Mcleod Ganj - Bir - Tirthan

Duration - 4night 5days I Delhi - to - Delhi

https://www.wanderon.in/trip/mcleodganj-bir-tirthan

DAY 0 Evening Departure From Delhi To Mcleodganj

DAY 1 McLeod Ganj Sightseeing - Cafe Hopping

DAY 2 Transfer To Bir & Local Sightseeing - Camping At Bir Billing

DAY 3 Paragliding From Billing To Bir - Tirthan Arrival

DAY 4 Visit Jalori Pass- Trek To 360 Viewpoint And Serolsar Lake - Overnight Stay At Gushaini

Day 5 Choi Waterfall - River Rafting - Evening Departure To Delhi

Day 6 Reach Delhi In Morning

Roles & Responsibilities - 1 Day Before The Departure

● Assigned Captain has to take a brief from the Ops Team for the trip.
● Go through the Destination Handbook.
● Collect the traveler details, Rooming List, Boarding List, Vendor details from Ops Team.
● Call and connect with all the vendors and cross check all the details shared by Ops Team.
● Call and connect with all the travelers:
- Inform them about the meeting time, meeting point & necessary things to carry like blankets, raincoat etc. as per
the current weather conditions.
- Check if anybody is late, guide them on the best suitable route to reach early.
- Inform travelers to carry light snacks and light blankets for bus journeys.
● Convey any necessary information to the Ops Team.

● It is necessary for all the captains to carry their Medical Kits containing necessary medications:
- Glucose powder
💊
- Medicines for headaches, diarrhoea, motion sickness, cold & cough
- Painkillers
- Dettol, Bandages and Cotton
- Sprain relief spray
- Crepe bandage
- Any personal medication advised by doctor

Day 0 - Departure from Delhi

● Captains has to click and share the photo of their medical kit on the given platform.
● Report 1 hour prior to the meeting time, at the boarding point.
● Start calling all the travelers and ask for their locations to check at what time they will be reaching. In case any
traveler is late, inform the bus vendor and Ops Team about the further plan of action.
● Search for a good spot to gather people where they can sit and their luggage is also safe. Then engage everyone
by building a conversation so that travelers can start getting comfortable with fellow travelers.
● Also inform them to keep essential items in the bus and rest of the luggage at the boot of the bus.
● Help the travelers in boarding the bus, make sure all their luggage is kept in the bus.
● Make sure that everyone is well settled in the bus.
● Connect with all the vendors for the next day’s plan.
● Give a small brief to the travelers, informing them the seat nos, bus stoppage time for dinner.
●After settling down, start with the introduction and Ice breaking session.
● Bus stops for dinner after Kurukshetra nearby 10:30pm to 11:00pm.
● Delhi To Mcleodganj 473.9 km and 11 Hours.
● Dinner Spot : In case the bus does not stop at a proper restaurant for dinner, look for other options. (If maximum
seats are booked by us then in that case you can ask the driver to stop the bus for dinner at the location suggested
by you)

How can you start a conversation with the Travelers:

1 - How did you come to know about WanderOn?
2 - How many times have you traveled with WanderOn?
3 - What places have you covered till now? - Here to start a small conversation you can ask questions.
4 - For this year, what destinations are there in your bucket list?
5 - Tell us one best moment or experience that has happened with you on any trip.
6 - What are your expectations from this Trip.
7 - Why did you select xvy destination this time?
8 - Have you faced any dangerous situation during a trip or on a trek?
9 - In your childhood what did you want to become? Are you doing the same or something different?
10 - To be asked from solo travelers - What was the reason behind taking a solo trip?
11 - To be asked by a group of friends -How did you all meet? -Do you all travel together every time?

Ice Breaking games for Bus Journey: Debate! - Divide people into 2 teams, Team Explorers & Team Wanderers.
- Assign them funny topics, each team is supposed to convince the other team why their topic is best and they have
to try to convince members of the other team to come and join their team.
-At the end the strength of each team has to be counted, the team who has more members wins the game.

Topics for the debate can be: - What came first? The Chicken or the egg? // Do men gossip more than women? // Is
Travelling solo better than traveling with friends? // Would you rather travel 100 years forward or back in time? //
The Earth might actually be flat.

