Wanderers Hub

A tiny township nestling in the lower Himalayan hills, Kasol is on the travel bucket list of every Indian youth and foreign national for sure. And why wouldn’t it be! This quaint, cozy place has so many experiences to offer – you can pick and choose which pleasures you want to indulge in!

When I visit places like Kasol, what excites me most is the promise of good weather and rustic countryside. There are so many things to look forward to but the chilly breeze and homely ambience is what I love the most.

A major reason why people love Kasol is its liberal culture and relaxed lifestyle. No one cares what you’re up to here and you can unwind without inhibitions in whatever way you enjoy. Looking for best things to do in Kasol? Or places to visit in Kasol?

You can go trekking, biking and enjoy some adventure sports or simply explore the many little cafes here. You can shop at the local market and pick up some really unique souvenirs too. And if nothing else, you can revel in the tranquil bliss of doing nothing and escaping hectic city life.

I would recommend everyone to visit Kasol at least once, even if it’s just a 2-day visit – it’ll be a memorable holiday for sure!

Read in detail our experience of being in Kasol and what’s in store for rebels and unconventional folks in the hippie backpackers’ town that is marked for its rustic charm and brazen attitude.

A Long Walk along the Parvati River

There’s nothing as refreshing as a long walk along the gorgeous Parvati River. While Kasol is famous for its wild parties and booze, there are a lot of places to go in Kasol where you can wander for peaceful time. We loved strolling down the Kasol lanes with churning Parvati River bordering one side and pine trees the other.

Be careful and don’t cross waters on foot as the flow can get pretty forceful, thereby increasing the chances of slipping. Just stretch out your legs and sit on a smooth boulder to dip your feet in the tumbling blue-green water for calming your inner self.

Head to Shiva Mama Café & Say “Hello to the Queen”

Trust me if I say this, Shiva Mama Café was nothing like the cafes we go to in metropolis cities like Delhi. The psychedelic environment clubbed with good food and rocking music can make you a fan of this café. And the best part is the food is inexpensive and really tasty.

An amazing dessert that every traveler needs to indulge in while in Kasol is “Hello to the Queen” – a dish that heralds from Israel (though its origin is debatable). This lusciously succulent dessert is prepared with honey cookie crumbs, dollops of vanilla ice cream, marshmallows, hot Nutella custard, fresh bananas, raisins, and hot chocolate sauce.

Despite not being a fan of desserts, I enjoyed this calorific yet sickeningly sweet bowl of goodness. Bon Appetit!

Hungry or Not? Taste Some Tangy Momos

A visit to Kasol is incomplete without trying the steaming hot momos served with red and white dips. You can have fried momos as well, but I love steamed momos.

Try some from the Momos Corner opposite the Moon Dance Café namely Shambu Momo Corner, which is quite famous in the area.

A plate with 10 momos – it’s actually quite filling. Oh! And the aroma! You can go on and on having momos without stopping. You might find people having their own liquor around this joint.

Hippie Shopping – A big YAY!

Hippie backpacker or not, you just can’t come to Kasol and go back home without buying a few cool hippie items. In fact, no list of things to do in Kasol would be complete without mention of the hippie markets in the township.

In the flea market, you’ll find everything psychedelic ranging from harems, hemp wristbands, caps, pullovers, to harems and bongs. Other than that, you can pick some gorgeous trinkets and semi-precious stones from Kasol market.

At astoundingly low prices, buy Bob Marley and Lord Shiva T-shirts which you can cherish for a lifetime. One tip, don’t forget to bargain.

Visit Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib

5kms away from Kasol is the huge Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib tucked amidst magnificent hills and a fierce Beas.

Don’t miss out visiting this shrine for it is one of the holiest pilgrimage centers where one can find peace and eternal gratification. The gurudwara is most famous for its hot water springs, within its premises, wherein worshipers take a dip to get rid of their illnesses.

Just make sure you dress decently and cover your head completely before entering into the Gurudwara. Also, devour the Langar that is both tasty and wholesome.

People of all faiths and religions are welcome wholeheartedly in this shrine, and the message is quite clear as you can find pictures of gods of various religions here. Do add this to the list of places to visit in Kasol!

Trek to Kheerganga

Other places to visit in Kasol or rather a few kilometers away from the township are Tosh, Malala, and Kheerganga. Out of these three, we opted to trek to Kheerganga as we were told that it is an amazing hamlet that is breathtakingly beautiful. And it definitely is! It is about four hours of the steep climb on tricky trails. Though it is an easy trek from Kasol, some might find it challenging.

You can read about our Kheerganga trekking experience in detail

*****

If you are planning a visit to Himachal Pradesh, you must consult our blog posts!