Rudranag

What it is

A waterfall on a side stream of the Parvati with a small shrine to Shiva beside it and a dhaba on the footbridge below, about two hours on foot above Barshaini on the path to Kheerganga. It is the halfway mark of that walk and its lunch stop — the last easy ground before the forest climb — and a destination of its own for a shorter day in the gorge.

Getting there

From Kasol, 37 minutes by road to Barshaini, then on foot up the true left bank: Nakthan in about an hour, then another hour along the gorge to the footbridge below the fall. No road, no shortcut. The path is well used and needs no guide in clear weather.

The day

As a stop: tea or lunch at the dhaba, a look at the fall from the bridge, and on up — the climb from here to the meadow is two to three hours through forest. As a day out: up from Barshaini by nine, lunch here, and back down to the road by mid-afternoon, which gives the gorge and the waterfall without the long climb. The Kheerganga plan passes through twice, on the way up and the way down.

When to go

April to June and September to November, with the path clear and the fall full. In July and August the stream is high and the path mud; from December to February the path above Nakthan is snow and the dhaba is shut.

Around it

Nakthan below; Kheerganga above; Kalga and Pulga near the road-end; Barshaini at the bottom. The walks guide has the whole path.

Plans that include this

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Best Mar–Jun · Sep–Nov

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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

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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 · TrekkersWalks & treks

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The Kheerganga trek done properly: Barshaini, Nakthan, Rudranag, a night by the spring, down via Kalga, Manikaran's tanks on the way out. Times and bands.

Best Apr–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

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Best Jan–Feb · Dec

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2 nights · 3 days · PhotographersAutumn

Kasol in October and November — three clear days: Rasol, the harvest villages, Tosh at dawn

The Parvati valley's best season in three days: the clear light on the river, the steep walk to Rasol, Tosh at dawn and the harvest orchards at Pulga.

Best Oct–Nov

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