Kheerganga Trek From Kasol: Route, Hot Springs & Camping

Most treks reward you with a view. Kheerganga rewards you with a hot bath. You climb the Parvati Valley from Barshaini, past waterfalls and pine, to a high meadow with a natural sulphur hot spring steaming at the top. After a half-day climb, easing into hot water with snow peaks in front of you is hard to beat. This is the complete Kheerganga trek guide from Kasol: the route, the hot springs, camping, and everything else you need.

The trek in brief

Kheerganga sits at the head of the Parvati Valley, at about 2,960 metres. The base for the trek is Kasol, from where you drive to the road head at Barshaini and start walking. Local legend ties the spot to Shiva and his son Kartikeya, said to have meditated here, and the hot spring has drawn pilgrims and trekkers for generations. The walk is a steady climb beside the river, which makes it one of the most rewarding easy-to-moderate treks in Himachal.

The route from Barshaini

The trek starts at Barshaini, the road head about 22 km from Kasol via Manikaran. From there, two trails climb to Kheerganga:

Whichever you choose, the final stretch is the steepest, a sustained climb up the valley before the trail opens into the Kheerganga meadow with its hot spring. The full climb is about 12 km one way and takes most groups 4 to 6 hours.

The hot springs at the top

The hot spring is the whole point. A natural sulphur spring feeds a bathing area at the top, and there is a small temple alongside. Traditionally there are separate sections for men and women. Soaking tired legs in hot water at nearly 3,000 metres, with the valley falling away below, is the kind of reward that makes the climb worth it twice over.

Camping at Kheerganga

You spend the night in the Kheerganga meadow, in tented camps with simple food, usually dal, rice and the inevitable maggi and chai. There is no road, no rush, and a sky full of stars once the day-trippers leave. Mornings here, with mist on the meadow and the spring steaming, are the part people remember most.

Authorities have regulated camping near the very top in the past, so the safest approach is to go with an operator who uses a designated camping area and follows current rules, rather than pitching wherever. Check current advisories on the Himachal Pradesh Tourism site before you travel.

Difficulty and timing

Kheerganga is rated easy to moderate. The trail is clear and follows the river for much of the way, so it is not technically hard, but it is longer than Triund and the final climb asks something of your legs. A reasonably fit beginner manages it well, especially as a step up after a first easy trek. Plan on 4 to 6 hours up and 3 to 4 hours down.

Best time to go

• April to June: the main season. Pleasant days, the forest in full green, comfortable for camping.
• July to August: peak monsoon. The Parvati Valley is prone to landslides and the trail gets slippery. Best avoided.
• September to November: clear post-monsoon air and thinner crowds. Excellent for the trek.
• December to March: snow can block the upper trail and the spring area gets very cold. Only with the right gear and guidance.

What the Kheerganga trek costs

Like most treks, it splits into doing it yourself or going guided:

Independently, Kheerganga is affordable if you are comfortable arranging the Kasol leg, the Barshaini connection and your own gear. A guided weekend trip bundles all of that from Delhi and back, which is why most weekend travellers prefer it. For all-in pricing, see our Kheerganga trek package.

How to reach Kheerganga

The journey is Delhi to Kasol, then Kasol to Barshaini, then the trek. Kasol is about 520 km from Delhi, usually an overnight bus of 12 to 14 hours. From Kasol it is a short drive of about 22 km to Barshaini via Manikaran, where the walk begins.

For the full transport breakdown, read how to reach Kasol from Delhi, and for the bus ride itself, our honest take on the overnight Volvo to Himachal. If you are deciding between treks, the best weekend treks from Delhi puts Kheerganga in context.