Jalsu Pass
District Kangra/Chamba, Himachal Pradesh
Position - N32 10.929 E76 41.018
Altitude – 3425 metres above MSL
Trail Orientation – South - North
Closest Settlement(s) – Parai (South), Yada Goth (North)
Jalsu, origin of the name unknown, is one of the Easternmost Dhauladhar passes. At 3425 metres above sea level with its gentle sloping trail towards the North side, it is one of the most extensively used shepherd routes by the Himachali Gaddi tribes. While not as popular with tourists as some other Dhauladhar passes, Jalsu is an experience in itself. The rolling grasslands with vegetation extending deep into the trail, sprinkling of conifers, rhododendron bushes and the beautiful yellow grass flowers offer a colourful experience which few other passes can match.
Like other Dhauladhar passes, Jalsu forms the boundary between Chamba and Kangra districts but unlike other Dhauladhar passes, its beauty is not in the bareness and rockiness but in the variety of vegetation it supports and colours it shows on both sides. You also meet a lot of people on the way, shepherds, shopkeepers, tourists. So, if you are here to meet people, understand culture while also appreciating the views, this is the pass for you.
Just the way Jalsu on the North is different with its gentle trail, the views are different as well. Pir Panjal ranges are visible but the perspective is completely different. Being a popular shepherd trail, there are lots of temporary stops with food and shelter on offer. You can do without camping equipment and carrying food mostly.
Trekking to Jalsu:
Jalsu is most often a combination pass with another higher Dhauladhar pass, usually the Indrahar pass. This is because most tourists land up in Dharamshala and start trekking from there. Not being the most advertised pass also means it is often an after thought for most tourists and trek guides. If you want to do this pass in isolation, the best way would be to hire an individual guide (without going through a trekking agency) and start the trek from Uttrala. You will be climbing from the South, a much strenuous climb as compared to the North. Once you cross the pass, you are in for some amazing views towards the North.
Since Jalsu has a lower elevation, the risk of snowing at any point in time is minimal, except in the winters. Combined with the availability of shelter and food for most part on the trail, Jalsu lends itself to easier trekking and lesser planning and almost no equipment if you are trekking anytime apart from the winters. You can do this without a guide much easier than other passes.
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