Serolsar Lake
lake · 40 min from Banjar
2 nights · 3 daysFriendsAdventurepacked
The Tirthan valley's activities in three days — the park's ecozone on a permit, a rod on the river, a night under canvas at Jalori, and the fort at dawn
Three days of everything the Tirthan offers on foot: the park's ecozone on a permit, a rod on the river, Serolsar lake, a tent at Jalori, the fort at dawn.
Everything the valley offers as an activity, strung over three days: a day inside the Great Himalayan National Park's ecozone on a permit with a guide, an evening's angling on the Tirthan, the ridge walk to Serolsar lake. Then a night under canvas on the Jalori meadow, and the fort at dawn. There is no paragliding, no rafting and no ropeway here — those are Manali's — and the valley's adventures are all on foot and all on the day.
The permit, the guide and the angling licence are taken at the Sai Ropa office on the first morning, and the tent is arranged at the pass on the second afternoon. The bands below are what those things typically cost as of September 2026, quoted on the day. The road minutes are measured on the actual road; the walks on the path.
Photos: Manish57335 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Pbhuker007 (talk · contribs) (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ankitwadhwa10 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Sukhjiwan Singh (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Gannu03 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Groups of friends and fit couples who want a full three days and do not mind a cold night in a tent. Not for families with small children — the classic three days does the lake and the tower at a gentler pace — and not for anyone who wants a bed every night, who should read the friends plan.
Day by day
Day 1
The park's ecozone on a permit, and a rod on the river
Sai Ropa first for the park permit, a guide and the angling licence, then the ecozone path up the river from Gushaini for the day with the guide, and the evening rise with a rod below the bridge.
- 08:30Sai RopaThe park's Tirthan-side office, 10 minutes from Banjar: the entry permit — a fee the park fixes, with camera charges extra — and a guide for the day, typically ₹1,500–2,500 as of Sep 2026. Ask here too about the angling licence and the open beats. The office keeps office hours; be early.
- ↓ 8 min by road · 5 km10:00GushainiFrom the bridge, the ecozone path up the river with the guide as far as the day allows and back — nothing motorised goes past the bridge. A homestay on the water, typically ₹1,500–3,500 a night with meals, and a rod on the evening pools arranged through it. Trout for dinner at ₹400–700 a plate.
Day 2
Serolsar lake, and a tent at the pass
The taxi up to Jalori, the ridge walk to Serolsar and back, and a tent on the meadow at the pass — arranged at the dhabas on the day — for a night at the top.
- 09:00Jalori PassThe meadow at the top of the road, 40 minutes from Banjar — a taxi typically ₹1,500–2,500 one way. Tents are pitched on the meadow by the dhaba families in season and quoted on the day; a sleeping bag of your own is the difference between a night and a cold one.
- 10:00Serolsar LakeAbout 5 km along an easy ridge path — 103 minutes up and 71 down by our measure — to the round lake with the Budhi Nagin temple on its bank. Back to the pass for the dhabas' dinner and the stars.
Day 3
Raghupur Fort at first light, then down
Out of the tent before the sun, the hour's climb to the fort for the sunrise over the ranges, breakfast at the dhabas, and the whole road down to Aut.
- 05:30Raghupur FortAbout 1.8 km and 47 minutes up by our measure, 22 down, to the grass-topped ruin with the valley on one side and the ranges on the other. The sun comes over the eastern ranges; be on top before it, then down for breakfast and the road.
Getting there
Through Aut on the Kullu highway, 24 km up the valley to Banjar and 5 km more to Sai Ropa on the river road. The overnight bus from Delhi's Kashmere Gate stops at Aut before the tunnel; Bhuntar's airport is 42 km from Banjar. The plan ends at Jalori Pass, 21 km above Banjar, with the morning for the road down.
Where to stay
Gushaini on the river the first night, with meals and the rod arranged through the homestay; a tent on the meadow at Jalori the second, pitched by the dhaba families in season and quoted on the day, with a sleeping bag of your own. Shoja, below the pass, is the bed for anyone who changes their mind about the tent.
Know before you go
- The Sai Ropa office keeps office hours and issues everything the first day needs — be there when it opens.
- Prices are bands checked in September 2026 and quoted on the day; the park's fee is set by the park and changes.
- A sleeping bag and a warm layer for the pass — the meadow is cold in every month and the dhabas' blankets are thin.
- Water and food for the park path; nothing is sold past the last houses.
- The angling licence and the open beats change with the season; ask before the first cast, and never wade in spate.
If plans change
Four days on foot with the park: the ecozone walks plan.
The river and the rod only: the trout plan.
The pass with beds: the Jibhi friends plan does both Jalori walks with a night at Shoja.
Places on this route
Other ways to do it
All Banjar itineraries →
3 nights · 4 days · TrekkersWalks & treksFour days of walks from Gushaini — the Great Himalayan National Park's ecozone, the Chhoie waterfall, Pekhri and the river villages
Four days of walks from Gushaini: the permit at Sai Ropa, the Chhoie waterfall, the ecozone path to the Great Himalayan National Park gate, Pekhri, Sharchi.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Nov
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2 nights · 3 days · Slow travelCafés & foodTrout and the river — three days on the Tirthan: the licence at Sai Ropa, the pools below Nagini and Gushaini, lunch at Sharchi, the confluence at Larji
Three days beside the Tirthan for anglers and their families: the licence at Sai Ropa, the pools at Nagini and Gushaini, a trout lunch at Sharchi, Larji last.
Best Mar–Jun · Sep–Oct
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3 nights · 4 days · FriendsClassicJibhi with friends — four days: the waterfall, both Jalori walks with a night at Shoja, then the river and the Chhoie fall
Four days in the Tirthan valley for a group: Jibhi's waterfall, Raghupur Fort and Serolsar lake from Jalori Pass with a night at Shoja, then the river.
Best Mar–Jun · Sep–Nov
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2 nights · 3 days · PhotographersAutumnJalori Pass in October and November — Shoja as the base, Serolsar at dawn, Raghupur at sunrise, and Bahu lake on the way down
The Jalori ridge in its clearest months: Shoja as the base, the ridge walk to Serolsar lake at sunrise, Raghupur Fort at first light, Bahu lake on the road.
Best Oct–Nov
See the plan →Questions people ask
What adventure activities are there in the Tirthan valley?
Walking into the Great Himalayan National Park on a permit with a guide, trout angling on the river under a day licence, the ridge walks to Serolsar lake and Raghupur Fort from Jalori Pass, and camping on the pass meadow. No paragliding, rafting or ropeway — those are on the Beas at Manali, two hours away.
Can you camp at Jalori Pass?
Yes, in season: the dhaba families at the pass pitch tents on the meadow and quote on the day, and the dhabas do dinner and breakfast. It is cold in every month, so bring a sleeping bag and a warm layer. Snow shuts the pass road in spells between late December and March, when nobody camps.
How do you get a permit for the Great Himalayan National Park?
At the park's range office at Sai Ropa on the Tirthan side, 10 minutes from Banjar, on the day: an entry permit with separate charges for cameras and a fee the park fixes and changes. A guide and an approved route are required for anything past the gate. The office keeps office hours and closes areas by notice.