Complete Travel Guide for Jibhi- the offbeat gem of Himachal Pradesh

It isn't easy to find a travel blog or guide for an offbeat place like Jibhi. However, that may be exactly the reason why Jibhi should be your next destination in Himachal Pradesh. Imagine a place frozen in time. A place where tourists are still a rare attraction, where the sound of car horns seems out of place and where you don't have to go to a particular spot for a sunset or a sunrise view. In Jibhi, Gods are alive. Myths seem real. And anything is possible.

Heavenly views from Jibhi

 

Why should you visit Jibhi?

Is Jibhi worth visiting? It really depends on what you desire from your travel experience. Do you want to spend endless hours shopping on the mall street, jostling with crowds? Do you want to hop from one tourist attraction to another, ticking places off your checklist? Then Jibhi is not for you. However, if you want a true escape from the madness of life, then keep on reading!

No concrete forest. No line of trendy cafes. No tour guides pestering you. Just pure, wild unadulterated nature. Slopes peppered with terrace farms, traditional wooden houses that have withstood the ravages of time and modernity, and cheerful villagers who wouldn't hesitate to help you out with anything. Stay in a fairytale hostel, visit mysterious ancient temples, go to a pristine village frozen in time or just start walking in any direction to be rewarded with breath-taking views! 

Jibhi might just be the best place to go after the coronavirus pandemic! With no crowds and no tourists, you can have a safe, peaceful trip in the lap of virgin nature.

Don't miss this view from Shringa Rishi temple!

Best Time to Visit Jibhi

Jibhi is one of those places which you can visit all the year round. However, spring is the time when Jibhi is in full splendor. One can enjoy apple orchards, cherry blossoms and myriad shades of green! So, try to go in the months of April, May and June for the best Jibhi experience. However, if you are want to see snowfall near Delhi, then Jibhi won't disappoint you either as it receives extreme snowfall in the months of December, January and February. 

How to reach Jibhi?

The best way to reach Jibhi from Delhi is to take an overnight bus from Delhi to Manali, get down at Aut right before the tunnel and board a local bus or taxi to Banjar or Jibhi. If you are worried about missing the tunnel, tell your bus conductor to wake you up before Aut. Here is a map I drew while planning for the trip. 

Hand-drawn map of various destinations in Tirthan Valley

Banjar is the main bus junction in the area. So, more buses will be plying from Banjar. But, don't worry. You will find plenty of taxis at Banjar bus station willing to take you to jibhi for as less ad Rs.500.

I would definitely recommend experiencing the local bus travel from Aut to Banjar. Even though it might be less comfortable and take more time than a taxi, the colorful local people and the vibrant Himachali music more than makes up for it! With the narrow village roads, the bustling local markets and jaw-dropping views at every turn, it will be a trip to remember.

Places to see near Jibhi

Shringa Rishi Temple

Shringa Rishi is the ruling God of Banjar. He is also one of the 18 Gods of Kullu Valley. So this temple has huge importance for the locals. The sculpture of the Shringi rishi has a horn on its head which makes him clearly recognizable among the sculpture of other deities. He is also famous for being one of the sages who performed the rituals that led to the birth of Lord Rama.

The temple itself seems deceivingly simple but you only have to look out of the balcony to get your mind blown.  A blend of spirituality, architecture and nature, Shringa Rishi is one of the best and easiest treks near Jibhi. It involves a moderately strenuous hike but the pat is well laid out. Just don't keep checking your watch though. It only makes the trek seem longer!

Learn more about the trek to Shringa Rishi Temple.

Colorful balcony of Shringa Rishi temple

Chehni Kothi

A 400 year old fortress-turned temple. The highest monument in the entire Himalayan stretch! Chehni Kothi was at the top of my list of 'things to do in jibhi'. It seemed like the perfect amalgamation of all the things i love- offbeat, culture and trekking! The journey is definitely long and arduous but it's worth every drop of sweat you may lose. It was the Himachal I had always fantasized about but never seen. Traditional houses, agricultural community and not even a wiff of tourists!  You can easily complete the trek to this fort near Jibhi in under 4 hours. Do start early in the morning as night falls quickly in the mountains and it might often rain in the late afternoon. Full credit to Tinku bhaiya, our guide. Without him, we would have got lost for sure or lost a limb or two!

Learn more about the trek to Chehni Kothi.

Chehni Kothi

                                                     

                              

Bahu and Sheshnag Temple

This tiny easy-to-miss village was actually recommended to us by the lady-owner of a small dhaba near our hostel. You would need to hire a taxi to visit Bahu as it sits at a high elevation and offers the best views in all of Jibhi. The path to Sheshnag temple starts at the Bahu government school. From here, it's a pleasant hike on level land under the shade of mighty Deodhars. The temple is located in the middle of a lush green meadow much like the Shangarh meadow. Luckily, the day we went was the eve of a temple festival. The usually tranquil meadow was bursting with villagers and a huge feast was underway. We got to see the ceremonies, taked with the locals and even ate our fill of the feast or temple prasaad! All in all, a day well spent!

Sheshnag Temple, the presiding deity of Bahu

Jalori Pass

No mention of Jibhi can be complete without talking about Jalori pass. Sadly due to extreme snowfall, the path was closed and we couldn't visit it. However, It's the nearest mountain pass from Delhi and a must visit when in Jibhi. At an elevation of 3.134m (10,282ft) above the sea level, the views are surreal in almost every moths barring peak winter. The road to the pass is steep and winding, so extreme caution is advised. Or you can decide to hire a local driver and put all your worries to rest. 

Serloskar lake

This high altitude lake near Jibhi is another must-visit. As the lake is only accessible via Jalori Pass, which was closed at the time of our visit, we couldn't see the lake either. It's surrounded by dense forests and looks like an emerald. Local legends claim that the lake water has supernatural medicinal powers as it is patronized by Buddhi Nagin (Goddess of snakes).

Where to stay?

I always make try to stay in hostels instead of hotels as it's not only cheaper but makes for a better travel experience. Whether, it's about meeting new people, makign new friends or playing board games all night, nothing can beat a hostel experience! However, there were only a couple of hostels in Jibhi and the 'Hidden Burrow' easily stood because of its jaw-dropping theme and location. As a picture is worth a thousand words, let me just show you instead of telling you!

The Hidden Burrow, Jibhi- Straight out of a Fairytale!

The Hostel has an in-house cafe called the 'Hobbit Cafe'. seen in the picture as the standalone white shed with a circular door. Maybe it's the name, reminding you of Lord of the Rings. Maybe it's the setting, nestled between wooden houses and pink trees. Or maybe it's the view from its huge windows, where you can always hear the river flowing right outside. Whatever it is, it's definitely the most magical cafe I've seen!!

Conclusion

So, this is all you need to know about Jibhi in a jiff. That said, I'm not a fan of over-planning as it kills te excitmement. So, be spontaneous, Throw out the itinerary. Folow that forest trail, chase that rabbit, get your hands dirty (literally!). But if you have any more questions, ask me in the comments. I will reply within 24 hrs. Scout's honor!