Barot - A Time Capsule : by Vibha Malhotra, TOI (16th June, 2012)


Tucked away in the remote recesses of the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh, lies the tiny town of Barot. To a large extent untouched by tourism, the town offers a peaceful getaway to travellers, away from the hustle-bustle of daily life. Surrounded by century-old, tall deodars, Barot is a time capsule and visiting Barot is like taking a peek into the bygone era when human beings still knew how to live in peace with their surroundings and with nature. The river Uhl runs through the town twisting its way amongst boulders and polishing pebbles till they glitter like silver and gold, and birds of all colours and sizes sing their various songs while flitting in and out of sight.

Tucked away in the remote recesses of the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh, lies the tiny town of Barot. To a large extent untouched by tourism, the town offers a peaceful getaway to travellers, away from the hustle-bustle of daily life. Surrounded by century-old, tall deodars, Barot is a time
capsule and visiting Barot is like taking a peek into the bygone era when human beings still knew how to live in peace with their surroundings and with nature. The river Uhl runs through the town twisting its way amongst boulders and polishing pebbles till they glitter like silver and gold, and birds of all colours and sizes sing their various songs while flitting in and out of sight.


On the surface, Barot appears to be a sleepy village with women chasing hens and chicks to put them away for the night and folks dressed in traditional attire chatting away in the afternoon sun. But you just have to walk a few metres to come upon the Uhl Water Reservoir or the trout farm, which are not only symbols of progress but also underline the intertwining of a traditional way of life with modern thinking. Several homestays and guest houses offer affordable yet comfortable lodging and also provide you with a chance to interact with the ever-smiling and pleasant local people.
 
On the surface, Barot appears to be a sleepy village with women chasing hens and chicks to put them away for the night and folks dressed in traditional attire chatting away in the afternoon sun. But you just have to walk a few metres to come upon the Uhl Water Reservoir or the trout farm,
which are not only symbols of progress but also underline the intertwining of a traditional way of life with modern thinking. Several homestays and guest houses offer affordable yet comfortable lodging and also provide you with a chance to interact with the ever-smiling and pleasant local people.

The town experiences very cold winters and often receives snowfall during the winter months. Days in summers are cool while the nights can get very cold so carrying light woolens even during peak summers is advisable. The road that connects Barot and Jogindernagar is more-or-less in good condition with the exception of a few rough patches, but the route is very scenic, offering distraction from the bumpy ride. Even though Barot may not exactly be on the tourist circle or, for that matter, even easily accessible, but for those who want to let their hair down, the town is a good travel option.
The town experiences very cold winters and often receives snowfall during the winter months. Days in summers are cool while the nights can get very cold so carrying light woolens even during peak summers is advisable. The road that connects Barot and Jogindernagar is more-or-less in
good condition with the exception of a few rough patches, but the route is very scenic, offering distraction from the bumpy ride. Even though Barot may not exactly be on the tourist circle or, for that matter, even easily accessible, but for those who want to let their hair down, the town
is a good travel option.


When it comes to Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh you will quickly list down Shimla, Dalhousie, Mcleodganj, Dharmshala, Spiti etc, but places like Barot will not come in that list. It's good in one way, but bad for people who like True Natural Beauty with least commercialization and quite peaceful. Nature Lovers want such places to be isolated from tourists more interested in commercial hill-stations with hustle-busstle all around. Let's check out some of the landscapes from Barot Town, which is in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh (India).Barot is a small town and a popular picnic spot along with a famous tourist location in Mandi district in Himalayan State of India. It is situated 40 km from Jogindernagar, which is one of the big towns in Mandi having historical importance and 66 km from Mandi, which is district headquarters. The road to Barot branches off at Jogindernagar-Mandi highway... The road to Barot branches off from Ghatasni before JoginderNagar while coming from Mandi leading to Jatingri. Further ahead of Jatingri lies Barot at a distance of 14 km. (Info Courtsey - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barot_%28Himachal_Pradesh%29)It is sometimes possible to use the trolley from Jogindernagar which reduces the distance to 13 kilometers, but we were going via car and during that time Trolley was not working due to some technical problem. The route includes terraced fields and thick cedar(Deodar) forests, rising to Jhatingri at the hilltop. The remains of the summer palace of the former rulers of Mandi are located at this place. Through the little village of Tikkan, the road carries on to Barot Town with some hydro plants with beautiful dams under high security. The town has a range of outdoor activities, including a trout breeding center from where fish are