Itinerary
Our journey begins and ends at the hippie haven of Kasol, from where we will trek onwards to the little village of Grahan. On Day 2, we will proceed to Min Thach where we will camp overnight before pressing onwards to Nagaru. On Day 4, we will climb across the Sar Pass and descend down to Biskeri Thach before trekking to Barshaini and further to Kasol the following day.
Day 1: Trek from Kasol to Grahan, 10 km
Our trek begins along the Grahan Nala through forests of bright red rhododendrons. The gradient is gentle and the trail is well marked. We will camp a little past the quaint Grahan village. Overnight in tents.
Day 2: Trek to Min Thach, 7 km
The trail gradually steepens as we proceed towards Min Thach. En route the ridge, you will cross a very dense forest. The canopy is so thick that little sunlight reaches the ground. Min Thach is a small grassy patch where local shepherds bring their animals to graze. To the north-west, across the horizon, stretch the snow-clad Chanderkhani ranges. Overnight in tents.
Day 3: Trek to Nagaru, 8 km
We will start early today and trek through woods and snow patches to Nagaru. Though you can see Nagaru from Min Thach, the route winds through some treacherous stretches. The climb is steep in parts and once we cross the treeline, shrubs and patches of grass dominate the landscape. Please note that if there is snow, extra caution needs to be exerted as the drop is precipitous and as the sun ascends, the snow becomes more slippery. From Nagaru, you can spot the ranges across the Parvati Valley. On clear days, even Manikaran can be seen. Overnight in tents.
Day 4: Trek across Sar Pass to Biskeri Thach, 14 km
This will be the longest day and as such we will start pre-dawn. Most of the climb to the pass is under snow. Besides, the ridge is sharp and the fall vertical and hence you need to be extremely careful. The pond- Sar- near the Pass is frozen till late summer. Lofty peaks of the Tosh Valley rise to the east. From the top, the view is breath-taking - a sharp drop of some hundred feet beyond which unfolds a beautiful valley. However, the descent is steep so we cannot walk down. Instead we have to glissade down the snow. Three such stretches, covering close to 3 km, need to be covered this way, after which we will reach level ground. To your left, the camping ground of Biskeri Thach with a waterfall in the background comes into view. A number of streams need to be crossed to reach the campsite. Overnight in tents.
Day 5: Trek to Barshaini, 10 km, Drive to Kasol
The day starts with a steep climb downhill. We will then enter a fenced land and continue through thick forests. Twenty feet of rappelling down a steep rock face will bring up to a stream, crossing which we will reach a beautiful grassland. We will walk through a lumber yard to reach the village of Pulga and Tulga. Barshaini lies across the Parvati River, which can be crossed over a bridge. From here, we will drive to Kasol.