Trekking in Indian Himalaya

**Perfection** · 07-01-2007, 06:58 AM

Day 1 : Trek to Sela (17 km)

Day 2 : Trek to Baaling (11 km)

Day 3 : Trek to Dantu (6 km). The Panchachuli glacier is 4 km away.

Day 4 : Trek to Panchachuli - Dantu - Baaling - Nagling (19 km)

Day 5 : Trek to Bungling (17 km)

Day 6 : Trek to Sobla (5 km)

Pithoragarh to Dharchula : 100 km, Dharchula to Sobla : 35 km

**Perfection** · 07-01-2007, 07:08 AM

Day 1 : Govind ghat (1828 m, 18 km after Joshimath on Badarinath road). Trek to Ghangaria (3050 m, 15 km, 7 h). Ghangaria is very calm and cozy place on the famous Sikh pilgrim route with a Gurudwara.

Day 2 : Start early to visit Hem Kund Gurudwara (6 km) and return to Ghangria.

Day 3 : Trek to Govind Ghat.

Hemkunt Sahib Gurudwara : Hem Kund is a glacial lake surrounded by six high peaks.

**Perfection** · 07-01-2007, 07:17 AM

Day 1 : Travel from Rishikesh Yatra Stand to Lohajung by direct bus.

Day 2 : Travel by jeep to Wan. Night stay at rest house.

Day 3 : Walking through jungle, gradual to steep ascending to reach Bedni Bugyal (3350 m, 6-7 hour).

Day 4 : High altitude walking, Bhagu Basa 4100 m is in footsteps of Roop Kund. There is a shelter which is usually filled with snow and ice which does not melt due to frozen wind, 6 hour walk.

Day 5 : Trek to the mysterious Pond of Beauty - Roopkund (5029 m), close to the base of the Trishul (7120 m) and Nanda Ghungti (6310 m) Peaks. An arduous trek of three hours take you to Roopkund. The 2 m deep lake presents a magnificent sight. Another 30 minutes' walk up to the ridge above the lake will reward you with wonderful views of Mt. Trishul and the surrounding mountains. Night stay at Bedni Bugyal (8 hour walking).

Day 6: Walk back to camp at Wan (6 hour).

Day 7: Travel to Lohajung by jeep. Night Stay

Day 8 : Travel by 5 am bus to Haridwar.

**Perfection** · 07-02-2007, 01:13 PM

Himachal Pradesh is a trekker's paradise, offering everything from lush wooded valleys to barren snow capped mountain passes. Monsoon rains in July - August affect the treks. Avoid solo trekking on Pin Parbati route as accidents and disappearances have been occurred. This rewarding trek leads up the Parvati valley where Gaddi Shepard tend their flocks, and over the snowy Pin Pavati pass to the stark mountain deserts of Spiti.

Horses can't cross the Parvati pass, so you will need porters. The trail head at Pulga is easily accessible by bus from Manali. At Thakar Kuan labours are working on a dam across the river. A steep climb takes one to the snowy pass marked by Buddhist prayer flags. The snowfield obscures tracks and the descent is tiring, with much scree. The Pin valley national park is the home to bears, ibex and possibly snow leopards. The trail leads to the hamlet of Mudh from where follow a road to Sangam to catch a bus to Kaza.

For Pin Parbati pass trek and equipment hire at Kaza : Sakya tours and Spiti Holiday adventures (Tent - Rs 75 / day, Sleeping bag - Rs 50 / day). Most trekking agencies are based in Manali, and offer all inclusive treks. Trek costs around US$ 400 / person.

Season : Sept to October, Type of trek : Strenuous

Day 01 : Manali - Pulga (100 km)
Travel by car/jeep from Manali to Manikaran and then to Pulga (2290 m). Manikaran is a holy place for both Sikhs and Hindus alike and also has the world's hottest Sulphur spring.

Day 02 : Pulga - Khirganga (10 km, 5 hour)
Trail gradually ascends to Khirganga which is a scenic place and now supported by a " shelter" which is usually heavily crowded by foreigners. Khirganga (2960 m) is a holy place with hot water springs.

