Kaisdhar - perfect trail for beginners
Kaisdhar - perfect trail for beginners
Kaisdhar rest house was built by Britishers during 1920-21. It is an easy day hike for beginners as the trail contours from 2100 - 2400 meters.
Kaisdhar
Date: 20th April 2024
Start: Kullu Bus Stand
End: Kais Dhar (Dhaba)
Distance: 14.75 km
Elevation gain: 1273 m
Elevation drop: 40 m
Duration: 7 hr 20 min
Level: Beginner (6-7 km without a small day pack)
Skills required: Basic Navigation
Highlights: Jagdamni Rishi temple | Single broad trail | Dhaba with good food | Good network connectivity | Easy access | Potential day hike | MTB friendly trail sections | Less crowded | Perfect for 3-4 hr trail running session
Dhar - means ‘Ridgeline’
We were a group of four individuals for the Kullu to Prashar Lake community hike (111 km). In this post, I am referring to Day 01 of the six-day-long speed hike.
We packed some aloo paranthas and bread omelettes from one of the dhabas near the Kullu bus stand (1220 m). We started hiking at 09:30 am through the Kullu market behind the bus stand. The initial section of the trail goes through the east-facing slopes. There are multiple lanes, and you can ask locals about the route to Kaisdhar (2100 - 2400 m). The trail is also mapped, but there are offshoots and with the newly constructed road expect some bushwhacking until you reach the road that will take you to the village of Bain.
The next major POI (point of interest) will be the Jamdagni Rishi Mandir (2090 m) in the village of Shilabai. This point acts as a roadhead for the Kais Dhar trail. If you have less time then you can drive till this point and start the hike. There is a big and beautiful ground near the temple where you might see school kids playing kho-kho. There is a community kitchen, which can be used as a good man-made shelter. You can sleep in there with your sleeping mat and sleeping bag. (Do inform the locals before you decide to use the kitchen as a shelter). There is a potable water tap. The cellular network (Jio, Airtel) is good throughout the trail and even at the temple.
The trail from the temple to the dhaba is one single broad trail with wooden bridges and rain shelters present all along. There is also a big entry door that reads “Kais Dhar Eco trail” and while there was a ticket counter, it was closed at the time we crossed it. The trail contours on the west-facing slopes of the Chakoin protected forest and the Riunsigahr protected forest. The trail stays below the treeline all the time, and you will be hiking through a dense kail and fir forest.
We experienced some rain from 3-4 pm and the rain shelter proved pretty useful. Do carry enough warm clothes with you as the temperature drops drastically as the rain and wind kick in even though you are hiking in low altitudes (2100–400 metres). Even a pair of thin gloves will prove very useful as the temperature drops.
As you keep hiking South towards Chambagarh, you will be able to spot the villages named Angi, Khanyargi, Balig, Jonga, Samirg and Jiani on the other side (East-facing slopes). The Kais Dhar trail is not very popular yet, and thus, you will mostly come across friendly locals who use this trail for their commute to the road head.
The trail is safe and beginner-friendly. The dhaba towards the South is run by Mr. Jairam Ji who belongs to the village of Buai. The dhaba serves healthy and delicious food (Rajmah, rice, dal, roti, bread omelettes). You can also buy snacks (chocolates) and Jairam Ji provides tented accommodation for 4–6 people. There is also a forest rest house (FRH) near the dhaba, but I did not get enough time to enquire about the cost of stay and food there.
We asked Jairam Ji, and he suggested a camp spot right behind his dhaba. We were carrying one two-person tent (MSR Freelite 2) and one single-person tent (Lanshan 1 Pro). You’ll find a clean Indian-style toilet behind the dhaba. Jairam Ji provided us with some warm water the next morning to wash up. He let us charge our devices for the next day.
Since it was a short day (thanks to the rain) we had plenty of time, and just before sunset, we had an hour to go for a quick run to the village of Lot. From the dhaba, there is a nice 2 km long contouring trail that goes East towards the village of Lot. You get some beautiful views, and this trail is wide and is used by locals for their daily commute. We were back at the dhaba within an hour (fast hike) and then after dinner, we went into our tents to sleep and recover.
For someone who simply wants to do the Kais Dhar trek, I will be sharing the link to the Gpx file and you can download the file. You can use any offline navigation app (Maps.me or OsmAnd) to use the Gpx file and hike on this route.
Kais Dhar trek route (Download Gpx)
Hiking tip from the day:
Before packing fresh food (parantha, roti, bread omelette etc) from any dhaba, it is better to taste the food then and there.
DIY Kais Dhar
Beginner Hiker
Kais Dhar trek can be the ideal trek to start using offline navigation applications so you can learn how to stick to the right trail.
Good network connectivity throughout the route.
No major ascends or descends
Locals use this trail regularly, so you can go solo and stay safe.
No danger from wild animals as the trail has good visibility (line of sight) and there are very few blind turns.
Good route for female hikers and the Indian washroom at the dhaba is a good facility if you loathe going in the open.
A rain shelter in case you experience a downpour. The trail also has a thick tree canopy (cover), so you can keep hiking during a slight drizzle.
Experienced Hiker
This can be an easy start for a long traverse. If you reach Kullu in the afternoon, you can still push and reach the dhaba on time and camp.
Good section to gain some altitude without compromising on your acclimatization plans.
Trail runner
One of the best trail sections for an easy run (3-4 hr)
Soft palpable ground and a single contouring trail with food and water available. There are water springs on the route (check any navigation app to see their location on the trail) so no need to carry a big water bladder.
MTB Cycling
A few of my friends have been cycling this route. You can reach them to learn more about cycling on this route. Sunil Barongpa and Saurav Bhai