Pabbar Valley - Soaking near the Pabbar River
Pabbar Valley is not as famous as some of the other valleys of Himachal Pradesh. However, there are some stunning views waiting to be explored in the Pabbar region of Himachal Pradesh. Very close to Shimla, Pabbar Valley is the hidden, untouched wonder of Himachal Pradesh. Deodar & oak trees, apple orchards, beautiful Pabbar River in Himachal Pradesh are the defining characteristics of this valley.
You know by now our penchant for discovering, exploring, and sharing with you the untouched portions of the Himalayas. And today, we do you well – getting to an unexplored, yet, easily reachable region of Pabbar. Do read along to understand what the valley is all about, what you can do here, and how you can explore!
Pabbar Valley, the enchanting valley of the Pabbar River is located just 100 kilometers away from Shimla. The landscape is seen flourishing in abundance here. Located in close proximity to the Uttarakhand – Himachal Pradesh border, the valley, though untouched, gets some of its fame due to the nearby Chanshal Pass. The Pabbar River is stunning and cuts through the Chanshal Mountain Range, apple orchards, majestic mountains, lush green meadows, dense oak & deodar forests.
The valley in itself is quite an attraction for adventure seekers. The densely covered slopes of the mountains provide for exciting trails waiting to be explored.
Located just 100 KMs off of Shimla, the valley is surrounded by stunning beauty all through the region. From Theog, instead of moving towards Narkanda, you stay on the Road to reach Jubbal and then Rohru – subsequently entering the Pabbar Valley.
Similar to the weather in Shimla, the Pabbar valley is known to have beautiful summers with temperatures ranging in the mid 20’s Celsius, while the winters might experience some snow fall! Monsoon is a tough time for the region, given that the terrain is prone to landslides.
Bearing in mind the topography of the region, Pabbar Valley is best visited during the spring-summer season, i.e. between March and June. With the temperature ranging between a maximum of 24°C and a minimum of 18°C, the skies being clear, and the air is pleasantly cold all through the day, it a beautiful time to venture out, go sightseeing or go trekking through the enchanting landscape.
This time of the year is also an excellent time for fishing Trout and Mahseer fish as they are found in plenty in River Pabbar that flows through the valley.
Even though Pabbar isn’t an explored valley, it isn’t that tough to reach. National Highway 22 runs near Pabbar Valley, making it accessible by road through bus, taxi, and private car. There is also an easy drivable route from Shimla that will take you right to the valley.
The nearest airport is Shimla which is about 100 km away. However, this airport doesn’t enjoy as much air traffic as one would like. The nearest airport with great connectivity to the rest of India is the Chandigarh Airport, 220 km from Pabbar Valley.
The nearest railhead is Kalka 190 KMs. You can get a Shatabdi from Delhi and cover the rest of your journey by road (taxis, buses, etc are available at the railway station). A ride from there would cost somewhere around Rs. 2000 and goes through the scenic surroundings occupied with tall pine, oak, and deodar trees, and charming little settlements.
The picturesque valley of Pabbar is very well connected to Shimla by road. One can choose their preferred mode of transport to reach Shimla (by air, rail, or road), but from Shimla, roads are the best way to reach the valley.
Rohru, the town closest to the valley, is an expedient point to reach from Shimla (or any part of the state). The state transport buses (Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation buses) are easily available to reach Rohru. A bus ride from Shimla to Rohru would cost a mere Rs. 50/- one way.
Pabbar Valley gives you access to a lot of great treks that are little known outside of the core trekker community. This also allows you to make your way through all kinds of terrains and landscapes to enjoy this gem in Himachal Pradesh.
Here’s a list of a few things to do in Pabbar valley, here you go –
River Pabbar, the river that formed the Pabbar Valley, has crystal clear waters that mainly come from the glacial ice of the Chandan Nahan Glacier located high in the snow-capped mountains that surround the picturesque valley.
Its massive stretch begins in the southern region of Kinnaur and extends to the boundaries of Uttarakhand before it connects River Tons and further drains into the River Yamuna. Pabbar, therefore, is also called a tributary of River Tons.
The entire terrain of the valley covers gems such as Kufri, Fagu, Theog, Kotkhai, Khara Patthar, Jubbal, Hatkoti, Rohru, Chirgaon, Chanshal, Dodra Kwar, and Mahasu which are well-known for mountain views, snow-clad mountain peaks, rich flora and fauna, temples with ancient sculptures, lakes, rivers, etc. An outing through the valley by the banks of River Pabbar must not be missed.
River Pabbar has a lovely ecosystem suitable for several fish that are found in decently large numbers. Freshwater fish like Trout, Golden Mahseer, and Goonch are commonly found in the waters, making the river a hot-spot for fishing and angling.
