Rupin pass trek

If you want to be mesmerised by beauty at every turn you take, the Rupin pass trek is the trek for you. Known for its waterfalls, snow bridges, lush forest, Temples, hanging villages and grand views of Kailash, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Unlike other treks, the Rupin pass trek is known for its change of sceneries and is ought to keep you on edge as you keep exploring new sights and sceneries.

Rupin pass is a high altitude(15000 ft) trek in the Himachal with a difficult trek gradient, it Starts at Dhaula, Uttarakhand and ends at Sangla. From rocky terrain to snow, from gentle streams and water-falls to vast lush green meadows, from sudden steep climbs to easy walks the Rupin pass is as whimsical as the wind and that’s one of the major reasons why it’s so popular and beloved by trekkers and nature lovers.

The first leg of the journey is a ride to Bawta. The weather is pleasant and the sweet mountain breeze will draw your eyes to sights along the hilly roads.

With the dawn on the next day, the real journey starts with a moderate ascent till Jiskun followed by a slight descent. With the journey continuing into the forest, wooden bridges will come in sight, From the bridge the trail gets steeper and ascends in a zig-zag pattern till you reach Jakha, the highest and terminal village of the trek. Rest-up and restock on supplies at Selwan Khad since it will be the last water point. Lunch will be available on the campsite and the day will end with you nicely tucked in cosy homestays. Unlike the second day the journey won’t be just 5km, we will be covering 11km in the third leg of the journey and it will take about 8 hours so be prepared and rest well.

The journey on the third day although long will mostly have gentle gradients. The journey starts with a well-defined trail, passing through the fields of Jhaka village, gradually the fields of Jhaka will be swapped with forests of lofty old fir trees. As the journey continues the forests will change into snowy patches. It is when you will come across a snow bridge that you need to cross. Following the snow bridge there will come another narrow bridge as you traverse the narrow trail. After this, the ground will change into boulders and occasional streams. After about one and a half hours of scaling this rocky terrain you will have a change of scenery as you enter another forest, this time decorated with Rhododendrons of a different colours. Another few kilometres down you will reach Saruwas Thatch, a campsite where different shades of nature blend together. Take in the beauty of the beautiful U-shaped valley in the middle of the forest with the sight of Rupin waterfall at a distance. After a bit of relaxation and admiration, move on with the journey, which is now along snowy patches, mountain sides and silver birch trees. As you move up from the forest, you will reach the lip of the valley overlooking countless waterfalls rustling through the lap of green meadows. People often say the sights almost have a hypnotic effect. From here on you will be crossing a series of snow bridges until you reach the middle of the valley, Dhanderas Thatch. This would be the campsite where you will have lunch and rest by one of the biggest meadows in the Himalayas.  

As the next day dawns near prepare for a 5km trek. But be advised, the trek of the 4^th day will rapidly gain altitude. The journey will start from the base of Dhanderas, from there we will be crossing several rivulets of  Rupin. You would need to make your way up towards the first waterfall through a field of flowers, the journey almost resembles a fairy-tale as we make our way to the snow patches. From here on it’s a careful and tricky climb through a trail of rocks along the hill. At this point you will be able to make out a trail cutting through the thick snow. It’s from here that you would need to cross yet another vast Snow bridge. After you cut your way through the snow bridge and take a sharp climb you will be done for the day as your campsite welcomes you to relax as you enjoy the magnificent scenery.

The fifth day is the most exciting and longest day of the trek with steep ascends and descends along the way. The day clocks in a 12km journey in 12hrs. To accommodate for time the journey will commence very early. We will leave the campsite by 4:30 in the morning so make sure that you are well rested the day before. With supply sources being limited henceforth, make sure to pack well beforehand. The journey commences with a steep ascent and a rapid gain in altitude, after about an hour of climbing, we well come at a bifurcation from where we will take the left trail and go on to discovering new sights from Rati Pheri campsite. Vast stretches of snow-covered grounds will come into sights which you need to cut your path through this thick snow until you reach Rupin pass Gully. From here on the trail to Rupin pass is short but strict caution is advised as the snow cover will be thick and the trails not clearly defined and adding to this is the risk of falling stones from above. From there on get ready to experience the thrill of sliding down the snow to reach Rukti Gad. From there the way to Ronti Gad is but a gentle walk followed by a sharp descent. This would be our campsite for the day surrounded by snow clad mountains.

The following day as you wake up amidst the sunbathed mountains which now resembles a golden crown, roam around and take in the mesmerising aww of the nature as the sixth leg of the journey is all about rest and acclimatization before the final day of the trek.

The final day of the journey will be a downwards descent, take caution as the altitude will drop rapidly along the journey. After you make your way through sharp descents the trail will morph into a mild climb followed by a walk along a gentle gradient toward Ronti Gad valley. We will be exiting through a narrow valley and on the other side will be grand views of Mt. Kailash. Sangla Kanda lake will come into sight from here as we leave behind Rupin pass. We will make our way to the villages settled near the Sangla Kanda lake now.  On reaching the villages, rest up and take in the views of the great lake. Making our way through the forest of blue pines we will reach well defined trails descending rapidly, within half an hour you will reach Baspa village from which its just a 20 min climb to Sangla. And like all good things the journey will end there.

