Snow Trekking in Dalhousie
At an altitude of 8000 feet above the sea level, and 9 km trek from Dalhousie, it is a perfect small Himalayan village: Kalatop. Under the “Home Stay Programme”, participants stays in these small huts and enjoys the Himalayan leaving of the locality. This behaves as basecamp for the expedition members for next three days.
The place is in the inner reaches of Kalatop Reserved Forest, but all the basic facilities are available here. The huts become helpful in the low temperature during late nights. Kitchen is set here with the help of the local people and the place also offers facility of a meeting room cum dining hall, where all type of interactive activities take place for 3 days. Starting from campfire, interaction between participants and briefing sessions by instructors and guides keep this small hall always a busy place.
Whole the village huts are hired for this camping and it also provides employment to the local boys. They help in all type logistical woks and to avail water from the frozen ice. Participants also enjoys their stay at this place by listening the local stories and songs in the perfect Pahari Ascent.
Besides this, the whole left shoulder of mighty Pir Punjal range can be seen from the base camp. Routine of Sunrise and sunset cerates wonderful landscapes full with colored sky. Participants choose to wake up early to see the sky before the sunrise.
Cold night welcomes the sun with shining golden snow on the mountains and this is how the day starts with first light at base camp. After the breakfast, the participants leave the campsite and proceed for trekking or other activities and return to the base camp well before the sunset. Administrative team along with Instructors, Guides and Kitchen Staff Members stay at the same place. All type of basic facilities and emergency kits are available at base camp.
Refer for videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKPX2PRnMNE&list=PLnttM8pOBQWX1GwoXVONDZYQkjeEstet-
Dainkund Top is the highest point of the Dalhousie Hills and offers a mesmeric 360 degree view from the top. Participants are put in this challenging height gain, where they start from the Kalatop basecamp and reaches to this final point in 3 – 4 hours.
There is no clear and visible trail to the uphill and all trekkers have to climb like a mountaineer in the 4-5 feet of snow. Slopes up to 50 degree and frequent snow slides are fun points for one and all. Senior instructors and local guides, who are trained mountaineers adjoins this tail in quite a typical way and trains the participants.
On successful summit to this trekking peak, a group photo is taken with the Indian Tricolor and is happens the most memorable moment of the whole trekking expedition. After spending around 2 – 3 hours on that high altitude point, the team descends in the manner of climbing down. Sliding through slopes and playing with snow balls and forming snow man besides the trails, all reaches back to base camp and enjoys the campfire with their hot dinner.
Khajjiar, locally Khajjar is a small round shaped lake situated amongst the dense forest. Due to its grassy slopes and green grounds around the lake, it attracts lacks of visitors throughout the year. Being below the snow line, it is never under the snow cover and is the place where more than 1000 movies are shot!
Due to the similar terrain to Switzerland, it is certified as “Switzerland of India”. Many hotels and other establishments serves almost all type of foods and offers overnight stay too. One long jungle trail from Kalatop leads to Khajjiar, which offers wonderful natural scenery along with small beautiful streams. This way remains closed in the winter.
Many a times, Government of Himachal Pradesh organizes cultural dance performances for tourists to introduce the tribal Himalayan culture. Comparatively, Khajjiar is more crowded and hence less preferred by the nature lovers but more by photographers and selfie maniacs!
Day 1: Departure from Ahmedabad at 11:20 AM, overnight train journey (Train: 19223/Jammu Tawi Express)
Day 2: Arrival at Pathankot, Departure for Dalhousie by bus.
Dinner & Accommodation at the Dalhousie Hotel/Dormitory (3/6 sharing basis).
Day 3: Acclimatization Walk, After lunch free time for Sightseeing.
Free day for acclimatization & Settling Down, Town visit & Briefing
Day 4: Trek to Kalatop Basecamp
After breakfast, trek to Lakkadmandi & then to Kalatop (8000 ft), Night halt in Wooden Huts/Hotels (as per weather)
Day 5: Trek to Dainkund Top (9700 ft)
Hight gain to Dainkund Hill & back to Kalatop Basecamp, Night Halt at Kalatop
Day 6: Visit to Khajjiar by Bus/Small Vehicles
Return to Dalhousie in evening and then drive back to Pathankot, Night at Pathankot Hotel
Day 7: Departure for Pathankot and then to Ahmedabad, overnight in train.
Day 8: Arrival at Ahmedabad at 3:15 PM.
Those who applies for Dalhousie to Dalhousie, need to report on 2nd day evening/3rd day morning of this schedule on given place and will leave the campsite on 6th day evening.
The registration can be done online by clicking given date on website.
The registration will be done on first come first serve basis and advanced booking can be made by paying ₹4000. However, the remaining fees must be paid before 20 days of departure.
How to organize a special camp?
Special camps can be organized by sending a request application on the NGO mail ID [email protected].
The fees structure would be same for the group of the fixed strength.
For more information please call/whatsapp on 9099400699 or mail us on [email protected]
For Querries, you can visit our office and meet Office Assistant or Senior Instructors.
To discuss the related things/concerns, you are requested to take a prior appointment to meet Rushiraj Mori, Founder and Chief Instructor by calling during office hours.
