SAR Pass - Located in Parvati Valley of Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of 13,800 ft., one of the most popular trails in the Shivalik range of the mighty Himalayas... Parvati valley abounds in natural Beauty with snow clad mountains, river streams n Waterfalls, Picturesque meadows in the midst of dense forests of Devdar & Fir trees...
While trekking, across the path from Tila Lotni to Biskeri Ridge, one has to pass by a small frozen lake (Sar) & hence the name Sar Pass Trek!!!
In my previous treks, I heard so many interesting n thrilling stories about Sar pass from my trek mates!!! N I decided that I should go for this trek & I started waiting for May as it is conducted only in the month of May n June every year... But as usual I got a seat at last moment as this trek gets full as soon as it gets declared on the web site...It is very popular because SAR Pass Trail offers an opportunity to enjoy the exquisite beauty in the serene & calm atmosphere of Parvati valley, also this is one of the most challenging n difficult trek offered by Youth Hostels of India over the years... Though its a kind of difficult trek, but it gives very thrilling & unforgettable memories...
Finally I enrolled myself for 1st batch of the year 2015 - SP1, which started on 1st May...
Base camp : Kasol
Trek Route : Kasol >>> Grahan >>> Padri >>> Minh Thatch >>> Nagaru >>> Beskari via Sar Pass >>> Bhandak Thatch > Barshani road (base camp by bus)
Altitude ~ 4206 m [13,800 ft]
Best time to visit : May, June
Trek Route : Kasol >>> Grahan >>> Padri >>> Minh Thatch >>> Nagaru >>> Beskari via Sar Pass >>> Bhandak Thatch > Barshani road (base camp by bus)
Altitude ~ 4206 m [13,800 ft]
Best time to visit : May, June
Weather : Summer: (-13)°C to 17°C
1st May 2015 - Reporting at Base Camp
1st May 2015 - Reporting at Base Camp
Day 1 - Youth Hostel Kasol (also known as mini Israel), famous for its cool n pleasant climate & tall pine trees... It is located about 30 kms from Bhuntar (which is on the way from Kullu to Manali) towards Manikaran... Though its just 30 kms in distance it takes more than an hour to reach to the base camp because of hilly area & narrow road... Base camp is just outside of Kasol, 5 kms before Manikaran & we can see beautiful view of pin Parvati as soon as we enter base camp which is few steps down from & off the road, with Parvati river flowing behind this camp site...
As first day was just reporting day, nothing much to do... So after having lunch I went to the Kasol market to get familiar with the place, as it was the only place to visit near to our camp site... Then in the afternoon we had introduction & orientation by our field director... in evening after dinner we had camp fire with all the group members...
2nd May 2015 - Acclimatization & Orientation
Day 2 - Next day we had to get ready at about 6 AM to go for morning exercise & jogging... Then after coming back we had breakfast & got ready for a small acclimatization walk at 8.30 AM towards forest at some height from our camp site... Nice refreshing morning walk with beautiful views...
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| Acclimatization Walk |
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| Orientation Session |
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| School in Kasol |
Came back by the time of lunch... whole day for rest, to roam around Kasol... In the evening after dinner again camp fire with 2nd group SP2... Enjoyed more than first day...
3rd May 2015 - Rock climbing and Rappelling
Day 3 - Same like day before morning tea at 5 AM followed by morning exercise & jogging at 6 AM. After coming back we had breakfast & then our next target of the day - Rock climbing n rappelling...
We all were supposed to go to the nearest mountain stone near parvati river with our instructor... Though it was not easy, most of our group members did it except me as I got scared... Came back by afternoon had tea n snacks & then Campfire with SP2 n SP3... Double enjoyment with other two groups...
4th May 2015 - Trek to Youth Hostel Grahan [7,700 ft / 9 kms]
Day 4 - Next day early morning after tea n breakfast we started moving towards our first camp Grahan at about 8.30 AM. flagged off by YHAI National chairman Shri S. Venkat Narayanan, APC Chairman Mr. Manoj Joshi, Field Director & other camp leaders... The route was through jungle trail - somewhere narrow paths, river streams - very enjoyable walk overall...
On the way we met local ladies carrying stuff for ourselves to our camp...
Had lunch at lunch point on the way & then reached to our camp by 4 PM. Beautiful camp site near village surrounded by small mountains... After having tea n snacks we played funny game :-) directed by our camp leader... It was really funny as we all remembered it throughout our trek... After dinner, we had camp fire which will also always be remembered as some of us shared ghost stories!!!
