Pin Parvati Pass Trek
About Pin Parvati Pass Trek
Pin Parvati Pass Trek is a high altitude crossover trek which starts from lush green valleys of river parvati and ends up in cold desert of Spiti Valley. The season for this trek is from July to September as this is a monsoon trek.
This trek is a Roller Coaster Ride in Himalayas because it gives you many ups and downs, full of thrill and adventure. There are many surprises, dangerous portions and we can't even guess what's been there waiting for us. Weather changes rapidly, terrain becomes hard and strenuous as we move ahead and most importantly the height gain. We start from 9000 ft. , go up till 17,500 ft. and get down at 11,500 ft. Such variation gives you a lifetime experience of trekking in The Great Himalayas.
Location
Pin Parvati Pass Trek situated in Himachal Pradesh. This trek is the walking highway between Kullu and Spiti.
Distance
Pin Parvati Pass trek covers almost 100 kms with full thrill.
How to reach
All three options are open to reach Manali
By Air: The nearest airport is Bhuntar in Kullu. one can fly from New Delhi to Bhuntar and then take a taxi from there to reach Manali. Distance between Bhuntar to Manali is 50 km (Approx)
By Train: Jogindar Nagar is the nearest railway station from Manacle, which is situated at a distance of 166kms. The other convenient rail heads are at Chandigarh, Ambala and Pathankot.
By Bus: This is best and most convenient option to reach Manali. You can take overnight volvo AC buses or non AC buses to Manali from Janpath , Kashmiri Gate , R K Ashram Metro Station and Majnu ka Tilla (New Delhi).
Maximum Altitude
Trail gain the maximum height of 17457 feet.
Level of trek
Trail comes under difficult category.
Region
Pin parvati pass is the part of parvati valley and pin vallye Range of Himalayas.
Duration
11 Nights/ 12 Days
Mobile Connectivity & ATM
Kaza has the last ATM point before your trek begins. There is an SBI branch from where you can make bank transactions.
BSNL users get mobile connectivity at Kaza. If you are lucky you might get mobile signal at Kibber as well but the signal strength is usually weak. Please inform anxious family members about poor connectivity during the trek.
Activity
Trekking: Trekking is one of the way to explore unexplored Himalayas.
Photography: If somebody forget to carry camera on Hampta pass trail it means he made a biggest mistake because trail a.
Camping: Stay under the stars, you can stay in the guest house but camping is more famous.
Itinerary
Day 1: Getting to the base camp – Kaza
Altitude: 12,467 ft
Time taken: 10-12 hours drive
Take an overnight bus from Delhi and reach Manali the previous day. Stay overnight at Manali.
Pick up will be arranged from Manali at 6.00 am. The Rohtang and Kunzum passes are known for their notoriously bad traffic jams, making it all the more necessary to leave by 6.00 am. Drive out of Manali, and towards Batal via Rohtang pass on the Manali-Leh Highway. The road is not too good and is bumpy all through. From Gramphu, take a diversion towards the Gramphu – Batal – Kaza road.
From Batal the route winds through the real Spiti Valley. Quaint little villages, tucked away in the mountains and arid mountains dotted with green and yellow patches of peas and barley fields. The route from here is straight out of a picture postcard. You will be camping along the Spiti river in Kaza. The acclimatization process starts today.
Day 2: Acclimatization day at Kaza
Altitude: 12,467 ft
Route from Kaza
Day 3: Drive from Kaza to Mudh village; trek from Mudh to Tiya
Altitude: 12,283 ft to 12,795 ft (trek from Mudh village to Tiya)
Time taken: 2 hours drive + 2-3 hours trek
Trek gradient: Moderate. Very gradual ascent
Water sources: None. Carry 2 litres of water
From Kaza, drive down to Mudh village which is at a lower altitude. The drive will take you about 2 hours and covers a distance of 49km. Once you reach Mudh village start trekking to Tiya. You will reach Tiya in 2-3 hours.
Mudh is a picture-postcard worthy village with whitewashed houses, peas and barley terraced fields. You can find guest houses here to accommodate trekkers trekking in Pin Valley. Pin Valley is known as snow leopard and ibex country. However, chances of spotting these animals on your trek remain elusive. It is important to start for Mudh from Kaza early as streams gets swollen later in the day, making it difficult to cross. Mudh is the last village you will see on this trek until Kheerganga on the second last day. This is also the only day of luxurious trekking – a very gradually ascending walk on scree and shale surrounded by barren yet colourful mountains typical of Spiti. The trails are well-defined with minimal chances of getting lost.
