Barot Valley – Heaven in Himachal

When it comes to Himachal Pradesh, we all know that there’s Kullu, Shimla, Mandi, Chamba, Spiti and many more, which are home to scenic towns and snow-capped mountains. Why not traverse through the unexplored and unexploited landscapes of the place? I am talking about the magnificent village situated in the soothing valleys of Mandi. Barot Valley, known by a few has now become a rising tourist spot for those who have this special place for mountains in their heart. For those who don’t know that already, Barot Valley is definitely one of the best-hidden gems of Himachal and I’ll be taking you on a tour of this attractive valley and tell you everything about the place. Here we go.

How to reach Barot Valley?

Barot is situated in the beautiful valley of Uhl at a distance of 40 km from the town of Jogindernagar and about 66 km from Mandi. Reaching Barot, Himachal Pradesh is easily approachable from both Delhi and Chandigarh and you can take any means of transport, be it railway, road, or air. You can even have access to public buses from Jogindernagar, Palampur, and Mandi in order to reach Barot, and for a more adventurous moment must try KheerGanga trek if you are in Himachal Pradesh.

Jogindernagar railway station is of course, the nearest railway station and will take around 2 hours to reach the mesmerizing green valley of Barot. Kullu Manali Airport is the nearest airport from Barot and is around 3.5 hours away from your destination. Whereas, some people even prefer to go by public transport or rented cabs via the picturesque NH154 and NH3.

Best time to visit Barot?

Well, whether in Barot Valley usually remains fairly moderate that means not very hot in summers and not extremely cold in winters. If you’re planning to pay a visit to Barot in summers, choose any month in between April and June. If winter is the season you’ve decided to be a guest of this beautiful valley then make it between November to February for exploring and sightseeing this engaging place. Also, try not to be there during monsoons because the place receives heavy rainfall because of the nearby dense forests. All in all, Barot is one of the best weekend getaways and the right duration to experience this beauty and staying in there can be 3 days.

What to do when in Barot?

Fishing in Uhl:

Uhl River is the one and only natural water body of the valley and is one of the amazing attraction of the place since it allows its tourists to enjoy different outdoor activities and fishing is considered the most enjoyable activities out there. Also, trout fishing is the most famous activity in the valley and the favorite place for the anglers. You need to permission in advance from the Trout Farm Office if you really want to perform this activity.

Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary:

This heavenly wildlife sanctuary is situated on the other side of the Uhl River and yet another attraction of the valley. The sanctuary is the ideal place for a wide range of flora and fauna. One gets to see various animal species here like Ghoral, Black Bear, and the Himalayan Monal. Also, the way for the trek to Kullu passes through the dense parts of the sanctuary and one can have the best experience exploring the area away from the wild animals.

Trekking

Trekking is definitely one of the best parts you can do when in Barot because there are a number of trails around the valley that are preferred for trekking like Bada Bhangal, Kullu, Manali, Kothi, and Billing. Barot to Kothi trek is considered the best trail, which is a 13km trek that passes through gorgeous cedar and pine woods with such divine surroundings and allows you to eyewitness the real beauty of nature.

Nature Camping

Another attraction and outdoor activity in Barot valley is nature camping. You can go for the Thandi Golai camping site, which is mere 1.5km away from the Barot’s main market. The place is the best peaceful and undisturbed area where you can just enjoy lying in the lap of nature.

So, before you leave for this beauteous valley make sure you have done the booking prior to leaving and confirm the stay. Ensure that you trekking and camping in groups. You should be readily available with your important trekking and camping gears like water, snacks, first-aid, and warm clothes.