If you are looking for heaven you are in the right place. I have been travelling around continuously from last 4 years but believe me I have never seen a place like this before.
When I visited this place for the first time it casted a spell on me and I was trapped by its beauty and in the span of last 1 year I have visited Jibhi 6 times and I am going there again in November.
Jibhi is a small unexplored village in the heart of the mountains and is in Banjar Valley. It is also a part of The Great Himalayan National park.
If you have never heard about this place before then Don't worry, you are in for a treat and I will help you out with every single detail to reach there and have an amazing experience.
It doesn't matter with whom you are going as long as you go. You can go there with your friends, family, girlfriend or you can also go there as a backpacker and believe me you will have the most amazing experience of your life. It is also a great destination for a honeymoon.
What you need to pack
There are many amazing spots here to take photos but make sure you don't over-pack. You do not want to worry about the luggage if you are visiting heaven, do you?
Here is a list of must-have items:
1. Backpack or Carry bag
2. Clothing Kit (Clothes as per the schedule, Towels, Socks, etc.)
Tip: Please pack some warm clothes, you will thank me later.
3. Trekking Shoes and Rain Coat / Rain Suit
4. Toiletries and Shaving Kit
5. Small reusable water bottle (please avoid plastic bottles)
6. Some aspirins and other medicines you deem fit.
7. Sunglasses
8. Camera
So after you are done packing it is time to leave for Jibhi.
The Route
You need to take a bus to AUT (All the buses going towards Kullu/Manali can drop you at AUT).
There are many overnight buses from Delhi to Aut which will cost you around 1000 - 1500 rupees per person for a Volvo bus and 500 - 1000 rupees per person for an Ordinary bus .
After Aut, you need to catch one of the private buses to Banjar. You can also get a direct bus to Jibhi from Aut but those are very rare and often involves a lot of waiting. The buses are not very expensive from Aut to Banjar/Jibhi.
To avoid the hassle you can also hire a taxi from Aut which will cost you somewhere around 500 - 1000 rupees depending upon the situation.
Here's the quick version of the suggested route for this road trip:
Delhi - Aut - Banjar - Jibhi
I always say Journey is as important as the destination. The road to Jibhi is really beautiful, don't forget to enjoy that.
Best time to go
Jibhi can be your heaven in any month depending upon the purpose of your visit. According to a local, the peak season is from March to May because people visit Jibhi to escape from the summers. If you don't like being alone then you can visit Jibhi anytime from March to May.
Please avoid going there in the month of July and August as the roads get blocked due to heavy rainfall and landslides.
Where to stay:
My top picks are: 1. Mudhouse Jibhi
I will highly advise you to stay at a place which will offer an amazing view from the room or from the balcony.
Now let's talk about how you will spend your time in Jibhi.
Itinerary:
Start your day early and head out for Trekking. There are many amazing options for trekking there: Day 1
Gadagushaini You can climb to the neighbouring village Gada Gushaini which looks even more offbeat than Jibhi. If you are not into hardcore trekking this can be a great option for you.
Shoja You can also trek to Shoja, it is a moderate trek and can be done easily in a day. It is another beautiful village approximately 10 Kms away from Jibhi.
After the trek is finished you can either come back to Jibhi on a local bus or you can spend the night in Shoja. There are many great options to stay there as well. You can either spend the night in Forest Rest house or in a lovely Home-stay depending upon your choice. Day 2
Jibhi Waterfall After trekking, you must use your second and the last day for relaxing. You can visit this amazing waterfall and can chill there for hours. If you wish you can take a dip in the water as well.
It is a beautiful waterfall and to reach there you will have to hike for 100-200 meters (5 minutes) from the main road, it not very far from the central area. If you are lucky enough you will witness a beautiful rainbow. There is no entry fee but you will have to sign on a register before entering.
As I said Jibhi is not a common destination, so you can sit for hours near the waterfall listening to the sound of flowing water. The air is so clean that you will miss it when you will go back home. Also, there is hardly any traffic there so you can easily enjoy a peaceful life which the villagers live. There is just one road which passes through the village and it remains empty for the most part.
You can also go near the river (be very careful) to witness something like this:
Make sure you stay safe while trekking and sitting near the river. I hope you enjoy your trip a lot.