Need information about khalia top

niro

Dear IM friends,

I'm intersting of doing the khalia top.
Can you please tell me:
1. How many days from Munsyari to khalia top and back?
2. Can I do it without tent (I'm not carry one)
3. Can it be done in one day?
4. Do I need a guide?
5. In metres- what is the total climb?
6. And what is the total from Munsyari?

Thanks for any infromation,
niro.

Sadanand Kamath

A good source of information is almoraboy's blog :
http://almoraboy.blogspot.com/2006/1...kend-trek.html

Sadanand

niro

Almoraboy site is full of great photos.
But I'm also looking for information about the trek.

Thanks

Almoraboy

1. How many days from Munsyari to khalia top and back? --> For Khalia top, you have to go by road (on a jeep) till the Balati farm, which is about 4 kms abay from Munsyari main town. It is on the same road from which you approach munsyari, via kalamuni. Then, from Balati farm, it is approximately a 7 km trek straight up to Khalia top.
2. Can I do it without tent (I'm not carry one) --> If you are very fit and a fast trekker, then you can do it in one day. Start early, like 5 am from Munsyari nad come back by nightfall. But one of the best views from Khalia top is during the sunrise and sunset. So, it is good to stay near the top for one night, in the bugyals (meadows). there is a stream flowing nearby and that will provide water for cooking. The shepards are helpful and can lend you their kitchen (made inside a stone hut) for tea, cooking breakfast, etc.
3. Can it be done in one day? --> 14 kms, can be done in one day. But to make it enjoyable, u can do it in 2 days. enjoy camping under the stars (provided u r not going in the monsoons)
4. Do I need a guide? --> take 2 guides/porters (They will carry all your stuff + tent + kitchen stuff, like stove, etc). They will also cook your dinner over there.
5. In metres- what is the total climb? --> Maximum, till 3500 metres, no ways can it be higher than that. And balati farm will be approximately at 2500 metres. So, at the most, u will not climb more than 1000 metres (but this is a safe estimate, i guess it will be more like 800 metres).
6. And what is the total from Munsyari? --> like i said, total climb of not more than 1000 metres

__________________
Trek blog over here

niro

Hi almoraboy,

Again I find you very helpful to me.

Do you know if I can stay near the top in some
Dharamsala or some sheperds house?
I'm really intersting to do this trek
but as I mention- I coming with no tent or cooking gear at all.

Thanks.
niro.

Almoraboy

hello,

unfortunately, you will have to carry a tent, as this is not a "regular" trek. thus, there are no facilities to stay in the top. However, the views are stunning. Even if you do not have a tent, you can easily get it in rent from Munsyari. I guess it will cast u around Rs. 300 - Rs. 350 for renting the tent. yes, u "might" be able to sleep in a shephard's hut, but then those are temporary structures, and right now the shephards are also there in full force (they come down in winters only). So even their stone huts might be fully occupied.
So I guess u will ahve three options ->
1). Take a tent, stay for one night, enjoy sunrise and sunset.
2). Take a chance, travel light (only food, toileteries) and stay in an empty shepard's hut
3). Leave early, travel very fast, coem back by nightfall.

niro

almoraboy,

Where can I rent a tent in Munsyari?
Can I also rent a sleeping bag?
If the sheperds hut will have space- do you think they will have no problem that we (Me & wife) will sleep with them? I mean- is this commen?

We plan to be there in October.

Thanks!

Almoraboy

Many small trekkign agencies rent it out.
What I did was get it from Arya ji, who was the manager of KMVN Munsyari. Now he is the manager of KMVN Dharchula.

What you can do is ring up KMVN Munsyari, and tell them that u plan to come in October, and ask them to keep a tent + sleeping bags for you. Most probably a person named Narendra will pick up the reception telephone, or a lady named Leena madame.

these tents n sleeping bags belong to Arya ji. he keeps most of the stuff u can require fro trekking. and in october, it will not be sooo cold. so a normal sleeping bag will be sufficient. i had also gone there in october.


if u want guides/porters, u can ask for Ganga Ram and Laxman, or any of their relatives -> Kushal, Nath, Kalyan, Bhim, etc.

and if u r travelling with ur wifr, then u need to carry a tent for yourself, becoz shephard huts are very small temporary structures...even smaller than the huts u have in the villages. so it will be difficult for 2 extra ppl to squeeze in + guides also need s ome place to sleep. it will be best and very confortable if u carry a tent for urself. the rest will be around 300 bucks/night for tent, ropes, sleeping bag.

if u want to find out about any other stuff needed, just ring up Munsyari KMVN and ask for Narendra or Ganga Ram or Laxman. they will provide u with the information on how much will it cost u for tents, etc. u can tell them that u got their info from me (Prashant)

niro

Thank you very much almoraboy!

niro.

Almoraboy

HERE IS THE VIEW U GET FROM KHALIA TOP

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2025/img0757oc0.jpg

THIS IS A TINY TEMPLE BUILT BY THE SHEPHARDS...EVEN THEIR HUTS ARE ALSO LIKE THIS...
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4924/img0763ci2.jpg

niro

Thanks for the great photos!
And for all your help.

niro