Himalayan winter treks are truly nature’s gift to mankind. Even the toughest of trails feels like a walk in paradise, thanks to the majestic snow-covered landscape. Below are seven winter treks in India that you must do in the upcoming winter.

September is the month when you should start planning your winter trek. It is wise to choose from the best winter treks in India as early as possible, so that you can decide on dates and book your flight tickets at a reasonable price. An early decision helps you prepare physically and mentally for the snow trek.

Use this guide to make a wise choice among the top winter treks in India. Do not miss the pro tips mentioned along with the trek information.

Top 8 Winter Treks to do in the Himalayas

Not all winter treks are snow treks, as India offers a variety of landscapes in different regions. While one can choose from winter treks in Himachal Pradesh, other regions like Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Pune and Chattisgarh also offer mesmerising options for trekking in the winter.

It is obvious that winter treks in the Himalayas are completely different from winter treks in Maharashtra. However, both regions offer equal opportunities to enjoy and soak in the beauty of nature while simultaneously learning from your surroundings. Here are the seven best winter treks you can do in the winter season.

Also, check out our winter camp for children.

Dayara Bugyal

Duration: 6 days (Including travel to and from the basecamp)

The snow-laden meadows of Dayara on a winter trek. Picture by Ravi Ranjan

This is a trek I love simply because it’s such a relaxing climb and yet gives you such grand returns. You never expect such views and experiences on such an easy trek! Dayara Bugyal Trek is one of the best winter treks in Uttarakhand, thanks to the meadows blanketed in shimmering white snow. It feels like an unending snow trek!

Protip: Given the ease of the climb, it is one of the easiest winter treks for beginners and family groups. But don’t let that stop you if you are an experienced trekker—you can go on this trek ten times and you won’t tyre. I would also recommend it to those who have already seen it in another season. It’s a completely different trek in the winter.

Brahmatal Trek

The frozen lake of Brahmatal. Picture by Devang Thapliyal

Most of the staff at Indiahikes love winter treks. Brahmatal is our co-founder Sandhya’s favourite trek. When she went last year, she stood at the summit with a riveting view of two of the most celebrated mountains—Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti. She also saw the entire Roopkund trail laid out before her—literally a bird’s-eye view. I would highly recommend reading this personal note she wrote after her Brahmatal trek to get an idea. It is one of the perfect winter treks in India when it comes to mountain views.

Brahmatal vs Dayara Bugyal: Which is a better snow trek?

Protip: It is one of the best winter treks in the Himalayas. So, choose this if you want a grand snow experience. Most trekkers come back raving about the snow here. Also, be physically prepared because it has some good climbs.

Deoriatal – Chandrashila Trek

3. Deoriatal – Chandrashila Winter Trek

Trekking to the summit of Chandrashila in winter. Picture by Satyen Dasgupta

Once popular as one of the best winter treks in India, Deoriatal-Chandrashila witnessed a fall in its popularity when the forest department closed some crucial campsites in the recent past. However, winter treks with Indiahikes can never be dull, so we have found new alternative campsites on this grand snow trek.

The trail, of course, remains charming with its vibrant forests, the lake and the climb to the Tungnath temple and Chandrashila summit.

Protip: This trek gives a highly unfair reward for the amount of effort you put in. You get to see almost all the most magnificent peaks in the Indian Himalayas, including Mt. Nanda Devi, India’s highest summit. You get the real experience of winter treks in Uttarakhand, thanks to the never-ending blanket of snow. If the dates suit you, don’t think twice; just go for it.

Kedarkantha

The oak and pine forest on the Kedarkantha trek. Picture by Boppaditya Chandra

Do I need to introduce this trek? This trek exploded in terms of popularity when we opened it up in winter 2011. Since the beginning, Kedarkantha has been among the most popular winter treks. It has endeared campsites and a thrilling summit climb, which makes it one of the most difficult winter treks in India. 

Most trekkers treat it as a bucket list trek, and they’re completely justified because it’s not every day you come across such a perfect winter trek. Here's everything you need to know about Kedarkantha trek.

Protip: We are doing this trek from the Kotgaon route and not from Sankri. This new trail is isolated and it bypasses the crowd. I have to say it is a lot prettier than the older route as well.

