Rating 7 Popular Treks Of Dharamshala From Easy To Difficult

Dharamshala is a beautiful city located in the laps of Dhauladhar mountain range. It is quite famous for the Dharamshala cricket stadium. In addition to the stadium, many trekking and hiking enthusiasts also come to Dharamshala from different places to conquer the sky-touching mountains of Dhauladhar. Trekking in Dharamshala is a popular activity not only in India but also worldwide.

Key Points

• At the “How To Reach?” section, you will find the exact location from where you need to start the treks.
• All treks are within 30 km from main dharamshala.
• Cab facility is available at Dharamshala bus stand.

There are various treks in Dharamshala, and every trek has its own set of difficulties. As a popular place, it also attracts many youngsters to trekking. Many treks are simple, but some are physically demanding.

In this article, we’ll rate the difficulty level of the 7 best treks of Dharamshala and give complete details of each trek. So, tighten your seat belts, and let’s go!

7 Popular Treks Of Dharamshala (Easy to Hard)

1. Guna Mata Trek

• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Availability Of Food And Amenities: Yes
• Camping Area: No
• Resources available On Top: Yes
• Distance: 1.5 Km Approx.
• Best time to visit: November to July

For people who are not strong physically but do wish to experience the thrill of trekking, the Guna Mata Trek is the best option. It is the most simplest treks of Dharamshala  located in the Naddi region. 

It has a well-formed track that you can follow, and many people visit it for the temple and a quick trekking experience. The Hike starts from the Naddi Bridge. You can also park your vehicle around that area. 

It begins with steep climbing, but don’t worry; the path is cemented and well-made. Once you pass the houses, the path will be mostly flat. You will see breathtaking valley scenes and cross through dense forest to reach the temple at the end. 

There are a couple of shops that offer food and drinks. 

It is a small trek that can be completed in a couple of hours. It is perfect for those who want to experience trekking but find it difficult to climb sky-touching mountains.

How To Reach?

To start your trekking, assuming you are starting your trek from Mcleodgunj. You have to take public transport, like a jeep, and go to Naddi. From there, you have to go to the starting point of the Guna Mata trek near the Naddi Bridge. 

If you are in your own vehicle, you can take it to the end and park it there. Usually, during rainy seasons, the road is closed due to landslides, but you can go there anytime. 

2. Triund Trek

• Difficulty Level: Fair
• Availability Of Food And Amenities: Yes, but limited
• Camping Area: Yes
• Resources available On Top: Firewood
• Distance: From Gallu Devi – 8KM; From Bhagsunag – 3.5 Km Approx.
• Best time to visit: February to November(except during rainy season and peak winters)

When we talk about trekking in Dharamshala, the first trek that comes to mind is the Triund trek. It is a popular trek that many tourists fall in love with. The main reason is that it is located near the Mcleodgunj bus stand, and you can find good lodging near the base of the trek. Also, Mcleodgunj is popular among tourists. 

There are two starting points of the Triund Trek. The first is from Gallu Devi temple, and the other is from the Bhagsunag waterfall. One is steep, and the other is slightly angled but takes longer. It is a fairly normal trek because you have a proper route to the top and can also get various edibles on the way. Moreover, if you have a guide, then you don’t even have to worry about a place to stay.

If you plan to camp on top, you may need help finding a good place. Many tour companies have rented land to place their tents for their guests. But you can pay them and rent from them to find a good spot for your tent. You can usually complete the trek in 4 hours.

How To Reach?

If you are going from Gallu Devi temple, you can take a cab directly to Gallu Devi Temple. It is located above Dharamkot. The other place is from Bhasgu Nag waterfall. It is a popular place, so you will easily find transportation to the temple. Then, go towards the waterfall, and just before reaching the waterfall, there will be stairs on the left that will mark the beginning of the trek. 

3. Himani Chamunda Trek

• Difficulty Level: Fair
• Availability Of Food And Amenities: Limited
• Camping Area: Yes
• Resources available On Top: Firewood
• Distance: 7.5 Km Approx
• Best time to visit: February to November (except during the rainy season)

If you are spiritual, then Himani Chamunda is a great trek for you. Moreover, seeing the popularity of the spiritual place, the government has also installed lights along the way to help trekkers reach the top. 

Unlike other popular spiritual places like Vaishno Devi temple, few vendors or shopkeepers are on top. So, if you plan to camp for a night, carry all the necessary food for the stay. It is a decent track with a well-formed path leading to the top. 

This trek also has two starting points. The first is before Chamunda Mandir, and the other is from Jia Valley. However, the Jia Valley route is challenging and needs lights. But the Chamunda route is properly made and has a fair difficulty.

How To Reach?

From Dharamshala bus stand take a bus to Jia Valley bus stop. But from there, you have to walk from where the bus will drop you off. The other way is to get a cab and drop you off at the trek starting point.

4. Kareri Lake Trek

• Difficulty Level: Medium
• Availability Of Food And Amenities: Limited
• Camping Area: Yes
• Resources available On Top: Firewood and Water
• Distance: 8 Km Approx 
• Best time to visit: March to October(except during the rainy season)

Kareri Trek is a challenging trek with decent length and can be difficult for beginners. But if you are in good health and exercise frequently, you can complete this trek easily. 

