Triund – Heaven can be scaled too || A beautiful trekking experience by Nisha Sharma


I remember how eagerly I searched for Triund Trek long back, when I saw one of its pictures for the first time on some travel portal. That day I made a promise to myself to visit Triund whenever I visit Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

All thanks to this picture that filled me with an overwhelming desire to visit this place. Photo Credit - Here

Triund was the only word that echoed in my mind like an alarm whenever I heard the word Dharamshala. The idea was to go on a solo trip but it quickly turned into a girls’ trip when I and three of my friends decided to go with minimum planning. So it was more of a backpacking adventure with no pre-planning whatsoever :)....



Those few moments in air - Triund


After reaching Dharamshala, a hunt for a quiet place away from the hustle-bustle of the town led us to settle at Naddi village, which sounded much more interesting than other places we had searched for, such as upper Bhagsu guest houses, Dharamkot, and McleodganjIt turned out to be an excellent place to stay if one is looking for a quiet, less-crowded, and rustic place, which is surrounded by the village and offers the best view of the Majestic Dhauladhar ranges.


Dhauladhar view from Hotel at Naddi Village

The famous Dal Lake is walking distance from Naddi and from here, one can take an auto, a taxi, or local buses to reach Mcleodganj. One can spot St. John's church while travelling towards Mcleodganj, as it is situated between Dal Lake and Mcleodganj.

Note: Staying at Naddi provided access to two of Dharamshala's most famous places, i.e. Dal Lake and St. John's church as bonu,s as these were at walking distance
from Naddi....BINGO!! :)

Dal Lake in Naddi

In Mcleodganj, Dalai Lama Temple and Tibetan market are must visit places that easily consume half-a-day, if one has enough time to roam around in market area for shopping and trying Tibetan cuisine.

Note: Cameras and other electronic items are not allowed inside Dalai Lama Temple any more :( but this place is surely a treat for peace lovers, as one can enjoy its soothing and calm environment by surrendering oneself to its divinity.


St. John’s Church

Next morning at around 9AM I started my long awaited trek to Triund from Naddi village along with my friends. I had collected enough information from locals by this time and knew that from Naddi village one can reach Dharamkot, which is supposed to be a common point to go further if one is coming from either Bhagsu or Mcleodganj. From Naddi, Dharamkot is at a distance of 3-4kms and this settlement
offers a well-defined walkable path decorated with Rhododendron trees along with sights of mud houses, alpine trees, and colorful Prayer flags.

Note: Rhododendron flowers are a tasty way to prevent dehydration. Chutney made of these flowers is very famous in Kangra district. Also Beware of local dogs as they are not very friendly to strangers here.


En-route Naddi to Dharamkot

Rhododendron flower

From Dharamkot, one has to reach Guna Devi Temple, which serves as a base to those who intend to go further to Triund. This temple can also be reached by road on a local taxi. We preferred to trek from Dharamkot to Guna Devi. This trek surely challenges you, as you start feeling the effect of
altitude. Various ways to reach Guna Devi Base are as mentioned below: Naddi Village --> Dharamkot --> Guna Devi Temple (Can be covered on a car as well as on foot)
Mcleodganj & Bhagsunag --> Dharamkot --> Guna Devi Temple (Can be covered on a car as well as on foot)

The central Hill Top is the Destination

This trek offers panoramic views of Bhagsu village, Mcleodganj, Dharamshala valley, and distant views of Shivalik hills, as well as the plains of Kangra valley. The trek is moderate in nature and not suitable for a family keeping in mind the steep climb and many deep gorges on the way. A small mistake during the climb can be fatal. There are two cafes on the way, one of which is known as 'Magic view' cafe. It is situated at a vantage point when Triund is almost 2kms away. One can sit, relax, and enjoy munchies along with breathtaking views of the entire Kangra valley.

Note: Do not blindly trust the opinions of passersby who are returning from the trek as most of them won’t give favorable comments. It is better that you trust your own instincts. Believe me, it’s more than worth a try.