released into the Uhl.One can have license to do fishing in this water stream by paying 100 Rs for one day. Tourt Fish of Barot is very popular and there are various places you can get it. There is a Trout Farm and some local folks also sale it in small market of Barot. There are some decent Home-Stay options who have different cooking styles of Trout and we tried some of them during two days stay. Trout Fish of Patli-Kuhl/Preeni in Kullu is also very popular where former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to go for enjoying fish with wonderful weather all around. It seems Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee is staying around Manali onlyBarot Town also forms the gateway to the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary which lies across the Uhl. The sanctuary is home to the monal, black bear and ghoral. Within this are forest rest houses at Thaltuckhod and Silbandhwari. One Guest House is controlled by DFO Jogindernagar and other by DFO Hamirpur, but be cautious about bookings there. Because high Political pressure may lead to cancellation any time, which happened with us as well :) . Through woods of cedar and pine a trek route cuts across the sanctuary to KulluHistorically Barot region formed part of the Mandi riyasat before and during British times & was governed by the King of Mandi. Pre-Independence, Barot was also on the mule trail connecting Kullu valley to Kangra valley. The importance of this route declined once Kullu was connected to a road from Mandi. There is decent habitat now, but it seems some part of Barot comes in Mandi and other in Kangra.Barot Town is a frequent backpacker and day tourist destination now. Many trekking trails pass through Barot town, including trails to Bada Bhangal, Manali and Kullu etc. Most of the day tourists are attracted by the serene surroundings and cheap availability of accommodation. Although the place can be boring for some folks who also want to do some shopping..The Uhl river, which flows through Barot Town, supports Trout breeding and Barot has a few fish farms as well. Across the river Uhl is the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Ghoral, Himalayan Black Bear and a variety of pheasants. While coming back many of pheasants crossed our car from hill-side towards water streams on rightHere is a photograph of HPPWD Guest House of Barot, which is quite decent with 5 rooms in good conditionThe adventurous can also make a part of this journey by the PSEB (Punjab State Electricity Board) run haulage trolley, which may not be functioning all the times. So ensure that you have prior information about it for better planning.  This trolley was originally used to haul material upwards for the power houses but is now used to transport peopleIf you planning one day trip to Barot, there is a better option to stay in Jogindernagar town. It's a HPTDC Hotel on main highway - UHL. if you plan to stay at Barot only, there are few decent Homestay at nominal charges apart from three government guest houses - HPPWD & 2 Forest Guest Houses.

When it comes to Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh you will quickly list down Shimla, Dalhousie, Mcleodganj, Dharmshala, Spiti etc, but places like Barot will not come in that list. It's good in one way, but bad for people who like True Natural Beauty with least commercialization and quite peaceful. Nature Lovers want such places to be isolated from tourists more interested in commercial hill-stations with hustle-busstle all around. Let's check out some of the landscapes from Barot Town, which is in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh (India).Barot is a small town and a popular picnic spot along with a famous tourist location in Mandi district in Himalayan State of India. It is situated 40 km from Jogindernagar, which is one of the big towns in Mandi having historical importance and 66 km from Mandi, which is district headquarters. The road to Barot branches off at Jogindernagar-Mandi highway... The road to Barot branches off from Ghatasni before JoginderNagar while coming from Mandi leading to Jatingri. Further ahead of Jatingri lies Barot at a distance of 14 km. (Info Courtsey - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barot_%28Himachal_Pradesh%29)It is sometimes possible to use the trolley from Jogindernagar which reduces the distance to 13 kilometers, but we were going via car and during that time Trolley was not working due to some technical problem. The route includes terraced fields and thick cedar(Deodar) forests, rising to Jhatingri at the hilltop. The remains of the summer palace of the former rulers of Mandi are located at this place. Through the little village of Tikkan, the road carries on to Barot Town with some hydro plants with beautiful dams under high security. The town has a range of outdoor activities, including a trout breeding center from where fish are released into the Uhl.One can have license to do fishing in this water stream by paying 100 Rs for one day. Tourt Fish of Barot is very popular and there are various places you can get it. There is a Trout Farm and some local folks also sale it in small market of Barot. There are some decent Home-Stay options who have different cooking styles of Trout and we tried some of them during two days stay. Trout Fish of Patli-Kuhl/Preeni in Kullu is also very popular where former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to go for enjoying fish with wonderful weather all around. It seems Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee is staying around Manali onlyBarot Town also forms the gateway to the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary