This was a chill trip with 4 office colleagues — no itinerary, no rush, just mountains and vibes. Tirthan Valley is one of those places that hasn’t been overrun by tourists yet, and we wanted to keep it that way. We stayed in a small village, trekked a little, played poker at night, and did a lot of nothing. Exactly what we needed.
Day 1 — Delhi to Tirthan Valley
April 2–3, 2026
Took an overnight bus from Kashmere Gate, Delhi — ₹2,225 per person. Reached Aut the next morning at around 7:30 AM.
Freshened up and had breakfast at a nearby cafe. Then took a cab to our resort in Nagini village — ₹2,500 total for the group.
The Stay
Our resort was in Nagini village — ₹12,000 for 2 nights for 5 people. The location was exactly what we wanted: offbeat, quiet, with a river flowing right by the side. Not a party spot, not a tourist trap — just a place to unwind.
Reached by 11:00 AM and got freshened up.
Afternoon — Chhoie Lake & Village Walk
A couple of my friends went on a hike to Chhoie Lake — a couple of hours round trip. They were back by 2:00 PM. Then we went for lunch together.
After that, we roamed around the village near the resort. Spent time by the river, just sitting around, doing nothing in particular. Came back to the resort in the evening, had dinner, played poker late into the night, and slept.
Day 2 — Jibhi & Balu Nag Village
April 4, 2026
Today was the Jibhi excursion day. Took a cab for the day — the roads are in terrible condition, whether it’s Banjar or Jibhi. Fair warning.
Balu Nag Village Trek
Since it was raining, Jalori Pass was too risky to attempt. Instead, we went to Balu village and trekked for about an hour through light rain to reach Balu Nag village. It sits in a peaceful meadow — quiet, green, and completely untouched. One of those places that feels like it hasn’t changed in decades.
We were back near our cab by 4:30 PM and headed back to the resort, reaching around 6:30 PM. Rested, had dinner, played another round of poker, and called it a night.
Day 3 — Shangarh & Departure
April 5, 2026
This was our last day, but before heading back we had one more stop — Shangarh.
Shangarh Meadow
Shangarh is a huge, stunning meadow — very offbeat, barely any crowd. The views are amazing and the scale of the place is hard to describe until you’re standing in it. The route from Nagini is a bit long and the roads are awful, but it’s absolutely worth it. Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area.
Evening — Back to Aut & Bus Home
We were back in Aut by around 5:00 PM. Our bus was at 20:30 — ₹2,200 per person. Hopped on and reached Delhi the next morning around 6:00 AM.
What It Cost (Per Person)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Bus: Delhi → Aut | ₹2,225 |
| Cab: Aut → Nagini village | ₹500 (₹2,500 / 5) |
| Resort (2 nights, split 5 ways) | ₹2,400 |
| Cab: Jibhi day trip | ₹800 (₹4,000 / 5) |
| Cab: Shangarh trip | ₹1,100 (₹5,500 / 5) |
| Bus: Aut → Delhi | ₹2,200 |
| Total (excl. food) | ~₹9,225 |
Note: Food and miscellaneous expenses not included.
Things to Know
- Roads are bad — Whether it’s Banjar, Jibhi, or the route to Shangarh, the roads are rough. Factor in extra travel time.
- Jalori Pass depends on weather — If it’s raining, it can be risky. Have a backup plan (Balu Nag village worked great for us).
- Shangarh is a must-visit — A massive offbeat meadow with barely any crowd. The drive is long but the place is worth every bump.
- Tirthan Valley is for relaxing — Don’t come with a packed itinerary. The point is to slow down.
- Book overnight bus from Kashmere Gate — Direct buses to Aut are available and save you a night of accommodation.
- Nagini village is quiet — That’s the appeal. If you want nightlife and crowds, this isn’t the place.
- Carry cash — ATMs and UPI aren’t reliable in the smaller villages.
Final Thoughts
Tirthan Valley is the kind of trip where the highlight is that nothing dramatic happened. We sat by a river, trekked through a rainy meadow, discovered Shangarh, played poker every night, and didn’t check our phones much. For an office group that spends most of the year staring at screens, that was exactly the reset we needed.
If you’re looking for an offbeat Himachal destination that hasn’t been Instagrammed to death yet, Tirthan and Jibhi are it. Go before they aren’t.
