Brief Description
The Chanshal Pass Trek is one of the best offbeat treks near Shimla that takes you to the high altitude Chanshal Pass (13,000 ft) which connects Rohru to the villages of Dodra-Kwar, one of the most isolated villages in the Shimla district near the border of Uttarakhand. The trek takes you through stunning pine forests that in winter months are covered in snow ultimately taking you on a steep trail to the beautiful Chanshal Pass that gives you mesmerizing views of the surrounding mountain ranges and valleys. Being an ideal trek for both beginners and experienced trekkers, the Chanshal Pass Trek can be done in winter months when the landscapes are covered in snow presenting a completely different picture thus making it a perfect winter trek in Himachal Pradesh. Stay on this page for more information on the Chanshal Pass Trek.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Show complete Itinerary
Shimla to Kharshali
Kharshali to Madui Thatch
Madui Thatch to Chanshal Pass and back to Madui Thatch
Madui Thatch to Guma. Drive to Shimla
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick your question
Mandatory documents: What are the mandatory documents required for the expedition?
ID Proof (Soft Copy to be sent to us in Advance & original to be carried) and Medical Certificate (Soft Copy to be sent to us & original to be carried) are the mandatory documents required for this trek.
Transport: In case we opt for the transport with you, where will you pick us from and where will you drop?
The pickup will be from Outside ISBT, Shimla at 7:00 AM to the base village of the trek and the drop on the last day will be at the same place in Shimla evening.
Transport: What time will we reach the end point on last day of the trek?
Expect to reach Shimla ISBT by evening.
Miscellaneous : Is there an option to offload my backpack?
If you want to offload your rucksack, you will have to make a request for offloading a few days prior the trek through an email so that arrangement can be made in advance. You will be charged per day for offloading your rucksack. In case you decide to offload on the spot, you may have to pay a higher price than usual. However offloading your rucksack is not recommended since it is not a safe practice.
Miscellaneous : Who will lead us on the trek?
A team of participant will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek. We maintain 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have a certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
Miscellaneous : Is the trekking pole necessary?
The trekking pole is not mandatory but it is more convenient with the pole. If you don’t want to buy one, you can rent it from us on minimal daily basis charges. You can request the renting link from us.
Miscellaneous : Are there any local stores/shops from where I can shop trekking necessities?
Shimla has a sufficiently large market. However, do not leave anything for last minute buying as there will be no time for shopping because of immediate transportation to Rohru and it would be difficult to find anything major there. Minor toiletries are available.
Miscellaneous : Is it safe for solo woman traveller to trek in Fixed departures?
Yes, it is absolutely safe for solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing tent with each other. In case you are the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
Miscellaneous : Will you give certificates on completion of trek?
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
Weather conditions: What will the temperatures be like during this trek?
In winters, during the day, the temperature will range from 10-15 degrees Celsius. The nights will get cold dropping the temperature to 0 to -8 degrees Celsius. The higher the altitude you gain, the colder it gets.
Weather conditions: When will there be snow on this trek?
Yes, there will be a good amount of snow on this trek.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of tents and sleeping bags will be provided to us?
We provide 4 seasons tents by Gipfel for higher altitudes which can easily withstand heavy snowfall and storms. They are spacious enough to accomodate 3 people at once with a vestibule to place the backpacks. Our sleeping bags are made up of Heatseeker Pro synthetic insulation that can provide you comfort in -10 degrees celsius. We also use additional fleece liners to have thermal efficiency even in the extreme temperatures of -17 degrees Celsius. If you carry your own sleeping bag, you will get a cashback reward provided that you inform us as soon as you have booked your trek.
Equipment and facilities: Are there any washroom/toilet facilities on the trek?
Toilet tents will be provided to you on the trek.These are portable toilets tents where a deep pit will be dug. A shovel will be provided inside the tent to cover the waste after you have made your business. You can take a toilet roll inside. Make sure you dig used toilet paper along with the waste. Though water is recommended in place of toilet paper. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are non-biodegradable. There will be no facility for bathing on the trek. Go through our blog section for tips on how to maintain personal hygiene on treks.
Equipment and facilities: If we trek in snow, what equipment will you provide?