which lies across the Uhl. The sanctuary is home to the monal, black bear and ghoral. Within this are forest rest houses at Thaltuckhod and Silbandhwari. One Guest House is controlled by DFO Jogindernagar and other by DFO Hamirpur, but be cautious about bookings there. Because high Political pressure may lead to cancellation any time, which happened with us as well :) . Through woods of cedar and pine a trek route cuts across the sanctuary to KulluHistorically Barot region formed part of the Mandi riyasat before and during British times & was governed by the King of Mandi. Pre-Independence, Barot was also on the mule trail connecting Kullu valley to Kangra valley. The importance of this route declined once Kullu was connected to a road from Mandi. There is decent habitat now, but it seems some part of Barot comes in Mandi and other in Kangra.Barot Town is a frequent backpacker and day tourist destination now. Many trekking trails pass through Barot town, including trails to Bada Bhangal, Manali and Kullu etc. Most of the day tourists are attracted by the serene surroundings and cheap availability of accommodation. Although the place can be boring for some folks who also want to do some shopping..The Uhl river, which flows through Barot Town, supports Trout breeding and Barot has a few fish farms as well. Across the river Uhl is the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Ghoral, Himalayan Black Bear and a variety of pheasants. While coming back many of pheasants crossed our car from hill-side towards water streams on rightHere is a photograph of HPPWD Guest House of Barot, which is quite decent with 5 rooms in good conditionThe adventurous can also make a part of this journey by the PSEB (Punjab State Electricity Board) run haulage trolley, which may not be functioning all the times. So ensure that you have prior information about it for better planning.  This trolley was originally used to haul material upwards for the power houses but is now used to transport peopleIf you planning one day trip to Barot, there is a better option to stay in Jogindernagar town. It's a HPTDC Hotel on main highway - UHL. if you plan to stay at Barot only, there are few decent Homestay at nominal charges apart from three government guest houses - HPPWD & 2 Forest Guest Houses.

When it comes to Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh you will quickly list down Shimla, Dalhousie, Mcleodganj, Dharmshala, Spiti etc, but places like Barot will not come in that list. It's good in one way, but bad for people who like True Natural Beauty with least commercialization and quite peaceful. Nature Lovers want such places to be isolated from tourists more interested in commercial hill-stations with hustle-busstle all around. Let's check out some of the landscapes from Barot Town, which is in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh (India).Barot is a small town and a popular picnic spot along with a famous tourist location in Mandi district in Himalayan State of India. It is situated 40 km from Jogindernagar, which is one of the big towns in Mandi having historical importance and 66 km from Mandi, which is district headquarters. The road to Barot branches off at Jogindernagar-Mandi highway... The road to Barot branches off from Ghatasni before JoginderNagar while coming from Mandi leading to Jatingri. Further ahead of Jatingri lies Barot at a distance of 14 km. (Info Courtsey - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barot_%28Himachal_Pradesh%29)It is sometimes possible to use the trolley from Jogindernagar which reduces the distance to 13 kilometers, but we were going via car and during that time Trolley was not working due to some technical problem. The route includes terraced fields and thick cedar(Deodar) forests, rising to Jhatingri at the hilltop. The remains of the summer palace of the former rulers of Mandi are located at this place. Through the little village of Tikkan, the road carries on to Barot Town with some hydro plants with beautiful dams under high security. The town has a range of outdoor activities, including a trout breeding center from where fish are released into the Uhl.One can have license to do fishing in this water stream by paying 100 Rs for one day. Tourt Fish of Barot is very popular and there are various places you can get it. There is a Trout Farm and some local folks also sale it in small market of Barot. There are some decent Home-Stay options who have different cooking styles of Trout and we tried some of them during two days stay. Trout Fish of Patli-Kuhl/Preeni in Kullu is also very popular where former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to go for enjoying fish with wonderful weather all around. It seems Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee is staying around Manali onlyBarot Town also forms the gateway to the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary which lies across the Uhl. The sanctuary is home to the monal, black bear and ghoral. Within this are forest rest houses at Thaltuckhod and Silbandhwari. One Guest House is controlled by DFO Jogindernagar and other by DFO Hamirpur, but be cautious about bookings there. Because high Political pressure may lead to cancellation any time, which happened with us as well :) . Through woods of cedar and pine a trek route cuts across the sanctuary to KulluHistorically Barot region formed part of the Mandi riyasat before and during British times & was governed by the King of Mandi. Pre-Independence, Barot was also on the mule trail connecting Kullu valley to Kangra valley. The importance of this route declined once Kullu was connected to a road from Mandi. There is