The
Kulu Valley, known as the 'Valley of the Gods' has enchanted explorers for
ages and Manali, at the head of the valley, has been a base for further
exploration deep into the Himalayas. A popular tourist destination, Manali
lies on the banks of the Beas river and is surrounded by a deodar (Himalayan
cedar) forest. The trek starts from here and goes across the Hamta pass up
the headwaters of the Chandra river in Lahoul and explores the lower portion
of the mighty Bara Shigri glacier.
Highlights of your trek starts from Manali onwards and end up in Manali.
Manali is well connected by road and flight from Delhi and further
arrangements will be provided as per the request. If you wish to move
further to Leh you may opt an overland safari to Leh.
Day 01 : Trek MANALI to CHIKKA - 5 to 6 hours
Follow the road across the Beas from Manali and turn right. After a couple
of kilometers turn off the road at the village of Pirini towards the left.
The path skirts a hill rising steeply to several thousand feet climbing
sharply up the face of a rugged mountain. Ascend slowly for several hours up
to a grassy down strewn with wildflowers in spring and summer. Continue up a
gentle incline hugging the Hamta torrent, past a clearing where gaddis
(goatherds and shepherds) camp, until you reach another clearing. The
campsite of Chikka is another hour's walk.
Day 02 : Trek CHIKKA to "BHALU KA GHERA" CAMP - 3 hours
The route goes through a beautiful valley, rising gradually to the foot of
the pass. Rocky precipices rise almost perpendicularly to a height of
several thousand feet. A number of snow bridges over the Hamta stream are
crossed. The treeline is approached at 11,000 ft. and clumps of
rhododendrons bearing red, white and mauve blossoms in spring and silver
birch trees make way. Rise above the trees to the region of grass and
flowers - violets, anemones, forget-me-nots, buttercups, kingcups,
strawberries, dandelions and narcissi grow in profusion. Traverse a long
snow covered slope and come to the campsite at "Bhalu ka ghera"
(the den of bears), a flat grassy plain on the banks of the Hamta. A
U-shaped expanse of snow, the snout of the glacier is visible. Overnight
camping.
Day 03 : Trek "BHALU KA GHERA" to CHHATRU - 6 to 7 hours
Make an early morning start to cross the pass. The ascent is interesting and
not very difficult, lying entirely over snow covered slopes of gradually
increasing gradients - the last few hundred feet being very steep and
slippery. The ponies can find this last stretch hard and tricky.
After 3 hours reach the top of the Hamta pass (14,000 ft/4,268 m). On the
other side there is not much snow; the path is in fact completely free of
it. The descent is gradual at first and then goes down steeply all the way
to the campsite at Chhatru, on a small plateau well above the Chandra river
in Lahoul. On a clear day the snow peaks of the Mulkila and Chandrabhaga
ranges are visible.
Day 04 : Trek CHATTRU to "PHUTI RUNI" - 7 to 8 hours
The path goes down to the bed of the Chandra river (the road to Spiti is
joined here and crosses the river by a metal bridge, while the trek remains
on the left bank) and proceeds for 2 km before fording a small stream. Walk
up to another stream which is too deep to ford; you have to go a little way
up the hill to cross it by a snow bridge. The path now leaves the river bed
and climbs up to a beautiful grassy meadow with small meandering streams,
usually occupied by gaddis. After leaving this grassy plateau, the going is
rocky and hard, and it takes about 2 hours to the camping ground of 'Phuti
Runi' (broken stone). The stone is around 30 feet high and lies in two parts
with an open fissure all the way down - the result of weathering. Overnight
camping.
Day 05 : Trek "PHUTI RUNI" to KARCHA - 6 to 7 hours
Immediately
after leaving camp, cross a bridge over the Chhota Shigri stream. Leave the
river and climb steeply up the hillside over a difficult trail for around 2
km to the Bara Shigri glacier. At this point the glacier is a mass of solid
ice more than a mile wide, and extending over a distance of 6 miles from its
tail at the top of the mountain at a height of 20,000 ft, to its mouth at
the bottom of the valley. The Shigri torrent gushes out of the ice to join
the Chandra river. The passage across the glacier is strenuous but in no way
dangerous. The route on the other side lies over stony hillocks and then
descends to the bed of the Chandra. From here it is an hour's walk to a
grassy patch on the banks of the Karcha river where camp is set.
Day 06 : Trek KARCHA to BATAL, drive MANALI - 10 hours
Cross the Karcha stream early in the morning when the water level is very
low. Follow a narrow track on rocky moraine for an hour to join the road
near Batal on the Chandra river. From here the road goes on across the
Kunzum la to the Spiti valley. Vehicles will be waiting at Batal for the
9-hour drive to Manali.
Alternatively, a 3-day road journey will lead to Leh, the capital of
Ladakh, on the famous Manali-Leh Highway.
This trek can also be extended by another 6 days via the Chandra Tal to the
Baralacha la where the track joins the Manali-Leh Highway.
