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This small trek in the Shivalik range of lower Himalayas is the recent addition to the ‘Weekend Trek’ category. Think pine forests, mountain brooks and slate-roofed villages are the highlights of this trek. As you walk along the trails of the forest, scenic views of the Gangotri, Banderpoonch, Kalanaag or Black Peak and the Swargarohini massif offer an enchanting experience. This trek to the Nag Tibba summit is of 8 kms and the best time to walk it up is post monsoon i.e. from October to March. Nag Tibba, at 10000 feet, is situated on the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas. The trek starts from the Pantwari village which is approximately 6 hours drive from Dehradun. The entire trek gets you closer to nature, with chirping of birds and fragrance of the thick deodar forests, while the terraced fields and slate roofed houses bring you back to civilization. The enchanting view of the green terraced fields is breath taking while a range of birds and animals can be spotted if you look a little closer. The camping on the first say is at Nag Tibba Temple. On the second day, you begin to walk to the highest point called Nag Tibba ‘Jhandi’. On the other side of this ridge lies the route to Devalsari village. After you savour the picturesque view of the Himalayan ranges, you take the same route back to the Pantwari village. After this quick weekend adventure trek, you can now return to Dehradun via road. The sun rise from this spot is an enrapturing sight of the great Himalayan range. You don’t really need porters for this trek unless you are a group that wishes to savour the flavor of camping out. They are extremely hospitable and make for another highly rewarding cultural study. Their dignity and integrity deserves to be emulated, not destroyed. As you reach Delhi the next morning, we’re sure you’ll already be planning for your next weekend trek.
Day 1 :- Dehradun to Pantwari village and trek to Camp 1
• Pantwari village (4,640 ft), Camp 1 (7,630 ft)
• Dehradun to Pantwari village drive 5-6 hrs, 85 Km
• Via Mussoorie, Kampty Fall
• Pickup at 6:30 am, reach Pantwari village by 12:00 noon
• Last ATM at Mussoori
• Whole trek has phone network but erratic
• Lunch at Pantwari village
• Start trek by 2:30 pm, reach camp site by 5:30 pm
• 2 – 3 water points on the way
• Pantwari to Camp 4 Km
• Stay in tent
Day 2 :- Camp 1 to Nag Tibba top and return to Pantwari Village and drive to Dehradun
• Altitude 9,910 Ft
• Camp 1 to Nag Tibba top 4 Km, 3 hrs
• Start trek at 5:00 am (early breakfast)
• No water point on the way
• Stay on top for half an hour
• Lunch at camp 1 by 12 noon
• Reach Pantwari village by 3:00 pm
• Drive to Dehradun reach by 8:30 pm
Note:- Due to of heavy traffic at Mussoori, the arrival time to Dehradun may get delayed so please make any further travel plan after 10:00 pm from Dehradun.
Day 1 :- Dehradun to Pantwari village and trek to Camp 1
We will pick you up from Dehradun railway station around 7 in the morning, starting on a 4 hour uphill drive to village Panthwari at 4,640 ft. The road passes through a Mussoorie-the queen of hills, to Kempty Falls, and with the Yumuna river trailing our side on to Nainbagh from where we turn on the Nag TIbba road, reaching Panthwari at around 12 pm. We will be stopping for a light breakfast on the way. Also, Mussoorie is the last stop where an ATM is available.
At Panthwari, we will have a filling lunch and after some rest, head off for the trek. The hike begins at the end of a motorable road till which we will be reached by car. Beginning on a well defined cemented path, we will find our way to a rocky trail. You will find 2-3 water points on this way, the first of which comes after 15 minutes in the trek- a reservoir of stream water. Fill your bottles from here and move ahead.
30 minutes into the trek, you will come across a cluster of thatched roofed huts- a small village on cliffs, lined with terrace farmlands. During the harvest seasons, you will find these stretches in a wave of different shades in green and yellow. The locality of Panthwari can be seen lying down far below. Before reaching the ridge connecting the Panthwari side of the hills with Nag Tibba, you will come across ‘Goat Village’—an interesting eco-tourism resort.
After a while, the rocky mountain trail enters a thicket of oak and rhododendron and the ascent curve almost levels out. The next landmark on the trek is an isolated hut by a stretch of farmland, from where our campsite will be another 5 minutes walk. The campsite is a small clearing with the forests for a background and the rolling abyss out front. To find clouds like smoke rising from beneath in the gulf just in front of the campsite ledge is a mesmeric experience.
Day 2 :- Camp 1 to Nag Tibba top and return to Pantwari Village and drive to Dehradun
Day 2 needs to start very early as it’s a long day ahead. After catching a quick breakfast, finishing by 5:00 am, we start on the hike to the top. A trail on the right of the campsite continues through a thick forest cover. With snow enveloping the path in the winters, it becomes a little challenging to locate the trail which is otherwise well defined. Within 20-30 minutes from the camp on the forest trail, you will reach two open patches of land, clearings by the forest fringes. From this point on, the trek is almost a level walk on very gentle undulations.
The Nag Tibba temple marking the base of the Nag Tibba hill is situated on the third clearing that we find on this trail. From here, on a clear sky day, the Garhwal Himalaya peaks meet the eye. The trek continues from here into the forest on a steep incline, likely to be submerged in snow in the winter. This part of the trek really raises the bar for challenge and makes for a swashbuckling summit experience. Close to the top, the trail will turn through a ridge and finally take you to the flag marking Nag Tabbi jhandi, or summit. One possible route of descending from here is a trail passing through Devalsari village, visible on the reverse side of the mountain.
The view from the summit brings us face to face with the Garhwal Himalaya’s most amazing. The canvas of the sky lights up with ice capped ranges of Bandarpoonch, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Kala Nag, and more. If the trek runs according to schedule, you can spend some time on the top, then make the way down by the same trail. Lunch will be at the camp. Panthwari will be reached by sundown and a 4-5 hour drive from there will take you Dehradun from where you can arrange an overnight journey.
How to Reach
By Air :- Jolly Grant Airport is the airport serving Dehradun, located about 25 km from the city. There is a daily flight from Delhi to Dehradun
By Train :- Take the overnight train to Dehradun from Delhi
• Nandadevi Express - Train no: 12205 (Departure 11:50pm; Arrival - 5:40am)
• Dehradun Express - Train no: 12687 (Departure - 9:10pm; Arrival - 5:00am)
By Road :- There is regular bus service from Delhi to Dehradun, from Delhis ISBT Kashmere Gate.
We would suggest you to take only government buses from ISBT Kashmere Gate. Private buses ply from outside ISBT and they are not trust worthiness.
Usually buses drop you at Dehradun ISBT. From there you have to come to Dehradun Railway Station
• TTH’s Tata Sumo or similar vehicles will pick-up you from Dehradun Railway Station at 6:30am.
• Pick-up is included in the cost of the trek