Tirthan valley of the bigger Saraj valley in Kullu district is currently one of the most sought after places in Himachal. And if you are someone who is pondering upon making a trip Tirthan, here are some compelling reasons to visit Tirthan valley.
Rustic charm of Tirthan, pretty rivulets, insanely scenic hikes and treks, The great Himalayan national park, unique culture makes Tirthan valley absolutely worth visiting.
23 Incredible Reasons To Visit Tirthan Valley
Tirthan valley has been one of my absolute favourites destinations in Kullu district. I have been to tirthan valley a couple times and it has never failed to amaze me. So much so that I keep yearning for more.
So here I am putting forth a list of 23 epic reasons to visit Tirthan valley and hopefully this will also inspire you to embark on an sojourn to this between jewel of Kullu district.
| 1. The Great Himalayan National Park – The True Jewel of Kullu |
| 2. Pretty Rustic Villages of Tirthan Valley Will Leave You Awestruck |
| 3. Pristine Rivulets of Tirthan Valley Will Steal Your heart |
| 4. Impeccable Meadows of Tirthan Valley Are Just Otherworldly |
| 5. Pretty Temple of Tirthan valley Will Mesmerize You |
| 6. Experience the Charm Of Rustic Homestays In Tirthan valley |
| 7. Tread On Off The Beaten Path With Insane Hikes And Treks in Tirthan valley |
| 8. Experiential Homestays and Luxurious Cottages For A Quaint Stay in Tirthan |
| 9. Solitude Seekers will find tirthan blissful |
| 10. Experience The True Himachali Hospitality in Tirthan valley |
| 11. Trout Fishing – The Main Attraction Of Tirthan Valley |
| 12. Experience A Winter Wonderland In Tirthan Valley |
| 13. Autumn Colors Of Tirthan Valley Will Leave You Gobsmacked |
| 14. Tirthan Valley Is Extremely Safe For The Travelers |
| 15. Experience The Beautiful Orchards of Himachal In Tirthan Valley |
| 16. Try The Lipsmacking Local Delicacies of Tirthan Valley |
| 17. Witness the Kath-Kuni Styled Architecture in Tirthan valley |
| 18. Enchanting forests of Tirthan Valleys Makes For An Ethereal Experience |
| 19. Incredible Waterfalls of Tirthan Valley Will Blow Your Mind |
| 20. Incredible Flora and Fauna of Tirthan Valley |
| 21. Tirthan Valley is Heaven For Bird Watching |
| 22. Witness the Harsh Life of Himalayan Folks in Tirthan Valley |
| 23. Unique Festivals of Tirthan Valley |
1. The Great Himalayan National Park – The True Jewel Of Kullu
The Great Himalayan nation park or Simply GHNP is one of the true jewels of Kullu valley. The GHNP houses some of the rarest floral and faunal species along with same otherworldly vistas of High mountains. The GHNP comprises of parts of Tirthan valley, Banjar valley, Sainj valley, Jiwa Nala Valley.
One of the USP’s of Tirthan is surely the GHNP. Nature enthusiasts, flora and fauna connoisseurs, hikers and trekkers just love to venture into GHNP.So GHNP in my opinion is one of the best reasons to visit Tirthan valley
The trail to Bashleo Jot starting from Bathad. There several such pretty treks and trails ranging from easy to multi day hikes in the Great Himalayan National Park.
2. Pretty Rustic Villages of Tirthan Valley Will Leave You Awestruck
One of the reasons why I absolutely fell in love with Tirthan valley, were its incredibly pretty rustic villages. And trust me you’ll too.
The incredible villages of Tirthan valley still seem to be stuck back in time with all the old styled architecture. The unique culture and old traditions still thrives in the villages of Tirthan. And of course not to mention that you get to witness some insanely picturesque landscapes from the higher villages of Tirthan
Its at the rustic villages of Tirthan valley like Sharchi, Ropa, Galingcha, Bathad, Shilhi, Pekhr and many more where you get to experience the true beauty of Himachal both culturally and visually.
