Pindari Trek

chits007

Hello Friends,

As the winter is passing by, time has come to hit Himalays.
I am looking to go for Pinari Glacier in April end-May.

Q: As this time winter had been very cold; would there be snow in the route in April end ? After Phurkiya to zero point? Is that be manageable or we have to go equipped ?

Q: How can I book KMVN TRH in advance? For the first time I am taking my wife to trek and in order to avoid any problem want to have advance booking...please suggest.

Has anyone tried PWD Inspection bunglow on this route? From where we can do booking ; I know its only for Govt official but I guess most of time would be free...

Which one is best in this route TRH,FRH or PWD ?

Thanks

Almoraboy

Hi Chits,

Congratulations on your wedding

I was there in Jan and the main snowfall started after I had left. what i saw in early jan was only the trailer. there was a real heavy one. however, the snow melts fast and i am sure you will be able to go all the way thorough. the weather should be at its best in late april, early may.

Try to contact my guide. He knows the villagers as far as Dhakuri and maybe he would be able to help you.

His contact details are given below:


Vinod Singh Kalakoti
Village - Chattikhet
Post Office - Dafar (It is a bit ahead of Bageshwar)
District - Bageshwar
Mobile - 9411795648.

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Almoraboy

This guy has done the advanced level mountaineering coure from NIM and would also be able to arrange tents, sleeping bags, etc for you.

chits007

Thanks Prashant..

I will ring up this guy..
I dont think Sleeping bag/tents is required in this trek..what do u say...though I want to spend a night around baba ashram..that would be a lovely experince..

VSK Sharma

Hi,
This year there has been heavy snowfall and it may not be possible to go much beyond the Babaji's Ashram, which is one km from the zero point. For this trek the bookings from the Tourist Bunglow at bageshwar can be made and the guides/ porters are also available there. Have a word with the Manager of the Bunglow. Visit the offical site of KMVN at http://kmvn.org/, it shall be of great help. Take care and have nice time.
VSK

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jyotipg

I planned thsi trek around the same time last year. Somehow, I missed my flight and my other trek partners reached till Zero point. They were the first Indians to reach the place last year. there was lot of snow of on the way.

This is year I am going again at April end. Planning to reach Bageswar around 24th April.

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solo_trekker

hi all... april is usually the best time around... but this year the snow's been unusual...

the best time for any trek, especially the pindari trek, is the very beginning or the very end of the season...

a couple of years back, was there in the first week of april - that was my first solo trek...! but that period will not be posible this year because of the snow... this is the best time for the rhododendrons, and they will be in full bloom...!

while i was there, spent a night in the shed next to babaji's hut - the one which the shepherds' use in summers... six of us - two danish guys, two bongs with their local guide, and me..
after checking out zero point, in the afternoon it rained, then there was a major hail storm, and then it snowed and snowed and snowed...! it was a blizzard we were in...! and in the night, as we needed water to make tea, me and another guy managed to find our way to the tiny stream 100 m south of the hut, dug through the ice and collected the water... and then, we retraced our footprints in the snow to find our way back... this was while the blizard was coming at us horizontally, and it was around -10 with the chill factor... another ten minutes, and the snow would've covered our footprints and i wouldn't be around writing about it...!!!

the next morning, i was up at 5 to witness one of the most memorable sights of my life... just blue and white all over...!

we then trekked along the way up one of the mountainsides till we reached an avalanche and could go no further...

boy o boy... nostalgia...!

chits007

Guys..I recently got married and want to introduce my wife to trek world with this trek...so I chosen this trek which has TRH facility available ..

Jyoti have u done any pre booking like booking TRH at Khati Dwali etc?? I want to book them in advance in order to avoid any problems later on..
I will talk to KMVN Bageshwar as VSK told..

@solo_trekker...wonderful wonderful description of ur pindari account..do u have pics ..upload if possible..
Lets see ...with winter become so chilly this year we might see snow ..may be I will take the cue from Jytoi Trip before proceeding..

