Kalihani Pass Trek

Arrive in Manali. You’ll be met by our guide who’ll take you to the Hotel. After lunch, you can occupy yourself with local sightseeing. It is a natural divide between the valleys of Kullu and mountains of Lahaul and Spiti. It attracts tourists with lovely views and fresh snow. Here you will be able to relish journey activities such as skiing, skating, paragliding, snow scooter and more. In the afternoon take a walk to Jogini falls for some hours. If you like you can explore the Mall road of Manali in the evening. In the months of May & June, it’s crowded with tourists. Overnight Hotel in Manali.

Today morning our trek starts. We take a quick car ride to reach the opposite side of Beas river crossing Manali town. The trek starts from the upper reaches of Manali (7000 ft) behind the Hadimba Temple. The road converts into a narrow foot-route which vanishes into the jungle. There is a school and has a water supply, where one can refresh oneself before taking on the 10 km long steep walk that lays forward. At the start, the trail moves on Manali Sanctuary among the dense and exquisite forest with overwhelming massive trees just like the Deodars, Walnut, Maples with steep uprise having only a few intermediate reliefs. The condition of the trail might vary based on weather and in rainy time of the year, it will be treacherously muddy. Take a lunch break in this serene place surrounded by forest all around and having glimpses of the faraway Kullu valley we left beneath. A consequent stretch of the trek starts with goodish steepness for the next 2.5 hours. Slowly as one gains altitude, the large trees provide a way to man-height shrubs with occasional clearings from wherever one suddenly has head-spinning read of the Beas valley which have been left far below. At the last number of kilometres stretch, the slope eases out and walk continues through dense forest with mosses and lichens all around. Here we encountered a strange challenge, indeed never thought about before. The path meets an approx 2 ft diameter supply water pipe and far a few distances (around 1312 ft) the path goes along the pipe. Finally once crossing a number of humps, one emerges into an outsized bowl formed clearing with an abandoned remnant of a trekkers hut within the middle. Here in the place, Lama Dugh(~10000 ft), to camp for the night. Total distance is 10 Km and will take around 6 to 7 hours.

The trek begins very early in the morning. Close to the trees are all gone with intensive high altitude grassland regions all around and also the gradient becomes tougher. Looking back one can see an amazing view of the zigzagging road to Rohtang Pass exposed like a canal duct! The spur on this ridge leading the peak called Khanpari Tibba rising 1000 ft above. You can find alluring views of the Dhauladhar range, Hanuman Tibba and many more. Trying ahead from passing the meadows of Riyali embrace the scene. A gentle walk and followed by a steep descend of one and a half hours and later by a kilometre of relatively gentle trail – the last one gives some relief to the weary walker! No trace habitation within the route apart from the number of stone guarded shepherds hut. One reaches the finish of the Riyali Thach (~ 11200 ft)within the afternoon to camp for the night. Total distance is 11 Km and it will take about 6 to 7 hours. The beauty and the variety of the day’s trail will leave one ruminating in the night.

The trek begins early next morning and straightaway leaves the Riyali area and descends into a zone of trees. Soon after a km of up and down walks, the openness of the Bugiyal comes once again and the glimpse of the Kalihani Pass (Senghor Jot, as it was known traditionally) will be seen far-off and up above in the front. Rocky ranges accompany within the left with a previous grey river crossing. The river is fast flowing here and balancing on the stone is optional only if one reaches here early (when the water is still less. Otherwise, best is to require off shoes, take support and wad through the icy water. Crossing this and simply taking the proper is that the next crossing, the stream here is flanked by superb previous glacial edges jutting out with ice visible beneath. Straight Away once the crossings, an arduous climb follows on rushlike mountain block and with a ridge walk, that takes the traveller to the opposite aspect of the mountain. Once the ridge is finished we will see the bottom camp space a metric linear unit ahead. Foggy undercover may prevail here in the afternoon. Total distance is 10 kilometre and will take 5 to 6 hours. Reaching the base in the afternoon feels cold because the place is mostly windy and exposed to the pass in the front. A good rest and sleep are required to undertake the next day’s attempt.

The trek should start early in the morning to reach Kalihani Pass and back to base feasibly. The walk starts over the huge rocky destruction zone, trample over the large and medium-sized rocks and stones strewn everywhere. One clearly needs to consider the feet because the stones compel the ankle joint twist and switch to every possible angle! but the labouring is straight away rewarded with the stunning view of the range containing the Senghor Jot standing like a huge wall and guarding the route to Bara Bhangal. Movement is actually slow here and steepness is considerable. Finally, reaching on the highest of the ridge, the opposite side comes into view with breathless ice fields. The area is completely ice and rock here and an amazing sleek plate-like stone dominated the rocky bridges between the ice fields. Kalihani Pass itself on the glacier, with a distinctly beautiful opening of about 50m between two steep rocky ridges. The pass has a crevasse in the middle. One can spend some time on the pass but should get off early and start the descent downwards and the weather here is treacherous and could become foggy, resulting in snowing in the latter half of the day. Retracing the ice and rock zones and steep downward descent one comes back to the ground zone. Crossing it over is rarely easier (rather difficult) in descent instead of ascent. Exhausted after the day’s laborious toil, one reaches the camp shelter with a day’s trek price keep in mind forever. Total distance is 12 Km and will take up to 8 hours.

After a tiring and exhausting last day in the snow-fed trails, we will make our way from Sanghore base and go down emulating the stream. The path here will proceed over to the open in-depth meadows initially, followed by a precipitous going down to a stream. After a short diversion to the right, we tend to continue on a rolling parcel of land for the next 3 hours to reach out next campsite. Confirm that you just capture the fabulous views of the Deo Tibba and Indrasan peaks in your camera from the campsite you left behind.

After clearing things up at Rangolee, following the trail, we will see small villages below as the river Beas flows amidst the Kullu valley. The peak is a steep descent, you will see the distinct views of the Deo Tibba, Indrasan, and also the peaks of Bara Shigri glacier on the way throughout trekking. On the path, you will come upon dissimilar sorts of blossoming alpine flowers. After starting the trail, one passes through the ridge horizontally and then enters the on an alpine plateau studded with a dense growth of the alpine flowers. From this point, you can have the wonderful glimpse of the Manali hill station, located on the bank of the River Beas and the entire upper Kullu valley, which appears incredible swathed in the vibrant colours of the season.

A short hike back to the road head at Baragrahn near Patlikuhl village is a small Village/hamlet in Naggar Tehsil in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh State, India. It comes under Hallan Ii Panchayath. From here, we drive back to Manali. Treks are entertaining, joyful and could also be informative. As you travel mile after mile, you come across new horizons, moving further with every passing minute. New faces, new places make the whole experience a memory to reckon with. Trek could range from a couple of miles; nevertheless, they are always taken to escape boredom and elevate the mood. Moreover, it’s never disappointing barring some exceptional change of events.

Arrival in Delhi early morning. Trip Ends! At the end of a journey, it’s always weird to look back on the roads traveled and spots visited. It brings with it a sense of nostalgia, a love of time passed with the inability, or unwillingness to go back.