Fly Fishing Trout At The Himalayan Trout House

Fishermen abound with tales of the one that got away…and the odd tale of the one that didn't….and listeners often doubt the veracity of both. Trout fishing is a specialized art but one that any bright child with cunning and skill can perfect. It takes stealth to leap over rocks and approach a pool quietly and cautiously …it takes dexterity to cast your spinner or fly out near the rocks under which the trout hide, luck not to get it snagged and lost and fate will decide whether your lure is taken or not. Some resident fishermen claim to know some certain large sized trout 'by name' and will visit the ponds where these fish live every few days to try and hook them again with innovative and creative adjustments to their lures. It's all a part of the trout game and the Tirthan valley is one great place to play the game…the trout are plentiful, the river is beautiful, the valley is peaceful and the weather … wonderful

The buzzword through the valley is 'Mepps'. For the uninitiated 'Mepps' is a spinner brand name that trout fishermen swear by as being the best. The mere mention of the word creates a flutter among the locals, and like magic, they get very friendlier for whoever owns the 'mepps' owns the river. Be careful how you use your spinner…they're expensive and the locals know that and are experts at retrieving spinners snagged in the rocks… after the fisherman has left in frustration

Besides the inhouse facilities there is a lot more to do than meets the eye. A few options are listed below.

1 - Visit to the waterfalls. Not one but two of them. On the same stream. Both the falls are separated from each other by about 30 minutes of steep uphill walk on the same trail. As private as you can ever imagine a waterfall to be. The bigger one nearly 50 feet high allows you to enjoy just the showering if you don't want to get in to icy cold water.  45 minutes walk one way. Mildly strenuous.

2 - Visit to the Gushaini Temple and village - 3 Km road walk to Gushaini 15 minutes mountainside climb to the Gara Durga temple at Bandal.

3 - Walk to the Great Himlayan National Park..4 hours pleasant walk through the forest to the inner entrance of the park. Daily entry permist required.

4. Moonlight overnight at the Dev Kanda Ridge : 4 hours strenuous uphill beyond Nadar to the dominating ridge in the valley. Spectacular views and enchanting full moon overnight. The descent downhill the next day though faster is not much easier than the climb. Highly recommended for those so inclined.

5. Mountain bike along the forest path to the National Park or along the roads between Banjar to Gushaini or down hill from the end of the road at Bathaad.

6- Visit to the Shalogi / Shanogi Mata temple on the way to Shoja one of the most picturesque villages in the area.

7 - From Shoja walk to the Jalori Pass ( 3 KM) one of the two passes connecting the Kullu valley to the Shimla Valley. Gauranteed snow at Shoja from early December till early April.

8 - Visit to the village of Bathaad (12 KM) and there on to Bachleo Pass (6 KM). Snow at Bathaad as well from the end of Deceber to mid February.

9 - Visit to the riverside as often as you desire. As the river is a stone's throw in front of the Trout House.

10 - Visit to the Sai Ropa Forest Orientation Centre and a walk on the Nature Trail if you are lucky to induce a forest guard to take you around. 2 Km from the Trout House

11- Go swimming in the village pool or on one of the  other numerous walks that are possible in the area if you are the exploring kind.

Fly Fishing Trout At The Himalayan Trout House - The Tirthan Valley in Kullu District is one of the most beautiful places in Himachal Pradesh. Located within the Great Himalayan National Park, the 'pucca' road winds its way lazily along the river through forests and past fields and tiny hamlets with quaint names like Chalogi, Mungla, Nagini, Ghushaini ..... numerous paths lead off the road to the snow fed river itself as it gushes its way over the rocks to drop into pools and spread itself out over flats where every stone is visible through its crystal clear waters, home to the wilder brown trout and its more coveted cousin, the rainbow trout.

Run on the lines of a modern clubhouse replete with activities and facilities, The Himalayan Trout House is a social center in the Tirthan valley providing a friendly place for locals and visiting fishermen, trekkers, campers and other holiday makers to meet each other, exchange stories, share bonfires and eat outs, read, listen to music, play games, laze in hammocks, tan .. whatever…

A modern kitchen with freezers, burners, tandoor, oven and grill provides meals all through the day serving many of the delicacies available in the city including some surprises. The highpoint of the menu is, of course the fresh wild trout from the river below accompanied by fresh salads, vegetables and herbs from a nearby bio garden and seasonal fruit from the local orchards. You might even try your own hand at a trout recipe of your choice from the many recorded in the kitchen cookbook.

General club facilities provided include some musical instruments, a choice of literature, children's play area, relaxation areas, a fish tackle and tuck shop, fishing rods and reels, mountain cycles, trekking and climbing equipment, dartboards, shooting and archery range, astronomical and terrestrial telescope and binoculars, art materials and a potters wheel, various kites, indoor board games for rainy days and a collection of balls for those who don't mind running down the hillside to fetch them back.

The Trout House offers different options of accommodation to suit all pockets. There are three pine panelled deluxe rooms with attached toilets and baths in the main house, 2 large furnished 14' by 14' Swiss Cottage tents for families and other teams, furnished 10by 10's and some smaller A's with sleeping bags for some more. Members may even pitch their own tents in an available space.  

The Trout house remains open to visitors throughout the year offering cozy personalised services to snowline visitors in the winter.

The best seasons to visit are from March through to November. Even at the height of summer light woollens may be required in the early mornings and late evenings. However the winters in the valley are mild (for Himachal) with many days of bright sunshine and the occasional light snowfall.

1 May - 30 Jun 2006

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