Panpatia Col Trek

Area: Garhwal Himalayas

Duration: 14 Days (4 Days travel/10 days trek)

Best Season: Mid May – Mid October

Grade :Tough

Altitude: 5260 mts/17255 ft

Total Trekking: 135 K.M

About Panpatia Col Trek

This is a historic trek route, where many of the trekkers lost their way for ever. Panpatia Col is a snow lamented belt, beautiful for the views all around. More than the beauty here, this route is a challenge for all the trekkers. You will get a guide now, but ten years before now, the route has been a total mystery. The route connects two of the top Hindu pilgrimage points, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The route is one of the highest pass in the Himalayas, where Panpatia glacier will have to be crossed. Top peaks surround the cold belt will seem to be like monsters. This place is called the labyrinth of Himalayas. There are different mythological mysteries related to the place. Nilkantha, Balakun and Kunaling are the top among all, although Januhat to Ransi are all crowded at the corner. The route is so challenging that you will feel nervous. If you gave taken a guide, then there is no reason to feel shaky – just enjoy the beauty, nature has preserved there for you.

Panpatia Col Trek

A historic route connecting two holy spots: The journey through this trek seems to be like a path through a grapevine, with so many things to do. Start the journey from Madhmaheshwar, the temple spotted to be built by the Pandavas. It is better to trek the route in the summers, since monsoon and winter turns out the area to be very much risky. It is the glacier of Panpatia and is a wide area that becomes really rough in the monsoons. Snow fall in winter is again treating for even the expert trekkers too. In summer, you will find a day temperature here around 8 degrees centigrade and at night it goes down till -10 or -15. Maidagala Tal at the end part of the trek is really aspiring one for you. Get there and find the decent weather condition in summer and autumn.

The trek route here is tough and is not at all fit for novice trekkers. However, you will like to get to the spot and find the natural beauty. Although mountains and snows will seem here to be villain, but Nature Goddess is ever ready to escort you to her home. The serene beauty on all sides will make your mind filled with tranquillity, when you get the spare time at the camp. The night sky with the shining peaks especially when moon light sparkles on the top will take you to a distant dreamy location. Enjoy the excellent beauty of nature here, but do not forget to take a note of the old stories, preserved here.

It is a valley which is noted to be covered by the priest of Kedarnath and Badrinath in a day. However, it took him long time to travel and with the blessings of Lord Shiva, a route was made for him and the rest part was totally spoiled to form a labyrinth. Myths say that they are created by lord alone, so that no one else can find the path again.

Panpatia Col Trekking Tours Highlights

  • Pay obeisance at the Badrinath Temple, a shrine of Chardham tour
  • Experience the thrill of trekking through dangerous ice fields of Panpatiya and the most challenging trails of Garhwal
  • See the Hathi Parvat & Dhauliganga peaks
  • Witness high altitude streams
  • A historic route!! An interesting mythological story has it that a sage used to perform his daily rituals of worship in Badrinath and Kedarnath on the same day.

Best Time to Visit

Best time to travel to Panpatia Col Trek is in summers (Mid May – June) and Post Monsoon (September – early October).

Summer: The weather of Panpatia Col Trek remains salubrious and pleasing during summers. The Himalayas are distinctly visible and the cool breeze adds charm to the vacation. Carry woolens with you.

Post Monsoon: Serenity and solitude are at its best during post monsoon at Panpatia Col Trek. The region is blessed with snowfall during winters and the accommodation options also remain few. But you can see the best of Panpatia Col Trek during post monsoon as it looks like Heaven on earth.

 

Where is the Panpatia Col Trek ?

Panpatia is a high mountain pass, connecting the two holy shrines- Badrinath and Kedarnath. According to the mythological accounts, sages used to perform sacred here. Many trekkers and mountaineers tried to complete this trek, but due to some misadventure or other they were not able to do so. However, in 2000, an English mountaineer Martin Moran lead an expedition to Neelkanth, a nearby peak in Badrinath area to find a route and then successfully negotiated the Panpatia ice falls to exit through Kedarnath making it the first successful attempt completing Shipton’s route.