Trek to Triund should be the first thing to do when you are in Mcleodganj even if you are not into trekking. It was my first solo trek and it could not have been better.
Life is really about the choices that you make every day. The night before I had planned to go to this trek, it started raining heavily in Mcleodganj. I had planned to leave at 7 am in morning, but it rained continuously from 9pm to 3am. Disheartened, I cancelled the plan before going to sleep, keeping in mind the weather. But when my eyes opened at 9 am, I don't know what happened at that very moment but I knew I had to go to this trek. I suddenly jumped out of the bed, packed my bag in next 20 mins and left my hotel after grabbing a toast from the breakfast table. The first thing I had to do was to buy a raincoat as the weather was not clear yet and it could rain at any moment. At 10 am, I was standing at the mcleodganj main square, ready to leave. As I was already running behind my schedule by 3 hours, I decided to take an auto to Dharamkot and then start the trek afterwards. The auto dropped me in front of the Himalaya Tea Shop at Dharamkot. Finding an auto and reaching there took another half an hour.
I started the trek from Dharamkot at 10.30 am.
The start of the trail is pretty simple. A plain road of stones. It's like this only till you reach Gallu devi temple. There's a cafe there named 'Rest a while' Cafe but right now I was in no mood to rest.
After this, the elevation is not much except certain points in the trek. But from this point onwards, I started to observe the beauty. The dhauladhars slowly start coming into the view after this, with mcleodganj at their foot. The next checkpoint are two cafes, Magic View Cafe and Best View Cafe. As the name suggests, the view is majestic from here. These are located 2.5 kms from the Gallu devi temple. So now, I had 3kms left. I thought of stopping here for 5 minutes to just look at the splendid view. You can see the mcleodganj town at the foot of the valley. After reaching these points, you actually get a feel of the trek. And after witnessing the view from here, I wanted to reach the top as soon as possible.
After this point, the trek starts to test your stamina. The elevation is still not much, but the number of points after which I wanted to stop were increasing. Inspite of that, having a look at the valley actually fills you with a lot of energy and I didn't stop anywhere in between till I reached the third checkpoint. Another cafe whose name I don't remember. I stopped here to refill my water bottle and enjoy the view but resumed in a very short time.
On the way to top, at the most unexpected place, I met with a group of my college mates who had stayed on top the previous night and were returning back. It was surely one of the best moments of my trek and a delight to meet all of them. I was just walking, feeling excited that I had crossed the third checkpoint in time before I heard a voice and instantly recognised it.
Filled with lots of energy, I was literally running after that. But the trek after this point becomes quite steep and I had to catch my breath after every 5-7 minutes.
But once you reach the top, every pain is gone. You'd just be mesmerized in the beauty that lies all around you. On one side, you can see the whole kangra valley and on the other, the mighty Dhauladhars. It all depends on the visibility actually. At one point, I was able to point out the cricket stadium in Dharamshala and at other, even the whole town was not visible. There is a point on the top that I think offers the best view of the kangra valley. As you reach the top, start walking to you left towards the valley till you reach the farthest point. It's on the right side of the cafe that you'll come across on your way. You can sit there for hours, just looking at the enormous valley.
I have prepared a small guide below which I think answers all faq's about the trek. Go through it in case of you have some doubt. Feel free to ping me for any other question you may have.
I'd strongly recommend this trek to everyone.
Guide :
Difficulty:
It's a perfect trek for beginners as it doesn't require much technique and just tests your stamina. You don't need a guide for the trek, there is a very clear trail of stones right upto the Triund Ridge, and if you are going at the time of peak season ( i.e. April - June), you'll see a lot of fellow trekkers.
Distance:
Triund is 9 km from Mcleodganj main square. But, you can go to Dharamkot (2 kms from Mcleodganj) using a vehicle. If you have enough time, I%E2%80%99d recommend going on foot. It%E2%80%99s actually a plain road with a bit uphill. Taking an auto from Mcleodganj will cost you rs 70 to this point.
Checkpoints:
After Dharamkot, the first checkpoint is Gallu devi temple. It's a 1.5kms trek from Dharamkot, so after this, you have 5.5 kms left. There is a road also to this temple from dharamkot, but I'd suggest trekking upto here. The trek upto here is pretty simple. There%E2%80%99s also a cafe here named %E2%80%98Rest a while%E2%80%99 Cafe, but don%E2%80%99t rest here, you have only covered 1.5 kms till now :p .
The next checkpoint is - Magic View Cafe and Best view cafe. As the name suggests, the view is majestic from here. These are located 2.5 kms from the Gallu devi temple. So now, you have 3kms left. I'd recommend to stop here for 5 minutes, to just look at the splendid view of the dhauladhars..
The next checkpoint is another cafe. I don't remember the exact name, but you can find the photo in the post. This is 2 kms from the magic view cafe. After that, you have to cover just 1 km, but that 1km is the most difficult part, as it is steeper as compared to what you have covered till now.
Just after starting from this point, you'll start to see the fog and the weather will change dramatically.
Time needed:
I completed the trek in 2 hours, but I didn't stop anywhere in between. My timings were:
first checkpoint after 20 mins, second checkpoint after 1 hour, third checkpoint after 1 hr 40 mins and finally 2 hours to the top.
If you are a regular trekker, you can easily complete it in 2 hours. And the first timers, it shouldn't take you more than 3 hours to complete the ascent.
Clothes:
Take some winter clothes with you even if you are going there in the month of May-June. The weather can change dramatically on the top.
Accommodation:
There is no need to carry tents with you to the top. There are 4 tea shops at the top, which offer tents also. The rates are : 500 for one person, 800 for two people, 1200 for three. There is also a government guest house there, but you need to book it in advance. The reservations can be made in Dharamshala.
Things to Carry:
Carry a water bottle with you, else it will cost you double at the top.
Also, carry a raincoat/poncho with you, you never know when it may rain.
Other things that you can carry are some chocolates, glucose etc, to give you some instant energy.
The rates of food are almost double. Maggi for rs 70/-, chai 30/-. So if don%E2%80%99t want to spend too much there, carry your own food. But, if budget allows you, have a maggi and chai there, though it%E2%80%99s not best in taste but at that point, it feels delicious :).
Start before 10 in the morning if you want to return on the same day. It's better not to stay there if the weather is not clear. But if it is, then it's definitely worth it. So, enquire about it a day before.