Trekking Bara Bangal, Himachal Pradesh, Trekking Mountain Passes, Travel Itineraries

There was a time when, in Himachal Pradesh, information was taken by traders today prefer the truck and the road, you can still hear the shrill piercing whistle of the Gaddi shepherd herding his flock.

Duration :
12 to 13 Days

Best time to trek:

May to early July and again from mid-September to end-November

Day 01 :
Reach Manali town by road or by air to Kullu and then drive up the last forty-five kilometers to Manali (6,221 ft/1,898m). Spend a day at Manali making arrangments for horses and buying provisions. On the first day, follow the Manalsu Nala, which joins the Beas at Manali. Oak to reach the Lamadug meadows (9,900ft) Just after spring the meadow is carpeted with flowers. After it, then climb the Khandpara Top above Lambadhug for some lovely views of Kullu Valley.

NOTE: To wildlife seekers there in the forests, is a good possibility of seeing pheasnats, Himalayan Black Bears, musk deer, barking deer, and the tahr.

Day 02 :
The trail climbs up towards the Khandpara top. For the first one and a half hours it passes through a rhododendron forest and then through fir and spuce to reach the end of the tree line and reach a fork. While one path continues into the Manalsu Valley. At the head of the valley, see the Kalihani Pass.

Day 03 :
On the other side, the trail climbs on to the right ridge to ascend to the campsite at Sangor Meadow. This place could get terribly windy and cold, but on the flip side, you get a rerun of the views you got from the Khandpara Pass and a lovely sunset over the Kullu Valley, as the clouds turn crimson over Deo Tibba.

Day 04 :
On the forth day reach a big slice of the Dhauladhar range is now visible in the west. A steep descent veering to the left leads to three glaciated lakes that might be covered with ice and snow just after spring.

Day 05 :
While staying on the right bank of the Kaliani river, the trail goes through scree and meadows for tree hour to reach the Gaddi Temple. Cross the stream, then another, and in an hour you reach the steep climb going up to the campsite at the meadow of Lamba Parao (11,300ft/3,444 m)

Day 06 :
Traverse the mountain to cross the tree line. Descending for half an hour, reach the meadow of lower Khamet and follow the trail past two very old oak trees for another half an hour to upper Khamet, an enchanting meadow on the banks of a raging stream. Follow the trail for four hours, then a short steep climb and traverse take you to the Gaddi camp of Dal Marhi. A remarkably pretty setting for your camp, though it can get cold.

Day 07 :
The trail will continue after crossing a stream near the camp, the trail climbs up for forty-five minutes to a ridge. A gentle up and down traverse of the mountain four an hour leads to Sunni Meadows. A long traverse followed by a steep descent through farms leads to the Ravi coming down from the dreaded Tentu Pass. Thamsar rivers meet to from the Ravi's head waters. It flows towards Chamba and to the Punjab plains.

Day 08 :
Exploration above Bara Bagal is the mantra. Climb steeply for fifteen minutes upstream of the Ravi and then for another fifteen minutes along the Nakori river. Now, a steep trail takes you to Kali Dhar meadow, from where you can see the three rivers meet. Another peak is Laluni (2,000 ft/6,095 m) with a lovely conical summit. To your south and west, the Dhauladhar range stretches out.

Day 09 :
Cross the Kalihani just above its confluence with the Ravi to climb on for two and a half hour and reach Udug meadow. After Udug, the valley curves and opens up slightly as the trail reaches lower Marhi. It goes around a waterfall to reach upper Marhi (12,800 ft/3,900 m) in two hours.

Day 10 :
A steep climb in two stretches followed by a traverse reaches the Thamsar Pass (15,171ft/4,624 m). In an hour and a half, you reach the meadow of Bara Par where you could camp if there is no snow. Or descend for an hour to reach the tea huts at Panhartu.

Day 11 :
Walking through lovely spruce and fir forests and sunny meadows, crossing merry streams, skirting charming waterfalls and then making your way through more forests of oak and pine, you reach the Palachak Meadows (8,662 ft/2,640 m) in three hours spen a day lazing or go down to the Uhl River Sightseeing.

Day 12, 13 :
Sightseeing to Rajgundha village. From thee the trail climbs slowly to Chaina Mandir and traverses the mountainside through a thick pine forest to reach Billing. Offering great views of the Kangra Valley below, Billing is a popular take-off point for gliding and paragliding enthusiasts, and events are held there.

Travel Tips and Important Views

Getting There
Manali is linked to Delhi by a flight. In the tourist season there are several a day coming into the airport at Bhuntar, a two hour drive from Manali.

Altitude
Manali at 6,221 ft/1,898 m is the starting point of the trek, and Bir at (3,000ft/915 m) is where the trek ends. The high point are two passes, the Kalihani at (15,740 ft/4,797 m)

Highlights of this trek
Explore the remote valley of the Gaddi shepherds that is cut off for most of the year. Walk through the Uhl valley, one of the most scenic of the Western Himalaya. See the Dushera festival in Kullu in October.

Medical Assistance & Emergency:
Manali is the only place to get medical facilities. On trek, the only communication is from Bara Bangal village and from Rajgunda village.

Support Services on the Trek:
Only carry your own tent for sleeping. On the trek section, be self-equipped and take a guide. Be self supplied for food and camping.

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