Experiences in Barot
- 01
Barot Trout Farm
The government trout breeding centre on the Uhl at Barot, which stocks the river for the angling season and explains why people drive this far up the valley.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Sept to Nov, around the angling season
- Tickets
- Entry rules are not published online that I could verify. It is run by the state Fisheries Department, so ask at the farm or in the village before you go in.
- 02
Dehnasar Lake Trek
A glacier-fed lake at about 4,280 m, sacred to Shiva, reached on a demanding two-day trek that starts from villages near Barot.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- June or September
- Tickets
- No fixed ticket that I could verify. The lake lies in forest and high pasture, so ask the Forest Department and a local guide about permission and conditions before you set out.
- 03
Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary
A forest sanctuary on the east side of the Uhl, reached from Barot, with deodar, fir and oak forest and species such as the Himalayan monal, black bear and leopard.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- April to June and September to November
- Tickets
- Entry is regulated by the Forest Department. I could not confirm current fees or permit rules, so check with the Wildlife office before going and arrange a local guide.
Landmarks in Barot
- 04
Jhatingri and the Tikkan Road
The drive up from Ghatasani passes Jhatingri, where the remains of a former Mandi ruler's summer palace stand, and the village of Tikkan, through terraced fields and deodar forest.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours with stops
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Clear days, Sept to Nov and Mar to May
- Tickets
- No ticket. The palace remains at Jhatingri are not a managed attraction as far as I could verify, so ask locally before entering any structure.
- 05
Shanan Haulage Trolley Way
A steep funicular trolley line built to carry materials from Jogindernagar up to the reservoir site at Barot, and the only access to the project before the road opened in 1975.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes of looking; longer only if guided
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Clear days, Sept to Nov and Mar to May
- Tickets
- Operation is controlled by the power project and is reported to be used mostly for inspection of the penstocks. Travel blogs conflict on public rides; confirm locally and do not trespass on the track.
- 06
Uhl Barrage and Shanan Reservoir
The small barrage and reservoir on the Uhl that give Barot its reason for existing: water collected here since the early 20th century is sent through the mountain to the Shanan Power House near Jogindernagar.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Clear mornings in autumn (Sept to Nov) and spring (Mar to May)
- Tickets
- There is no ticket in the sense of a tourist attraction. The barrage and the colony around it belong to the power project, so follow any signs or staff instructions about where you may walk and photograph.
Day trips in Barot
- 07
Baragram and the Upper Uhl
The road above Barot ends at Baragram, high on the Uhl in Kangra district, where trails lead to Rajgundha and over to Bada Bhangal.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- September to November
- Tickets
- No ticket. The road is rural and may be affected by weather, so check conditions locally. Forest rest houses on onward routes are arranged on arrival with caretakers.
Close enough to combine