New Groups Opened to our latest Ranthan Kharak trek in Kumaon
New Groups Opened to our latest Ranthan Kharak trek in Kumaon

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

4 days

Highest Altitude

12,185 ft

Age

8 to 62 years

Duration

4 days

Age

8 to 62 years

Difficulty

Moderate

Highest Altitude

12,185 ft

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Chandrakhani Pass Trek

There is an interesting story about the Chandrakhani Pass. In ancient times, the presiding God of Malana, God Jamlu was carrying all the gods in a pot on this route. He opened the basket full of Gods on top of the Chandrakhani pass. A strong wind blew the gods away and they settled in various spots in the valley. Which is why even now the Kullu valley is called the valley of gods.

Chandrakhani pass is not a new trek in Indian trekking circles. Along with the ancient stories of Naggar (where the trek starts) and the village with strange customs, Malana (where the trek ends), this route is one of the most trekked on in India. 

This trek is a cultural treasure for those who want to know more about the Kullu Valley. The villages, the architecture, the people, costume and culture is a living history book. The trek is also an ancient sphederd’s trail. So don’t be surprised to find hundreds of sheep herded by a shepherd on your trail. The many shepherd huts on the way are good rest points. Some may even offer you tea! 

The trek is also known for the beauty of its forests on either side.It lifts trekkers spirit with joy. The forests are cool, dark and throws in a lot of variety. At times you are under deodar trees, at others you have maples over you, then oaks. The forests have almost been crafted for whistling through them. The smell of the woods is always with you.

Once outside the tree line, the grasslands of the upper Kullu valley is a delightful trek. If you have a clear sky the views of both the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges dominate the horizon. 

Finally, the ridge walk to the summit is rare. In none of our treks do we have a ridge walk, almost like walking on a cornice to the summit (in this case the pass). The wind on the summit ridge can be strong, yet the adventurous thrill of getting to the pass is high. The view on all sides is astounding.

We do not take the direct sharp descent from the pass to Malana. Instead, we go further ahead to the Dadru forest area and camp there. 

The Chandrakhani pass has a lot of history, culture and stories around it. Trekkers have yet another terrific trek to do in July-August in Himachal Pradesh. 

Quick Itinerary

Day 1

 Drive from Manali to Rumsu. Trek from Rumsu to Naya Tapru

Drive Distance: 28 km | Drive Duration:  1 hour | Trek Distance:  6 km | Trek Duration:  6 hours | Altitude Gain:  6,745 ft to 10,430 ft

The pick-up is from Rambaugh Circle, Manali and will leave at 8.00 AM. The cab fare is not included in the trek fee. It is to be shared by trekkers and paid directly to the driver. Trek to Naya Tapru campsite (6 hours trek).

Day 2

Trek from Naya Tapru to Chaklani 

Trek Distance: 2.5 km  | Trek Duration: 2.5 hours | Altitude Gain: 10,430 ft to 11,368 ft

Day 3

Trek from Chaklani to Nagruni via Chandrakhani Pass

Trek Distance:  9.2 km  | Trek Duration: 9 hours  | Altitude Gain/Loss: 11,368 ft to 11,145 ft via 12,185 ft

Day 4

Trek from Nagruni to Malana via Magic valley. Drive back to Manali

Trek Distance:  3.6 km  | Trek Duration:  3 hours  | Altitude Loss:  11,145 ft to 8,260 ft

IMPORTANT POINTS

- It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a copy of their photo ID for entry at forest check posts on the trek.

- On the trek, you will be staying 3 in a tent on all days.

- We have a cloakroom facility at the base camp for excess luggage. Do not leave behind any valuables in the cloakroom.

Please note: Twin-sharing tents may not be available in May, June, July and August. This is because raw materials for making tents are sourced from different countries. But their export has been affected due to international unrest. This has led to a global shortage of tents. Having said that, you'll still have comfortable space as these tents have been designed to accommodate three trekkers.

PRO-TIPS

Onward Travel

Start from Rambaugh Circle, Manali by 8.00 AM. The pick up will be arranged by us. The cost of this is not included in the trek fee. It is to be shared by trekkers and paid directly to the driver.

Return Travel

On the last day, you have a 5 hours drive. The cost of transport from Malana to Manali to be shared by trekkers and paid directly to the driver.

Day 1

 Drive from Manali to Rumsu. Trek from Rumsu to Naya Tapru

Drive Distance: 28 km | Drive Duration:  1 hour | Trek Distance:  6 km | Trek Duration:  6 hours | Altitude Gain:  6,745 ft to 10,430 ft

The pick-up is from Rambaugh Circle, Manali and will leave at 8.00 AM. The cab fare is not included in the trek fee. It is to be shared by trekkers and paid directly to the driver. Trek to Naya Tapru campsite (6 hours trek).

Day 2

Trek from Naya Tapru to Chaklani 

Trek Distance: 2.5 km  | Trek Duration: 2.5 hours | Altitude Gain: 10,430 ft to 11,368 ft

Day 3

Trek from Chaklani to Nagruni via Chandrakhani Pass

Trek Distance:  9.2 km  | Trek Duration: 9 hours  | Altitude Gain/Loss: 11,368 ft to 11,145 ft via 12,185 ft

Day 4

Trek from Nagruni to Malana via Magic valley. Drive back to Manali

Trek Distance:  3.6 km  | Trek Duration:  3 hours  | Altitude Loss:  11,145 ft to 8,260 ft

IMPORTANT POINTS

- It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a copy of their photo ID for entry at forest check posts on the trek.

- On the trek, you will be staying 3 in a tent on all days.

- We have a cloakroom facility at the base camp for excess luggage. Do not leave behind any valuables in the cloakroom.

Please note: Twin-sharing tents may not be available in May, June, July and August. This is because raw materials for making tents are sourced from different countries. But their export has been affected due to international unrest. This has led to a global shortage of tents. Having said that, you'll still have comfortable space as these tents have been designed to accommodate three trekkers.

PRO-TIPS

Onward Travel

Start from Rambaugh Circle, Manali by 8.00 AM. The pick up will be arranged by us. The cost of this is not included in the trek fee. It is to be shared by trekkers and paid directly to the driver.

Return Travel

On the last day, you have a 5 hours drive. The cost of transport from Malana to Manali to be shared by trekkers and paid directly to the driver.

Why I Believe Everyone Must Trek: A Note from the Founder

Trekking transforms lives. It has completely changed my life. When I see my colleagues at Indiahikes, all of them have been impacted greatly. The transformations have been profound and irreversible. 

I see it in our trekkers too. I have seen them change professions, careers or start a new life. I have seen them get in and out of relationships, and start new projects. These are life-changing experiences. 

I have seen children building resilience. I have seen families come together. When I see those above 55, I see them rediscover passion and a sense of purpose. These are not small gains.

In the mountains new professions, new economies and new businesses have opened up. Our staff no longer go to cities to earn their living. Their income has increased. Above all, they are happiest working in this world. Trekking has been truly transformative.  

Everyone must trek. It transforms lives far more than you imagine.

What We Like About the Chandrakhani Pass Trek

1. The mixed forest trail 

The forests on this trek are out of the world. They are dense. The variety surprises you. 

You enter the forest trail as soon as you are out of the Rumsu village. You trek in the deep dense forest filled with pine, deodar and maple trees. Chirping of birds, scent of wood and rustling of leaves makes you feel like you are in a different world altogether. 

Then as you go higher, the rhododendron trees welcome you. An entire section from Naya Tapru to Chaklani dominated by rhododendron trees is a beautiful trail to trek on. 

As this was not enough, the forests on the other side of the pass are equally beautiful. And a pleasant descent under the tall dense tree cover is exactly what you need after a long summit day!

A delightful forest section on the very first day of your trek. Picture by Akshay Kevin

2. The adventurous pass crossing

The pass crossing on Chandrakhani Pass trek is quite an adventurous one. 

On the summit day, you are in for a treat. Unlike any other pass crossing, the summit on this trek is ridge walk. And this ridge walk is not a short one. It’s almost 3 km long! 

Walking on a ridge at 11,800 ft is not easy. But, Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges keep you company. Astounding views of Kullu and Manali region take your breath away. 

To experience this high altitude ridge walk alone, this trek is a must do. 

The Chandrakhani pass. It's an adventurous climb from Chaklani, all the way to the pass. Picture by Akshay Kevin

3. The stunning mountain views

The Chandrakhani Pass trek is known for mountain views. 

Not just on the summit day, you start witnessing stunning snow capped mountains from the very first campsite. You see Mt Hanuman Tibba, Friendship Peak, Indrasan Peak and many more. They play hide and seek as you navigate further through the forest section and various clearings. 

Summit day, when you are walking on the ridge, on your left lies the Dhauladhar range and to the right is the Pir Panjal range that further extends to Parvathi range. The grandeur of these views is mind-boggling. You may have a hard time deciding which side to look at!

Pin Parvathi range as seen from the Chandrakhani ridge. Picture by Akhil

The famous ridge walk just after the pass. Chandrakhani Pass is the only pass crossing trek where have this unique, almost 3 km long ridge walk.

Picture by: Akhil, Indiahikes Guide

The ridge walk

Know Your Trek

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.

Use this section to learn about the Chandrakhani Pass trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.

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PRO TIPS

Why Fitness Matters on Chandrakhani Pass Trek

On Moderate treks, you walk for about 6-8 km each day. The ascents and descents could get steep. The maximum altitude will range between 12,000 ft to 14,000 ft. You’ll come across tricky patches frequently (like snow or scree), which require you to navigate with a certain amount of caution. There might also be small stream/river crossings.

Your goal is to 5 km with an intention to finish within 35 minutes.

Note: If you are above the age of 58 years, you'll also need to submit your Treadmill Test within 7 days of registration.

Leaving Mountains Better

Green Trails is our promise to leave the mountains better. We have removed over 1 lakh kilos of the waste left behind by others on trekking trails. Yet this is a small percentage of what we do. Green Trails dives into reducing the use of resources, reducing our carbon footprint and bringing about a change in the daily practices of our trekkers too.

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