Barot

2 daysBest: Mar–JunNatural Landscapes#fishing#river#offbeat

Trout-fishing village on the Uhl river

Why this weekend?

Uhl riverTrout fishingJogindernagar drive

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The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · River & colony
- Arrive, settle at the riverside camp
- Pools and hatchery walk
- Tunnel mouth
- Fishing or reading at the water
Day 2 · Ridges
- Meadow walk above the village
- Village lane and bazaar
- Packed lunch on the grass
- Joginder Nagar return road

Geography & terrain

Barot is a remote hamlet on the Uhl river in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, 1,750 m up a steep gorge — an old hydro-project town where a power tunnel has diverted the river into a fish-rich bypass stream, ringed by oak and alpine-fir slopes.

History & culture

The town grew around the Shanan hydroelectric project's Joginder Nagar powerhouse in the 1920s–30s, when British engineers tunnelled the Uhl for power. The legacy colony bungalows, the tunnel mouth and the trout hatchery keep that engineering past vivid on the river's edge.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,000–2,500/night

Mid-range

₹2,500–5,000/night

Comfort

₹5,000+/night

Things to do

Trout pools of the Uhl
Power tunnel mouth
Hatchery
Camping meadows
Hanging bridges

Eat & drink

Dham thali
Madra (chickpea curry)
Chha gosht
Siddu buns
Kaanji

Getting there

Fly: Kullu–Bhuntar (KUU) / Gaggal (DHM) / Shimla (SLV)
Train: Kalka–Shimla toy train (heritage); narrow-gauge to Joginder Nagar
Road from Delhi: 300–550 km depending on valley
Getting around: Taxis and HRTC buses on hill roads

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹5,000–11,000 (2 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,000–5,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Activities: ₹700–1,100

Month by month

Jan · Snow: −5–8°C · Snow rain
Feb · Snow: −3–10°C · Snow rain
Mar · Good: 2–14°C · Light rain
Apr · Best: 7–20°C · None rain
May · Best: 12–25°C · None rain
Jun · Good: 16–30°C · Moderate rain
Jul · Monsoon: 18–28°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 17–27°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Best: 14–26°C · Moderate rain
Oct · Best: 8–20°C · None rain
Nov · Cold: 2–14°C · None rain
Dec · Snow: −2–9°C · Snow rain

Practical info

Language: Hindi / Pahari dialects (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Mar–Jun
Connectivity: Patchy in deep valleys — offline maps essential
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

Fishing needs a licence — arrange at the hatchery desk
Keep camp hygiene strict — the river is drinking water for the valley
Winter closes the upper roads — travel April–October

Frequently asked questions

Why is Barot famous?

For its trout-river camping and the century-old hydro story — a fishing-and-solitude village.

How do I reach Barot?

The road drops from Joginder Nagar or Bajaura on the Mandi–Manali highway; jeeps and small buses run in season.

Can non-anglers enjoy it?

Absolutely — the pools, meadows and the colony's old-world lanes are the draw even without a rod.