Chehni Kothi Day Trip from Jibhi

Why go

Chehni Kothi is a tall stone-and-timber tower standing above Chehni village, a short drive and walk from Jibhi. It is one of the best surviving examples of kath-kuni building in the Banjar valley, where layers of deodar wood and dry stone are stacked without mortar so the walls can flex in an earthquake. Accounts of its age vary, but it is generally described as several hundred years old, and it is said to have lost its upper storeys in the 1905 Kangra earthquake. Even so, it still rises well above the surrounding houses.

The visit is less about ticking off a monument and more about seeing how people in the valley have lived and built for centuries: slate roofs, carved wooden balconies, apple trees, cattle sheds and a village temple culture that is very much active. It makes a strong contrast to café-and-trek days, and it is a good option when the weather is too poor for Jalori Pass and Serolsar Lake or your legs need a gentler day.

Quick facts

Distance from Jibhi: the turn-off is on the Jibhi–Banjar road, and the roadhead near the Shringa Rishi temple at Bagi is a few kilometres up a side road. In total it is usually around 20–30 minutes by taxi from Jibhi.

The walk: roughly 1–1.5 km of village and forest path from the temple area up to Chehni, usually 30–45 minutes uphill at an easy pace. Coming down takes 20–30 minutes.

Difficulty: easy to moderate. The path is steady uphill with some uneven stone steps, but it is short. Most reasonably active people manage it fine; take it slowly if you have knee trouble.

Time needed: a relaxed half day (3–4 hours door to door) covers the drive, the temple, the walk, time in the village and the return.

Distances vary between sources and the route has changed over the years as village roads have been extended, so ask us or your driver for the current best starting point.

Getting there from Jibhi

The usual route is to drive from Jibhi towards Banjar and take the side road up to Bagi village, where the Shringa Rishi temple stands. Shringa Rishi is the presiding deity of the Banjar valley, and the temple is worth a stop in its own right, with fine wood carving and a busy courtyard on festival days. From near the temple a footpath climbs through fields, orchards and deodar forest to Chehni.

Some guides prefer starting from Bihar village nearby, which has a slightly more gradual path with more village life along the way. Either works. A rough jeep track does reach closer to Chehni, but it is not always in good shape, and walking the last stretch is the better experience anyway.

Keen walkers sometimes walk the whole way from Jibhi on old village paths. It is a much longer outing of a few hours each way, on trails that are not signposted. Only try it with a local guide or someone who knows the route; ask at the desk and we can help you find company.

If you are driving yourself, the side road is narrow and steep with limited parking at the top, so park considerately and do not block access for villagers. Our self-drive guide covers the general road conditions in the valley.

What a taxi costs

Most guests take a local taxi from Jibhi to the temple roadhead and arrange for the driver to wait or come back at an agreed time. Because the distance is short, a drop-only fare is usually a few hundred rupees, and a return trip with an hour or two of waiting costs more. Exact rates depend on the season, the vehicle and how long you keep it, so ask us for the current local rate before you book. Splitting a taxi with other guests is the easiest way to keep the cost down, and we are happy to help put a group together.

Local buses run between Jibhi and Banjar through the day and can drop you at the turn-off, but you would then have a few kilometres of uphill road to walk before the footpath even starts, so most people find a taxi worth it.

Prices and timings last checked in October 2026; they change with season and fuel prices, so confirm with the driver (or HRTC) before you travel.

The walk itself

The footpath leaves from close to the Shringa Rishi temple and climbs steadily. Early on you pass houses and terraced fields; higher up the path enters cool forest of deodar and pine, with apple orchards around the edges. It is well used by villagers, so it is easy to follow, and you will probably share it with someone carrying fodder, firewood or school bags.

The tower appears quite suddenly as you come up into Chehni. Take a few minutes to walk around the outside and look at the construction: alternating timber and stone courses, deep wooden balconies near the top and a notched log ladder that serves as the original staircase. Then wander through the lanes, slowly and quietly, and look at the older houses, which use the same building method on a smaller scale.

There is no café or shop to rely on in Chehni, so carry water and a snack. Come back down the same path to the temple, and you will have time to visit Shringa Rishi properly before heading back to Jibhi.

Temple and village etiquette

Chehni Kothi is not a museum. There is a temple inside the tower, and it is a working place of worship for the village. Access to the inside is generally restricted, and outsiders are usually not allowed to enter or climb the log ladder. Do not try to go in or climb anything unless someone from the village clearly invites you to, and respect it if the answer is no.

Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. Take your shoes off before entering any temple courtyard where locals do, and avoid carrying leather items into temple spaces, as some local temples ask visitors not to. Do not touch idols, ritual objects or offerings, and do not step over anything placed on the ground for worship.

Ask before photographing people, and especially before photographing inside temples. Drones should stay in your bag unless you have clear permission. Keep music off and voices low, do not pick apples or flowers from orchards, and carry all your rubbish back down with you.

Best time to visit

Chehni is a year-round visit, but some months are easier than others. March to June brings blossom in the orchards and comfortable walking weather. September to November is usually the clearest and most pleasant, with apples ripening early in the season and crisp light later on.

In the monsoon, roughly July to mid-September, the path gets muddy and slippery and the side road can be affected by small landslides, so wear shoes with grip and check conditions first. In winter the walk is often still possible, and the tower in snow is beautiful, but icy stretches are common in shade; go only if locals say the path is safe and the side road is open.

Village festivals can be a wonderful time to visit if you are lucky, with music and deities carried in procession, but they also mean more people and stricter rules around the temples. Follow what locals do, and ask before joining anything.

How to pair it

Chehni works well as a half-day trip from Jibhi, leaving after breakfast and returning for a late lunch in the café upstairs at The Rustic. It fits neatly into the 3-day Jibhi itinerary as the gentle day between bigger outings.

If you want a full day of the valley's culture and nature, combine Chehni in the morning with an afternoon by the river in the Tirthan Valley. Or keep it slow and spend the evening back at the hostel, where there is live music or a movie on most evenings and a bonfire when the weather allows. For more ideas, see our things to do page.