If you are someone who loves trekking and wants to cover an offbeat destination, I have the perfect trek for you. Pack your bags and get ready to experience one of the most beautiful treks of Garhwal Himalayas.

Located at an elevation of 3500 m, Panwali Kantha is a heavenly meadow in the Tehri-Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. In summers, red and pink rhododendrons bloom in abundance and enhance the beauty of the region. While in winters, heavy snow covers the entire meadow and paints it white.

The diverse landscape, stunning views, and rich biodiversity make Panwali Kantha an ideal trek for adventure lovers. In this short trail, you pass through forests, meadows, and hamlets before reaching the final destination. Rare picturesque views of the Char Dham accompany you throughout the trail. You also get to see some of the eminent snow-capped peaks like Thalaysagar, Kedar Dome, Meru, Chaukhambha, Kirti Stambh, and Nilkanth. If luck favours, you can spot wild animals like Bharal Ghoral, weasels, Himalayan bears, and the rare-musk deer. But it is the sunset of Panwali Kantha that makes the trekking experience more memorable and drool-worthy.

This 4-day trek is excellent for people who have work commitments, and cannot make time for long duration treks. You can easily take a weekend off and explore this lesser-known trail of the Himalayas. I assure you, Panwali Kantha is not going to disappoint you.

About Panwali Kantha Trek:

• Area: Garhwal Himalayas
• Maximum Altitude: 3500 m
• Trekking distance: 24 km
• Trek Duration: 4 Days
• Level of Difficulty: Moderate
• Min/ Max Temperature:
• Summer: 10°C to 15°C
• Winter: 0°C to -8°C
• Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh Railway Station
• Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport
• Activities Included: Trekking, Camping, and Village Tourism.

Best Time to Visit:

Panwali Kantha Trek is open throughout the year. However, the ideal time to visit Panwali Kantha is during summer and post-monsoon months. May and June in summers, and September and October after the rainy season is perfect for this trek.

The weather in the summer season is pleasant and wholesome. It is vibrant with colourful flowers and greenery. You can also view the Himalayas clearly and enjoy cold winds.

Panwali Kantha Trek can also be done in monsoon, but it is not advisable due to the slippery bugyal.

In the post-monsoon season, Panwali Kantha is full of life. The meadow is aesthetically soothing to the eyes. During the day it is mildly sunny, and the nights are chilly.

You can also visit Panwali Kantha in between December to Mid-April. Winters cover the bugyal with snow and make it look like a dream. If you love snow, you will enjoy it during this time of the year. But in winters, there are limited accommodation options, so book ahead.

Level of Difficulty:

Panwali Kantha Trek is a trek of moderate difficulty. The terrain comes with stunning views of mountains, vast meadows, and pristine lakes. You get to travel in a diverse landscape. But due to the high altitude, acclimatization becomes necessary. The trek best suits people with prior trekking experience. However, you can also opt for it, if you have good physical fitness and stamina.

Why should you opt for Panwali Kantha Trek?

When you think about which place to trek next, it is better to know what the terrain has to offer. So, I have listed a few reasons why you should not miss out on the Panwali Kantha Trek -

• The trekking distance is only 24 km, but you get to experience a moderately tough terrain.
• The view that the trail comes with is visually satisfying. You get to see the extensive Himalayan ranges, vast bugyals, dense forests, and beautiful wildflowers.
• If you visit during summers, Panwali Kantha looks different. It is full of greenery, and flowers bloom to their full potential. In the winter months, the entire region is full of snow. It looks like a magical white land.
• You can also visit the Triyuginarayan Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The trek start point is different and it takes a day extra and the trek distance increases, but you come across the beautiful Panwali Kantha Bugyal and you complete the trek following the same itinerary mentioned below.

How To Reach:

• By Air: The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport. It is at a distance of 35 km from Rishikesh. Many flights come from Delhi to this airport. Once you reach, you can avail cabs or buses from Dehradun to get to Rishikesh.
• By Rail: Rishikesh Railway Station is a small branch rail line that connects Rishikesh to Haridwar. Only two or three slow trains run regularly on this line. Rishikesh lies at a distance of 25 km from Haridwar. So, it is more convenient to take a train till Haridwar Railway Station and then take a cab or bus to reach Rishikesh. There are a lot of trains that run regularly from Delhi to Haridwar. Some of them are-
• Shatabdi Express
• Jan Shatabdi
• AC Special Express
• Mussoorie Express

Haridwar is also well-connected with Rajasthan, Varanasi, and Amritsar.

• By Road: Rishikesh is well-known among tourists. National Highway 58 connects it with many cities, and the road is in good condition. It has buses that run from major cities like Dehradun, Haridwar, and New Delhi. Buses run from Kashmere Gate ISBT in New Delhi every day in the morning and late hours of the evening. They come with regular, deluxe, and supreme coaches.

You can also drive your car or hire one if you want more comfort. The view of the hilly terrain makes the drive enticing. It takes around 6-7 hours to reach Rishikesh from Delhi by car.