Gurudwara Sahib Manikaran

What it is

The Sikh gurdwara built over the hot springs on the bank of the Parvati at Manikaran: a many-storeyed white building on the river. Inside, a langar hall that feeds anyone who sits down, bathing tanks fed by the springs, and a courtyard on the river side where the steam hangs in every season. It is the busiest place in the valley and the most welcoming, and it costs nothing.

Getting there

Eight minutes and about 4 km up the road from Kasol by the valley bus or a shared taxi; the buses from Bhuntar and Kullu run through to it. Cross the bridge from the road and the gurdwara is on the far bank. The temple and the lane of shops are the other side of the same bridge.

The visit

Cover your head at the gate, leave your shoes at the counter, and go in. The hall first, then the langar — sit in the row, take what is served, finish it — then the tanks below the building, separate for men and women, where the spring water is cooled with river water to something you can sit in. Last, the courtyard by the river for the steam. An hour and a half; more if the langar is in full swing.

When to go

Every month; nothing here closes. Winter mornings have the thickest steam. The monsoon changes nothing, which makes this the one Kasol outing the rain cannot spoil. Sikh festivals fill the town and the langar runs all day — worth seeing, not the day for a quiet bath.

Around it

Manikaran town around it; Kasol and Chalal eight minutes down; Barshaini half an hour up, where the road ends. The couples plan comes here at dusk on its second day.

Plans that include this

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1 night · 2 days · First visitClassic

Kasol in two days — the river, the bridge to Chalal and Manikaran's springs

A two-day Kasol plan for a first visit: the market and the footbridge, the pine walk to Chalal, Manikaran's gurdwara and hot springs, with measured road times.

Best Mar–Jun · Sep–Nov

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2 nights · 3 days · First visitClassic

Three days in Kasol — Chalal, the road-end and the walk up to Tosh, then Manikaran

The classic three days in Kasol: the river and Chalal, the taxi to Barshaini and the walk up to Tosh, Manikaran's springs on the way out, with measured times.

Best Mar–Jun · Sep–Nov

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2 nights · 3 days · CouplesSnow

Kasol in winter — three days with the snow at Tosh and the hot springs after

Kasol from December to February in three days: the half-closed town, a night in Tosh under snow with a stove and a quilt, Manikaran's hot tanks on the way down.

Best Jan–Feb · Dec

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2 nights · 3 days · Slow travelMonsoon

Kasol in the monsoon — three days of what still works when the river is high

Kasol in July, August and September: what the rain closes and what it does not — Chalal, Manikaran's springs, a walk if the sky allows, the cheapest rooms.

Best Jul–Sep

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2 nights · 3 days · BudgetClassic

Kasol from Delhi for a weekend — two overnight buses, two days in the valley

Kasol on two overnight buses from Delhi: out Friday, Bhuntar by dawn, the river and Chalal on Saturday, Manikaran's springs on Sunday, back by Monday morning.

Best Mar–Jun · Sep–Nov

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2 nights · 3 days · Couplesslow

Kasol for couples — three slow days on the far bank, a steep walk and the springs at dusk

Three quiet days in the Parvati valley for two: sleep in Chalal, climb to Rasol, take Manikaran's springs at dusk, breakfast at Tosh on the way out.

Best Mar–Jun · Sep–Nov

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