Located in the Pir Panjal Range of mountains in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Jagatsukh Peak at a height of 5,050M is a perfect starting point for anyone who wants to transition from trekking to climbing. Taking you through the beautiful Jagatsukh village, the climb up this peak is a perfect feat for beginners since it involves going up to newer heights but does not require a lot of technical prowess. The route to the base camp of this magnificent peak takes you through the most gorgeous terrain of massive meadows with the most beautiful spread of colorful wild flowers, a panoramic view of the entire range of mountains and the clouds putting on a dramatic show all throughout the trail. As the vegetation starts to thin out, you enter a landscape of rocks, moraine and the slowly appearing snow which completely takes over the entire surface of the mountain in no time. The summit offers some thrilling views of Deo Tibba, Indrasan, Mt. Norbulinga, and other infamous peaks from the nearby ranges. Although it is an ideal expedition for first timers, it does demand high levels of physical fitness and experience of trekking in the Himalayas to adapt to the altitude. The best months to do the Jagatsukh Peak trek are the pre-monsoon months of May and June followed by the post-monsoon months of September and October. Stay on this page for more information on the Jagatsukh Peak Expedition.
Day 1: Make your way to Manali (2,050 M)
The trek starts from Manali, which is a very popular tourist destination and hence extremely accessible. If you need guidance on how to get to this high-altitude backpacking center, this article (How to Reach Manali: All You Need to Know) might come handy.
Day one is reserved for the participants to make their way into Manali and get settled into their accommodation in a Manali hotel. First half of the day is to get comfortable with the mountain air and each other. While the body acclimatizes, we take this time to get together with the group and delve into the happenings of the next few days - schedule, what to expect, basic do's and don'ts in the mountains, how to maintain the sanctity of the environment and such matters of importance. Since we are a learning-based organisation, we take some time on the first day to talk a little about how best to pack your backpacks in order for a successful climb. This is accompanied by a demo of the same which then follows getting all the equipment required, in place. It is a relatively easy day but very very essential for what's to come next!
Day 2: Manali (2,050M) to Jagatsukh (1,950M) to Chikka (3,175M)
Duration: 1 hour drive + 3 hour trek
Post breakfast we will drive to Jagatsukh which is our trail head for the climb. We should get to this village close to Manali within an hour from when we begin. We start our trek towards the meadows of Chikka from here, which should take close to 3 hours. It is not a heavy day and is perfect to get acclimatized to this new height that you arrived to just a day before. The trail is very pleasant and refreshing too. It ascends gradually through thick pine forests along narrow valley. The campsite is on the open pastoral land of Chikka, next to the noisy Jagatsukh Nala.
Day 3: Chikka (3,175M) to Seri Base Camp (3,700M)
Duration: 5 hour trek
We leave after an early breakfast today, latest by 9 AM. We continue alongside the Jagatsukh Nala. The day’s trek starts with a gradual ascent under the canopy of a thick forested land for the first one hour. After an hour, the forests start to thin out to give way to Birch trees and finally some bushes and high altitude grasslands. You will be welcomed into the grasslands carpeted with the brightest wildflowers you will see! With a few patches of old snow and a few patches of boulders, the ascent up from 3,175M to 3,700M is gradual. The trail gets tougher and the views get better. Walking alongside the Nala, we pass a freshwater spring at Panduropa and Dudu Patthar until we reach the expansive grasslands at Seri with the Tainta cliffs towering to the left and the waterfalls crashing on the rocks below. We cross the zigzagging river to get to our campsite for the day. We camp on the flatlands for the night with a massive waterfall right opposite the campsite. This beautiful campsite doubles up as our base camp for this expedition.
We go for an acclimatization walk in the early evening.
Day 4 and Day 5: Seri Base Camp (3,700M) to Summit Camp
Duration: 6 hours
Expeditions usually employ the method of making rotational rounds for better acclimatization. This means that we climb to the next campsite and come back down to spend the night. The next day we go up again, this time to occupy the next campsite, thereby living the golden tenet in climbing - ‘climb high, sleep low’. We undertake load ferry from Base Camp to Summit camp on Day 4 to finally go and occupy Summit Camp on Day 5.
Day 6: Summit Attempt (5,050M)
Like all expeditions, we start our summit attempt in the dark of the night when the snow is most stable. The summit attempt involves a fair bit of altitude gain. Expect the day to be 8-9 hours long which involves starting from the summit camp to get to the top of the mountain and trace your way back to the base camp. The climb involves navigating moraine fields which eventually gives way to glaciers. The climb and the summit provide for some magnificent views of the peaks around. We will spend tonight at base camp before we head back down to Manali.
