Barot valley is an extremely picturesque offbeat place that is quite popular among the tourists. If you are wondering where is Barot valley in Himachal Pradesh, this beautiful valley is situated in Mandi district of Himachal which is a paradise for green panthers, adventure enthusiasts and photographers. The majestic mountains surrounded by verdant vale and lovely sky painted by hues of red and orange during sunset and sunrise leaves people spellbound. It doesn't matter if you are travelling for adventure, or simply want to admire the stunning natural beauty, Barot valley is a must visit destination for everyone.
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| Stunning scenery of Barot Valley in Himachal Pradesh |
Escape to Barot Valley : The Perfect Getaway in Himachal Pradesh
- If you are wondering why visit Barot valley, it is a hidden gem in Himachal Pradesh, a scenic valley which remain unharmed or untouched by mass tourism.
- Most tourists prefer to visit unexplored places over popular ones which don't have over crowding problem and get to experience travelling in peace. If you want to learn more about unexplored places in Himachal, you can read it here.
- Barot valley has everything that a tourists want like ample trekking activities ranging from beginner to experienced, an ultimate retreat for green panthers who love to admire the stunning beauty of nature and photographers who love to capture stunning scenery through their lens. Let's explore best places to visit in scenic Barot Valley.
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| Verdant vale in Barot valley |
Barot Valley places to visit and Key Highlights
There are plethora of beautiful and enchanting places to visit in the scenic Barot valley. Whether you are in for thrilling adventure, want to admire nature like an ideal green panther, enjoy cool weather that feels refreshing or want to camp and do stargazing, there are endless opportunities. Let's explore the most popular places and activities through this blog post.
1. Gaddi Shepherds and local culture
- A group of shepherds known as Gaddi Tribe have been living in Barot Valley for centuries. The Gaddi shepherds are nomadic tribes who migrate according to seasons.
- During winters, the tribe migrate to Shiwalik hills and during summer season, they migrate to higher areas like Dhauladhar range to access lush green pastures for their sheep.
- Travelers can interact with the locals and gain insights about their way of living in the wilderness, their unique culture and traditional lifestyle. To enrich the cultural experience further, you can learn about their daily routines, customs and rituals.
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| The Gaddi Tribe in Barot Valley |
2. The Barot Dam
- Barot Dam is one of the must visit places in Barot Valley. It was built in 1920's , it was used to supply energy to Shanan house inn Joginder nagar.
- As a traveler, you'll get to explore the British era tunnels and reservoirs used in making Barot Dam, it will be an amazing experience to witness the hydroelectric engineering of that time.
- The clear water surrounded by dense forests provide a spectacular scenery that looks quite enchanting. Barot Dam is built on the placid Uhl river. This spectacular place is quite famous for sightseeing and picnic.
- Travelers also get to enjoy boat riding or simply relax by the shore to admire the natural ambiance and scenic valley. The calming and serene atmosphere this place provides is truly unmatched.
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| Scenic view of Barot Dam surrounded by lush greenery. |
3. Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary
- Green panthers must visit Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary to see the diversity of animals and birds of the region. This sanctuary is a protected area in Himachal Pradesh and is situated on the opposite direction of the Uhl river.
- Travelers can enjoy biking and trekking in the rocky trails of the Sanctuary and catch breathtaking views of Kangra, Kullu and Mandi from Nargu top.
- You can spot various medicinal plants that can treat cough, cold, snake bites and skin infections and learn about their healing properties from locals.
- Nargu wildlife sanctuary has diverse wildlife species that include leopard, black bear, Himalayan civet, ghorals etc.
- Birdwatchers can spot Himalayan monal, chakor, black and grey partridge, cheer pheasant and white crested kalij.
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| Stunning glimpse of Leopard in the Sanctuary |
4. The Uhl River
- The Uhl river is considered lifeline of the Barot valley, it is a placid river known for its clear water originates from the Thamsar glacier located in the Dhauladhar ranges.
- Uhl river is also famous for diverse species of fishes with most popular being the brown trout fishes. This place is a famous fishing spot which attracts large numbers of anglers mainly to fish the brown trout as the clear water makes it ideal for fishing.
- Apart from fishing, the banks of the Uhl river are well known for its stunning scenery in midst of lush valleys and greenery making it an ideal for nature walks and picnic spot where people can relax and enjoy the peaceful natural ambience.
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| The picturesque view of placid Uhl river |
5. The Rajgundha Valley
- The Rajgundha valley is a hidden Himalayan gem situated in Barot valley known for its captivating beauty, famous for trekking enthusiasts, campers and photographers alike.
- Adventure seekers are in for a major treat! They must visit this picturesque valley to enjoy best trekking experience and enjoy other adventure activities too. The Rajgundha valley is situated in close proximity to famous paragliding capital of India- The Bir Billing. Many travelers never miss the opportunity to combine the Rajgundha trek with the Bir Billing paragliding to experience adrenaline rush like never before.
- Adventure enthusiasts can enjoy the stunning views of majestic Dhauladhar range amidst lush meadows and dense forests while trekking and paragliding.
- The Rajgundha valley is perfect place for stargazing, as there is extremely low light pollution and clear skies that increases its appeal even further.
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| The enchanting Rajgundha Valley |
6. Thamsar Pass
- Thamsar Pass is an action packed high altitude trek meant for experienced trekkers that offers spectacular views of alpine meadowns, majestic Dhauladhar range covered in snow, stunning waterfalls and glaciers.
- Thamsar Pass also serves as gateway to Bada Bhangal, an ancient remote village of Gaddi Shepherds which is one of the most isolated villages in Himachal.
- Trekkers will get to see stunning views of pink rhododendron trees, dense deodar trees and might get chance to spot wildlife which includes Himalayan monal, ibex and musk deer.
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| Spectacular views from Thamsar Pass trek |
7. Chuhar Valley
- Chuhar valley is an offbeat destination which is less commercialized as compared to popular ones like Shimla, Manali and Kullu, hence there will be less crowd of tourists and area remains untouched by mass tourism.
- Chuhar valley is a haven for backpackers, campers and solo travelers. There are scenic trails leading to Rajgundha valley, Bada Bhangal and Thamsar pass.
- Travelers can indulge in cultural richness and enjoy local festivals like Mandi Shivratri where locals rejoice with traditional dance and music and shopping opportunities in various fairs and stalls.
- Spiritual seekers can visit Luhari and Bada Gran temple which is a very important pilgrimage site for locals.
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| Locals witnessing Mandi Shivratri festival |
Best time to visit Barot Valley
1. Summer season
- During summer season best time to visit is from March to June.
- The temperature is just ideal to enjoy outdoor activities like trekking, camping, sight seeing, stargazing, nature walking etc.
2. Monsoon season
- During monsoon season best time to visit is from July to September.
- The scenery of Barot valley becomes infinite times enchanting with lush greenery everywhere but as a matter of caution, there can be occasional landslides in the area due to rainfall.
- Monsoons are usually an off season tourism, so there might be less people visiting the scenic valley.
3. Winter season
- During monsoon season the best time to visit is from October to February.
- For snowfall lovers, you'll get to see the scenic Barot valley transforming into winter wonderland before your eyes if you visit during this time.
- You can try snow trekking, and even trout fishing despite chilling temperatures. Certain areas in Uhl river are opened for angling and fishing.
- Seeing the snow covered landscape with snow capped magnificent mountains and peaks, clear skies, chilly weather adds to the charms of beautiful enchanting Barot valley.
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| Snow covered scenic landscape in Barot |
Where to stay in Barot Valley
- If you are looking for budget friendly hotels, you can book Hotel Rajkamal or Hotel Barot valley, you'll receive warm hospitality and get to enjoy scenic views of beautiful Barot valley.
- You can even book lakeside hotels like Lake Paradise to enjoy comfortable stay and enjoy the scenic views of lakeside in Barot.
- If you are a backpacker, you can try popular hostel like Zostel Barot which provides private rooms and budget friendly stays.
- For adventure enthusiasts, you must try Wild high Resort and The Heimat Resort, you'll get to enjoy unique camping and trekking experience and even fishing as well.
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| Camping in Barot alongside the river banks |
Travel tips for visiting scenic Barot valley
- To enjoy most from your trip it is best if you visit during summer season and winter season as stated in the blog post above. It is risky to travel during rainy season so try to avoid it and stay updated with news.
- Try to book hotels, hostels or resorts in advance especially during peak tourist season since Barot valley is an offbeat destination, there are limited accommodations and other facilities available as compared to popular tourist destinations.
- Always pack warm clothes when visiting Barot valley as temperatures drop like crazy chilly during night, especially during winter season, carry heavy winter clothing if you don't wanna freeze and turn into a snowman!
- You can try local transport like local buses or hire a taxi in Barot, but let me tell you, transport facilities are limited, so if you can travel in your own vehicle or hire a taxi service from your place, it is even better.
- There are limited ATM facilities so if possible carry cash and don't be disappointed with low network connectivity, you are visiting an offbeat destination after all!!
Conclusion
The Barot Valley is one of the most scenic offbeat destination in Himachal Pradesh. The joy of exploring this picturesque place through trekking the untouched trails adds to the thrill of travelling. You can immerse yourself in learning about the local culture and tradition by interacting with villagers in The Thamsar Pass or visit Buddhist monasteries for peace and self reflection. Admiring the scenic landscapes covered with lush greenery and snow capped mountains and peaks amidst of thrilling adventure is truly one of a king adventure. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog post and got to discover new things about scenic Barot valley so don't forget to share and leave comments below.
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