Tirthan Valley

The Tirthan rises in the Great Himalayan National Park and runs down a narrow valley of deodar and oak to join the Beas, and because the upper valley is park buffer, building has been restricted and the settlements stayed small. The river holds brown trout, introduced in the colonial period, and fly fishing is licensed and catch-and-release in stretches. Guesthouses are mostly family-run riverside places. Walks lead to Serolsar lake and the Jalori pass, where the old road crosses at 3,120 metres past the Raghupur fort ridge, and to Chehni Kothi, a tower house of stone and timber several storeys high.

What you actually see

• The trout river - licensed fly fishing on the Tirthan.
• Jalori Pass - the 3,120-metre crossing with walks to Serolsar lake.
• Chehni Kothi - a tall timber and stone tower house in the valley.
• The park gateway - entry points for treks into the national park.

When to go

March to June and September to November; fishing season runs roughly March to October with a closed period. The monsoon brings landslides, and Jalori Pass closes with winter snow.

Honest expectations

Roads into the valley are narrow and rough. Accommodation is simple homestays with limited services. Fishing requires a permit from the local office. Mobile signal is patchy.

Nearby

The Great Himalayan National Park lies above; Kullu is north.