Tirthan | A hidden gem in Himachal
For city folks like us who are residing in Delhi, hill stations in north India such as Shimla, Manali, Mussorie, etc. are the destination which comes to everyone's mind. But sadly that's the case with everyone, which is why these hill stations have become too touristy and commercialized. What if I told you that there is a hidden treasure – with pristine oak and pine forests not too far from this mad rush.
Tirthan valley, located near Kullu at an altitude of around 3500 feet, is barely one hour's drive from Aut on Manali highway. The place derives its name from the river Tirthan, a tributary of Beas river in Himachal. The place is so quiet and unexplored that you'll hardly see outsiders, commercialized brands and even bars on your phone network - which I guess one needs to get away from their bosses, family, and cranky other halves.
So it was a 2-night 3-day trip which I booked with WanderOn which is a travel group that organizes everything for you be it transportation, food, stay and itinerary so that you have the best time enjoying the place without worrying much about these ancillary things.
Day-0
I boarded the bus at 9:00 pm from Majnu ka Tila in Delhi heading towards Manali and dropped off at Aut just about 6:00 am. Since I was traveling solo I tried to break the ice with almost everyone in our group during the journey itself so that by the time we reach Tirthan we are no longer strangers but friends for the upcoming trips. The group was diverse with people from different parts of the country and it was astonishing to see people coming from far off places to experience this hidden treasure for just two nights.
Stay
When it comes to booking a stay, one must prefer a homestay over hotels as the best way to admire the beauty of this small village is to live peacefully amidst locals, hence we stayed at one of the best properties there - Trishila resort.
The resort is really beautiful and is strategically located by the river that gives the traveler a true taste of the Tirthan valley for its rawness and exquisiteness. The place is always in high demand and advance booking is highly recommended.
Day-1
The day started with checking in our accommodation, while we were dazzling the Himalayan beauty and clicking pictures, our trip captain made sure that we smoothly settle in with welcome snacks and our room keys. The food was prepared by the homestay staff which gave us enough energy to kick start our day to the first item on the itinerary- trek to Jibhi waterfall
It's a short 2-hour trek which goes through farms and wooden houses, where you can easily chit chat with kids along the way who generally peep visitors like us through their windows. The trek also gave me an opportunity to interact with other travelers who made feel somewhat important as I was the one holding the DSLR and I was overflown with the request to click those unforgettable portraits. By the time we returned our cottage we started knowing each other well and people started getting comfortable in a rather big group.
We reached the resort and within the next few minutes some delicious, piping hot food reached our tables in the cafe. The need for the hour was a bonfire, and the setup was already done and as everyone got over with the dinner, the fire was lit.
A chilling night with the comforting fire amidst the beautiful Tirthan valley and below the sky cheered by the stars needed just one missing element for it to be the perfect night- some soulful music. And that was what the chores were about!
A Few travelers in the group then sang and played their instruments giving our ears what was needed for the next few hours and everyone seemed lost in the vibes that this all arrangement had created. After the music session, we all played Mafia, had some booze and finally called it a day.
Day-2
Our next day schedule was the trek to Serolsar Lake so everyone woke up on time and got ready. Our trip captain helped us with some warm-up games and prepared us for a beautiful trek to Serolsar lake. After having the breakfast we got into the cabs and headed towards Jalori Pass from where the trek was supposed to start. The 40-minute ride showed more of the astounding Tirthan valley.
The trek is around 6km long and takes somewhere about 2.5-3 hrs one way to reach the lake. Most part of the trek is covered by tall, majestic trees that feel to be your companion throughout. There were a few dhabas in the way and we stopped on one of those to have our lunch.
The Serolsar lake was half-frozen and had a tint of green, but it seemed to change its shade, every time the clouds changed shape. There was a small temple dedicated to Buddhi Nagin Devi and the whole place was covered in thick snow. Soon everyone got busy clicking pictures and enjoying the peace and beauty of the lake.
After some leisure time, it was time to head back and it took us around ~2hrs to reach Jalori pass where our cabs were parked. I didn't notice the return journey at all as me and some of my new friends were busy knowing each other and pulling legs. Dinner was served as soon as we reached our resort after which we all decided to take some rest and prepare ourselves for the rafting in freezing cold water the very next day.
Day-3
The next day we had to set back for Delhi, but before that WanderOn had made arrangements for the river rafting. We were transported in an open jeep to the rafting site where we picked our rafts and begin ~15km long adventure amidst rain and freezing cold temperatures.
Finally, we boarded our buses in the evening and reached Delhi early morning, giving everyone enough time to reach their offices/colleges.