Day 1 - Mcleod Ganj sightseeing I Cafe Hopping

Things to carry: A day pack / Good Grip Trekking Shoes / Water Bottle / Munchies & energy bars / Raincoat

● In the morning half hour before reaching dharamshala, inform the local transportation vendor Babu Bhaiji to
send pickup vehicles accordingly.
● Coordinate the pickup spot with drivers and safely transfer people to hotel.
● Reach hotel - Sky heaven, generally we reach early before check in time, ask people to freshen up in common
washroom, meanwhile you get the breakfast ready.
● After breakfast take them out for local market strolling and visit monastery (basically a short walk around)
● Come back to hotel and Check In at 12nooon, give people time to rest and freshen up, then leave from the hotel
around 1:30pm for leisure day.
● Head straight to shiva cafe, it is a 30mns walk from the hotel. Have Lunch at shiva cafe. Spend 1 or 1and half
hour here.
● Visit Bhagsunag Temple and Bhagsunag Waterfall
● Then in the evening, Leisure day & cafe hopping (try local Tibetan cuisine - souvenir shopping)
About Shiva Cafe
- The blissful ambiance will take you into a trance, and you will be lost amidst the scenic beauty of the Bhagsu Nag
Fall that lies in proximity.
- Enjoy the calmness and tranquility that this place exudes.
- With great music playing in the backdrop, you will experience a soothing sensation here.
- Delve onto the delicious Tibetan dishes available here.
- The mouth-watering snacks will satiate your hunger. Also, try a refreshing cup of tea.
- Paintings adorn the interiors, while graffiti of Lord Shiva can be found painted on the outside.
- While their menu, featuring pizzas, pasta, pancakes, sandwiches, coffee and more, is a treat for foodies.
- Some of the Popular Dishes are - Ginger Honey Lemon, Farmhouse Pizza, Maggie, Hot Coffee, Masala Tea,
Pancakes

About Bhagsunag Temple:

This Ancient temple is located 3Km away from Mcleodganj in Bhagsu village, a Gaddi tribal village whose traditional
livelihood was herding and farming. , which is dedicated to Bhagsu Nag the Snake God and Lord Shiva. There is a
fresh water spring that flows through the temple.

Story : Nag Devta or the Snake God was enraged when King Bhagsu dared to steal water from the sacred Nag Dal
Lake that is located in Mcleodganj.
Later, King Bhagsu repented his deeds and built the temple to seek forgiveness from the Snake God. The
Bhagsunath Temple, thus, is built in reverence of the Nag Devta.

Things to do at Temple:
- Take a dip in the chilly waters of the holy pond, which is also known as the 'jalkund'.
- There is also a well-maintained swimming pool for the general public in front of the sacred pond, where you can
enjoy a swim.
- After offering prayers, you can either proceed to the Bhagsunag Waterfalls or merely sit back and enjoy the
stillness and tranquillity of the temple and its vicinity.
- Enjoy the beautiful and scenic view which makes it a good spot for Photography.

About Bhagsunag Waterfall:

- Bhagsunag Waterfall is located at 30 minutes hike from the temple.
- It is located on the main road which connects Mcleodganj and Dharamshala.
- The waterfall starts at the base of the Dhauladhar Valley, which is also considered to be a religious spot.
- Before cascading down, the stream also passes through the famous Bhagsunath Temple.
- The Bhagsu Fall reaches the peak of its glory and majesty during the monsoon season when the water falls from a
height of around 30 feet and looks captivating and breathtakingly beautiful.

Things to do at Waterfall:
- Bathing in the waterfall is also possible, but the water is freezing at times for the normal human body to handle.
- The trek that leads up to the waterfall is yet another unparalleled experience.
- Sip a cup of piping hot chai or coffee at End of the World Cafe located just below the fall.
- The Shiva Cafe is also in close vicinity to the waterfall and is an ideal place to experience the hippie crowd.
- There are also numerous other small cafes that are located nearby, where you can stop by.

