Panpatia Col Trek | JAN Treks & Travels

PANPATIA COL TREK

Trekking tour - 15 days/ 12 days trekking

About UTTARAKHAND

Uttarakhand is a state blessed with an enormous diversity of cultures and landscapes. Just like Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, it spans the whole altitudinal range from steamy jungle where tigers and wild elephants roam to some of the highest peaks of the Himalayas. One of them is Nanda Devi (7816 m, 25,636 ft), the highest mountain that lies fully in India.

TREKKERS’ PARADISE

The higher reaches of the Uttarakhand Himalayas are a mecca for trekkers. You can follow the herders up to the high bughyals (alpine meadows) and trek up to passes that in the old days gave access to Tibet. They reward you with some of the best glacial vistas in the Himalayas. Although the number of Indian trekkers is increasing, these areas still don’t get that many visitors as the much more known treks of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.

Region

Uttarakhand
(India)

Best Time

Mid-May/ June &
Sept./ Mid-Oct.

No. Of Days

15 days, 12 days trek

Trip Character

Trekking tour

Sleeping Altitude

290 - 5150 m

Trek Character

Camping trek
Level: 3

Price

INR XXX/ $ XXX

ABOUT THIS TOUR

The Panpatia Col (or Pass) is considered one of the most challenging – and least done – treks of medium length in Uttarakhand. This is only for experienced trekkers, with knowledge of using ice axes, crampons and roping up procedures. It crosses a pass at 5260m,

Following a Ganges tributary, the Alaknanda River, to its upper reaches, you’ll reach Badrinath, one of the four most important Hindu pilgrim places in the Uttarakhand Himalayas (3100m). Here, you’ll follow in the footsteps of early explorers like Meade, Shipton, Tilman, Martin Moran and Harish Kaparia. They were all drawn by the lore that a priest from Badrinath would trek to Kedarnath in a day. One look on the map will tell you that this can only be done by traversing a very large glacier pass.

This pass, the Panpatia Col, hides its approach within crevassed snowfields, rocky moraines and a large glacier flanked by massive ice falls. As a result, most early expeditions failed to find the way through.

The pass is reached after traversing the 7km long Panpatia glaciar/snowfield. Once on the pass, you are rewarded with spectacular views of nearby peaks such as Nilkantha, Balakun, Hathi Parvat, and Dhauliganga Peaks. Descending, XXX.

YOUR custom-made TRIP

The tour described here, as well as the other ones on our website, are mainly meant as suggestions. We would be happy to offer you a travel proposal that fully meets your personal demands and expectations. That means that you choose where you want to go, what level of accommodation and type of transport you want and what activities you prefer.

Please let yourself be inspired by this and other trips on our website and then drop us a line (or call us) to explain your travel wishes. We will be happy to help you put together the perfect trip. You can reach us over e-mail, Messenger, Whatsapp or mobile phone.

EXTENSIONS & VARIATIONS

Apart from the tour as described here, you could consider the following add-ons and changes:

On all tours In India we can organise one or two days sight-seeing in Delhi, either at the beginning or the end of the tour. You would be taken to Connaught Place, the center of New Delhi, the bustling beehive of Old Delhi, the Red Fort, Qutub Minar (an old minaret), The Akshardam Temple and more if you like.
For those who want to see more of the Indian plains we can organise a one or two-day trip to Agra (site fo the Taj Mahal) or a three to five-day Golden Circle tour, taking in Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.
Include another short trek on which you walk up to the source of the Ganges at Gaumukh near Gangotri. This can be done at the beginning or end of this tour. It adds six days in total to the tour.
If trekking is not your cup of tea we can show you Uttarakhand and some of the beautiful high pilgrim places by car and by doing less strenuous day walks only.

