad mountains.
Camping
There are many options for camping in Kasol but the Forest Department tents are beautifully located by the Parvati River that offers gorgeous morning and evening views in the valley. All adventure junkies and nature lovers carving for a relaxing night's stay in the lap of nature should try riverside camping in Kasol.
How To Reach
Road
Kasol is well-connected to major cities of India and is one of the easiest ways to reach the town by road. Many state-owned buses, taxis, and private vehicles are accessible to reach Kasol by road.
Train
There are no direct trains available to reach Kasol. You can cover a part of your journey by train and the nearest station is Joginder Nagar Railway Station, which is about 130 km away from Kasol, in terms of narrow gauge whereas Broad gauge wise, Pathankot is the nearest railway station. After which one must take a bus or a cab to reach this beautiful place.
AIR
Almost 31 Kms away, Bhuntar Airport situated in Kullu is the nearest airport to the Kasol village. It is connected to three cities Delhi, Pathankot, and Shimla. From Bhuntar, one needs to cover the distance by road either by hiring cabs or private vehicles to reach Kasol. Another reachable airport is Chandigarh Airport (IXC)- 157 km from Kasol.
Thank you for visiting my blog and stay tuned for more updates related to ancient history on my website: Ancientterminus
