John Muir once said, “In every walk with nature one receives more than he seeks”. I realised the essence of these lines on my recent trip to Triund. Truly a nature lover’s paradise, Triund is all that you need to escape the chaotic city life.
Getting there
Government and private buses ply to Mcleodganj on a daily basis. You can check your bus ticket prices and book bus tickets online using ixigo app for a hassle-free travel. It took us approximately 9 hours to reach from New Delhi to Mcleodganj. On arrival, we were welcomed by heavy rains. Though the beauty of this hill station is awe-inspiring, the honking of the cars and traffic jams were taking away the essence. We rested for about an hour in the hotel provided to us by our tour operator and then left for the trek. Our starting point for the trek to Triund was Dharamkot in Mcleodganj.
Trek Summary
Total Trek Distance – 9 km (uphill)
Difficulty level – Moderate to tough (for first timers)
Duration — 4.5 hours to 5 hours
Start Point — Dharamkot
Finish point – Galu Maheshwari Temple
Elevation – 2,810 metres
Best time to Visit
You can trek to Triund throughout the year, except during extreme winter months. The best time to trek to Triund is definitely in the months of May-June and Oct-Nov. By my own experience, I will not suggest anyone to trek during the rainy season as the terrains become extremely dangerous and slippery.
My experience of trekking to Triund
As we were planning to visit Triund on a long weekend, we booked the hotels and camps online to avoid any last-minute hassle. We were asked to arrive at Dharamkot, which was our starting point, at 10 am. On arrival, we realised that we are late and all the groups have already left. After finishing our lunch, we donned our raincoats and shoes for the trek, clicked some mandatory selfies, and started our trek to Triund at 4 pm, which was too late to start.
Our first stop was Gallu Mata Temple and it took us around 45 minutes to reach there. Within half an hour of the trek, I realised that the trek is not going to be easy for a person with an average stamina like mine. The path was clearly defined, but yet rocky and steep. We kept moving through the mixed forest of oak and rhododendron trees. The continuous rain had made the path very slippery and risky.
There was the Kangra Valley on one side and the Dhauladhar mountain range on the other. Our guide warned us that it’s going to be dark soon and we need to climb fast. The warnings we totally ignored. The tea stalls in the middle of the trek were sheer delight. It was 7 pm, we were not even half way, it was dark and raining. The end part of the trek to triund is the toughest and will test your stamina. It is popularly known as 22-curves because of the dangerous 22 bends you have to pass through to reach Triund.
After 5 hours of trek, several breaks, and a lot of fretting, we reached Triund. The sense of achievement I felt at that moment can’t be easily explained. Away from the hustle-bustle, here I was in a place which seemed to be a different world. All the exertion disappeared when I saw the awe-inspiring landscapes. We had our dinner and spent a wonderful night in our camps underneath the star-studded sky.
Important Tips for the Trekkers
Don’t trek in the dark. It is very risky.
Only carry things which are really required.
Don’t forget to carry a torch with you.
Carry a small medical kit with you as there are no facilities uphill.
If you face breathing issues, think twice before going for the trek.
A day at Mcleodganj
After the trek, we decided to spend a day at Mcleodganj. This hill station with immense natural beauty is a visual treat. We started sightseeing with a visit to the famous Bhagsunath Temple. The main attractions of this temple are the two pools, which are said to have healing properties. As we were very tired, we skipped a visit to Bhagsu Fall, which we regretted later. Being a shopaholic, I was mesmerised by the wonderful trinkets shops lined across the main street.
One of the main attraction of this hill station is The Namgyal Stupa, which is located between the two main streets and serves as a thoroughfare between them. The prayer wheels in this stupa are rotated continuously by the devotees.
A huge Graffiti of Dalai Lama on one end of the Mall Road is sure to catch your attention. Don’t forget to get a picture clicked by the great saint.
Sip a cup of coffee and savour delicious Israeli cuisine in one of the cafes of Mcleodganj.
Make sure to book the hotels online as the hill station is flocked by tourists throughout the year.
At the time we were returning, all the pain of the trek was vanished and the only thing we were carrying back home were the wonderful memories. The mist covered mountains, the crystal clear waterfall, the cold breeze, and the peaceful environment will surely rejuvenate the body and soul of anyone visiting the region.
Keep calm and go trekking!