ITINERARY

Day 01: Delhi - Haridwar (91,3 km/ XXX h)
Early morning transfer to the railway station where you board the Shatabdi Express to Haridwar. On arrival our guide and driver will welcome you and take you to your hotel. In the evening you can witness an aarti ceremony at the ghats (banks) of the Ganges River. Overnight in or near Haridwar. Altitude 215 → 290m.
Day 02: Haridwar - Joshimath (>220 km/ 9 h)
Today, you'll follow the magnificent Alaknanda River to the important pilgrim place Joshimath. You'll pass the two prayags (confluences) of Dev Prayag and Rudraprayag. Overnight in Joshimath. Altitude 290 → 1820m.
Day 03: Joshimath - Badrinath - Khirao (2 h drive, 3 km/ 1 h walking)
Another 2 hours hours of driving will take you past the important Hindu pilgrimage place of Badrinath, and over a smaller road to Hanuman Chatti. Here, we cross a footbridge over the Yamuna River and walk up to the small village of Khirao. Overnight in camp. Altitude 1875 → 2700m.
Day 04: Khirao - Shepherd Camp (3 h walking)
From the village, a steep climb brings you up to the treeline and today's campsite in an open meadow. Altitude 2700 → 3500m.
Day 05: Shepherd Camp - Panpatia Glacier (3-4 h)
Another 400m of climbing brings you to glacier camp, situated just 10 mins walk from the glacier snout. Altitude 3500 → 3900m.
Day 06: Gacier Snout - Moraine Camp (8 km/ 3 h)
This is a relatively long day of gradual height gain. The never-ending moraine tends to get a bit monotonous but it’s a joy to weave across patches of snow to ease progress and add variety to the walk. There are magnificent peaks all around. Neelkanth and Parvati loom large on one side and a heavily crevassed glacier drops almost vertically to the other. Here you can catch your first glimpse of Chaukhamba. Altitude 3900 → 4300m.
Day 07: At Moraine Camp
A day to relax and acclimatise, read, relax, or take a short walk near camp, or try and spot some wildlife. Overnight moraine camp. Altitude 3460 → 4000 → 3480m.
Day 08: Moraine Camp - Parvati Col Basecamp (XXX km/ XXX h)
Trek to the base of Parvati Col. It’s a short but steep walk that brings you closer to the Panpatia snow field. The campsite is just below the Parvati Col. Altitude 4300 → 4600.
Day 09: Parvati Col Basecamp - Panpatia Snow Field (XXX km, XXX h)
A steep climb brings you to the edge of the terrace from where the only way up is through a steep snow and rock gully. We will fix ropes to negotiate this passage and enter the domain of pure snow. A series of gentle humps gives way to the Parvati Col and the Panpatia snowfield—a huge plateau of snow ringed by lofty peaks. Chaukhamba rises in all its glory and, with some luck, you may also catch a view of Nanda Devi. Altitude 4600 → 5150m.
Day 10: Panpatia Snow Field - Sujal Sarovar (XXXkm, XXX h)
The trail traverses the length of the Panpatia snowfield. Although it is a long traverse, there is negligible ascent. A short climb at the end brings you to Panpatia Col, beyond which is a vertigo-inducing descent that leads to Sujal Sarovar, the campsite. Altitude 5150 → 4700m.
Day 11: Sujal Sarovar - Kachni (XXXkm, XXX h)
Trek to Kanchni Tal. A few metres above Sujal Sarovar is a small pass from where it is a steep descent through snowy slopes and boulder zones to Kanchni. Beyond the small Maindgalla tal is another traverse through the boulders that leads to Kanchni. The meadow overlooks the Madhmaheshwar Ganga. Altitude 4700 → 4150m.
Day 12: Kachni - Nanu Chatti (XXXkm, XXX h)
Trek to Nanu Chatti. It takes about 3-4 hours to get to Madhmaheshwar temple beyond oak forests. From here, a paved trail rolls all the way to the roadhead at Ransi. It’s a leisurely walk through a forest to camp at Nanu Chatti, a small settlement of summer homes for people from Gaundhar village. Altitude 4150 → 3250.
Day 13: Buffer day
We have a rest / contingency day to allow for bad weather and to have some flexibility in the itinerary. Overnight Camp. Altitude 3250m.
Day 14: Nanu Chatti – Ransi – Rudraprayag (XXXkm, XXX h walking, 62km/ 2 h drivel)
Easy walk down to Ransi on the Madhmaheshwar temple trail, and onward drive to Rudraprayag. Overnight in hotel. Altitude 3250 → 690m.
Day 15: Rudraprayag - Haridwar - Delhi 162km, 5 h drive, 4-6 h train ride)
The car takes you down to Haridwar, where you board the train to Delhi. There are many trains going. In case you have requested us to arrange accommodation in Delhi, our drive will await you at the railway station. Also, we can arrange sight seeing in Delhi or a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra. Altitude 690 → 415 → 215m.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

HARIDWAR and RISHIKESH

Haridwar (and Rishikesh) represents the gateway to the Himalayan pilgrimage shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath. Haridwar is also the site of celebration of the Kumbha Mela, once in twelve years, when Jupiter transits to the zodiac sign of Aquarius. The five sacred bathing spots in Haridwar are Gangadwara, Kankhal, Nila Parvata, Bilwa Theertha and Kusavarta. The main ghat at Haridwar is known as Hari-ki-Pairi (known for a footprint of Vishnu on a stone in a wall). Nearby is the Gangadwara temple, the most important of the several temples that dot this town.