VSK Sharma

Hi,
You have choosen the right trek as all the facilities are avaliable and it offers stunning views. Go upto the point your wife is comfortable. Also if I may suggest take a porter cum guide with you, he will be of great help. Pushkar was good though we took him due to the tent we carried.
You need to book in advance from Bageshwar and do ask for food also. Make a day trip towards Pindari glacier from Phurkia. Have a nice, safe and comfortable trek.
VSK

Dilliwala

chits, if u want a firm booking (deposit required, penalties for cancellation) then go to KMVN's office at Indra Prakash Building, Barakhamba Road some time. Or book online at
http://kmvn.org/onlinereservation.aspx

I wud suggest u book only upto the point where u are sure both of u will reach, and then wing it. End-April u shudn't have a problem with accom at the onward point/s.

chits007

@VSK ..yes i will surely take a porter/guide/pony as well as its a easy trekk and pony will do I guess..food is available on route but I will take some stuff with me too...I will have few friends on this trek

I wish to stay one night at Pindari either with Baba or I will take a tent just to pitch there only..How doable is this ? I guess one night in tent should be okay with my wife..

@dilliwala: KMVN Online is a big problem..u cant book Khati/Dwali TRH..while u see GMVN u can book TRH all the way upto Har ki Dun !
I think I have to ring Bageshwar as well as Barakhamba office to get it confirmed..

How good is Dak Bunglow or PWD/FRH on this route ? has anyone tried ?and where to get the booking of these.....

Dilliwala

Since Bageshwar is both District HQ and the nearest DFO location, I have no doubt that the concerned officers for both PWD IB and FRH bookings are available there. There's a very small chance that u need to do this at Kapkot, but anyway that will be on the way - u shud definitely check at Bageshwar.
I have no idea what condition these are in though. At a pinch, I'll say PWD is likely to be better than FRH - their officers do move about more than janglat guys nowadays.

KMVN Delhi will accept your bookings for Khati and Dwali, if u so desire.

chits007

thanks dilliwala so much..I will goto Delhi office and do the booking..I guess if they can do for Khati /Dwali then can do for the whole trek(I mean phurkia too)..Have you been to these route..I mean what kind of TRH do they have? Deluex Room and Dorms available ?

Dilliwala

chits, have u seen KMVN's package details for the Pindari trek?
http://kmvn.org/trekkingroutepindari.aspx
The first one may not be doable due to the minimum no. required (still u shud ask), but the second one (Deluxe package - ex Bageshwar) may be within reach? I don't know how the prices compare though to DIY.
Still, the fact is that u'll be staying in their accom anyway one way or another - here u'll have the same TRHs, tents where required, plus food, porters, guide, and local transport thrown in. May be worth a check-out, since u want to avoid as much uncertainty as poss with the missus along. Oh BTW, belated congratulations.

Other than that, my N & W Uttaranchal guide-book says the following for Pindari route:
"Tourist camps - 20 beds in each camp.
1) Loharkhet 2) Dhakuri 3) Khati 4) Dwali 5) Phurkia
(At all places floor accom with bedding @ Rs. 150 per head)"

I must point out that these rates are 4 years old though, I'm sure they've gone up. KMVN shud be able to answer your Qs better, but from the above it looks like dorm-only to me.

I haven't been north from Bageshwar - almost decided to drive to Loharkhet in July, but ended up going to Chaukori/Munsyari instead!

VSK Sharma

Hi Chits,
I see still some info is required on the trail.
I hope you have seen the photos of the trek and of the people you are going to find on the trail, which I have placed on the site. The hotel of Maan singh was providing the bed at Rs 50/- per head at Khati. The rate of porter was Rs 250/- and food was his own responsibility, this way you do not have to bother about them. Depends how much stuff you are thinking of carrying as to what to take along a horse or porters. One horse may not move on the trail. Best of all have a word with the manager of the TRH at Bageshwar and he shall do the needful. Reach Song on your own and let the Porter cum guide meet you there. Road is upto Loharkhet but if you do not get vehicle then you have to climb all the 04 km. Thereafter it is climb all the way to Dhakuri top whichis 09 km. Thereafter you move down a km and reach the Dhakuri camping ground where you must spend a night. Better while going up. The TRH at Khati is a bit away from the village and the PWD Inspection Bunglow is just opposite to the Maan Singh's Hotel. All this is given in the story.
VSK