Shopping in Mcleod Ganj: Tibetan mats and carpets, silver and stone jewelry, Kangra tea, handicrafts and carvings
in metal and wood, Thangka paintings (bright paintings on canvas lined with silk) and mandala paintings, idols of
Buddha and Hindu gods, woolen shawls and caps and prayer wheels and prayer flags are the most sought-after
items in McLeod Ganj.

Cafe Hopping :
- Himalayan Musafir Guest House & Restaurant : https://g.page/himalayanMusaafir?share
- Cafe 129 - Aesthetic cafe with beautiful interiors and good books and Tea bar for a good company
https://g.page/cafe129?share
- The Other Space - This Cafe offers great view with good quality food. The cafe’s co-working space and art gallery is
truly a beautiful place to be in. https://goo.gl/maps/z3Cjby542KvXDG3w9
- Jimmy's Italian Kitchen - With pizzas done to perfection and pastas that you will rave about, no wonder this place
has so many people who return just for a little taste of Italy right in the middle of McLeod
Ganjhttps://g.page/JimmysItalianKitchen?share
- Mcleo Cafe - The chef here has a reputation of cooking up something from each part of the world, including
dumplings, pasta and even grilled trout. https://goo.gl/maps/AWzBGC8CVvjUKiDDA

● Connect with the transport vendor of bir and tell all the basic requirements for the next day.
● Brief everyone about the next day’s plan, interesting facts about the places they will be going.
● Engage people in some activity at night so that everyone get along easily.
● Inform the staff for the breakfast timings - 8 Am.

Day 2 - Transfer to Bir I Local Sightseeing I Overnight stay

Mcleodganj to Bir - 72.2 Km and 2Hr 30mns

● Wakeup call 7 Am, Breakfast 8 Am

● Call and connect in Bir stay, inform the estimated time of arrival
● Call the local transportation vendor
● Depart by 9 Am. And reach dharamshala stadium by 10:30 (30 Rs ticket per head)

About Dharamshala Stadium:

- Nestled in the lap of the majestic Himalayan mountain range lies the quaint Dharamshala Cricket Stadium, also
known as the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium.
- Located at a height of 1,457m above sea level amidst the Dhauladhar mountain range in Kangra valley, it is one of
the highest sports grounds in the world.
- Tips - Plan to visit before 5:00 PM to ensure sufficient time for enjoying the beauty of the stadium.

● Leave stadium at 12pm

● Reach Bir at around 2-3pm
● Call Deshraj bhaiji, leave all the luggage at his office, take slot for paragliding
● Go for local walk around and have lunch
● Take people out for forest cycling (depending on the batch size) and visit some monasteries .
● Suggest cuisine based cafes and some hidden gems of bir.

Bir Local Sightseeing

Places you can visit - Chokling Monastery, Sherabling Monastery, Bir market. Also opt for Cafe Hoping
1. Chokling Monastery
- Chokling Monastery or Pema Ewan Chogar Gyurme Ling Monastery is one of the main attractions of Bir.
- It houses a grand and colossal stupa as well as an enthralling statue of Padmasambhava.
- The monastery is divided into a passageway, a temple and a prayer hall.
- A picturesque statue of Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, who was a Buddhist master of the 8th Century, from
the Indian subcontinent, is placed in the centre of the temple and the passageway is heavily decorated with
sculptures.
- Neten Chokling Rinpoche III established the Chokling Monastery in Himachal Pradesh, with the assistance of
Captain Davidson, a retired armed force captain

2. Sherabling Monastery
- Religious centre of eastern Tibet that offers Buddhist studies and other forms of living art and culture along with
Periodic courses in Buddhist meditation and philosophy.
- The monastery complex has a school, college and university to learn about the past, present and future of
Buddha.
- More than 1200 monks are in the institute.
- Apart from Buddhist studies, people can also learn about music, dance, crafts and research on Ayurvedic and
Tibetan medicines. The monastery houses an enormous stupa of Maitri Budh, the one who is yet to come

3. Shop at Bir Road: / Explore local Market:

One will find many small shops in the market known as Bir Bazaar. The shops in this lane sell basic items like clothes
and accessories. There are also food joints that sell local food. Many shops here also rent bikes.