5th May 2015 - Trek to Youth Hostel Padri [9,300 ft / 9 km]
Finally we reached to our camp in the afternoon... One more beautiful camp site near small river stream surrounded by icy mountains...Enjoyed surroundings in the evening followed by soup n dinner...then as usual Camp fire & then lights off...
6th May 2015 - Trek to Youth Hostel Minh Thatch [11,200 ft / 10 km]
Day 6 - Next morning we started for our next camp Min Thatch after having tea n breakfast... This was the longest route but very enjoyable trek as there were beautiful waterfalls, wooden bridges across the river with greenery & beautiful mountains... Also this was the route where we started getting snow on the way as we were moving nearer to our mission... After crossing a beautiful patch of snow we reached to our lunch point which was simply awesome, heaven like feeling after a long walk... We had lunch between on a big land surrounded by icy Mountains
on one side & valleys on the other side with beautiful greenery all over... Then our trek to our camp was bit difficult as we had to climb up to 11,200 ft., but when we reached it was just wonderful feeling to see our camp site which was on a big green land surrounded by beautiful Icy mountains & green valleys... Most importantly this was the camp site where we got coverage for mobiles & that to only at one or two points... So everyone was trying to find the coverage by standing over the specified point & enjoying the beauty of the place... Then afternoon we were served tea & aloo wada which still I remember we were struggling hard to get more wadas as there were only 2 wadas for everyone... it was real fun to arrange wadas from here n there... In the evening after having soup, we had dinner & camp fire in the night...
7th May 2015 - Trek to Youth Hostel Nagaru [12,500 ft / 8 kms]
8th May 2015 - Trek to Youth Hostel Beskari [11,000 ft / 14 kms]
we came to know we had to cross through few more slides... though its not that steep but few of us were already scared, so we preferred walking wherever possible... When we reached at one tea point, one of our group member Lalita aunty got cold shock!!! So medico students in our group from Gujarat were taking care of her, really they all have been a great help!!! Already it was very late & it started raining slowly so we started moving from that place... but by the time we reach to the last slide point it started snow fall n it was first live snow fall for me!!! but unfortunately I couldn't enjoy much as I was very sacred due to previous slide... but I had to slide as weather changed suddenly... It was long but awesome slide till our camp!!! when I started sliding it was beautiful snow fall, heavenly feeling but couldn't capture it!!! It was mixed feeling - top of the world cum lil scary & tired n hungry too!!! Just wanted to reach to the camp asap as it was more than 12 hrs we were walking n walking...
9th May 2015 - Trek to Youth Hostel Bhandak Thatch [8,000 ft / 12 kms]
Day 7 - Next morning after having tea & breakfast it was time to move to our next camp Nagaru which was nearest camp to Sar pass... We were told to walk together in the snow as it was a narrow trail... On the way we got beautiful snow trail where we one can do short sliding... We spent some time over there & played with snow... Then we started towards our camp having lunch mid way... Some points it was very steep n scary to climb in the snow, but with the help of guide we finally reached to our camp & surprised to see unbelievable camp site on the mountains completely covered by snow... It was like snow was removed to make a space for out tents to stay!!! There was local deity near our tents... Heaven like feeling - never felt before...
Having tea & delicious dinner in the snow... UNFORGETTABLE moments!!! we were told to sleep early after dinner so that we could get up early next at 3 AM to move at 4 AM to our next camp as we had to cross Sar pass before 12 PM...
Day 8 - Finally the day came to cross SAR PASS!!! As per the schedule we woke up at 3 AM. had tea n breakfast (hats off to all the cooks who literally didn't sleep to make our food) & we started walking at 4 AM. This was the toughest route as we had to climb 1,300 ft., through the mountains completely covered with snow & that to our guide had to create a path as our's was the first batch... We were told to walk on this icy trail together & if required hold hands of each other... On the way many of us felt High Mountain sickness...
Finally after a lot of struggle We crossed Sar pass at about 9 AM... It was like never before - speechless feeling that we have reached to the highest point!!! from where we could see Pin Parvati & Chanderkhani pass from this place... We spent good amount of time over this frozen lake, played like kids, captured lots of moments over this Amazing snowy mountains!!! But then we had to move from this place so that we could reach to our next camp on time as it was the longest distance...
