Phan Ngoc Bao (1992, Ho Chi Minh City) has a hobby of playing sports, is passionate about exploring travel, especially mountain climbing. Recently, he went trekking to Kuari Pass and Pangarchulla Peak in northern India. The beauty of these two places is no less than the famous trekking routes in Nepal. This is the first time Ngoc Bao has trekked on snow, skied, watched the snow fall and experienced the feeling of climbing a mountain of more than 4,000 m...
Trekking at Kuari Pass and Pangarchulla Peak on endless snow carpets
Sharing with Travellive, Ngoc Bao said: “If you are a trekking enthusiast and love nature, don't miss this route. It is not yet popular with Vietnamese people, but it is guaranteed to be both affordable and wonderful. I got to trek in a beautiful pine forest, walk freely on vast snowy hills, and watch the sunrise and sunset on the luxurious Himalayas. It feels so great. And remember to prepare your health and physical strength well because then you will have more time to explore.”
Kuari Pass (3,870 m) and Pangarchulla Peak (4,600 m) are located in Northern India, in the Uttarakhand province, bordering Tibet and Nepal, along the Himalayas. This is one of the most beautiful routes, especially Pangarchulla Peak, which can be trekked in winter with its magnificent snow-covered scenery.
Trekking is inherently a long and challenging journey of walking up towering mountains.
Camping site sparkling with stars at night
Ngoc Bao added that the two nights at Khullara camp were freezing cold and we had trouble sleeping, but the sky was full of stars and the frozen ground sparkled beautifully. The night before conquering Pangarchulla was a memorable day. Although the whole group went to bed early, they could hardly sleep, partly because of the cold and partly because of excitement. At around 3am, all members had to get up to prepare to leave early. The scenery of trekking and watching the sunrise over the Garhwal Himalayas was truly amazing.
“The most memorable moment was probably the moment I accidentally dropped my phone on the snow and it fell all the way down the cliff. Luckily, guide Raju was patient enough to run after me and pick it up for me. I was also lucky to see the fresh footprints of a black bear on the Pangarchulla climbing path,” Ngoc Bao excitedly recounted.
The roads have reed hills on one side and the Himalayas on the other.
Kuari Pass (3,870 m) and Pangarchulla Peak (4,600 m) are located in Northern India, in the Uttarakhand province, bordering Tibet and Nepal, along the Himalayas.
Pocket tips when trekking at Kuari Pass and Pangarchulla Peak
Kuari Pass and Pangarchulla Peak are two different trekking destinations. The best time to conquer Pangarchulla is around the end of March - early May because the snow is still thick, making it easier to climb. Kuari Pass can be visited in all four seasons. To fully explore both destinations, Ngoc Bao chose April.
Pangarchulla is located at an altitude of about 4600 m. Trekking this route should exercise and learn about altitude sickness symptoms to make the trip safer. The journey from Delhi - Josimath (the starting point of the trek) is about 500 km including the pass, so if you get carsick, you should consider it. Besides, you should prepare a thermos bottle that is both light and good because on cold trekking days, Ngoc Bao's water bag was frozen.
The weather here is quite harsh, sunny during the day, but cold wind, especially at the top of the pass.
"The most difficult thing is probably the food. In India, they don't eat beef or pork, and the dishes are quite simple, and the taste is quite difficult for Vietnamese people to eat. Luckily, my group members and I brought a suitcase of Vietnamese food all the way up the mountain," Ngoc Bao said.
Kuari Pass is a moderate, easy trek for beginners to the Himalayas while Pangarchulla is more physically demanding and challenging. And you should definitely prepare anti-altitude medicine before the trip.
The weather here is quite harsh, the sun is bright during the day, but the wind is cold, especially at the top of the pass. At night, it is cold below zero. Therefore, bring thick warm clothes, gloves, socks... to keep your body warm, and comfortably participate in trekking activities. Besides, remember to bring moisturizer, sunscreen, lip balm, UV-blocking sunglasses, heat-retaining patches...
The snow-white scenery covering the majestic mountains brings countless interesting experiences to every soul who loves adventure and discovery.
Schedule:
Day 1: Travel Delhi - Rishikesh - Josimath
Day 2: Josimath - Tugasi - Khullara
Day 3: Khullara - Kuari Pass - Khullara
Day 4: Khullara - Pangarchulla - Tali
Day 5: Tali - Auli Ski Resort - Josimath
Day 6: Josimath - Rishikesh
Day 7: Rishikesh - Delhi - Ho Chi Minh City.
