Kalihani Pass

Kalihani Pass – Image: source

• Trek Difficulty – Moderate
• Highest Elevation – 15,912FT.
• Trek Duration – 7 days
• Trek Distance – 4,850 MT.
• Region – Manali
• Base Camp – Sangchar
• Nearest Bus Stand – Manali
• Nearest Railway Station – Pathankot
• Nearest Airport – Bhuntar
• Best time to do – Mid June to July, Mid September to October
• Approximate Temperature Range – From July and August: 15-10 deg celsius during the day. During the night temperatures may reach 5 deg celsius. Day temperatures in September drop around 7-degree Celsius and at night temperatures will differ from 0-2 degree celsius.

A famous part of Bara Bhangal Trail which connects two valleys of Kangra and Kullu is known as Kalihani Pass. The trail is located at 15,912 FT in Dhauladhar range, Himachal Pradesh. The trail falls in the moderate category which is a mixed bag of adventure, beauty, and ultimate thrill. You will come across breathtaking campsites, dense meadows, visuals of the surrounding which are scintillating. This is an offbeat trek which gives the trekkers an opportunity to expect the unexpected in this pristine environment.

Here are few highlights of this trek which will convince you to do this trek –

Flora 

This valley is rich with a variety of flowers which adds beauty to this valley. It consists of various flowers like Common Yarrow, Cinquefoils et cetera and many more flowers which are rare to find. It is the best alternative for The Valley of Flowers.

Flora and Fauna. Image-source

 Mysterious Remote Village –

During this trek, you will find villages that are home for approximately 750 inhabitants. This is considered their own world where they have one mobile phone installed to communicate with the rest of the world. Just imagine what it will give to you when you are far away from the metropolitan hustle-bustle. One word that will strike your mind is “peace”.

Kalihani pass trek. Image – source

Nil Trekking Traffic 

It is a hyperbole, but not to a great extent. During the trek, you can count on one hand the number of human beings you will encounter on the entire trail, either shepherds or zero trekkers! When you will start for this trek, chances are higher you will find yourself to be the only humans there and that’s the ultimate way of connecting with nature. 

Kalihani pass Trek. Image-source

Meadows 

Kalihani pass Trek. Image – source

This trek is one of the rare occurrences when it comes to meadows. The Kalihani Pass trek has awesome meadows one after another, stunning and lovely from a distance and equally beautiful as you get closer. Not only the upper slopes are loaded with blossoming flowers, but even the lower meadows will also make you feel that they meander through a well-maintained garden. The campsite at Riyali Thatch will convince you as if you’re camping in the middle of Munnar’s tea-estates!!

Peaks 

Kalihani Pass

While ascending in the trek you will be mesmerized by the views of the Pir Panjal range. Standing on the top of Kalihani Pass, you will get jaw-dropping views of the Dhauladhar range as well. However, it’s the Indrasan and Deo Tibba Peak which will fetch you the top return for your money. During the summit shot, as the dark night fades to welcome a new dawn, the initial rays of the morning sun illuminate the towering peaks, injecting life to the entire valley. It is a commendable sight to behold, giving you the energy to build you in such a way that you can climb higher and higher!

Bonus Features

Kalihani pass Trek. Image-source

When it comes to trek, you become greedy at times for the endless snow trails, and luckily you will witness two such trails. One, you have the choice to add Khanpari Tibba, an easily attainable peak (4025m) to the excursion. Summiting any peak adds a feather in your cap, and above all, it is undeniably the best spot to witness the views of the Beas River Valley. Secondly, our trek makes you visit a small tarn named Rani Sui Lake(3990m). This magnificent pristine lake is covered by meadows and provides 360 degrees panoramic views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges. Hence, no doubt the trail offers unlimited wanders.

The Pass

Kalihani Pass. source-Image

When you reach the pass you will feel rewarded with the view of the valley. You will reach there after negotiating endless scree and tough moraines. The one who is going to climb this trek must have at least completed one trek.