Here is detailed blog on how safe it is to travel to remote villages in Himachal all alone.
3. Pristine Rivulets Of Tirthan Valley Will Steal Your Heart
Incredible Rivulets of Tirthan valley is one of the reasons why you should absolutely visit Tirthan valley. Sitting by the pristine rivulets like Tirthan, Falchan will absolutely mesmerize you.
Relaxing at the bank of such pristine Rivulets in Tirthan while listening to its mellifluous sound what else do you really want right ?
By the way, here is a blog on 47 pretty hidden places in Kullu. I am sure you will like it.
The beautiful Falachan stream flowing rapidly near the village of Bathad with an absolutely mind blowing setting. This beautiful place was just a minute away from the place I was staying in Bathad.
4. Impeccable Meadows Of Tirthan Valley Are Just Otherworldly
Imagine yourself at lush green meadow surrounded by the high mountains. Sounds too good to be true right ? Well, Tirthan valley is full of insanely beautiful meadows which would truly leave you awestruck. Some require you to hike for a few hours while some require trekking over multiple days.
But one thing is for sure the setting of such meadows are absolutely scenic. Some of the meadows of Tirthan valley include, Bhagodi Thach, Bhindi Thach, Bedi Thach and many more.
These meadows can be your ideal camping sites if you wish to camp amidst such incredible vistas.
5. Pretty Temples of Tirthan valley Will Mesmerize You
Pretty wooden temples of Tirthan valley which are also common across Kullu and Himachal are just mesmerizing. Almost Every village of Tirthan has such incredible temples.
These temples are dedicated to local deities of villages. Most of the temples have incredible show of craftsmanship in the form beautiful carved wooden walls.
And most of this temples are usually located in and around the villages. So the rustic setting of the villages with incredible pretty temple makes it absolutely worth it.
Villages like these are widespread across Tirthan. But each and every time I come across such temples I get mesmerized each Time. Beautiful Temple located in Ropa village on the way to GHNP entry gate at Rolla.
6. Experience The Charm of Rustic Homestays In Tirthan Valley
In my opinion staying with the locals of rustic villages is the most purest way to experience Himachal Pradesh. And with Tourism in rustic villages of Tirthan valley picking pace why stay in a hotel when you can stay with a local.
Villages like Gushaini, Sharchi, Bathad have some decent homestays in Tirthan valley. Eating local cuisine, getting acquainted with the unique culture of Tirthan, are some of the perks you get for staying in homestays of Tirthan valley.
By the way, here is a detailed blog on how to find a place to stay in rustic villages of Himachal. This will be quite helpful if you wish to stay in the rustic villages of Tirthan valley.
7. Tread On Off The Beaten Path With Insane Hikes And Treks In Tirthan Valley
Treading on off the beaten trails and hikes is one of the reasons why you should visit Tirthan valley. Thanks to GHNP and other incredible areas of Tirthan, there is no dearth of hiking and trekking trails in Tirthan.
Hike to pristine meadows, remote villages, mountain tops, enchanting forests, you name it Tirthan has got you covered. And the best part is the trails are absolutely virgin and only locals and shepherds venture here, mass trekking companies are nowhere.
Some of the popular hiking trails include, Bashleo Jot Trek, Bajaya Jot trek, hike to entry gate of GHNP in Rolla, Tirath Trek, Bhagodi Thach, Bhindi Thach, Munna Top, Skirn Jot.
The trail to Bashleo Jot. This trek is a crossover trek from Bathad in Inner Saraj to Baga Sarahan in Outer Saraj. Such pretty trails and hikes and ubiquitous across Tirthan.
8. Experiential and Luxurious Cottages For A Quaint Stay In Tirthan Valley
If you are looking for a quaint stay in beautiful experiential and luxurious cottages look no further then Tirthan valley. A lot of such incredible properties have come in the recent years in the rustic villages of Tirthan.
Of course, these stays are not for budget travelers but more for families or couples who want a peaceful stay amidst nature away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist resorts like Manali or Shimla. Perfect for spending some quality time with your loved ones
Raju Bharthi’s guest house, Gone fishing cottages are a couple of popular Experiential and luxurious stays in Tirthan valley.
