For hikers, there is nothing more rejuvenating than an offbeat trek. And without any exceptions team StreetTrotter earlier this month indulged in a perfect vacation that led them to the famous Nagtibba trek. In collaboration with The Goat Village, a green village curated in the hills of Garhwal – two of our bloggers hiked up to the highest point of Nagtibba, bringing you back their experience in the form of this photo journey.
The Nagtibba Trek is a perfect offbeat weekend trek for nature and hiking enthusiasts looking for a break from the hectic city life. The Nagtibba peak is situated at a height of 3,022 meters (9,915 ft) and is known to be the highest peak in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India.
Nagtibba borrows its name from Nag (referring âNag Devta’ or âSnake Godâ) and Tibba (meaning a hill or peak), and therefore is believed to be the abode of Nag Devta. The beautiful trek takes you up to a serene temple in the middle of nowhere which possesses an idol of the Nag Devta, where the local villagers come to pray for the protection of their cattle.
With just a little more hike towards the peak, one is able to see the panoramic view of the great himalayas comprising the Bandarpoonch peak, Swargarohini, Srikanth, Black peak and the whole mountain top landscape of the Nagtibba peak.
What route should you take?
- Dehradun To Pantwari:Â The best way to reach Nagtibba is from Pantwari which is around 100 kms from Dehradun via Mussouri. The travel duration is around 3 to 4 hours by road depending upon the traffic and road conditions.Â
- To Nagtibba Base:Â From Pantwari one can trek up to the Nagtibba base for around 3 hours or can also take an off-road up to âLessergaonâ which takes around 45 minutes. From here the Nagtibba Base is just 5 mins by foot.
- To Nagtibba Top:Â Starting from the base it can take around 4 to 5 hours to reach the Nag Mandir depending upon personal stamina, prior trekking skills and experience.Â
What is the experience like?
The Trek is mostly uphill requiring a lot of stamina and will power. The uphill walk starts with a steep and challenging rocky trail full of small stones which gradually leads to a dense forest trail.
Once the forests are over, starts the walk on the top of the mountains surrounded with extravagant views of the himalayas, nature at itâs best, fresh air to breathe and the sun shining down on your face.
The thing which makes this trek so special and popular is its richness in Flora And Fauna. One can see a wide variety of wild animals wandering in groups, grazing on the open meadows. The animals that we spotted were buffaloes, goats, wild horses and cattle.
The trek has beautiful forest trails that are a mix of Sal, Oak and Deodar trees and is home to many Himalayan birds. I heard a hammer sound while walking and soon spotted a woodpecker drumming a tree.
It also has some herbs, rare wild mushrooms and beautiful flowers adding vivid colors to the nature.
Moreover, the local goat-herders and their kids playing around in regions was a delight to watch.
As we reached the top – we were starving. Soon we hogged on our packed food sitting on the grass field, enjoying the views around us. We managed to arrange some freshly plucked radish and fresh cucumber through the local official who was accompanying us on the trek. And not to forget the tasty local spice pickle to accompany it.
The place was so beautiful and serene that we spent around 3 to 4 hours walking and relaxing around, busy capturing it all in our camera.
On our walk back to the base – which is a steep descent, we spotted a natural water source which we fixed using some leaves in order to fill our water bottles. We were told that the natural water there was full of minerals and vitamins and indeed, it tasted fresh and relieving.
The trek has clear grass fields perfect for camping and enjoying the night hearing the sounds of animals and looking at the diverse colors of the sunset. If you plan to stay overnight, make sure to carry your tents along.Â
The overall experience was a memorable one and probably one of the best treks I have been to so far in terms of the adventurous challenges offered paired with the beautiful delights of nature. Hope you enjoyed my experience and felt motivated to pack your bags soon and leave for Nagtibba.
- About the Author: Saraansh Gupta is a multimedia producer with a deep passion for travel, food, music and landscape photography. While traveling you can expect him to be funny, witty, calm and cautious, all at the same time. He is StreetTrotterâs Chief-traveler in India at the moment and is available for future projects in and around the country.
- Photographs by: Saraansh Gupta & Ankur Schroff
Indeed, one of the best weekend treks. I did this trek in 2015 by bunking my college and without telling my home. Though i was little scared but had a great fun and made it a memorable trip. đ Nice and informative post.
It does seem a memorable experience that you have had. It looks serene and nothing could be closer to nature than what is seen or felt here.
Do they also have any accommodation apart from the tents or camps, in the vicinity? Like a homestay or a lodge of sorts. Is there also any local cuisine that we could delight our senses with?