Trekking-Kalindi Pass in Garhwal Himalayas
Geographically, Kalindi pass is located in the center of the Garhwal Himalayas, the Garhwal massif rises in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and is covered with glaciers, hills with dense forests, waterfalls, and temples. The most important religious centers of Hindu pilgrimage, Char Dham, as well as the homes of some of the great mountain peaks of India: You see Nanda Devi, Kamet, Trisul, Dunagiri, Shivling, or Satopanth in the southern valleys of the Himalayas.
The Glacial Route
It is possible to link the Uttarkashi and Chamoli regions through the Kalindi- 5,980m pass – creating the highest and most demanding trekking route in the Garhwal Himalayas. The route runs close to the border with ancient Tibet providing spectacular views: hanging glaciers, ridges, and sharp peaks that more than compensate for the effort made. What can be seen at the end of the glacier is a marvelous cirque of ice waterfalls that starts from a mountain.
It is only a few years ago that the Indian authorities began to grant permits to trekking expeditions to attempt the Kalindi pass – that’s what it is called – joining an almost perfect way of the most important Hindu pilgrimage centers in India: Gangotri and Badrinath.
The First Expedition
The first, in the 1930s, was Eric Shipton on one of his reconnaissance expeditions to the Garhwal massif. His itineraries from a technical high mountain point of view are perfect, full of elegance and commitment.
What You See
Leave Gangotri – the place par excellence, the source of the Ganges – to reach the C.B. from Shivlinga -one of the five most beautiful mountains on earth- and continuing to follow a system of glaciers under the enormous Satopanth -7170m- until reaching the end of the Chaturanga glacier, you need a company that requires a certain commitment.
If you cross the Kalindi pass then you have to descend the very long Arwa valley – surrounded by virgin peaks of six thousand meters – to the Badrinath sanctuary, then we will have to carry harnesses, ropes, ice axes, and crampons to ensure the descent of the pass and be ready to the effort that the six thousand meters of height suppose.
There are still very few people who have made the route or are venturing to it. It is a unique, lonely, and fascinating route.
Trek Itinerary
DAY 01 – ARRIVAL IN DELHI
DAY 02 – TRANSFER TO RISHIKESH (372m)
DAY 03 – TRANSFER TO UTTARKASHI (1,158m)
DAY 04 – TRANSFER TO GANGOTRI (3,415m)
DAY 05- GANGOTRI
DAY 06 – TREK BHOJBASHA (3.770m)
DAY 07 – TREK TAPOVAN (4.225m)
DAY 08 – TREK NANDAVAN (4.470m)
DAY 09 – Trek Vasukhi Tal (4.950m)
DAY 10 – TREK VASUKHI TAL
DAY 11 – TREK KARA PATTAR (5,085m)
DAY 12 – TREK SWETA BAMAK (5.300m)
DAY 13 – TREK KALINDI BC (5,600m)
DAY 14 – KALINDI (5,600m) – TREK RAJPURAO (5,000m)
DAY 15 – TREK ARWA TAL (4,000m)
DAY 16— TREK GASTHOLI (3,600m) / BADRINATH (3,100m)
DAY 17 – TRANSFER TO HARIDWAR (372m)
DAY 18 – HARIDWAR
DAY 19- TRANSFER TO DELHI
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