Day 03 : Khirganga - Tunda Bhuj (18 km, 5 hour)
Steady ascend to the gorge and forest level walking to reach Tunda Bhuj (3285 m). Valley then widens and trail crosses several beautiful pastures supporting many types of wildflowers. There are some Gujjar/Gaddi shepherd encampments and this will be last human settlement you will be watching.

Day 04 : Tunda Bhuj - Thakar Kuan (16 km, 5 hour)
Through birch forest crossing rocks and dense vegetation. This section of valley is difficult at places as the trail frequently skirts rock faces that are difficult for laden porters. Reach Thakur Kuan (3560 m) above the cliff section.

Day 05 : Thakar Kuan - Mantalai Lake (4116 m, 7 hour)
Beyond Thakar Kuan, the trail passes several Gaddi encampments before crossing a side river by a natural rock bridge - Pandu bridge (12 km, 3700 m). Trek for 15 km to reach Mantalai lake, the source of Parbati river. There is a choice of grassy camp site just beyond Mantalai.

Day 06 : Mantalai Lake - Camp I (4573 m, 12 km, 7 hour)
Walk over the glacier & moraine and cross small lakes & streams to reach Camp I at the base of Pin Parvati Pass.

Day 07 : Camp I - Camp II (4450 m, 12 km, 5 hour)

Snowy Pin Parbati Pass (5319 m) is marked by cairns and prayer flags. Cross over the pass and enjoy the view of several peaks of Kullu & Spiti region. The descent from the pass is gradual, over a snowfield. Camp near the confluence of Pin river with other small streams.

Day 08 : Camp II - Mud (3811 m, 15 km, 9 hour)
Trek down the valley along the left bank of Pin river to reach Chinpatta Maidan (14 km, 3955 m). From here trek down to the first village of Pin Valley, Mud.

Day 09 : Mud - Sangnam - Dhankar - Kaza (60 km) by private vehicle.

Sangnam (3650 m) is a big village on the confluence of Pin and Parahio rivers. There is an 8 am bus from Kaza to Sangnam (Rs 30).

Travel from Sangnam to Dhankar Monastery. This monastery rests high over the valley and is a stupendous example of local architecture. Sangnam has a guest house and a PWD rest house to stay.

Kaza hotels and guest houses to stay. From Kaza you can catch bus for Manali or Shimla.

Day 10 : Kaza - Manali (225 km)
Travel from Kaza to Manali by jeep (8 hour). There are two buses to Manali at 6 am (Rs 115, 11 hour arduous bus trip crossing high mountain pass Kunzum la at 4551 m and Rohtang pass at 3978 m).

**Perfection** · 07-04-2007, 12:58 AM

Day 1 : Solang Nala-Dhundi (7 km) walking alongside river Beas.

Day 2 : Dhundi-Bakar Thatch (4 km)

Day 3 : Bakar Thatch- Beas Kund (3 km)

Day 4 : Return to Bakar Thatch

Day 5 : Return to Solang Nala.

Tentu Pass (4996 m) : Manali to Solang Nala (14 km) by bus. Trek to Dhundi (2480 m, 7 km, river crossing, jeepable route), to Beaskund (6 km) via Bakar Thatch and to Tentu Pass (3.5 km, steep climb over boulders) : 4 days. Pass is windy and temperature drop substantially at night. Start early morning to avoid high winds. Season : Mid June to Sept. Friendship peak (5200 m) is nearby and is frequented by fresh mountaineers.

**Perfection** · 07-04-2007, 01:00 AM

Day 1 : Trek to Beas Kund

Day 2 : Rest Day

Day 3 : Height gaining and establishing ABC

Day 4,5 : Summit attempt of Shitidhar

Day 6 : Back to Beas Kund

Day 7 : Back to Dhundi

Day 8 : Back to Solang Nala/Manali.