You will be provided with good quality of gaiters and microspikes from us depending upon the situation of the snow. Our trek leaders will also be carrying ropes and ice axe.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of food will be provided for the trek?
Vegetarian food will be served throughout the trek. The only non-vegetarian item served on our treks are eggs. Our kitchen staff follows a proper menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfil the nutritional requirements of the participants. There will be milk, poha, eggs, muesli/corn flakes, bread and butter served for breakfast. Rice or simple roti sabzi will be packed for lunch. In dinner, you will have dal, egg curry or any other vegetarian dish along with rice, roti, and a dessert item. Packed lunch will be provided to you on the days you are trekking. You are requested to carry your own tiffin box and a mug to consume food. The meals consumed on journey and arrival day are not included in our cost.
Equipment and facilities: What equipment can I rent from you?
You can rent following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack.
Accommodation: What will be the accommodation type in this trek?
On trekking days, all the trekkers will be accommodated in twin or triple sharing tents. Along with this, there will be also be a toilet tent and a dining tent installed at every campsite as we roll.
Age limit: What is the minimum & maximum age limit?
The minimum age limit is 13 years. However, minors aged between 13 to 17 should be accompanied by their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
Nearby attraction: What are the nearby attractions that I can explore?
Chanshal: Like the resplendant crown for a noble face the snow cald Chanshal range rises above the Pabbar valley. At 4220 m, the Chanshal pass which opens from May to October is the link to Dodra Kwar. The Chansal area also has some excellent ski slopes.
Hanol Mahasu Temple: Hanol Mahasu temple is situated at an altitude of 1429 m in the village of Hanol, 55 km from Rohru on the eastern bank of the Taons. This temple constructed in Huna style architecture is dedicated to Mahasu. The Hanol temple is said to the originating place of all the deities of the area of Rohru and Jubbal. Tradition recounts that a demon lived here and killed the people, one by one each day. A devotee of Lord Shiva in Mandrath challenged the custom and prayed to Shiva for help. This ardent devotee of the lord- Deolari Devi, a resident of Hanol, was being directed by God. Accordingly, she sent her four sons to Mandrath, where from a field they obtained four Shivlings. The shivlings were given the names of the four young men. Meanwhile the demon was killed by the four sons and the villagers thereafter started worshipping Shiva as Mahasu.
Shikhru Devta Temple: This is a beautiful temple located in the heart of the town, Shikhru Devta is held in high veneration and is the sight of on annual fair which is celebrated during the month of April every year.
Khara Patthar: As the name says Khara Patthar has huge free standing egg shaped boulder. Worn smooth by aeons of erosion this is a wonder of this area. From here the steady descent of the Pabbar valley begins. Khara pathar is a place that gives expression to the phrase of 'time standing still', Kharapathar is a perfect leisure destination in the heart of nature's generous blessings to the area. Lush forests, wide views, excellent walk and hike trails and the charm of apple orchards make this a perfect leisure destination that is easily accessible by a short drive (85 km) from Shimla.
Connectivity: How to Reach the base of the trek & how to go back from the end point?
The base camp for this trek is Rohru, 110 km from Shimla. Alternately, you can take a bus from Shimla to Rohru.
By Air: Shimla is well connected to Delhi and other cities of India by air. Air India runs a daily 7:45 am flight from Delhi to Shimla. You can also fly to Chandigarh or Delhi and take a taxi or bus to Shimla from there.
By Rail: If you are travelling by railways, then Kalka is your station. From Kalka, drive to Shimla which is an hour and a half journey. Buses and private taxis are easily available on this route.
By Road: There are daily overnight buses for Shimla from Delhi from Kashmere Gate ISBT and take about 11 - 12 hours.
Connectivity: What is the cellular network connectivity for this trek?
Airtel has good connectivity up till Rohru. Vodafone and BSNL also have spotty coverage in Rohru.
Packing List: What to pack
Click here for packing list.
Packing List: How should I pack my rucksack?
Packing List: How should I select my trekking shoe?
Best Season: What are the best months to visit this trek?
Chanshal Pass Trek can be throughout the year except for the monsoon months of July and August. However, the winter months of December to March is the best season to do this trek.
Eligibility: Is this trek good for me?