decent habitat now, but it seems some part of Barot comes in Mandi and other in Kangra.Barot Town is a frequent backpacker and day tourist destination now. Many trekking trails pass through Barot town, including trails to Bada Bhangal, Manali and Kullu etc. Most of the day tourists are attracted by the serene surroundings and cheap availability of accommodation. Although the place can be boring for some folks who also want to do some shopping..The Uhl river, which flows through Barot Town, supports Trout breeding and Barot has a few fish farms as well. Across the river Uhl is the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Ghoral, Himalayan Black Bear and a variety of pheasants. While coming back many of pheasants crossed our car from hill-side towards water streams on rightHere is a photograph of HPPWD Guest House of Barot, which is quite decent with 5 rooms in good conditionThe adventurous can also make a part of this journey by the PSEB (Punjab State Electricity Board) run haulage trolley, which may not be functioning all the times. So ensure that you have prior information about it for better planning.  This trolley was originally used to haul material upwards for the power houses but is now used to transport peopleIf you planning one day trip to Barot, there is a better option to stay in Jogindernagar town. It's a HPTDC Hotel on main highway - UHL. if you plan to stay at Barot only, there are few decent Homestay at nominal charges apart from three government guest houses - HPPWD & 2 Forest Guest Houses.

When it comes to Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh you will quickly list down Shimla, Dalhousie, Mcleodganj, Dharmshala, Spiti etc, but places like Barot will not come in that list. It's good in one way, but bad for people who like True Natural Beauty with least commercialization and quite peaceful. Nature Lovers want such places to be isolated from tourists more interested in commercial hill-stations with hustle-busstle all around. Let's check out some of the landscapes from Barot Town, which is in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh (India).Barot is a small town and a popular picnic spot along with a famous tourist location in Mandi district in Himalayan State of India. It is situated 40 km from Jogindernagar, which is one of the big towns in Mandi having historical importance and 66 km from Mandi, which is district headquarters. The road to Barot branches off at Jogindernagar-Mandi highway... The road to Barot branches off from Ghatasni before JoginderNagar while coming from Mandi leading to Jatingri. Further ahead of Jatingri lies Barot at a distance of 14 km. (Info Courtsey - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barot_%28Himachal_Pradesh%29)It is sometimes possible to use the trolley from Jogindernagar which reduces the distance to 13 kilometers, but we were going via car and during that time Trolley was not working due to some technical problem. The route includes terraced fields and thick cedar(Deodar) forests, rising to Jhatingri at the hilltop. The remains of the summer palace of the former rulers of Mandi are located at this place. Through the little village of Tikkan, the road carries on to Barot Town with some hydro plants with beautiful dams under high security. The town has a range of outdoor activities, including a trout breeding center from where fish are released into the Uhl.One can have license to do fishing in this water stream by paying 100 Rs for one day. Tourt Fish of Barot is very popular and there are various places you can get it. There is a Trout Farm and some local folks also sale it in small market of Barot. There are some decent Home-Stay options who have different cooking styles of Trout and we tried some of them during two days stay. Trout Fish of Patli-Kuhl/Preeni in Kullu is also very popular where former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to go for enjoying fish with wonderful weather all around. It seems Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee is staying around Manali onlyBarot Town also forms the gateway to the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary which lies across the Uhl. The sanctuary is home to the monal, black bear and ghoral. Within this are forest rest houses at Thaltuckhod and Silbandhwari. One Guest House is controlled by DFO Jogindernagar and other by DFO Hamirpur, but be cautious about bookings there. Because high Political pressure may lead to cancellation any time, which happened with us as well :) . Through woods of cedar and pine a trek route cuts across the sanctuary to KulluHistorically Barot region formed part of the Mandi riyasat before and during British times & was governed by the King of Mandi. Pre-Independence, Barot was also on the mule trail connecting Kullu valley to Kangra valley. The importance of this route declined once Kullu was connected to a road from Mandi. There is decent habitat now, but it seems some part of Barot comes in Mandi and other in Kangra.Barot Town is a frequent backpacker and day tourist destination now. Many trekking trails pass through Barot town, including trails to Bada Bhangal, Manali and Kullu etc. Most of the day tourists are attracted by the serene surroundings and cheap availability of accommodation. Although the place can be boring for some folks who also want to do some shopping..The Uhl river, which flows through Barot Town, supports Trout breeding and Barot has a few fish farms as well. Across the river Uhl is the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Ghoral, Himalayan Black Bear and a variety of pheasants. While coming back many of pheasants crossed our car from hill-side towards water streams on rightHere is a photograph of HPPWD Guest House of Barot, which is quite decent with 5 rooms in good conditionThe adventurous can also make a part of this journey by the PSEB (Punjab State Electricity Board) run haulage trolley, which may not be functioning all the times. So ensure that you have prior information about it for better planning.  This trolley was originally used to haul material upwards for the power houses but is now used to transport peopleIf you planning one day trip to Barot, there is a better option to stay in Jogindernagar town. It's a HPTDC Hotel on main highway - UHL. if you plan to stay at Barot only, there are few decent Homestay at nominal charges apart from three government guest houses - HPPWD & 2 Forest Guest Houses.

