If you are a beginner and pondering about where to go for your first trek, Triund is the best option for you. Triund is a hill station situated in the district of Kangra. Located in the queen state of Himachal Pradesh, the Triund trek is an apt destination for first-time to moderately experienced trekkers.
Located amidst the vast and sturdy Dhauladhar range and Kangra valley, Triund trek provides some of the finest beauty of the knolls. Though rocky and hard at some places, the trail towards Triund is not too steep and its curvatures pass through lush green forests of oak and rhododendron. Not to mention its splendour during dawn, dusk, and moonlight, the hills gift an exhilarating cosmos to the nomads throughout the day as well. Triund trek is also a favourite weekend destination of many from Chandigarh and Delhi.
Location
The base camp for Triund trek is Dharamshala. The nearest railway station and airport is Pathankot (Punjab) and Gaggal (Himachal Pradesh) which is 85 kilometres and 8 kilometres away respectively.
How to reach the base camp for Triund
Once a traveller reaches Mcleodganj (10 kilometres from Dharamshala), the next destination is Dharmkot which is the reporting point of the trek. It is at a distance of 1 kilometre from Mcleodganj bus stop which can be covered by walking or by hiring an auto from the bus stop.
Best time to visit
The Triund trek can be taken up at any time throughout the year. The track goes a little shabby and muddy during monsoons. Snowfall during winter also makes the road less suitable for the trek. Best time for experiencing Triund is between March to June and then again from October to the beginning of December. The route remains closed for few weeks of December and January due to heavy snowfall.
Difficulty level
Triund trek is considered the best trek for starters. The trek stretches over a distance of 10 kilometres where first 4 kilometres is an easy trail but the last 2 kilometres have sharp, steep bends which make the trek a bit tough. There are 22 curves in the road for which the trail is also famous as ‘22 curves’.
Triund Trek itinerary
The trek can be smoothly completed at a span of two days and one night.
Day 1
It’s best to start from Mcleodganj base camp at around 10 in the morning after breakfast. The road ascends via Dharamkot and Naddi and takes almost 4.5 hours to reach Triund. The road from Bhangsu village makes its way among jungles of oak and rhododendron. There are small snacks shops on the way where one can rejuvenate.
There are plenty of camps and a Forest Rest house (no need of prior booking) at Triund where one can spend the night. Camping, star gazing sessions, bone fires, and other such activities are the main highlights of staying overnight at Triund. Normally, booking at camps include accommodation and all meals.
Day 2
After breakfast, trekkers hike to Khabrotu from where one can have the breathtaking view of Lake Glacier and the massive Dhauladhar. Taking a different downhill path while descending is advised to reach Bhagsu village. On the way, one can have the sight of the Bhagsu Waterfall. Gallu Devi temple is another point of a visit during the downhill journey. There are small shops along the downhill road where one can have their lunch as well.
Many say that Triund can be done in a single day! Yes, it can be but it all depends on your energy, fervour and of course, fitness level to cover both the uphill and downhill distance in a single day.
Tips before the trek
- Weigh less. Leave out all unnecessary luggage at your hotel. The lesser burden will ease your trek.
- Apart from winter seasons, wearing a jacket, trekking shoes and gloves will suffice for the climb. Make sure to carry raincoats and waterproof shoes during rainy days.
- A large number of travel companies organize Triund trek. The best option is to book the trek from any of these companies. Their guidance, experience, and skills of practice prove beneficial for beginners. As mentioned earlier, the travel companies look after every need of trekkers along with accommodation and all meals.
- Apart from the above, accommodation options are available near Gallu Devi temple areas as well where one can arrange their halt.
Things to carry to Triund
These are divided into general requirements and must-carry essentials to keep in your backpack.
General Requirements:
- Sturdy trekking shoes
- Hand gloves (optional, depends on weather and temperature)
- Jacket and windcheater
- Backpack (proper weight and size which is easy to carry)
- Sunglasses and cap
- T-shirts and thermals as per your requirement
- Socks
- Trekking pole (optional)
What goes in your backpack:
- Photo ID proofs (keep a few copies)
- Water bottle
- Light snacks
- Basic toiletries like handwash, facewash, sanitizer
- Hand towel
- Insect repellent cream
- Sunscreen lotions and moisturizers
- Carrying medicines of fever, gastrointestinal snags, infections and body pain is recommended. Pain gels and sprays are also advised to carry for catering an emergency.
Happy trekking!
Also read:
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