4. Visit Chamunda Devi Temple:

- The temple of Chamunda Devi lies 15km from the Kangra Valley.
- This holy shrine is popular among pilgrims and tourists.
- The two Hindu male deities Hanuman and Bhairava guard the Goddess.
- The temple offers picturesque views of the Dhauladhar range.

5. Cafe Hopping
June 16 Cafe - https://g.page/June16cafe?share
Himalayan Pizza Bir - https://g.page/Himalayan-Pizza-Bir?share
Glider's Pizzeria - https://goo.gl/maps/J6LymZpgCswk2YRu5
Silver Linings Cafe - https://goo.gl/maps/Bos3yQ9M72z9TdXNA

● Reach Billing by evening and experience sunset, followed by bonfire and dinner.

Activities you can conduct - Passing the parcel with Dares!

-Make sounds of 5 Animals // Recite ABCD Backwards // Give your introduction, it should be creative as you have to
add this phrase after every sentence: Haye me to sharam se laal hogai/hogya

-Captain can make a list of funny advertisements and save their youtube links, then ask the person to re-enact the
same advertisement as shown in the video. Eg: you can ask a boy to enact on Nirma washing powder nirma….

FIRE IN THE MOUNTAIN RUN RUN RUN!

Round 1 - Leader will say - Fire in the mountain run run run - 3 to 4 times - And suddenly he will say “Make a group
of 6” so people have to quickly make group of 6 people - Those people who are left, are not a part of any group will
be eliminated

Round 2 Fire in the mountain run run run - 3 to 4 times - And suddenly he will say “Make a group of 3” so people
have to quickly make group of 3 people - Those people who are left, are not a part of any group will be eliminated
● Brief them about next day at bonfire, as after paragliding it will be a long journey to Tirthan.
● Inform the staff for the breakfast timings - 7 Am.
● Call and connect with transport vendor, ask regarding the condition of vehicle and music system as it will be a
long journey

Things to carry on Day 2 - A day pack / Good Grip Trekking Shoes / Water Bottle / Munchies & energy bars /
Raincoat

Day 3 - Paragliding I Tirthan Arrival I Overnight stay

Bir to Tirthan Valley - 151.8 Km and 5Hr 30mns

● Wake up - 6am, Breakfast - 7am and Checkout - 8am

● Call and inform the transport vendor for pickup timings
● Call and inform the estimated time of arrival at Tirthan Valley Hotel
● Start making groups and depart for paragliding.
● Inform and brief people about the Do’s and Don'ts during paragliding and safety measures.
● After paragliding, gather and collect the group at landing site.
● Leave around 11 am or 12noon max for Tirthan Valley
● Make a Lunch stop near Mandi - Restaurant name Punjabi Rasoi https://goo.gl/maps/47D3StP8xeYgfs5H8 (from
here Tirthan is 65.1km and 2hrs 40mns)
● Reach Tirthan around 7:00 pm max
● Allot the rooms to the travellers according to the rooming list provided to you.
● Check all the rooms and inform the staff regarding extra bedding.
● Connect with the guide and transportation vendor for tomorrow’s timings.
● At dinner, brief them about the next day's plan. Inform them about the timings, trekking rules,
safety measures, clothing layers, necessary items to keep in their day backpack for the trek.
● Inform the staff for the breakfast timings 8:00am.
● Dinner and sleep.

Things to carry and clothing Layers for trek:

Raincoat / A Woolen Cap / 1 heavy Thick jacket/Down jacket and Trek pant / Energy drinks / Energy Bars/
Waterbottle / Gloves / Good Trekking Shoes

Day 4 - Jalori Pass I 360 View Point & Serolsar Lake I Overnight stay

● Schedule: Wakeup Call 6:30 AM, Breakfast: 8:00 AM, Depart: 9:00 AM
● Coordinate with the Guide regarding the meeting point.
● Depart for Jalori pass, Serolsar Lake Trek, coordinate the meeting point with the guide.
● Make a stop in between at banjar to shop necessary items or atm (it gets late while coming back)
● Reach Jalori pass / collect group and brief them about the trail and start the trek for serolsar
lake and 360 view point by 10:00 or 10:30am.
● Lunch near serolsar lake (100mts before serolsar there are 2/3 dhabas)

