Overview
The Kuari Pass Trek is a trek you must do. It’s a must to see the stunning views of India’s most famous mountains, including Mt Nanda Devi (25,673 feet) and Mt. Dronagiri (23,182 feet) In any season. Of the numerous things Lord Curzon accomplished in India, the most popular is the exploration and propagation of a trek route beginning at Joshimath through Kuari Pass in the Garhwal Himalayas. At 4264m, Kuari Top is like an arena, where the Himalayan mountains that have stood the test of time play their part. The 7000m club comprises Kamet (7756m), Trishul (7120m), Chaukhamba (71 Kamet (7756m), Trishul (7120m), Chaukhamba (7128m) and the fantastic majestic mountain that is Nanda Devi (7817m) and its twin Nanda Devi East (7434m). More peaks appear impressive: Nanda Ghunti, Hathi Ghoda Parbat, Neelkanth, Dronagiri, Mukut Parbat, Mana, Rishi Pahad, and Changbang, among others. Kuari Pass Trek, Kuari Pass Trek, allows you to see this stunning mountain range from a close-up.
In winter, there’s an additional reason to visit. While most other mountain passes within the Himalayas are covered with snow, the Kuari Pass is only an accessible mountain pass during the winter. While you aren’t traditionally crossing the pass, you walk to the pass to take in the breathtaking views from the top.
The trek begins at Joshimath within the Chamoli district of the Himalayas, which has grown into the leading destination for trekkers and pilgrims from this part of the Himalayas. To start, Kuari Pass is a four-day trek (6 days when you count the days of travel from Rishikesh to Joshimath and Return). Visit famous pilgrim cities like Rishikesh, Devprayag, Joshimath and Haridwar. The Kuari Pass trek within the Garhwal Himalaya is 31 km long. It is well-known for its ability to look out over India’s second-highest peak, Mount Nanda Devi.
Why You Should Do Kuari Pass Trek?
The Kuari Pass trek provides a unique opportunity to witness the breathtaking vista of Mt. Nanda Devi, one of the highest peaks in India. This majestic mountain is visible from Gorson Bugyal to Auli, offering a rare and unobstructed view. The trek provides a chance to marvel at the grandeur of Nanda Devi, along with other towering peaks like the Dronagiri mountains, which stand tall and proud alongside it. The trek also offers a glimpse of Neelkanth, Chaukhamba, Hathi, and Ghoda, all of which are nearby.
The captivating oak forests of Kuari Pass are a significant draw for me, offering a picturesque experience that sets this trek apart from others in the Uttarakhand region. While oak forests can be found in certain treks like Roopkund, Brahmatal, and Dayara Bugyal, the ones on Kuari Pass are uniquely placed, providing an easy and enjoyable walk through the forest. The magic of snowfall in these oak forests is extraordinary, with the snow-covered trees resembling bows, creating a whimsical atmosphere. The trek’s landscape is also noteworthy, with the oak forests gradually merging into meadows, offering a gentle and appreciable walk. This section of the trek, which lasts for around one and a half to two hours on Day 3 and Day 4, is a highlight of the experience, especially with the combination of snow and oak forests.
Best Time To Do Kuari Pass Trek
The Kuari Pass trek is available for most of the year, excluding the rainy months of July and August, the peak rainy season in Uttarakhand. By excluding the monsoon period, we are left with four unique seasons to enjoy the beauty of Kuari Pass – Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Each season has its charm and offers a different experience.
Individuals journey to Kuari Pass during winter to witness the snow and magnificent vistas along the trek. The scenery transforms when covered in the white snow. Kuari Pass is a paradise for mountain enthusiasts in the winter months.
The winter ambience is a magical winterland adorned with pine trees, oak trees, and small rhododendrons. Additionally, you will be greeted with a breathtaking view of India’s tallest mountains from the beginning. Delicate, powdery snowflakes dangle from the pine trees, creating an ideal setting for snowball fights and the possibility of experiencing snowfall if luck is on your side. However, the presence of snow also increases the trek’s difficulty level. Therefore, adequately preparing for a winter trek to Kuari Pass is crucial.
Kuari’s winters are famously frigid, surpassing the coldness of other treks conducted during this season.
In the Kuari region, the advent of spring brings about a vibrant transformation, commencing in mid-March and lasting until the end of April. As the snow gradually melts in the higher elevations, the lower meadows witness the emergence of lush green grass. Tiny flowers peek out from the grass while rhododendrons burst into bloom on the trees. The upper reaches of the Khullara and Chitrakantha meadows remain blanketed in snow until mid-April, creating a breathtaking landscape of diverse hues. Spring offers a unique opportunity to witness the striking contrast of snow, greenery, and floral colours on the meadows.
How to reach Kuari Pass Trek
To reach Rishikesh, the starting point for the Kuari Pass trek, you have several transportation options depending on your location. Here are some common ways to reach Rishikesh:
By Air: The nearest airport to Rishikesh is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is approximately 21 kilometers away. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a pre-booked private transfer to reach Rishikesh. Several domestic airlines operate regular flights to Dehradun from major cities in India.
By Train: Rishikesh has its own railway station called “Rishikesh Railway Station” (IR station code: RKSH). It is well-connected to various major cities in India. From the railway station, you can hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw to reach your desired location in Rishikesh.
