Route library · Outstation · Mountains
Delhi to Chehni Kothi & the Banjar Valley
Chehni Kothi is a roughly 1,500-year-old five-storey wooden and stone tower temple in a small Banjar valley village, reputedly one of the tallest such towers in Himachal — quieter and far less visited than nearby Jibhi and Tirthan, despite sitting in the same valley system with the same pine-and-apple-orchard character.
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At a glance
- Round trip
- About 1,030–1,110 km
- Riding time
- 10–11 hours each way
- Nights
- Two nights is comfortable — one to arrive, one to explore the village and walk to the tower
- Start point
- Delhi (via Chandigarh, Mandi and Aut)
- Highest point
- About 2,591 m at Chehni village
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Good highway followed by a winding but manageable valley road — the last stretch to the tower itself is a short walk, not a technical climb.
- Surface
- Sealed to Banjar, narrowing and rougher on the last approach to Chehni village
- Best season
- March to June and September to November. Winter can bring snow to the village; the monsoon brings slips on the narrower stretches.
The ride
Delhi → Chandigarh → Mandi → Aut → Banjar, following the same approach as the more popular Jalori Pass and Jibhi route, but turning off before the crowds toward the quieter village of Chehni.
The Chehni Kothi tower itself is a short walk from where the road ends — five storeys of stone base and timber upper floors, still standing after a reported millennium and a half, with almost no other visitors most days. The rest of the valley around Banjar has the same deodar forest and apple orchards that draw riders to Jibhi, without the traffic.
Day by day
Delhi to Banjar
Delhi → Chandigarh → Mandi → Aut → Banjar (10–11 hours). Settle into a valley guesthouse.
Chehni Kothi and the valley
Short ride and walk to the Chehni Kothi tower, then an easy day exploring the quieter Banjar-valley villages and orchard lanes.
Banjar to Delhi
Retrace via Aut, Mandi and Chandigarh. Start early for the long day home.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is reliable to Aut — Chandigarh, Mandi and Aut all have pumps.
- Banjar has a small pump; top up there before the final village approach.
- Banjar and the surrounding villages have simple guesthouses and homestays; Chehni village itself has very limited options, so base in Banjar.
Road & conditions
Sealed to Banjar in reasonable condition, following the same well-travelled valley road as the Jalori/Jibhi route. The last stretch up to Chehni village narrows and roughens, still sealed but slower going. This whole valley sees far less traffic than the main Kullu–Manali corridor, which makes for a genuinely relaxed ride once past Aut.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Fine on a well-maintained 150–200cc commuter.
- Fuel gap
- Longest dry stretch is short — a normal tank covers it with margin.
- Spare fuel
- None needed for this route.
- Emergency & logistics
- The nearest well-equipped hospital is the valley/district town, one to two hours off; signal is patchy above the bazaar; carry the group lead's number and an emergency card.
Best time to ride
March to June and September to November are the reliable windows. Winter can bring snow to the village and complicate the final approach. The monsoon brings slips on the narrower stretches near Chehni and is best avoided.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: nothing technical — this is a moderate ride with a short walk at the end, not a trek.
Ride this with a group
We run Chehni Kothi as a two-night outstation trip for riders who want the Banjar valley's character without the Jibhi crowds.