When it comes to Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh you will quickly list down Shimla, Dalhousie, Mcleodganj, Dharmshala, Spiti etc, but places like Barot will not come in that list. It's good in one way, but bad for people who like True Natural Beauty with least commercialization and quite peaceful. Nature Lovers want such places to be isolated from tourists more interested in commercial hill-stations with hustle-busstle all around. Let's check out some of the landscapes from Barot Town, which is in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh (India).Barot is a small town and a popular picnic spot along with a famous tourist location in Mandi district in Himalayan State of India. It is situated 40 km from Jogindernagar, which is one of the big towns in Mandi having historical importance and 66 km from Mandi, which is district headquarters. The road to Barot branches off at Jogindernagar-Mandi highway... The road to Barot branches off from Ghatasni before JoginderNagar while coming from Mandi leading to Jatingri. Further ahead of Jatingri lies Barot at a distance of 14 km. (Info Courtsey - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barot_%28Himachal_Pradesh%29)It is sometimes possible to use the trolley from Jogindernagar which reduces the distance to 13 kilometers, but we were going via car and during that time Trolley was not working due to some technical problem. The route includes terraced fields and thick cedar(Deodar) forests, rising to Jhatingri at the hilltop. The remains of the summer palace of the former rulers of Mandi are located at this place. Through the little village of Tikkan, the road carries on to Barot Town with some hydro plants with beautiful dams under high security. The town has a range of outdoor activities, including a trout breeding center from where fish are released into the Uhl.One can have license to do fishing in this water stream by paying 100 Rs for one day. Tourt Fish of Barot is very popular and there are various places you can get it. There is a Trout Farm and some local folks also sale it in small market of Barot. There are some decent Home-Stay options who have different cooking styles of Trout and we tried some of them during two days stay. Trout Fish of Patli-Kuhl/Preeni in Kullu is also very popular where former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to go for enjoying fish with wonderful weather all around. It seems Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee is staying around Manali onlyBarot Town also forms the gateway to the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary which lies across the Uhl. The sanctuary is home to the monal, black bear and ghoral. Within this are forest rest houses at Thaltuckhod and Silbandhwari. One Guest House is controlled by DFO Jogindernagar and other by DFO Hamirpur, but be cautious about bookings there. Because high Political pressure may lead to cancellation any time, which happened with us as well :) . Through woods of cedar and pine a trek route cuts across the sanctuary to KulluHistorically Barot region formed part of the Mandi riyasat before and during British times & was governed by the King of Mandi. Pre-Independence, Barot was also on the mule trail connecting Kullu valley to Kangra valley. The importance of this route declined once Kullu was connected to a road from Mandi. There is decent habitat now, but it seems some part of Barot comes in Mandi and other in Kangra.Barot Town is a frequent backpacker and day tourist destination now. Many trekking trails pass through Barot town, including trails to Bada Bhangal, Manali and Kullu etc. Most of the day tourists are attracted by the serene surroundings and cheap availability of accommodation. Although the place can be boring for some folks who also want to do some shopping..The Uhl river, which flows through Barot Town, supports Trout breeding and Barot has a few fish farms as well. Across the river Uhl is the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Ghoral, Himalayan Black Bear and a variety of pheasants. While coming back many of pheasants crossed our car from hill-side towards water streams on rightHere is a photograph of HPPWD Guest House of Barot, which is quite decent with 5 rooms in good conditionThe adventurous can also make a part of this journey by the PSEB (Punjab State Electricity Board) run haulage trolley, which may not be functioning all the times. So ensure that you have prior information about it for better planning.  This trolley was originally used to haul material upwards for the power houses but is now used to transport peopleIf you planning one day trip to Barot, there is a better option to stay in Jogindernagar town. It's a HPTDC Hotel on main highway - UHL. if you plan to stay at Barot only, there are few decent Homestay at nominal charges apart from three government guest houses - HPPWD & 2 Forest Guest Houses.