Chanshal Pass Winter Trek is made for both beginners and experienced trekkers who want to experience a gorgeous snow-clad winter trek with zero foot traffic. However, the challenges faced in the trek should not be underestimated. It is recommended to have some prior trekking experience as this trek takes you to a height of 3800m in Winters with a good amount of snow on the trail. It is imperative that you get acclimatized to high altitudes. Besides you need to have a strong physical endurance to complete this trek. On Bikat Scale Chanshal Pass Trek Difficulty level is 3. For details on trek difficulty level, please read on Bikat Rating Scale
Eligibility: Experience required
There is no prior experience needed for this trek, however it is recommended to have good physical fitness to successfully do this trek in winters.
Eligibility: Fitness benchmark
Jog/Run for 5 Kms in 25-30 mins Or Walk continuously for 10 kms (with 3-4 small breaks) on plain terrain (slight incline is better) and
Hold your breath for 40 seconds and
3 sets of Climbing 30 – 40 steps in one stretch and
Push Ups – 10 and
Lunges & Squats – 15 X 2 sets
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
Eligibility: Requisite skills
How to use an Ice Axe
How to use Climbing boots & Crampons
How to rope up & follow queued climbing/descending
How to self-arrest using an ice axe
Knowledge of Basic First aid
About the activity: Why should I go for this trek?
Chanshal Pass Trek - Himachal
The Chanshal Pass Trek near Shimla in Himachal Pradesh is the perfect winter trek for both beginners and experienced trekkers who wish to explore an offbeat trail that takes you through pine forests eventually to a pass which connects Rohru to the extremely isolated villages of Dodra-Kwar. With a trail covered in snow and some of the best sunrise-sunset spots in the Himalayas, the Chanshal Pass Trek is as beautiful and exciting as it can get.Why Bikat
Why Bikat
Learning Experience
- We are an Adventure Learning Organisation first.
- We want you to not just complete a trek safely but also pick up some basic trekking knowledge and skills along the way.
- To achieve this we have integrated learning modules into our itineraries.
- These modules will help you build the necessary skills to progress from trekking to mountaineering over time.
Loyality Programs
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
- Currently we have three levels:
- Basic Membership
- Summiteer Membership
- Leader Membership
Personalized Attention
- Our group sizes on treks don’t exceed 15 members in order to maintain a healthy Participants : Leader Ratio of 8:1.
- Over time we have found this number to be optimum when it comes to ensuring personalised attention to every member of our group.
- On mountaineering expeditions this number is even smaller. Our group sizes are capped at 12 members ensuring a Participants : HAP Ratio of 2:1.
Best Expedition Leaders
- Our Expedition leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified, specially trained in rescue procedures from NIM and certified first-aid responders.
- Even our local guides are certified first-aid responders.
Eco-friendly Practices
- Group sizes are capped at 15 people.
- Batch sizes are capped at 250 people per trail per season.
- We follow a rolling campsite model.
- We are constantly exploring and introducing new trails to reduce the burden on existing ones.
Safety
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
- To ensure this:
- Every region of ours is mapped with an emergency evacuation plan.
- The equipment we use is UIAA certified.
- Our trek leaders are AMC certified with specialisation in rescue procedures.
- Our support staffs are trained in first aid as well.
Reviews
What's Included
Whats Included
- Food as per menu on the trek
- Forest Permits/Camping Charges, if any (upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
- Tents, Sleeping bags, Sleeping mats
- Safety Equipment includes static rescue rope, seat harness, carabiners, pulleys
- Trek guide, cook, helpers, and porters for carrying common supplies
- Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with Wilderness Emergency Responder & Rescue. course from NIM Uttarkashi
Whats Not Included?
- Portage of personal bags during the trek
- Cost of any kind of Travel Insurance.
- Any Expense of personal nature.
- Any Expense not specified in the inclusions list.
- Meals during road journeys
Cancellation Policy
Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Voucher Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Please note
- Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers.
- This is only a brief of cancellation terms. For finer details please refer Detailed Cancellation Policy.
Blog Posts
How to Choose the perfect pair of Trekking Shoes?
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Your choice of trekking shoes can make your trek a blissful or blister-full experience based on how well it fits you. A good pair of trekking shoes is the most essential piece of equipment you will use while hiking.&n
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