⚡Bijli Mahadev Trek - A Short Hike with Big Views

Bijli Mahadev is a peaceful hilltop temple located near Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. It is known for a unique legend - every few years, lightning⚡strikes the Shiva lingam inside the temple and breaks it. The priests then join it back using butter🧈, and the temple continues to stand strong.

The story is fascinating, but what truly makes this place special is the experience of reaching it. The trek takes you through forest trails🌲, offers beautiful views of the valley⛰️, and gives a sense of calm the moment you reach the top.

We visited in February 2025❄️, walked over snow patches, had hot local siddu🥟 at the top, and spent quiet time just admiring the view. It is a short and rewarding trek that can easily be done in half a day if you are staying in Kullu or Manali.

🚗 How to Reach Bijli Mahadev - And the Route You Shouldn’t Take

The trek to Bijli Mahadev starts from two sides - Kutla and Chansari.
If you simply type “Bijli Mahadev” on Google Maps, it usually takes you towards the Kutla side - a longer, steeper, and more confusing route 🧗‍♂️.

We didn’t think much and just followed the map. But about halfway through, Gitanshu started having doubts 🤔 - he had done this trek with friends back in 2017, and the trail didn’t feel this long or remote from the Manali side.

So we stopped to ask a local, and that’s when we found out -
we were on the Kutla route, and the proper trail starts from Chansari village.

Thankfully, we weren’t too far in. We turned back, drove around 20 minutes, and rejoined the correct path. In total, a 40-minute detour, but completely worth it ✅

📍Tip: Don’t blindly follow Google Maps.
Instead, search for “Chansari Village” to start from the easier and well-marked route 🚶‍♀️🌲

🅿️ Parking & Trail Start - What to Expect at Chansari

Once you follow the route to Chansari village, there’s only one road that leads towards the trek starting point. Just keep following it till it ends - no turns or confusion on the way.

The last stretch isn’t fully paved, and gets a bit bumpy, but it’s still manageable for most small cars 🚗. Just drive slowly and stay alert on narrow curves.

Once the road ends, you’ll reach a small local area with a couple of shops. That’s where you’ll need to look for a good parking spot.

We parked at the first shop we saw and paid ₹100. The shopkeeper was friendly and even offered to keep an eye on the car.
Later, we realised we could have driven about 1 km further, saving 7-8 minutes of walking. But honestly, it didn’t matter much - we were happy to stretch our legs early 😄

🪧 From the parking area, you’ll spot a clear trailhead with stone steps - this is where the Bijli Mahadev trek officially begins 🥾🌲

🚌 What If You’re Taking a Bus?

If you’re not travelling by car, you can also reach Chansari by local bus from Kullu:

• Buses leave from Kullu Bus Stand and go towards Halleni or Chansari

• The frequency is limited, with 1–2 hours between buses depending on the time of day

• The bus drops you near the base of the trek, from where the trail start is a short walk away

📌 Tip: Check return options in advance, especially if you're planning to come back the same day.

🥾 The Trek - Forest Trails, Peaceful Path, and a Chilly Finish

We started the trek in the afternoon, and the weather was quite pleasant. The trail from Chansari side is around 3 km one way and takes about 1.5 hours to reach the top at a relaxed pace.

The path is well-built with stone steps for most of the way, passing through a quiet stretch of pine and deodar forest🌲. It’s a steady climb - not too steep - and great for anyone who enjoys a slow, scenic walk.

As we approached the top, the air turned colder and we started seeing patches of snow❄️ on both sides of the trail. A few sections near the summit had black ice and wet mud, which made things slightly slippery but still easy to manage.

🧊 Tip: If you're planning this trek in winter months like February, wear shoes with good grip. Most of the trail is dry, but the upper stretch can surprise you.

Along the way, we noticed a few monkeys sitting quietly around the trees. They didn’t bother us at all - just kept to themselves and watched from a distance 🐒. Still, it’s good to avoid carrying open food in your hands.

The entire walk was calm, with the sounds of the forest around us and not much else. No crowds, no rush - just a slow, steady climb through the hills. As we got closer to the temple, the sunlight started fading and the chill kicked in.

