Nanda Devi National Park Trek

spicetrekker

Like in the past few years, this September also I am planning around 15 days trek holiday in Uttarakhand. As of now I have shortlisted Nanda Devi National park trek as the one to go for this year. I have a few questions:

1. How easy or difficult is it to get the permits for this trek?
2. Should one go through GMVN or can one organise it on ones own - frankly GMVN's rate of 2500 per day sounds expensive
3. Is there a requirement of minimum number of persons for this trek - in one of the threads on IM I read 4 persons minimum were required
4. If one is doing this on ones own i.e. without GMVN, where can I get guides and porters and also equipment - we have our sleeping bags but will need tents
   

Additionally, I will have some more holidays after this trek (4-5 days) so would like to do a shorter trek around Joshimath. I have been to VoF and dont mind going there again but was wondering if something from Auli is poosilbe. Other option we were thinking of was Kakbhusandi tal - from Bhuyander side. What I look forward to from the group is:

1. Suggestions of other treks to combine with the Nanda Devi trek
2. Share any info or personal experiences with the Kakbhusandi Tal trek - route, degree of difficulty, where to get guides etc - Note: Our group is not into technical trekking though we can walk for long distances. Some treks we have done are VoF, PanchKedar and Tapovan.
   

Thanks in advance.

Amitava343

Hi there,
I do not know fully about Khagbhusabdi tal from Bhuyander side I had made an attempt from Vishnu Prayag but due little mis planning from the guides side I could not complete it.

Other short good treks would be from Badrinath it takes two to three hours to get to Badrinath from Joshimath.
The treks
1.Satopanth Tal (around trip 4-5 days, plenty of caves only provisions), have to register with the ITBP at Mana, no hassel just register your names.
2.Neelkant Pass. (Badrinath to Khirao metalic road 4-5 days tent provisions required)

I do not know if the Nanada Devi National Park has been opened. The trek should start from Joshimath Lata village, and follow the Rishi Ganga Gorge. Guides etc may be available from Lata.I have been to Nanda Devi Base camp from the Milam side following the Pachu Nalla.
Happy Trekking

ashutosh69

Read up "The Nandadevi Affair" by Bill Atkein. One brilliant piece of travelogue solely dedicated to this trek...The Nandadevi Sanctuary trek.

You need specialised guides for this trek who are usually available from Lata village. Please search through the threads in this site and you might just get the number of some famous porters/guides/porter Sirdars.

Although 2500 per day rate of GMVN is just about 500 Rs premium for a 4-6 person's group, the advntage could be in expertise of Guides in this very frightening trek and of course the ease of securing permits.

spicetrekker

Amitava

Thanks for your suggestions. I belive the trek to Nanda devi national park is open till the Outer ring - someplace called Dibrughetta.

On Kakbhusandi Tal - I was planning to go from Bhyundar as I believe the ascent is simpler than from Vishnuprayag. Do let me know what went wrong with your plans last time , so that I dont repeat the same mistake. Also how steep was the trek from VP side, I belive it is tough. As mentioned earlier we are not into technical trekking - we prefer Panch Kedar type of treks.

thanks

spicetrekker

Ashutosh Thanks. I will read Bill Aitken's book. BTW I understand that park fees per person per day is 500 - is that correct. Also why did you call this trek "frightening".

thanks

Amitava343

On the contrary from the Bhuider side you have to cross a pass to get to Khagbhusandi Tal the pass is Kunkun Khal, but then its not a category A++ trek. In both the ways provisions and tents are a must.
I was going in the month of June, there is scarcity of water at that time of the year but that was not the problem, we had pitched the tent on a ridge known as Vinayak, from there my guide with whom I hae been to Satopanth also misjudged the distance of the Tal. We could not have gone there and be back. From top of a ridge he pointed out the Gorge of the Tal and we started back and reached our tent at 10.30pm in the night. I did get to see the Neelkant and Choukhamba in the little moonlight that ther was.
After Vinayak top there were other camping grounds with plenty of water. Next time I want to go up the Bhuinder way and come down the VP side then it will be areal good trek
Good Luck

spicetrekker

Amitava

Thanks. can you give me the number of the guide who went with you. Does he arrange tents etc also or should I do that from Joshimath.

thanks

Amitava343

His Name is Amar Singh I had been with him to Satopanth and Neelkant Pass previously, he was referred to by my Bengali Purohit of Badrinath. Unfortunately I do not have his address here. (I am in Kazakhstan)
Others are also available. From the Bhuinder side go up to Bhuinder village and ask for Jagjit Singh Chauhan, he could provide you with guides. There are trek agencies at Joshimath I do not know them and have never worked with any.
One other point which you should know note permit from the FOREST AUTHORITIES from Joshimath is also required to go to Khagbhusandi tal. I had bypassed this as a result a little financial help from my side to the care taken sitting at Pang (Village)got me through.
Do not trust a Nepali porter, unless the locals vouch for the guy even then its a bit dicy.
Either way its agood climb and trek.

The route from Vishu Prayag
Vishnu Prayag to Baldora Bridge ask a jeep to drop you ther. From there the direction is given steep climb to Pank Village.
Do not attempt without guide chances are you will get lost in the forest avove Pank village.
I cannot give you any idea about guides from VP. Ask around in the Joshimath market and the agencies they might help.
I wish you luck

spicetrekker

Amitava Thanks.

What are you doing Kazak - any plans of trekking in Altay mountains? Thanks for all your tips- A lot of people have told me to avoid Nepali porters - any reasons for the same.

Amitava343

Thievws cannot be trusted.

ashutosh69

HI...

from the various accounts that I have read of the entry into Nandadevi sanctuary, the easiest apparently is the entry through the Lata and Rishiganga gorge. The other posiibilities are Sunderdunga Khal from the Pindari side or Nandadevi Khal (Longstaff Col) from the Lawan Valley ex- Martoli.

Apparently there are stretches on the route along the Rishiganga gorge that are very steep...almost a path cut out on rockwall. There apparently is a very narrow ledge kind of stretch which is called Vaikunth Siri (Stairways to Heavens).. I guess it all tests your nerves...but otherwise trekkable unlike Sunderdunga Khal and Nadadevi Khal which are more complicated.