Barot Valley

Barot grew up around the Shanan hydroelectric scheme, whose 1932 diversion dam on the Uhl river still stands; a haulage trolley once carried material up from Jogindernagar before the road was built in 1975. It has stayed small and green — a place for river walks, a government trout farm and hatchery, and short treks. The Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the opposite bank. The village of Rajgundha, and the meadows above Billing, are reached on foot over the ridge from here.

1. Turn off the Mandi–Pathankot highway at Jogindernagar and drive via Jhatingri and Tikkan (~40 km).
2. Buses run from Jogindernagar and Mandi; the last stretch is a narrow single-lane road.
3. Nearest railhead is Jogindernagar, the end of the Kangra Valley narrow-gauge line.

March to June and September to November. The monsoon brings landslips on the access road; winter is cold and very quiet.

• Trout fishing needs a permit from the fisheries department, arranged at the Barot hatchery.
• Phone signal is patchy and there are few shops — carry cash and essentials.
• The road in is single-lane in places; drive slowly and use horns on the blind bends.

Individual pages for these are added as they are reviewed.