Sandakphu – Phalut

Duration: 7 days (Including travel to and from the basecamp)

Molley campsite on Sandakphu Phalut trek in a winter setting. Picture by Dwaipayan Purkait 

If you are not interested in winter treks in Himachal or Uttarakhand, then Sandakphu – Phalut in West Bengal can be the best choice for trekking in the winter. It offers you a strong cultural experience. You get a peek into what the Nepali trekking culture is like. It’s a trek on the border of India and Nepal, constantly weaving in and out of the two countries (feels very international, I tell you!). It feels as if you are doing one of the winter treks in Nepal.

While it’s difficult to do other Nepal winter treks, this one gives you views of four of the tallest mountains in the world—Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu and Mt. Kanchenjunga with moderate climb. No other trek gives you that.

Protip: Not many trekkers know this, but on this trek, you stay in tea houses for a few days, and you also get the Indiahikes camping experience for two days. It’s a great way to experience the best of both worlds. The snow on this trek will give you the feel of winter treks in Kashmir, Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh. So do keep that in mind. 

Kuari Pass

The summit push to Kuari pass. Picture by Anshuman Kumar

Looking for one of the easy winter treks in India? This should be your choice. Irrespective of you being a seasoned trekker or a beginner the Kuari Pass is a snow trek you need to do. It is a must-do for the views of some of India’s most celebrated mountains – Mt. Nanda Devi (25,673 feet) and Mt. Dronagiri (23,182 feet) – in any season.

Protip: In winter, there is an added attraction. The snow in its almost perfectly crafted forests. Snowflakes settled on the Oak leaves above a white carpeted forest floor take you instantly to the land which would be Santa Claus’ envy. All this gives you an unmatched winter trekking experience in the Himalayas!

Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

A bliss of walking along the Gopat river. Picture by Nitesh Kumar

While most winter treks in India are situated in the Himalayas, this one goes through the heart of the dense jungles of Chhattisgarh.

It’s hard for the jungles to not set your imagination ablaze. The jungles constantly transport you to the mysterious world of the jungle book. As you trek to the jungle, you feel the omnipresence of wildlife and tribal life as well. For every trekker, this trek is a must-do.

Manali Kaisdhar Hike

On the Manali Kaisdhar hike, you hike in the best forests of Manali. Photo by Akhil Sharma

At Indiahikes, we want everyone to trek because trekking transforms lives. However, for everyone to trek we need treks that can be done by everyone. 

On the Manali Kaisdhar Hike, the trails are short and flat. There are hardly any tricky sections to navigate. And the best part is that it requires no preparation and can be done by anyone.

The rewards you get out of the Manali Kaisdhar hike are much greater than the effort you put in. In just four days, you get a chance to immerse yourself in nature. You walk in the deep woods dominated by dense coniferous trees, come across a waterfall, walk to the ridge: the highest point of the trek, and get a glimpse of the culture of remote Himalayan villages. If that’s not enough, you are treated to stunning views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges.  

As we come to an end to this list of seven winter treks, we recommend you to explore at least one this year. To enjoy a grand snow experience, you can plan your winter treks in December or any other month till the end of March.

For a hassle-free experience, choose from the list of upcoming treks and book your winter trek with Indiahikes.

If you need help making a decision, drop in a comment below. 

What are some of the most popular winter treks in India at the moment?

Some of the most popular winter treks in India include the Kuari Pass Trek, the Kedarkantha Trek, the Chopta Chandrashila Trek and the Sandakphu Trek. While all these treks are easy for beginners and family groups, Indiahikes offers necessary guidance and helps you prepare mentally and physically for your winter trek.

Which are the best winter treks in India for beginners?

Dayara Bugyal and Brahmatal are among the easy-to-moderate winter treks for beginners. Both of these Uttarakhand treks are equally rewarding, as they offer vast meadows blanketed in shimmering white snow in winter. From Brahmatal summit, you get a view of majestic mountains like Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti.

Here are some of the best winter treks in the Indian Himalayas. Go through the list now and plan your next winter trek with Indiahikes!