But we had made it. And the best part was just around the corner.

🛕 At the Top – Temple, Food, and Valley Views

After around 1.5 hours of hiking, we finally reached the top. The area around the temple opens into a flat space with a few benches, open ground, and of course, the main Bijli Mahadev temple standing calmly in the center.

It was quiet and peaceful, with just a few people around. The cold breeze hit us the moment we stopped walking, and jackets were zipped up again. The snow was still visible in patches behind the temple, and the ground had that frozen crunch underfoot ❄️.

We first headed straight to the temple - a simple structure with wooden pillars and stone flooring. The temple doors were open, and we got a few minutes to just stand inside, fold our hands, and take it all in.

🌄 The View Behind the Temple

Walk past the temple, and you’re welcomed by a clear, wide view of the valley below⛰️. The clouds☁️ drifted slowlyacross the lower hills, and the mountains stretched endlessly, one behind the other, fading into soft winter light.

We expected pin-drop silence - but interestingly, there were quite a few crows 🐦 flying around, their calls echoing through the open space. It wasn’t too loud, but it did break the quiet you usually expect at places like this.

Still, the setting felt peaceful in its own way. We found a quiet corner behind the temple, sat down, and just paused for a while. The cold air❄️, the stillness, and that feeling of being so high above everything - it made us forget about time.

No photos, no talking - just sitting there, letting the view sink in. And honestly, that might have been our favourite part of the entire trek.

🥟 Maggi, Momos & Siddu

The surprise this time was the number of food stalls near the top. When Gitanshu had done this trek back in 2017, there was nothing here - just the temple and silence.

But now, a few locals had set up small shops selling:

• Maggi 🍜

• Tea and coffee ☕

• Steamed momos 🥟

• And of course, hot siddu - which we were waiting for!

We grabbed a plate of siddu, sat down on one of the wooden benches, and ate slowly - freezing hands, warm food, and a stunning view in front of us. Absolute win.

😅 A Quick Story at the Parking - And a Mistake You Should Avoid

Just as we were about to start our trek near the parking area, we met a group of four people who looked a bit confused. They had come up from the Kutla side - the steeper, tougher trail - and were now standing at the Chansari base, wondering how their car wasn’t there.

They had reached the top via Kutla, and while coming down, they saw the better-built trail and assumed it was the right way down. Turns out, they had taken the Chansari route unknowingly, and were now stranded on the wrong side.

Their car was still parked near Kutla, and now they had two options:

• Climb back all the way up and return via the same tough trail - around 4-5 hours

• Or hire a taxi and take a 1.5-hour road journey around the mountain to reach their car

Lesson?
👉 Always return the same way you came, especially when a trek starts from two different sides.

It was a funny moment for us, but also a reminder that mountain trails don’t loop back - they drop you into an entirely different world if you’re not careful.

✅ Final Thoughts & Tips

f you’re in Kullu or Manali and looking for a short, scenic trek that doesn't take the whole day, Bijli Mahadev is one of the best picks. It’s a beautiful mix of forest trail, open valley views, and local Himachali flavour - all packed into a half-day plan.

Here are a few tips to make your experience smoother:

• 🥾 Start from Chansari side – it’s well-marked, easier, and shorter

• 🔍 Don’t follow Google Maps blindly – set the location to “Chansari Village”, not just “Bijli Mahadev”

• 👟 Wear proper trekking shoes – especially in winter months, as black ice near the top can be slippery

• 🕒 Keep around 4-5 hours total for the drive and trek combined

• 💧 Carry water and light snacks – though there are food stalls at the top

• 🚌 Buses are available from Kullu to Chansari, but service is limited and spaced out (1-2 hours apart), so plan your return accordingly

💬 Our Take

This trek gave us a bit of everything - a forest walk, snow patches, a peaceful temple, stunning valley views, and even hot siddu waiting at the top 🥶🥟

What made it special was how simple it was - no major planning, no long checklists, and still, it left us with one of the most peaceful moments of the trip.

Sometimes, it’s the easy ones that stay with you longer.
And for us, Bijli Mahadev was exactly that.