Hampta or Hamta pass is a mountain pass that connects the Kullu and Chandra valley (Lahaul) in Himachal Pradesh. The trek is popular for its varied landscape. The trail begins in the vibrant meadows of Kullu valley and takes you to the deserts of Spiti and Lahaul districts. The change in landscape along the trail is the main attraction of Hampta pass trek. Here are all the details you will need to do this trek.
Basic Information
Highest Altitude: 4270 m (14010 ft)
Location: Kullu/Lahaul District
State/Country: Himachal Pradesh / India
Base Village: Jobra (16Km From Manali)
Total Distance: 27Km
Number of Days: 4 Days (Can be done in 3 days)
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Experience: No prior experience required.
Best Time to Trek
The best time to do Hampta pass trek would be around monsoon and Post monsoon– June to October. Around this time, the valley comes to life. The lush surrounding in the kullu side makes this a pleasurable experience. Peak winter is generally avoided because of the amount of snow and other risks involved.
Plan Your Trek
Organisers
You can do Hampta pass trek on your own. You will however need to take a permission from the SDM Manali office. Also, you will need to pay a congestion fee to reach Jobri. This can be done online at this website.
Doing this trek on your own can be expensive if you are alone. If you can split the taxi charges from Manali to Jobra and from Chatru to Manali during return, then it can turn out to be economical.
There are so many organisers who offer this trek that picking a good one might be challenging. I am going to recommend only the ones I have first-hand experience with or the ones I have heard great reviews about from co-trekkers. Here are my recommendations –
Make sure to compare the prices, as for similar service, the fee can vary drastically between organisers. Also ensure that the taxi fare from Manali to Jobra is covered in the price. Some organisers may ask for the following documents – A medical certificate of fitness (From a local doctor) and a copy of photo ID.
Buy or Rent the necessary gears
It is not necessary to buy all the gears if you are not a frequent trekker. Most organisers offer these on rent. Also, you will find rental shops in Manali. For the details on the equipment to carry, please refer to my post – List of things to carry on a trek.
How to reach Manali?
To reach Manali, you will first need to reach Delhi or Chandigarh. You can book a flight or train to any of these two locations as per your convenience. Make sure to book atleast 2 months in advance to get a good deal.
From Delhi, you can take a Volvo bus to Manali. It is a journey of 14 hours. Though there are private owned buses, I would highly recommend the Volvo buses run by Himachal road transport Corporation. They are mostly on time and hassle free. You will find similar options from Chandigarh.
All Government buses leave from ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminal) located at Kashmere gate. To reach ISBT, take the yellow line metro and get off at Kashmere Gate metro station and take the exit via gate 7.
The Inter state bus stop at Manali is located 1km away from the Mall Road. That is, 3km from Old Manali. You can choose to hire an auto-rickshaw for Rs200.
Stay in Manali
There is no dearth of accommodation in Manali. From hostels to hotels and resorts, there is everything here. What you need to know is that the Old Manali is located around 2km from the Mall road. Most hostels are located in Old Manali. You can hire an auto to the mall road or choose to walk. Unless you are on a quick trip, I would highly recommend staying around old Manali as it is a lively place.
I stayed at Keekoo and it is a great place to stay. It is situated at the border of new and old Manali. They have private rooms and dorms. Dorms (in October 2022) were priced at Rs 500 per bed. Zostel, though a bit far, is located at a great place and has a cool vibe. Hostlier is another good option to choose from. You can also find rooms for Rs 1000 in places like The Mad King's House & Cafe.
How to Reach Jobra?
Jobra is located 16 km from Manali. The route involves several hair-pin bends as you climb up the mountains. If you are trekking with an organiser, then they will arrange for your transport from Manali to Jobra. If not, you will have to book a taxi. You can hire one from the taxi stand at Manali. The price may be anywhere from Rs2000-3000. You will also need to arrange for a taxi to pick you up from Chatru. The fare will be much higher.
The road to Jobra ends at Allain Barrage (Hydro Power plant). You will find nothing but two dhabas here. The trail begins right in front of the Dabha.
The Trail
Day 01: Jobra (2850m /9350ft ) To Chikka (3075m / 10090ft)
Distance: 3km (2H)
The trail on Day 01 is the simplest. It is a short trek and can be done within 2 hours. As soon as you take off on the trial at Jobra, you are welcomed with some great views. On one side, you have the lush meadows, on the other, the tall gorges. You cross the Rani nallah river and reach the campsite at Chikka. Relax by the river and enjoy the sunset.
Day 02: Chikka (3075m / 10090 ft) To Balu Ka Ghera (3678m/ 12000 ft)
Distance: 8 km (5H)
Leaving behind the Chikka campsite, you head further up into the mountains. Though a longer trail, the trek is not very difficult. You will have to cross a cold stream but since you will do that around noon, it will be bearable. Al through this trail you will be accompanied by great views of the meadows. Balu ka ghera is situated in a location where the meadows end and the rocky terrain begins. This location has the best of both terrains.
Day 03: Balu Ka Ghera (3678m / 12000 ft) To Shia Goru (3810 m/12500 ft) Via Hampta pass (4270 m/14010 ft)
Distance: 9 km (7H)
So the day you have been waiting for has finally arrived. You will be doing the Hampta pass. You leave Balu ka ghera and head towards the snow-capped mountains. This climb on this day is very tiring. But, it is also the best day of the Hampta pass trek with some breath-taking views. Enjoy a ridge walk and then the final ascend to Hampta pass.
Stay at the pass to take a closer look at the Mt. Indrasan (6221m/ 20410ft) and Mt Deo Tibba(5985m/ 19636ft).
When ready, descend towards the Chandra valley in Lahaul. As you descend, observe the change in landscape. You leave the lush meadows and descend towards a dry landscape of the deserts of Lahaul valley. Shia Goru is located beside a stream and offers the best views of this trail. Enjoy the sunset, moonrise and sunrise at this location.
Day 04: Shia Goru (3810 m/12500 ft) Chatru (3560m/11680 ft)
Distance: 7 km (4H)
You shall begin the final day of trek by crossing the freezing cold stream in front of the Shia goru campsite. Be prepared to experience severe numbness of feet. But, it is also one of the most interesting experiences on this trek. Apart from that, the trek is rather simple and involves mostly descent.
Reach Chatru and take a jeep to Chandra taal lake. You have to ride 2.5 hours oneway on a dusty and bumpy road. However, the placid lake is a wonderful place to visit and worth all that trouble. You can arrange a ride back to Manali on the same day or the next day.
My Experience
I did Hampta pass trek without any expectation. I wanted to be back in the Himalayas and this seemed like a descent trek which also fit my time window. But I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of this trail. To begin with, I had a great team and the trek was well organised by Moxtain. I thoroughly enjoyed the river crossings, the challenging third day trek and the spectacular views from the campsites Balu ka ghera and Shia goru.
The highlight of this trek was the third day – The climb to Hampta pass and descent to Chatru. It is a beautiful walk along the ridge and snow-capped mountains.
My Film on Hampta Pass Trek
Comments
Post a Comment