GETTING THERE

The hill station of Kasol is the gateway to Kheerganga. Take a domestic flight to Kullu– Manali Airport, followed by a 30-kilometre cab ride to Kasol.

STAY

The Himalayan Village (starts from ` 12,500/USD169; thehimalayanvillage.in) on the outskirts of Kasol makes for a comfortable stay before and after the trek. The boutique property stands 46 kilometres from Barshaini, the base town. Carry camping equipment to pitch your own tent in the wilderness.

WHEN

May to June; September to October

DISCOVER

The hamlet of Naggar in Kullu is a heritage site. Once the capital of the ancient Kullu kingdom, Naggar houses several temples, an eponymous castle and the Roerich Estate that displays paintings by Russian painter Nicholas Roerich, who settled here in the 20th century. The town of Manikaran, less than five kilometres from Kasol, is worth exploring for its hot springs and Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib.

One of the many serpentine waterfalls near the Rudranag Temple.

Towering trees offer shade and act as resting points during the uphill climb.