Saurkundi Pass Trek

The Saurkundi Pass Trek is a trekking program organized every year between 25 April and 25 May by the Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI) in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The trek is a 11-day program and a batch of participants starts the program every day during the period. The batch size ranges from 40 to 50 persons (children below the age of 15 years are not allowed). The trekking trail starts at Babeli, the base camp, and passes through several scenic spots in the Kullu valley.

Base Camp

Babeli (4000 ft.) along Kullu- Manali highway, about 7 km from Kullu, is the Base Camp. It is, thus, well connected by road from Kullu, which is in turn is well connected with Delhi, Chandigarh and other cities of Punjab. Base camp is situated along the mighty Beas river, with tall & old Pine trees alongside the road.Two days are kept for Orientation & Acclimatization at Base camp, which includes Rappelling & Rock Climbing on one day & trekking up the nearby forests for a few kilometers up & down with a decent amount of weight in ones rucksack. After this, trekkers are ready to leave for their next destination. One can see hundreds of bird & butterfly species over here and during the trek.

Trek

egli

Segli is the next camp at 7,100 ft. after trekking up for about 8 km (from a point, a few km from Manali on Kullu- Manali Highway by Bus). Camp is in an apple orchard & is surrounded by forests along the narrow trail. Lot of birds like Tits, Drangos, Woodpackers, Warblers, Jays etc. can be seen in this beautiful idyllic environment.

Haura Thatch

The trekkers reach their next camp Hora Thatch (9,000 ft.) after trekking for about 10 km. Here the camp is made in a dense forest where hardly a ray of light can penetrate. Wonderful views of the snow-covered peaks & varied hues are seen if one moves a bit in either of the directions from the camp.

Maylee Thatch

As one move up trek becomes more & more difficult, though one is better equipped than the previous day through sheer experience. After 6 km of difficult & tiring trek, one wonders as to when he will reach the destination. However, this tiredness goes away at the sight on reaching the camp at Maylee Thatch (10,500 ft.). A thatch is basically a vast ground with varied flora and fauna. One is awestruck at the magnificent view of the peaks and the surroundings along with the verdant meadows.

Morning is studded with magnificent split-second changing views, staring with wonderful Morning Glows due to the effect of first rays of Sun on the Mountain Peaks along with beautiful coloured patterns of the clouds. It changes so fast, that opportunity missed is opportunity lost.

After a while, the valley below is commpletely under clouds, while everything is so bright & colourful above, as if being seen from an aeroplane. In no time every thing including our Camp, is taken over by the clouds with a very poor visibility around us. It is a spectacle to see the clouds move up from one the mountain slope to another at a distance.

Doura Thatch

After trekking for about 10 km through the clouds and trekking a bit on the snow for the first time, trekkers reach their next camp at Doura Thatch (11,300 ft.). This day’s trek is basically a journey through the clouds. It is during this stretch that they have the first feeling of trekking on the snow. And how difficult it feels, though the joy is also over-whelming!

One also expects a few slides on the way. This camp can literally be called a little Siachin where one experiences full fury of nature with spine-chilling winds. While the sky is resplendent with stars at night, morning glow of first rays on the peaks is heart-warming.

aurkundi Pass

Almost the next day’s trek is prodding through the snow or moving alongside the snow. After trekking for a while, trekkers have the feeling of being in the snow and reach Saurkundi Pass (12,900 Ft.). Views all around are magnificent & peaks are at a hands distance. The feeling of joy knows no bound. After a while, walking on the snow has become a habit to them.

After resting & eating for a while at Saurkundi Pass (12,900 ft.), one gets a few long slides at a stretch. It's very difficult to walk down the snow in such a steep gradient. Better alternative is to slide on the snow while sitting on your buttocks with legs held up & elbows used as brakes, with your rucksack as usual. Trekkers have nothing but the rainsheets to help them from rains & snowfall during the trek. They walk around downhill in all directions on the vast beautiful green meadows with small flowers all around. One can see a few streams coming out of, under the snow & a new life begins! Melted snow is giving way to new vegetation. Tubers are growing again with beautiful flowers of Primulas, Irises & others.

Longa Thatch

One reaches Longa Thatch (10,800 ft.) after the longest & enjoyable trek of 12 km. via Saurkundi Pass. With its verdant grasslands, snow-capped mountains & peaks etc. it's beauty is to be seen to be believed. One can also see many beautiful birds over here around the camp. Already everybody has forgotten the day & date, long back. There is a feeling of timelessness. All the trekkers are so jelled, that they appear as one unit, though they may be from different strata of society, different age groups, different regions, different professions etc.

Lekhni

Finally after trekking another 10 km. mainly down-hill, they reach there last camp site of Lekhni (8100 ft.). It is situated alongside an apple orchard and one comes back across the civilization.

Ceremonial campfire (without burning anything) is held as at Base Camp & other camps, where trekkers sing songs, tell stories & made everyone laugh. Please note that this is an environment friendly trek. Littering of any wrappers or spoiling the trail in any way, is not allowed. Burning of wood during campfire is strictly prohibited.

One finally treks downhill from Lekhni to Aalloo ground along the Manali-Kullu highway & from there by bus back to Babeli. Here, the group breaks out after morning breakfast.

Gallery Pictures

Enjoy the pictures of Landscapes, Birds, Butterflies etc. in separate galleries with more stories & interesting details in description of the picture, if one clicks on the thumbnails.

External links

* [http://www.yhaindia.org/saurkundi-pass.htm] on Saurkundi Pass Trek:-2008 of Youth Hostels Association of India.
* [http://www.yhaindia.org/Transaction/AdventurePrograms/ProgramDetails.aspx] on National Himalayan Trekking Expedition - 2008 of Youth Hostels Association of India.
* [http://www.yhaindia.org/default.aspx] on Youth Hostels Association of India.

Gallery of Landscapes arranged chronologically

Gallery of Birds seen during Saurkundi Pass Trek arranged chronologically

Gallery of Butterflies seen arranged chronologically

References