When it comes to Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh you will quickly list down Shimla, Dalhousie, Mcleodganj, Dharmshala, Spiti etc, but places like Barot will not come in that list. It's good in one way, but bad for people who like True Natural Beauty with least commercialization and quite peaceful. Nature Lovers want such places to be isolated from tourists more interested in commercial hill-stations with hustle-busstle all around. Let's check out some of the landscapes from Barot Town, which is in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh (India).Barot is a small town and a popular picnic spot along with a famous tourist location in Mandi district in Himalayan State of India. It is situated 40 km from Jogindernagar, which is one of the big towns in Mandi having historical importance and 66 km from Mandi, which is district headquarters. The road to Barot branches off at Jogindernagar-Mandi highway... The road to Barot branches off from Ghatasni before JoginderNagar while coming from Mandi leading to Jatingri. Further ahead of Jatingri lies Barot at a distance of 14 km. (Info Courtsey - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barot_%28Himachal_Pradesh%29)It is sometimes possible to use the trolley from Jogindernagar which reduces the distance to 13 kilometers, but we were going via car and during that time Trolley was not working due to some technical problem. The route includes terraced fields and thick cedar(Deodar) forests, rising to Jhatingri at the hilltop. The remains of the summer palace of the former rulers of Mandi are located at this place. Through the little village of Tikkan, the road carries on to Barot Town with some hydro plants with beautiful dams under high security. The town has a range of outdoor activities, including a trout breeding center from where fish are released into the Uhl.One can have license to do fishing in this water stream by paying 100 Rs for one day. Tourt Fish of Barot is very popular and there are various places you can get it. There is a Trout Farm and some local folks also sale it in small market of Barot. There are some decent Home-Stay options who have different cooking styles of Trout and we tried some of them during two days stay. Trout Fish of Patli-Kuhl/Preeni in Kullu is also very popular where former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to go for enjoying fish with wonderful weather all around. It seems Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee is staying around Manali onlyBarot Town also forms the gateway to the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary which lies across the Uhl. The sanctuary is home to the monal, black bear and ghoral. Within this are forest rest houses at Thaltuckhod and Silbandhwari. One Guest House is controlled by DFO Jogindernagar and other by DFO Hamirpur, but be cautious about bookings there. Because high Political pressure may lead to cancellation any time, which happened with us as well :) . Through woods of cedar and pine a trek route cuts across the sanctuary to KulluHistorically Barot region formed part of the Mandi riyasat before and during British times & was governed by the King of Mandi. Pre-Independence, Barot was also on the mule trail connecting Kullu valley to Kangra valley. The importance of this route declined once Kullu was connected to a road from Mandi. There is decent habitat now, but it seems some part of Barot comes in Mandi and other in Kangra.Barot Town is a frequent backpacker and day tourist destination now. Many trekking trails pass through Barot town, including trails to Bada Bhangal, Manali and Kullu etc. Most of the day tourists are attracted by the serene surroundings and cheap availability of accommodation. Although the place can be boring for some folks who also want to do some shopping..The Uhl river, which flows through Barot Town, supports Trout breeding and Barot has a few fish farms as well. Across the river Uhl is the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Ghoral, Himalayan Black Bear and a variety of pheasants. While coming back many of pheasants crossed our car from hill-side towards water streams on rightHere is a photograph of HPPWD Guest House of Barot, which is quite decent with 5 rooms in good conditionThe adventurous can also make a part of this journey by the PSEB (Punjab State Electricity Board) run haulage trolley, which may not be functioning all the times. So ensure that you have prior information about it for better planning.  This trolley was originally used to haul material upwards for the power houses but is now used to transport peopleIf you planning one day trip to Barot, there is a better option to stay in Jogindernagar town. It's a HPTDC Hotel on main highway - UHL. if you plan to stay at Barot only, there are few decent Homestay at nominal charges apart from three government guest houses - HPPWD & 2 Forest Guest Houses.