**Perfection** · 07-04-2007, 01:07 PM

Day 1 : Trek to Beas Kund

Day 2 : Rest day

Day 3 : Crossing Shitidhar col and establishing ABC

Day 4 : Camp1

Day 5,6 : Summit attempt

Day 7 : Back to Beas Kund

Day 8 : Back to Dhundi

Day 9 : Back to Solang Nala/Manali.

**Perfection** · 07-06-2007, 04:52 PM

Day 1 : Travel from Manali to Naggar and to Rumsu Thach (2677 m). Malana is 20 km away.

Day 2 : Rumsu Thach-Chanderkhani Base (3450 m in 3-4 hour) - Walk is through the coniferous forest, meadow carpeted by variety of alpine flowers and offers superb panorama of the valley and the snow clad mountains all around. The camping site is splendid, offering the birds eyeview down to the Kullu valley.

Day 3 : Chanderkhani Base-Nagruni (2900 m, 4-5 hour). A short, steep climb to the pass. This climb is harder in mid May and June, when the pass and upper meadows are under snow. The Chandrakani Pass (3650 m) is marked by prayer flags and cairns. The trail then continues along the ridge, with views of the upper Malana valley and the high peaks in the upper Tosh valley, including White Sail (6446 m) and Papsura (6451 m). After completing the traverse, a descend of half an hour to Nagruni, amidst the forest.

Day 4 : Nagruni-Chhota Grahan Thach (3350 m, 5 hour). First we descend to the valley floor then all along the stream (Malana Nalla). A pleasant walk with a broad trail meandering through dense forest and meadows, the valley widens at the camp ground. Ideal camping site with variety of alpine flowers all around.

Day 5 : Chhota Grahan Thach-Khiksa Thach (3660 m)-Malana Glacier (4000 m, 6-7 hour)
The path ascends to a ridge, further descends to the stream again and resumes upward afterwards reach the small glen of Khiksa Thach. Leaving the main stream the trail veers left onto a ridge and continues with several ups and downs for next 3-4 hour, and finally down onto the Malana Glacier. Many high peaks towering all around.

Day 6 : Trek to Malana village in 5 hour. Trek all the way back till the point where the Nagruni trail meets the valley floor then further 3 hour all along the valley till Malana Village.

Day 7 : Malana to Jari in 5-6 hour. From Jari to Manikaran and then to Manali by bus. There is a road to Malana from Jari.

**Perfection** · 07-06-2007, 05:03 PM

Day 01 : Drive from Leh to Stok village & trek up to Manokarmo - a shepherd encampment in 3 hour.

Day 02 : Trek to Base Camp (5 hour).

Day 03 : Trek to Advance Base Camp.

Day 04 : Summit attempt & back to ABC.

Day 05 : Back to Stok village (6 hour) over night stay in Leh.

**Perfection** · 08-24-2007, 04:15 PM

The popular trek in Ladakh is Markha valley trek via Kongumaru la (5300 m). Travel by road from Leh to Hemis monastery (3760 m). Hemis is the richest monastery in Ladakh and an annual festival attracts lots of tourists. Large 'tankas' - painting on long cloths are displayed only during the festival. Hemis has accomodation facility. JKSRTC buses operate twice daily on this route. Trek to Chhogdo via Martselong (4100 m, 5 hour). Trek to the base of Kongumaru la (4710 m, 4 hour). On the next day trek through the gorges to top of Kongumaru la and then to Nimaling village (4900 m, 3 hour).

Markha valley

At Nimaling village, Markha valley one will find nomads and their small huts. You will not be welcomed, if you want to stay in their huts. So just camp in the open. It snows even in summer at Nimaling. Kagyash peak (6200 m) can be climbed in a day from Nimaling. Nimaling to Shang Sumdo over Kongumaru la (14 km, 7 hour trek). Trek to Martselang and then to Hemis (16 km, 5 hour). Start the trek early morning for an easy crossing of streams. Use rope as anchor for river crossing. As you become late snow melts and the river water level begins to increase quickly.

Hemis Monastery, Leh

Due to high altitude and lack of oxygen, one has to be calm and take more time to climb. Bleeding through nose, breathlessness, reduced physical performance are common due to the altitude.