Need info about Darma valley trek

niro

Dear IM friends,

After searching and reading most of the threads about Darma valley (specially written by RAJKUMAR) I still have a few questions:

1. Do foreigners need permit to visit Darma valley? If do- where can I obtain one.
2. Do I need a guide to walk from Sobla to Dantu?
3. Can I go from Dantu to Panchachuli base camp in one day to see the sunrise? ( I don't want to do this trak with tent).
4. Do I need a guide from Dantu to Panchachuli base camp?
5. What a landscapes and view along the way? I mean- do I walk in a forest and see nothing but trees or do I walk in open areas and got an alpine view?
6. In how many days it can be done?
7. Do I get to sleep in local people houses? If yes- how does I find then?

Thank you for now.
Niro.

Almoraboy

well, if u want to go to darma valley, then yes, foreigners will need permits. the permit checking is done a little bit ahead of sobla...by the itbp. i suggest u ring up kumaon mandal vikas nigam at dharchula and ask them in advance. ask for mr. arya, he is the manager of that place. they might help u in arranging for all the paperwork

for views..well, i have got some pics of narayan ashram...near the entrance of darma valley..here r the pics....
http://almoraboy.blogspot.com/2007/0...an-asharm.html

there is another palce nearby, called munsyari....which is really really beautiful.

pics of munsyari this winter....

http://almoraboy.blogspot.com/2007/0...e-of-snow.html

u can do many small treks from munsyari. for example, here r the pics of khalia top....near munsyari...

http://almoraboy.blogspot.com/2006/1...kend-trek.html

yes, staying with the locals is the standard practice. hte kmvn guys can arrange a guide for u. just carry some topilet paper, as u might have to go to the toilets in the open. one thing that u can be arranged is that u might try to get hold of the pwd guest houses alonmg the way....that might solve the loo problem

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Trek blog over here

Almoraboy

Dear IM friends,

After searching and reading most of the threads about Darma valley (specially written by RAJKUMAR) I still have a few questions:

1. Do foreigners need permit to visit Darma valley? If do- where can I obtain one. ----> dharchula/Pithoragarh
2. Do I need a guide to walk from Sobla to Dantu? ----> If not a guide, at least take a porter
3. Can I go from Dantu to Panchachuli base camp in one day to see the sunrise? ( I don't want to do this trak with tent). --> Should be possible
4. Do I need a guide from Dantu to Panchachuli base camp?
5. What a landscapes and view along the way? I mean- do I walk in a forest and see nothing but trees or do I walk in open areas and got an alpine view? --> both
6. In how many days it can be done? --> At least one week
7. Do I get to sleep in local people houses? If yes- how does I find then? --> Ur guide can take u

Thank you for now.
Niro.

niro

Thanks Almoraboy!
great photos!

How can pwd guest houses solve some problems?
If I go with no guide and no porter- can I still find and sleep
at local people houses?
According to your answer at question number 5- is it a good alpine trek?

Thank you very much for your help!

Almoraboy

pwd guest house might have some sort of a loo

here r some pics from my friend's blog. he went there in october

http://kamalkandpal.blogspot.com/200...a-to-sela.html

best thing is to ring up kumaon mandal vikas nigam dharchula office and ask for mr. arya

some pics from a friend's album..he has done darma last year..check out the entire route here...

http://community.webshots.com/user/kamal_123

niro

Thanks Almoraboy for your helpful answers!

by-the-way: how do I get the phone number of kumaon mandal vikas nigam dharchula office ?

Almoraboy

This site: http://www.kmvn.org/admin/viewdestination.aspx

Dharchula = http://www.kmvn.org/admin/trhdetails...on=Dh archula

Munsyari = http://www.kmvn.org/admin/trhdetails...ion=Mu nsyari

(i have given u munsyari number also, just in case Mr. Arya is not in Dharchula). his house is actually next to the KMVN TRC in munsyari and currently he is posted in dharchula. There is another guy named Narendra at the KMVN Munsyari reception. You can tell them that u got their reference via me (Prashant Joshi). Also, Mr. Arya can converse in english, but for the rest, try to talk in hindi / kumaoni.

niro

Thank you very much for now Almoraboy!

Niro.

rajkumar

hi
seen this thread just now. I agree with Almoraboy.
As the trek route is along the river Dhauliganga upstream, you will not get lost. But at someplaces you will have to search for the paths.
And the trek is thru forests till Baling. After Baling, the valley broadens and get alpine views. Between Dhar and Bungling you have to walk on a narrow path in a gorge.
Take a porter/guide along with you so that he will arrange accomodation in local houses. If you want to stay in PWD rest houses, in Nangling and Dugtu they are available. But I suggest a stay in local homes as a paying guest.
In sela, theer is a hotel where you can spend the night. In Baling, Dugtu and Dantu, also you can approach people for homestay and they will guide you.
From Dantu to Panchachuli base, start early before 5-00AM. And you will reach in time to see the sunrise at the base camp. Base camp is about 5 km from Dantu. Again your guide will help you in finding the route quickly. Even the views from Dugtu-Dantu are good. any more questions?

niro

Hi rajkumar,
Thanks for your replay.

To your opinion- is the Darma valley is more
culture trek
or more
Himalaya view trek?

Thanks.

rajkumar

Upto Baling, it's more or less culture trek as you won't get many snow views. But from Baling it's both a culture and 'himalaya view' trek. You will see Panchachuli peaks after reaching Dugtu only.

Almoraboy

why don't u try to climb up from tawaghat, towards the bugyals and jimba glacier. we could not do it last winters due to bad weather. but this time u might try... the clouds might obscure the views...but i am sure it will be very very green

VSK Sharma

Hi Niro,
Just stumbled on the thread as it is under Uttar Pradesh & Uttaranchal fourm. Actually you would have got many replies had you posted it under Mounatineering and Trekking Forum.
None the less you have chosen an excellent trek.
For Permit I am not very sure whether it is required by foreigners. Check with the DM's office at Pithoragarh, it can also be issued by SDM at Dharchula also. Going upto Duntu is no problem. For sunrise you don't have to move out of village. Staying is also not a problem and according to me you just don't require any one with you. Carry you sleeping bag and few clothes and have an excellent trek with the least money spent.

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http://himalayancamping.com/index.php

niro

Thanks VSK Sharma for your answer.

rajkumar- as I sew on the map- most of the way is until Baling? am I worng?

Almoraboy- can you please give me more information about your segustion? like- where do you start? how many days? do you need a tent (I don't want to carry one) and so.

Thanks,
Niro.

rajkumar

The trek starts at a village Dhar, a road head. From there you will come across these villages along the trek route( on the true right side of the river): Bungling, Sela, nangling, Baling, Dugtu and then Dantu all on the banks of Dhauli ganga river. From Dugtu you go into a side valley along Nyuli yangthi river towards Panchachuli base camp. If you follow the main river Dhauli ganga further beyond Dantu, you will find Dhakar and Tidang villages. Tidang is where dhauli and Lasser yankthi rivers meet. along Lasser yankthi, further up you will find Marcha and sipu villages. and above tidang along Dhauli there are no villages. The border police and army stay there. And for Indian nationals also, permits are required to visit these areas. Indian trekkers are allowed to visit upto Dantu and panchachuli base camp only without permits. Tidang has a big Indo Tibetan Border police camp where strangers are questioned and without permits they could be arrested. All the movement beyond Tidang is strictly controlled.