All experienced mountaineers should go on a Bara Bhangal trek, whenever they are in Manali for a long vacation. The 10-day journey through the Himalayas will be full of challenging walks and enchanting natural scenery. You will get to scale high peaks, cross mountain passes, and walk on massive glaciers. Beginning from the picturesque town of Manali, you will travel to Lama Dugh, which is a lush grassy meadow surrounded by coniferous trees. Your next stop will be Riyali Thach, from where you will continue to the base of Kalihani Pass.

The following leg of Bara Bhangal trekking will transport you above the tree line to the barren yet spellbinding Devi Ki Marhi. You will then make for Dal Marhi, and from here to the Bara Bhangal village. The ensuing section of Bara Bhangal trekking tour will bring you to Mardh, from where you will hike across Thamsar Pass. From here, come downhill to Plachak village, where you will see extensive terrace farms and deodar trees. You will further make your way down to Billing, and from here, a vehicle will transport you to Dharamsala.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 00: Arrival in Manali
On arriving in Manali, find your lodging and spend the day as you feel like. Manali is a popular hill station in Kullu district of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Its location at approximately 6730 feet above the sea keeps the weather here cool throughout the year. The hot springs of Vashisht Village that are thought to have medicinal properties and the pagoda-style Hadimba Devi Temple are some attractions that you may visit here.

Day 01: Manali to Lama Dugh (9898 feet) Duration: 4 hours
Right from the moment this Bara Bhangal trek begins, you will face a considerable altitude gain. The trail goes through dense forests, and gives you views of numerous peaks and some glaciers. After about 2-3 hours, the path will turn right, and a sharp ascent will lead you through a ridge to the Lama Dugh meadow. The place has a rough altitude of 9898 feet, and is covered with wild flowers.

Day 02: Lama Dugh to Riyali Thach (11154 feet) Duration: 3 hours
Upon resuming Bara Bhangal trekking in the morning, you will continue to climb for about a kilometre. The track goes across a sharp ridge, from where you will be able to see the entire Manali and Kullu valleys. Riyali Thach has an elevation of approximately 11154 feet above the sea, and it will be your resting place for the night.

Day 03: Riyali Thach to Kalihani Pass Base (13156 feet) Duration: 6 hours
What follows is a long section of Bara Bhangal trekking tour that brings you a mix of different experiences. You will first tread on the gently sloping terrain of a beautiful alpine meadow, and then the track will descend sharply till you reach the banks of a narrow stream. From here, there is a long and rigorous climb of almost four hours, following which you will reach the roughly 13156 feet high base of Kalihani mountain pass.

Day 04: Kalihani Pass Base to Devi Ki Marhi (12631 feet) en route Kalihani Pass (15501 feet) Duration: 8 hours
This is undoubtedly the longest section of Bara Bhangal trek, for it will keep you on the trail for around eight hours. The ascent to Kalihani Pass at roughly 15501 feet altitude will take you through Kalihani Glacier and the rocky lands along it. Capture the scenes that you get from up here, and thereafter start descending along a glacier. On the way, you will pass four bewitching alpine lakes, and the journey will finally bring you to the roughly 12361 feet high Devi Ki Marhi campsite.

Day 05: Devi Ki Marhi to Dal Marhi (12795 feet) Duration: 6 hours
A long but easy walk is the highlight of this day. You first cross a stream called Kalihani Nullah, and then come downhill through mixed forests of birch and oak. After walking on flat terrains for most parts of this hike, you encounter a steep but short climb to the campsite of Dal Marhi, 12795 feet above the sea.

Day 06: Dal Marhi to Bara Bhangal (9455 feet) Duration: 6 hours
Freshen up after enjoying your sleep, and then resume Bara Bhangal trekking through the Himalayas. You will tread along the Ravi River, and then travel through a forest of deodars to the village of Bara Bhangal, which is at an altitude of roughly 9455 feet.

Day 07: Bara Bhangal to Mardh (12565 feet) Duration: 5 hours
You will now climb through mixed forests of birch, deodar and pine, and cross numerous hissing streams on the way. This leg of Bara Bhangal trekking tour will take you to the campsite of Mardh, which has an elevation of around 12565 feet above the sea.

Day 08: Mardh to Plachak (8927 feet) en route Thamsar Pass (16000 feet) Duration: 7 hours
You will now walk on the rocky path along the Thamsar Glacier till you reach the summit of the approximately 16000-feet high Thamsar Pass. After looking at the Kangra Valley from up here, start your steep and long descent to the campsite at Plachak.

Day 09: Plachak to Rajgundha (8005 feet) 5 hrs to Billing (7578 feet)
The last leg of this wonderful on-foot expedition through the Himalayas is also the easiest. You will walk only on flat paths through thick jungles of pine trees, and will cross numerous narrow rivers on the way. At Billing, board a vehicle and travel to Dharamsala. Post that we trek down to Billing through forests of pine trees, and several rivulets on the way. At Billing, board a vehicle and travel to Dharamsala.