Tirthan valley

Tirthan valley

Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh is said to be Himachal’s Best Kept Secret. It is a lesser known tourist destination in Himachal as compared to Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala but is one of the most beautiful places in Himachal. The valley is named after the Tirthan river that flows from Tirth in the Great Himalayan National Park. It joins the Beas river in Larji. It is famous for its trout and you will also see many apple and apricot orchards that Kullu is famous for.

Tirthan Valley is located in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the two valleys in the town Banjar. The other is Jibhi. It is a 6- or 12-hour drive from Chandigarh and Delhi respectively and around 50km from Bhuntar Airport.

Tirthan Valley is known for its beautiful forests and Himalayan mountains. Serene and slow, it is the perfect getaway in all seasons. Tirthan Valley’s Gushaini village is the gateway to the Great Himalayan National Park, which is known for its biodiversity. Most GHNP treks begin and end here.

You will discover quaint villages with traditionally built houses in Tirthan Valley. Also known as the Valley of Gods, there are many temples and shrines here. The proximity to GHNP guarantees many species of birds and largely intact forest ecosystems, which will delight nature lovers.

There are many adventure and nature activities to undertake here. Read more about the things to do in Tirthan Valley.

If you are planning a trip to Tirthan Valley, reach out to us for Tirthan Valley tour packages to tour Tirthan or a Tirthan Valley itinerary, designed so that you can enjoy Tirthan fully. If you want to trek Tirthan, we can organise customised treks too.

The best time to visit Tirthan valley is March, April, May, June, and then October, November and December.

Tirthan Valley weather in summer is usually around 10- to 25-degree centigrade. While April is slightly chill, May and June are sunny and pleasant.

The weather in Tirthan Valley between October and December is between 12- to 25-degree centigrade. September is pleasant and the chill starts setting in around October. November and December are generally cold but sunny. The Valley is not as green in the colder months.

Avoid the monsoon between July and August as it rains a lot and the paths become slippery and there are chances of landslides. It can be humid and stormy in July and humid with rains in August. September may see some rain.

You could come in the winter months of January to March to enjoy snowfall. Tirthan Valley temperature is generally between 7- to 18-degree centigrade during snowfall.

You can check with us about the weather in Tirthan Valley before planning a trip to Tirthan.

Tirthan Valley is well-connected by road and is a 6- to 12-hour drive from Delhi and Chandigarh respectively. It is also located close to other tourist destinations in Himachal such as Kasol and Manali and is an easy drive from there.

You can take an overnight Volvo bus from Delhi. They generally start in the evening and you will reach Aut in the early hours of the morning. From here, you can take a taxi or a local bus to Banjar.

If you are driving, take the shortest route (12-hour drive) through Chandigarh, Bilaspur, Mandi, and Aut. From here, you have to continue to Banjar, the main town here.

The road to Tirthan diverts before reaching Aut. Just before Aut, there is a tunnel (the only tunnel on the road from Delhi). Do not enter the tunnel. Just at the entrance of the tunnel, take the smaller road on the right. After crossing a dam and then a bridge, you need to cross the next bridge on your right to reach the small town of Larji. Turn right after the bridge and continue straight to Banjar (about 20km from Larji).

Tirthan Valley is around 7 hours from Chandigarh via NH205 and NH154 or via NH205, NH154, and NH3. There are many overnight buses that you can take to Manali. You can get off the bus in Aut. If you are driving, drive through Bilaspur and Mandi to reach Aut.

Tirthan Valley is a 2.5-hour drive from Manali via NH3. You can drive or get a day bus or one of the overnight buses on this route and get down at Aut. A taxi or one of the local buses will bring you to Banjar.

Tirthan Valley is around 2.5 hours from Kasol. You can take the Manikaran Road, which will pass Bhuntar and Takoli. You can take a local bus from Kasol to Mandi and get down at Aut.

Ambala to Tirthan Valley is an approximately 8-hour drive by road. You will have to take NH205 and NH154 and go through Chandigarh, Bilaspur, and Mandi to reach Aut. You can take an overnight bus to Kullu and Manali and then a taxi or local bus to Aut.

Shimla is just a 6-hour drive to Tirthan Valley. There are no direct buses to Tirthan Valley, so you will need to take a bus to Manali or Kullu and then a local bus or cab to Aut. You will be on NH205 and NH154. Alternate routes are via NH5 and NH305 and via MDR22 and NH305.

You can take the route from Jalori Pass but this route will be closed during winter because of heavy snowfall.

If you take NH154, you can reach Tirthan Valley via Bir and Mandi in approximately 6 hours.

The nearest railways stations to Tirthan Valley are in Ambala, Kiratpur, and Chandigarh. You will then have to take a bus or cab or drive to Tirthan Valley.

The closest airport to Tirthan Valley is Bhuntar, near Kullu and Manali. It is for domestic flights only and there are daily flights from Delhi and Chandigarh.

From the airport, you can take a cab or bus to Tirthan Valley. It is around 50km and around 2 hours from Tirthan Valley.

The other two airports in Himachal are at Gaggal (aka Kangra airport) and Jubbarhatti (aka Shimla airport). It is a 6- to 7-hour drive from Gaggal and Jubbarhatti to Tirthan Valley.

There are different types of accommodation in the Tirthan Valley. We can arrange hotels or homestays for you depending on your preference and budget.

There is also a government managed quite basic tourist complex in Sai Ropa in the Tirthan valley. It is about 15 minutes from the start of treks in the Great Himalayan National Park at Gushaini. Bookings can be arranged. However, there are other more convenient homestays and guest houses in the Tirthan valley.

See accommodation in the Great Himalayan National Park for detailed information about accommodation.