KUARI PASS
TREK
Kuari which means “doorway” is a high mountain pass situated in the Garhwal region, south of the Tibetan border and on the western rim of the Nanda Devi Sanctuary. The Kuari Pass trek found fame in the early 1900′s when intrepid adventurers and mountaineers such as Lord Curzon, Eric Shipton and Bill Tilman used the passage in their pioneering explorations of the region. The Kuari Pass trek is also known as The Curzon Trail, named after the former British Viceroy Of India Lord Curzon.
REgion
Uttarakhand
FIRST TRIP
September 2014
Trip Grading
3
Trip DURATION
9 days
Best Period
May, June, September & October
Side TRIPS
Attempt climb of Pangarchula
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
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A classic pass crossing in the India Himalaya steeped in history
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Walk through forest sections and remote mountain villages enroute to the pass
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Wide mountain view from Kuari pass including view of Nanda Devi
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Scenic meadow walk from Kuari pass down to Auli
Kuari Pass Trek Gallery
A warm welcome awaited our group as we reached Ramani village which is the start point of the Curzon Trail route to Kuari pass. Ramani village is 4 hour drive from Rudraparag in Garhwal and located in the Mindakani Valley | On day 2 of the trek you traverse a cluster of villages which are completely isolated but efforts are going on to connect these villages by road from the town of Chamoli. | By afternoon of day 2 Panna village at 2500m came into view and this is by far the most spectacular looking village in the region. |
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The Panna village campsite at 2500m was set adjacent to Ramdana field on what looked like a neatly manicured lawn | Day 3 started with a climb to 3100m level to Panna Pass and soon after Kuari Pass was visible from Sutoli 2930m. After Sutoli the trail would again dip down to a 2500m level before climbing back to 3200m to Dukwani completing another up and down day. | Mountain flowers was a bonus Day 4 involved a short but steep climb to Kuari Pass at 3700m through a broad trail . |
Kuari Pass 3700m offers a grand view both towards the south from where we had climbed up and towards the north in the Dhauli Ganga Valley where multiple peaks are visible. | After crossing Kuari the trek eases out and passes through long meadow stretches. The trail from Kuari rises marginally to 3800m and then gradually descends to 3720m level to a campsite which was the advance base for Pangarcula climb. | At 4600m level Pangarchula when not covered in snow is quite a challenge as the peak is one major boulder field and requires a fair bit of jostling and boulder hopping to get to the top. |
The trail down to Auli runs through vast meadow stretches leading to Gurson Bugyal and offering unrivaled views of multiple peaks in the region. | The trek ends at Auli at round 3000m levels with a most memorable view of Nanda Devi. |