Trek Route
As I start writing this page after having trekked for the better part of 7 months in Himachal, this was the toughest trail I have been to. Granted the altitude is not very high but when you have to walk a mountain goat trail, altitude barely matters. If anyone reading this has seen a mountain goat run a slope, he/she would well know what I am talking about. This one is not a trekked trail, is barely used even by gaddis and villagers. Infact, there is no trail in most places. You have to make a trail. I did this in Mar 2010. Expecting it to be hot, I carried only T shirts and ended up with scratched and bruised arms. The trail is littered with overgrown thorny bushes, involves going over rocky trails. In general, try this only if you are upto a real wild adventure. You wont meet a soul for 3-4 days. The start point of the trek on the map can be accessed at this frame on OSM. A verbal description is below:
- Thathri - Trakdi: The trail is along the stream known as Bhaun ka Nal. It starts from Thathri on the right bank, crosses to the left bank after a few minutes. You go up a steep slope and then go left off the main trail just after the last houses of the village are left behind. Here on, the trail is hardly visible. Navigate keeping in mind that you stay along the left bank of the stream. After 4-5 hours, you reach a confluence of 2 streams, Bhaun ka Nal and Trakdi. The one joining from your left (on the right bank of the main stream) is your target. You will see the remnants of a huge landslide on this stream. This is Trakdi. Walk along the left bank of Trakdi. Once you get into this stream, you will need to cross this stream around 6 times. If you are trekking in spring or summer, you may need to get rid of your shoes because the water can be knee to waist deep. Walking along Trakdi, you will see a mini ridge on the right bank (to your left) rising out of the valley. Climb this ridge, there is enough camping ground and a rock overhang. 30 minutes before you reach Trakdi, you will pass another camping ground, should you wish to stay there.
- Trakdi - Upper Manhudd: Walking along the mini ridge of Trakdi up towards North, you will see another confluence. The right bank (left stream looking up) is your target again. Once you get into this stream, the trail gets much steeper. Keep walking along the stream till you see a huge rock overhang on the right bank. This is lower Manhudd. Further up, around 30-45 min from Lower Manhudd is a set of stone huts. This is Upper Manhudd
- Upper Manhudd - Triund: From Upper Manhudd, head straight up along the stream. The stream slowly peters away and the slope joins a ridge top. This is Laka, part of the Indrahar trail. Turn left on the ridge and walk along it to Snowline Cafe at Laka. From Snowline Cafe, a clear trail runs South to Triund.
- Triund - Bhagsunag: Walk down along the Triund ridge. You will pass a Guest house and then a few huts at Karthani. Another ridge below Karthani, turn right into the trail. Bhagsunag, McLeodganj and Dharamshala are visible from the trail from right to left. Keeping Bhagsunag in sight, aim for a few huts visible on the right. This is Leta. From Leta, head down the slope. The trail leads straight to the western side of Bhagsunag.
Remember to go by waypoints and before you use the GPS trail, read this page as well.
