Kasol and Around – 5 Hippie Destinations in the Himalayas, India

Wait, Where is Kasol?
Kasol is in the state of Himachal Pradesh in Northern India, near Manali. It is in the Parvati valley which is a part of India’s hippie trail.

01| KASOL
What was once a quaint little destination next to Parvati river, is now a party destination full of young backpackers. Why do they go there? Many reasons. The obvious ones are – it’s a good escape from the scorching heat, it’s easy to reach by an overnight bus from Delhi and it’s in the lap of the Himalayas. Moreover, it’s a fun destination for young travelers because Kasol is usually devoid of families and honeymoon couples. The biggest reasons – it has an underground psytrance culture and an easy access to some homegrown magical herbs that are purer, more affordable and way more potent than what you get in Amsterdam’s coffee shops. Yes, Kasol is India’s hashish capital and it’s not a secret anymore.

Pro tip: Be careful as buying and consuming hash (or charas) is illegal in India and there are many checkpoints in this area.

How to reach Kasol?
Catch any bus that’s heading to Manali and get off at Bhuntar, which is 2 hours before Manali. These buses typically run from Paharganj / ISBT / Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi from 4 pm to 7 pm and take around 12 hours to reach Bhuntar. I highly recommend you book an air-conditioned Volvo bus preferably from Himachal Tourism (HPTDC).

As you board the bus, let the bus conductor know that you will get off at Bhuntar so that they can mark your luggage accordingly and wake you up at 5 – 6 am.

Expect to get surrounded by 3-4 taxi drivers when you reach Bhuntar even though it’s very early in the morning. If you want to save money, politely say no to them and walk a little ahead and take a right turn to reach Bhuntar’s bus station which is less than 5 minutes walk away. From here, you will find many buses to Kasol, Barshaini, Kullu, Manikaran and around.

Where to stay in Kasol?
If you’re specifically looking for a hostel, you can also try Nomads Hostel, which is a little towards Chojh bridge. A bed here costs around $10. Another cool hostel in Kasol that you can check out is The Hosteller and a bed here costs around $8 per night.

A few of my favorites are Deep Forest Kasol, Free Spirit and Alpine guest house. Please note that these are budget places with no frills attached. If you want to camp or are carrying your own tent, check out Kasol Camps, Parvati Woods Camp, or Aman Camps. If you want to stay in a place that’s slightly higher end, try Evergreen Hotel, Hotel the Yerpa, or Memoir Homes.
02|CHALAL

Chalal is a no-brainer and is the closest in the list to Kasol. Chalal can be reached by just crossing the bridge over the river in Kasol. Wooden houses, cafes and beautiful viewpoints – it’s so close to Kasol, yet it feels like a different world. Freedom cafe has the best viewpoint in Chalal.

How to reach Chalal from Kasol?
Reach Kasol and cross the bridge over Parvati river to reach Chalal. This walk amidst alpine trees will not take you more than 20-30 minutes.
03|TOSH

Tosh is a magical village which has still managed to retain it’s quaint charm despite a new road that has been constructed to make this place more accessible. There is no road inside the village, hence walking is the only mode of transport. If you walk at the end of Tosh and cross the village, there is a little trail that leads to a waterfall.

You don’t need to book a place to stay from before. Just reach and ask for Siva Moon, Shiva Garden or Pink Floyd cafes for a room to stay.

How to reach Tosh from Kasol?
You can catch a bus from Kasol to Barshani and from there trek for around 2.5 KMs to reach Tosh. This trek is very easy and fun because of the sights that one can witness. The trek is uphill and can take around one hour if you walk at a leisurely pace. Alternatively, it is also possible to catch a taxi up to Tosh.
04|KHEERGANGA

Kheerganga is 5-6 KMs away from Tosh and the only way to reach is by trekking. The reward? A hot water pool at the highest point in this village surrounded by snow peaked mountains! Legend has it, Lord Shiva meditated in Kheerganga for 3000 years and the water from the hot springs is supposed to be holy.

How to reach Kheerganga from Kasol?
In order to visit Kheerganga, we highly recommend you stay at either Tosh or Manikaran for the night and start your journey at 5 – 6 am in the morning. You can start your trek from either Manikaran, Tosh or even Barshaini. Just ask the locals and they will guide you where to start the trek from.
05|MALANA

Trek to Malana is not as easy as Tosh but is shorter than Kheerganga. The solitary village if Malana was cut off from the rest of the world for many years and many say it’s the oldest democracy in the world.

Legend has it that many years ago, Alexander the Great’s army took a shelter in this area and ended up staying here for many years. Thus, as per this theory, Malana was founded by remnants of his army and many people of Malana are the descendants of Alexander the Great’s Greek shoulders. The people of Malana consider all outsiders to be untouchable, so please don’t touch or photograph anyone.

Update: As of July 2017, Malana village will be off limits for tourists. Please ask the locals in Kasol / Tosh or Jari for the best information.

How to reach Malana from Kasol?
You will need to get out of Kasol to go towards Bhuntar by bus or taxi. The trail starts from the center of the village Jari, which is 15 KMs ahead of Bhuntar. From Jari, it’s about 4 hours. We recommend you stay at Jari overnight and start your trek from there.