You will be trekking along the Pin River through the day, moving upstream. The trekking trail is at a higher level than the river, so it won’t be possible for you to fill water anywhere. However, to set up camp at Tiya, descend to the river bed. You will have limited level ground that is suitable for putting up tents. Across the river is Mangrungse – which is a campsite on Pin Bhaba trek.
Day 4: Tiya to Shia
Altitude: 12,795 ft to 14,763 ft
Time taken: 5-6 hours
Trek gradient: Difficult. Continuously ascending trail, with a few sharp ascents
Water sources: Streams on the trail
A long day for trekking with beautiful views of Spiti Valley. An early start is important to ford the multiple glacial streams today- which will leave your feet numb. A couple of these tiny streams are also drinkable. Starting on the left bank of the Pin river, the first section is an undulating walk on loose, sedimentary rocks. After this section, you descend to the river, cross it and ascend up the other side. There are a couple of tricky sections – narrow scree-laden ledges over the river that need navigating. After you’ve trekked some distance, the Pin Glacier becomes visible high up, in the distance.
Shia is a shepherds’ campsite with barely enough space for camping. You have to find space among the rocks and shale to set up camp. This is also a landslide prone area, so you have to be careful.
Day 5: Shia to Pin Base Camp
Altitude: 14,763 ft 15,780 ft
Time taken: 5-6 hours
Trek gradient: Difficult. Steep ascents interspersed with a long glacier walk followed by two tough river crossings
Water sources: River and streams on the trail
Start your day by crossing the Pin river. You will have to remove your shoes. However, this is not easy to cross barefoot as there are a lot of stones and pebbles on the river bed. If the flow is strong and not manageable, you will have to go 2 km ahead and cross it over the glacier.
The ascent to Pin Base Camp will leave you breathless. It is a steep ascent of 1,700 ft. There is also a tricky section that comes midway in the ascent- a stream crossing. This stream comes from Pin glacier (we will camp close to its glacial line) and the volume of the water is high. With the stream flowing on an incline, special care has to be taken while crossing it. The flow of the water is such that you can be swept down to the valley below. The team will have to be roped up for this section.
Pin Base camp is a bare, rocky moonland below the Pin glacier and 1,000 ft below the Pass. The camp is also quite windy with views of rugged mountains all around – the setting is almost like Bhagwabasa campsite on Roopkund. These are very different mountains from the ones you see in Uttarakhand or the lower Himachal.
Day 6: Pin Base camp to Mantalai via Pin Parvati Pass
Altitude: 15,780 ft to 17,457 ft and descend to 13,440 ft
Time taken: 12 hours
Trek gradient: Difficult. 3-4 hours steep climb to the pass. 3-3.5 hours tough descent through crevasses to Parvati base. 4 hours steep descent to Manatalai
Water sources: None for the first 7-8 hours. Carry 2 litres of water from Pin Base camp
Depending on the weather, an early start for the Pass is crucial. The Pass should not be traversed after noon as the weather always deteriorates in the second half of the day. The ascent to the Pass is tough, mainly because of the of the altitude – the glacier section is on a gradual incline. There are no crevasses to worry about on Pin side of the pass. The older and originally considered Pass can be seen to the left of the ridge. The Pass used nowadays is at a higher plane, above the one at the left.
The world changes at Pin Parvati Pass! The bird’s eye view of both Pin valley and Parvati Valley is one of those grand views that stay with you. It is a very pretty panorama of both the valleys with unnamed peaks populating your view. You can see Parvati South Ridge, Snow Peak, Ridge Peak, Pyramid Peak, Kullu Makalu and Bara Shigri. You might even spot Kinner Kailash and Shrikhand Mahadev, if you know what to look for. The prayer flags fluttering- on your left- adds to the atmosphere at the Pass. Enjoy the view of lofty peaks from Kinnaur, Kullu and Spiti. You can also spot the Mantalai camp, far below, from the pass.
The descent to Parvati glacier is brutal – it is sharp and crevasse-ridden. The snow hides these crevasses so you have to be extremely careful. Ensure the team follows the guides’ instructions as he finds the path through the glacier, and descend in a single file. The glacier tapers off and becomes wetter and muddier, transforming into a scree laden plateau. Parvati Base Camp is similar to Pin Base Camp. The weather gets very cold here and the wind chillfactor is high. It is a much better option to do a longer trek to Mantalai and have a rest day.
