4 Nights 5 Days | Moderate to Difficult | December to April
Pangarchuilla peak is one of the most attractive trek in winters, it starts from Tugashi Village located 18 km from Joshimath which nestled just 20km before Shree Badrinath Dham in Uttarakhand Garhwal Himalayas, depending snow conditions it is 2-4 days trek, First day you can drive to Tugashi village 12 hours journey from Rishikesh, 2nd day trek to Khullara Campsite 4-6 hours trek Gaining around 600 meters this campsite is also base for Kuari Pass.
Hello Friends, My name is Virendra Singh i am a Mountaineer from Garhwal Himalayas i have been climbing peaks and treks in Indian Himalayas since 8 years, In this blog i want share my experience of Pangarchulla peak which i climbed with friends in April 2026 if you are planning to do this trek check out this blog before packing your rucksack if you need any help to plan this trek or you want to join us next time, feel free to write to us. Let’s get started
As I reached the summit of the Peak and looked at that 360° view Thought came in My Mind ‘’Thak Kar Pahunchta Hun or Dekhta Hun Drishay ko, Thakan Adrishya Ho Jati hai” Means ‘when tired me reaches the summit, all the tiredness disappears after seeing the view’
Initially, my friends and I planned to summit the peak during the first week of April. However, due to heavy workloads and various visits, two weeks slipped by. We finally decided to leave on April 16th. Although we were originally a group of seven, circumstances forced three friends to cancel, leaving just the four of us.
Travelling to Base Village Tugashi
On the morning of April 16th, we started our journey from Mussoorie around 8:00 AM. It took us approximately 12 hours to reach Tugashi, the last road-head for Pangarchulla and Kuari Pass. The journey was amazing; we explored four Prayags, the Ma Dhari Devi Temple, and Tehri Lake while enjoying the scenic road trip. Though it was hot in some places, the spring season made the forest landscapes and riverbanks look stunning. Rishabh, Manish, Vasu Sir, and I had plenty of discussions—and, of course, a few arguments—as Manish and Rishabh never miss a chance to tease each other. After a long and tiring journey, we finally reached the village and checked into a basic homestay. We had dinner, discussed the plan for the next day, and got some good sleep.
Trekking to Base camp – Khullara Campsite
The next morning, April 17th, 2026, we woke up around 7:00 AM. After breakfast, we left our extra gear in the car and began the trek at 10:00 AM. It took us about six hours to reach the Khulara Campsite (the base camp for Kuari Pass and Pangarchulla). The trek was incredible, featuring a gradual uphill climb through beautiful forests filled with Oak, Rhododendron, Horse Chestnut, and Deodar trees. Along the way, we crossed beautiful streams and spotted several Himalayan birds, including the Scaly Thrush, Variegated Laughingthrush, Bearded Vulture, and the Himalayan Monal. Three kilometers before the campsite, we took a break near a stream, cooked noodles on our portable stove, and enjoyed an amazing lunch under giant trees accompanied by the peaceful sound of running water.
Two hours later, we reached the base camp. It was filled with hundreds of tents, but most were empty as the season was ending. The staff members who manage the site and lead the treks were busy playing cricket. The geography of the campsite is breathtaking—vast meadows surrounded by Himalayan oaks and towering peaks like Hathi Ghoda and Neelkanth to the left, along with Dunagiri, Hanuman Peak, and many others. Around 4:00 PM, we had a cup of tea prepared by Anil, the campsite manager. After moving our gear into the tent, we explored the area before dinner. We went to bed early because the plan was to wake up at 1:00 AM and begin the summit push by 1:30 AM. I set my alarm for 1:00 AM and, since we were all exhausted, fell asleep quickly.
Attempting to the Crest of Pangerchulla Peak
At midnight on April 18th, 2026, my alarm started ringing. It felt as though I had only climbed into my sleeping bag five minutes earlier, but it was already 1:00 AM. We packed our daypacks, geared up, and had a cup of tea along with some Kheer that Anil Ji had prepared just 30 minutes prior. He had already left for the summit push with two other guests. By 1:50 AM, we were ready, and we finally began the climb at 2:00 AM. After walking for about an hour, we reached the junction of Pangarchulla and Kuari Pass, where we took a break. Looking up, the sky was outstanding; the constellations and star combinations were incredibly vivid.
After we hiked another 2 km, Vasu Sir began feeling unwell. He said, “I am not comfortable continuing today. Maybe I’ll try again tomorrow or next time.” Manish asked what we should do, and after a brief discussion, Manish and Vasu Sir decided to head back down. Rishabh and I continued on. A kilometer later, we put on our snow spikes and began the climb across the snowfield toward the summit. The final ascent took about two and a half hours. Navigating the boulder sections and the three ridge lines made the climb difficult; the summit always seemed close, yet it remained far away. The view kept shifting as the first rays of the sun touched the Chaukhamba Massif. It was one of the most beautiful views of Chaukhamba I have ever seen—all four peaks were visible and looked magnificent. The panorama grew wider and more impressive as we neared the top. Although we had hoped to see the sunrise from the summit, we witnessed it from the “shoulder” of the peak around 5:50 AM.
Finally, at 6:20 AM, we reached the summit. It was an amazing journey from base to peak. The landscape from the top was even more beautiful than I had expected—a grand reward for a 4.5-hour climb. After offering a prayer to the mountains, we sat on the ridge to take in the 360-degree view. It is hard to put into words: Chaukhamba, Hathi Ghoda Parvat, Nilkantha, and Kamet stood on one side, while Dunagiri, Hanuman, and Nanda Devi towered on the other, alongside hundreds of other Himalayan peaks. We walked along the ridge, eating snacks while staring at the countless peaks visible from the summit. We took photos and discussed the heights of the mountains and the surrounding geography.
Descending to Base camp
At 8:30 AM, we began our descent. On the way down, we used binoculars to get a closer look at the peaks; the view through the lenses was magical. It took us three hours to reach the base camp, where Manish and Vasu were waiting for us. We cooked and ate some food, then decided to descend to the road-head. I suggested to Manish that Rishabh and I take a two-hour nap first. I told them, “You guys start moving after an hour, and we will catch up with you.”
After our nap, we woke up, got ready, and started our descent. It took us only 45 minutes to reach Gulling Campsite, where the others were waiting. We took a short break and continued to Tugashi village, arriving around 5:00 PM. We immediately started driving toward Joshimath. We planned to drive for about two hours, find a hotel, and then finish the trip the next morning. We reached Pipalkoti (50 km from Tugashi) around 8:00 PM, stayed in a hotel, and had a well-deserved sleep. The next day, we woke up at 7:00 AM for the final 8 to 9-hour drive back to Mussoorie. We finally reached home, exhausted but happy.
