Kasol and surrounding area or Leh/Ladakh?

I'll be in India for September and was wondering if Kasol or the surrounding villages were worth a trip...does anybody know anything about Kalga, Pulga, Keerganga, Manikaram, Tosh or Melana? I'll be heading up from Rajasthan.

Is it worth a visit? Is it mostly just a chillout place? Anything to do?

Or should I go to Leh/Ladakh instead?

I haven't travelled beyond Manikaran, but am made to believe that the Parvati valley is even better than the Kullu valley ! Kasol and Manikaran are definitely worth a look. Pulga, from the pictures I've seen, looks charming. Malana should be worth going to for experiencing something different - it has its own rules and regulations! The trek to Malana should also be worth it.

Do go !

Ladakh is bone-dry barren whereas Kasol + surrndgs are green and fertile. Take your pick.

Thanks for the info... so do you think it's mostly for trekking?

Shimla...what do you mean about Malana being a "different kind of experience with it's own rules"?

Malana is a village which lives in a time warp. The inhabitants are said to be descendents of the soldiers of Alexander the great.The village has its own customs and laws and every visitor is expected to follow these. A visitor is not allowed to touch anything or anyone in Malana!!! This is just one of the peculiarities; there may be others; I do not know as I've not been there yet.

For some reason, the villagers of Malana do not bathe for days.... and subsequently stink to high heaven. Now, many customs have been diluted. In 1983 I recall that the fine for touching the temple wall or something was a goat to be sacrificed and eaten. One or two families have married women from outside, hence the bloodline is now being diluted..... and the village itself not SOOOOO strict.

[QUOTE=AvidTrekker]For some reason, the villagers of Malana do not bathe for days.... and subsequently stink to high heaven./QUOTE]
This probably ensures that not only do visitors not touch them, but do not get within a mile of them !!