• TREK DISTANCE 10km (one way)
• TIME 2 days
• LOCATION Barsheni Village, Kasol (Near Manali)
• Mid-April to September
• DIFFICULTY Easy-Moderate
• BUDGET About 2k from Kasol to Kasol per perosn
• MINNIMUM AGE 12 Years
• MAXIMUM ALTITUDE 3050m

About Khirganga

Khir Ganga is a holy place with a hot water spring. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to legend, Kartikeya the younger son of Lord Shiva and Parvati meditated for a thousand years at Khir Ganga making it an important religious place for Hindus.
Kheer Ganga or Khir Ganga name came due to the milky waters of the Parvati River flowing into Parvati valley. The valley is very abundant in water resources and a Hydel Power Project is coming up in the village of Barsheni.

History

Local Legend of Kheerganga : Lord Shiva (some say it was his son Kartik) came to Kheerganga and is said to have meditated for thousands of years. The name Kheerganga literally translates to ‘milky white sacred water.’

The water of the natural hot springs is indeed white like milk and a bath in the same is considered sacred and meditative. The temple nearby is believed to be quite ancient too, and Kheerganga is the abode of Lord Shiva (according to the locals.) It is a spiritual site.

About the Trek

At a distance of 64 km from Kullu, 56 km from Bhuntar, 22 km from Manikaran and 102 km from Manali, Khir Ganga is a small village situated in Parvati Valley situated at an altitude of 3050 m. It has to be reached from Barsheni by 11 km trek and usually a 2 day trip from Kullu / Barsheni. Khir Ganga is one of the best trekking sites in Himachal Pradesh.

Kheer Ganga trek starts from the village Barsheni which is reachable from Manikaran. From Barsheni about 11 km trek is needed to reach Kheer Ganga. At Barsheni one can see the confluence of Tosh River and Parvati River. While trekking from Barsheni, travellers can visit attractions like Rudra-Nag, the serpent shaped waterfall, the rock formation of Pandu Pul and the Pin-Parvati Pass (5400 m).

The trek is very pleasant and offers some excellent views. After climbing the Kheer Ganga, a quick bath in the hot spring relaxes the mind and body. The view of the sunset apart from trekking through Kheer Ganga forests are an incredible experience. There is no electricity in Kheer Ganga and the lights are all run on solar power. It is recommended to carry enough food while trekking this place. Kheer Ganga is infamous for the marijuana that grows here which is known as Charas. Kheer Ganga is a favourite with the hippies and off late, it has become popular with the Israelis.

There is an ashram near the Shiva temple that offers basic accommodation facilities. There are a few restaurants along the road near Kheer Ganga that serve vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine.

The best time to visit Kheer Ganga is between May and November when the weather remains pleasant and favorable. Kheer Ganga remains snow-covered during winters and only gets temporary settlement during summers.

Best Time to visit Kheerganga

Best time to visit Khirganga is in Summers, in the months from March to September. The ways get blocked in winters due to heavy snowfall. So it is preferable to do trek in the summer season.

How to Reach Khirganga

Reaching Bhuntar on the Delhi-Manali Highway :  To reach Bhuntar, one can take a private Volvo bus that leaves from Majnu Ka Tila or Rama Krishna Ashram Metro Station in Delhi. A recommended and timely option is taking the HRTC Himsuta Volvo that leaves from ISBT Kashmere Gate. All the Volvos from Delhi leave in the evening and reach Bhuntar at around 5 am to 7 am in the morning.

Bhuntar is the village from where the road diverges for Parvati Valley, it is also the confluence point of Beas River with Parvati River. Ask the bus to drop you near the Bhuntar bus stand from where you have to catch a bus to Barshaini. Barshaini comes after Kasol, Manikaran and is the last motorable road in the valley. Buses from Bhuntar to Barshaini are frequent and the distance is usually covered in approx. 2-3 hours. It is better to have breakfast in Bhuntar while waiting for the bus.

Barshaini : Barshaini is a small town with a few staying options, and has basic dhabas, a taxi stand and a wine shop. If you have to buy any supplies, it is recommended that you buy them from here. A small road from here diverges to go to Tosh village, which is around 3 kms from Barshaini.

The Parvati River thunders down the gorges and is visible from Barshaini and also flows adjacent to the village. The natural beauty of Parvati Valley has been adversely affected due to the hydro power projects on Parvati River near Barshaini & Pulga. Timing of the last bus from Barshaini to Bhuntar is either 2 pm or 3 pm, confirm the same with locals before deciding on the return journey.

Trekking routes to Kheerganga :

The trekking distance from Barshaini to Kheerganga by any of the routes is around 9-10 kms. There are three routes from Barshaini to go to Kheerganga.

