Triund Trek : Why you should be careful and prepared for it?

I was planning to go to Triund since last year, but was able to fulfill my wish only on 27th may 2016.

Like anyone else, I went through lots of blogs and found that Triund trek is a fairly easy trek, only the last stretch is bit tough.so I was quite relax and excited for my first solo trek.

Now, after completing this trek, my opinion differs from others.

Let's start with:

How to Go?

Delhi > Macleodganj : Either take HRTC(Himachal Road Trasnport Corporation) bus or go by train till pathankot and then take a bus.

i would suggest to take rest in macleodganj on the day you reach there, so that you can start with fresh legs next morning.

Towards Triund...

Start by Macleodganj>Dharmkot 2.5 km

Dharmkot > galu Devi temple 1.5 km approx.

Took me around two hours to reach galu devi

My suggestion

Take a cab up to Galu devi, because if you start trekking from McLeodganj itself, you soon would find yourself exhausted till reaching galu devi, and the reality of journey ahead will overpower your excitement.

Starting Journey

I started from macleodganj by walk around 11 and reached galu devi around 1, the journey till galu devi is beautiful amongst forests , but it's a inclined journey, so, you will soon start realizing that there is a long way to go and your strength is already being tested until now.
however the beauty of nature will please your eyes.

on the way to galu devi temple

There is a path trail till Triund

Whole route will accompany you with its scenic beauty

Galu Devi to Best View Café

Galu Devi temple

From galu devi, the trek officially starts, initial Trek is like a walk among the forests which provides you much deprived peace and fresh air.

Woods are lovely dark and deep...

A trail ahead

A small abandoned village on the way

However, soon I realized that this trek is not going to be an easy one. At around 3 PM I reached Best view café which is in mid between triund trek and galu devi temple, little I know, that smooth but demanding journey will take a turn from here.

When it all started....

The point from where my journey was going to take a turn

I was relaxing my legs at Best View café when the rain started, till then, weather was quite clear and it was very hot and sunny, so rain looked like a welcome change to me.
rain was in no hurry, it continued for next 30 minutes heavily, till then the people talking in magic café were discussing that there may be no Tent available at hill because of weekend rush today.

I was bit concerned because I have not booked any tent and was thinking to book after reaching top only.

After 30-45 minutes when rain slowed a bit, I decided to move on, however after 10 minute ascend, it started pouring again, I was not prepared for this, and I only had one jacket, that too just to cover myself from cold.

I had to put it on because I was shivering in cold.

Making a Decision

I continued my ascend in rain, stopping at various places, at some stretched I found no one on either side, plus it was raining heavily, I thought I am stuck, since the weather was deteriorating very fast, I was knowing that people behind me will be returning back and I can see there is no one ahead.

All alone in a dense forest, and not exactly aware how far I need to go, you can understand my situation.

However, I thought to move forward, because I already had trek around 4 hours, I won't be able to descend that much now, so the choice was obvious, ascend!

I started again, the rain was slowing down, I found some people who took shelter in rain like me under some rocks and trees, I was relieved to see that there are people and I am not alone.

Struggle for Tent

When I started the trek, I found many people who were ahead of me, now they were returning back, when I enquired, they said that the weather up is very bad and detoriating fast, so they are deciding to descend.

Many people told me that there are no tents because of bad weather and rush, my concerns were only growing with time.

I was around 1 hour left from the top, Drenched and exhausted , this trek is no easy trek men, to hell with the people who have said that it's an easy one.

There were two things now, first, I need to be quick, and I need to manage a tent.
else, it would be very hard for me up there.

keeping aside my body demand , I started climbing the steepest stretch of Triund, I went past many people who were ahead of me, I was fast, because I had to reach at top soon to have any chance of getting tent, also ,as weather improved , more people had resumed their ascent.

I reached peak around 5:30, the view was awesome, but I had little time to enjoy that , I was rushing to local huts to enquire about tents, and as said by everyone, there was no tent.

I was just trying my luck all over the place for the next 45 minutes, and to my fortune, I found one guide, whom after making many requests, agreed to provided me a tent.

Hailstorm

Light rain had started again, and I was very relieved after getting into the tent. I was completely drenched during my ascent, to my bad I did not kept any spare clothes ,i just had one jacket, which I had to put on in midway, I took it off, my t-shirt was the only thing which was partially dry. And at that time this partially dry t-shirt was so much cosy for me.

I was shivering inside the tent, and the rain was only getting harder, I can hear loud sounds of rain drops on the tent. But I was thankful to the god, that I got some place to stay, and i was feeling bad for many people like me, who were still wandering for tent and to those as well, who were stuck in mid.

But my happiness inside tent was soon going to blow away, as very strong hailstorm started.at first i thought it would not last long, but, the winds were only getting stronger and my tent was bending away right on my face with the force of wind.

On your first trek, in your first tent, you don't want to face these situations that too alone, things like uttrakhand tragedy was looming in front of eyes. i was just thinking that this will pass soon.

However like rain, this hailstorm was also in no hurry and was getting stronger.

After nervous 45 minutes inside tent, i decided to peep outside and see what's going on.

As i see outside, to my scare , most of the tents around me was lying on the ground and i see no one around me. Occasionally I heard people screaming to get in some shelter.

I decided to leave my tent, because with the speed the wind was hitting my tent, I was not sure how much time it will last!!

I quickly wore my shoes and run towards a hut where i had enquired about tent.

I got a place to sit there and soon the place was occupied with many people like me.. What happens next I will share in next blog

key take away

But here are few take away from this, especially for solo travellers and couples

1.Triund Trek is not an easy trek, especially for first timer and people who are not much into physical activities.
2.Try to be in a group, even if you came alone or two, find a group , there are lots of counters in macleodganj who arrange a group trip to triund, they also provide guide, tent and food.
3.Guide is your best chance of survival in these places and situations.
4.Carry a torch, rain coat, good sporty shoes, spare dress, biscuits, and water bottles.
5.there is no washroom there, so you need to adjust as per the situation and condition
6.Try climbing and descent as early as possible

Most of things said above would be looking a casual things for many, but let me tell you that when things are rosy and sunny, everything looks ok and fine.

However life is not all about sunny days and scenario, and so does the mountains.

Don't trust mountains weather, when I started my journey it was hot and humid and went through all the sudden extreme changes. So always be prepared.

After returning from trek, I searched about , tragedies in triund , and found many links which can actually give you a hint that , you need to be careful, this is not to scare any one , but just to make people more aware , especially solo tracker and couples.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/gujarat-student-falls-to-death-on-triund-trek/story-mmBPcrDKKBDz7pCu9VbEbM.html

https://www.mcleodganj.com/news/2013/08/30/two-french-trekkers-go-missing-in-mcleod-ganj

however despite all these odds, its worth to go there, below are some clicks of my trek.

Lush green forests

Best view cafe and Hills in the background

Finally!! Glimpse from top of the hill.

@Triund