Unwinding in the Mountains

(Coffee is a close substitute but let’s talk about places and mountains instead) 

I’ve always wanted to take a hike or do a week-long trek to climb a high mountain peak - fascinated by hearing stories and watching movies. However, I wasn’t that physically fit to do so. But I still wanted to go on a hike. That’s when I started looking. And this is when I learnt about Kasol Tosh and Kheerganga in Himachal Pradesh I’d never taken a solo trip ever in my life and the thought of doing this solo was exciting, but nerve wrecking.

However hikes are bound to be with groups and hence I did find one with a hostel group, The Hosteller. They have a planned itinerary under the banner of KTK Trek! The expedition being a short and a comfortable one, it was a no brainer for me in the month of June. 

Looking at the affordable package of ₹8,499 to and from Delhi via an overnight bus, I booked the tickets immediately and reserved my spot. Excitement knew no bounds as the travel date kept getting closer. Arrangements began. Backpacks and rucksacks set with warm clothes; a poncho, trek shoes, other essentials in place, all set for my first ever hike.

On reaching Kasol early in the morning, it seemed like a calm place to be in. An intimate town with its natural beauty, Kasol is a commercial town, perfect for a getaway with friends! The focus was on the next day, towards Kheerganga when the hike would begin the next day Kheerganga is a campsite in the Parvati Valley which is situated about 13 kms on a hike path from the base at Kasol. 

It seemed like a very long pathway to cover in a day. Although the difficulty of the hike was fairly easy; it was time consuming. Walking trails, multiple mini waterfalls, rock boulders and a million maggi stop shops later, we peaked at Kheerganga at about 6pm. It was a close 5-6 hour walk from Kasol! It was nothing but an incredible feeling to have, on reaching the mountaintop where the view was just impeccable. Yes, we reached just in time for the sunset! Make sure you start early to reach in time for the sunset. The temperature tends to drop rampantly post the sunset, so do not forget to pack extremely warm clothes. 

Trust me, you’d wanna stay awake at 1am hoping for a clear sky with an ocean full of stars that shine really bright at night! It’s a spectacle that you cannot get enough of. Post descent the next morning, make the headway towards Tosh, a small village close to the Parvati valley where you can relax and enjoy the even better and coveted view. Tosh is a village to be travelled on foot only! Lanes that lead you to incredible cafés, and viewpoints are a must to look out for! 

On completing an entire day at Tosh, you can head back to Kasol to spend the remainder of your trip before you head back to your mundane lives. 

It really did unwind you, didn’t it?