Gwaru Pass Trek
Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
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- Max altitude
- 4,790 m
- Days
- 6 days
- Distance
- 39 km
- Difficulty
- Challenging
A little-used crossover from the Jagatsukh (Duhangan) valley above Manali to Malana. Pass day is about 8 km and 8-11 hours over moraine, glacier, ridge lines and snow, with an unmarked descent to Bareh; operators ask for prior high-altitude trek experience, and the high point is about 4,790 m.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Manali → Chikka (drive to Khanol, then trek)
2,050 m → 3,095 m
Day 2
Chikka → Seri
3,095 m → 3,834 m
Day 3
Seri → Seri (via Tentu Pass and Chandratal)
3,834 m → 4,609 m → 3,834 m
Day 4
Seri → Gwaru Thach
3,834 m → 3,991 m
Day 5 · highest point
Gwaru Thach → Bareh (via Gwaru Pass)
3,991 m → 4,790 m → 4,130 m
Day 6
Bareh → Malana (drive to Bhuntar or Kullu)
4,130 m → 2,745 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 · Khanol (Barahazar roadhead)
at 2,050 mLoading forecast…
High point · Gwaru Pass
at 4,790 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
- Khanol (Barahazar roadhead) (nearest town: Manali)
- Nearest railway
- Joginder Nagar (narrow gauge); Chandigarh or Kiratpur Sahib for broad gauge
- Nearest airport
- Kullu-Manali Airport, Bhuntar
- By road
- Manali to the Khanol / Barahazar roadhead via Jagatsukh (about 18 km, 1.5 hours by hired jeep); Exit: Malana to Bhuntar or Kullu (about 45 km by road)
- Drive
- About 10 h from Chandigarh
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
₹12,000–20,000
With an operator
₹19,000–20,000
Per person, ex-Manali (exit at Bhuntar). Guided: Bikat Adventures publishes ₹19,000 + 5% GST, Manali to Bhuntar, including permits; no second operator currently publishes a price, so treat the range as one operator's figure. Self-guided is an estimate: a hired jeep to the roadhead (Indiahikes quoted ₹2,200 in 2016), a local guide and porters for an unmarked pass, tent, stove and food for 6 days, and road transport out of Malana (Indiahikes quoted a private cab to Kullu at ₹4,000).
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 34
Nights near 4,790 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- All networks in Manali; Bikat says none of the campsites has mobile signal.
- Last ATM
- Manali main market
- Nearest hospital
- Civil Hospital Manali for first care; Regional Hospital Kullu for serious cases
- Water
- Streams of the Duhangan (Jagatsukh) nala and Gwaru nala run past every camp; Indiahikes calls them safe sources, but boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- Two pass crossings in one trek: Tentu Pass (about 4,090 m) on the Chandratal side trip and Gwaru Pass (about 4,790 m)
- The crescent-shaped Chandratal lake below Deo Tibba, a different lake from the well-known Chandratal in Spiti
- Riverside meadow camps at Seri, the approach to Deo Tibba, with views of Deo Tibba, Indrasan, Norbu and Bansi
- Descent along the Malana nala past shepherd huts at Bareh to Malana village
Risks
- Pass day crosses moraine, glacier, ridge lines and snow for 8-11 hours; Indiahikes says the descent from Gwaru Pass towards Bareh has no recommended route, so a guide who knows the pass is essential.
- Altitude sickness: the route sleeps above 3,800 m for several nights and crosses about 4,790 m.
- River and stream crossings, including a knee-deep tributary of the Duhangan near Tentu Pass and the Gwaru nala, rise in the afternoon and in the monsoon.
- In September 2022 Himachal's disaster management department advised district collectors to restrict treks above 15,000 ft after 15 September; Gwaru Pass is above that height, so check with the Kullu district administration and forest office before an autumn crossing.
- Malana has strict village rules: Indiahikes says visitors must follow the village council, not touch anything, and not shoot video; check current rules before descending into the village.
Know before you go
Questions
How difficult is the Gwaru Pass trek?
It is a hard trek. Bikat Adventures rates it 'Difficult' (BRS 5) and asks for at least one BRS 4 trek beforehand; Indiahikes calls it moderate-difficult, with unmarked sections and a long pass day over moraine, glacier and snow.
What is the best time for Gwaru Pass?
Bikat Adventures gives June to September. Indiahikes' team explored the route in July 2016. Expect snow near the pass early in the season and freezing nights throughout.
Where does the Gwaru Pass trek start and end?
It starts at the roadhead above Jagatsukh near Manali (Bikat names it Khanol; Indiahikes calls it Barahazar, at a hydro-power project on the Duhangan river) and ends at Malana village in the Malana valley, from where vehicles go to Bhuntar or Kullu.
How high is Gwaru Pass?
Bikat Adventures gives 4,790 m and Indiahikes 15,882 ft (about 4,840 m). Satellite terrain at the pass reads about 4,750 m.
Are permits needed for Gwaru Pass?
Bikat says several permits are needed and it obtains them for its trekkers. No official fee list for this route was found, so check with the Kullu forest office and district administration before going on your own.
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: KulluHimachal Pradesh
- Nearest hospital
- Civil Hospital Manali for first care; Regional Hospital Kullu for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Manali main market
- Phone network
- All networks in Manali; Bikat says none of the campsites has mobile signal.
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 Gwaru Pass
No questions yet. Ask something and trekkers who have done it can answer.
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Gwaru Pass Trek - documented trek — Indiahikes
- Gwaru Pass Trek - itinerary — Bikat Adventures
Photos: YUVRAJ ANAND, CC BY-SA 4.0; Greenpenguin3459, CC BY-SA 4.0
