Exciting Day Trek To Hippo Waterfall & Great Himalayan National Park Gate In Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh
This Travel Blog is of our exciting and adventurous trek to the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) Gate and Hippo Waterfall.
We, The Adrift Couple, were returning to Tirthan after a hiatus of 17 years having first discovered the valley in 2005. We had lodged in Nagini then, which at the time, had very limited staying options; unlike now – the riverbank and hillsides being dotted with guesthouses, homestays and cafes.
So, we drove a short distance further on to but this time We opted for the quieter Gushaini and found ourselves a quaint place, with a few cottages, by the Tirthan River.
Well, the initial idea was just to space out here for a few days perhaps trying out various Himachali dishes. However our itchy feet pushed us out on daily hikes – starting with an adventurous 7 hour round trek to the Great Himalayan National Park GHNP Gate and Hippo Point followed by the climb to the Chhoie Waterfall hidden in the forest up in the hills and ending with the hike to the pristine Barasari Meadow beyond Sharchi Village!
Video – Enjoy our Vlog
The trek to the GHNP Gate and Hippo Waterfall took us a total of 7 hours, with an extended stop at the Hippo Point, about 3 hours one way. The journey was wonderful but the destination was magical.
We still enjoy our hikes as much as we did earlier though gave multiday treks with overnight camping a pass this time!
3 days, 3 hikes – passed the reality check – as we are about to hit sixty, the mountains still welcome us. Did you know that these Himalayas are about fifty million years old albeit being one of the world’s youngest mountain ranges?
We started our trek for GHNP from Gushiani and after a km hit the market where stands a Durga Mata Temple.
The idea of a trek till the Gate only of the Great Himalayan National Park seemed confusing and not very exciting. Aah, the beauty of offbeat travel – you explore, you figure out, you build an experience for nostalgia!
That day some misconceptions got debunked, as we fathomed that The Gate is way inside the forest, much beyond the road head. The trek is thrilling and the return absolutely possible before sunset!
Leaving the road, we drifted down into the jungle and took the forest trail, crossing village houses as we advanced, the birds and the Tirthan River keeping us company.
Soon the wild flowers and rhododendrons gave way to conifers as we climbed up gradually along a comfortable path through the idyllic wilderness.
Walking through this forest is meditative and the sound of the flowing river euphonious – the turbulent white waters fresh from the Tirath glacier gushing down below.
Not too tired, we ambled along in unmindful bliss!
We had reached the GHNP Gate but our experience certainly wasn’t over…
– the best part was the hour spent here at the Hippo Waterfall, dipping our feet in the cool, clear waters as the snowy aqua pura cascaded over the rocks forming a pool – green now caused so by the reflection of the surrounding forest.
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” ~ John Muir
Article Authored By: Achal Bindraban.
Page Design By: Ranjana Achal.
Pictures By: Achal and Ranjana and couple pics by locals.
Travelled in May 2022
#GHNP #HippoWaterfall #TirthanValley #Gushaini #GreatHimalayanNationalPark #HimachalPradesh #OffbeatHimachal #Easytreks #ForestHike #ForestTrek #TreksInTirthanValley
Adrift Couple 