Kheer Ganga Trek

Have you heard of hot spring ? If not then let me introduce you to hot spring. A hot spring is a natural body of water that is heated by geothermal energy from deep within the earth's crust. Imagine a waterfall or a small stream, but the water is hot, its pretty cool to see and feel. Hot springs are often sought after for their therapeutic and relaxation benefits, as the warm water and natural minerals can provide relief for various ailments such as arthritis, muscle and joint pain, and skin conditions. Some hot springs are also known for their cultural significance and are considered sacred or spiritual places by certain communities.

By now you must be wondering where it can be found and? do not worry, I am here to help you plan a life time hot spring experience.

There are several hot springs in India that are popular tourist destinations. here are few hot springs which you can easily find:

1) Manikaran Hot Springs: Located in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh,

2)Tattapani Hot Springs: Situated in the state of Himachal Pradesh, these hot springs are located on the banks of the Sutlej River

3)Vashisht Hot Springs: Located near the town of Manali in Himachal Pradesh, these hot springs are believed to have been visited by the sage Vashisht

4)Yumthang Hot Springs: Located in the state of Sikkim, situated at an altitude of 11,800 feet and are surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

5) Bakreshwar Hot Springs: Located in the state of West Bengal,

6) Chumathang Hit Spring in ladakh

The above mentioned are easily accessible by vehicle and anyone can go there, but I love things to be difficult and adventurous and challenging , if you are like me then this blog is for you. The hot spring I will suggest you is Kheer Ganga Hot Spring. To reach the hot spring you have complete a 15km trek. now let me tell you about the very famous kheerganga Trek.

Kheer Ganga is a small village located in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is situated in the lap of nature , surrounded by dens himalayan forest, and waterfall. The hot springs is situated at an altitude of around 10,000 feet and are surrounded by snow-capped mountains, making it a popular destination for tourists and trekkers. This trek is best for first time trekker.

Apart from the hot springs, Kheer Ganga is known for its natural beauty and scenic trekking trails. The village is surrounded by lush green forests and offers breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks. The local population is predominantly Hindu and has a unique culture and way of life.

Glimps of kheer ganga trek:

The starting point for the Kheer Ganga trek is the village of Barshaini, which is located in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. Barshaini is approximately 16 km from the town of Kasol and can be reached by road from Bhuntar, which is the nearest town with an airport and a railway station.

I am from Delhi, thus it was quite easy for me to reach Bhuntar by Volvo. There are multiple overnight buses running from Delhi to Bhuntar. Trek like kheerganga dose not need much planning and preparation for regular hikers. It is one day trek and the distance can be covered in 6 hours. In general, a weekend is sufficient for this trek, but I will suggest to have extra 2 days to explore the beautiful small villages near kasol.

I am a solo traveler and love to explore the unexplored places, thus I took 2 days off from office and clubbed the offs with weekends. On Thursday, after office, i started my journey from Kashmiri Gate bus stand. I prefer to book tickets from Redbus, in advance. I went to bus stand and found my bus (Volvo) easily. I went inside and settled down myself. Bus started at 09:00 Pm. I was lucky that there wasn't any co-passenger with me, I had the entire seat to myself.

It takes approx. 14 hour to reach Bhuntar from Delhi. I love travelling by bus, around 5.30 am, I woke up in bus, view from the bus was stunning. All I could was gigantic mountains, some of them were covered in snow.

I reached Bhuntar at 9.00 am Friday morning, from Bhuntar I took a local bus to Kasol, by the time reach Kasol it was past 12, Kasol is famous for its hippie culture, it did not took much time to blend in in the Kasol's vibe.

Kasol is a small village located in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is situated at an altitude of approximately 1,580 meters above sea level and is surrounded by beautiful mountains, forests, and the Parvati River. Kasol is a popular destination among backpackers and trekkers who come to explore the stunning natural beauty of the area. The village has a laid-back vibe, with plenty of small cafes and shops selling local handicrafts and clothing. It is also known for its vibrant nightlife, with many open-air parties and music festivals held throughout the year.

Kasol also has beautiful and budget hostels and homestays, it will not cost you fortune to book one. I booked my a bed in hostel to avoid last minute chaos. After reaching Kasol, I went to my hostel, kept my bags and I left to explore the area. There are beautiful cafes around kasol which are in budget price. I spent the whole day roaming around Kasol exploring the places and speaking with the locals.

I woke up early next morning, it was drizzling. Weather is unpredictable in Himachal, thus I was little unsure about my trek, but to my surprise it stopped around 8.00 am. I immediately left for Bershani and started the trek.

I saw beautiful streams ,trees, plants, flowers, and animals. Listen to the sounds of the birds and the wind rustling through the leaves. Felt the sun on my skin, observed and appreciated the beauty of nature around me. I also had the opportunity to disconnect from the phone and enjoy the peace of outdoor. It's a great way to clear our minds and reduce stress.

Now lets talk about the trail and the difficulties:

The trek is best for beginners, but it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the trail map, thus you have idea of what you are going to expect. Initially the trail is easy, mostly flat surface, but with time it starts to get stiff, there are few water crossing, which could be fetal if you are not cautious. There are too many ways to reach top, thus multiple routs, which makes it difficult to choose the correct trail, thus I would recommend to walk in a group or follow the locals.

Here are some picture of the trail:

At 5.Pm I reached Kheerganga top, I was amazed by the beauty, I immediately approached to a local and asked for tent. Its easy to get a tent at the top and in a cheaper rate. I did some negotiation and took a single occupant tent at 400 rs. dumped my bag in tent and rushed to the hot spring and took a dip in the hot spring, and then the magic happened. I came out of the pool and to my surprise I felt more energetic then ever, there was no pain on my foot and I was not tiered at all. I changed into comfortable cloth and seat in a tea shop to enjoy the Sunset. Tea and Maggie is quite costly at the top, thus always keep cash. After sundown I went to my tent to rest for sometime.

With every passing minute the weather started to change, I came out and saw bonfire, I sat there for 2-3 hours and had dinner there.

I was waiting for everyone to go inside and sleep, thus I can spent some time in star gazing. As I expected everyone slept by 11.00 Pm. There are 4-5 more people like me were waiting like me for start gazing. We seat there for 2 hours. It was almost 2.00 Am by the time went to my tent.

I slept for 3 hours, woke up at 5,00 am. I never miss sunset and sundown. I had the entire day to me to explore the Top. I explored each and every corner of the top

at 12 :00 Pm I started to descend from the trail, within 3 hours I reached Bershani. From bershani I took a local taxi and reached Kasol by 4.00 Pm and set in Dreamlight cafe for good 2 hours. At night i explored few more cafes and hangout with new friends whom I met during the trek.

Next morning at 8 I left for Bhuntar, I did all bookings in advance. my bus to delhi was from bhuntar.

I reached home safely at around 9.00 Pm. This was all about my kheerganga experience, long story short if you are reading this and came to this point, then you might also thinking to go for the trek. My advice is to go and don't wait for tomorrow.