Panpatia Col Trek is one of the most challenging treks in the Himalayas which goes through the shortest route that connects Badrinath and Kedarnath. The Panpatia Col Trek gives you unmatched views of prominent peaks such as Nilkantha, Balakun, Hathi Parvat, and Dhauliganga Peaks. The Panpatia Col is one of the least traversed routes by the trekkers and at a staggering height of 17,258 feet. The trail is borne out of curiosity in the regional legends and fables. The myth that says that there was a saint who could cross this route in one day has been the inspiration of many travelers in this region. Though the route has earlier been mapped, it was rediscovered in 2007 by Indian mountaineer Debabrata Mukherjee and his team. This col serves as the watershed between Badrinath and Kedarnath i.e. Alaknanda and Mandakini river system.
The trek is about 61 kilometers long. The trekkers are picked up from Haridwar and day one is the drive to Joshimath. The trek starts after another drive on day two. The route is tedious and takes you through a 7 kilometer stretch of Panpatia snowfield, a walk, and a view that you'll never forget. You walk through narrow mountain ridges, moraine trails, and on the glaciers on this route. The campsites are located in the tapered valleys, which is another experience. We walk through Parvati gully and camp beside a tiny lake. In the end, we walk through lush green forests to complete the trek.
If your body is ready for the challenge, then plan a vacation in the Himalayas replete with thrill and adventure. Your eyes will fill with a sense of wonder on this journey. You walk past very high mountains and roaring streams. On the days you are not walking in the snow, you walk amidst the alpine trees. You'll use semi-mountaineering techniques and equipment in some parts of the trek. This is the ultimate experience you're looking for in the Himalayas as a trekker.
Best time to visit Panpatia Col Trek
This trek is open for a few months due to the extreme weather conditions of the region. The best time to go on the Panpatia Col Trek is summer and post-monsoon. The best suited months are late-May and June in the summer. For post-monsoon experience, September and early-October are the months in which the trek is conducted. Snow is minimum in the post-monsoon season and the sky is clear. The temperature in the summer is around -2 to -5 degrees Celsius.
Trip Highlights
Panpatia Col Trek takes you through the seven
kilometer-long stretch of Panpatia snowfield,
a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity.
Panpatia Col is a route complete with enchanting views of
high peaks, exhilarating walks
through the snow, perilous ridges, boulder ridden narrow paths,
crevasses and icefalls.
The Panpatia Col Trek takes you through all kinds of
terrain, and you learn to take life as it
comes when you spend almost two weeks in such extreme
conditions with your fellow trekkers.
Itinerary Details
The participants are picked up from Dehradun and they are driven to Joshimath in sharing cabs with fellow travelers. The journey is about 300 kilometers. Joshimath is located at a height of 6,100 ft. The night stay is at Joshimath.
On the second day, we drive from Joshimath to Khirao Road which is a two-hour drive. The trek for day two is only around 2-3 kilometers.
There are some flags on the boulders which you follow to reach the shepherd's camp. The walk is through lush green hills and the campsite has gorgeous views of the hills nearby.
On this day we cross a variety of terrains and reach the snout of the Panpatia glacier. It is a tedious ascent, we climb to a height more than 12,860 ft. It is only a four-kilometer walk and the rest of the day is spent in acclimatizing, after settling in the camp at snout’s camp.
The walk on the day six is a four-kilometer long walk on the Moraine, in the latter parts of which we find patches of snow. Superb views of Neelkanth and Parvati on a clear day is the highlight of the day. Almost vertical walls of glacier appear. Camps are set up on moraine for the night and dinner is taken.
When camping at such a high altitude, acclimatization is necessary for trekkers to ensure good health and stamina for the rest of the day. High altitude-related issues can be minimized by climbing at a slow pace.
Today we trek for about four kilometers and takes about 4-5 hours to cover. We cross the Panpatia glacier on this day, by walking on snow unendingly. The trek leads through some astounding climbs. The campsite for the day will be located just under the Parvati Col. At high altitude, you see a completely different form of flora and fauna.
On this day, you will pass through Parvati gully, a narrow ridge, after which the route will be covered in the snow and rocks. On a clear day, you can see the highest peak of India Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba Peak. The camp will be in the Panpatia Snowfield for the night.
On day nine, you will cross several snow-covered plateau at Panpatia Col. Camp will be set near Sujal Sarovar, which is a tiny water body. The descent to reach the campsite is steep.
Today the trek destination to Kanchni Tal. A little distance beyond Sujal Sarovar, a small pass followed by a steep descent through snowy slopes and boulder zones takes you to Kanchni. The meadow looked down on the Madhmaheshwar Ganga. This is our campsite for the day.
The trek to Nanu Chhati takes about 3-4 hours. On the way to Madmaheshwar. Nanu Chhati is a camp in the forest. The walk is a completely different one than what we’ve been until now and the colour of the landscape changes from white to green. The overnight stay in arranged in the tents.
We walk to Ransi from Madmaheshwar Temple Trail. The Madmaheshwar Temple is one of the five kedars and an important. It is followed by the drive to Rudraprayag. The participants share cabs.
The team drives you to Dehradun, according to your onward plan. Both the cities are well connected by rail, by road, and by air. You can choose to roam around the cities or relax and continue at your own pace.
How To Reach
We will arrange a cab for you from the pickup point in Dehradun for Joshimath. The trekkers joining the trek will share the cab. For communications purposes, we will create a Whatsapp Group before the departure date of the trek and will share the details regarding the transportation. The drop at Dehradun after the trek will be arranged in a similar way.
How to reach Panpatia Col Trek Base Camp (Joshimath) :
By Air
Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport to Dehradun and is easily accessible, it is just
25 km away from the city. Daily flights from New Delhi are available to this airport. Take a
cab/bus to Joshimath from Dehradun Bus Stand.
By Train
Dehradun railway station. Overnight trains that hail from Delhi are Nandadevi Express and
Dehradun Express. People often prefer railways over airways because with trains you get to
see the landscape in its full glory, it is also cheaper and you will definitely enjoy your
way till Dehradun. Take a cab/bus to Joshimath from Dehradun Bus Stand.
By Road
Regular bus service is available from Delhi ISBT Kashmere Gate which plies government buses
that are safe and you can rely on them more than the private buses. Take a cab/bus to
Joshimath from Dehradun Bus Stand.
Inclusions
- To and Fro economy class air trave
- Travel by comfortable A/c or Non A/c coach / Vehicle as per the tour itinerary
- Entrance fees of all sightseeing places to be visited from inside
- Accommodation in comfortable and convenient hotels
- All Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (set menu) as mentioned in the itinerary
- All Tips – Guide, Driver & Restaurants
Exclusions
- Govt Tax of 5.00% over and above the Tour Cost mentioned
- Any applicable new taxes from Government
- Any upgradation in Airline class or hotel room category
- Any extra expense such as route change, Airline change, Date change, Accommodation facilities, etc incurred due to the unforeseen, unavoidable forced majeure circumstances during the tour
- Porterage (coolie charges), laundry, telephone charges, shopping, wines & alcoholic beverages, mineral water, items of personal nature and food or drink which is not part of a set group menu
- Any extra cost incurred on behalf of an individual due to illness, accident, hospitalisation, or any personal emergency