8 Best Winter Treks in India (December, January and February)

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Today, I want to talk to you about how to time your winter trek correctly. 

Talking to trekkers every day, I notice them making two wrong assumptions about trekking in winter: 

They believe that winter starts and ends in December 

They believe winter to be a uniform season from start to finish

Firstly, winter starts in early December and lasts all the way until mid-March. December is the mere beginning of winter. Real winter sets in only in January and February! 

Secondly, there is an incredible transition in the landscape from the beginning of winter to the end. So dramatic is the transition that you’ll not believe it is the same season! 

Here’s an example shot: Both of them were shot in the winter.

The Pukhrola Campsite on the Kedarkantha trek, before and after snow. Picture by Nitesh Kumar.

So whether you want to see a dusting of snow or massive fields of snow, or you want to experience snowfall, or even if you want to see no snow, I’ll help you plan your trek correctly. 

1. To experience the onset of snow, minus the difficulties of winter: Early December to mid-December

Many trekkers believe that winter starts late in December. But that’s not true. 

Our co-founder, Sandhya UC, says, “We start experiencing extremely cold winds in the mountains right from November. There’s a layer of frost every morning. This usually melts away within an hour. But post sundown, it gets as cold as winter, minus the snow. By the middle of November, we get the first dustings of snowfall. They melt quickly, but a bit sticks as well. The upper reaches of our treks start accumulating more snow.”

From early December to mid-December is when the mountains usually receive the first snow. It is usually a mild dusting of snow that melts away within a day or two, but it does not melt totally. A bit stays on the ground. But if you get to experience this first winter snow, it’s extremely special. You see a magical sight of white as well as golden. 

A few benefits of trekking from early December to mid-December: 

There are high chances of experiencing the first winter snow

You get terrific, clear skies and crisp mountain views. Following October and November, this is the best time for stargazing and astrophotography

This season has the highest trek-completion success rate compared to the rest of winter.

The temperatures are not as harsh as the rest of winter

A slight dusting of snow in early December at the Khorurai campsite of Brahmatal. Photo by Nitesh Kumar

2. A light layer of snow, with chances of 1-2 snowfalls - mid-December to end of December

This is by far the most popular winter trekking time. It's the holiday season when most trekkers in the country end up in the mountains. 

Frankly, if I were you, I would choose the seasons before and after this to trek. Unruly crowds often destroy the serenity of the mountains. Popular treks like Kedarkantha and Brahmatal see a footfall as high as 1000 trekkers per day.

If you ignore the crowd, though, there are some lovely things about trekking between mid-December and the end of December. 

Benefits of trekking from mid-December to the end of December: 

There are at least 1-2 Western disturbances bringing in snowfall this season.

With dropping temperatures, this snow doesn’t melt away easily. It forms a light layer of snow. 

Ankle deep snow makes for lovely snow-walks. 

The chances of completing the trek are still high, compared to January and February


From mid-December to end of December, expect around ankle-deep snow, that is if India has a good snowfall in December. Picture by Praveen Kumar

3. The Big Snow Season - January, February, until mid-March 

Now this is when real winter sets in. Jan, Feb, and until mid-March are what we term the “Big Snow Season” at Indiahikes. This is when luxuriant blankets of snow cover most Himalayan treks. 

With at least 3-4 more Western disturbances and plummeting temperatures, the deposit of snow increases from ankle-deep to knee-deep to waist-deep and sometimes even chest-deep in sections! 

For trekkers who are craving to experience snow, this is the most delightful time of the winter to trek. Right from Day 1, when you’re in the forests, you see fairy-tale-like snowy settings. The boughs of trees are beautifully laden with snow. The treetops are drizzled with frost. As you climb higher, you see meadows and clearings covered in a vast white blanket. The ground below you is a soft, powdery carpet. Our camps are usually in the heart of this snow deposit.

Frankly, most winter photos of Himalayan treks that you see are taken in this Big Snow season and not in December.