Day 7: Basecamp (3,700M) to Manali (2,050M)
On day 7, we head back down from our base camp at Seri to trek to Chikka and drive back to Manali. Expect to reach by early evening. We would recommend you account for a buffer day or two to book your travel back since the weather in Himalayas tends to be unpredictable.
Day 8: Reserve Day
In case of bad weather or other difficulties, Day 8 is reserved for a second summit attempt. This will only get used if unexpected and unforeseeable conditions present themselves at the last minute preventing the first summit push.
May or June in pre monsoon and September and October in post monsoon are the best months to undertake this expedition.
Click here for packing list.
The base camp for the Jagatsukh Peak expedition is Manali, which is well connected to Delhi with all kinds of transport (except direct train) and can easily be reached through road or air.
By Road : The road distance from Delhi to Manali is 536 km. There are overnight HRTC buses and Volvos available from ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi for Manali. It is a 14 hour journey by bus. You can book your bus tickets online through hrtchp.com or any other bus services available. You can also hire a private taxi or an outstation cab from Delhi.
By Rail : To reach by train, take a direct train from Delhi to Pathankot. Some of the trains that run on this route are Delhi-Pathankot Express, Jammu Tawi Express, Delhi-Dhauladhar Express. You can then take a bus from Pathankot to Manali. Or you can take a connecting train to Joginder Nagar from Pathankot which is the nearest station to Manali. There are buses running frequently between Joginder Nagar and Manali.
By Air : The nearest airport is Bhuntar airport which is located 50 km from Manali. There are taxis available at the airport which will take you to Manali. You can also take local buses that keep running from Bhuntar to Manali at a very regular frequency. Buses are decent and very cheap compared to taxi that can cost you around INR 2000-5000 depending upon the season.
Airtel and BSNL may have coverage at some points upto Khanol. One can expect full reception till Jagatsukh.
Manali is the gateway to Solang Valley where you can participate in adventure activities like paragliding, and zorbing in the summer months when the snow melts. Visit the ancient Hadimba Devi Temple which has an interesting mythological tale associated with it. Walk through the charming lanes of Old manali. Visit the bazaar to buy some souvenirs. Jogini Fall and Vashisht Temple are other famous attractions in Manali. You can also visit Rohtang pass while you are in Manali.
The Jagatsukh Peak expedition is meant for experienced trekkers looking for a challenge to climb peaks. The maximum altitude gained during the expedition is 16,570 ft. The trail of the trek is difficult to scale but offers unmatched beauty at the same time. At the summit, one gets a panoramic view of Pir Panjal range, Dhauldhar range, and the great Himalayan range. Some of the most peaks like Friendship Peak, Shitidhar, Indra Asan and Deo Tibba are also visible. For details on trek difficulty level, please read on Bikat Rating Scale
A basic mountaineering course is recommended though not mandatory in case of highly experienced & skilled trekkers. At least 2-3 challenging treks along with 20 – 25 total trekking days in the Himalayas.
Jog/Run for 5 Kms in 25-30 mins Or Walk continuously for 10 kms (with 3-4 small breaks) on plain terrain (slight incline is better) and
Hold your breath for 40 seconds and
3 sets of Climbing 30 – 40 steps in one stretch and
Push Ups – 10 and
Lunges & Squats – 15 X 2 sets
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
How to use an Ice Axe
How to use Climbing boots & Crampons
How to rope up & follow queued climbing/descending
How to self-arrest using an ice axe
Knowledge of Basic First aid
The minimum age limit is 13 years. However, minors aged between 13 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.
At Manali, we will stay at hotels or guesthouses on Day 1. During the trek we will be camping.
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 the months of May and June, the temperature will range from 13-16 degrees Celsius during the day and from 3-6 degrees Celsius in the night. In the months of July-September, the temperature will range from 14-17 degrees Celsius during the day and from 4-8 degrees Celsius in the night. The higher the altitude you gain, the colder it gets. The temperature at advanced camps will be significantly lessers with a lot of snow.
There will be snow on the higher reaches beyond the base camp up to the summit.
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.
It is not mandatory but it is more convenient with the pole. 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.
Yes, there are stores and shops in Manali from where you can buy necessary stuff. Though it is recommended that you come prepared with all the stuff. 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.
From Manali, we will drive you to Dhundi and at the end of the trek, we will drive you back to Manali.
ID Proof (Soft Copy to be sent to us in Advance & original to be carried) and Medical Certificate (Soft Copy to be sent to us & original to be carried) are the mandatory documents required for this trek.
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Sarthak Madan 22 November 2018
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