Who doesn’t want to get lost in the mountains every now and then, but it’s not always easy to take time off from our busy schedules. Luckily, there are a few treks in the Himalayas which only demand as little as a long weekend and Nag Tibba is one of them.
It’s a sweet little trek that will fill your days with the views of jungles, meadows, snow in winters, beautiful starry nights and of course the chance to stand on top of a mountain at 3,004M.
For those who are considering this trek, let me take you on a visual journey so you know exactly what to expect.
But first, here are a few facts worth knowing:
1. Anyone can do this trek: You don’t need any prior trekking experience to head out to Nag Tibba. Come as you are; bring your friends or your kids.
2. It can be done all year round: Nag Tibba offers picturesque views in summers and winters, and can be done anytime of the year.
Ok, now back to the visual tour!
Day 1: The trek starts from a small village in Uttrakhand called Pantwari.
You will see beautiful step-farms and temples here. Their land is their source of life – everything they need is grown here – it is a self-sustained lifestyle. You see huge farms where rice, potatoes, corn, mustard and vegetables are homegrown. You also come across apple orchards and walnut trees in the vicinity.
As you start walking uphill, the views of the entire valley open up.
You come across a few lonely huts along the way. These are basically homes of farmers who bring their domestic animals for grazing in the upper regions during summers.
In just a matter of hours, you are in the middle of nowhere. An ideal place to be. Far away from the big cities and closer than ever to the mountains.
It’s always magnificent views like these that bring people back to the mountains.
Before 6pm, you are at your campsite. Try to get here before the sun sets to watch the sky turn orange.
Let’s zoom out a little bit and put things in perspective.
Well this is your campsite in summers. There is nothing here but forests and beautiful naked mountains in front of you. And maybe some monkeys too.
The same campsite looks magical when it snows.
Day 2: Summit Day
Today is the big day. It is summit day. If the views filled you with joy on the first day, it’s only going to get a whole lot better today. Fill your bellies with warm food and gear up for your hike. Oh by the way, it’s just a two hour hike to Nag Tibba top from here, so don’t stress out.
Have I been staring at this picture for too long or does it look like the guy in focus is missing a head? Anyhow, this is going to be your route at the beginning, before…
…you disappear in a beautiful lush green forest, to begin your ascend. There are a few steep patches, but just enough to give everyone a taste of what trekking in the mountain involves.
You will walk uphill for about 2 km...
...surrounded by massive oak trees
And before you know it, you are standing on top of Nag Tibba.
If I told you the magic lies at the top, I lied.
It’s all in the journey. But it will feel magical to have reached the highest point on the trail.
You also see the beautiful Himalayas from up here. Try spotting well known peaks like Bandarpoonch, Kala Nag and Swargarohini from up here.
Put your cameras aside and take it all in. These are going to be your special moments of silence up in the mountains.
The snow slopes near the top are sometimes perfect for glissading.
Run to the top and zoom your way downhill from there.
After heading back to the campsite, you can also visit the Nag Mandir. It is believed to protect and bless the villages in that area. It is just 5 minutes away from the base camp.
The campsite is all yours to enjoy for the rest of the day.
Day 3: Heading Back Down
It is time to head back, but the itinerary is designed in a way to ensure there is no overlap of routes. So, instead of heading back to Pantwari, we make our way to Auntar, which is another charming little village.
The trail is pretty straight forward. You walk up and down the hills and in and out of forests.
But majority of the trail runs downhill; prepare your toes and knees for the same.
You’ll walk for a 3-4 hours...
...before your first human or domestic animal contact to welcome you back to civilization.
This is Auntar, where you end your trek. Have a cup of chai or Maggie at the dhaba on the road here before making your way back to Dehradoon.
Yup, that is how your 3 days on the trek would look like, but then again, it all depends on the weather. I prefer this trek in winters, and if you do too, check the weather forecast and snow conditions before heading there.
Find out more about Nag Tibba here.
Happy trekking!
This article was originally written by Pooja Dhiman on 12-01-2018.
It was edited and updated by Neeti on 07-11-2023.