9. Solitude Seekers Will Find Tirthan Valley Blissful
Like me, if you too have an aversion for popular touristy places, then Tirthan valley will be a literal heaven for you. Perils of mass tourism are yet to be seen in Tirthan valley.
As most of the Tirthan valley comprises of rustic villages, life in Tirthan valley can be simply described in two words. Simple and slow. Perfect for those who wish to seek solitude amidst the pretty vistas of Himalayas.
By the way here are 16 beautiful alternatives to Kasol. Most of them are far lesser crowded and is perfect for those who seek solitude.
Pretty trails, rustic villages, incredible vistas and almost no typical touristy. Perfect for solitude seekers.
10. Experience The True Himachali Hospitality in Tirthan valley
If you are someone who yearns for beautiful experiences with locals and their hospitality, Tirthan valley is really going to mesmerize you.
Locals of the Tirthan valley are quite amiable, and love striking conversations with travelers. Chances are that if you venturing in the remote villages you’ll be invited for tea. Such heart warming gestures of kindness just really enhances your travel experience.
11. Trout Fishing – The Main Attraction Of Tirthan Valley
If there is one thing that is consistently associated with valley, it has to be the trout fishing activities. Tirthan river and tributaries have a lot of trout fishes.
And if you are into fishing, then a lot of the homestays and guesthouses help you catching trout fishes.
My Host, Thewa Ram Ji trying to catch trout fish with a makeshift fishing road at Bathad Village in Tirthan valley. Trout fish are in abundance in the streams of Tirthan.
12. Experience A Winter Wonderland In Tirthan Valley
If you have never experienced white winters, the Tirthan valley is the place to be at. It snows in heavily during winters in the higher villages like Bathad, Sharchi, Galingcha, Pekhri.
And trust me there is nothing better witnessing a white wonderland after a fresh spell of snow with all the high mountains donning a thick white blanket.
By the winter here is a detailed winter travel guide for Kasol, Tirthan valley’s famous counterpart.
13. Autumn Colors In Tirthan Will Leave You Gobsmacked
A lot of folks go gaga over Autumn in the western countries and while I agree it is indeed beautiful, but we have our own little blast of colors going on during Autumn in the Himalayas.
And Tirthan is no exception. Tirthan valley has some incredibly vibrant colors during the Autumn. So Autumn of Tirthan valley is one of the best reasons to visit Tirthan.
Here is a detailed blog backpacking itinerary to Himachal, one of which features a Tirthan valley itinerary as well.
Beautiful autumn like colors in Gushaini during early winters. Imagine how vibrant the colors would be during the Autumn.
14. Tirthan Valley Is Extremely Safe For Travelers
Safety is any traveler’s utmost priority. While Himachal is pretty much safe for travelers irrespective of Gender, places like Kasol are in the news for all the wrong reasons. Due to interrupted flow of Hash and other drugs.
But Tirthan valley has no such issues and is one of the safest places to travel in Himachal irrespective of the gender. So just the safety aspect of Tirthan makes it absolutely worth the visit.
This is just a no brainer but behave responsibly. Do not get too intoxicated and do not get into any kind of arguments with the locals of Tirthan valley to remain completely safe as a traveler.
15. Experience The Beautiful Orchards of Himachal In Tirthan valley
The primary source of income for most of the people in Tirthan valley is growing fruits like Apples, Pears, Plums, Apricot. So you’ll find a lot of beautiful orchards in Tirthan valley.
Of course, you can try out these fruits as and when they are harvested. But during the spring, these fruit bearing plants flower and that is certainly a sight to behold.
Spring and summer time are the best time to witness these beautiful orchards in Tirthan valley.
Orchards of the people of Kamela in Mashiyar Panchayat in Tirthan. You’ll find such pretty orchards of different fruits like Apples, Pears. Plums, Persimmon spread across the whole Tirthan valley.
16. TryThe Lipsmacking Local Delicacies of Tirthan Valley
Trying out local cuisine is one of the important aspects of traveling to any place. So if you are someone who loves to try out local cuisine, Tirthan valley is the place to be.
And homestays can be one of the best places to try out local cuisine. During my time in Tirthan valley, I was able to try out a lot of local cuisine.
17. Witness The Kath-Kuni Style Architecture In Tirthan Valley
While the old Kath-Kuni styled architecture is hard to find these days in the popular places like Manali or in apple belts like Shimla, But there is not dearth of Old kathi-Kuni Styled architecture in Tirthan valley.
This is traditional Kath-Kuni style structures were ubiquitous across Himachal, but thanks to modernization and development the traditional styled houses are rapidly declining.
These traditional structures were robust for a reason. They used to provide warmth during winters and used to provide chill during summers. The modern concrete homes stay warm during summers and get extremely cold during winters.
Beautiful traditionally styled houses in Galingcha village of Tirthan valley.
18. Enchanting Forests Of Tirthan Valley Makes for An Ethereal Experience
Sauntering through the pretty pine forests in Himachal is one of my favorites things to do in Himachal. And Tirthan valley did not disappoint. So if beautiful forests entices you, then Tirthan valley will surely mesmerize you.
There are a lot of enchanting forests in Tirthan valley you would encounter while going the treks, villages, meadows. And passing through such enchanting forest with towering deodar trees is an ethereal feeling to say the least.
19. Incredible Waterfalls of Tirthan Valley Will Blow Your Mind
Pretty waterfalls of Tirthan valley really makes Tirthan valley absolutely worth visiting. There are plenty of extremely beautiful waterfalls In Tirthan valley. Some are popular, while some are hidden.
A couple of popular waterfall includes Hippo falls and Chhoie falls. But there are plenty of others which are kind of hidden and only locals know about.
During my time at Bathad, my host took me to a beautiful waterfall near Bathad which required a hike of just 15 minutes. And surprisingly enough there was no mention of this waterfall near Bathad on the internet. Considering it so easy to reach.
Pretty waterfall near Bathad in Tirthan valley
20. Incredible Flora and Fauna of Tirthan Valley
If you are a Flora and Fauna enthusiast who takes a deep interest in knowing about the flora and fauna of the region, Tirthan valley is one of the best places to get a glimpse of rare floral and faunal species in Himalayas thanks to GHNP.
GHNP houses several rare floral species along with the 375 faunal species which includes 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects.
Some of the famous animals of GHNP area include Blue Sheep, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Tahr. You have to venture above 3000 m to get a glimpse of these pretty animals in Tirthan valley.
21. Tirthan Valley is Heaven For Bird Watchers
Thanks to GHNP, there is a high chance that you might be able to spot some rare birds in Tirthan valley. So if you are avid bird watcher, Tirthan valley will a heaven for you.
There are around 209 species of Birds in GHNP and some are on the endangered list. You can read about them more here on the official website of the Great Himalayan National Park.
22. Witness The Harsh lives of Himalayan Folks In Tirthan Valley
Even though modernization and development have eased some of the difficulties faced by the locals of Tirthan valley. But still there is a long way to go.
Many of the upper villages in Tirthan valley still do not have the roads or are in extremely poor shape. And the life in such villages still is slow and harsh.
So if you truly want to experience and get a glimpse of live in the villages of Himachal, Tirthan valley will be one of the best ways to get a sneak peek into
23. Unique Festivals of Tirthan Valley
If you are someone who loves to witness and experience the unique culture of Himachal, then Tirthan will be absolutely your favourite.
Eccentric folk festivals dedicated local deities are celebrated across the villages of Tirthan valley with zeal. And I am pretty sure it will be unlike anything you have ever seen.
To conclude, I hope that now you know some incredible reasons to visit Tirthan valley and why Tirthan valley is absolutely worth visiting.
If you like to tread on off the beaten path, explore rustic villages of Himachal, experience the true culture and hospitality of Himachali folks, Tirthan valley is the place to be at. In case you have any queries r please drop them in the comments below.