Bara Bhangal Trek | Manali Trekking | Himachal Pradesh

Bara Bhangal Trek: A challenging trek in the heart of Himachal Pradesh

Thamsar pass, Bada Bhangal
Credit : Dharmpal Singh Bangar

Bara Bhangal Trek is highly challenging and is for those people who are experienced widely in traveling throughout the rugged backcountry. Many people who take this trek know the basics of hiking and camping. It steers the traveler from the flourishing green valley of Kullu to the beautiful and scenic landscapes of Bara Bhangal range. For all the trouble that you face in the trek, the rewards are worth it. Indeed, it is a fruitful trek and perfect for people who want a natural trek that takes them back to their roots and gives them some time with nature.

An exciting trek and among the best treks of Himachal Pradesh, Bara Bhangal trek spans over the height of around 2050 meters to 5000 meters and above. The trek is rugged, and the route is quite stubborn. When you travel through it, you will need to tune yourself with the daunting rocky paths of the journey. En route, threatening moraines await you with thick glaciers.

Credit : Dharmpal Singh Bangar

However, as soon as you reach the summit, you will see the fantastic and glorious visuals of the peaks. You will forget all about the struggles and be thankful for nature that you decided to visit here The Hanuman Tibba, Indrasan and Deo Tibba are among the major contributors of the lavish scenery, and when you see it from atop the Bara Bhangal, you can not stop falling in love. The view from here is a feast for eyes, and if you are used to the urban concrete jungle, then you will fall head over heels in love with the location.

The total trekking distance is 30km, and maximum altitude is 16,070ft. So it is safe to say that the route will take you to points that are quite high. As stated above, it is a quite difficult trek and the easiest way of reaching the starting point of the trek, Manali is the railway Station, Jogindar Nagar. Joginder Nagar Railway Station is located 166 km from the town of Manali and easily approachable throughout day and night. If you feel like flying, then you can catch a flight to Bhuntar Airport of Kullu and then begin your trek from Manali.

Pic Credit: Google Image

Your complete Itinerary for Bara Bhangal Trek:

On day one, your journey will take you to Lama Dugh (3017m) from Manali. IT will take you only 4 hours to reach there. The Bara Bhangal Trek is quite a tough one and will show you some thick forests, and you will have to carry water with you since there is no source of water available on the trek. As you complete each steep climb, you will see some distinct views of the grand Indrasan, majestic Deo Tibba and enchanting peaks of Bara Shigri glacier.
As the trek for the day one is about to finish, you will reach the campsite on the alpine plateau with a thick growth of alpine flowers. Spend the night amidst this beautiful landscape and enjoy your break in a grand valley.

Day 2:

On day two, you will go from Lama Dugh to Riyali Thach (3400m), and it will take around 3 hours. You will climb approximately 1 km height on today’s trek and go through a steep ridge below Thanpri Tibba (4000m). On this point, you will feel the most blessed as you will see some astonishing and mesmerizing glimpses of Manali which is on the left bank of River Beas. The entire upper Kullu valley will also be visible throughout from this point.

Credit : Dharmpal Singh Bangar

Day 3:

On day three, you will travel from Riyali Thach to Base of Kalihani Pass (4010m). It takes around 6 hours to cover this distance. You will walk through vast, open meadows and a steep descent towards a stream. As you cross the stream, you will continue on a straight route that will require a steep climb. And within another three hours, you will reach the Kalihani Pass whose base is your campsite.

Be a photographer here as it is a fabulous point for you to capture the vast and beautiful views of the Deo Tibba and Indrasan peaks. You will not need to walk here and there to get the right view as you can just get the view from the campsite. So, set up the camera and you are good to go.

Credit: Manmohan Singh Bawa

Day 4:

On day four, you will travel from the Base of Kalihani to the Devi ki Marhi (3850m) via Kalihani Pass (4725m) over 8 hours. It is quite a long and tough trek and since there will be a steep climb to the pass, cross the Kalihani glacier will be quite hard. Enjoy your time at the pass and get stellar 360-degree views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges and glaciers. You will cross another steep descent through the glacier and above the beautiful glacial lakes and by the time you finish with it, you will reach the gaddi campsite of Devi ki Marhi.

Day 5:

On day five, you will travel from the Devi Ki Marhi to Dal Marhi (3900m) over 6 hours. ON this day, the first thing you will do is cross the Kalihani Nullah and walk towards the oak and birch forests. After this, the path is flat and has little ups and downs which is quite flattering. End your day with crossing the steep climb before you reach the Dal Marhi campsite for night’s rest.

Credit : Parth Joshi

Day 6:

On day six, you will travel from Dal Marhi to the Bara Bhangal (2882m) by trekking for over 6 hours. Just keep trekking on the route after you cross the lovely Ravi river which passes through a deodar forest. As you continue walking on the track, the wood will merge into the Bara Bhangal village in the valley, therefore, spend some time there and enjoy night’s rest at the campsite.

Day 7:

On day seven, relish the surroundings and just take the day off. Day seven is for enjoying Bara Bhangal village in depth. Take rest and just sleep it off until afternoon and enjoy the pleasant, chilly winds at the Bara Bhangal or wake up early and go exploring the village and nearby areas. Bara Bhangal is quite isolated and not frequented by travellers making it a perfect destination. It only has some members of the Gaddi tribe. Enjoy the evening and night at Bara Bhangal campsite and prepare for the next day’s return to Mardh.

Day 8:

On day eight, you will travel from Bara Bhangal to Mardh (3830m) by trekking for over 5 hours. Climb the pass, Thamsar and keep walking on the trail that takes you through pine, deodar forests and crosses the numerous with mountain streams to reach Mardh. The campsite is close to the base of the Thamsar glacier.

Day 9:

On day Day nine, your trek will take you from Mardh to Plachak (2721m) via Thamsar Pass (4878m). It is over 7 hours of trek. The day will be full of steep ascents over moraine, scree and glacier and the route is quite a broken up and rough track filled by a tiny lake which lies just under the pass. Atop Thamsar, you can see the lush Kangra valley. And on the opposite side, you can notice the steep, long descent. Keep walking on this trail and reach the campsite at Plachak to enjoy the night.

Day 10:

On day ten, you will travel from Plachak to Rajgundha (2440m) by trekking over 3 hours.
It is the lightest trek day of all Bara Bhangal Trek days as the path is mostly flat and takes you through many pine forests, crossing various streams. As you walk through the valley, you will notice it widening. Wait here for a while to see the grand views of the open Kangra valley. The campsite is close to the small village of Rajgundha.

Day 11 of Bara Bhangal Trek:

On day eleven, you will trek from Rajgundha to Billing (2310m) by trekking for over 4 hours. The last day is also among the most comfortable day of the trek. Last day will take you through pristine pine forests, and you will reach a beautiful forest guest house at Billing as you trek comes to an end. Here, a vehicle will pick you up and take you to the nearby Bir or Dharamshala where you can catch a train or bus back home.

So, this is the simple journey to Bara Bhangal Trek which has numerous surprises and challenging and manageable routes. Plan your trip well and ensure you trek along mates with experiences so you enjoy your experience.