Overview
The Hampta pass trek is one of the most unique treks of India because you see two different worlds from one point. On one side of the pass is the Kullu valley which is filled with greenery, forests and flowers blooming. While the other side is Lahaul which is a perfect landscape, the mountains around are barren with no vegetation. The views on the trek keep changing continuously due to the two different landscapes on each side. The trek is a complete adventure for trekkers also it will be nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time. The trek is moderately difficult and will take 6 days to complete.
How to reach
The base camp for the Hampta Pass trek is Jobra. On the first day, you will drive from Manali to Jobra and then start your trek. To reach Manali you can get down at Delhi or Chandigarh. From there you have a lot of bus options that you can take to reach Manali. If you are traveling from Mumbai, Bangalore or any other place then take a flight to Delhi or Chandigarh. The travel time from Chandigarh to Manali is about 10 hours and from Delhi, it will take 14-15 hours. From both the places you need to take a bus or cab depending on what you are comfortable with. The buses would be a cheaper option and you can make bookings for them in advance. It is advised that you reach Manali a day before the trek is going to start. For example, if the trek starts on 25th then try to reach Manali or at least Delhi or Chandigarh by the 24th. You would get a day to rest which will be beneficial on the trek.
Best time to visit
The best time to do the trek is from June till September. During the start of June, you will still get to see snow at various places on the trek. From July onwards the monsoon starts so all the snow melts away, but the weather is still good. As the monsoon starts you can see greenery all around you and it makes the trek even more interesting.
Reasons to do
The main reason for doing this trek is the beauty of seeing two different views from one point. The dramatic change that can be seen on the trek is the thing that trekkers look forward to on the trek. Other than that the drive to the basecamp that is Jobra is really pretty. The campsites on the trek have stunning views.
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Things to carry
There is a list of things that are important to carry when going for a trek –
- Trekking shoes
- Appropriate clothing
- Medical kit
- Strong backpack
- Sunglasses
- Cap
- Socks
- Gloves
- Trekking pole
- Raincoat
- Torch
- Water and energy bars
- A portable charger
Itinerary
On the first day, reach Jobra, which is the base camp for the trek. From Manali, the drive to Jobra is for two hours. From Jobra till the actual campsite you will have to trek for half an hour. That day you only camp at Jobra. The next day you have to trek to Jwara which is a five-hour trek. On this trek route, you will get to see waterfalls. The next part of the trek is from Jwara to Balu Ka Ghera, which is a 4-5 km trek. You will come across a valley and you will also have to cross some rocks on the way. On day 4 you trek to Shea Goru crossing the Hampta Pass. This part of the trek might be a bit difficult and it is also a 9-hour trek. At the Hampta Pass, you can take a break and also have lunch. The second last day is when you trek to Chhatru. From Chhatru if the roads are good you can also drive to Chandratal to enjoy the lake view. The time to reach Chandratal is 3 hours and the roads are not very good. You can choose to either stay at Chhatru or visit Chandratal. You visit Chandratal and come back by evening as you will be camping at Chhatru. The trek ends at Chhatru, on the last day you drive back to Manali.
The trek is of moderate difficulty and you can complete it in a period of 6 days. This trek has a lot of changes in the surroundings which makes it an interesting trek. If you are in Manali or anywhere around don’t miss on this trek because it is for a short duration. Not only are the views something you look forward to but also the trek is quite adventurous.