There are many benefits to trekking in January, February, and mid-March: 

It has the maximum snow deposit compared to all of winter 

There are greater chances of experiencing snowfall 

It has the fewest crowds. You’ll have the mountains all to yourself  

Snow experiences like snow-slides, snowball fights, snow-caves come alive in this season

True, there are 10% chances that heavy snowfall may not allow you to complete the trek. But even that experience is worth it. The fact that you are covered by Indiahikes' Trek Again Policy is a good sweetner. It allows you to repeat your trek later without having to pay us for it. 

The snow deposit on all treks is the highest in the months of Jan and Feb, the Big Snow Season. Picture by Dhaval Jajal shot on the Dayara Bugyal trek

The forests of Dayara Bugyal in winter. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

The frozen Brahmatal Lake in peak winter. Picture by Ashish Bhatt

The Deoriatal Lake in winter, surrounded by snow, with the Chaukhamba massif hiding behind the clouds. Photo from Indiahikes archive.

Peak winter in Kedarkantha is a challenging experience. But every bit of effort rewards you manifold. Picture by Bappaditya Chandra.

The oak forests of Kuari Pass covered in snow. Picture by Sandhya UC

Sandakphu is one of those few trails where you have the luxury of staying in a warm tea house despite the chilly weather outside. Picture of the Molley camp by Dwaipayan Purkait.

Bonus: The Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek in Winter

Finally, I have a very special winter trek for you. Every trekker who has been here has come out loving the experience! I'm talking about the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek. 

This is among those rare treks that you'll come across only once in your lifetime. Everything about it is unique — dense forests reminiscent of The Jungle Book, an entire day's walk through a beachy river, caves with inscriptions that date back thousands of years... 

If you're looking for an exotic experience this winter, then plan a trek to Chhattisgarh. This deep-dive video (an interview with our founder) on the trek will give you some rare inside information about this trek.

That brings me to the end of this email. It’s already October, and most of our popular winter treks are getting full quickly. So plan soon. 

If you have any doubts, please feel free to comment below. I’m here to personally help you out. 

An expert guide on how to time your winter trek between December 2023 and February 2024

Winter Treks In  India - Best Winter Treks For Beginners To See Snow - How To Time Your Trek

The past few days have been some of the most harrowing at Indiahikes. Not just at Indiahikes, but for everyone affected by the heavy rains, floods, and landslides in Himachal Pradesh.

Over one hundred fifty of our trekkers were stranded on treks. Roaring rivers had torn apart bridges and eaten into connecting roads. Without crossing these rivers, there was no way for our trekkers to return. 

This is the story of how these trekkers were rescued from three such treks -- Beas Kund, Pin Bhaba Pass and Hampta Pass.

Our team members have been narrating extraordinary stories to us ever since they returned. 

There are no fanciful airlifts or heli-rescues in their stories. No airdropping of supplies. No rescue forces rushed to their aid. It's the story of the hard realities of mountain rescues in our country, where the geography of the Himalayas does not allow the luxuries of filmy style rescue missions.

All these rescues were done without electricity, mobile connectivity, or external food supplies, and amidst continuous rain. Our mountain teams have pulled off something heroic with minimal supplies. This is their story.

Here's a glimpse of what went into evacuating trekkers from these three treks. 

Beas Kund: Where trekkers were not airlifted, they were JCB-lifted!

Nithyam Nachappa, Trek Leader with Indiahikes, was stationed at our base camp in Manali when the rains began. When we realised that trekkers could not move from their campsites because of the swollen Beas river, Nithyam, along with a rescue team from Indiahikes, headed out to bring trekkers down. He shares the story of how two teams of trekkers were evacuated from the Beas Kund trek. 

“Who would've imagined that a trek like Beas Kund could be so troublesome?” he begins.

“One of the challenges of Beas Kund was that, we, at Manali Base, had no information about the condition of 37 trekkers, 3 trek leaders, and our kitchen team at Beas Kund Trek. This made us anxious.

On July 10, the decision was made to form a team to evacuate both Hampta and Beas trekkers. I, along with Raju Seth, Harsh Mohan, Anuj, and Jugnu, started from Sarsai (our Manali Base) along with some technical equipment. 

