Important Details
About Grahan
Grahan is among the lesser-known gems of Parvati Valley, and only a few people know about it. While the majority of the crowd from Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana flocks at Kasol, the adjoining regions of Grahan are still untouched from the rush. Grahan is a very small picturesque village located 8 kilometers away from Kasol and takes no more than 4 hours to reach the surreal hamlet of Grahan. The people of Grahan are very friendly and have a great sense of belonging. The villagers lead a very simple life, you could expect the same for yourself in this serene setting. Grahan is far from the highly connected world as the mobile signal dies a slow death on the trekking route to Grahan. A lot of foreign tourists also come to the village to spend some time away from the ever-bustling Kasol. Grahan is a very slow-paced village, and pretty much like Kalga, it is on a plane with surrounding high peak mountains all around. The lush green farms all around Grahan add to the natural beauty of the place, in wintertime, the surrounding peaks are fully covered with snow and slowly, with the onset of winter Grahan also gets its fair share of snowfall.
How to reach Grahan
Bhuntar to Grahan
To reach from Bhuntar to Grahan, you will have to reach Kasol first. There are multiple ways of reaching Kasol from Bhuntar. Shared cabs are available from Bhuntar to Kasol 24*7, also there is a very robust bus service between Bhuntar and Kasol, and a lot of government, as well as private buses, ply to Barshaini via Kasol. Kasol lies in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, which is famous for its greenery and natural resources, which are relatively more abundant here than any other districts of Himachal.
Kasol to Grahan
Grahan is situated at a distance of 8 km from Kasol and it takes around 3 to 5 hours to reach Grahan, depending on your speed and resting intervals. It is advisable to start the trek to Grahan in the morning, as you have sufficient daylight left when you reach Grahan, and therefore, you can choose where you want to stay and not be in a rush to settle for the first place you see. Grahan falls on the right side of the Parvati River. When you reach Kasol, you will find a bridge constructed near the Kasol bus stand, the nallah(sewer line) on which the bridge is constructed. The Grahan nallah goes all the way to the village. So if you were to follow the trail in the direction opposite to which the nallah is flowing, you will reach Grahan village. Once you start on the trail to Grahan village, the nallah will be to your left. In some time, you will come across a bridge which you should avoid as the path is more inclined on the other side of the bridge. Within an hour of starting, you should be able to cover a distance of around 2 km. By this time, you will be walking through a dense jungle among the coniferous trees with cold mountain breeze grazing in your face, and the sunlight peeking through the dense forest canopy.
Then, you will come across the beautiful bridge shown above, again you can avoid the difficult route by not going through this bridge and continuing on the trail. If you take the route through the bridge then also you would reach Grahan but it will take more time. So continuing on the trail by avoiding the Bridge you will reach a crossing over the nallah which goes to the other side of the Grahan nallah. After crossing over the nallah will be on your right side, walking 30 minutes on the trail will bring you to a Dhaba where you can eat light and rest for a bit. The Dhaba guy also has stay options, but it is not advisable to stay in the middle of the forest. You will find a few more makeshift eateries on the way. After eating at the Dhaba, you will reach the 1.5 Km, mark board. I don’t think it is 1.5 km to Grahan from that point, it’s more like 2.5 km. Now, you will have two directions as the trail bifurcates from the 1.5 km mark board, as both the trails lead to Grahan. The trail on the right passes through Thunja Village, which leads to Grahan(if you take the trail on the right). But, if you take the trail to your left, you will reach directly to Grahan. It takes approximately 1.5 hours from here to reach Grahan unless you are a Sloth.
Grahan Trek
The trek to Grahan starts with a relatively less dense patch of forest, which is windy, and the crisp mountain sunlight falls on you during a good sunny day. The trek then transcends into a dense coniferous forest full of tall pine trees with broad trunks where the sunlight subliminally peaks through the forest cover. The trail passes on either side of the tributary of the roaring Parvati River, which then merges into the mighty Beas river in Bhuntar. The tributary of the Parvati River, which you follow for most of the trek, comes from the meltwater of the snow-clad peaks of the mountains above. A lot of birds live in the forests, and you can hear birds chirping throughout the trek. The gushing water in the stream is ice cold and rich in minerals, one can fill their water bottles from the stream.
Grahan Stay
As there is no mobile network in Grahan, you cannot pre book your stay in Grahan. Due to its hidden benevolence, accommodation is not a problem in Grahan, and there are many homestays in Grahan. Most of them charge a very nominal fee of 500 INR for a room per night. The bathrooms are common, yet, new guest houses do offer an attached bathroom with the rooms. Since everything in Grahan comes physically on mules, thus things are rather on the expensive side of the spectrum if you were to order fancy things. However, if you tell the homestay owner to cook the same meal as them, you will be charged less, and get good home-cooked food.
Kasol to Grahan Itinerary
Day 1: Kasol to Grahan | 4 kilometres | 3-5 hour walk
Day 2: Stay at Grahan and go till Thunja maybe.
Day 3: Back to Kasol | 4 kilometers | 3 hour walk
Long Stay in Grahan
A lot of foreign nationals, mainly Israelis and French people stay in Grahan for weeks at end, if not months. So the village has adapted to such needs, and you will easily find places where the homeowner will rent a section of his home for weeks, and you will be charged less. Arrangements for food can be made with the homeowners, or perhaps you could cook your food, however, outsourcing food from the homeowners seems to be the easier way out.
FAQ's
How much does a Grahan Trip Cost?
The minimum cost for a Grahan trip from Delhi-Kasol-Grahan-Delhi will cost 2000,excluding travel.
Best time to visit Grahan?
The best time to visit Grahan is from May to July
How difficult is Grahan trek ?
Grahan trek is moderately difficult and is doable by most people.
How much time does it take to reach?
The time taken to reach Grahan is around 3-5 hours.
Are there any shops on the trek?
There are a few eateries on the trek but they come only half way through the trek.
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