Overview
Nag Tibba Trek
Hotels 
Meals 
Sightseeing 
Transfers
| Duration Starts from Ends at Difficulty level Age group |
: 1 Nights / 2 Days : Dehradun : Dehradun : Easy to Moderate : 12-45 years |
Nag Tibba lies on the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas, North-East of Mussoorie. The peak is at an altitude of 3100 m. It offers spectacular views of Mussoorie, Vikasnagar, the Banderpoonch range and spurs created by the Yamuna river valley. Nag Tibba is a typical ridge peak on the Nag Tibba Range of the lower Himalayas. In fact, along with the Pir Punjal and Dhauladhar, the Nag Tibba range forms one of the 3 main ranges of the lower Himalayas. It is mentioned in the very famous book ‘7 years in Tibet’ which chronicles the escape of Austrian climber Hienrich Harrer from the British jail into Tibet.
There is a temple dedicated to Nag Devta and the range owes its name to this temple. Snakes have always held an important status in the Hindu religion. According to Hindu mythology, snakes are considered as the representation of rebirth, death and mortality, due to its casting of the skin and being symbolically “reborn”. Since the days when religion and worship was a response to a way of life rather than a reason for existence; snakes have been given a cult status. In some places snake gods are associated with fertility. There are many snake god myths and iconographic symbols associated with them in the Hindu mythology like that of Sheshnag( Vishnu’s resting couch), ananatnag( the endless snake), Kaliya( Krishna’s dance),Vasuki (churning of the ocean), Padmanabha ( guardian snake especially in south India), Manasa devi( snake goddess) etc. For the villagers in this part of the mountains he is the protector of their cattle and sheep. Domesticated animals are their biggest assets and Nag Devta their protector.
Itinerary
Day 1
Dehradun to Pantwari (1,400 m) to Kathian Campsite (2,265 m)
We begin the day early from Dehradun so that we can avoid the traffic towards Mussoorie and Kempty falls. Mussoorie is 22 km from Dehradun and Kempty falls another 17 km ahead. The road continues downhill from here towards the Yamuna river bed and reaches the town of Nainbagh. One road continues towards Yamunotri while we take the narrower road which climbs uphill towards Pantwari village. This takes us behind the Mussoorie ridge and into shepherd territory. Gujjars with their domesticated sheep and goats are seen on hill tops. Terraced farms and hill slopes dotted with Bauhinia trees with their purple blossoms are a sight to photograph. These flowering trees are easily identified by their leaves which are in the shape of a camels’ foot.
After a total of three and a half hours’ journey from Dehradun, we reach Pantwari village and begin our ascent to our camping site. One can enjoy the village setting and life. Women are seen working on the wheat and green pea fields. Men are mainly employed in government jobs in the plains or work as porters and guides. Our trekking trail rises beyond the farms and enters wild territory. Flowers and birds are in plenty here. Most prominent flowers are white anemones (a flowering shrub) while among birds the jungle babbler, red vented bulbul, blue cheeked bulbul, hill myna, warblers and tits are common.
The trek begins from the main road that cuts through village Pantwari itself. The trail climbs high up across the ridge face, right behind the village Pantwari, in the eastern direction. After a walk of 5 minutes we leave the main village behind. The trail is rather steep until almost halfway today, or until we arrive at the Goat Village on our left, an initiative started to sustain the way of living in the Himalayan villages, which is increasingly threatened by migratory trends. The trail up to this section is exposed with few areas with natural shade and it can be slighlty unpleasant during sunny days.
The trail is rather level around the Goat Village and soon after we cross the forest checkpost a little further up ahead, we enter a dense forest with plenty of Rohdodenderon trees with bright crimson red flowers, found in full bloom during late winters and early springs, i.e. Feburary to April. The trail is mildly steep from here until the Kathian Campsite.
We reach our camping ground by late afternoon and enjoy the sunset over the hill spurs. The camping ground is flush with mint leaves which can be mixed to form a delightful brew of mint tea or the Kandali shrub can be washed and cooked to form a tasty saag.
The campsite at Katian is famous for the marvellous sunset views that can be seen from here and is a highlight of the Nag Tibba trek. The colors come out beautifully during the evening twilight hours.
Day 2
Trek from campsite to Nagtibba top(3,020 m) and back to Pantwari; Drive back to Dehradun.
We start the second day post breakfast and climb to the Nag Devta temple. It is an ill maintained temple premise with a pujari, who is present occasionally. The locals come here frequently to pay their obeisance. There is a vast open space near the temple which is often used as a grazing ground for sheep and goats. The Nag Tibba ridge rises further up and is another 1 hour of journey ahead. There is a distinct change in vegetation from here. The forests become dense and is dominated by oaks and rhododendrons. The forest floor is also damp indicating the lack of sunlight reaching it.
