Lama Dugh Trek
Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
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- Max altitude
- 3,018 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 12 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Short but steep: about 1,000 m of climbing in roughly 6 km from Dhungri (about 2,050 m) to the meadow at about 3,018 m, mostly on a forest path through the Manali Wildlife Sanctuary. Himtrek grades it easy, but walkers describe the first two hours as a steep, tiring climb, and the descent is slippery after rain.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Manali (Hadimba Devi Temple, Dhungri) → Manali (via Lama Dugh meadow and back)
2,050 m → 3,018 m → 2,050 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 · Manali (Hadimba Devi Temple, Dhungri)
at 2,050 mLoading forecast…
High point · Lama Dugh meadow (Lamadugh)
at 3,018 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
- Manali (Hadimba Devi Temple, Dhungri)
- Nearest railway
- Joginder Nagar (narrow gauge); Chandigarh or Ambala for broad gauge
- Nearest airport
- Bhuntar Airport (Kullu), about 50 km from Manali
- By road
- Delhi to Manali (about 540 km, overnight bus); Chandigarh to Manali (about 305 km); Manali Mall Road to Hadimba Devi Temple, Dhungri (about 2 km by road or on foot)
- Drive
- About 13 h from Delhi
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
₹0–1,500
With an operator
₹2,100–3,500
Per person, ex-Manali. Himtrek lists ₹2,099 + 5% GST for its 2-day camping version (no 2026 dates listed). A guided day hike from Hadimba Devi Temple sold on travel marketplaces (Lokalee, Expedia group) shows about US$37-41, roughly ₹3,100-3,500. Self-guided is an estimate: the walk itself costs nothing, and a local guide hired in Old Manali usually adds about ₹1,000-1,500 for the day. Ask at the forest office in Manali before camping overnight.
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 28
Nights near 3,018 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
- Good in Manali and around Hadimba Devi Temple; patchy to none in the forest and on the meadow (not confirmed by a source).
- Last ATM
- Manali (no ATMs on the trail)
- Nearest hospital
- Manali (civil hospital and Mission Hospital); Kullu for serious cases. The meadow is about 3-4 hours' walk down to Manali.
- Water
- Few reliable streams on the climb; carry 2 litres from Manali and treat any water taken on the meadow.
Highlights
- Starts beside the Hadimba Devi Temple in its deodar grove at Dhungri, Manali
- Climbs through deodar, oak, maple and horse-chestnut forest in the Manali Wildlife Sanctuary
- A wide grassy meadow at about 3,000 m used by Gaddi shepherds in summer
- Views over Manali and the upper Kullu valley, and towards the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal peaks
- First camp on the long Kalihani Pass and Bara Bhangal routes, so it is a good warm-up for them
Risks
- The climb from Dhungri is steep and gains about 1,000 m in a short distance; first-time trekkers find the first two hours hard, and the descent is slippery after rain.
- Outlook Traveller describes thick undergrowth and a faint path on the route up from Manali; the forest has several crossing paths, so go with a local guide or a GPS track if you are new to the trail.
- July-August monsoon rain makes the forest path muddy and slippery, with leeches and low cloud that hides the views; Himtrek runs it in April-June and September-October.
- Weather changes fast on the open meadow; carry a rain and wind layer even on a clear morning and start early, as afternoon cloud often comes in.
- Himtrek gives winter temperatures down to about -9 °C; from December to March expect snow on the upper trail and check conditions in Manali first.
Know before you go
Questions
How long does the Lama Dugh trek take?
Most people do it as a day hike: guided day hikes from Hadimba Devi Temple take about 6-7 hours return, and Renok Adventures says the climb to Lama Dugh takes about 3 hours. Himtrek also runs a 2-day version with a night camping on the meadow.
Where does the Lama Dugh trek start?
In Manali. The trail leaves from Dhungri, near the Hadimba Devi Temple about 2 km from Mall Road, and climbs through the deodar forest of the Manali Wildlife Sanctuary. Some groups meet in Old Manali and walk across to Dhungri.
How high is Lama Dugh and how far is it?
Himtrek gives 9,900 ft (about 3,018 m) and Outlook Traveller 3,020 m; satellite terrain at the meadow reads about 3,070 m. Himtrek gives 12 km for the round trip, which matches the OpenStreetMap path of about 6 km each way from Dhungri.
Is the Lama Dugh trek easy for beginners?
It needs no technical skill, and Himtrek grades it easy, but the climb is steep and long for a day walk. Reasonably fit beginners manage it with an early start and regular breaks.
What is the best time for the Lama Dugh trek?
Himtrek gives April to October. Late spring (April-June) and the post-monsoon months (September-October) usually give the clearest views; July-August are wet and slippery.
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
- Manali (civil hospital and Mission Hospital); Kullu for serious cases. The meadow is about 3-4 hours' walk down to Manali.
- Last ATM
- Manali (no ATMs on the trail)
- Phone network
- Good in Manali and around Hadimba Devi Temple; patchy to none in the forest and on the meadow (not confirmed by a source).
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 Lama Dugh
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Lama Dugh Trek – Stunning 2-Day Manali Meadow Adventure — Himtrek
- Winter's trail — Outlook Traveller
- Lamadugh Trek Tour (Renok Adventures) — Renok Adventures
- Guided Lama Dugh Hike in Manali — Lokalee (operator Siyal)
- Lama Dugh Trek (trip report by Shanta TS) — Tripoto
Photos: Kiran Jonnalagadda from Bangalore, India, CC BY-SA 2.0; Kanad Sanyal, CC BY-SA 4.0
