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Twin-trek to Kuari Pass and Nanda Devi Outer Sanctuary (NDOS)
Kuari Pass Trek - 5 days - 10th -14th June 2010
Nanda Devi Biosphere Outer Sanctuary trek - 6 days - 15th-20th June 2010
Sadanand Kamath (SK) and I decided to do the Nanda Devi Outer Sanctuary (NDOS) trek, after going through some stunning pictures of NDOS area by one Shobhit Das on the internet. And again IndiaMiker Rajkumar’s sticky thread of Niti, Mana and Darma Valley (HERE) provided us with lots of information and inputs for this area.
SK and I did this trek in June 2010, with Joshimath as our base. Both treks required Forest Dept Permits issued by DFO, at Joshimath. We were very lucky to get Sonu (Sohan Singh Bisht) as our Guide for this trek. He had been recommended by another IMer Mridula and turned out to be a gem of guide expert in every aspect of the trek. Plus a good organiser, cook and a lay-botanist to boot.
Since the Kuari Pass trek has been eluding me for a long time, we decided to club NDOS trek with Kuari Pass via Auli. And thus it became a Twin-trek!
Sonu (L) and our porters-team of Kuari pass trek. (Pic by SK)
Sonu as a Guide, was the main plus point of our trek! - more than the snow-peak views and more than the many wildflowers etc. that he showed us! SK said to him "you look like Ricky Ponting (the Aussy Cricket Captain) to me". Sonu just gave shy smile! Apparently, this was not the first time he had heard this comment. *****
Detailed day-to-day trek descriptions in the following subpages, with some scenic pictures of the Nanda-Devi Biosphere Outer Sanctuary.
Google Image of our Kuari Pass Trek Path (click to enlarge)
Google Image of Nanda Devi Sanctuary Trek (click to enlarge)
BTW: The GPS coordinates of the our actual Trek Path is available in the respective subpages in Downloads section. You can download those KMZ files and see it in Google Earth!
Raghuveer Singh our Homestay host in Lata Village and was also a Porter for our NDOS trek. A constant-smiler and a non-stop-talker of whom SK said "Raghuveer, accompanied us in NDOS trek, though as a porter but actually, more as a mentor! " (This Pic by SK)
Sadanand Kamath (L) and Sonu (R) .... in our Homestay room at Lata (Summer) Village
Our Guide Sonu (Sohan Singh Bisht) knows Joshimath area treks quite well and can organize everything including permits for any client. His contact details are: Cell: +91 9410365281 / 8126742291 and email: sonubisht56@gmail.com
You can read Sadanand's (SK) blog of these 2 treks: WANDERLUST
SK as usual kept detailed accounts of all tour expenses. I just gave him lump-some advance cash and saved myself lots of accounting headache.
A summary of our Itinerary & Costs is given below in this page footer:
Our Itinerary & Cost summary:
Day, Date, From-To, Time (hh.mm), Travel Mode, Distances (KMs), Cost (Rs.) etc.
Sun 06-06-2010 Leave : Borivali 12.14 By Paschim Express 1386Km
Mon 07-06-2010 Reach : New Delhi 10.55 Leave : New Delhi 15.25 By 2025 Janashatabdi Exp 305Km
Reach : Haridwar 19.30 Leave : Haridwar 20.00 Reach Rishikesh 21.15 By Auto (Rs.350/-) 24Km
Stayed in Hotel Suruchi - Near Sanyukta Yatayat Bus Stand @600/-
Tue 08-06-2010 Leave : Rishikesh 04.00 Reach : Joshimath (1890m) 15.00 By Mini Bus (Rs 230/-) 256Km
Sayed in Joshimath at Chandradeep Hotel on 08 & 09/06/10 @ Rs.600/- per day
Wed 09-06-2010 Today in Joshimath - Kept free, to get Forest Dept Permits for Treks from DFO-Joshimath. Our guide got it with our ID-papers and photo. We did some local sightseeing > Sankaracharya Ashram, Kalpavriksha, Narsing Temple complex etc.
Thu 10-06-2010 Leave : Joshimath 08.45 Reach : Auli 09.15 By Jeep 14Km
Leave : Auli (2585m) 09.30 Reach : Gorson Bugyal (3380m) 13.00 Trek 8Km
Fri 11-06-2010 Leave : Garson Bugyal 07.30 Reach : Khullara(3395m) 13.00 Trek 10km
Sat 12-06-2010 Leave : Khullar Camp 10.00 Reach: Khullara Top 11.30 Trek 03Km
Leave: Khullara Top 11.45 Reach: Khullara camp 12.30 Trek 03Km
Sun 13-06-2010 Leave : Khullara 07.30 Reach: Kuari Pass (4260m) 10.00 Trek 5Km
Leave : Kuari Pass 10.30 Reach : Khullara 11.45 Trek 5km Leave : Khullara 13.45 Reach: Dano Kharak (3015m) 14.45Trek 3km
Mon 14-06-2010 Leave : Dano Kharak 08.00 Reach : Dhak 11.30 Trek 9km Leave : Dhak 11.45 Reach : Joshimath 12.15 Jeep 12km
Stay in Joshimath at Chandradeep Hotel @600/-
Tue 15-06-2010 Leave : Joshimath 10.00 Reach : Lata Road Head 11.45 Jeep 25km (incl. 45 minutes break at Tapovan)
Leave : Lata road-head 12.00 Reach : Lata Summer (2371m) 13.00 Trek 1.5Km
Stayed in Lata Summer at Raghuveer Singh’s house @Rs.250/- per head
Wed 16-06-2010 Leave : Lata summer 08.15 Reach : Belta camp (2840m) 11.00 Trek 4km
Thu 17-06-2010 Leave : Belta camp 07.15 Reach : Lata Kharak (3790m) 12.00 Trek 5km
Fri 18-06-2010 Leave : Lata Kharak 07.00 Reach : Saini Kharak (3885m) 08.15 Trek 3km
Leave : Saini Kharak 09.15 Reach : Lata Kharak 10.15 Trek 3km
Sat 19-06-2010 Leave : Lata Kharak 07.00 Reach : Jhandidar (4210m) 09.30 Trek
Reach : Dharansi 10.15 Trek 2km (1.5 kms short of the Pass) Back : Lata Kharak 12.15 Trek 5km
Sun 20-06-2010 Leave : Lata Kharak 07.30 Reach : Khada Chound 11.15 Trek 6km Reach : Tolma 13.00 Trek 4km
Reach : Suraithota 14.15 Trek 3km Reach : Joshimath 15.45 Jeep 30km
Mon 21-06-2010 Leave : Joshimath 04.00 Reach : Haridwar 14.00 Bus (Rs.250/-) 280km
Stayed at Haridwar at Hotel Shivmurti @1400/- AC room
Tues 22-06-2010 Leave : Haridwar 07.00 Reach : Delhi Airport 13.30 Hired Car (Rs.3000/-) 240km
Leave : Delhi 15.10 Reach : Mumbai 17.30 by Spice Jet 852
Total days Ex-Mumbai = 17 days, Trekking days = 10, Total trek Kms = 85.5 kms, Avg trek per day = 8.55 kms
Approx Total Cost (Per head) = Rs. 29584/-
1.Train Fares Mumbai – Haridwar = Rs. 1376/- 2. Flight Delhi-Mumbai = Rs. 5375/- 3. Bus Fares = 480/-
4. Hotel charges = Rs. 2926/- 5. Trekking Package (11 days) = Rs.13200/- 6. Tips for porters/guide = Rs. 2150/-
7. Homestay at Lata = Rs. 250/- 8. Other Food/Water = Rs. 1848/- 9. Cab Hire : HRD-DLI = Rs. 1500/- 10. Other Expenses = Rs. 479/-
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