The women's bath is enclosed within brown and dark walls of wood, while the bath for men next door is open onto the gorgeous view of snow capped mountains, symbolising the difference in the perception sexes in India. Yet, in the women's bath, incense and candles are lit, no clothes are necessary, and over giggles and girlie conversations, over borrowing of oils and body butter, I saw a beautiful bond strike between women from the West and local women from the East. Despite the language barriers, and the socio-cultural difference, in the steamy, surreal candle-lit Himalayan bath, we were all, beneath our differently shaded skin, just women at heart.
Like many small heavens of Himachal Pradesh, Kheer Ganga is also known as mini Israel, with hoards of the peace loving Israeli trekking up to Kheer Ganga each year.
How to get there With the track improving each year, the only way to reach Kheer Ganga is a four to five hour trek from Barshani in Parvati Valley. There is almost no electricity, except for the little that is generated by privately owned solar panels, and no cellphone coverage. Accomodation & Costs The few rooms fill up relatively fast, although I wouldn’t recommend staying in the rooms for they get terribly cold at night. Some travellers stay in caves, while others bunk inside one of the three restaurants. The restaurants are the coziest options, my favorite one being Lotus (picture above). Equip with locally crafted fireplaces, the restaurant floor is covered completely with carpets, rugs, mattresses and cushions. The Lotus looks like a cross between an eatery and a dormitory. It costs INR 100 per night (in 2015) to stay here. TIP: carry your own sleeping bag. For over a decade now, Kheer Ganga had been home to the unique Rainbow festival. With natural hot springs, a view to kill for, and the priceless experience of pristine nature, Kheer Ganga is a lovely place to get lost in nature for a bit. READ: RAINBOW GATHERING AT KHEER GANGA: a travellers gathering
0 Comments
|
AuthorHi! I'm Shubha, an Indian backpacker with a dream to travel forever. ArchivesCategorieshimachal pradesh10 days through himachal pradesh (mountain trip) |