The Kareri trek consists of steep ascents and descents in various places. Moreover, you have to carry your food items and fuel on top unless you have a tour guide to take care of all these things. Kareri Lake is located at the base of a glacier, so you won’t have any problem finding water to drink.

The weather is unpredictable and can get nasty really quickly. Also, if you are trekking at the beginning of spring or before winter, the nights can be extremely cold. Make sure you bring decent clothing with you for the night.

How To Reach?

Kareri trek begins from Nohli bridge. The easiest way to reach the starting point is to take a cab directly from the Dharamshala bus stand. If you are planning to book a hotel, you can do that at Kareri village, which is 1 to 2 km before the bridge. 

5. Thatharana Trek

• Difficulty Level: Medium
• Availability Of Food And Amenities: No
• Camping Area: Yes
• Resources available On Top: Limited Firewood
• Distance: 3.5 Km Approx
• Best time to visit: March to October(except during the rainy season)

The Thatharana trek is moderately difficult because there is no proper route to the top, and it’s easy to get lost. However, some travelers also trek to the top. You may find them along the route. 

The top is a plain area with lots of stones, and the tour guides take the good area to put their tents. But you can pay them 200 Rs to rent the area and camp there. The top is a windy spot, so put your tent smartly. 

The terrain is also uneven, and the water is contaminated. There is very limited firewood, but you can find it in the right spot. Looking down from the top, you will find Rhododendron trees. The special thing about these trees is that you can eat the flowers of them.

Moreover, looking closely, you will see that several branches are already dead and completely dry. You can collect these branches and use them as firewood. Only a few people know about this. While climbing, stick to the trail and follow your guide if you have one.

How to Reach?

To start your trek, you have to reach Kharota. From there, the trek starts between the villages and then goes to the top. You can either come to Khaniyara on a bus and then book a cab or get a cab straight to Kharota from the Dharamshala bus stand. 

Also check: Must have hiking and camping gears for trekkers.

6. Rising Star Trek

• Difficulty Level: Difficult
• Availability Of Food And Amenities: No
• Camping Area: Yes
• Resources available On Top: No
• Distance: 4 to 5 Km
• Best time to visit: April to October(except during rainy season)

The rising star is an unpopular trek of Dhramshala. You won’t find it mentioned in other blogs or itineraries. This unpopularity makes it a difficult trek. The trek goes from village to grassland to dense forest and cliffs. Moreover, there is no straight way to the top, and you won’t find any trekkers there. 

It’s extremely rare to find someone on the trek. But that’s not all, there are also many wild animals but its rare to stumble on them. Talking about the resources, there are few. At the top, there is a small temple and a giant star design named Rising Star. There is no water, food, shop, or wood on top – it is only grass. 

This trek has one of the best views in Dharamshala. There are places to camp, but if you want to cook, you may have to go some distance to find wood. Climbing is easy because you know your direction and can always see the peak. So, just climbing up and aiming for the peak is all you need to do to reach the top. But getting down is tricky as there is no definite way down. So, you will have to find your way down. And often, people can end up in a different place than where they started. 

How to Reach?

You can only reach Palan by booking a cab. The cab and even local people will guide you to the starting point. After that, you are on your own, but you will find various signs showing you the way. 

7. Indrahar Pass Trek

• Difficulty Level: Difficult
• Availability Of Food And Amenities: No
• Camping Area: Yes
• Resources available On Top: No
• Distance: 12 Km Approx
• Best time to visit: May to September(except in July and August)

Indrahar is one of the most difficult and long treks in Dharamshala. It passes through the Dhauladhar range. The path is full of forest, plains, rocky mountains, and steep climbs. This trek is available only during certain times of the year. To conquer it, you need a guide. You can also camp on top, but it is difficult to find anything to burn because it is mostly rocky. It sits on a glacier, so you can easily find drinking water. 

It is the highest place in Dharamshala, so you feel like you’re on top of the world, away from worldly distractions. Moreover, it is a challenging trek for which you must be at your best. 

How To Reach?

The Indrahar Pass trek starts the same as the Triund trek and goes way past it to the rocky mountains above the Triund. So, you need to get to Gallu Devi temple or Bhagsu nag. It can be a challenging trek, so prepare yourself accordingly. It is not common for regular tourists to go for it, but trekkers from around the globe come to conquer this challenge.

Bonus Trek Of Dharamshala

Above are the easy to difficult treks of Dharamshala. If you are a professional hiker and need something more challenging then go for the 7 lakes trek. Which passes through Indrahar pass and goes behind the Dhauladhar mountain range, across the rocky mountain and comes down from Kareri Lake. 

The seven lakes are Nag Dal Lake, Lam Dal Lake, Kali Kund, Kareri Lake, Chanderkoop Lake (also known as Moon Lake), Sukh Dal, and Dam Ghodi Dal. It is a seven day trek and will give you a great challenge.

End Note

At the end, trekking is an exciting experience for many people. The treks of Dharamshala are open to beginner to experienced people. Whether for adventure or simple relaxation, you can enjoy the beauty of Dhauladhar ranges with the cool breeze of air. Just be sure to prepare well for trek and do regular exercise. And trek responsibly. Do not litter around. Stay well; stay healthy!

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