And when there are the panoramic views, the fresh air, and the lovely ambiance, fishing is bound to become a memorable experience. Pabbar Valley is undoubtedly an angler’s paradise. Several parts of the valley have been seeing anglers from the colonial era, but recently, Rohru has picked up its game as a famous fishing destination, especially for recreational purposes.
When I say Pabbar Valley is not famous – I mean that with the general tourism population. Pabbar is a trekkers’ paradise and offers enchanting scenery and stunning terrain! The mountains and the valley house many a thrilling trail perfect to satiate the longing of the courageous explorers, especially those seeking new and unexplored landscapes.
Most treks of the region have their base camp in the charming little town of Rohru. Known for trout fishing and its apple orchards, Rohru is a small town in Himachal Pradesh, around two and a half hours from Shimla by road. Here are some of the best routes you should know of!
The Chandernahan Lake is situated at an elevation of 4,000 meters and is covered by snow for almost 8 months in a year. This lake is considered to be holy by the locals and taking a dip can rid you of your sins. The lake itself is breathtaking, as are the sweeping views from here. The trek from Janglik Village, the last motorable spot on the trek, will take you through dense pine, oak, and Rhododendron forests.
This trail goes through the lush green meadows, serene lakes, dense oak & deodar forests, climbing up with the local shepherds to an altitude of 4578 meters to reach Buran Ghati Pass to enjoy the fascinating view of the valley.
A trek from Rohru to Buran Ghati Pass will have you pass through small villages, far-reaching meadows, forests, lakes, and snow-covered mountains. The Buran Ghati Pass is a common route for shepherds going to Kinnaur and offers mesmerizing views of the valley below.
This lesser-known trek in Pabbar Valley takes you to Saru Lake, located at 11,865 feet, through some of the most scenic forested routes. Even though you can see the lake after a day-long trek from the motorable road bend at Chanshal pass, I believe the route through the Gadsari village is far more satisfying.
Though longer, clocking in at 24 km from Rohru, the trek will take you through dense foliage and you will be hopping over streams to witness fascinating views of the Bandarpoonch range, Deodar trees, beautiful meadows, and finally the pristine & tranquil Saru Lake.
Even though you can get to Giri Ganga via road, the best way to experience the region is via trek! Marking up at 8 km, the trek is well marked with the route well identified. The trek starts near the Himachal Tourism Hotel in Kharapathar and goes towards Rohru.
From here the trail gradually ascends and takes you through meadows, areas of vegetables, and profuse pine forests. You will also be able to see gorgeous views of the Chander-Nahan mountain range. The trail ends at the Giri Ganga Temple. You can easily do the trek in a day and return to Rohru for your night stay.
The Rupin Pass Trek is stunning in terms of the varied terrains it exposes you to! The journey starts from Dhaula and you will then make your way through sky-high cliffs, thick forests, quaint villages, fields of snow. All this while, the gushing Rupin river keeps you company!
The long walks are rewarded with changing sceneries and mesmerizing waterfalls across three levels! Stunning is a word that won’t do justice to the prettiness of this waterfall. If that’s not enough, the final ascent to Rupin Pass, at 4619m, is thrilling and requires crossing snowy and a rocky path.
There are a bunch of stay options in Rohru including basic budget hotels, homestays and, of course, camping is always an option.
It is my humble request to anyone reading this to PLEASE not litter in the hills. Even if you’re going to touristy places and especially in far-flung, isolated villages – please ensure you clean up after yourself. Carry a water bottle with you and keep refilling it. If you have to buy filtered water – please ensure you dispose of it properly. There are not cleanup crews coming after you to pick up your trash. It breaks my heart to go into the hills and see plastic bottles, cigarette butts, paper plates, half-eaten food containers, discarded clothes and so much more filth strewn around.
I love the hills, as I am sure you do too! Let’s do our part in ensuring that when we return the next time the place is still the same. Anyone who travels through the hills is a part of a very sacred community. It is our duty to ensure the hills are clean for our community. We should not be making it difficult for people living in these villages in already tough circumstances! With folded hands, I request you to please clean up after yourself.
Pabbar Valley is an unexplored yet easily accessible region in Himachal Pradesh. In order to truly become one with nature and immerse yourself in the Himachali lifestyle – head on out and take in the views and stories from this quaint little valley.
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When you connect with nature, and the mountains surround you, you’re fully free and in touch with your real self. I hope the above information has been of some help to you as I know not a lot of information is available online about this stunning beauty of Pabbar Valley. In case you have more questions – do comment below and I would be happy to help!
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