A day before trekking – Nervous butterflies flutter in my stomach as I double-check my gear.
As I wrapped up my office work and packed my backpack for the next day, the playful growl of thunder echoed through the sky promising the rain. Despite the uncertainty of the weather, I kept talking to myself debating whether I’d be able to step out and go for a trek. Yet, amidst swirling thoughts in my mind, I held onto positive thoughts and settled for the night.
Even though I could hear far-off thunder like a soothing song, I fell asleep calmly. I imagined the hike I had planned and all the amazing things I would see.
On the day of the Triund trek..
We woke up around 6:00 am and were ready by 7:00am. The rain gave everything around a refreshing bath, from the towering trees to the grass below even the scooters parked outside and the stairs. It left the surroundings looking lush and vibrant with shades of green. We had 8 other members joining us for the trek, so we waited for them to get ready. In the meantime, we played with Dodo and Coco, the Himalayan pet dogs who lived at the place we were staying.
We set off from Dharmsala at around 8:15 am.
The cab dropped us off at Gallu Devi Temple. The journey from Dharmshala to the temple was mostly uphill, with winding roads. The stretch from Dharamkot to Gallu devi temple is off-road and I particularly enjoyed this stretch. Surrounded by oak trees and rhododendron- absolutely beautiful. The drive along this road created unforgettable memories.
While my partner and I were not feeling hungry, as we had some snacks that we had carried from home along with a fruit, the others had breakfast at a local restaurant. We enjoyed the view as they were eating. After 15-20 minutes, we thought of starting the hike while they were still trying to finish breakfast.
Raghav said – We are starting the hike and let’s meet on the trail.
They replied – Alright 🙂
The first Half
Being on a mountain trail is meditative and the most beautiful thing. Far away from the noise of the city, surrounded by the art of nature, listening to nature’s music, breathing the fresh air, being with my partner, and sharing the joy of adventure – what more can one can ask for?
The trail was filled with dried yellow leaves and pebbles, surrounded by trees with bright red rhododendron flowers. It’s intense red petals dazzled the eye making hard to capture them in photos. The first half of the trek was completed while admiring the beauty of nature and engaging in random conversations.
We took our first break at Magic view cafe that has incredible view. We shared a plate of bread with peanut butter, which tasted delicious. The best part though, was the shop itself – everything was displayed so perfectly and aesthetically pleasing. Sitting inside the shop felt incredibly calming and homely. I couldn’t resist complimenting the owner, saying that he was doing a fantastic job taking care of the shop. With a smile, he graciously accepted the compliment and replied with a simple “thanks.”
The second half
The second half of the trek began with a steeper incline compared to the first half. Despite being able to see our destination, it seemed quite far away. I could clearly observe all the elevation changes ahead of us. Raghav, my partner, was walking at a faster pace, and I tried to keep up with him, but eventually, I settled into my own rhythm and continued walking. At times, I found myself out of breath, my face turning red from the exertion. Despite feeling tired, my legs persisted, doing their best to carry me forward. Occasionally, we exchanged small greetings like “Hi” and “Namaste” with other hikers as they passed us going downhill.
Were we able to complete the trek?
I decided to take a rest for a while and was sitting on the edge when the thundering started. It was quite scary this time. With only 20% of the trek left, we were pushing ourselves forward. We didn’t stop and kept walking. After 10 minutes, we encountered a hailstorm, with small ice lumps falling on us. Man! It had hurt when they directly came in contact with the skin. We took shelter near a rock and quickly put on our ponchos. As we waited, we watched tiny ice balls falling from the sky.
After 15 – 20 minutes hailstorm was gone but the rain didn’t stop. We started walking in the rain. When I turned back to breathe deep, I saw fog swirling around mountains. With only 5% of the hike remaining, the rain finally stopped.
We reached the top and were mesmerized by the breathtaking view of the Dhauladhar range.
The sky’s all cloudy, cows are lazily munching on grass, and suddenly, hunger hits! So, we went for some good comfort food—daal chawal and aloo paratha. That first bite? Pure satisfaction! Simple, no fancy stuff, just good, hearty grub. Seriously, if more cafes served food like this, count me in—I’d be there every chance I get! So yum!
The rain brought a chill to the air compounded by the biting wind. Seeking refuge from the cold, we settled into the warmth of the same cafe, lingering for a while. Afterwards, we ventured out for another 30 minutes, exploring the beauty of Triund’s summit. Along the way, we met locals who had hiked from the opposite side, making their way to the Shiv Ji temple and other local shrines for worship.
After spending another hour, we were ready to head back down. Opting for the route towards Dharamkot, let me tell you, it was steep! My poor knees felt the burn. It took us around 2 hours and 15 minutes to make it all the way down. Whew, what a trek!
Complete Guide To Do Triund Trek
- Altitude 2875 meters.
- Starting point and base village for Triund Trek – Base village for Triund trek is Dharamkot and Mcleodganj. We chose to start the trek from Gallu Devi Temple ( Dharamshala to Gallu Devi temple by cab ) as many find this route the easiest due to its shorter distance and less steep ascent compared to Bhagsu Nag waterfall and Dharamkot.
- Dharamkot to Triund Top – 7 km one side ~ 4 hours
- Mcleodganj to Triund Top – 9 km one side ~ 6 hours
- Difficulty level of Triund trek – The Triund trek is considered easy to moderately difficult. It involves a gradual ascend.
- How long is Triund trek – The trek to Triund from Gallu devi temple typically takes around 3 to 4 hours to ascend and 2 to 3 hours to descend, depending on one’s fitness level and pace.
- Best Time to trek Triund – March to June and September to November, when the weather is pleasant and the trails are relatively dry. The monsoon season (July to August) should be avoided due to the risk of landslides and slippery paths.
- The trail is well-marked, so whether you’re hiking solo or with friends, you’ll find your way without any hassle. Just follow the trail and stick to it.
- Once you reach the top, you can easily book the tents for accommodation. So no worries about carrying heavy gear along the way. Just enjoy the trek and rest assured, you’ll have a cozy place to crash at the summit.
- If it’s your first time trekking in the Himalayas, remember that even “easy” treks require some level of preparation. Not trying to scare you off, but being ready will make it way more enjoyable. Trust me, you don’t want to be totally wiped out when you’re surrounded by all that beauty.
I hope you enjoy this blog! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me in the comments.
CurlyGirlyTravely 