Here's why the New Rupin Pass Itinerary from Jiskun is Better for Trekkers

Here's why the New Rupin Pass Itinerary from Jiskun is Better for Trekkers

Category On Himalayan Treks Expert Opinion

By Suhas Saya

2021-01-11

We have an important update for you about your trek to Rupin Pass. There’s a change to the Rupin Pass Trek itinerary. 

We are now starting the trek from Shimla and not from Dehradun

The base camp of the trek has shifted to Jiskun, from the earlier Dhaula. The trekking days have reduced by two, because now we have direct road access to Jiskun. (Jiskun is in Himachal Pradesh)

Before we get to your new itinerary, we want to tell you why we made this change. 

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Why the new itinerary is good for trekkers

  • A road construction between Dodra and Kwar in Himachal Pradesh passes through our trek route near Gosangu. This has killed the trekking experience on the second day of the trek. Day 2 of the trek was becoming a long walk on the dry and dusty road. The road now extends all the way to Bawta (lower Jiskun, almost upto our base camp).
  • The earlier base camp at Dhaula is now infested with horseflies. They come and go, but when they come it is not a good experience. Their bites itch terribly. We were still ok with it, but now with the road extending all the way to lower Jiskun, starting the Rupin Pass trek in Dhaula has stopped making sense. 

The good news is, you don’t miss out on any aspect of the Rupin Pass trek experience — you still get to experience the great forests, the Rupin river and its meandering course, the snow bridges, the ancient villages, and of course, the famous pass crossing. 

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With that, please take a look at your revised itinerary for the Rupin Pass trek. 

Note: The trek is now two days shorter than the original itinerary.

Day 1: Reach Jiskun (7,700 ft); 10-11 hours drive from Shimla. Transport will be organized from Hotel Crystal Palace in Shimla at 6.30 AM. It is a 10-minute walk from the Old Shimla Bus Stand. Cab cost – Rs. 7,000 per vehicle, to be shared and paid by trekkers directly to the driver.

Day 2: Jiskun (7,700 ft) to Udaknal (10,318 ft); 5 hours

Day 3: Udaknal (10,318 ft) to Dhanderas thatch, lower water fall (11,700 ft); 5 hours

Day 4: Acclimatization Day at the lower waterfall (Dhanderas thatch)

Day 5: Dhanderas thatch (11,700 ft) to Upper Waterfall camp (13,385 ft); 2 – 3 hours

Day 6: Upper Waterfall camp (13,385 ft) to Rupin Pass (15,279 ft) via Rati Pheri, further on to Ronti Gad (13,139 ft); 10-11 hours

Day 7: Ronti Gad (13,139 ft) to Sangla (8,776 ft) via Sangla Kanda (11,427 ft); 6 hours.

Please note these important changes to your travel plan:

  • Instead of 9 days, now your Rupin Pass itinerary is 7 days
  • Your base camp is Jiskun (Himachal) and not Dhaula (Uttarakhand).
  • Plan your travel to Shimla and not Dehradun. The best way to reach Shimla is to fly to Chandigarh and then take a bus/taxi to Shimla. Stay overnight at Shimla.
  • The next morning, Indiahikes vehicles will pick you up at 6.30 am from Shimla. 
  • Your return journey remains the same. There is no change. Your trek ends at Sangla, you return to Shimla by shared taxis.

If you have any further doubts, just drop in a comment. We’ll clarify your doubts. 

A Quick Photo Gallery of Rupin Pass trek

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Rupin pass, Lower waterfall Photo by Nikita Pathare

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Picture by Jothiranjan

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Photo by Jothiranjan

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Picture by Jothiranjan

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Photo by Jothiranjan

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Picture by Jothiranjan

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Suhas Saya

Head of DIY & Explorations Team

About the author

Suhas is the head of the Experience Coordinator's team and the Documentation Team. He has been working at Indiahikes for the past 5 years. He graduated as an engineer and corporate offices never excited him as much as the great outdoors! Nature, adventure, and wildlife are the top things that get his heart racing. He has done more than 12 Himalayan treks - a few of them are Roopkund, Dayara Bugyal, Buran Ghati, Kuari Pass, Kashmir Great Lakes, Warwan Valley, Ranthan Kharak.

He likes the opportunity to explore treks. He has done a few explorations in the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, and around Bengaluru. He explored the Phulara Ridge trek, which is a much-loved trek today!

Besides trekking, his interest lies in playing the guitar, learning about birds, insects, and snakes!

Write to him at suhas@indiahikes.com to get in touch with him.