Triund a
small hill station in the Kangra district in the state
of Himachal Pradesh, India is definitely a must go to place for everyone
who visits McLeodganj. It is at a height of 2,828 m and is a part of Dharamkot.
Unlike McLeodganj where one can reach via Bus, one has to trek a minimum of 6 KM to reach Triund.
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| A walk to Gallu Devi temple through the forests |
Triund can be reached from either of the two routes, one starting from Dharamkot via Gallu Devi Temple or from Bhagsu Nag via Shiva Café. Having trekked on both the routes, it is recommended to reach the top via Dharamkot route and descend via Shiva Café route.
Gallu Devi temple which acts as the
starting point of the trek is at a distance of 2.5 KM from the Main Square and
can be approached on foot and even in Autos/Taxis, though they charge a premium
which can be easily avoided by walking all the way to Gallu Devi temple.
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| Enjoying Frooti overlooking this |
Don’t forget to stock up on water (from
McLeodganj market or your hotel) if you plan to stay for the night at the top,
as there is a water scarcity owing to lack of natural water source.
A 1 L water
sealed water bottle costs a whooping Rs 50 at the top and even in the shops
mid-way.
If you choose to walk all the way from
McLeodganj to Gallu Devi temple, do have some frooti or appy from the shop.
Drink it slowly and savor the taste as it will surely be the best frooti/appy
drinking experience, trust me on that.
The trekking route is on an Easy to
Moderate level as there are some steep steps at places. If you plan to carry your own Tent/Sleeping Bags, you better do some
leg exercises like squats and lunges for a week before attempting the trek.
We carried our own tents, sleeping bags, yoga mats and food which resulted in a
heavy backpack (around 12-15kg) and frequent muscle spasms in the calf muscles
because of the steep steps, a lesson learnt the tough way.
The whole route is properly marked and
attracts a lot of crowd on a daily basis. Magic
View Café acts as a milestone as it is exactly located midway and you can
estimate how much time they are going to take to cover the other half. The 6 KM
trek from Gallu Devi temple all the way to the top usually takes anywhere
between 4-5 hours depending on your fitness and the load you are carrying.
The view with which you are greeted after
reaching the Triund ridge is completely surreal and mind soothing making the
4-5 hour ordeal totally worth it. To enjoy the beauty of nature and to witness
the magical Sunrise and Sunset, it is highly recommended to camp at the ridge
for the night.
Tents are scattered all the way along the
ridge in different groups and campsites, so choose your camping ground wisely.
If you want peace and relaxation, go the extra mile and go further away from
the main ground in either direction. Tents can be booked beforehand from
McLeodganj or on the spot at the top starting at anything from Rs 500 per head
(Rates may vary depending on the footfall and weather).If you are a frequent
traveler and like trekking and camping, it is advised to invest in your own
gear and carry it along. A 2 person
Quechua Arpenaz tent costs just Rs 2000 and can be bought online or from
Decathlon, so do the math before taking the decision to purchase own tent or
rent the tent.
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| Our quaint little picturesque campsite |
There are a couple of campsites on the
ridge from where you can get something to eat like Maggi/Bred Omlet/Daal Chawal
but be warned that the rates may be exorbitantly high. All the campsites
usually put up bonfires and you can even manage something on your own with the
help of the locals and cook your own food for the night. We choose to cook Wai
Wai instead of Maggi and it was indeed a good decision. The best thing about
Wai Wai is that it can be consumed cooked, semi cooked and even raw depending
on your preference.
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| View of the majestic Dhauladars from our Tent |
Nights are sure to get chilly, so better
pack your woolens wisely, and opt for fleece jackets which are lighter and
warmer rather than traditional hoodies. The Triund ridge is the place to
capture some magnificent shots during the sunset and sunrise and even at night.
Stargazing in the chilly night is going to be a lovely cherished memory.
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| When the moon is shining bright but only in a crescent form and the sun is waiting to rise |
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| Finally the Sun rises after hiding behind the mountains |
Next day morning after capturing the
sunrise, you can either head further up towards Snowline café and Ilaqa Paas or
start your descent towards McLeodganj. ( 4 places that should be there on every Foodie's list for the McLoedganj Foodtrail )
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| Beauty of the golden sunlight |
Having taken the Dharamkot route, we
choose to descend from the other route leading to Shiva Café. Be warned, that
this route apart from being more scenic, is not properly marked and sees very
few trekkers. So it’s better to take a guide for this route or go with a group
of fellow travelers.Just follow the footsteps on the trail and
you should reach Shiva Café in a matter of 2-3 hours.
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| Trail heading to Shiva Cafe, no steps but big boulders |
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| McLeodganj as viewed from Triund |
Shiva Café is a quaint
little café away from the brimming crowd and is the perfect place to relax with
a cup of hot tea and some yummy pastas and sandwiches. You can refill your
water bottles with fresh cold water for free over here. The view of the
mountains in the backdrop along with the waterfall, makes a meal at the café
totally memorable.
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| The quaint yet amazing Shiva Cafe |
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| So True |
McLeodganj ( McLoedganj for the budget traveler ) main square is further 2-3 KM
from Shiva Café out of which 1 KM is along the road and 1-2 KM is on a well
cemented trail with long steps, making the descent quite easy.
Triund trek is recommended for everyone who
loves to enjoy nature and doesn’t mind working hard for it (trekking), Wraveler style apart
from having that sense of adventure in them.
