Kheerganga : My First Solo

Kheerganga wasn't really part of my plan.

It was my first time in Manali, and after exploring around for a few days, I still had some time left. I wanted to do something different, something a little adventurous. So, without thinking too much, I decided to join a local operator for the Kheerganga trek.

There was just one thing.

It was my first trek, and I was going alone.

I honestly had no idea what to expect.

We started the trek from Barshaini, and within a little while, I started feeling much more comfortable. Our guide had a really good playlist, people were singing along, and slowly everyone started talking to each other.

There were groups of friends, couples, and a few solo travellers like me.

At one point, someone asked me, “Aap kiske saath aaye ho?”

I said, “Akele.”

They looked a little surprised.

But after spending some time with everyone, I didn't really feel like I was travelling alone anymore.

The Trail

The trail itself was beautiful.

There were green forests, narrow paths, streams, waterfalls and those little mountain views that make you stop every few minutes just to look around.

At a few places, we weren't even sure which trail we were supposed to take. Instead of worrying about it, we just figured it out together.

We laughed, sang, danced, crossed streams and even drank cold water straight from a waterfall.

And then came the black ice.

That part was honestly scary.

It was slippery and you couldn't really tell where your next step would land. Everyone became extra careful, helping each other get across. Somehow, that little bit of fear and the adrenaline made the whole experience even more fun.

By then, the group didn't really feel like a group of strangers anymore.

The Two Parathas

Since this was my first trek, I had packed two extra parathas.

My thinking was simple — “Pata nahi upar khana milega ya nahi.”

Luckily, there was food at the top.

But before dinner, I came across two people who were hungry, so I offered them my emergency parathas.

I didn't think much of it at the time.

Funny enough, those two parathas became the start of two really good friendships. ❤️

A Night at the Summit

That evening happened to be Makar Sankranti, which made the night even more special.

After dinner, everyone gathered around a bonfire.

Someone started singing, someone else started rapping, another person was beatboxing, and before we knew it, everyone was just jamming together. 🎶

We had met only a few hours earlier, but sitting around that bonfire, it didn't feel that way at all.

The next morning, we visited the hot water springs near the Shiva Temple and then headed towards Kartikey Cave.

One of the friends we'd made had a really good camera, so naturally, we spent quite a bit of time taking pictures. 📸

There was no rush.

We just enjoyed the morning, the mountains and the fact that somehow a random trek had turned into a really good group of people.

The Way Back

The descent was a completely different experience.

We passed through Nakthan Village, where there was a small village wedding happening. At the same time, little kids were walking to school.

It was such a simple scene, but I really liked it.

We were there for the adventure.

For the people living there, this was just everyday life.

For us, it was a trek. For them, it was home.

I also had a bus to catch, so while most people were taking their time coming down, a few of us still had enough energy left to race our way down.

We finally reached the dhaba where we had started, had some hot Maggi, talked about everything that had happened during the trek, and then boarded the bus.

And here's the funny part.

Three of the people I had met on the trek ended up travelling with me all the way to Delhi.

I had started the Kheerganga trek alone.

I came back with friends, a bunch of photographs, plenty of stories, and a completely different perspective on travelling solo.
Sometimes you go to the mountains looking for an adventure, and come back with people who become part of the memory.