Himachal Pradesh is renowned for its valleys and perennial rivers. It’s the right match for nature lovers. It lies in the cradle of the Western Himalayas on the foothills of the Dhauladhar range. Himachal boasts numerous peaks for those who love to climb the mountains.
It’s well linked by road, rail, and air. Road connectivity from Delhi to Himachal via Chandigarh is fine. The railway stations are Shimla, Una, and Dharamkot. Flight connectivity from Delhi to Shimla, Pathankot, and Kangra is available.
Here’s a list of the 7 best hikes in Himachal Pradesh – go ahead and choose the one you haven’t done yet!
- Triund Trek
The Triund trek is suitable for both beginners and moderately experienced trekkers. It’s a one-day trek and a path to higher trekking routes like Kareri Lake. The trip begins at Mcleodganj, the Indian home of the Dalai Lama. The trek is about 9 kilometers away through Bhagsu/Dharamkot, 2 kilometers ahead of Mcleodganj. One could visit the waterfalls of Bhagsunag and the Temple of Gallu Devi on the way to Triund.
It is one of the most popular trekking trails in the area due to its moderate difficulty and rewarding views of the Kangra Valley and the Dhauladhar range. More than 3/4 of the trek is a steady incline and the last 1/4 of the trek is even more inclined.
- Tosh Valley Trek
Tosh, a picturesque village in the Parvati Valley, is 21 kilometers from Kasol. The Tosh trek begins at Kasol. The trekking path runs along the Parvati River. Kasol is located in the Valley of Parvati. The rivers join one of its tributaries, River Tosh. From Barshaini, the trek takes you to Pulga and then to Tosh. Pulga is surrounded by an apple orchard. Kalga is another village in the vicinity of Pulga, which is also beautiful.
Manikaran, a pilgrimage close to Tosh, is holy to the Sikhs and the Hindus. The hot springs of Manikaran are popular with tourists and pilgrims alike. It’s a fine time for the Tosh Valley Trek from April to October.
- Kasol – Kheerganga Trek
The Valley of Parvati is enchanting. It’s a wonderful way to experience this alluring trek. Kasol is popular for a variety of reasons, and Kheerganga is one of them.
On your way to the lush green meadows of Kheerganga, you can cross, among others, the Rudranag waterfalls, where you can take a break before you move on. After the waterfall, the trail gets trickier and it takes an hour to get to Kheerganga. The first thing you can do when you reach Kheerganga is to take a bath in the hot springs and just relax!
- Solang Valley – Patalsu Peak
The Solang Valley is the starting point for a trek. It’s located in the vicinity of Manali. The USP of Solang Valley is located in the midst of snow-capped mountains. It’s known for adventure sports such as zorbing, paragliding, etc. Solang Valley is a winter ski paradise.
The 1-day trek to the peak of Patalsu is via the village of Solang. The Beas River has to be crossed to reach the Solang Village. The right combination of mountain trails, grasslands, and forests adds beauty to the trek. The difficulty of the hike is best described as mild.
- Kinnaur Kailash Trek
Now let’s get a bit harder on ourselves! Kinnaur Kailash is a hike of high altitude. It’s a 2-3 day hike. Preparation is recommended for trekking, such as jogging, core/strength training, etc. It’s ranked between moderate to difficult. It is situated in the valley of Kinnaur at the border of Indo-Tibet. It’s well known for its apple orchards.
Kinnaur Kailash is a pilgrim of religious importance. The Tangle Village is the base camp for a hike. It’s a small village on the banks of the river Satluj. During the walk, one can completely relish the breathtaking views. Road connectivity is fine from Shimla to Tangling via Kufri.
- Prashar Lake Trek
Kantu is the base camp for the Lake Prashar trek. In terms of difficulty, it is graded as easy to moderate. It’s a two-day hike. It is considered to deliver a stunning view of sunrise and sunset. It is possible to enter Prashar Lake by road during the year, except for winters due to snowfall. It’s normally snowing from December to February.
Rolling through the valley and the forest has its own beauty. The lake of Prashar is sporting an island. It is said that the island is moving around the lake. If you’re lucky, you might note that it’s moving. The Prashar Temple next to the lake camouflages well when it’s snowing. The trek could be extended to Tunga Mata, another 12 km from Prashar Lake.
- Malana – Chandrakhani Pass
It starts from the village of Pulag in Naggar, on the banks of the Beas River. It’s 25 odd kilometers away from Kullu. The village of Rumsu is on the Malana route from Pulag. One enters the village of Malana in the Parvati Valley after passing the Chandrakhani Pass in the Pir Panjal range in the Kullu Valley.
It’s a 3-4 day hike. It’s more difficult than the Triund trek or Prashar Lake trek. Apart from the breathtaking views of the Pir Panjal range and the Parvati valley, one can witness the magical views of the Deo Tibba Peak. Stone roof houses welcome you when you enter Malana. The villagers in Malana are observing special customs that you can observe.
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