Gear up for Triund Trek in McLeodganj! Know all about the routes, cost, itinerary, height, and every little thing! With or without a guide!

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The over-popularity of this short hike had my curiosity. How come Triund had become one of the most popular treks in McLeodganj! Reasons? One, the Herculen Dhauladhar Range loses the faraway gap and appears face-to-face almost in a magical instant from the top. Two, the trek is so easy and accessible that even a first-timer can get to the top without difficulties. In fact, I would quote it as a ‘family-friendly, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly’ hike to the spectacle that certainly blew me away.

Without further ado, let’s dive into all the information I can provide about going for Triund Trek solo and without a guide!

• Elevation: 2828 meters (9278 ft)

• Starting Point: McLeodganj

When is the Best Time for Triund Trek?

This short trek can be undertaken at any time of the year, omitting the monsoon months. The flairs change with the season. The tossing of the months brings two sides of the coin. The months of October-March are for winter-trekkers (January-March for a snowy path), and April-June is for summer-enthusiasts. You can embark on this journey anytime except for the sobbing months of July-September. 

Also read – A Tiny Space in the Ever-Growing Tourism in McLeodganj

How Long is the Triund Trek – Routes to the Top

There are two routes that follow the way to the top. Interestingly, on my way back I discovered another well-marked path leading down to Zostel Dharamkot. I incidentally chose this solitary trail with no hikers and a few local houses alongside. So we will discuss all three routes.

Route 1: McLeodganj – Dharamkot – Gallu Temple – Triund Top

McLeodganj is your base. No matter which route you take, McLeodganj Market is where you have to land. From the Main Chowk of McLeodganj, one road rides high to Dharamkot, and another goes towards Bhagsu Waterfall. Cocooned only 2 km away from McLeodganj, Dharamkot paves to the sharp-edged yet graceful trail. Autos will also take you to Dharamkot, and from there you can take the trail to Gallu Temple. Or, you can take a cab to the temple, and cut down on your hiking kilometers. All in all, any vehicle (your own or a cab) now reaches as far as Gallu Temple by road.

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Buying a plastic bottle is not only unethical, it’s also lethal. With every purchase (even though you don’t litter), you are contributing to harming Himachal and yourself.

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The trail hits from just behind this locally revered temple. From here on, for the next 6 km, your uphill passage begins. To sum up:

• McLeodganj to Dharamkot: 2 km (By walk/auto/cab)

• Dharamkot to Gallu Temple: 4 km (By walk/Cab)

• Gallu Temple to the top: 6 km (Only trekking)

Route 2: McLeodganj-Bhagsu Waterfall-Triund Top

From McLeodganj, take an auto/cab to the parking lot dedicated to the tourists visiting Bhagsu Waterfall. You will have to hike for 2-3 km from the parking lot to the waterfall. The steep uphill cutting across the waterfall is a matter of 4-5 hours of hiking further up. To sum up:

• McLeodganj to the Parking Lot: 2 km (By walk/cab)

• To Bhagsu Waterfall: 2-3 km (hiking only)

• From the waterfall to the top: 7 km (hiking only)

Route 3: For the third route, and the one not very frequently taken, reach Dharamkot Zostel and ask anyone to show you the way. This trail is uninterrupted and it crosses over an unnamed waterfall and eventually meshes with the Route 1 trail.

Also read – Dalhousie with its Hailstorms & Dainkund Peak

Can It Be Done in A Day?

How many days for Triund Trek? It could be one or two. No matter which route you embrace, the entire stretch would not take more than 5 hours. If you have a day-hike in your pocket, leaving around 8 am would give you ample time to expend yourself at the top, soak in the surroundings, and eventually stride down the trail. That is exactly what I did.

But most trekkers set up camp on the top, for the sunset against the gigantic snowed-out Dhauladhar Ranges is a marvel. Naturally, the descent succeeds to the successive day, making it a two-day trek.

• Day 1: McLeodganj to the top

• Day 2: Triund to McLeodganj (Back)

Is Triund Trek Easy Or Difficult?

