Rewalsar Lake history - Best Tourist Place In Himachal Pardesh

Rewalsar, Mandi, Himachal Pardesh - Best Tourist Place In India

When I first reached Barot in Himachal Pradesh, I wasn’t sure how I’d last a week in an unknown little town. By the end of two weeks, I didn’t want to leave. Very quickly, my husband and I became accustomed to the serene beauty of the place: languid days spent soaking up the meagre sunlight, finger-licking meals served hot from the stove, and the quiet warmth of the locals.

Best Tourist Places in Himachal Pardesh

We came across Barot on an online travel forum, while researching suitable spots for a last-minute holiday. There was so little information about this mysteriously remote town that we were instantly hooked. When we finally reached a tiny cluster of homes in the valley, unmarked by signboards or any of the usual trappings of a holiday spot, we wondered if we had reached the right place. The cottage-like houses are interspersed with a few small shops selling groceries and essentials. There are also a few medical shops, a couple of eateries, and a cooperative bank, which look like recent additions.

In the early afternoon, we watched men and women in traditional attire returning home via mountainside trails. Despite what must have been an arduous trek, their faces were beaming with smiles. We later learnt that they belonged to the local Gaddi tribe.

Over the next few days, Barot grew on us. We walked over to the nearby woods (less than a kilometre away from our homestay) passing the Uhl River barrage and reservoir. This barrage, constructed for the Shanan Power House in the nearby town of Jogindernagar, is right at the centre of Barot. Several of the homestays in Barot are located close to the barrage and offer clear views of the river. During our many walks, we passed local shops that sold fresh mustard oil, intricately woven shawls and jackets, and embroidered footwear. Being winter, the shawls were a tad pricey but after some negotiating, I was the owner of an exquisite handwoven orange-red drape.

At our homestay, owner Jagannath Paul cooked us marvellous meals, and shared stories over evening glasses of whisky with my husband, while I snacked on radish and pickled garlic, both foods that warm the body. Red-hot coal glowed in an angithi, a shallow metal box placed near our feet. As the warmth seeped into our body, the beauty of Barot permeated our souls, making us feel rejuvenated.