The trek that takes you across from Kangra Valley to Chamba Valley over the Jalsu Pass(3450m) - a high ridge in the Dhauladhar range of Himachal Pradesh. It's one of the more gentle crossings in the Dhauladhar range which has mountains going upto high 5000m but still offers a whole lot in a short period of time. The trail is amix of a lot of things, it has jungles, wide-open meadows, and riverside camping. The view from the top of the Jalsu pass of the Bara Bhangal range is simply breathtaking with grand views of peaks in the Pir Panjal range, with the sacred Mani Manesh Kailash peak dominating the skyling towards the north. On the trail, one is likely to meet many shepherds with their livestock travelling through the upper slopes of the valleys on either side of the pass. The gentle ascent of the trail makes it a perfect trek for anyone who wants to experience the world of Himalayan outdoors in quick time.
Itinerary
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Arrive at Gaggal Airport near Dharamshala and drive 40kms to Palampur, a small town in the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range. We spend the evening preparing for the upcoming trek. Overnight Hotel
After an early breakfast, we drive for an hour to the village of Utrala, from where our trek starts. The day's trek is through the pristine alpine jungles of the Binwa Khadd valley, with the trail frequently opening up to views of surrounding hills. Overnight Camp
From Khudru, we continue in the jungle trail till we reach the intersection of Binwa and Parai streams. The trail ascends consistently but gradually, going through gaddi settlements inside the forests. Overnight Camp at Parai campsite (2470m).
The trail to the base of Jalsu pass is by the Parai Nala, the stream originating from the pass itself. We slowly transition out of the dense jungle into more open terrain, with views of the Jalsu ridge for constant company. Overnight Camp
Since we are already quite close to the Jalsu pass, it is a short ascent to the top thorough vast, wide open meadows. The 3500m high Jalsu pass is a great vantage point from where we can sight prominent peaks in the region like Manimanesh Kailash, Thamsar, etc. We spend ample time at the top soaking in the magnificent views before descending down to Yara Got Campsite, which is perched above the tree-line at 2700m. Overnight Camp
From Yara, it is a gradual descent down on a trail that is frequently used by shepherds and their livestock. We pass many Gujjar and Gaddi settlements on our way down towards the Laka Campsite which is situated above the Ravi river valley. Overnight Camp
From the campsite, we descend for an hour to reach the Lake Mata temple, which is where we will board the vehicles to head to Dalhousie. It is a picturesque drive through the Ravi river valley all the way to the town of Chamba, from where we climb the hills to reach Dalhousie. Overnight Hotel
From Dalhousie, we drive down the hills back towards Kangra valley and head to the Gaggal Airport. Trip ends!
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Beginner Trek