Short Itinerary

Day 1- Manali-Sangchar-Maheli

Day 2- Maheli-Riyali Thatch

Day 3- Riyali Thatch-Saghore

Day 4- Sagore-Kalihani Pass-Saghore

Day 5- Saghore-Riyali Thatch

Day 6- Riyali Thatch – Lamadugh

Day 7- Lamadugh – Manali

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: The trailhead at Sangchar begins with a steep bunch of steps and will take you to past the village. After some time you will find yourself in an extremely narrow path with rampant vegetation and shoulder-high bushes.

 After gaining an altitude of 3200ft. approximately in 3 hours, today you will hike on a steep uphill trail which will not be refreshed until you reach the campsite -Jammu Pani. Today’s campsite is Mahle.

Day 2: Today you will start with a meadow-walk which is not a steep ascent but is going to take time to make the distance. After a heavy downpour(which usually happens daily), you will reach today’s campsite at Riyali Thatch and your jaw drops to the ground! You will behold the lush greenery with amazement as it dawns you instead of the usual grass, the meadows are brimming with Balsam bushes, it will appear as if it is a tea-estate!

Day 3: Today you will be crossing a few beautiful streams. After that, you will be treading on a narrow ridge that lasts till Sanghore, our base camp at 13100ft. The lengthy ridge has a huge variety of flowers coupled together and will make you feel that they’re in a giant bouquet.

You will zig-zag on the slope and lead to the base camp and will surprisingly reach our destination sooner than expected!

Day 4: Today you will set off from the base camp in the early morning with the darkness in the sky and start a gradual steep glacier. As dawn comes to an end, the climb will become steeper and you will negotiate with an endless moraine which is covered with steep icy slopes, thrilling scree & lose boulders.

The first ray of the morning sun makes the daunting peaks of Indrasan and Deo Tibba visible and greets you with huge views of the valley that you will leave behind. A taxing climb later, around 8 am, you will stand on the top of the Kalihani pass – your labour of last few days will be rewarded by the impressive scenery of the Pir Panjal & Dhauladhar ranges. Along with this scenario, you will attain a state of pride in our accomplishment of being at 15,800ft!

After this, you will start descending carefully and then you will be back in your base camp that is Sanghore. And then you will rest all day after the adventure.

Day 5: After ample rest you will start on your way down the ridge, retracing your footsteps to Riyali Thatch. Thus, it is an easy 2-hour hike. 

Day 6: After an overnight halt at Riyali, you will venture on to a new path that will take you to Lamadugh. Walking on the top of one vast meadow after another, you reach Khanpara Tibba, a 13100ft peak which provides the loveliest view of the Beas river valley. After this, it’s a continual descent to Lamadugh.

Day 7: Today, you will pack your bags and leave from the campsite for the one last time on this trek. Within a couple of hours, effortlessly, descending the road-head opens up right in the Hadimba Temple. You will pay a visit and find yourselves at the Manali mall road in no time. 

Temperature/Weather – From July and August: 15-10 deg celsius during the day. During the night temperatures may reach 5 deg celsius. Day temperatures in September drop around 7-degree Celsius and at night temperatures will differ from 0-2 degree celsius.

Snow Details – Yes, there will be snow on the pass.

Difficulty Level – The overall trek is regarded as a moderate trek and requires experience as a trekker.

ATM and Mobile Connectivity

You will find an intermittent cellular network till Riyali Campsite. 

How to reach it?

By road – You can take buses which are direct from Delhi to Manali. There are HPRTC Volvo buses which are available overnight from the ISBT Kashmere gate.

By rail – You can take a direct train from Delhi to Pathankot and carry on further with a bus to Manali or a train to Joginder Nagar which is the nearest railway station to Manali.

By air – The nearest airport to Manali is Bhuntar which is 50kms.

Hope you have found your best alternative to Valley of Flowers. So its time for you to pack your backpack because Hills are ready when you are!! Stay safe! Travel safer!