Trekking in Himachal & Top five treks in Himachal Pradesh - Pdf Slider

-Arpita Debnath, 26th July, 2021.

Himachal Pradesh, literally meaning “Province of the Snow laden Mountains”, is one of the eleven mountain states in India. It is bordered by the union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir to the north; and the states of Punjab and Haryana in the west and south-west; Uttarakhand to the south-east and Uttar Pradesh in the south; and Tibet Autonomous Region in China to the east. Most of the state lies on the foothills of the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas, making it quite a popular destination for trekkers. This article gives a brief introduction to the top five treks in Himachal Pradesh.

Hampta Pass trek:

Pick up point: Manali.

Duration: 5 days.

Situated at an altitude of about 4,270 metres in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas, the Hampta pass acts as a small corridor between the Chandra valley in Lahaul and the Kullu valley. One of the main features of this trek is the changing landscape, as one begins from the lush green valleys of Kullu and Manali, and ends at the semi-arid region of Lahaul and Spiti. Walking through the vertical rock walls, pinewoods, rhododendron forests and open meadows makes it even more special. The best time to visit the Hampta pass is from mid-June to mid-October, as the mountains are snow laden for the rest of the year. Considered as quite fit for both beginners and experts, the Hampta pass trek is considered to be of moderate difficulty level.

Deo Tibba trek:

Pick up point: Manali.

Duration: 6-7 days.

Deo Tibba is a mountain in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas, which is at a height of about 6,000 metres.  The Deo Tibba trek offers a panoramic view of some of the famous mountains in the region, like the Deo Tibba, Norbu peak, Jagatsukh peak, Indrasan peak, etc. Throughout this trek, one gets to experience spectacular views as they walk through the valleys and beautiful forests of oak, pine and silver birches. The mountain peaks in the backdrop add to the scenic beauty, making it one of the most beautiful treks in the Manali region. The best time to visit the Deo Tibba base camp is from May to October, when the weather is the most suitable, and there is moderate snowfall. This trek is considered to be a moderate level trek in terms of difficulty.

Friendship peak trek:

Pick up point: Manali.

Duration: 10 days.

Located in the Kullu district, Mount Friendship, also popularly known as the Friendship peak, is the highest peak in the Pir Panjal range with a height of about 5287 metres. The Friendship peak trek is considered to be one of the most challenging treks in Himachal Pradesh because of the continuous steep ascents and the harsh weather. Nevertheless, it is one of the most famous trekking summits in the country. From this trek, one can get a magnificent view of the mountain peaks of the Pir Panjal range, the Dhauladhar range, and the Great Himalayan Range. It offers a ravishing view of the mountains covered in snow, along with the beautiful alpine forests and meadows. Summer and autumn are considered to be the best seasons for this trek.

Beas Kund trek:

Pick up point: Manali.

Duration: 3-4 days.

Beas Kund is an alpine lake situated at an altitude of about 3,700 metres, from where the river Beas originates. Considered as an easy to moderate trek, the Beas kund trek is one of the few short duration treks in the state. As one proceeds through the trek, one can get spectacular base-to-summit views of some of the big mountains in Manali, like the Friendship peak, the Shitidhar, Ladakhi and Hanuman Tibba, and also mount Indrasen, Deo Tibba and more. The serene view of the Beas Kund lake nestled between the mountains is indeed an unforgettable experience. The best time for the Beas Kund trek is from May to October, as the weather remains pleasant during this time.

Pin Parvati Pass trek:

Pick up point: Manali.

Duration: 11 days.

The Pin Parvati pass connects the fertile Parvati valley of Kullu to the barren semi-arid Pin valley in Spiti. The Pin Parvati Pass trek is quite a difficult one, as one has to cover a very long distance of about 100 kms at such a high altitude. Moreover, some parts of this trek are quite tricky. The best time to visit this trek is during the summer. Though strenuous and challenging, the Pin Parvati pass trek  is nevertheless one of the most popular trans-Himalayan treks.

These were some of the notable treks in Himachal Pradesh. Other important treks include the Buran Ghati trek, the Bhrigu Lake trek, Kasol-Kheerganga trek, Kareri lake trek etc. The scenic beauty of the mountains, along with the diverse flora and fauna is what makes these treks so sought after among trekkers and mountaineers.