Overview
Bara Bhangal is one of the most remote villages of Himachal Pradesh. There is no road approach to this village and people of the village have to walk over high mountain passes.
Itinerary
Barabhangal Trek
Route : Delhi - Dharamshala - Bir Billing - Thamsar - Barabhangal - Kalihani pass - Manali - Delhi
Total Duration : 15 Nights / 16 Days
Bara Bhangal is one of the most remote villages of Himachal Pradesh. There is no road approach to this village and people of the village have to walk over high mountain passes.
Days on Trek: 12
Maximum Elevation: 4800 Meters Above sea Level
Starting Point of the Trek: Manikaran in Kullu valley
Rating: Difficult
Best time: 15 June to 15 October
Highlights: High Himalayan pass, high altitude Mantalai lake, dry cold dessert of Spiti valley, Himalayan wildlife.
Bara bhangal is one of the most remote villages of Himachal Pradesh. There is no road approach to this village and people of the village have to walk over high mountain pass for three to four days to reach the nearest road-head. People live here throughout the year with only few people migrating to the plains during the winter time.
The village remain cut off from outside world for almost six months in a year and it is only accessible from June to October when Thamsar Pass is open. During this trek we cross over two high mountain passes and come across only one village and rest of the days we walk in the wilderness on high alpine pastures.
Board morning Shatabadi Express train from New Delhi at 0720 Hours to Jalandhar. On arrival at Jalandhar railway station at 1215 Hours our driver will meet you and transfer by road to Dharamsala(4 hours drive). Check in hotel in Dharamsala.
After breakfast drive to Naddi village from where you start a short acclimatization walk for two hours. It is leveled walk through a thick cedar forest from Naddi to Bhagsu Nag village. Enroute you visit a Buddhist stupa in the middle of the forest.
After lunch in Bhagsu nag drive lower Dharamsala to visit Norbulingka, a Tibetan centre for learning and preserving traditional art and craft. Afternoon visit H.H. Dalai Lama Temple. Overnight stay in Hotel.
After breakfast Drive to Bir (70kms, 2 hours drive). The trek starts from the small village of Bir, a mixed community of all clans and, and more recent Tibetan settlements. Before starting your day walk you visit the most beautiful monastery at Sherabling near Bir. From Bir it is about 8 kms on a steep short cut trail to Billing. Night stay in tents.
After a short ascent for half an hour we enter the forest of rhododendron and deodar trees. It is almost a gradual ascent for two hours to reach Chaina, from where we descend down to Rajgunda village. Camp near the village.
This short stage in included in order to get acclimatized to the steep increase in the altitude. Night stay in tents.
Day 06: Plachak to Paniharthu (3750 M), 12 kms, 5 to 6 hours walk
It is steep ascent for few hours to reach Paniharthu, the base of Thamsar Pass. During early summer we already find snow and ice near Paniharthu. Camp hear for overnight stay.
Leave after an early breakfast. It takes 05 hours to reach the pass after negotiating through patches of glacier and moraines. From the pass we have superb view of the high Himalayan peaks and the ravi valley below. Another three hours to go down to the next camping place at Marhu.
Three hours to go down to Barabhangal, one of the most remote villages in Himachal Pradesh. The village remain cut off from the outside world for almost six months in a year due to heavey snowfall on Thamsar pass which is the only easy route we can approach the village. It is interesting to find that some of the villagers especially the oder people have never been out of the village all their life and have not seen even the small wonders of the outside world. For example they never sat in a bus or a car.
Camp near the village. Afternoon explore the village of Barabhangal.
After crossing the ravi river over a wooden bridge we enter into no man’s zone land. There is no human habitation after Barabhangal village until we reach Manali. We come across several shepherd camps to reach Suni got. Night stay in tents.
Uphill and downhill walk takes us to Lambaparh, a long green pasture where we camp for overnight stay.
Walk along the alpine pasture until you reach Kalihani Nullah(stream) that originates from Kalihani glacier. From here we start to ascend towards Kalihani pass. Devi Marhi is a temporary shepherd encampment where they stay overnight begore crossing over Kalihani Pass. Camp here for overnight stay.
Leave after an early breakfast. Walking over the glacier it takes 4 hours to reach the Pass. From the pass we have a good view of the high Himalayan peaks and the valley below. It takes another 3 hours to walk down to the camping place.
This day we walk on the long green pasture to reach our next camping place at Lambadugh.
Last day of our trek. Downhill walk throught the forest takes us to Hadimba, the road-head above Manali. After a short drive you reach Manali. Check in Hotel in Manali.
Rest day in Manali. Explore on your own.
Morning free time in Manali. Later afternoon transfer to bus station in Manali to board overnight Volvo bus (13 hours Journey) to Delhi.
End of the Tour.