GREAT HIMALAYAN NATIONAL PARK TREKKING THROUGH TIRTHAN AND SAINJ VALLEY

Overview: The Himalayas have been a source of awe and inspiration for millennia to countless individuals. They are the largest, tallest and geologically youngest mountains on our planet. In India, they are the Dehvbumithe home of the gods. The Himalaya are also one of the most fragile mountain regions of the world and hold an enormous repository of biological diversity which is increasingly under pressure from human activities. The unique ecological aspects of the Western Himalaya led to the creation of the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in the Kullu district of India's mountain state of Himachal Pradesh. These features include biodiversity, sparse human populations, inaccessibility, little tourism, and a local economy based on traditional livelihoods. Highest Altitude: 4000m Total no. days: 7 daysGrade: Easy to Moderate Grade: Easy to Moderate Itinerary: Day 1 Delhi (315m) - Chandigarh (365m) - Mandi (750m; 4 hours by train and then 5 hours by car) Leave Delhi for Chandigarh by Shatbadi Express at 07.40 in the morning. From there we take you to Mandi, one of the district headquarters of Himachal Pradesh. Mandi is a beautiful town situated on the banks of river Beas. Mandi has been blessed with 80 beautiful temples and the temples of Panchvaktra and Trilokinath are famous for their architecture. There are many places to explore near Mandi like Parashar lake, Kamru Nag lake, Barot valley and Jehjheli valley as yet unexplored and untouched places near Mandi. Overnight stay at a hotel. Day 2 Mandi (750m) to Sai Ropa (1500m) - a tourist centre of GHNP (68km; 2hrs) Next day we take you to Sai Ropa from where we obtain entry passes for the Park and our day's destination will be Sai Ropa tourist centre. The route to Sai Ropa, a drive of 41km from Mandi to Aut on Delhi - Manali national highway and there is a diversion from Aut of 40 km to Banjar, from Banjar we drive to Sai Ropa. This beautiful tourist centre is situated in green forests. Before trekking you will be provided with some brochures related to the Park. The evening is free to hang around the Sai Ropa village. Check your trekking equipments and sleep well till next morning. Day 3 Sai Ropa(1500m) to Rohla (2100m); (5 - 6 hrs horizontal trek) After freshening up and breakfast, our vehicle takes you to Gushaini village which is the starting point of the trek. Leave the comfort and luxury of your vehicle to explore this yet-unexplored Park. Walk on the banks of Tirthan river up to Rohla. We set up our tents here for the whole night. Day 4 Rohla (2100m) - Silt (3100m); (6 - 7 hrs trek) Now our walk becomes a bit demanding towards Silt (3100m). Your effort is worthwhile as we shall see and get a feel of the pristine environment and surroundings. Rock and roll with your camera as everything will pose for a picture - but Nature meets you on its own terms and not yours! Day 5 Silt (3100m) - Rakhundi top (4100m) - Guntrao (6 - 7hrs trek)

Leave very early in the morning. Again gear up your camera. You can see the mammals, the Western Tragopan and Monal in and around Silt huts in the morning. If you are lucky you can catch them on your camera. Now leave for Rakhundi top (3500m) and Guntrao, our next camp in sight . Day 6 Guntrao - (3500m) - Dhel (3800m); (4 - 5hrs trek) Today's trek becomes strenuous up to Supa Kuni's summit. Today's feature will be transition from Tirthan valley of the Park to Sainj Valley at Supa Kuni's summit. Our camp site will be at Dhel. Day 7 Dhel (3800m) - Neuli (1,500m) 5 hrs trek - Mandi or Manali Leave Dhel for Neuli. Today we trek through rich forests upto Lapah village. After rest in the Lapah village, we will take you to Neuli which is the last point of the trek. Then our vehicle will take you to Mandi / Manali. Check in at the hotel for overnight stay.