Trek Route
The trek starts from Dhakog, a relatively remote village in Chamba, Himachal. The trail though is extremely easy to find and rises and falls very gradually. Almost the entire trail is on this link at Open Street Maps. Verbal description of the route is below:
- Dhakog - Tundah: After getting down at Dhakog, cross the bridge over the Ravi river and take a left. The road is still unmetalled (as on May 2010) and rough. It leads straight to Tundah via Tarela (spelled as Tarela on km stones) and Saindah. In case you so wish (and I wont wish so if I were you), you can take a jeep to Tundah. The ride would be bumpy, rough and dusty and scary as well. The gorges are deep and worth staring down every now and then.
- Tundah - Mandah: Parts of a road are visible after Tundah as well. The trail to Mandah heads due North along a nice path littered by deodar and blue pine leaves and passes through Tulad and Silpadi.
- Mandah - Banni Mata: The same trail leads from Mandah to Banni village. Banni is visible from Tundah. Its a small village perched in the middle of a small hill, facing the trail perpendicularly. The trail climbs a little towards the end.
- Banni Mata - Bhadra: A little below Banni village, you will see an IPH (Irrigation and Public Health Department) Rest House. Just above this rest house, a small trail heads North. Parts of this trail are not in the best of condition and is barely a foot wide, looking over the deep gorge of the stream below. The trail leads straight to a bridge. Cross the bridge, climb the steep and tiring slope on the other side to reach Bhadra. This part of the trail is the sunniest and can burn you hard.
- Bhadra - Bada Gran: Head East from Bhadra towards Bada Gran. A little after Bhadra, the trail orients South. Effectively, you are walking far above the stream on its left bank and going downstream (you were going upstream till you crossed the bridge to Bhadra).
- Bada Gran - Kandhelu: A newly constructed unmetalled road, no directions need. A bus a day and some jeeps serve Kandhelu. The road to Bharmour is metalled and a relatively easy ride.
Remember to go by waypoints and before you use the GPS trail, read this page as well.
