Waichin Valley: Offbeat Trek in Parvati Valley

It was 2019, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a region called Waichin Valley in Parvati Valley so far removed from the hustle-bustle of Kasol and the likes, and still intact with its virgin beauty. The Waichin Valley height is 2,745 meters above sea level and because of this Waichin Valley altitude, the Waichin Valley weather is mostly cold from October through March. When I visited in April, the snow hadn’t yet melted, giving us a wintery feel even in late spring! To witness Waichin Valley snowfall, it is best to do this trek in the winters. Waichin Valley in December is accessible, though the trek will become much more difficult as you will have to navigate through deep snow. It is best to take a guide along for the Waichin Valley trek in winter.

The Waichin Valley trek is a short trek in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, somewhere in the beloved Parvati Valley – the destination to Indian hippies. Between the hyped-up Malana Valley and the rising star of Rashol Valley, lies Waichin Valley. Surrounded by the Pir Panjal mountain range and enveloped by the dense deodar forests akin to Parvati Valley, the Waichin Valley trek is truly one of the most offbeat treks in India. What is even better is that though offbeat, this is a great trek for beginners in Himachal Pradesh, and is perfect for those who are planning to start training for longer, more challenging Himalayan treks. This Parvati Valley trek is also one of my favourite places to visit in Himachal Pradesh simply because it is so peaceful unlike many other places in Parvati Valley where buildings have now surpassed the tree cover.

Also read: “Rashol Trek, Parvati Valley“

Apart from its magical beauty, stunning landscapes and rustic houses, this offbeat place is also known for its Waichin Valley hash which is supposed to be one of the best found in the Himalayas. Some even say that the quality of Waichin Valley hash even surpasses that of its neighbour – the much famed Malana hash! The valley also offers astounding views of higher mountains like Tiger Mouth Peak and Animal Pass. From Waichin Valley, one can even trek further to the base of Tiger Mouth Peak!

How to reach Waichin Valley

Delhi to Waichin Valley

Waichin Valley is a remote, offbeat destination in Himachal Pradesh where no roads exist. The distance between Waichin Valley and Delhi is about 526 kilometres. But the short Waichin Valley trek is the only way to reach this little slice of heaven. Waichin Valley is also one of the best treks near Delhi! If you’re wondering how to reach Waichin Valley, follow this route –

Also read: “Parashar Lake Trek: Weekend Getaway from Delhi“

The starting point of the Waichin Valley trek is the Malana Dam. This is the nearest road head from where the uphill climb to the destination begins.

In order to reach Malana Dam, one must first take a bus from either Delhi or Chandigarh to Bhuntar. From Bhuntar, you have two options:

• You can either take a local HRTC bus to Jari and then hire a taxi from Jari to Malana Dam
• Or hire a taxi straight from Bhuntar to Malana Dam (about 32 kilometres)

Kasol to Waichin Valley

If you already find yourself in Kasol and plan to go to Waichin later, you can either hire an HRTC bus to Jari and a private taxi to Malana Dam or take a private taxi from Kasol to Waichin Valley starting point directly (15 kilometres).

Note: From Bhuntar, the road splits at Jari – one goes to Kasol and the other goes to Malana Dam.

Malana to Waichin Valley

From Malana Village, there’s a mighty flight of stairs cutting through the mountain that takes you all the way down to the bottom of the Malana Hill, then after crossing the bridge over the Malana stream, one can climb yet another flight of stairs on the opposite hill which takes you to the starting point of Waichin Valley trek. This is the easiest way to reach Malana Waichin Valley. The Malana to Waichin Valley distance is around 5 kilometres.

Waichin Valley trek

From Malana Dam, the trek to Waichin Valley is about 4 kilometres uphill, and should not take more than 4 hours at most. The trek is a gradual climb with a steep ascent for the first few meters.

The trail is lined with rhododendron trees and March and April will be the perfect time to see these pink and red flowers comes to life. Rhododendron flowers are locally used to make juices and jams and are said to be great for heat prevention. Rhododendron is called buransh in the local language and can be found aplenty across the Himalayas including Uttarakhand, Sikkim etc.

Also read: “My first solo trek to Triund“

Right after you cross the Malana Dam, there is a small cafe where you can fuel up on the basic bread omelette, Maggi or aloo paratha before heading uphill. It is one of the only places to eat on the Waichin Valley trek to your destination.

There is a stream crossing about halfway through the trek that may be a bit tricky for beginner trekkers. In the summer months, the locals put wooden planks to create a bridge to walk over the stream. But in the winters, a snow bridge is formed over the gushing water which can be slippery to walk on and quite dangerous if caution is not maintained.

Like most other times when a potential danger has risen in front of me, I miraculously had a local appear to help me through. I like to believe it’s the magic of the Himalayas and it was exactly this magic that helped us cross the snow bridge. An elderly local man happened to be going the opposite direction as us but turned around to ensure we crossed the bridge safely because he knew of the dangers it possesses.

To test the bridge, he first threw a fairly sized rock and it went right into the gushing stream below, creating a hole in the snow, and I felt my heart sink. But he followed this method several more times to ensure safety and when he found solid ice, he helped us form a human chain and slowly cross the section. I think of that man and of his kindness often. I hope wherever he is, he is well.

Places to stay in Waichin Valley

Thankfully, this is one of the few treks in Parvati Valley which has proper homestays at the destination, and one need not camp. However, if camping is something you like to do, there are several Waichin Valley camps available. You can either bring your own tents or ask the locals to arrange camping in Waichin Valley for you.

Also read: “Camping at Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan“

There are no Waichin Valley hotels available (surprise, surprise!) but there are several Waichin Valley homestays in the area. These homestays in Waichin Valley provide basic shared accommodation in rustic pahadi homes, with a shared bathroom. Most Waichin Valley homestays cost 700 to 1000 rupees per person including stay and all three meals. If you’re looking for places to stay in Waichin Valley, you can contact Sonu Thakur Ji at 8894407500. He has a beautiful homestay in Waichin Valley built with wood, in the traditional Kath Khuni architectural style. He has accommodation as well as food available. It is one of the most beautiful places to stay in Waichin Valley.

Waichin Valley – FAQs

What is the best time to visit Waichin Valley?

The best to visit Waichin Valley is in spring from March to early May. The weather is perfect and you can also witness the bloom of rhododendron flowers. Autumn is also a good time to visit Waichin Valley is everything turns golden to orange from October to November. Waichin Valley in December to February is the most adventurous time to do the Waichin Valley trek!

Is there network in Waichin Valley?

One of the best things is that there is no network in Waichin Valley. This means you can log off, and enjoy the peace of nature while staying away from work and phone! Only the BSNL network works in Waichin Valley so make sure to inform your friends and family beforehand. For emergencies, you can ask the locals to lend you their phones for a call.

What are the things to do in Waichin Valley?

One can explore the Waichin Magic Valley which is just one kilometre before. Walking through the meadows, and taking in the views of mountains such as Mount Tiger Mouth and Animals Pass are some of the best things to do in Waichin Valley. You can even trek further for a few days to reach Devroopa. After monsoons, during the months of September and October, you can also help the locals in harvesting and rubbing the Waichin Valley hash!

Follow me on Instagram for more adventures from Waichin Valley and elsewhere!