villages around jibhi

where is ghiyagi village?

ghiyagi village is about 1.5 km above jibhi on nh-305, the road to shoja and jalori pass. it is so close that many stays listed as "jibhi" are really in ghiyagi. the difference is a few hundred metres of height and much less traffic noise than the market.

there's no sight to tick off in ghiyagi. it's a place to sleep: homestays with apple trees outside, and a 10-minute drive down to the jibhi cafes. if you're comparing listings on where to stay in jibhi, treat ghiyagi as part of jibhi.

is shoja worth a day from jibhi?

shoja is worth a day from jibhi if you're heading to jalori pass anyway. it's about 8 km up the same road, 20-30 minutes by taxi, in thick oak and deodar forest with long views over the valley. the jibhi to shoja walk is the slow way up. the full guide is on the shoja page.

where is bahu village and how do you get there?

bahu village is about 8-9 km from jibhi, on a ridge at roughly 2,400 m (7,874 ft). the road leaves the main jibhi road at a river bridge just south of the village. it climbs in hairpins the whole way. a few local buses a day run from banjar to bahu via jibhi (lonely planet), but a taxi from jibhi is simpler.

bahu is worth the climb for its old core: three-storey tower houses in stone and timber, slate roofs and wraparound wooden balconies, some said to be around 800 years old. there are views to snow peaks on clear days and very few other visitors. the road carries on about 10 km to gada gushaini, which has a pwd rest house on a meadow (vargis khan).

what is in bagi village?

bagi village is home to the shringa rishi temple, the seat of the deity who rules the banjar valley (the tribune), and the valley's festivals revolve around him. it is a working village temple, not a tourist site: go quietly, dress modestly, take your shoes off and ask before photographing.

bagi sits on the same ridge as chehni, a short drive from jibhi toward banjar. most people climb to the temple and then carry on up the trail to chehni, so one outing covers both.

how do you visit chehni village?

to visit chehni village, drive about 30 minutes from jibhi to the trailhead, then walk 20-25 minutes uphill through slate-roofed houses. the reason to go is chehni kothi, the tall stone and timber tower temple that leans slightly and has stood for centuries. chehni is still a lived-in village, so the walk up is as much about the houses and fields as the tower.

where is sharchi village?

sharchi village is in tirthan valley, about 15 km up a side road that leaves the river at a bridge near gushaini. gushaini itself is about 12 km from jibhi via banjar. the last 3-4 km to sharchi are stony, and a daily bus leaves banjar in the afternoon (travel shoebum).

sharchi is a sizeable village of around 50 houses, apple orchards and wheat fields, with a temple to jagdamba rishi at its centre. basic homestays take guests with meals included. jamala, about 40 minutes' walk above, has even wider views and is the start of the lambri top trek. it is a long day trip from jibhi, so most people who go stay a night.

how should you behave in the villages around jibhi?

the villages around jibhi are homes, not attractions. ask before photographing people or the inside of any temple, such as the shringa rishi temple at bagi. don't walk through orchards or fields, stick to the path. carry cash from banjar, since bahu, sharchi and chehni have no atms. the is jibhi safe page covers road timing for these side roads in the monsoon and winter.