The entire journey to Dhundi threw many curve balls at us. As the roads were blocked at multiple locations, we walked, changed vehicles, and walked again. When we thought we would finally reach Palchan within a few kilometres, the vehicle got stuck in wet soil at Shanag, near Burua. The tyre was stuck and refused to move. We decided that we would walk to Palchan. We moved to Palchani and found our local coordinator from Manali, Arjun Thakur, already there. (Arjun helps Indiahikes arrange guides, transportation and mules for Beas Kund and Bhrigu Lake treks)

Vignesh was on the other side of the river, constantly coming down from Dhundi to check the flow of the stream. He must've come at least 10 times for this. 

The mighty Beas River had washed off the entire bridge and the road that we use to come to this side of the road. 

Aniket’s (Trek Leader) team was stuck at Lohali, the second camp, for two nights, and Sahil’s (Trek Leader) team was at Dhundi, the first camp. 

The entire camp was flooded; sleeping bags were wet; tents were wet; and streams were overflowing. The water was entering the kitchen tent and the dining tent. Nala bana bana ke thak gayi team. 

We didn't want trekkers to stay there another night. Also, the rain had reduced to a mild drizzle, so it was safe to come down. 

But how could we bring trekkers across the river—a JCB?

When we reached Palchani, we saw the river flow, and it was horrible. At first, we decided we would build a Tyrolean traverse. But we did not have a proper base, and sadly, the length of the rope was not sufficient for the swollen river. 

But then an odd idea struck. We spotted a JCB near the river. What if we ferried trekkers across the river on a JCB?

Arjun Thakur spoke to the JCB person, but the person refused to help, saying it was risky to do it without permission from their engineer. 

I decided to approach him again. I literally begged him and somehow convinced him to start the JCB and ferry trekkers. A lot of calculation and planning went into this decision. We considered all safety factors and felt it was safe and possibly the only option we had.

We took a call to descend both trekking teams on the same day. They all reached the Dhundi camp. 

Just as we started our mission, we noticed the JCB was extremely unstable in the water. The river was so furious that even an 8 tonne machine was shaking. 

We immediately decided to abort the mission. 

Now, we had 37 trekkers near the stream. We had no tents, sleeping bags, or enough food. We decided to move the entire team to the power house (it's a huge concrete structure) close to where they were. 

At around 8 p.m., we built a Tyrolean traverse across the river. We had always seen supplies being airdropped in such emergency situations. This time, we had to send all supplies across the river in a traverse. 

In the dark, amidst rain, the teams on both sides did a fantastic job! Trekkers lent a hand too. 38 sleeping bags, mats, blankets, and tents went across the river to the trekkers. 

Meanwhile, the kitchen team cooked at Dhundi and sent down the food to trekkers at night. Incredible effort by the kitchen team, guides, and trek leaders. The rescue team that had left from Manali returned to Arjun’s place at 12 a.m. and rested for the night. 

The next day, we would attempt the JCB-ferrying again in the early hours when the water level would be lower. 

The next day, we arrived at the spot by 6:15 a.m.

After the JCB and trekkers arrived, our attempt began at 8 a.m. This time, albeit with a little difficulty, the JCB could get onto the other side of the river! What a relief it was! 

It took two nervous hours, but all our trekkers were evacuated safely. We immediately moved them all to a safe place where they could eat breakfast.

In hindsight, in my career, I have never seen a team work so selflessly and efficiently to make something possible. Our three trek leaders, Aniket, Sahil, and Vignesh, showed great teamwork. At no point did they let trekkers face any difficulty. The PFA was on point, and trekkers were joyful. They felt safe, were happy, and had zero complaints or any kind of trouble. I don't know how they managed this. 

A lot happened on the same day. After we evacuated the trekkers, we brought down all the camps and our kitchen team as well. 

For those of you who don't know Arjun, he is our transport coordinator, and he's been with us for many years. Without him and his family, this wouldn't have been possible. From arranging logistics to provisions to technical equipment, he was on his toes day and night. I cannot tell you all how many times we drove back and forth for many things. He must've driven his Jeep for at least 10 hours in a day. Hats off to him and his team of drivers. 

I am very grateful to the JCB driver (Sushil), without whom this wouldn't have been possible. Patiently, he drove, navigated through the gushing Beas River, and rescued all trekkers safely. A hearty thanks to him and his team.