Jalori Pass
● Starting point of the Serolsar Lake trek is Jalori Pass, elevation of 3120m. It was constructed by the British to gain
access to Kullu Valley. The mountaintop is home to the Indian blue robin, nutcracker, white-throated tit, and
yellow-billed blue magpie.
● Trishla Resort to Jalori Pass - 1Hr 30mns, 27.6km and Riverside resort to Jalori Pass - 1Hr 10mns, 25km.
● What to expect: Experience the scenic mountain view and beautiful Jibhi Valley. After reaching Jalori Pass,
witness a bird's eye view of the beautiful valleys and mountain ranges. Jalori Pass is a good spot to witness the
sunset. The pass gets closed sometime in December due to heavy snowfall and then is declared open in March.

● Things to do: Various Local shops are there from where people can buy rental shoes, raincoats and trekking
sticks, you can store energy drinks, energy bars and munchies for the Trek. Also some tea stalls and small food
joints are located here, have Maggie or momos while enjoying the view of the peaks and valleys.

Serolsar Lake Trek:

● Serolsar Lake Trek is situated at 5km distance from Jalori Pass.
● Altitude of the Trek is 3199 m above sea level.
● Start the trek by 10:00 or 10:30am at max.
● On the way, take a stop at a 360 degree view point to enjoy the mesmerizing breathtaking view of mountain
ranges. ● Give 10 to 15 minutes at the 360 degree view point for Photography and videography, then continue
towards the lake.
● Once reached, on one side of the Lake is a small temple of Buddhi Nagini. The devotees worship and offer ghee
to the deity. It is said that the lake is very deep and that Budhi Nagin herself lived in a golden palace at the bottom
of the lake.
● In the starting it is a downhill trek and while returning it becomes an uphill trek. 1 or 1.5 Hours are more than
enough to spend here. Complete the trek and reach Jalori Pass by 4:00 pm or 5:00pm at max.

● What to expect: This 5km forest trail is so peaceful and beautiful which makes it perfect for individuals who want
to immerse themselves in the lapse of nature away from the busy routine life. The water of the lake is believed to
have medicinal properties. The Lake has a narrow walking track lined up with thick tall trees on the outer side.

● Things to do: Once you reach the lake, do PARIKRAMA in a clockwise direction. Visit Budhi Nagin temple and
listen to the legends of Serolsar Lake from the priest there. Food stalls are also located 100m before the lake so you
can enjoy Maggie, Rajma chawal, momos etc in the mountains while enjoying the stunning view.

●Things to carry on the trek: Raincoat / A Woolen Cap / 1 heavy Thick jacket/Down jacket Trek pant / Energy
drinks / Energy Bars/ Waterbottle / Gloves / Good Trekking Shoes.

Story Related to the Trek : It is believed that the bottom of Serolsar Lake is the residence of Budhi Nagin Goddess is
the mother of all snakes - SheshNag, KamruNag, GhundaNag, MahuNag and many others. Once a brahmin visited
the lake and he drowned. The goddess saved his life and allowed the Brahmin to stay with her in the golden palace
for 3 years taking the promise that he will not tell anything about the stay in the golden palace and the goddess to
anyone.
After 3 years, Brahmin returned to his family. The family who assumed that he was dead were in shock and kept
asking him that where he was for the past 3years. The Brahmin told his family about the Budhi Nagin and her
golden palace. As soon as he told them he died. No geological study has still been able to accurately calculate the
depth of the lake. Maybe because the Budhi Nagin wants to stay peacefully in her Golden Palace.

● Try returning back to base by 6:00PM max.

