As a child living in the plains, I would wonder what would be living in the hills. Dad, mom gave me a fair dose of family holidays. But those touristy vacays couldn’t satiate my appetite for travel.
I grew up to be a travel buff and thankfully married someone exactly like me.
Abhishek and I share a common passion for travel and Tirthan Valley was in our bucket list for long.
So finally, during the Dussehra holidays, we decided to go for a week-long impromptu backpack trip. But this time I literally fought with my better half for a bus ride to the valley for the right backpacking experience.
Road Journey to Gushaini, Tirthan Valley
So in a hurry, we packed and left on Friday night. Buses from Delhi are available from Majnu ka Tila. For Tirthan valley one must take the bus to Aut and from Aut the taxis ply to Gushiani, which lies in Tirthan Valley. The nearest railway station is Ambala, by the way. But if you are traveling by public transport, opt for a bus journey instead.
Also, book your buses beforehand and online booking sites can be a good option too. Additionally, please, please keep some hard cash handy as there aren’t any ATMs on the way, except one or two in Banjar.
About Tirthan Valley
Tirthan Valley is called ‘Himachal’s best-kept secret’. It is also called the trout valley because of being only place boasting rainbow-colored trouts. Let me tell you Gushiani, Banjar fall in Tirthan Valley. Jibhi and Shoja are nearby villages but aren’t part of Tirthan Valley.
Gushiani is a hidden paradise in Himachal Pradesh. Nestled in the Tirthan valley, alongside river Tirthan, this small town is a delight for nature lovers.
How to reach Gushaini, Tirthan Valley
From Aut bus station, we took a taxi to Gushiani. The journey is a scenic one alongside the Beas river and in one and half a half-hour we reached our destination. If you are coming from Delhi via bus, you must take the bus to Manali and get down at Aut Bus station after the tunnel. Please inform the bus conductor beforehand to stop at Aut.
Where to stay at Gushiani?
There are several homestays and camps available at Gushiani. It is advisable to book your homestay beforehand.
We did it on the way, though. Raju’s cottage was our first option. But due to the unavailability of rooms there, we parked ourselves at Dreamland homestay.
However, we weren’t disappointed as we loved our cozy cottages with a river view. The homestay owners Mr. Mohinder and his family are extremely hospitable and ensured a comfortable stay.
Food
Being a remote village, there aren’t many eating out options here. So sticking to home-cooked is a wiser deal. The food at our homestay was fresh and simple. And we loved it.
Exploring Gushiani
Day one was all about soaking up the beauty of the place. The roaring teal streams flowing over the grey rocks expressed the pristine beauty of Gushiani. For hours we gazed at it, sipping the tea and gorging on the Maggi.
The sunset was quick and so was our dinner in the cozy cottage.
Things to do in Gushiani
There are many things to do in and around Gushiani. You can just sit back and relax. However, if you love to trek and you’re at the right place.
- Trek to Chehni Kothi
- Trek to the entry gate of Great Himalayan National Park
- Chhoie or Choi Waterfall
- Hike Jalori Pass & Serlosar Lake are must do here.
- Don’t forget to go fishing here as it is one of the rarest places in India to find rainbow-colored trouts.
In the next blog posts, you will find out more about our journey that will include all these experiences.
Here are some quick links:
