Pin Bhaba Pass

Day 1 of the Pin Bhaba Pass trek will always rate as one of the most beautiful days of trekking.  So exquisite is the trail through a largely coniferous forest – it is rare to come across such a trek.

The trek starts from Kafnu. Brace yourself for a challenging day. It’s important to get a head start considering the trekking distance and the altitude gain are quite a challenge. From the village, walk for about 200 meters and you will spot India’s first underground dam, the ‘Bhaba Hydro Project‘.

Note: Photography is prohibited. Continue to walk on the motorable route for 2.65 km.

About 2 km into this trail, you will reach a bridge. Cross the bridge to reach the left bank of the Bhaba river. Shortly after crossing the bridge, you will notice a narrow route going up from the motorable route – take this trail.

Continue to walk along this route for 4.4 km. At this juncture, you will be surrounded by the dense vegetation of a jungle. The landscape is blessed with the graceful presence of silver birch, pine and oak trees. The sweet sound of birds chirping adds more charm to this spot. The confluence of such beautiful trees, all within a single frame will make this one of the most memorable highlights of this trek. A flat 1 km walk from this section will lead you to a beautiful clearing. This terrain is riddled with mud, grass and small stones.

About 6.8 km into the trek, you will reach a beautiful campsite surrounded by trees. This place is called ‘Champoria‘. From this spot, you will need to cross the Bhaba river. Cross the river via the log bridge to reach the right bank of the Bhaba river.

After crossing over, continue walking along the river bank and you will spot a tributary of the Bhaba river. From this point onwards, you will need to pace yourself slowly for the ascent. 10 km into the trek, you will reach a place called Jhandi Top. This is a good spot to catch your breath. From the Jhandi top, the Mulling hut and campsite are visible. From here, it’s a short 1.3 km hike to reach the campsite. If you’re trekking independently, you can choose to stay at the abandoned hut, which has two rooms. Alternatively, you can pitch a tent here.

Today’s trek starts with a gradual ascent through rocky terrain. About 1.6 km into the trek, you will arrive at a beautiful meadow and a waterfall towards your right. From this section, it’s a gradual ascent of another 1.7 km to reach an interesting geographical phenomenon. You can hear the sound of a river but you won’t be able to see it. This feature is called a subterranean river, where the water flows beneath the surface of the ground. From this section, it’s a 1.5 km steep ascent to the top to reach an exquisite meadow with flower beds.

After passing the meadow, continue to walk for another 1.2 km to reach the campsite near a water stream. You will find a lake within 200 meters of the campsite. The lake boasts stunning reflections when it’s sunny. You can set up your campsite at Karah. You will have the entire afternoon to rest and recuperate for challenges that lie ahead.

Today is the shortest day of the entire trek since you have to cover only 5 km. Brace yourself for a steep ascent. The first order of the day is to cross the tributary of the Bhaba river. The mountain stream approaches from the left side of Phutsirang. Cross the stream and continue to climb the steep slope.

Tread with care since the terrain is a combination of stone and lose mud. The entire route today is dominated by mountain stream crossings and humps, which can be a bit taxing. You must pace yourself accordingly.

About 4.20 km into the trek, you will arrive at a campsite which has been set up for lower Phutsirang. From this spot, continue the upward climb for another 700 meters and you will reach Phutsirang.

Phustsirang will serve as the perfect vantage point to get a glimpse of three beautiful mountain passes: Nimish Khango (16,185 feet), Tari Khango (17,318 feet) and Pin Bhaba Pass a.k.a Wang Khango (16,105 feet).

Today is your rest day to acclimatise. Walk across Phutsirang to Tia Valley and explore the greener sides around Phutsirang.

Brace yourself for an exciting day. Today, you will be conquering steep slopes and navigating through the high mountain passes connecting Bhaba and Pin valleys. Trekkers who have ascended a mountain pass will tell you that it’s an experience that is as thrilling as scaling a summit. The sense of adventure and accomplishment you derive is far greater than a summit ascent because you go in with lower expectations.

From the saddle point of the pass (the highest point between the mountain valley), you will notice the sudden shift in the landscape. The geographical contradictions are well pronounced in this spot. You will be leaving behind the lush grasslands of Bhaba Valley and moving to the brown, desert mountain valleys of Pin. The Pin river can also be seen from this point. The descent is steep and it is tricky since it’s a combination of moraine, glacier and scree. Negotiate this terrain slowly.

About 2 km into the descent, you will spot the Pin river. Remove your footwear to cross the river to get onto the right side of the river. From here on, it’s a gradual descent yet riddled with moraine and scree. Pace yourself slowly and rest if you must. About 7 km from the river crossing, you will be able to see the Bwalder campsite below the trail.

Today is the last day of the trek. Brace yourself for the long 14.29 km stretch to Mudh. Start as early as possible from your campsite. Climb the slope from Bwalder to reach the trail and continue walking along with the same. The distance between Bwalder and Bara Boulder is 2 km and from the Bara Boulder campsite, it’s a gradual descent through a section filled with moraine. This campsite is a good spot but the water isn’t clean. It’s recommended that your water bottles are stocked up at Bwalder. The tributary of the Pin river is just 300 meters from Bara Boulder. Cross this stream using the log bridge. The trail from Bara boulder is completely flat and is dominated by red soil and small red stones.

A flat walk for 1.5 km from Bara Boulder will take you to the banks of a mountain stream. Cross the stream using the log bridge to reach a dry, flat stretch of land. The Mudh village will be visible even from a distance of 5 km. It’s a picture worthy of a postcard and the beauty of this place is otherworldly.

The sight of the village will motivate you to push yourself for this final stretch. The Pin river is the last river that you’ll need to cross to access the village. This is yet another exciting experience in this trek. The view of the suspension bridge dangling over the Pin river is a sight to behold.

Cross the river via the suspension bridge. After crossing the river, it’s a short climb to reach the village.