The descent to Mantalai is steep and strewn with boulders which makes it a painful affair. Depending on the season, the trail can have snow. From here, you will see breathtaking views of the Parvati valley. You will also see many endangered species of plants and flowers, especially “Losars” and the “Brahmakamals”. Following the shepherds’ trail, you will cross at least 2-3 mountain slopes before you reach Mantalai. At Mantalai, you will have to cross the ice-cold river barefoot and then proceed ahead along the river. Mantalai, said to be the source of Parvati river is not a conventional lake. The boundary of the lake is ill-defined and the area surrounding it is a marsh. The first signs of vegetation start from here – you might even find shepherds and a Baba living in a rock shelter. You will be able to see Pyramid Peak from its base to top and another unnamed peak on the other side. It is by far, the most beautiful and unique campsite you have come across on this trek.
Day 7: Rest day at Mantalai Lake
Day 8: Mantalai Lake to Odi Thach campsite
Altitude: 13,440 ft to 12,517 ft
Time taken: 4 hours
Trek gradient: Moderate. Gradual descent through the valley
Water sources: River or streams on the trail
This day consists of a scenic 9 km downhill hike all the way to the famous meadows of Odi Thach.
Walk ahead, along the right side of the river bank, up to a moraine-filled ridge. Once you reach the top of the ridge, you get a view of the point from where Parvati river is gushing down. You have to climb down a series of huge scattered boulders after which it levels out to a valley walk. This is an easier day compared to others as most of it is in a valley section. Follow the trail on the right side of the valley till you reach a large ridge breached from the right side from where the River Parvati rushes down towards Mantalai. After traversing the first of the series of ridges, you officially exit the Mantalai region.
The route towards Odi Thach swirls towards the left side of the valley and it becomes easily the prettiest day of the trek. The flowers near Odi Thach give you slopes which are completely decked in red, blue and purple colours. It really hits you, coming from the barrenness of Spiti valley. Every 100 metres after these slopes, you will feel like camping. The swamp land – with a very peaceful Parvati river which branches out to streams – culminates into a plateau and then goes through boulders till you reach level meadow – Odi Thach. A little ahead of Odi Thach is Jwari Thach where we camp.
Day 9: Odi Thach to Tunda Bhuj
Altitude: 12,517 ft to 10,499 ft
Time taken: 8 hours
Trek gradient: Difficult. All descending with a couple of stream and tough river crossings, interspersed with ledge walks
Water sources: Streams on the trail
A difficult day like this one would surprise you at this stage after the trek to Odi Thach. It starts out gradually over the meadows and goes lower into the valley to the Parvati river through boulder -strewn fields and streams. You will see a series of waterfalls on your right side and Parvati river flows on your left. Notice Mt Kullu Eiger in front of you to your left along with some un-named peaks and glaciers surrounding the valley. Then you descend down to Pandu Pul which is a natural natural bridge over the river formed by large, misshapen boulders.
This rock section can be tricky and slippery so be careful. During rains, one can rope the entire team for safety. You will have to climb down another rock jammed on top of a tributary of Parvati the same way before you head to out to an open valley with waist high shrubs to wade through.
You will have to keep your eyes glued to the terrain as you will be walking on narrow ledges over the river. The pulley that takes you to Thakur Kuan is broken so you will have to stay on the same side of the river. This trail, however, gets tricky as it is overhanging the swollen Parvati river in many places. You cannot afford to make a mistake here. If the weather is not friendly, crossing this section will become dangerous. Once the tricky patch gets over, which is the only mountainous patch for today, you will enter forest a full of rhododendrons and pine trees.
Tunda Bhuj campsite is a bowl on the mountain surrounded by cliff faces, higher up from the river.
There are a series of waterfalls on these beautiful cliff faces and descending into mist. The lush greenery feels luminescent after the moonlands of Spiti. Pin Parvati is an experience that grows better after each campsite – with a layers of greenery adding on and following the various moods of the Parvati river.
Day 10: Tunda Bhuj to Kheerganga
Altitude: 10,499 ft to 9,120 ft
Time taken: 4 hours
Trek gradient: Moderate. Steep descent which can get slushy at times
Water sources: River and dhabas that appear as you approach Kheerganga
Today’s trek to Kheerganga is a steady descent to the gorge below where Parvati River is coming down at your right side. The trail will take you through many pasture lands, inside silver birch trees. You will also notice a series of lovely waterfalls on the huge mountain walls at the right side of the trail. These waterfalls, as they cascade down jagged mountain faces dissipate as mist. It is quite a sight.
