Kasol, in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, is a hot favourite amongst backpackers from across the globe. Stationed between Bhuntar and Manikaran, this tiny hamlet bustling with energy acts as a base for day hikes such as Malana and Kheerganga or longer treks like Sar Pass. This tiny mountain town standing next to the vivacious Parvati River is also sometimes called Mini Israel of India for the large number of Israeli tourists in the town across the year. You will also predominantly find two kinds of food categories in the crowded markets of Kasol: Indian and Israeli, that is how many Israeli tourists the town receives.
In this article, we will tell you how to reach Kasol.
Flight to Bhuntar – Bus to Kasol
The closest airport to Kasol is the Kullu Manali Airport at Bhuntar which is 30 kms away. However, flights to the Bhuntar airport are scarce and exorbitantly priced. They are also prone to frequent cancellations and delays.
If you do get lucky to find a flight that fits your timeline and budget, take a cab from the airport to Kasol. Alternatively, you could also take a cab to the marketplace at Bhuntar and get on a local bus to Kasol. The journey by bus will take you anywhere between 60 to 90 minutes.
Alternatively,
A comfortable and affordable option to reach Kasol is by taking a flight to Chandigarh or Delhi and taking a bus to Bhuntar from there and then changing to a local bus to get to Kasol.
Flight to Chandigarh – Bus to Bhuntar – Bus to Kasol
This route is the fastest. After reaching Chandigarh airport, you have to go to Sector 43 to get a bus for Manali – Bhuntar comes on the way to Manali. Remember to deboard at Bhuntar. Sector 43 is around 16 km away. You will get plenty of taxis and buses to reach there from outside the airport.
At sector 43, a bus leaves for Manali almost every hour. Depending upon your choice and budget, you can choose from Volvo to Government buses. If you are traveling during the holiday season, do note that spot booking can get tricky. Ticket prices are prone to shoot up drastically. So, we recommend booking tickets online well in advance.
The distance between Chandigarh and Bhuntar is around 220 kms. The bus journey should take anywhere between 7-8 hours.
Note: Try to book HRTC buses. They are famous for their punctuality and hassle-free commute. Check out HRTC buses here.
Tickets for normal buses cost around 600 INR. Volvo might cost you around 1600 INR. The ideal time to commute is to take a bus in the night from Chandigarh and reach Bhuntar in the morning.
Flight to Delhi – Bus to Bhuntar – Bus to Kasol
ISBT Kashmere Gate is the main bus terminus of Delhi. They have a vast connection to different roadways throughout North India. It is 18 km away from Delhi T1 airport and 23 km away from Delhi T2 and T3. You can take a cab or the metro from here.
The distance from Delhi to Bhuntar is 450 km and should take around 11 to 13 hours to cover. Again, the ideal option is to take the HRTC buses at night. The tickets for the buses will cost you between 800 to 2000 INR depending on the type of bus. You can check the HRTC bus options from here.
Note: The bus routes for Manali are prone to delays because of landslides and rains during monsoons. Do plan your travel a day in advance to account for these delays.
Train from Delhi to Kasol
There are neither direct trains nor a railway station in Kasol. The only available option is to get a train till Chandigarh and reach Kasol from Chandigarh by bus or taxi as indicated above.
Note: you will find trains leaving for Chandigarh from Delhi every two hours.
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We hope this article helps you in planning your trip to Kasol. In case you have any other queries, please drop a comment below. Our team will get back to you.
