Triund: A trekker’s paradise

Vikhyaat Nayyar

Only a kilometre more. That’s what the man at the tea stall had said. I wondered if he’d fooled me. I have been walking for the past 45 minutes and this last kilometre seems unending. I can barely walk now. A few a more minutes, I tell myself. And suddenly, I see myself at the hilltop. The view is breathtaking here. The trek hasn’t been easy but the effort to reach the top has been worth it. 

The small hill town of Triund in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh is at the foot of the Dhauladhar mountain range. As you climb the trek, one gets stunning views of the majestic snowcapped peaks of the Dhauladhars, besides the Kangra valley. From here, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, which can be seen from the top of the hill, appears to be a small green circle.

Triund is accessible by a trek of around 10 km from the main market of McLeodganj. The rectangular-shaped lush hilltop is lined by tents and sleeping bags of trekkers, who want to spend the night gazing at the stars.

The trek is relatively easy except for the last one km, which is equivalent to the effort put in to cover the first nine. It takes around four hours to reach the top and nearly two hours to descend. The route is lined with small tea stalls, which sell Maggie, tea, coffee and the overpriced Gatorade! 

There are two routes from which one can reach Triund. Besides the popular one that starts from the market of McLeodganj, there is another trek that starts from the bus stand. The latter one is a bit tough though. The former route takes one through the small village of Naddi where children can be seen playing in their homes. You also get to cross the dense forest of pine and deodar trees. One can also take a taxi till Gallu Devi temple, 6 km from Triund. Popular among foreigners as well as locals, one can spot many tourists from Canada, New Zealand and Europe here. They can be seen clicking selfies with the locals. 

Triund also acts as a base camp for acclimatisation by many trekkers who want to go up further. The most common of these is the trek to Inderahara point.

Dos & don’ts

• At an altitude of 2,850 m, the temperature drops drastically.

Don’t forget to carry a heavy jacket.

• Trekkers are advised to wear sports shoes with a good grip to avoid slipping.
• Wear track pants as insects are aplenty along the route.
• Carry a first aid kit, a torch, some food, lots of water, a map and a trekking pole. 
• From home stays to resorts, many options are available in and around McLeodganj.
• The ideal time to visit is from March till May and from September till December.