By Road: Rishikesh is well-connected by road and can be reached by bus or taxi from nearby cities. Regular bus services operate from Delhi, Dehradun, Haridwar, and other major towns in Uttarakhand to Rishikesh. If you prefer a more comfortable and private journey, you can hire a taxi or take a self-drive car to reach Rishikesh.
Once you reach Rishikesh, you can make further travel arrangements to reach the specific starting point of the Kuari Pass trek, which is usually Joshimath. You can hire a taxi or take a shared cab from Rishikesh to Joshimath, which is approximately a 9 to 10-hour drive. Joshimath serves as a base camp for the trek, and from there, the trekking route to Kuari Pass begins.
It’s advisable to plan your travel in advance, especially during the peak trekking season, and consider the weather conditions and road conditions while making your travel arrangements
ATM Point and Mobile Connectivity in Kuari Pass Trek
ATM Point
Before starting the journey to Kuari trek, make sure that you need payments, and then take out the cash on the way, Joshimath, the market is the last place where you can withdraw cash from ATM, (If you want to withdraw money then do it in Haridwar or Rishikesh.)
Mobile Connectivity
The phone does not work well on this trek. Therefore, you should ensure that you do not have to make any important calls. So make sure you finish all your important work and calls before starting the trek. Last Joshimath, your device will receive good networks.
Winter Season
In Kuari pass winter trek , you will need warm clothes a lot, for which you will need proper good uniform clothes
Winters are always cold, so only warm clothes can keep you safe on trek
Always take the information from the company with which you are booking the trek before going on the trek, what do we need to bring
In the winter season, the temperature always drops day by day , so warm clothes will help you a lot.
The minimum snowfall in Kunari Pass trek is 2 feet and more than 5 feet.
Summer Season
Summer trek to Kuari pass trek is very special, the view and the temperature are all favorable to you
For summer trek, you have to bring only normal clothes, so that your trek can be good, there is no need for hot clothes, but in hiking it is also necessary to bring all the equipment which is necessary for you.
It is necessary to have 3 pairs of clothes from trekking, especially the poncho, you will have to bring every season
In the summer season, the temperature is always normal, so there is no need for hot clothes.
Monsoon Season
During the monsoon season, it rains occasionally during the Kuari pass trek especially in the Uttarakhand Himalayas , so if you have dry clothes here, it is very good, even when wet, it dries quickly.
At this time you have to bring at least 3 pairs of clothes, for monsoon trek you do not have to bring too warm clothes, at this time you, hiking pants and t-Sart, I can trek
It’s only a little cold in the morning and evening and the day is a good temperature for you
Before going on any trek, it will be easy for you to take information related to each season.
Trekkers need to know about these, you can ask us anytime like, Kuari pass trek route, trek map, temperature, weather conditions, difficulty level, trek starting point, end point, transport, view of the trek, best time to visit, How to reach Kuari pass trek distance etc, Trek Location, keep this information before going
5. You also find some types of flowers in the Kuari pass trek which are very beautiful, these treks are very safe trek for monsoon.
The altitude we are going to cover in Kuari Pass Trek
Dhak village – 6956 ft
Gulling camp – 9632 ft
Khullara camp – 11,102 ft
Kuari pass Summit – 13,989 ft
Key Points of Kuari Pass Trek
Duration: – 5 Nights 6 Days from Rishikesh to Rishikesh
Base camp: – Joshimath
Summer Temperature: – Day (5°C to 15°C) Night (2° C to 8° C)
Winter Temperature: – Day (-2°C to -5° C) Night (-5°C to -10°C)
Kuari pass Altitude: – 4264 Meters / 13,989 Feet
Best Time: – Kuari Pass Trek is perfect for both Summer and Winter treks,
Trek Level: – Moderate
Trek distance: – On foot 33 Km – By taxi 588 km
Kuari Pass Is Safe?
Trekking with us for kuari pass trek is completely safe because we have a team of trek leaders who are qualified in Wilderness first-aid and also have complete information about the high-altitude glitches. During Trek, we carry a complete first-aid kit that contains all the important medicines. Before trekking with us, you need to ensure that you are medically fit for the trek and if you are able to judge yourself then it is better to take advice from a professional. For us, your medical fitness is very important than anything else.
Know About Us:- You need to know that our company Himalayas Discover has been in the field of Adventure Tourism for the last 10 years. Right from our inception, we have been involved in providing treks, voyage & hiking programs as well as high altitude expedition rafting.
We keep on organizing treks in Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Sikkim and Himachal, while being a part of the trekking community, we feature more than 75 Himalayan documented treks.
Difficulty Level Of Kuari Pass
Kuari Pass is categorized as an Moderate trek.
The aspect of the trek that makes it move towards the moderate side are three things:
1. The ascent of about 3,000 ft on the first day of the trek. On the first day of the trek, you climb about 3,000 ft in a stretch of 4 km. It is steep and given that you cover a larger altitude range on the very first day, can make you more prone to AMS.
2. Another aspect of the trek that pushes it towards the moderate end of the difficulty is the stretch from Tali campsite and Gorson Bugyal when you trek on an overhanging narrow trail for about 1 km overlooking the Dhak valley. Especially around winter or rainy days, this stretch can get tricky.
3. The trail from Padiyar to Gorson Tali campsite is easy to lose your way on, on a foggy or misty day. This again makes the trek rank a bit higher on the difficulty scale.
Having said all of this, we want to stress this again: the trek is as easy as your preparations go. Even fairly easy trek can turn into a difficult one if you are not physically and gear-wise prepared for the trek
