Overview
India is blessed with the astonishing Himalayan ranges in the north. These ranges have been alluring travellers from all around the world to explore the paradise on earth. Many trekkers come here to satiate their adrenaline rush and admire the beauty of nature. And Hampta pass trek being the most dramatic trek in the Himalayas has never disappointed trekkers the fulfilling experience of losing themselves in nature’s arms.
Hampta pass is a small passage between Chandra valley and Kullu valley which is mostly used by shepherds in that region to go to lush green landscapes from the barren desert of Lahul.
The Trek
Hampta pass trek is considered a dramatic trek because the trail starts with lush green and dense oak, maple, and deodar forests of the Kullu region, followed by wide meadows. It continues alongside streams and suddenly you are hit by the arid, almost lifeless desert of Spiti. There are three major scenery changes you’ll experience in this trekking trip, first alpine forests, then wide meadows, and then dry moraine. But the mountain covered with a variety of wildflowers will never stop surprising you.
Hampta pass trek falls in the region of Pir Panjal ranges, in Himachal Pradesh. It’s a five- to six-day trekking trip covering 25-26 kilometres. The trek is considered as easy to moderate in difficulty level with an altitude of 14,100 ft. The best time for the trek is between June to September. If you want to experience snowfall, a visit between June to July would be perfect for you. But if you want to experience greenery, you should consider visiting the regions sometime between August to September.
The temperature is usually pretty low in these regions and changes according to altitudes. The daytime temperature lies between 10 to 18 degrees Celsius, whereas, at night, it falls up to 0 to 5 degrees Celsius. In some high-altitude regions, it falls below 0 degrees at night. It is sensible to carry warm layers of clothing with you for this trek.
Itinerary
Day 1
The trek starts with a vehicle ride from Manali to Jobra. This 2-hour drive is near to magical as the scenery keeps changing. In those hours forests changed from apple to deodar to oak. The air gets chillier when you move toward Jobra. After reaching Jobra, you’ll have to trek towards Chika. The trek involves passing through small forests of pine, oak, maple, deodar, and toss trees. The slope is steep. After 2 to 3 hours into trekking, you’ll be treated with blindsiding views of wide meadows. You’ll finally reach Chika after trekking through the meadow at the end of day one. Chika is the best place for camping as there are luscious green landscapes and the Rani River flows in the middle of the greenery.
Day 2
The next day, you’ll have to trek following the bank of the river. You’ll trek the rough terrain alongside many streams and amazing waterfalls while reaching the next destination, that is Balu ka Ghera. The slope is steep. While following the river bank, you’ll be treated with outstanding views of Rhododendron trees and birch trees. At the end of birch trees, you’ll be blindsided by the picturesque views of snow-capped Dhauladhar ranges. After trekking some distance you’ll reach Jwara valley which is a picture of magical scenic beauty. From there, trek some distance through paths covered with wild-flowers, snow-covered rough boulders and you’ll be at the camping site of Balu ka Ghera at the end of day 2.
Day 3
Day 3 will start with ascending the height to Hampta pass. You’ll have to trek alongside the riverbank in the first half of the day. The ascent is quite difficult and the trek to climb towards the actual Hampta pass is vertical. But when you reach the pass, you’ll forget all the tiredness and sore limbs after the first sight of the surroundings. You’ll experience the beauty of nature at its best and will be in awe of the jaw-dropping scenery to even remember the difficulty of ascending trek. After relishing the beauty of Hampta pass, it’s time to descend towards Siaguru. The descent is steep and tricky. You’ll need to slide down the slope with the help of ropes to reach the end of the valley that leads to Siaguru. Then trekking through the flat grounds, admiring the scenery of snow-clad mountains, you’ll reach the Siagoru campsite.
From Siagoru, the next destination is Chatru. It is an easy descending trail through lifeless mountains. Almost no vegetation till the sight of Chandra River. From there, after crossing two glaciers, you’ll reach the Chatru camping site. Chatru camping site is the place where Hampta pass, Rohtang pass, and Spiti pass meet.
There is a stunning tranquil water body known as Chandratal lake at a distance of 45 kilometres from Chatru. This turquoise-coloured waterbody located in the Lahaul region will take your breath away by its sheer peaceful beauty. From there, the return journey starts and you’ll have to drive back to Manali.
With so many variations in the scenery, Hampta pass trek gives the wholesome experience of Nature and its beauty. This trek is a promise that you’ll be in awe of the stunning sceneries and nature’s magical creations for a lifetime.
