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An eyewitness account of discovering enchantment in one of Jibhi’s tree houses!
My love for travel has gone beyond the cities, and now I wish to explore the little-known, quaint hamlets of Himachal and Uttarakhand. So, when I learned about Jibhi’s tree houses, I knew immediately that it would be a great weekend getaway spot! When my bestie jumped on the one-woman-bandwagon, I knew it would be a crazy adventure! This is how I ended up spending an entire weekend monkeying around a tree house that I found at a pretty decent price. Get excited to read about all the fun I had during this trip!
Jibhi is a quaint, sparsely populated, little hamlet in the heart of Himachal Pradesh. You might be familiar with Tirthan Valley or Gushaini, but Jibhi is situated above these locations. Jibhi is slowly gaining popularity amongst tourists and travellers, and interestingly, it is often referred to as Mini Thailand. This nickname comes from a small area where turquoise water flows between two massive rocks, creating a striking resemblance to the landscapes found in Thailand. The locals, however, prefer to call their homeland Kuli Katandi or Veer ki Aar based on a local folklore. You can learn more about it when you visit. Without wasting any time, I booked two tickets to Jibhi and browsed through the best treehouses in and around the area. I had my first ‘aha’ moment when I found a pretty little tree house on AirbnB, and knew instantly that it would make for the perfect getaway spot. I clicked ‘book’, and made my way to the Kashmiri Gate Bus Station to hop on the Volvo to Manali! Once that was done, my friend and I fell into a deep sleep for the night. After getting off at Aut at around 7 in the morning, we booked a cab that dropped us off directly to our treehouse. The entire journey took us about 2 hours, and the taxi driver charged INR 1,000 for the trip.
The tree house beckoned us at a distance. Descending 50 steps to reach it felt like an adventure in itself. The moment we arrived at the tree house felt like we were transported to an enchanted land, captivated by the magical surroundings. The tree-house was built on a mulberry tree and even had a little balcony that seemed like a gateway to heaven. It opened up to piercing blue vistas of the great Himalayan sky and a lush green valley! We collapsed on our queen-sized bed and lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling and letting our legs dangle over the edge. We ordered a cup of tea and two bowls of Maggi, and sat cross-legged, silently absorbing the beauty of the mesmerising valley. The villagers took care of and maintained the tree house, ensuring its upkeep and functionality. During our stay, a warm and hospitable Himachali woman was assigned to assist us with all our needs and inquiries. Her presence added a personal touch to our experience, making us feel welcomed and cared for. We were informed that the local people prepared simple meals, and were willing to arrange food upon request, but at an additional cost. The only downside of the tree house was its tendency to attract insects. Pro Tip: Don't forget to carry insect repellent with you.
As we concluded our breakfast, Mother Nature warmly embraced us with gentle rain showers. Imagine two people, in the middle of nowhere, in a tree house, with mist rising from the green hills that eventually turned into a downpour! After a few minutes of getting soaked outside, we hurried back into the tree house and dried ourselves to avoid catching a cold that could potentially ruin our trip! The pouring stopped after an hour, and by that time, we had dried ourselves, freshened up, and were ready to go on a little stroll. The village was in full bloom, and we realised that there were two other tree houses nearby. To think that we had no one around! It was already night by the time we returned. We had dinner and fell asleep, ready for an adventure that awaited us the next day. As soon as we woke up, we freshened up and enjoyed a plate of paneer pakoras and chai while gazing at the deep ravine going down from the balcony of our tree house. With our stomachs filled, we embarked on a day filled with trekking. First, we made our way down to the bazaar, and later, we ventured to witness the renowned Jibhi waterfall.
As we trekked downhill, we encountered a delightful array of colorful blossoms, majestic pine and oak trees, an enchanting alpine meadow, a gentle brook, and the untamed beauty of wilderness. Amidst the captivating scenery, we inadvertently lost our way to the bazaar and found ourselves deep in the woods!
I have a habit of leaving a light on whenever I leave home, and I did the same at the tree house. So, when we got out of the cab, I saw our wonderful tree house lit in all its glory. We trekked down to our little abode, climbed its stairs, and finally jumped on our bed. Thanks to the heavy downpour, the sky was clear and dotted with twinkling stars. After our great adventure, we decided to share a bottle of wine and spend the night on the beautiful balcony, looking at the stars and sharing horror stories. The next day, our cab to the bus station was ready, and we took leave from the locals after paying the cheque. It cost us about INR 2,500 per day, for a weekend. This included breakfast too. Pro Tip 2: If you are staying in Jibhi, stop at the vibrant Tirthan Valley for some time. You will not regret it! We spent at least two hours at Tirthan, then headed to the bus station and finally home with a heart full of calm and a head filled with happy memories. This was certainly a fulfilling getaway trip.
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