When it comes to Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh you will quickly list down Shimla, Dalhousie, Mcleodganj, Dharmshala, Spiti etc, but places like Barot will not come in that list. It's good in one way, but bad for people who like True Natural Beauty with least commercialization and quite peaceful. Nature Lovers want such places to be isolated from tourists more interested in commercial hill-stations with hustle-busstle all around. Let's check out some of the landscapes from Barot Town, which is in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh (India).Barot is a small town and a popular picnic spot along with a famous tourist location in Mandi district in Himalayan State of India. It is situated 40 km from Jogindernagar, which is one of the big towns in Mandi having historical importance and 66 km from Mandi, which is district headquarters. The road to Barot branches off at Jogindernagar-Mandi highway... The road to Barot branches off from Ghatasni before JoginderNagar while coming from Mandi leading to Jatingri. Further ahead of Jatingri lies Barot at a distance of 14 km. (Info Courtsey - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barot_%28Himachal_Pradesh%29)It is sometimes possible to use the trolley from Jogindernagar which reduces the distance to 13 kilometers, but we were going via car and during that time Trolley was not working due to some technical problem. The route includes terraced fields and thick cedar(Deodar) forests, rising to Jhatingri at the hilltop. The remains of the summer palace of the former rulers of Mandi are located at this place. Through the little village of Tikkan, the road carries on to Barot Town with some hydro plants with beautiful dams under high security. The town has a range of outdoor activities, including a trout breeding center from where fish are released into the Uhl.One can have license to do fishing in this water stream by paying 100 Rs for one day. Tourt Fish of Barot is very popular and there are various places you can get it. There is a Trout Farm and some local folks also sale it in small market of Barot. There are some decent Home-Stay options who have different cooking styles of Trout and we tried some of them during two days stay. Trout Fish of Patli-Kuhl/Preeni in Kullu is also very popular where former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to go for enjoying fish with wonderful weather all around. It seems Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee is staying around Manali onlyBarot Town also forms the gateway to the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary which lies across the Uhl. The sanctuary is home to the monal, black bear and ghoral. Within this are forest rest houses at Thaltuckhod and Silbandhwari. One Guest House is controlled by DFO Jogindernagar and other by DFO Hamirpur, but be cautious about bookings there. Because high Political pressure may lead to cancellation any time, which happened with us as well :) . Through woods of cedar and pine a trek route cuts across the sanctuary to KulluHistorically Barot region formed part of the Mandi riyasat before and during British times & was governed by the King of Mandi. Pre-Independence, Barot was also on the mule trail connecting Kullu valley to Kangra valley. The importance of this route declined once Kullu was connected to a road from Mandi. There is decent habitat now, but it seems some part of Barot comes in Mandi and other in Kangra.Barot Town is a frequent backpacker and day tourist destination now. Many trekking trails pass through Barot town, including trails to Bada Bhangal, Manali and Kullu etc. Most of the day tourists are attracted by the serene surroundings and cheap availability of accommodation. Although the place can be boring for some folks who also want to do some shopping..The Uhl river, which flows through Barot Town, supports Trout breeding and Barot has a few fish farms as well. Across the river Uhl is the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Ghoral, Himalayan Black Bear and a variety of pheasants. While coming back many of pheasants crossed our car from hill-side towards water streams on rightHere is a photograph of HPPWD Guest House of Barot, which is quite decent with 5 rooms in good conditionThe adventurous can also make a part of this journey by the PSEB (Punjab State Electricity Board) run haulage trolley, which may not be functioning all the times. So ensure that you have prior information about it for better planning.  This trolley was originally used to haul material upwards for the power houses but is now used to transport peopleIf you planning one day trip to Barot, there is a better option to stay in Jogindernagar town. It's a HPTDC Hotel on main highway - UHL. if you plan to stay at Barot only, there are few decent Homestay at nominal charges apart from three government guest houses - HPPWD & 2 Forest Guest Houses.