Harshu, Raju Seth, Anuj, Jugnu and the Beas Kund team—nothing seems to shake them. "Aaj toh team ko neeche lakar hi rahenge" was their chant throughout. Not to forget the base team for superb coordination throughout. 

Pin Bhaba Pass — where trekkers were stuck at Mulling for four days, surviving on bare minimum

When the weather turned bad at the Mulling campsite of the Pin Bhaba Pass trek, Trek Leader Lay Naik decided to use the buffer day to stay put. Little did he know that this decision would save his team from the unprecedented deluge that was to follow.This is how the situation unfolded. 


On July 8, our trekkers went from Kafnu to Mulling, the first campsite on the Pin Bhaba Pass trek. It was the first day of their trek. The rain was mild, but not so much as to bother trekkers. 

On reaching their first campsite, however, they noticed that the water level in the Bhaba River was rising. 

“That same night we received heavy, incessant rainfall. The level of the river had now visibly increased,” Lay recalls. 

Day 2 at Mulling: Deluge of the Bhaba river

The next morning, the situation had worsened. At Kafnu, Trek Leader Diptarka Gupta was witnessing a deluge of massive proportions. 

“I saw buildings getting washed away in the river. Vehicles, roads—they were all floating in the river. We were witnessing landslides, small or large, around our base camp. One bridge near our base camp got washed away. Two of the bridges on the way to Mulling from Kafnu were underwater,” Diptarka shares. 

Meanwhile, at Mulling, the team woke up to heavy rainfall. They had a crucial decision to make.

“We had to decide whether to go forward or stay at Mulling. I saw that the river was dangerously overflowing at the crossing. It wouldn’t be possible for the mules to cross this. So after assessing the situation thoroughly, I decided to take a safety call. We stayed back at Mulling for another day,” Lay says.

The Bhaba River had swollen to three times its usual size. It spilled over its banks, taking with it full-grown trees that came in the way. 

To gauge the situation, Lay and his team began exploring the area around Mulling. 

“We climbed a small hill nearby and spotted many ice chunks in the river, indicating it wasn't just another day of rainfall. By the evening of July 9th, the flow of the river had further increased. We could see boulders in the river sinking. New streams and waterfalls had sprouted in the valley around us,” Lay shares. 

Then the worst began to happen. Tents started to get wet from the inside.

Lay knew staying in wet tents wasn’t an option. So he moved the trekkers into the dining tent. It felt safer. 

On the night of July 9th, the Indiahikes team and 10 trekkers slept in the dining tent.

Day 3 at Mulling - Moving out of the tents

On the morning of July 10th, there was no rainfall for the first 45 minutes. It prompted Lay to set out on a reconnaissance to ascertain if it would be possible to descend to Kafnu.

“We had no idea of the situation at Kafnu. Then one of our guides showed us the reality of Kafnu—a video of utter destruction. The river was in a state of spate. It was clear that we could not move to Kafnu,” Lay shares.

It was a novel situation for the trek leader. It was still raining heavily. Staying in tents, too, no longer looked feasible. What now? Everyone looked to Lay to make the right decision. 

Luckily, there was a forest rest house at Mulling, built of concrete and tin.

“So on July 10th, we decided to shift the trekkers to the shelter. It was safer than our tents in such a rainstorm. It also lifted the morale of the trekkers. They got busy moving the equipment and their personal luggage,” Lay shares.

For another night, the team stayed put at Mulling.

By July 11, another challenge had emerged. The provisions (which were meant for a day or two) were depleting. Lay realised that staying put at Mulling wasn’t an option. Soon they would be left with no food. He began thinking of other options. 

Meanwhile, a different scene was unfolding at Kafnu.

Diptarka was constantly receiving updates from the Bengaluru office. He also got to know that further up the trail, near Karah, there was a cloudburst. Some locals were trapped there. More than 250 of their sheep were washed away in the deluge. 

To rescue the locals, the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) was starting on a mission from Kafnu. They were accompanied by the local police and two Indiahikes guides, Libro and Robin. 

Hopes rose, but soon grim realities surfaced. 