The best part
The best part of the whole trip was that I went on the trip, all alone and without any expectations but I came back with a lot of friends and memories. Especially these five who welcomed me in their group and transformed me from a solo to a group traveler.
Tirthan valley, located near Kullu at an altitude of around 3500 feet, is barely one hour's drive from Aut on Manali highway. The place derives its name from the river Tirthan, a tributary of Beas river in Himachal. The place is so quiet and unexplored that you'll hardly see outsiders, commercialized brands and even bars on your phone network - which I guess one needs to get away from their bosses, family, and cranky other halves.
So it was a 2-night 3-day trip which I booked with WanderOn which is a travel group that organizes everything for you be it transportation, food, stay and itinerary so that you have the best time enjoying the place without worrying much about these ancillary things.
Day-0
I boarded the bus at 9:00 pm from Majnu ka Tila in Delhi heading towards Manali and dropped off at Aut just about 6:00 am. Since I was traveling solo I tried to break the ice with almost everyone in our group during the journey itself so that by the time we reach Tirthan we are no longer strangers but friends for the upcoming trips. The group was diverse with people from different parts of the country and it was astonishing to see people coming from far off places to experience this hidden treasure for just two nights.
Stay
When it comes to booking a stay, one must prefer a homestay over hotels as the best way to admire the beauty of this small village is to live peacefully amidst locals, hence we stayed at one of the best properties there - Trishila resort.
The resort is really beautiful and is strategically located by the river that gives the traveler a true taste of the Tirthan valley for its rawness and exquisiteness. The place is always in high demand and advance booking is highly recommended.
Day-1
The day started with checking in our accommodation, while we were dazzling the Himalayan beauty and clicking pictures, our trip captain made sure that we smoothly settle in with welcome snacks and our room keys. The food was prepared by the homestay staff which gave us enough energy to kick start our day to the first item on the itinerary- trek to Jibhi waterfall
It's a short 2-hour trek which goes through farms and wooden houses, where you can easily chit chat with kids along the way who generally peep visitors like us through their windows. The trek also gave me an opportunity to interact with other travelers who made feel somewhat important as I was the one holding the DSLR and I was overflown with the request to click those unforgettable portraits. By the time we returned our cottage we started knowing each other well and people started getting comfortable in a rather big group.
We reached the resort and within the next few minutes some delicious, piping hot food reached our tables in the cafe. The need for the hour was a bonfire, and the setup was already done and as everyone got over with the dinner, the fire was lit.
A chilling night with the comforting fire amidst the beautiful Tirthan valley and below the sky cheered by the stars needed just one missing element for it to be the perfect night- some soulful music. And that was what the chores were about!
A Few travelers in the group then sang and played their instruments giving our ears what was needed for the next few hours and everyone seemed lost in the vibes that this all arrangement had created. After the music session, we all played Mafia, had some booze and finally called it a day.
Day-2
Our next day schedule was the trek to Serolsar Lake so everyone woke up on time and got ready. Our trip captain helped us with some warm-up games and prepared us for a beautiful trek to Serolsar lake. After having the breakfast we got into the cabs and headed towards Jalori Pass from where the trek was supposed to start. The 40-minute ride showed more of the astounding Tirthan valley.
The trek is around 6km long and takes somewhere about 2.5-3 hrs one way to reach the lake. Most part of the trek is covered by tall, majestic trees that feel to be your companion throughout. There were a few dhabas in the way and we stopped on one of those to have our lunch.
The Serolsar lake was half-frozen and had a tint of green, but it seemed to change its shade, every time the clouds changed shape. There was a small temple dedicated to Buddhi Nagin Devi and the whole place was covered in thick snow. Soon everyone got busy clicking pictures and enjoying the peace and beauty of the lake.
After some leisure time, it was time to head back and it took us around ~2hrs to reach Jalori pass where our cabs were parked. I didn't notice the return journey at all as me and some of my new friends were busy knowing each other and pulling legs. Dinner was served as soon as we reached our resort after which we all decided to take some rest and prepare ourselves for the rafting in freezing cold water the very next day.
Day-3
The next day we had to set back for Delhi, but before that WanderOn had made arrangements for the river rafting. We were transported in an open jeep to the rafting site where we picked our rafts and begin ~15km long adventure amidst rain and freezing cold temperatures.
Finally, we boarded our buses in the evening and reached Delhi early morning, giving everyone enough time to reach their offices/colleges.
The best part
The best part of the whole trip was that I went on the trip, all alone and without any expectations but I came back with a lot of friends and memories. Especially these five who welcomed me in their group and transformed me from a solo to a group traveler.
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