Kuari Pass Trek

Trek Overview

• A name which has multiple origin stories... 'Kuari', the Hindi word, means 'bachelor' or 'virgin'.

• A local belief suggests that Goddess Parvati meditated here before she got married to Lord Shiva when she was unmarried, hence the trail was named after her.

• Another story suggests that mountain people considered this range to be a home of gods and goddesses, so they left this trail untouched, i.e., Kuari.

• Kuari Pass is a trek for beginners, people who are to break their virginity of trekking!!

• Kuari Pass is also known as the Curzon Trail, after Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of British India.

• This route was popularized by him, and when asked what the top would be called, he suggested Kuari - as it was untouched.

• Kuari Pass is a high mountain pass in the mighty Garhwal Himalayan region of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand.

• Situated at a height of 12,516 ft near the Indo-Tibetan border, with Nanda Devi and Mt. Kailash in line of sight, Kuari Pass is a summit for both beginners and experienced trekkers.

• Apart from the summit, view of the majestic Nanda Devi and glimpses of Mount Kailash, we also explore the dense oak forests, Nanda Ghunti, Dronagiri Parvat, Rishi Parvat among many other peaks.

• In winter, there’s an additional reason to visit. While most other mountain passes within the Himalayas are covered with snow, the Kuari Pass is one of the few accessible mountain passes during the winter.

• Our 6-day trek, with easy to moderate difficulty for beginners as well as experienced trekkers, begins from Chamoli district in Uttarakhand.

• We start our trek from Tugasi village in Joshimath and reach the Gulling campsite as our base camp.

• The best thing about this campsite is that under a crystal-clear sky, the Gulling campsite provides some of the best stargazing opportunities, with stars twinkling bright above the towering mountains.

• Going further ahead in the trek, we experience ancient forests filled with oaks and rhododendrons.

• Just as your eyes are getting used to the tree canopy above, the trail opens into meadows referred to as 'Bugyals' in the local language.

• This interplay of different kinds of landscapes makes the trek very exciting.

• Not only do we get to witness the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, but we also trek through its rich biodiversity and wilderness.

• Descent from Kuari Pass takes us to yet another breathtaking and serene location - Tali Taal/Tali Top or Tali Lake.

• It is usually frozen during winters, but experiencing the lake reflecting the sky and the mountains is an extremely beautiful sight.

• Returning back to Joshimath after trekking through remote Garhwal villages like Tugasi, where you can immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle of the mountain people, marks the end of our small trip.

• Kuari Pass trek can be trekked during 10 out of 12 months of the year, excluding July and August, as it is the peak rainy season in Uttarakhand.

• If we take out the monsoons, we get 4 distinct seasons to experience Kuari Pass – Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Each season is different and lovely in its own way.

• So, if you’re looking to spend some time in the meadows or the snowy slopes of the Garhwal Himalayas, even if you are a beginner or an experienced trekker, then pack your backpacks and set off towards Kuari Pass with us!!

Key Points