JOSHIMATH

BADRINATH

If there is one legacy of the Brits in India it is tea. Tea estates, tea processing and exporting, and tea drinking. It was long believed that wild tea, Camelia sinensis, only grew in China, but this small woody brush was ‘rediscovered’ by the British in the early 19th century in the jungle of Assam. Camelia sinensis var. assamica had long been used by indigenous people. Large tracts of land were converted into tea gardens and these days Darjeeling (and Assam) tea are known worldwide. There are two kinds of preparation. The black tea that is being dunked in water that just has been boiled is called orthodox. In Indian households and tea stalls the tea is generally boiled for some time with milk and sugar, and sometimes spices. This is called CTC tea. The two kinds of tea require different factory handling, but both have the same Camelia leaves as the starting point.

HOLY HIMALAYAN LAKES

If we were to pick one trek that is, at best, moderately strenuous while offering superb views of the Himalayan giants, it is the Singalila Ridge Trek. On this trek you climb through well-protected subtropical forests teeming with butterflies, birdlife and some rare species like the red panda up to the montane zone of fir and Rhododendron. From late April to May exuberantly blooming rhododendrons and magnolias set the hill sides on fire. Emerging at the alpine meadows of Sandakphu, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Himalayan range. Especially during autumn (October – December), when you can expect clear skies, you can see five summits higher than 8000m within one sweeping view, amongst them Everest, Kangchenjunga, Makalu and Lhotse.

VALLEY of FLOWERS

Yangsum Farm is tucked away in an idyllic landscape with the Khangchenjunga (the third highest mountain in the world, 8586m) and the skyline of the Singalila Range in the background. It is a historic farmhouse, that was built in 1833 and renovated in 1966. The owners, Thendup Tashi and his wife Pema will certainly do their best to make you feel at home here. A large part of the estate consists of half-open forest with pines, Himalayan alders, sweet chestnuts, magnolias, rhododendrons, wild cherry and more tree species. If you arrive early, you can also walk to the local Buddhist monastery, or visit the old Lepcha Heritage House, dedicated to the culture of the oldest inhabitants of Sikkim.

KUARI PASS

Pemayangtse Gompa was built by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1705, and it is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim. It was expanded by the third Chogyal (king) of Sikkim Chakdor Namgyal, who was considered the third incarnation of Lhatsun Chenpo. The monastery follows the Nyingma order (‘Old sect’) and is the main monastery of this order in Sikkim. The monks of the monastery are normally chosen from the Bhutias (ethnic Tibetans living in Sikkim since the seventeenth century). The top floor of the monastery houses a rare work of art made of wood, a seven-storey representation of Guru Rinpoche’s Celestial Palace (known as ‘Sanghthokpalri’ or ‘Zandog-palri’). Guru Rimpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, was one of the most important spreaders of Buddhism in the eighth century.

PANA and JHANGI

Teentaley Eco Resort is not a hotel but, as they say “an organic experience of the real, rural Sikkim.” Here, you stay in cozy bamboo cottages amidst a sprawling landscape garden, with a farmhouse and a private forest where you can go bird watching without leaving the premises. The food is home-grown, organic of course, and dinners are accompanied with the typical Sikkimese tongba – bamboo containers filled with millet beer. As the location, in Rumtek, is close to Gangtok, you can stay here, sleeping in the quiet of the mountains and waking to the birds’ songs, while visiting Sikkim’s capital during the day.

RAFTING on the GANGES

Rumtek Gompa is the most famous monastery of Sikkim. It was originally built in the middle of the eighteenth century under the direction of Changchub Dorje, the 12th Karmapa, the reincarnated head abbot of the Karma Kagyu Sect. It served for some time as the seat of the Karma Kagyu Sect in Sikkim, but later this was moved to Tsurpu (or Tshurphu) in Tibet. When the 16th Karmapa arrived in Rumtek in 1959 after fleeing the Chinese oppression in Tibet, the monastery was in ruins. At the invitation of India’s first prime minister, Jawahal Nehru, and with generous support from the Sikkimese royal family and the local population, the monastery was rebuilt as a replica of the Tsurpu monastery, and the sacred objects that had been brought from Tsurpu were reinstalled. A golden stupa in the monastery contains the remains of the 16th Karmapa.

Gangtok

In Sikkim’s capital Gangtok, the rear neighbours almost always live on another street and hardly anyone has a garden, because the slopes are too steep for that. This also means that the roads are nowhere wide and often clogged. But fortunately most locations in the city can be reached on foot. Pedestrians can use a whole series of footbridges to cross busy roads. Gangtok was also the first city in India to declare its centre a pedestrian area. Here it is pleasant to stroll and shop and there are numerous ‘hip’ restaurants and cafes. Thanks to the government’s serious approach to environmental problems – a rarity in India – this is also one of India’s cleanest city centres. Interesting places to visit include the flower exhibition – with many varieties of orchids, – the Institute of Tibetology, Enchey Gompa and Tashi Viewpoint.