View from the Magic View Cafe

The last 1 hour stretch is probably the steepest and the path is full of slippery stones. This stretch is a true test of your grit as by now you are fully exhausted and want that very glimpse of Triund. We reached this Majestic hill by 2PM which was not bad at all if somebody is coming from Naddi.

Note: This one glimpse of the place is a curtain raiser to all your expectations about the place. That very first glance will soak away all the tiredness and one starts feeling light with every moment spent there.


That last one hour of Bumpy ride :) 



Snow was a surprise during the last few steps Triund is a large pasture-like land carpeted with green grass. One can see the mighty Dhauladhar ranges right in front. This is the base camp and acclimatization point for the trekkers climbing to the Inderahara point on the Mt. Dhauladhar.


Let’s Discuss Mountains @Triund

Other Places to visit in Macleodganj include Bhagsunag Temple, Bhagsu Waterfall , Shiva Café near Bhagsu Waterfall, and various cafes in Dharamkot.

Note: Here I take another opportunity to reflect my experience of Triund where pictures are telling the larger story than the words. ENJOYYY!!


Just Perfect

Who needs a cushy couch

@Shiva Café

Magnificent view

Conversation


Cheer-up messages for Trekkers


Distant Smiles :) :)

A Trek to Triund is quite popular among adventure lovers in North India and one can easily plan this from some of the main cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla, Amritsar etc.

If you liked this post and found it helpful, I would request you to follow these things when traveling -

- Manage your waste well and don’t litter
- Use dustbins. Tell us if you went to a place and found it hard to locate a dustbin.
- Avoid bottle waters in hills. Usually you get clean water in hills and water bottles create lot of mess in our ecosystem.
- Say big no to plastic and avoid those unhealthy snacks packed in plastic bags. Rather buy fruits.

- Don't play loud blaring music in forests of jungle camps. You are a guest in that ecosystem and disturbing the locals (humans and animals) is not polite 

Comments

Unknown said…
Wow.. Nisha,, You really had a very good experience and thanks for detailing out. Love it.
Unknown said…
I also had a same experience with my friends but the trekking part was even difficult as there was snow throughout the stretch.. Surely best experience dat I ever had
Nicely compiled post and an inspiring one for Travellers & Trekking enthusiasts.

This region of Himachal Pradesh has lot to explore and full of surprises.
Unknown said…
Great Nisha..

You are on a expedition..

Go on !!!
heading nowhere said…
Nisha which month did you do the trek?
Unknown said…
I have done this trek in snow too(in March) as well as blog mentioned trek is done in April
The ideal time to do this trek is from April till October.
Unknown said…
I have done in snow too...and it was one of the lifetime experience. But it is risky in snow.
Anonymous said…
Hey, is it possible to go only two people?
is tent available on rent ?
Diff level ?
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said…
@anonymous hey! We're also 2 people..going to triund on 31st Jan~1st Feb and are looking for more people since snow trek can be tricky..want to go together?

Regards
Udayan
Unknown said…
@nisha really nice blog! Inspiring us to go see this heaven of a place with our own eyes!
Anu said…
Hi Nisha
It looks like you had a really amazing experience in Triund :)
I too plan on going there in May this year
Can you please tell me where you stayed in Naddi village?
Anu said…
Hi Nisha
It looks like you had a really amazing experience in Triund :)
I too plan on going there in May this year
can you please tell me where you stayed in Naddi village?
Unknown said…
Nice Story, I like that kind of story. Now I Want to Go that Place & Share a Story
Trekking in Triund
Hey Nisha! This travelogue is very well written. You didn't miss a thing here telling us about the mesmerising beauty of triund. I, myself has witnesses the charm of this exotic and surreal place. And the pictures are just too perfect! Keep writing about your adventures!
Sarthak said…
Nicely written!! And cheers to great photography..
Disha said…
Lovely minute details .. Great pics too.. the information is going to help us a great deal. Thanks
Unknown said…
Thank you all for the gratitude.

Anu- in Naddi there are many small and big hotels, anything that suits ur pocket. We stayed in a small hotel costing 1000 rupees per day, called snow crest ...

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