Himachali Guide
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A two-day forest trek up the Parvati valley to a natural hot spring at 2,960 m.
Duration
2 days
Difficulty
Easy
Max altitude
2,960 m
Distance
24 km
Kheerganga at a glance
The Kheerganga trek is a 2-day easy trek in Kullu-Manali, Himachal Pradesh, reaching a maximum altitude of 2,960 m over about 24 km. It starts from Barsheni, with pickup in Kasol. The best time to go is March to June and September to November. Guided departures with Himachali Guide start from ₹3,500 per person.
If you want a first look at the Parvati valley, Kheerganga is the easiest way in. From the roadhead at Barsheni the trail climbs through the villages of Nakthan and past the Rudranag waterfall, then winds up through pine and deodar forest to a wide meadow at 2,960 metres where a hot spring bubbles out of the hillside.
At the top is a stone pool of hot sulphur water, with the snow peaks of the upper Parvati valley across the gorge. Legend says Shiva's son Kartikeya meditated here for thousands of years, and the milky colour of the stream gives the place its name, "the river of kheer".
We camp above the meadow away from the busy dhabas, cook our own food and walk down the quieter Kalga side the next morning. It works as a first trek or a weekend trip from Chandigarh or Delhi, and also as an acclimatisation walk before the longer Parvati treks.
2 days · tap a day to expand
Meet in Kasol at 8 am and drive an hour to Barsheni. Trek through Nakthan village, past the Rudranag waterfall and up through the forest to the Kheerganga meadow. Evening soak in the hot spring.
Sunrise over the Parvati peaks and a morning dip, then descend via the quieter Kalga side to Barsheni and drive to Kasol by early afternoon.
It is a steady 12 km climb of about 1,000 m, taking five to six hours at an easy pace. Anyone who walks regularly can do it. The last stretch is the steepest.
The trail is usually open from March to November. In December to February there is snow and ice above Rudranag and the forest department often closes it; we do not run departures then.
Yes. Most people soak in the evening and again at sunrise. There are separate enclosed pools for women and men.
Overnight Volvo buses run from Delhi and Chandigarh to Bhuntar; Kasol is an hour further by local bus or taxi. Bhuntar also has a small airport with flights from Delhi.
Easy
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