The Thamsar of my dreams. The Thamsar that leads to Bada Bhangal. Never judge Thamsar by what I have to say. I dreamt of going to this pass since I was 3 and it took me 25 years before it became a reality. Named probably after one of the lakes on either side of the pass, Thamsar has a romantic appeal paralleled by none.
Leading to a village of 400 people, over a centuries old mule trail, its your pass to bliss, a pass to another land, a land untouched by road. There are some makeshift shops on the way, 2 beautiful lakes on either side of the pass, Pir Panjals, 3 sister peaks above Panhartoo, lush green meadows with fabulous yellow flowers and a few waterfalls.
The trek goes through mixed forest of oak, rhododendron and deodar tress. First two kilometer is a steep ascent but there is a gradual ascent after Galu Devi Temple. The last 1 kilometer is again a steep ascent through the forest. Triund is a flat meadow on top of a ridge. From here panoramic view of Dhauladhar range on one side and Kangra valley on other is a memorable sight. O/N in a Camp at Triund.
This is an acclimatization day. After a short ascent from Triund traverse a ridge to reach Laka Got a temporary shepherd camp. Laka Got is situated at the snout of small glacier, which is full of snow and ice in early summer, and the snow melts away during the monsoon. Night stay in the camp at Laka Got.
Follow the same route on the way back or a different one from Triund going over a grassy meadow and descend down to Bhagsu Nag and then to Mcleodganj.
Transport Options (Delhi – Mcleod ganj – Delhi)
For travel to Mcleod ganj and back one can choose between air, rail & road. For air travel, the closest airport is the Gaggal DHM, also known as Kangra Airport, or Dharamshala Airport and is well connected to Delhi and other parts of the country by Indigo, Alliance Air , Spice Jet.
There are frequent Public Transport buses including Volvos available from Delhi to Mcleodganj that cost about Rs. 1200- 1500 per person. These buses depart from Majnu ka tilla every 30 mins. or so and take about 12 hrs to cover the distance. The same is also applicable on the return journey. A private vehicle could also be arranged for if you require the same.
Weather Details
Summer in Mcleod ganj extends from March to June when the temperature variation is recorded to be ranging between 23°c and 27°c. Mercury sometimes reaches up to 38°c but never goes beyond that. During winters the temperature can drop to -1° and the maximum temperature hardly goes up to 20°c.
Please keep in mind that the above information is not exact and does not account for sudden changes. Whatever the temperatures and conditions rest assured we will be prepared to handle it with ease as we use equipment of very high specifications
The trek is rated as difficult and is recommended for experienced trekkers. It involves long days of walking, high-altitude passes, and remote terrains.
The ideal season is from June to September, when the weather is more stable and the snow has cleared from the passes.
It typically takes around 10 to 12 days, depending on the route, weather, and pace of the group.
Yes, hiring a certified local guide or going with an organized trekking group is strongly recommended, given the remoteness, tough terrain, and lack of marked trails.
The trek crosses two high passes—Kaliheni Pass (~4,724 m) and Thamsar Pass (~4,800 m)—making altitude acclimatization crucial.