A thrilling and scenic adventure that attracts a lot of trekkers every year to it is the Kuari Pass trek. It is a great winter snow adventure. Every year the high pass of Kuari gets open again in November after monsoons for trekking. Snow-covered trail with the soothing summer sun gives the shiny and magical views of the Garhwal Himalayas like Kamet(7756m), Chaukambha(7128m), and the great divine peak of Nanda Devi (7817m) and its twin Nanda Devi East(7434m). Every turn and each step surprise you with great landscapes. And the grand climax waits for you!!
Kuari Pass is a high mountain pass perched at an elevation of 4,264m in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. It is also called as Lord Curzon Trail. It was first passed by Lord Curzon, the British viceroy of India in 1905. It is a popular and scenic trekking destination in India. The trek is of 5-6 days and it is a moderate trek.
The panoramic views of the glittering snow peaks will leave you breathless and offers a challenge to hike further for more scenic vistas.
Reasons To Do Kuari Pass Trek:
1.Camping
In winter months, the trek gets covered with layers of snow. You will see the changing moods of weather in one go. The beautiful campsites of Tali all surrounded by oak trees and snow will make you fall in love with the place. The Chitrakantha meadows are great to spend a night and the views of gorgeous Dronagiri overlooking.
2. Majestic views of the Himalayas
Catch the breathtaking views of so many incredible peaks in such a short trek. You will start watching the views from day 1 of the trek and they will get better after day by day. The scenic landscapes and great views of Chaukamba, Kamet, Neelkantha, Hathi Ghoda, Nanda Devi, and its twin Nanda Devi east peaks.
3. Tricky trail
The trail gets tricky when it comes to trek in the snow. But the difficulty get behind by the beauty of lush meadows and sunny landscapes. Kuari Pass trek is an altogether great adventure. Take all the snow gears and trek safe in the deep snow.
4. Skiing Destinations
The Highlights of the trek are the beautiful skiing slopes of Gorson and Auli. The stretched alpine pasture lands of Gorson Bugyal blooms with greenery and flowers in summer times and covered with snow in chilly winters. The gentle terrains of Gorson make great skiing slopes. The ending destination of Kuari Pass is Auli which is Asia’s greatest skiing destination.
5. Explore the rural life
Exploring rural life is the best and incredible thing you can do. Villages like Dhak, Tughasi, and Karchi are some amazing spots where you witness the life of locals who call home to the mighty mountains. People living there are the blessed one living from the chaos of daily life, without any fancy gadgets and the internet, their standards of living are incredible.
How will you reach?
There are 3-4 different routes for Kuari Pass trek, the most common opted route is the Joshimath, Auli, and Gorson to Kuari Pass.
For starting the trek first you have to reach Rishikesh and a drive of 7-8 hours will take you to Joshimath, a religious town from where pilgrims travel to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib.
From Joshimath, the trek starts and moves to Chitrakanthavia a drive to Dhak village. Then further Chitrkantha to Tali top and finally Kuari Pass via Khullara top. The trek ends at Joshimath via Auli.
Rishikesh is well connected to all the major cities and towns of Uttarakhand and others.
- Jolly Grant airport is the nearest in Dehradun which is 268km from Joshimath.
- Rishikesh railway station is the nearest railhead 251km from Joshimath.
- Direct buses are available from Delhi and other cities to Rishikesh and then for Joshimath.
Best Season to visit
The best season to embark on this adventure is from March to June and September to December. Kuari Pass is a famous snow trek and if you are a snow lover then experience the pristine white snow in the winter months.
Travel tips:
- Pack light. Carry minimum weight
- Do not litter
- Carry all the essentials.
- Choose a good tour operator
- Always follow the instructions of the trek leader
- Trekking essentials
Kuari Pass is a great winter adventure to explore the hidden treasures of the Himalayas. Plan a trip to the top and experience the best of nature and snow. The soothing sun and calm chilly environment will soothe you from the core.
Live. Travel. Explore!!