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Kaisdhar Trek

Kullu, Himachal Pradesh

Easy2 daysBest Mar–Apr, Oct–DecSnow trek

Green grassy meadow at Kais Dhar ringed by tall deodar trees, with misty forested mountains behind2,500 mhighest point4 Photos
Max altitude
2,500 m
Days
2 days
Distance
11 km
Difficulty
Easy

Best months Mar–Apr, Oct–Dec

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Short days of about 4.5 km and 6.5 km on a broad, well-marked forest trail that contours between roughly 2,100 m and 2,500 m with no major climbs; only a narrow grassy ledge just before Kaisdhar and slippery mud in the monsoon need care.

Photos

On the trail

Green grassy meadow at Kais Dhar ringed by tall deodar trees, with misty forested mountains behind
Green grassy meadow at Kais Dhar ringed by tall deodar trees, with misty forested mountains behindPhoto: Divyansh Vardhan · CC BY-SA 4.0

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The route

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · highest point

    Lot village (drive from Kullu) → Kaisdhar

    4.5 km · 3 h · Camp

    2,350 m → 2,500 m

  2. Day 2

    Kaisdhar → Peej / Shilabai road-head (via Kaisdhar Eco Trail), drive to Kullu

    6.5 km · 4 h · No overnight

    2,500 m → 2,090 m

Ups and downs

Altitude profile

1,5002,0002,5003,000Lot village (drive from Kullu): 2,350 m, 0 kmKaisdhar: 2,500 m, 4.5 kmPeej / Shilabai road-head (via Kaisdhar Eco Trail), drive to Kullu: 2,090 m, 11 km
Metres above sea level · distance 11 km

Where it is

Map

Download GPX waypoints

Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.

Weather

Next 5 days on the trail

Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.

Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h

Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.

Plan the trip

How to reach

Trailhead
Lot village (nearest town: Kullu)
Nearest railway
Chandigarh (about 240 km from Kullu by road)
Nearest airport
Kullu-Manali Airport, Bhuntar
By road
Kullu (Lot village is about 19 km from Kullu by road); Manali (about 41 km to Lot from Indiahikes' campus near Manali, roughly 2.5 hours)
Drive
About 8 h from Chandigarh

Plan the trip

Permits and fees

We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.

Plan the trip

Cost

Self-guided

₹1,500–4,000

With an operator

₹7,450–7,570

Per person, ex-Manali for the guided figure, ex-Kullu for self-guided. Only one operator price could be found: Indiahikes lists ₹7,450 (+₹120 trek insurance) for its 4-day Manali Kaisdhar trek, but its page (October 2026) says it is currently not running the trek. Self-guided is an estimate: a shared taxi from Kullu to Lot, one night in a tent at the dhaba or the Forest Rest House at Kaisdhar with meals, any eco-trail ticket, and the ride back from Shilabai/Peej.

Gear

Top picks for this trek

The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.

See the full packing checklist

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Packing checklist

Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.

Packed 0 of 23

Tick each item as it goes in the bag.

What to wear
Pack and gear
Sleeping

Many trek operators provide tents and sleeping bags. Ask before you buy.

Safety
Water and food
Documents and money

Your ticks are saved on this device only.

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Know before you go

Good to know

Mobile network
A 2024 trip report says Jio and Airtel signal is good along the whole trail and at the Jamdagni Rishi temple in Shilabai.
Last ATM
Kullu town (carry cash; none on the trail)
Nearest hospital
Regional Hospital Kullu
Water
Springs along the trail, a potable tap at the Jamdagni Rishi temple in Shilabai, and the dhaba at Kaisdhar. Treat stream water.

Highlights

  • A broad, gently contouring trail through dense deodar, kail and fir forest above the Lag valley, with wooden bridges and rain shelters on the Kaisdhar Eco Trail
  • The Kaisdhar Forest Rest House, built in 1920-21 in the British period, in a grassy clearing ringed by giant deodars
  • Views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges and of the villages across the Lag valley
  • Wood-and-stone houses of Lot village and the Jamdagni Rishi temple at Shilabai
  • A good first Himalayan trek for families, with a dhaba serving meals and tents at Kaisdhar

Risks

  • The trail is slippery in July-August monsoon rain, and temperatures drop sharply in rain and wind even at this modest height; carry warm layers.
  • A narrow grassy ledge just before Kaisdhar: stay close to the hillside.
  • Snow can cover the trail from mid-January to February; carry microspikes or check conditions locally.
  • Side tracks and a newly built road near Bain and Shilabai can lead hikers off the trail; use an offline map or ask locals.
  • Forest check posts may ask for photo ID; the eco-trail gate has a ticket counter. Fees were not confirmed from an official source.

Know before you go

Questions

Is Kaisdhar a good trek for beginners and families?

Yes. Indiahikes designed it for beginners and families: the trails are short and mostly flat with hardly any tricky sections. A 2024 trip report also calls it beginner-friendly, with one broad trail, few blind turns and locals using it every day.

Can you drive to Kaisdhar?

No. The Kaisdhar rest house is not on a road. You walk in about 4.5 km from Lot village or about 6.5 km on the Kaisdhar Eco Trail from the Shilabai/Peej side; the Jamdagni Rishi temple at Shilabai is the road-head.

Where can I stay at Kaisdhar?

There is a Forest Rest House built in 1920-21, and a dhaba near it that serves meals and offers tents for 4-6 people and camping space behind it, with a toilet. Check rest-house booking with the Kullu forest division.

What is the best time to do the Kaisdhar trek?

Spring (March-April) and autumn (October-December) give clear views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges. Summer is pleasant in the forest shade. Monsoon makes the trail slippery, and snow can lie from mid-January to February.

How high is Kaisdhar?

Indiahikes gives Kaisdhar's ridge as 8,202 ft (about 2,500 m), and route maps show a high point of about 2,470 m. The board on the Forest Rest House reads 8,300 ft.

Your 8-week plan for this trekEasy grade. Start about 8 weeks before you travel.
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You are in

District: KulluHimachal Pradesh

Nearest hospital
Regional Hospital Kullu
Last ATM
Kullu town (carry cash; none on the trail)
Phone network
A 2024 trip report says Jio and Airtel signal is good along the whole trail and at the Jamdagni Rishi temple in Shilabai.

Before you set off

  1. Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
  2. Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
  3. Download an offline map of the route.
  4. Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
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Where this comes from

Sources

Last reviewed:

  1. Manali Kaisdhar Trek — Indiahikes
  2. Identification of Trekking Routes in Himachal Pradesh (245 routes), Sep 2024 — No. 100 Lot to Kaisdhar — Himachal Pradesh Forest Department (Ecotourism) (official)
  3. Kaisdhar - perfect trail for beginners — Creedaz (trip report)
  4. Kais Dhar — iso-maps

Photos: Divyansh Vardhan, CC BY-SA 4.0; Madhrakangri, CC BY 4.0; Divyansh Vardhan, CC BY-SA 4.0; Madhrakangri, CC BY 4.0

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