At every curve, the scene changes:

The Rupin Pass has to be considered India’s one of the most iconic trek. After each hour or so, the landscape on the trek changes and will amaze you. The trip unveils different vistas and scenery with each step. The trip travels through deep forests of  Oak, Fir, and, Rhododendron,  with breathtaking vistas.

The excitement start on the very first day of your journey. When you reach the Rupin River, which fanns out into a wide bed after about 20 minutes on the walk.  The route then passes past hanging settlements before plunging into a dense pine forest.  But wait, there’s more. After that, the route passes through icy meadows,  snowy peaks, snow bridges, glacial valleys, and  countless waterfalls.

Even though the river is visible for most for the time in the journey, it enjoys playing peek-a-boo every now and again.

Rupin River:

You’ll see the Rupin River for the first time past the village of Netwar as we move towards Dhaula from Dehradun. Underneath the shade of oak and pine trees, the river is seen squawking and winding its course all around stones. 

The route begins at Sewa and wanders down a small and uneven road that passes through diverse farmed areas and oak woodlands. For a while, you can lose track of the Rupin at this point. Then  the route dips through the woods to meet up again with the Rupin’s banks. You’ll be strolling beside the Rupin riverbed by this point. It’s best not to get too near to the bed since it’s full of pebbles and scree, and also the currents are quite powerful.

Dhanderas Thatch:

The hike rewards you with a spectacular view of the Rupin River.but thats not all, you get to see how  it comes in the form of a three-tiered waterfall that falls down to the vast U-shaped valley of Dhanderas Thatch.

The sight is exquisite, with hundreds of thin waterfalls cascading from the side slopes, giving this campground the nickname “The Land of a Thousand Waterfalls.”

While leaving Dhanderas Thatch, you’ll pass through various streams before arriving at the base of the waterfall. Then once you reach you start ascending up from the bottom to the peak of the waterfall. The ascent is difficult yet rewarding. The Upper waterfall campground is located at the top of the trail, amid a beautiful meadow right on the banks of a gently running river. Numerous mountain streams join to form the Rupin stream, which flows to the edge of this meadow before falling into the valley as the magestic Rupin Waterfall. To see a waterfall right from the top is truely a once-in-a-lifetime experience that few people can claim to have done.

Lower waterfall campsite:

The lower waterfall campground is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful one in the Himalayas. It sits on the bed of a beautiful green meadow, nestled at the bottom of a gorgeous “U” shaped glacier valley.  Snow-covered cliffs loom on all three sides at the bottom of the meadow.

The Rupin falls over two thousand feet from the snow-capped Dhauladhar mountain in front of you, forming the spectacular Rupin waterfall. It’s a treat to spend few days at this campground.

The Hanging Village:

Jhaka Villgae, or the Hanging Village, is a well-established village which is oddly situated  on the brink of a mountain range, giving it the appearance of hanging out over a cliff.

On the tough trail to Rupin Pass, this village provides a welcome sigh of relief. Hanging from a cliff, literally.   Dhara village, which is located at a higher elevation than Jhaka, displays an accurate hanging perspective of the village. Jhaka was formerly a part of Dhara, according to legends. It was moved down by a landslide and has been dangling ever since

Kinnaur Temple:

 It is a two-story Kinnauri temple in Sewa that is quite interesting. The residents and their culture are as beautiful as the village itself. That is apparent from the first instant of their welcomes. The kids of Jhaka are also used to hikers coming to see them and are rather amusing and friendly. A magnificent Kinnaur temple stands in the sparsely inhabited village, displaying its rich past. This beautiful town is the ideal campsite during walk from Bawta to Jhaka.

Snow Bridges:

 The walk includes multiple snow bridges, and seeing these bridges entirely coated in snow in the heart of the Himalayas is truely a sight to behold. The Rupin River provides another surprise for the travelers who come from Jiskun to Buras Kandi. The surprise comes in the form of a beautifully huge snow bridge that arises out of nowhere after a long trip through the woods. As you approach the lush meadow of Udaknal, the Rupin River changes its shape once more. The river will be ambling along quietly midst of the meadow this time. Buras Kandi’s meadows is an hour away from here, situated against a background of vibrant Rhododendron trees.

Views of Kinner Kailash:

 The majestic Kailash Peak offers a stunning vista that s enough to leave you mesmerized by the charm of the Rupin Pass Trek. Kinner Kailash, also termed as Kinnaur Kailash, is a peak in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India. This mountain  is 6050 metres high and is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists in Kinnaur. According to common belief, Goddess Parvati herself formed the kund as  it was the meeting place of Lord Shiva and the goddess. According to another mythology, Lord Shiva used to convene a gathering of gods and goddesses right here at Kinner Kailash every winter.

Better trekking game:

The Rupin Pass, with an altitude of 4,650 metres above sea level, is still a moderate-level trek ideal for travelers who have already completed an easy trek and want to level up their game. Even though the daily distances covered are fair and the height rise on the trek is consistent, the path does pose some challenges that necessitate a special set of abilities to successfully manage its environment. Nevertheless, it allows you to see Mussoorie’s tourist attractions, including Damta,  Purola, Kempty Falls, and Naugaon, .You can add the climb of Rupin Pass which is 15250 feet to your list of achievements, and enjoy the spectacular views of the Kinnaur Kailash Range and the Rupin River, which you will observe during the route.The journey brings you to two of India’s most picturesque hill stations, Mussoorie and Shimla, adding to the excitement and adventure factor.

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