1. Walk to the bridge after Barshaini and take the left turn, ask anyone the way to Nakthan village and Kheerganga. This is the shortest and most preferred route and takes 3-4 hours for a person with average trekking speed. This route is on the left side of Parvati river. The path through Nakthan is the most popular route to trek to Kheerganga and the trail is well marked.
2. From the bridge, take a right to hike up and reach Kalga village. From Kalga there is a different trek route to go to Kheerganga, although it joins the main route halfway on the trek. This route passes through dense forests and it is quite possible for people to lose their way on this trekking path to Kheerganga. It is used by very few trekkers because most people do not know about this route.
3. There is a different trekking path for Kheerganga from Tosh village. It also joins Route No. 1 near the village of Nakthan. This route is mostly used by tourists who stay in Tosh for the night and want to trek the next morning. Tosh nallah or Tosh river flows by near Tosh village which joins Parvati river near Pulga.

Homestays : Barshaini has a couple of homestays in close vicinity. Tosh is a popular destination and has many options to stay, ranging from hotels to homestays. The recent tourist rush in Tosh has meant that the prices of rooms have gone up. There are also a number of colourful cafés in Tosh. On the other side Kalga village has cheap and basic homestays, with in-house cafés as well. Prices per person to be paid (depending on the season and crowd) are from Rs. 100 – Rs. 200 per day.

Where to stay in Kheerganga? : Kheerganga has become a very popular destination for young adventurers during the summer months. There are around 8-10 huts offering rudimentary staying facilities in Kheerganga. Depending on the season, weekend crowds and weather – it is easy to find accommodation in Kheerganga even if you haven’t booked in advance. There are options of private huts and rooms for couples at 400-500 Rupees per room. Common sleeping space is available (a comfortable bed and blanket) at around 100-200 Rs. per person. Remember that the bathrooms are mostly shared ones and it is almost impossible to find a room with an attached bathroom.

Another option for trekkers can be staying in the common rooms at the place called Ashram, it is maintained by the monks, pandits and sadhus. Prices at the Ashram are 150 Rs per day per person including food. Meals include dall, rice and chapati.

If one is arriving at Kheerganga late in the evening, then it can become a dicey situation in case of bad weather when all staying options are found to be packed sometimes.

Tips – Must Read

It can get quite cold in Kheerganga, carrying heavy woollens is advised even in the summer months. Mobile networks work in Barshaini, Kalga and Tosh. Kheerganga may have BSNL connectivity, but it is better to make important calls before you begin the trek. Water is available at dhabas at various points on the trek and location of waterfalls has been mentioned too in the trek route (to fill the water bottles.)

In Kheerganga, the restaurant owners obviously want you to buy their bottled water – but there is a small natural spring in a place called Ashram. Find it and discreetly fill your water bottles, nobody has a problem with it.

Kheerganga has become so popular that these days a small supermarket store has opened there; it has a reasonable collection of essential products and packaged eatables that may be required. A small bakery also sells chocolate pastries and other breads. It is advised to carry a power bank to recharge your electronic devices. ATM services in Parvati Valley can sometimes not work, so it is best to carry the required cash or withdraw from Bhuntar/Kasol. Try to carry as less weight with you in the backpack as possible, and leave the excess stuff either at Barshaini/Tosh/Kalga or the homestay you are staying at.

While it is possible to trek to Kheerganga almost throughout the year, in peak winters the path may be snowed out and the tents and other accommodation options may not be available. During off-season enquire beforehand from the villagers of Barshaini & Nakthan, with regards to the same.

Khirganga Trek Map

Bhuntar – Kasol – Barsheni/Barshaini – Pulga – Khirganga – Barsheni – Kasol – Bhuntar

Ideal Itinerary :

DAY 01 :  Arrive Kasol 
Morning arrival Bhuntar by O/N Volvo Bus and take share Jeep to Kasol total distance 45 KM from Bhuntar. After check in Hotel walk around Kasol and Manikaran Gurudwara for acclimatization.O/N Kasol.

DAY 02 : Kasol– Barshaini – Pulga – Khirganga (2960m) 32 kms Drive and Trek/ 12 kms-
After breakfast we drive ealy to Barshaini and the trek to Kheerganga through Pulga Village.Total distance 12 kms duration 7 to 8 Hrs.O/N Camp at Kheerganga.

DAY 03 : Khirganga to Barshaini and Kasol
After Breakfast  we follow the same route back to Barshaini by Trek and afternoon drive back to Kasol. TREK END.

Things To Carry Along

• Undergarments and extra pair of socks
• Water bottles
• Dryfruits, sugars, buiscuits, chocates etc.
• Trekking or sports shoes
• Warm clothes such as jackets.

Travel Gears And Tools Required For The Trek