Jibhi is a scenic little village tucked in the Tirthan Valley of the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Located about 100 kilometers away from the densely populated hill station of Manali, Jibhi may be the perfect option for you if you long for an unpretentious place to live the slow mountain life, just like the locals do. Jibhi's sub 6000 feet elevation allows it to be accessible throughout the year and also makes it a great option for those who can't stand the extreme cold of the Himalayas. As much as we love the mountains and prefer their cold over the city's scorching heat, my friends and I have realized it over the years that we are not built to thrive in extreme cold and that is why, Jibhi was chosen to spend the last three days of 2018, vacationing and catching up with each other.
Jibhi does not have swanky hotels and restaurants. According to a local, who was also very gracious to invite us over for a delicious dinner, nearly every house in Jibhi also acts as a homestay, and hence, there is no dearth of homestays here, although, these properties remain off the radar of most online booking platforms. We were also unsure of the accommodation options and this is when it chanced that I checked Airbnb while commuting between Aut and Jibhi. I was well pleased to learn that Airbnb had several homestays listed on the platform and as students who were traveling on a budget, we sorted the options by price and booked the cheapest- an option that cost only Rupees 800 a night. Well, what could have we expected after paying the lowest amount for a stay in the entire valley. We were wrong. Thakur Homestay, a primitive Himachali house split into two cozy, dual story cottages turned out to be a treat to the heart, the soul, and also the pocket, obviously. Turns out, the owner had just got out of college and started this business with his newly wedded wife. They had intentionally kept the price low to woo clients from other already established home stays in the Tirthan Valley. The next three days were spent admiring the views from the property, hogging on local food made with extreme love by the sweet hosts, walking through unknown trails when we were not eating, and pinching ourselves to make sure that we were not dreaming of living this good life.
At the time of bidding the place adieu, we realized it was not fair to have paid the little amount that we did for an experience we will carry for a lifetime and therefore decided to pay for an extra night, only out of respect and love for the hosts. We wished them good luck and headed back to the city with a promise to come back with more friends and family.
To the readers reading this, please make sure to check out Airbnb for the best and the most affordable stay options in smaller valleys like Tirthan. Speaking from experience, I am sure that you will not be left disappointed. Also, you can Google right away if you are interested in staying at Thakur Homestay. All the ways to contact them are available in a single click. Happy Travels!