INTRODUCTION:-
Tirthan Valley is one of the last few remaining areas of Himachal which are very easy to reach but largely unemployed. If you were planning a trip in the near future and wanted to visit an offbeat and less crowded place,Then Tirthan Valley would be a perfect place for you. The entire state of Himachal is in a way a long list.Some of these places like Shimla, Manali and Dalhousie are very famous and one of the most visited tourist places in our country.
Although there are many other places that not many people know about.For a brief introduction,Tirthan Valley is a valley located at a distance of 65 kms from Mandi and about 250 kms from Chandigarh in Himachal Pradesh.The place is named after the river ‘Tirthan That it is situated on the bank of.At an average altitude of 1600 m,the weather of the valley is pleasant for most of the year;It is a perfect getaway for anyone looking to spend some time in peace and away from the crowd.The valley serves as the gateway to the Great Himalayan National Park,Which makes it a paradise for trekkers,birdwatchers or anyone who is interested in wildlife or photography.
WHERE IS TIRTHAN VALLEY:-
Tirthan Valley is located in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh,about 100 kilometers from Manali and 65 kilometers from Mandi.As you travel from Mandi to Manali,a road splits about 38 kms from Mandi and towards Tirthan Valley just before the Auto Tunnel.Do not enter the tunnel.Rather,continue driving towards Larji and then take the road to Tirthan Valley.Another route exists from Shimla via Jalori Pass which is also the longer of the two.
HOW TO REACH TIRTHAN VALLEY:-
Being situated in the hills,Tirthan Valley can only be reached by road and reaching here is not a difficult task.The road connecting it to the rest of the country is maintained in good condition and will take you to the heart of the valley.You can either drive yourself or take public transport to reach here.The best way to reach Tirthan Valley is,of course,by your vehicle;But if that was not an option, public transport services such as buses, shared cabs and private taxis are also available.
HOW TO REACH TIRTHAN VALLEY BY ROAD:-
If you were traveling by your own vehicle,either by car or motorcycle,then it is really easy to reach Tirthan Valley.There are two routes in and out of the valley.Both the routes are similar from the point of view of natural beauty and make it possible to plan a trip here as a circuit.One of the routes is slightly easier than the other and is more commonly used.I will explain both in detail;And for ease of explaining,I’ll take Delhi as your starting point.However,even if you are coming from another city,the information below will give you a fair idea of how to reach Tirthan Valley.
HOW TO REACH TIRTHAN VALLEY BY SHARED TAXI:-
There are shared taxis available all along the route which I have explained for the buses. You can easily get a shared cab between Mandi,Aut,Banjar and Gushaini.From Shimla side also,you can get shared cabs for Narkanda,Ani,Shoja,Jibhi and Banjar.The fare of these cabs will be almost the same as that of the bus.The only difference is that from Shimla side you will not get a shared cab directly to Banjar.And you have to break your journey into several parts.These shared cabs are mostly either Sumo, Xylo or Bolero.
HOW TO REACH TIRTHAN VALLEY BY PRIVATE TAXI:-
You can get a private taxi from the junction just before the Auto Tunnel for Tirthan Valley. From that point on,it will cost you around Rs.700 for Gushaini. From Mandi or Aut,taxis to Gushaini or Jibhi cost Rs.1000 to Rs.1200. The cost of taxis from Banjar to Rs.300 to JB or Gushaini. If you have hired a cab from Manali to Tirthan Valley,be prepared to pay anywhere between Rs.5000 to Rs.7000. From Chandigarh also, a private cab will cost almost the same amount. If you have hired a cab from Shimla. It will cost you Rs.10,000 for 2 days’ journey.
HOW TO REACH TIRTHAN VALLEY BY TRAIN:-
The nearest railway station to Tirthan Valley is Chandigarh and it is located at a distance of about 250 kms. It is a major railroad. And is well connected to the rest of the country. No matter where you are coming from, you will have no problem finding a train to Chandigarh.
HOW TO REACH TIRTHAN VALLEY BY BUS:-
If you were traveling by bus,I would recommend that you skip the Shimla route and travel only via Mandi. Or at least reach via Mandi and come back via Shimla. Because it would be easier that way. There are regular buses,both luxury and ordinary, from Delhi to Manali,which you will need to board for this journey. Traveling by bus,you have two options. You can either get off before the Auto Tunnel. And you can look for a means of transportation, lor you can walk up to the Auto Town and look for a bus there.
