If mountains are your happy place and you want to escape the city life for a tranquil experience, what better place than a quaint Himalayan village. Rumsu is a small ancient village about 3-4 km from a fairly known town of Naggar in the Kullu region of Himachal Pradesh. What sets it apart from others villages is the traditional Kath Kuni style wooden houses that represents the authentic Himachali lifestyle. Not only are these houses beautiful to look at but they have also stood the test of time by standing tall for hundreds of years and are even known to survive earthquakes.
The path to the village is lined with apple orchards. The trail from Naggar passes Roerich's cottage and art gallery. There is a motorable road to Rumsu too, but the hiking path is shorter and offers a spectacular, raw view of the valley and mountains that seem untouched by anyone. Rumsu is also well-known as the starting place for the trek to Malana base for the Chanderkheni Pass trek.
How to reach Rumsu : Take a bus from Delhi-Manali followed by a taxi till Naggar. From Naggar you can either hike on a beautiful trail to Rumsu or continue on a vehicle.
Nearest airport: Bhuntar, 38 km
Nearest Railway station : Chandigarh, 301 km
Where to stay : There are several homestays that will give you a taste of the local village life with home cooked meals, views of the valley and warm hosts. Here are some suggestions:
Kailash Rath Rumsu Homestay
Zostel Homes
Stanley Homestay
Places to visit in and around Rumsu :
Krishna Temple
Distance - 5.5 km
This is believed to be a 1000 years old temple located close to the ancient ruins of Thawa town. The temple sits on a hilltop with breathtaking views of the valley. You can trek on a short passage to reach the temple as the road leading to the shrine is not well suited for vehicles. The courtyard of the temple is surrounded by vivid, exotic flowers and there is a gentle pleasant aroma in the air making it a perfect place to unwind.
Jana Waterfall
Distance : 17.5 km
It is known to be one of the best picnic spots in the region. To get to the waterfall, you'll have to trek through deep deodar and pine forests surrounded by snow-capped mountains. You'll have to hike up a steep route bordered by pine trees to reach to the waterfall. The trail begins from the Jana restaurant where you can have meal with a view and gear up for the trek takes around 15 minutes to complete.
Sajla Waterfall
Distance : 16.6 km
This is another lesser-known waterfall and a place to experience nature in its pristine form. You'll have to trek here as well to reach the waterfall and can also visit the Sajla temple at the starting point of the trek. There is a small cafe at the waterfall where you can enjoy tea, maggi and other things while the misty breeze of the waterfall touches your body. Every second spent here will feel like a luxury you seldom have.
Kasheri Viewpoint and Village
Distance : 27.4 km
This is a place from where you can get a stunning 180-degree panorama of the mountains. The sunset from here looks otherworldly, straight out of a scenery. When you approach Kasheri village, you'll see colourful cottages built of wood and concrete perched on a green mountain. You can also go to the Kasheri waterfall which is a 5-minute drive
If you stay at this remote village for some days, you can go around exploring the many roads not taken and discover hidden gems. On days when you don't want to do anything, you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the view from literally any corner of the village and experience the slow mountain life. After all this is what we come to hills for.
So, skip the touristy towns of Himachal and go on an offbeat expedition on your next vacation. While you enjoy nature at its best, don't forget to leave the surroundings as you found it or in an even better state.
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