Panwali Kantha is one of the most beautiful treks, which is positioned at a height of 3,500 metres ( 11,500 ft.). This trek offers you with one of the rarest views of the complete range of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath mountain peaks. On your way, you pass through the seven Bugyals of Panwali Kantha and if you are fortunate, you might catch a glimpse of the blue mountain goat. Panwali Kantha is a trek that offers unique visual treats in every season. From lush green meadows in summers to snow covered bugyals with inviting gentle slopes in winters. Given its moderate level of challenge, anyone with a normal fitness can do this trek. A great refresher from the monotonous routine and an ideal way to enter the vast world of trekking.
This trek is ideal for both beginners and experienced trekkers. For novice, it is a great start to enter the world of trekking. It can get a bit rigorous for the first timers. Therefore, it is recommended to the first timers to maintain a good physical stamina and read extensively. Any experienced trekker would love to go on this weekend trek for the love of its views and trekking.
This trek is apt for the first-timers. Those coming for the first time should prepare and read extensively about the trek. A basic knowledge about how to use a sleeping bag, toilet tents, sleeping tents, and mountain mannerisms will come in handy.
Fitness Benchmark
Here is your checklist for this trek. Make sure you pack all these items for a comfortable trekking experience.
The minimum age limit is 9 years. However, minors aged between 9 to 17 should be accompanied with their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
March- mid April
BSNL network is available till Ghuttu but post that the network is mostly unavailable. There can be a ray of hope at Guarmanda but nothing reliable. No network post that on the trail.
The trek begins from Dehradun. Dehradun is easily accessible through road, rail, and air transport. Here is how you can reach:
By Road
You can take an overnight bus from Delhi to Dehradun. Both UKSRTC buses and Volvo buses are available from Delhi ISBT to Dehradun. The distance from Delhi to Dehradun is about 247 km. You can also hire a taxi or an outstation cab from Delhi to Dehradun.
By Rail
There are a number of trains running between Delhi and Dehradun like Dehradun Express, Mussoorie Express, Nanda Devi Express. It is advisable to make your train bookings a month in advance.
By Air
The Jolly Grant Airport is the airport in Dehradun. There are multiple flights from New Delhi to Dehradun. Make your booking well in advance for economic fare.
Dehradun is located in Uttarakhand. Robber's Cave is a river cave formed in the Himalayas about 8 kilometres from Dehradun. Sahastradhara is a ‘thousand fold spring’ which is famous for its aesthetic beauty. Mindrolling Monastery, the largest Buddhist Vihara of India is another attraction. Lacchiwalla, Malsi Deer Park, Tapkeshwar Temple are a few other to name.
We provide 4 seasons tents by Gipfel for higher altitudes which can easily withstand heavy snowfall and storms. They are spacious enough to accomodate 3 people at once with a vestibule to place the backpacks. Our sleeping bags are made up of Heatseeker Pro synthetic insulation that can provide you comfort in -10 degrees celsius. We also use additional fleece liners to have thermal efficiency even in the extreme temperatures of -17 degrees Celsius. If you carry your own sleeping bag, you will get a cashback reward provided that you inform us as soon as you have booked your trek.
Toilet tents will be provided to you on the trek.These are portable toilets tents where a deep pit will be dug. A shovel will be provided inside the tent to cover the waste after you have made your business. You can take a toilet roll inside. Make sure you dig used toilet paper along with the waste. Though water is recommended in place of toilet paper. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are non-biodegradable.
There will be no facility for bathing on the trek. Go through our blog section for tips on how to maintain personal hygiene on treks.
You will be provided with good quality of gaiters and microspikes from us depending upon the situation of the snow. Our trek leaders will also be carrying ropes and ice axe.
Vegetarian food will be served throughout the trek. The only non-vegetarian item served on our treks are eggs. Our kitchen staff follows a proper menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfil the nutritional requirements of the participants.
There will be milk, poha, eggs, muesli/corn flakes, bread and butter served for breakfast. Rice or simple roti sabzi will be packed for lunch. In dinner, you will have dal, egg curry or any other vegetarian dish along with rice, roti, and a dessert item.
Packed lunch will be provided to you on the days you are trekking. You are requested to carry your own tiffin box and a mug to consume food.
The meals consumed on journey and arrival day are not included in our cost.
You can rent following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack
In winters, during the day, the temperature will range from 10-15 degrees celsius. The nights will get cold dropping the temperature to 0 to -8 degrees celsius. Higher the altitude you gain, the colder it gets.
You can expect snows from December to March. It is difficult to expect snow during summers or monsoons.
If you want to offload your rucksack, you will have to make a request for offloading a few days prior the trek through an email so that arrangement can be made in advance. You will be charged per day for offloading your rucksack. In case you decide to offload on the spot, you may have to pay a higher price than usual. However offloading your rucksack is not recommended since it is not a safe practice.
A team of participant will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek.
We maintain 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have a certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
Yes, trekking pole is necessary. If you don’t want to buy one, you can rent it from us on minimal daily basis charges. You can request the renting link from us.
Dehradun has a reasonable size market. However you will have no time in hand for shopping as you have to head to Ghuttu.
Ghuttu is a small village with a very small market. Please do not leave anything for last minute buying.
Yes, it is absolutely safe for solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing tent with each other. In case you are the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
We have one pick-up point: Dehradun ISBT
The dropping point remains the same.
Expect to reach Dehradun in the evening. Make sure your bookings from this point to your respective destinations are late in the night, post 2100 Hrs.
