Gulabi Kantha Trek
Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
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- Max altitude
- 3,785 m
- Days
- 5 days
- Distance
- 28 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Short first day, but the trail gains about 1,700 m in three days and summit day is long (about 12 km) with a steep climb above the Seema Thatch meadow, deep snow in winter and no water on the summit ridge.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Dehradun → Hanuman Chatti
640 m → 2,100 m
Day 2
Hanuman Chatti → Kandola Chhani (via Nishni village)
2,100 m → 2,700 m
Day 3
Kandola Chhani → Seema Thatch
2,700 m → 3,474 m
Day 4 · highest point
Seema Thatch → Kandola Chhani (via Gulabi Kantha top)
3,474 m → 3,785 m → 2,700 m
Day 5
Kandola Chhani → Hanuman Chatti (drive to Dehradun)
2,700 m → 2,100 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Hanuman Chatti
at 2,100 mLoading forecast…
High point · Gulabi Kantha top (approximate position on the ridge above Seema Thatch)
at 3,785 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Hanuman Chatti (nearest town: Barkot)
- Nearest railway
- Dehradun
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- By road
- Dehradun (about 160-180 km via Mussoorie, Barkot and Syanachatti); Barkot (about 36 km)
- Drive
- About 7 h from Dehradun
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹5,000–9,000
With an operator
₹10,500–13,300
Per person, ex-Dehradun. Guided prices published October 2026: Himalayan Dream Treks ₹9,999 + 5% GST; Trek The Himalayas ₹10,900 + 5% GST; Bikat Adventures ₹10,500 + 5% GST ex-Hanuman Chatti plus ₹2,200 for Dehradun transport. Self-guided is an estimate: bus or shared jeep to Barkot and Hanuman Chatti, a guesthouse night, a local guide and porter, tent and stove hire, and forest entry and camping fees.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 32
Snow on the trail in Dec–Mar: microspikes, gaiters and a warm layer are not optional.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Patchy BSNL and Jio at Barkot and Hanuman Chatti, sometimes on the way to Kandola Chhani; no reliable signal at Seema Thatch or on the summit ridge.
- Last ATM
- Barkot (not confirmed by our sources; carry cash from Dehradun)
- Nearest hospital
- Barkot for first care; Dehradun for serious cases
- Water
- Streams and village sources up to Kandola Chhani and near Seema Thatch; there is no water on the summit stretch, so fill bottles at camp. In winter water at Seema Thatch may have to be melted from snow. Boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- Wide views from the top over Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch, Black Peak and the Gangotri group
- Camping on Seema Thatch, a high grazing meadow at about 3,470 m
- Walking through Nishni village and the seasonal huts and fields of Kandola Chhani in the Yamuna valley
- A quieter alternative to Kedarkantha, with snow from December to March
Risks
- Summit day is long, about 12 km, with a steep final climb that is snow-covered and icy in winter; microspikes and gaiters are needed.
- Night temperatures fall to about -10 to -15 °C at the upper camp in December to February.
- July-September rain makes the trail slippery and the Dehradun-Barkot-Hanuman Chatti road prone to landslides.
- Published summit heights range from 3,657 m to 4,023 m; the ridge itself rises to about 4,000 m beyond the usual turn-around point.
Know before you go
Questions
Is Gulabi Kantha suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit beginners. Operators rate it easy to moderate and need no technical skill, but summit day is long (about 12 km, 8-9 hours) and you should be able to jog 3 km in 25-30 minutes and walk 3-4 hours with a loaded pack.
How do I reach Hanuman Chatti, the base of the trek?
Hanuman Chatti is on the Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi district, about 36 km beyond Barkot and 160-180 km (6-7 hours) from Dehradun via Mussoorie. Most operators run a morning pickup from Dehradun.
When is the best time for the Gulabi Kantha trek?
December to March for snow, and April or October-November for clear views and milder days. Avoid the July-August monsoon, when the trail is slippery.
How cold does it get on Gulabi Kantha in winter?
In December to February days are about 0-10 °C and nights at the upper camp fall to about -10 to -15 °C.
Do I need a permit for Gulabi Kantha?
Forest entry and camping fees apply and guided groups include them in the package. We could not find a current official fee, so self-guided trekkers should check with the forest office at Barkot before starting.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: UttarkashiUttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Barkot for first care; Dehradun for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Barkot (not confirmed by our sources; carry cash from Dehradun)
- Phone network
- Patchy BSNL and Jio at Barkot and Hanuman Chatti, sometimes on the way to Kandola Chhani; no reliable signal at Seema Thatch or on the summit ridge.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Gulabi Kantha
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Gulabi Kantha Trek — Bikat Adventures
- Gulabi Kantha Trek — Himalaya Shelter
- Gulabi Kantha Trek — Trek The Himalayas
- Gulabi Kantha Trek 2026 - Himalayan Dream Treks — Himalayan Dream Treks
- Gulabi Kantha Trek — Tour My India
- Gulabi Kantha Trek — Himalayan Hikers
- Gulabi Kantha Trek — Indian Treks
- National Himalayan Gulabi Kantha Snow Trekking Cum Training Expedition 2026 — Youth Hostels Association of India
Photos: Rahulindia340, CC BY 4.0; Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0; Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0