Start your day by crossing the bridge over a tributary of Parvati river. An abandoned hut can be located on the left side of the trail. The trail will swirl downhill, out of the expanses of Parvati Valley to an open pasture land. The first forest section – reminiscent of pine forests on Roopkund trail will be steep. Watch your step as it can get slippery with all the mud. After 30 minutes, you enter pastures again – full of knee high bushes and boulders. On your right, you will see local shepherds living in their tents. You can buy fresh buffalo milk from there at a reasonable rate.
Ahead of you is a makeshift bridge that you have to cross – the second bridge for the day. After about 25 minutes of hike from here, the trail curves towards the left. You will find a small tent with locals selling refreshments – this is the first sign of civilisation after trekking through an entirely remote region. This is the first of many dhabas you will find near Kheerganga.
From the pasture land, there is a meandering descent down to forest for 30 minutes that exits into another small open pasture land. From here, you descend down to the stream and crossover the last tributary for the day over a makeshift bridge. The trail ascends from the stream for about 45-50 minutes followed by a series of gradual incline and decline towards Kheerganga.
You will reach Kheerganga by 1 pm and this is, frankly, one of the shorter days of the trek.
Kheerganga is your last campsite and it feels like the end of the trek. There are many cafes in Kheerganga and you are not the only one pitching a tent there. With the music playing in cafes, civilisation has creeped into this beautifully remote trek.
You can also take a bath in the hot springs of Kheerganga, which is a five star sauna experience at the end of long, tough trek. It is quite a luxury after an arduous trek like Pin Parvati.
Day 11: Kheerganga to Barshaini; depart from Barshaini
Altitude: 9,120 ft to 7,251 ft
Time taken: 3 hours
Trek gradient: Moderate. Steep descent for 40 minutes followed an undulating trail for about an hour. Ends with a steep descent.
Water sources: Streams and dhabas along the trail.
Trek for 7 km from Kheerganga to Barshaini. You will reach Barshaini around 11am. The trek ends at Barshaini. Indiahikes will arrange for transportation from Barshaini to Kullu. The cost of which will be additional and is to be paid to the drivers directly. It takes roughly 3 hours to reach Kullu. You can take the afternoon bus from Kullu to Delhi the same day.
The trail enters a thick forest cover as you start the trek for Kheerganga. This region experiences lot of rainfall so expect the trail to be filled with excess mud on a rainy day. Since this is going to be a steep descent, remain alert as the trail can get slippery at times. It becomes a level walk after 40 minutes. Since Kheerganga is a popular trail, you will find dhabas on your way down. There will be a couple of streams running down the mountain on your right. They can be used for filling up your water bottles if needed. You will cross a makeshift bridge over River Parvati one last time today – and Parvati is a gushing, angry force now from the serenity it exuded from its source, Mantalai. Parvati River is quite the moody companion from Mantalai.
Just 5 minutes ahead of the makeshift bridge is Rudranag. It is a small piece of land considered sacred, and has a temple dedicated Lord Shiva right next to it. There is a small waterfall next to it. The trail from here has its share of uphill and downhill walks and is manageable. About 30-45 minutes into the hike with Parvati river gushing below on your left side, you enter Nakthan Village. From Nakthan, the descent is steep – however, the trail is well laid, going through villages and lovely apple orchards down to an open meadow called Swagani Maidan.
With a motor-able road all the way to Barshaini, very few travelers trek the old 12 km, 6 hour hike from Manikaran to Pulga which is said to be a scenic trail going beside the right bank of Parvati river, passing some small villages like Uchich village. Pulga has a Forest rest house build of pure teak wood where one can find accommodation to stay. You will reach Barshaini by 1 pm.
Day 12: Buffer Day
Buffer day may/may not be used. It is recommended to book tickets keeping this in mind. In case the buffer day is used, charges for one additional day will have to be paid on the trek.
How to get yourself fit
Pin Parvati is a difficult trek. No two ways about it. If you want to do this trek comfortably and enjoy all the surprises it offers, you will need to prepare well.
