Everyone needs an escape to the mountains once in a while. When the Indian summers hit its peak and the heat becomes unbearable, we start looking for some mountain destinations. Himachal Pradesh is dotted with such destinations that are perfect summer getaway spots. While most people tend to gravitate towards Shimla, the tourist’s favourite, the lush hills of Parvati Valley are worth a visit, too. If you are venturing this side, you’ve probably got the popular places like Kasol covered. However, a little village called Tosh deserves your attention as much as any other. By Tara Choudhary
Tosh lies at the far end of Parvati Valley and isn’t usually frequented by tourists, which makes it a perfect location for a quiet holiday amidst nature. The bright blue skies, luscious green hills, majestic waterfalls and snowy mountain peaks — Tosh has it all. It is commonly used as a base point for treks because of its beautiful surroundings.
The true magic of Tosh, however, lies in the ‘do-nothing’ philosophy of the village. There is no internet or mobile data access, except for in a few random spots around the village and there is hardly any cell phone reception. Electricity is available only for a few hours every day. These conditions promote the relaxed lifestyle that you are expected to embrace once you arrive in Tosh, without any distractions around to occupy your time. The lack of electricity urges people to venture outdoors into the lap of nature and explore the village, its waterfalls and small cafes along the way.
Tosh is also largely inhabited by Israelis, with a prominent Israeli population taking partial or permanent residence within the village, which brings a new cultural aspect to it and makes for an interesting interaction. It is even referred to as ‘Mini Tel-Aviv’ for this reason. The famous Pink Floyd Cafe in Tosh is usually visited by Israelis who live in the village and is a great spot for some good food, great views and even better conversation, as most of these people are very friendly and love visitors. Apart from unwinding in and exploring the village, there is not much to do in Tosh, which is part of the magic of the place.
If you are someone who is tired of the conventional vacation jam-packed with sightseeing and the bustle of the city and its crowds, Tosh is the perfect place for you to get away for a few days, unwind and experience a new way of life.
Getting There
Fly in to Delhi or Chandigarh and catch a bus to Kasol. Tosh is only an hour away from Kasol, and there are cars and tempos that you can take to reach the place. There are no roads within Tosh, so you will be dropped at the start of the village.
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