This is an ideal habitat for a variety of orchids (locally called kachanar) to grow. However, with the pressure of grazing, lopping of oaks and trekking, this region is under anthropogenic pressure. A variety of birds like the niltava and flameback woodpecker are seen in the barks of oak trees. We follow the trail back to our campsite and after lunch head down to Pantwari village. The trek down is easy and fast and can be covered in a couple of hours. We then proceed onwards to Dehradun by our transport.
Inclusions
- Transport support from and to Dehradun: starting from pickup on day 1 to drop on day 2.
- Guide and cook fees.
- Rent for camping equipment.
- Forest entry charges.
- Porter and mule support to carry camping equipment.
- Please note that personal luggage can be carried by mules and/or porters on chargeable basis.
- All veg meals starting from day 1 lunch to day 2 lunch.
- Tented accommodation throughout the trek.
Exclusions
- Transport to reach Dehradun from hometown.
- Personal expenses like tips, personal medicines, phone calls etc.
- Any transport support during the trek apart from what is included above.
- Accommodation in Dehradun.
- Personal luggage with mass not exceeding 12 kg per bag per person can be carried by porters/mules @ Rs 300 per day per bag.
Here are a few reasons why we are in love with this trek:
- One of the best treks for beginner
It is always nice to meet people who are adding trekking in their lifestyle. And Nag tibba trek is one of the best treks for beginners. Cutting through Pantwari and goat village, Nag tibba is a 10 km trek that helps in giving the boost to your trekking journey. Anyone with required physical fitness can summit the top. You just cannot go wrong with this choice. - Perfect for solo trekking
Are you not able to pull of your plans with your friends? Or are you someone who enjoys a bit of an alone time away from the world. Well, hear us! Nag tibba trek offers the best time to solo trekkers. The trek gives solo trekkers the space, the environment and the possibilities of pulling of a solo trek during any time of the year. There is signal available till the campsite connecting the trek to the mainland during emergencies. There are shepherds’ houses all along the way. So if you need any help, you can always find someone till the base camp. - Community building
A short trek but also quite popular. Nag tibba is a famous trek destination for many people. So, it is not surprising at all how well people bond over here. Under the stars, over dinner, while trekking and over conversations by the bonfire; Nag tibba can help you build your personal trekking community! We have seen so many friendships and memories weave in this place just within 2 days. Music, soup and cold weather brings everyone together. - Weekend getaway
Are you someone who doesn’t get too many leave? Are you looking to run away from your city for just 3 days? Fret not, for Nag tibba won’t take too much of your time. You can dedicate a night and two days to this place and get done! On the first day, we trek from Pantwari till the base camp via goat village. The next morning, we leave early from the base camp (post breakfast) and head towards the summit. On the way you are going to cross a temple and reach the summit within 3-4 hours. Spend some time at the summit and head back to Pantwari. We reach Dehradun by evening and leave for our respective homes. - View from the summit
Can the list ever ends? Not really, but here we finally talk about the spectacular views that this trek offers. On reaching the summit, you will find a Trishul laid between a circular arrangement of stones. Beyond that you will spot nothing but peaks. You can spot some of the mighty Himalayan peaks of Uttarakhand. Swargarohini, Banderpoonch, etc. are visible clearly most of the times. P.S: Do not forget to carry a binocular!
Here are 5 ways to make your trek to the summit easier:
- Start exercising a week before your departure
It is always better, something which we 100% recommend, to start exercising a week before the trek begins. You can run, do a few core exercises daily or swim. Exercises prepare your muscles for the climb, making it easier later on. You can also climb stairs, which will prepare your knees beforehand to intake the strain. - Carry minimum amount of weight
A very novice mistake that people make; they carry a huge amount of weight. This does nothing but pulls the body down making it difficult for you to carry yourself and the weight. Do not carry excess baggage. A 3-day trek requires nothing more a jacket, two t-shirts and a pair of trekking trousers. - Eat healthy; avoid smoking and drinking
Eating healthy does not only help during the trek, but also during the longer run. We also do not recommend skipping meals while trekking. A proper meal during a trek makes a huge difference during the climb. If you do not like eating meals outside, you can carry healthy snacks like fruits, energy bars and other healthy products. - Carry your trekking essentials
If you do not have proper trekking ear, worry not. All you need for a small trek is good shoes and a warm jacket. Carry your essentials like your basic toiletries along with extra footwear. We also recommend you to carry a small packet which can be used as a litter bag during the trek and while staying at the base camp. - Listen to your trek leaders
If you are tired, exhausted or in dire need of help, contact your leader immediately. Your guides have experience in such situations. We believe in helping our fellow trekkers have a safe journey throughout. Your safety comes above everything else. Follow the route specified by your leader and do not divert from the path. If you want to explore around, just consult your leader beforehand.