Views of the snow-capped Pir Panjal range and Mt. Kailash, the highest peak in a subsidiary range between the Dhaula Dhar and the Pir Panjal. Sacred to Hindus as Lord Shiva’s resting place, accompanies you as you pass the 4,453 meter-high Indrahar Pass and descend into the Chamba valley.
McLeod Ganj is home to a strong Tibetan population, which arrived in 1959 with the Dalai Lama. There is a sightseeing trip planned for the afternoon for those who desire to participate; alternatively, you are free to explore the town or visit Church of St. John in the Wilderness at Forsyth Gunj or rest at the hotel.
After breakfast, you quickly leave the hustle and activity of McLeod Ganj and begin a gentle rise through pine and rhododendron woodland until you reach Triund and camp on a meadow with views of the Dhaula-Dhar range above and the Kangra valley below. The Dhaula-Dhar rises to around 16,500 feet/5,029 meters, and several of its peaks are yet unclimbed. Follow a woodland route that gradually ascends to Ilaqua Got / Laka, which is located at the base of the Indrahar pass.
An early start as you climb to the 14,501ft/4,420m Indrahar pass, a rigorous six-hour hike with a packed lunch along the route. This is a historic trading route for tea, sugar, salt, and fabric that is frequently covered in snow. It offers excellent views of the central Himalaya and Kailash’s pointed summit (18,556ft/5,656m). (Please keep in mind that, while this Kailash is a sacred peak in the area, it is not the same as the famed Mount Kailash in Tibet.) Carved stairs ascend the final 300 feet to the pass’s summit, where there is a temple to the Goddess Durga. After a four-hour slow descent, you arrive at Chhata and set up a tent along a creek.
You descend through the wild area with the possibility to see wildlife, pass intermediate peaks, continue the trail through heavy woodland, and drop into the Chamba Valley. Camp at Kuarsi, a Gaddi village. Shepherds love Kuarsi for its Shiva shrine. The temple is on a pilgrimage route and has been converted into an ashram where pilgrims may relax and sleep.
Following a rhododendron-rich woodland track, you cross a mountain before descending the Ravi River via farmed fields, apple orchards, and tiny hamlets. You arrive at the road head of Machetar to begin your cab journey along the banks of the Ravi River.