Cardiovascular endurance – Target 10 km in 60 minutes before the start of the trek On Pin Parvati Pass trek, you are trekking an average of 10 km each day on very difficult terrain. At the start of the trek itself, you are close to 12,000 ft. On the pass crossing day, you trek on ice fields for a few hours. That’s a long distance to cover, with steep ascents at very high altitude. This requires a good amount of endurance and stamina. You can begin by jogging everyday. Start slow and increase your pace everyday. Swimming, cycling and stair climbing without too many breaks in between can help too.
In order to be prepared for a high altitude trek, you should have a combination of distance and speed targets. In case you’re just starting with a regular fitness routine, you can phase out your targets in the following manner –
Target completing 5 km in 35 minutes when you begin
Gradually bring up your speed to do 5 km in 30 minutes
Start increasing the distance you jog to get to 10 km in 70 minutes
Before the start of the trek, get to 10 km in 60 minutes. Your aim should be to cover 10 km in 60 minutes once a week and 7 km in 40-45 minutes twice a week for 4 weeks.
Prepare for ascents To prepare yourself for the steep climbs, you can add stair-climbing to your routine as well. Start simply by climbing upstairs for two minutes non-stop. Overtime, increase this to five-minute bursts of climbing, and take it to ten minutes with a short break in between.
Strength Work on your core body strength and also your thighs, to take pressure off your knees. You can do some squats. Do three sets of squats, with 8 squats in each set. Apart from this, you can include planks and crunches in your routine. This will help increase your core body strength.
Flexibility When you’re working your muscles a lot, you need to keep them loose and flexible. For this, you can do some stretching exercises – stretch your hamstrings, quadriceps, hip flexors, lower back muscles and shoulders regularly. Carrying a backpack, however light, can become a strain after a while. These exercises will help you to be in good shape before the trek.
What to Pack for this trek
Monsoon months are the best to conquer this trek, you can encounter rainfall or snowfall on your trek. Carry your poncho or rain coat to cover yourself, carry bag cover as well to save your clothes to get wet.
Bare Necessities:
Trekking shoes: Don’t get confused between trekking shoes and sport shoes, Carry only trekking shoes. Several patches will be slippery and will require shoes with good grip and ankle support.
Backpack (40-60 litres): A backpack with sturdy straps and a supporting frame is required for the whole trip to make it smooth. Carry rain cover along with your backpack
Daypack (20 litres): This is a crossover trek, you would only need a daypack if you hire a porter.
Clothes
Three layers of warm clothes: Carry two fleeces or sweater, and a good padded jacket. If you are more susceptible to feeling cold, add another layer.
Three trek pants: Carry light cotton trek pants. One of your pants can be skinny so that you can wear as an inner layer while trekking, especially on the Pass day. Keep one trek pant as spare.
Four collared t-shirts: Carry light, preferably quick-dry, full sleeved t-shirts that prevent sun burns on the neck and arms. Change t-shirt in two days, body tends to sweat a lot in winter as well. Some of the trekkers don’t change their clothes with fresh clothes, and they face little more challenge to complete this trek
Thermals: wear thermals (Top and Bottom) at night only to keep you warm. While trekking, don’t wear your thermals
Accessories
Sunglasses: Sunglasses are mandatory. In June, there will be abundant snow on Hampta Pass, and you would need it to protect yourself from snow blindness.
Sun cap: At high altitude, the sun is extra harsh, as the UV rays don’t get filtered. So, carry a uncap to protect your head.
Synthetic hand gloves: Avoid woolen gloves as they will get wet if you touch snow. You can add a fleece glove as an inner layer, and wear two gloves on each hand if you’re more susceptible to cold.
Balaclava: You’ll need this to cover your head, as most of the heat escapes from your head.
Socks (2 pairs) and a pair of woollen socks: Apart from two sports socks, you can take a pair of woollen socks for the night.
Headlamp/LED torch: Mandatory
Trekking pole: Watch this video to understand why you need a trekking pole.
Others
Toiletries: Sunscreen, moisturiser, light towel, lip balm, toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste. If you plan to use wet wipes or sanitary napkins on the trek, make sure you carry a zip lock bag to put used tissues and napkins. Bring this ziplock bag back with you to the city and do not dispose wet tissues and sanitary napkins in the mountains.
Cutlery: Carry a spoon, coffee mug and a lunch box. We insist on trekkers getting their own cutlery for hygiene reasons.
Two water bottles: 1 litre each
Plastic covers: While packing, use plastic bags to compartmentalize things and carry few extra plastic bags for wet clothes. Carry a big plastic bag to use as a innerliner in your rucksack so that your cloth can be safe while rain or snow fall.
