5. Chalal… The Village Beyond the River (27th Sept 2022).

#roadtrip #soloroadtrip #parvativalley #kasol #manikaran #chalal 27th Sept 2022, Tuesday…Day (5) Kasol-Chalal-Katagala-Manikaran (5 km). Solo Road Trip to Parvati Valley…Day (5) Kasol-Manikaran. I woke up to a beautiful morning in Kasol. Despite the roaring Grahan Nalla, the turbulent Parvati River and the never-ending Kasol buzz, I had slept wonderfully inside Lalpari. Up at 6 AM. A morning walk, two cups of tea with bun—and I was ready to explore. Parvati Valley is not just about mountains and rivers. It is about rustic villages, backpackers, music, cafés, hippie vibes and a certain carefree way of life. And today, I wanted to experience some of it. Chalal… the mysterious village Across the Parvati River lies Chalal—a beautiful little village that, even today, feels wonderfully cut off from the road. To reach it, you have to cross a hanging wooden bridge and then walk. It was still early. Most cafés and shops were closed. The trail was quiet, except for a few locals and an occasional traveller. The wooden bridge vibrated under my feet while the furious Parvati rushed beneath it. A little scary… but exciting. Beyond the bridge, the trail changed every few minutes—boulders, steep rocky stretches, dense forest and narrow paths running alongside the roaring river. And everywhere were colourful signs advertising cafés, homestays and parties—painted on rocks, walls, tree trunks and whatever space was available. Strange, colourful and fascinating. Walking through Chalal Chalal appeared almost before I realised it. The surroundings were so beautiful that time simply didn’t matter. I wandered through the village, passing quaint cafés and homestays, then walked down through farms and orchards towards Katagla. Katagla was wider, more open and much closer to the river. But its wooden bridge? That was another story. It vibrated even more violently as I crossed it. For a moment, it genuinely felt as if the bridge might give way. And beneath it, the Parvati was raging. Definitely not a place to test your courage twice! Instead of taking the main road back to Kasol, I chose another trail, retracing my steps towards Chalal Bridge and eventually reaching Kasol. A different kind of freedom I then walked to Yeti Camp to meet a young couple recommended by a friend. We shared a cup of tea and spent some wonderful time talking. They had left behind the conventional city life to pursue something many of us dream about—a life built around freedom, choices and their own definition of happiness. Their story stayed with me. Later, I walked to the famous Jim Morrison Café. I was hungry, so I tried an Israeli Hummus and Falafel Platter. Loved it. But while enjoying the meal, I couldn’t help missing Neeru. Some journeys are about discovering new places. Others make you realise how much you miss someone waiting back home. Evening at Manikaran By evening, I drove to Manikaran. After struggling to find a comfortable parking spot in Kasol for the previous two nights, Manikaran felt like a relief. A proper, well-lit and lively parking area. I enjoyed a relaxed evening and, once again, settled down inside Lalpari—my home on wheels. Another day ended. Another beautiful night under the mountains. And another reminder that sometimes the best part of travelling is simply being out there… free, curious and completely on the move. For more videos and travel stories pls google "Sunil Azaad".