Kasol Tour Package

The Parvati River rises from the Man Talai Glacier below the Pin Parvati Pass, at around 5,200 metres on the western slope of the Greater Himalayas, and is named after the Hindu goddess Parvati. From its source, it runs down the valley, fed along the way by smaller streams including the Tosh and Dibibokri, before joining the Beas River at Bhuntar, just south of Kullu.

Kasol sits directly on its banks, and the river's fast, glacial-fed current is what shapes most of the valley's landscape — the rocky gorges, the pine-covered slopes, and the string of villages from Manikaran up to Pulga that follow its course.

The Parvati is not considered safe for swimming in most stretches near Kasol, since the current is stronger than it looks and the water stays cold year-round.

Chalal sits about 1.5 to 2 km from Kasol, a walk of roughly half an hour along a trail that crosses the Parvati River on a cable suspension bridge. There is no motorable road into the village, which is part of why it has stayed quieter than Kasol itself despite being so close.

The short trek passes through pine forest before opening onto the village, where a handful of cafes — Shiva Garden Cafe among the better known — serve Israeli food alongside the usual backpacker menu, a reflection of the many Israeli travellers who have made Kasol and Chalal a stop on their India travels.

Chalal sits at roughly 1,600 metres and makes an easy half-day walk from Kasol, or a base for longer treks further up the valley.

Kheerganga sits at about 2,950 to 2,960 metres in the Parvati Valley, reached by a trek of roughly 12 to 13 km from Barshaini, the last motorable point past Kasol. The trek typically takes 4 to 6 hours one way through pine and rhododendron forest, following the Parvati River for part of the route.

The name comes from a Shiva legend: some versions say Parvati created a hot spring here to soothe Shiva after long meditation, others that Shiva spilled kheer (rice pudding) from his bowl while consoling his son Kartikeya after a mythological contest. Either way, the natural hot spring at the top, with a view over the valley, is the main reward after the climb.

Camping at Kheerganga has been restricted at times by local authorities due to litter and forest-fire concerns, so it's worth checking current rules before planning an overnight stay.