Know about Kasol, the little Israel of India

New Delhi: In the pristine valley of Himachal Pradesh, lies a small village called Kasol.The remote area is situated on the banks of Parvati River.The religious place for Sikhs, Manikaran, is about 6 km from the village.The place is the best option for tourists.It has a minimal population, jazzy restaurants and picturesque valley. An interesting fact about Kasol is that it is inhabited mostly by tourists from Israel. According to locals, the town is a hot spot for a lot of young people who finish their compulsory military service in Israel and then escape to the Parvati Valley. Almost every hoarding and bill board in Kasol is in Hebrew and Hindi. One would also find the famous Israel dish, Israeli Shakshouka, a dish of poached eggs in tangy tomato gravy along with hummus and pita bread. Because of the Israeli influence, there are many western style restaurants. It is also the unofficial drug capital of the country. The place is famous for its wild marijuana made from the cannabis that is plentiful to the area One would find a blend of European culture in the area. Shops selling hippie clothing are many and there are European style cafes too.