We got first slide, I got lil scared initially but it was very nice n smooth slide so I became confident enough for next few slides... We all were feeling very excited but very tired to walk in the snowy mountains, continuously... All around only mountains covered with snow completely - no place to sit!!!
Then at one point after we crossed one huge mountain we were on the top of other mountain from where we had to slide to go down!!! I was about to cry to see that scary slide... But there was no other option!!! after 3-4 group mates already went down by sliding, it was my turn & I was not ready for slide but then one of the guide pushed me from back!!! It was one of the scariest moment for me as while sliding I was rolled around 4-5 times n when slide was over I felt like I am paralysed!!! Ahh still get goose bumps when I think about it, but got lifetime experience!!! Others who were on the top n ready to slide thought something happened to me but thankfully I was absolutely fine apart from my scariness... But two of our group mates got injured while sliding - One of them, got fracture in her arm & other got injury on his lips by hitting a piece of ice & started bleeding... That's not all!!!
we came to know we had to cross through few more slides... though its not that steep but few of us were already scared, so we preferred walking wherever possible... When we reached at one tea point, one of our group member Lalita aunty got cold shock!!! So medico students in our group from Gujarat were taking care of her, really they all have been a great help!!! Already it was very late & it started raining slowly so we started moving from that place... but by the time we reach to the last slide point it started snow fall n it was first live snow fall for me!!! but unfortunately I couldn't enjoy much as I was very sacred due to previous slide... but I had to slide as weather changed suddenly... It was long but awesome slide till our camp!!! when I started sliding it was beautiful snow fall, heavenly feeling but couldn't capture it!!! It was mixed feeling - top of the world cum lil scary & tired n hungry too!!! Just wanted to reach to the camp asap as it was more than 12 hrs we were walking n walking...
By the time slide was over, we had to walk few miles till our camp n it started raining heavily... I even couldn't manage myself to walk on the snow, but thankfully one of my group mate Shrihari was coming & he helped me to reach out till the tent... Tent was also wet all over, but we all girls managed to make it clean... We got tea & pakoras served directly in our tent as it was raining heavily outside... After some time it stopped raining & we could enjoy beautiful campsite surrounded by icy mountains n green valleys... Biskeri fascinates the trekkers with its sweet grasses, wild flowers and a variety of birds...
9th May 2015 - Trek to Youth Hostel Bhandak Thatch [8,000 ft / 12 kms]
Day 9 - Next day early morning after having tea n breakfast we started for our last camp Bhandak Thatch... It was one of the relaxing route as we had to walk down hills, also we did rappelling to get down before lunch point... Crossing through one more jungle trail was wonderful experience!!!
When we were moving towards Bhandak Thatch camp from lil down to uphills it was again heaven like feeling... One of the bestest camp site ever surrounded by beautiful icy mountains & greenery all over & it was raining slowly... After having welcome drink we were just roaming around of our campsite to inhale beauty of this heavenly place... Some were playing games, few of us were enjoying fire near our camp by localites... after having tea it started raining lil heavily, but we still walked out with our raincoats to enjoy the beauty of surroundings.. Then by the time of dinner it stopped raining & it was awesome weather!!! Had delicious food as usual & campfire in the night followed by bournvita...
We all enjoyed a lot in the snow & also captured so many unforgettable moments of this awesome place with awesome weather which I still cant forget!!!
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| "SABSE TAGDE SABSE NEK, SP EK!! SP EK!!" |
10th May 2015 - Trek to Barshani road [6,600 ft / 10 kms]
Day 10 - Next day with lil sorrow in mind to leave this beautiful place, we started moving towards Barshani road from where we had to take a bus till Base camp Kasol... This route was enjoyable as there was total down hill through jungle trail, also we crossed one of the river stream... Finally with lots of sweet memories we reached Kasol through Barshani by bus... After reaching to the base camp feeling was like we have really achieved something:-) After having lunch, we got certificate as few of us left Kasol same day with so many Thrilling 'n Unforgettable Memories!!!
Thanks to SP1 team for sharing pics
Vanda :) I love you yaar. You made my SARPASS trip memorable.
ReplyDeleteNo words for her. She is a globetrotter. No one can explain a location better than her.
wanderlust, travelling ... all in her blood
Awwww, how Sweeeet!!! Thanks U so much Sweetheart... Love U too :*
DeleteInfact I must say U made my Sarpass memorable :)
I will always be Thankful to god to make this trek happened as I got a chance to meet a Sweet n Lovable personality like U... Luv U :)