Yes, it is as easy as it gets. On the trail, I passed by queues of children hiking uphill with unmatched enthusiasm. Certainly, this was one of the easiest treks for me, even though I had a fever and a chest infection. But keep in mind a few things.

The route through Bhagsu Waterfall is steep and a more difficult endeavor. The kilometers are less, but the hours are long. On the other hand, the Dharamkot trail is wider and more convenient, but still, boulders and uneven stairs of shaky rocks give you a rookie feeling.

Also read – Spiti Under My Feet – Walking Alone for 150 Km (9 Days)

Do You Need A Guide?

Heck no. Triund is so popular that colonies of tourists hit the trail every day, to the large and far extent that 1000 people would clobber up on the topmost green patch overnight (the only reason I decided not to camp). Well-marked trails, and the local Himachali women whooshing their cattle to the top. Where would you get lost?

But if you feel the need for a guide and expect arrangements for camping, plenty of travel companies have their offices in both McLeodganj and Dharamshala. The cost for one person can be somewhere between Rs. 700-1000, which would include food, accommodation in tents and the charges of the guide.

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Every single day, outsiders leave their “shit” behind on Triund Top, plastic packets that hoarded their biscuits and chips. The locals and non-profits take organized trips to bring back the garbage from your ‘picnic-spot’. Please pack your senses with your plastics.

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Also read – The Hidden Villages in Parvati Valley – Rasol and Stona

Anything Else? Here Are Some Tips for Triund Trek

• Triund trek cost me only food-rupees. A gobbled breakfast in McLeodganj and a packed lunch from the previous evening – I didn’t take chances. But on the Dharamkot route, shops have been set up by the locals, for breakfast and Rhododendron Juice. And exactly within 3 km, at the halfway point, you can buy food supplies, tea, coffee, water, and snacks. But the waterfall-trail has no shops throughout.

• Carry two filled-up steel bottles with you. We are living in climate-extremities. Buying a plastic bottle is not only unethical, it’s also lethal. With every purchase (even though you don’t litter), you are contributing to harming Himachal and yourself. 

• Every single day, outsiders leave their “shit” behind on Triund Top, plastic packets that hoarded their biscuits and chips. The locals and non-profits take organized trips to bring back the garbage from your ‘picnic-spot’. Please pack your senses with your plastics.

• Officially camping is not allowed, but it’s a ‘camping place’, like a party-place! You can surely pitch your own tent, or connect with any booking provider.

• Both outside Gallu Temple, and the cafes of Bhagsu Waterfall, the local vendors rent out hiking sticks for the day. You deposit Rs. 100 and get back Rs. 50 once you deposit the stick back! You don’t necessarily have to return the stick to the exact shop. If you return through a different trail, you can give it to a different shop. You will still get your money back.

Where to Stay in McLeodganj?

Here are some budget accommodation options for backpackers:

• Chinmay Hostel & Yoga Centre. I spent the whole week at this hostel. It was under transformation at that time, from a yoga centre to a hostel. Basic set-up, but quiet, peaceful and away from McLeodganj’s typical hostel scenario. And guess what, this place is right on the trail to Bhagsu Waterfall. I would highly recommend this hostel. But if you are expecting ‘amenities’, this might not be the place for you.
• Rahgir McLeodganj
• Be Happy Homestay
• Evolve Dharamkot – An Eco Hostel
• Live Free Hostel

In case you want a private room, choose locally-run homestays over hotels for a sustainable and close-knitted travel experience.

• Leela Cottages
• Bhagsu Homestay
• Kareri Wayfarer
• The Last House

(Lastly, to explore more of McLeodganj, know how to spend your days in different flavours of Himachal in this Outlook Traveller article.)

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Not littering is not enough. Be responsible for the footprints you leave behind. Say no to plastics and incorporate small and sustainable behavioral changes. Your Triund Trek would only be more impactful with your own actions.

Is there anything else you would want to know about the Triund Trek in McLeodganj?

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