● Depart for hotel.
● Inform the transportation vendor / driver about pickup timings for next day
● Call at the property for the arranging Dinner followed by a bonfire.
● Play Games during bonfire like passing the parcel, antakshari, you can also tell some horror stories.
● Brief everyone for the next day and how they need to pack and keep one pair of clothes handy for changing it
after river rafting.
● Inform the staff about the breakfast timings 9:30 Am.
Day 5 - Chhoie Waterfall I River rafting I Departure

● Schedule: Wake Up -8 AM, Breakfast - 9:30 AM, Checkout -11 AM

● How to pack for this day: Inform people to keep a polly bag handy, to keep their wet clothes in it. 1 Pair of
clothes to change after river rafting.
● Call and coordinate with the transport vendor about the timings.
● Call Ops Team for Bus timings to Delhi
● Start for Chhoie Waterfall trek by 9am.

Chhoie Waterfall Trek - Day 1

● Starting Point of Chhoie Waterfall Trek is Nagini Village, the distance of the trek from the village is 2 Km
● Riverside resort to Nagini Village - 20mns walk 1.8km and From Trishla resort to Nagini Village - 10mns walk 1km
● Start the trek by 1 pm or 2pm at max. And trek down by 4pm or 5pm at max not later than thar. The difficulty
Level - Easy Trek
● Once you reach the Waterfall, the time required to explore the area is 1 Hour.
● The waterfall is named after local deity Chhoi Mata and locals come to worship the goddess at one of the trees
before the waterfall.

● What to expect: This 2km trek is very scenic. In the starting of the trek we pass through a small village. Moving
further, we climb steep rocks, pass through steep mountains and dense lush green forests, green bushes. Once you
are about to reach, the sound of the waterfall’s crystal clear stream falling on the rocks is just breathtaking. The
waterfall is sacred for the local people so do not litter anywhere. Be a responsible traveller and keep the
surroundings clean.

● Things to do: Interact with the local people at the village. Once we have reached the waterfall, 1 hour is more
than enough to spend here. People can indulge in photography and videography. They can take a dip in the
waterfall. They can meditate, by aligning their body, mind and soul by listening to the sound of crystal clear
waterfall.

●Things to carry on the trek: A Day pack / Water Bottle / Raincoat / Medical Kit / Good Grip Trekking Shoes (very
important) / Small Towel.

● Allow enough time at the waterfall.

● Be back by 11 am or max to max by 11:30.
● Start your journey towards Jhiri Kullu for River rafting.

River Rafting

● Location - https://goo.gl/maps/qV8sbKNRGEvWH6Yb6 - SkyLark Adventure, near Tourism Watersport center,

Pirdi, Mohal, Himachal Pradesh 175126
● For River rafting, we depart from the resort and move towards Kullu.
● Riverside resort to Rafting point - 2 Hr, 55km and Trishla resort to Rafting point - 2 Hr 15mins, 57.6km
● The river rafting is a 9 to 10km stretch for about 45minutes.
● First they transfer you at the starting point of rafting in a van or sumo with the rafts and all equipments. Then
from there by doing river rafting you come back here.
● Make sure to pre order your lunch at restaurant near Nature Park Jhiri in advance before going for riverafting,
because the service is too slow

● Leave for Rafting and after reaching the end location / change and get ready for the final
departure.
● Lunch at jhiri / chill at riverside park
● Help all the travellers in keeping the luggages.
● Inform them about the seat nos, help them in boarding the bus.
● Conduct the D-briefing, ask about the experiences.
● Depart for delhi with amazing memories.

After Trip Duties:

● Update on the whatsapp group after reaching Delhi
● Ensure all the traveller reach back safely to their places after deboarding the bus
● If any of the travelers needs any assistance in routing, help them regarding the same.
● Once everybody reaches their places, share the feedback form on the whatsapp group
● Share the feedback for the trip to the Operations Team
● Take reviews from the traveller on Google / FB / TripAdvisor

ATM Availability

Mcleod Ganj - 1 Atm is near the Bus Stand. In Dharamshala also you will find few Atms on your way.

BIR - Few ATMs are available in Bir market and near Monastery. But some times they are not operational
or are out of cash. Pre-inform people to carry enough cash. UPI/ Gpay/ Paytm works there.

Tirthan Valley - ATMs are available in Banjar Market. The day when we are going to Jalori Pass, ask the
drive to stop the vehicle near the ATM. Ask people id they want to use it. Note - Banjar market gets
closed by 8pm in the evening