“When the NDRF team reached Mulling, they relayed that it would be difficult to bring our trekkers down unless the rain subsided,” Diptarka recalls. 

At Mulling, it was becoming clearer to Lay that time was running out. 

By this time, the NDRF had also confirmed that they could help our trekkers only after rescuing the locals. This meant waiting for a major part of the next day, July 12th. Waiting for so long was not an option. 

After assessing the situation and ensuring all safety measures were in place, Lay decided to descend without the NDRF team. He began preparing the team. 

“I outlined the challenging sections on the way back. There were two stream crossings over the violent Bhaba river and a steep forest section on the way back to Kafnu,” says Lay. All trekkers took stock of the situation and were soon up for the descent.

On July 11th, the team at Mulling retired for the night with a clear plan of action for the next day. Wake up at 5 a.m., get ready by 6 a.m., and start to descend by 7 a.m.

Day 5 - Team reaches Kafnu after crossing three dangerous sections!

“We managed to cross both streams within the first 1.5 hours of our trek. It was not easy. Everyone held hands and supported each other against the strong flow of the Bhaba River. 

Then we reached the tricky forest section. There was no route! Our guide, Uttam, had already conducted a recce of this section. We knew it was risky. So with six members from the Indiahikes team, we fortified the trail, standing like a wall to safeguard our trekkers in case of any slips,” Lay shares. 

Further down the trail was a bridge that trekkers had to use to reach Kafnu. The condition of this bridge was unknown. Was it stable? The team waited for Diptarka’s confirmation. 

“To our luck, we got a green signal from Diptarka. We started heading towards the bridge. On the way, we saw massive destruction caused by the Bhaba River. It was fearsome to see how a river that we love so dearly on a regular day, can wreak such havoc in no time. Nevertheless, after trekking for 8 long hours, we finally managed to reach the other side of the river,” Lay shares.

This entire episode of being stranded at Mulling and then trekking back from Mulling to Kafnu was harrowing. But Lay felt grateful to his team and to his trekkers. He mentions how beautifully the team rose to the challenges. 

“I would like to appreciate our kitchen team. They made sure that no matter what the condition, our trekkers got the best food. It provided a lot of psychological comfort. 

On the last day, when the mules couldn’t go, the kitchen team carried the offloaded backpacks and cloakroom bags on their backs. 

I also want to appreciate our guides, Uttam bhai, and the technical guides, Libro and Robin, who provided extra help in tricky sections,” he says.

Lay is also grateful to his fellow Trek leader, Sindhu Sharma, “In the whole 5 days, I can't imagine how I could have navigated without Sindhu’s help. There were times when I was mentally exhausted. Sindhu made sure to step up in those moments. Not just that, but I always had a person with whom I could discuss everything. It helped me make better decisions. She had my back all the time!” he says.

Hampta Pass: Where three teams of trekkers were stranded across a raging river without a bridge 

Our Slope Manager, Abhishek Tiwari, shared a candid message about the Hampta Pass rescue mission on our internal WhatsApp group. He was stationed at Manali, the basecamp of three different treks (Hampta Pass, Beas Kund, and Bhrigu Lake). Here, he shares what happened behind the scenes to bring trekkers safely back to Manali.

“What a week it was!” he begins. “On July 9, Umesh Ji and I went to Hampta Pass to help the team stuck at camps. Three teams of trekkers were stuck at Balu Ka Gera, Jwara, and Jobra campsites. 

Within the first ten minutes of the trek, when we had to cross the Jobri Nala (stream), we got a taste of what we were in for. Even as we walked towards the river, we could see the waters rising. But the iron bridge was still intact, and we quickly crossed it. 

We reached the Jobra camp, spoke to the trekking team that was stationed there, and decided to evacuate them. They began to get ready to move down. 

Meanwhile, we went a little ahead to see the next stream, Chika Nala, and take stock of the situation. Here, the bridge was completely washed off. We took the decision to evacuate the Jwara and the Balu Ka Ghera teams the very next day. We could not wait any longer. For now, they were safe at their camps. 

3 rescue stories from Himachal - Extraordinary stories of how the Indiahikes team rescued 300 plus trekkers from the Manali floods

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