Have you ever thought of going to India’s highest altitude trek?
When you think of trekking and doing adventurous things what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the snow capped mountain, or the beautiful lush meadows, or walking through forests covered with oaks, passing through the valleys of streaming water besides you, or walking in the rocky terrain where there is no sight of civilization around or just crossing a river using only a rope.
The Hampta Pass trek of Manali, in Himachal Pradesh, will give you the perfect opportunity to experience all this things in just one adventure-filled trek. Hampta Pass is situated at an elevation of 14,039 feet on the Pir Panjal range in the Himalayas, which are separating two beautiful valleys of Kullu and Spiti. The Hampta pass connects Kullu valley, which is famous for its rivers to Spiti valley’s desert covered in snow. Trekkers can experience these two contrasting landscapes just only in India’s beautiful state, Himachal Pradesh.
Best time to go to Hampta pass trek?
The best time to go for Hampta trek is in the months of June and July and if you love the snow cold weather then this place will definitely give you some ultimate chills. Experiencing snowfall at almost -15 degrees is a treat for many. The main reason why Hampta pass is famous is because it offers you trekking through snow; the pass has snow, which attracts many tourists in June and July. And if you are not a fan of cold weather then you should plan your trip in July mid up till October first week. Shepherds also bring their sheep for grazing in this pass because of its unique high altitude grasslands during summers.
How to Reach Hampta Pass Trek?
The Hampta pass trek begins from Manali, which is easily accessible by road. You can also find an airport in Kullu, which is 60 km away from Manali. Best way to reach Manali is by taking an overnight bus from Chandigarh or Delhi. The total travel time from Delhi to Manali is approximately 12 to 14 hours. And the travel time from Chandigarh to Manali is around 8-10 hours.
Difficulty level of Hampta Pass :
Hampta pass trek is between easy to moderate with respect to its difficulty level but it is a perfect trek for beginners. Usually, it takes upto four days to complete this trek. But you can add one more day in this is to visit the popular Chandratal, which is a high altitude alpine lake just a few hours away from Chatru.
Brief itinerary of Hampta Pass Trek:
Day 1- Manali to Jobri:
A 1 hour drive of 19 km from Manali, passing through Prini, Sethan, and Jobra. It’s comfortably an easy 2km trek to the Chika campsite, where you may see a mixed pine tree, green maple, and birch trees. Trek ends at Chikka, and you’ll find a stunning waterfall close to the campsite.
Day 2- Chikka to Balu ka Ghera:
After waking up to the waterfall sounds, leave from Chika campsite for a thrilling trek through some tough stones and boulders. And after 3 hours of mounting, you will reach Juara Nala, where you experience the river crossing, mesmerizing views of Indrasan Peak and valley down below. Finally, Balu ka Ghera arrives, and spends time there.
Day 3- Balu Ghera to Shea Goru:
Start early in the morning, which will take you upto an hour to reach the upper Balu ka Ghera and from here the ascent to Hampta Pass Summit will start. Once you pass this, you can experience the barren landscape of the Himalayas in Lahul and Spiti Valley. This entire route is covered with snow in June. Enjoy this beautiful view from the top, see some shepherds who visit the valley for their sheep, and then you can start descending towards the next campsite that is Shea Goru.
Day 4- Shea Goru to Chhatru, and drive to Chandra Tal:
It’s a downhill trek from Shea Goru with a trail alongside the river valley between the Pir Panjal mountain ranges. The course will take you through some beautiful landscapes, glaciers and then you’ll arrive at the base camp at Chatru. The Chandra River flows below, and there is a road that goes by its side.
Day 5: Chatru to Chandratal:
Chandratal Lake is just 4just away from the Chatru campsite. You can trek up to this marvelous Chandratal Lake only in the summer months. But if the Lake is closed in the month you are going; then you have to go back to Manali.
Conclusion
Manali, is a town in Himachal Pradesh that serves as the basecamp for many treks, and Hampta Pass is one of them. Hampta Pass is located at an elevation of 14,039 feet on the Pir Panjal range in the Himalayas. It is a very small narrow passage between two valleys; the Lahaul Chandra Valley and Kullu Valley in the Himachal Pradesh.