
About Dhaladhar Circuit - Adventure & Trekking Options in Dhauladhar Circuit
Mighty Dhauladhar Ranges visible from Parashar Lake
The Dhauladhar Circuit derives its name from the Dhauladhar peaks of Western Himalaya. It passes in the shadow of the mighty and majestic snow clad Dhauldhar ranges, which dominates the beautiful Kangra valley, dotted by flower filled meadows, temples, tea gardens and flocks of sheep.
This circuit covers Delhi - Chintpurni - Jwalamukhi - Kangra - Dalhousie - Khajjiar - Chamba - Dharamsala - Chamunda - Palampur - Jogindernagar - Delhi.
The Dhauladhar range is a southern branch of the main Outer Himalayan chain of mountains. It rises spectacularly from the Indian plains to the north of Kangra and Mandi. Dharamsala, the headquarters of Kangra district, lies on its southern spur in above the Kangra Valley, which divides it from Chamba.
The highest peak in the Dhauladhar range is the Hanuman Ka Tiba, or 'White Mountain' just behind Dharamsala, , about 5,639 m. or 18,500 ft. high. There are several peaks which are close to 5,180 m. or 17,000 ft in Dhauladhar Ranges. the Dhauladhar range is also known as the Outer Himalayas or Lesser Himalayas.
Beautiful Dhauladhar View FromBaijnathTemple
Dhauladhar Ranges start from Dalhousie at the northwest end of Himachal Pradesh and are spread through-out the Himachal state and end near Badrinath in Garhwal. About 90% of the Dhauladhars Ranges lie almost entirely in Himachal Pradesh.
Best View of Dhauladhars
The Best View of Dhauladhars can be seen from the Kangra valley. The elevation of the Dhauladhars ranges widely from 3,500 m to nearly 6,000 m. From the banks of the Beas river in Kulu, the range curves towards the town of Mandi. Then, running north, it passes through Barabhangal, joins the Pir Panjal range and then moves into Chamba.
Trekking Options in Dhauladhar Ranges :-
The Dhauladhars have a peculiar topography. Extremely rocky with a lot of granite, the flanks of the range contain a lot of slate stones (often used for the roofs of houses in the region), limestones and sandstones.
Trekking (Ascending) from any side is a tough business, given the near vertical incline. This calls for really tough trekking and mountaineering. There is very little habitation on the range given the harsh conditions. But meadows abound near the crest providing rich pastures for grazing where large numbers of Gaddi shepherds take their flocks. The top of the crest is buried under vast expanses of thick snow.
As a matter of fact, Triund - Ilaqua, approached from the hill station of McLeod Ganj, is the nearest and most accessible snow line in the Indian Himalayas. The range has rich flora and fauna and its exquisite beauty attracts mountain lovers who return many times over to savour the delightful trails and there are many of them.
Several peaks both virgin and scaled have drawn mountaineers from all over the world. Some of the well known Peaks in Dhauladhar are listed below :-
Trekking in Dhauladhar Ranges are very popular and loved world wide, Because of its beauty, the friendliness of the Gaddi people who live on both sides of the range, and relatively easy access world wide.