Churdhar Trek

Churdhar Trek The Churdhar Mountain Trek is a climb to the highest peak in the outer Himalayan Range, at an altitude of 3,655m. The Churdhar peak is located in the Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh. One can see the beautiful snow-clad ranges and summits of Badrinath and Kedarnath, and this peak is also known as the Churi-Chandni-Dhar, which means "mountain in bangles of snow."

What makes this trek so special? The Churdhar trek is a 15km long trek, so it will take you 2 days to complete. Although the slopes are challenging, when you get through dense Deodar forests to the top, you are surrounded by a 12,000 acre reserve that allows for an enjoyable stroll. A plethora of vegetation and wildlife may be found throughout this reserve, you can see deodar, oak, pine trees, and herbs like Aloe Vera and the Wild Himalayan Cherry.
At the top of the hill is the Shirgul Devta Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, and is over 5000 years old, is located at a height of 3,640 metres above sea level. Every year, a diverse group of tourists go to this temple to seek the Lord's blessing and wash away their sins, purify their spirits, and express their appreciation to Lord Shiva by pouring water on the Linga.

The trek to Churdhar would cost you approximately INR 10,000 per adult when you book a package, these generally cover your transportation costs too.

The Churdhar trek offers a trail that’s initially quite easy to cover, and then gets muddy, and steep, which could be even more difficult without the perfect boots.

Although there’s not really an ideal time to visit Churdhar, it’s best to undertake the trek from May to November, when the snow is not blinding, but it’s beautifully laden on the peaks. In June-July, the temperatures are range from 20°C to 28°C, with average precipitation of 55mm. This season sees the maximum number of tourists. It’s clearly a choice dependent on what you wish to experience.
Snow covers roads from the end of Dec to March so we wouldn’t recommend you to undertake the Churdhar trek in these months as the visibility is quite low.

The base camp of the Churdhar trek is at Nauradhar, a village in Himachal Pradesh. There are multiple transportation modes to reach this starting point, from Shimla, Solan, Chandigarh, and Rajgarh.
By Bus – You can take the bus from Solan or Shimla to Nauradhar base point.
By Cab – You can hire a private cab from any of the nearby cities to reach Nauradhar.
By Train – The nearest railway stations are Kalka Railway Station & Chandigarh Railway Station (CDG).
By Air – If you are taking a flight, there are three airports nearest to Nauradhar by cab or bus.
The Jubarhatti Airport of Shimla (125km), Chandigarh International Airport (150km), and the Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun (175km).

Basically, you will climb three peaks:
Nauradhar – 2,175m
Jam Nallah – 2,855m
Churdhar - 3,655m
Once you reach Nauradhar via one of the above mentioned routes, you will rest at the base camp for a night before the actual trek starts.

Day 1 – You will start your trek from Nauradhar to Jam Nallah at 6am. The trail is a bit steep and rocky, so make sure you have the right trekking shoes. You will need about 3-4 hours to reach the top, where you can find some dhabas and shops to get food and essentials.
Then, you will trek from Jam Nallah to Teesri, which is relatively easy with a well-defined trail and will take you around 2 hours to complete, and you will find some beautiful water streams.

Day 2 – You will trek from Teesri to Churdhar, which is the most challenging portion of the entire trek. It will take you around 4 hours to complete.
There are actually two trails to reach the Churdhar peak; one is a 4km trail that takes you to the peak directly where the Lord Shiva temple is located, and the other one is around 7km and this takes you via the temple to the peak, and is less steep.

Day 3 – The next day is your descent towards Nauradhar, at around 8am. It will take around 5-6 hours to get back to the base. From here, you can take the 5:00pm bus to Solan, or a nearby city from where you wish to travel back.

Here is your complete checklist that could most certainly be required on any trek you undertake:
Basic Essentials A. Identity card and photocopy
B. High capacity rucksack and an extra backpack
C. Personal medical kit and toiletries
D. Sleeping bag and tent
E. A water bottle and thermos flask
F. Snacks - preferably energy bars, and glucose
G. LED torch/headlamp
H. Poncho/rain cover
I. Umbrella
J. Sunglasses & sunscreen
K. Waterproof phone cover

Evenings and nights generally see lower temperatures, so it’s preferable that you carry warm clothes irrespective of the season.
A. Technical/mountain jacket
B. Windcheater or a fleece jacket that is water repellent
C. A sweatshirt and full sleeves T-shirt
D. Thermal wear suit
E. Gloves, cap, and muffler
F. Waterproof trekking boots with superior grip
G. Extra pair of shoes or sandals
H. 3-4 pairs of socks
The view from up there and the path you take are so mesmerizing, we suggest you carry your camera with extra batteries to capture the picturesque landscapes.
Also, it’s the base camp might have a few ATMs, but we suggest you to carry ample cash in your wallet and not rely on digital payment.

This should keep you #ReadyForAnything!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Churdhar trek difficult?

The Churdhar Trek is a moderate to difficult trek, at an altitude of 12,000 feet, and the first hour of the trek is quite challenging, with steep, rocky slopes.

How long is Churdhar Trek?

The Churdhar Trek is a 32 km trek and will take approximately 2-3 days to complete. 

Is Churdhar trek open now?

Yes, the Churdhar Trek is open now for travellers. It is generally closed by the administration during the winter season when there is heavy snowfall.

How do I get to Churdhar Trek?

There are a couple of routes to get to Churdhar – The first one is from Chaupal, which is in Shimla. The second route is in Nohradhar, in Sirmour.