When it comes to Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh you will quickly list down Shimla, Dalhousie, Mcleodganj, Dharmshala, Spiti etc, but places like Barot will not come in that list. It's good in one way, but bad for people who like True Natural Beauty with least commercialization and quite peaceful. Nature Lovers want such places to be isolated from tourists more interested in commercial hill-stations with hustle-busstle all around. Let's check out some of the landscapes from Barot Town, which is in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh (India).Barot is a small town and a popular picnic spot along with a famous tourist location in Mandi district in Himalayan State of India. It is situated 40 km from Jogindernagar, which is one of the big towns in Mandi having historical importance and 66 km from Mandi, which is district headquarters. The road to Barot branches off at Jogindernagar-Mandi highway... The road to Barot branches off from Ghatasni before JoginderNagar while coming from Mandi leading to Jatingri. Further ahead of Jatingri lies Barot at a distance of 14 km. (Info Courtsey - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barot_%28Himachal_Pradesh%29)It is sometimes possible to use the trolley from Jogindernagar which reduces the distance to 13 kilometers, but we were going via car and during that time Trolley was not working due to some technical problem. The route includes terraced fields and thick cedar(Deodar) forests, rising to Jhatingri at the hilltop. The remains of the summer palace of the former rulers of Mandi are located at this place. Through the little village of Tikkan, the road carries on to Barot Town with some hydro plants with beautiful dams under high security. The town has a range of outdoor activities, including a trout breeding center from where fish are released into the Uhl.One can have license to do fishing in this water stream by paying 100 Rs for one day. Tourt Fish of Barot is very popular and there are various places you can get it. There is a Trout Farm and some local folks also sale it in small market of Barot. There are some decent Home-Stay options who have different cooking styles of Trout and we tried some of them during two days stay. Trout Fish of Patli-Kuhl/Preeni in Kullu is also very popular where former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to go for enjoying fish with wonderful weather all around. It seems Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee is staying around Manali onlyBarot Town also forms the gateway to the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary which lies across the Uhl. The sanctuary is home to the monal, black bear and ghoral. Within this are forest rest houses at Thaltuckhod and Silbandhwari. One Guest House is controlled by DFO Jogindernagar and other by DFO Hamirpur, but be cautious about bookings there. Because high Political pressure may lead to cancellation any time, which happened with us as well :) . Through woods of cedar and pine a trek route cuts across the sanctuary to KulluHistorically Barot region formed part of the Mandi riyasat before and during British times & was governed by the King of Mandi. Pre-Independence, Barot was also on the mule trail connecting Kullu valley to Kangra valley. The importance of this route declined once Kullu was connected to a road from Mandi. There is decent habitat now, but it seems some part of Barot comes in Mandi and other in Kangra.Barot Town is a frequent backpacker and day tourist destination now. Many trekking trails pass through Barot town, including trails to Bada Bhangal, Manali and Kullu etc. Most of the day tourists are attracted by the serene surroundings and cheap availability of accommodation. Although the place can be boring for some folks who also want to do some shopping..The Uhl river, which flows through Barot Town, supports Trout breeding and Barot has a few fish farms as well. Across the river Uhl is the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Ghoral, Himalayan Black Bear and a variety of pheasants. While coming back many of pheasants crossed our car from hill-side towards water streams on rightHere is a photograph of HPPWD Guest House of Barot, which is quite decent with 5 rooms in good conditionThe adventurous can also make a part of this journey by the PSEB (Punjab State Electricity Board) run haulage trolley, which may not be functioning all the times. So ensure that you have prior information about it for better planning.  This trolley was originally used to haul material upwards for the power houses but is now used to transport peopleIf you planning one day trip to Barot, there is a better option to stay in Jogindernagar town. It's a HPTDC Hotel on main highway - UHL. if you plan to stay at Barot only, there are few decent Homestay at nominal charges apart from three government guest houses - HPPWD & 2 Forest Guest Houses.

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