Planning to go out for a hike in snow this season, but not sure where to go? For places closer to your home are overcrowded, and the peaceful and scenic ones are too far.
Here is a list of five must visit places this winter which are easily accessible from the Tricity and nearby states of Punjab and Haryana. These places provide both -- an opportunity to hike, and relax away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city life.
Here is a list of five must visit places this winter which are easily accessible from the Tricity and nearby states of Punjab and Haryana. These places provide both -- an opportunity to hike, and relax away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city life.
1. Prashar Lake : Located at a distance of just 250 kms from Chandigarh, Prashar Lake is a famous winter trek in the Mandi district of Himachal. There is a motorable road all the way to the top, but many prefer to trek from the village Baggi. For those who plan to go deeper in the majestic “White Ranges”, there is a further 12 km trek to Tunga Mata. While camping is feasible in both places, you must return to the lake in the early hours because of the unpredictable winter weather and the predatory wildlife ahead. The Holomictic Lake offers a majestic 180 degree view of the sub-Himalayan mountain ranges of Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal.
2. Hatu Peak : Located at a distance of about 180 kms from Chandigarh, Hatu Peak stands at a height of around 3400 meters. The Hatu Peak is located near Narkanda, a prominent winter sport destination in the Shimla district of Himachal. Again, the road is motorable almost to the top, but for a real hiking experience, you can hike till Tanu Jubber Lake. One gets to enjoy both the crowded tourist-based market and the serene hill tops at a short distance. Look for the astonishing 360 degree view of the upper and lesser Himalayas. Keep your pockets loaded as camping is not an option; you need to lodge at Narkanda.
3. Bakarthach : Situated at a distance of about 330 kms from Chandigarh, Bakarthach is located at the junction of the Dhauladhar and the Pir Panjal mountain ranges. The 6 km trek starts at Dhundi, a village ahead of the famous ski destination Solang, 16 kms from Manali. The majestic view of Hanuman ka Tibba, the tallest mountain of the Dhauladhar range, and the Seven Sisters, the Shiti Dhar, the Ladakhi Peak, the Friendship Peak, stirred with the small tributaries to Beas river and the enormous figures of ice, including the hanging glaciers, will simply take your breath away. On the valley side, you can see the beautiful peaks- Deo Tibba and Indrasan. For those who wish to hike ahead, the famous Beas Kund Lake, the glacier, and the Rape Ridge are all equally majestic to visit.
4. Triund : Located at a distance of around 250 kms from Chandigarh, Triund is a 7 km hike from Dharamkot, in upper Dharamsala. It’s a snow-laden ridge in the winters and is an ideal place for winter camping for travelers from around the world. For those who like busy markets, parties and have a taste for the world cuisines, McLeodganj is the best place to go. And those who like to enjoy the silence of the mountains can hike up to Triund. Once in Triund, one can further hike uphill to Laka, a pasture and the base camp for certain peaks thus surrounded. The mind-blowing view of the tall mountains and the massive Kangra valley down below is one thing you just cannot miss!
Here is a list of five must visit places this winter which are easily accessible from the Tricity and nearby states of Punjab and Haryana. These places provide both -- an opportunity to hike, and relax away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city life.
1. Prashar Lake : Located at a distance of just 250 kms from Chandigarh, Prashar Lake is a famous winter trek in the Mandi district of Himachal. There is a motorable road all the way to the top, but many prefer to trek from the village Baggi. For those who plan to go deeper in the majestic “White Ranges”, there is a further 12 km trek to Tunga Mata. While camping is feasible in both places, you must return to the lake in the early hours because of the unpredictable winter weather and the predatory wildlife ahead. The Holomictic Lake offers a majestic 180 degree view of the sub-Himalayan mountain ranges of Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal.
2. Hatu Peak : Located at a distance of about 180 kms from Chandigarh, Hatu Peak stands at a height of around 3400 meters. The Hatu Peak is located near Narkanda, a prominent winter sport destination in the Shimla district of Himachal. Again, the road is motorable almost to the top, but for a real hiking experience, you can hike till Tanu Jubber Lake. One gets to enjoy both the crowded tourist-based market and the serene hill tops at a short distance. Look for the astonishing 360 degree view of the upper and lesser Himalayas. Keep your pockets loaded as camping is not an option; you need to lodge at Narkanda.
3. Bakarthach : Situated at a distance of about 330 kms from Chandigarh, Bakarthach is located at the junction of the Dhauladhar and the Pir Panjal mountain ranges. The 6 km trek starts at Dhundi, a village ahead of the famous ski destination Solang, 16 kms from Manali. The majestic view of Hanuman ka Tibba, the tallest mountain of the Dhauladhar range, and the Seven Sisters, the Shiti Dhar, the Ladakhi Peak, the Friendship Peak, stirred with the small tributaries to Beas river and the enormous figures of ice, including the hanging glaciers, will simply take your breath away. On the valley side, you can see the beautiful peaks- Deo Tibba and Indrasan. For those who wish to hike ahead, the famous Beas Kund Lake, the glacier, and the Rape Ridge are all equally majestic to visit.
4. Triund : Located at a distance of around 250 kms from Chandigarh, Triund is a 7 km hike from Dharamkot, in upper Dharamsala. It’s a snow-laden ridge in the winters and is an ideal place for winter camping for travelers from around the world. For those who like busy markets, parties and have a taste for the world cuisines, McLeodganj is the best place to go. And those who like to enjoy the silence of the mountains can hike up to Triund. Once in Triund, one can further hike uphill to Laka, a pasture and the base camp for certain peaks thus surrounded. The mind-blowing view of the tall mountains and the massive Kangra valley down below is one thing you just cannot miss!
5. Kareri Lake : Located at a distance 250 kms from Chandigarh and in the same vicinity, the lake is a 9 km uphill trek from Ghera, a village in upper Dharamsala. In winters, the lake is completely frozen with the lake bed still visible. Since the slope is quite moderate and the road is well-marked, but walking all the way from the bottom would give you a chance to enjoy the dense forest and wildlife and a look at the life of the welcoming local people.
Look for the awe-inspiring view of the Kangra valley, where even small hills look alike the planes and river Beas and Pong dam are visible at a distance in the morning hours. It’s possible to stay in the temple complex near the lake, or in Gaddi kothis on the other side of the lake under Minkiani pass.
If you plan to camp in any of these sites, camping gear and winter clothing blended with a bit of excitement would be enough to make the cut. So get ready with your hiking gear to rock in the bonfire-lid camp sites and call your group for an unforgettable experience in the ‘Unforgettable Himachal’.