Panwali Kantha Trek
Tehri Garhwal (the top lies on the Rudraprayag district border), Uttarakhand
Opens without signal on this phone, with the map file and checklist. Saved for offline →
- Max altitude
- 3,445 m
- Days
- 5 days
- Distance
- 30 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Days are short (7-9 km) but the first two trekking days each climb about 900 m, the climb out of Ghuttu is steep, and there is no water on the Gaurmanda-Panwali stretch, so you carry it.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Dehradun → Ghuttu
640 m → 1,635 m
Day 2
Ghuttu → Gaurmanda
1,635 m → 2,525 m
Day 3 · highest point
Gaurmanda → Panwali Kantha camp (via Pobhari and Panwali top)
2,525 m → 3,445 m → 3,235 m
Day 4
Panwali Kantha camp → Gaurmanda
3,235 m → 2,525 m
Day 5
Gaurmanda → Ghuttu (drive to Dehradun)
2,525 m → 1,635 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 · Ghuttu (Guttu)
at 1,635 mLoading forecast…
High point · Panwali Kantha top
at 3,445 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
- Ghuttu (Guttu) (nearest town: Ghansali)
- Nearest railway
- Dehradun or Rishikesh
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- By road
- Dehradun (about 182-200 km via Tehri and Ghansali); Rishikesh (about 200 km via Tehri and Ghansali)
- Drive
- About 6.5 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
₹6,000–12,000
With an operator
₹12,000–15,500
Per person. Guided prices published October 2026: Bikat Adventures ₹11,500 + 5% GST ex-Ghuttu, plus about ₹3,000 for Dehradun transport (about ₹14,500 ex-Dehradun); Trek The Himalayas ₹14,500 + 5% GST ex-Rishikesh. Self-guided is an estimate ex-Dehradun: bus or shared jeep to Ghansali and Ghuttu, a guesthouse night, a local guide or porter for four days, tent and stove hire, food and forest 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 34
Nights near 3,445 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
- Signal drops sharply after Ghuttu; BSNL may work only intermittently at the lower camps.
- Last ATM
- Ghansali, the last town on the road to Ghuttu (not confirmed by our sources; carry cash from Tehri or Dehradun)
- Nearest hospital
- Ghansali for first care (not confirmed by our sources); AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Water
- No shops or water points between Ghuttu and Gaurmanda, and no water on the Gaurmanda-Pobhari-Panwali day; carry at least 2 litres each day. In winter water at the top has to be melted from snow. Boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- Wide rolling bugyal (high meadow) at about 3,400 m with grazing horses and shepherd camps
- Row of small stone temples on the Panwali Kantha ridge
- Oak and rhododendron forest on the climb from Ghuttu through Gaurmanda and Pobhari
- Quiet, little-crowded trail above the Bhilangana valley, reached by a scenic drive past Tehri Dam
Risks
- No water between Gaurmanda and the Panwali camp; running dry on the long climb is the most common problem.
- July and August monsoon rain makes the trail slippery and brings landslides on the Tehri-Ghansali road; Himalayan Dream Treks advises avoiding these months.
- From December to March snow and ice lie above Pobhari and on the Kyunkhola side, making the trek harder and colder; not advised for beginners then.
Know before you go
Questions
How difficult is the Panwali Kantha trek?
Operators grade it easy to moderate. Each trekking day is only about 7-9 km, but the first two days each gain roughly 900 m and the climb out of Ghuttu is steep, so basic fitness is needed.
What is the best time for Panwali Kantha?
May-June and late September to November are the usual windows, with October the most recommended for clear skies. December to March brings snow above Pobhari. Avoid the July-August monsoon.
Where does the trek start and how do I reach it?
Most groups start at Ghuttu village in Tehri Garhwal, about 182-200 km (6-7 hours) from Dehradun via Tehri and Ghansali. A longer traverse starts from Triyuginarayan near Sonprayag and ends at Ghuttu.
Is there water and mobile network on the trail?
There are no water points between Ghuttu and Gaurmanda or on the day to Panwali, so carry at least 2 litres. Mobile signal drops after Ghuttu; BSNL may work only intermittently at the lower camps.
Do I need a permit for Panwali Kantha?
Forest and camping permits are needed and you must carry a government photo ID; guided groups include them in the package. We could not confirm the current official fee, so self-guided trekkers should check at the forest office 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: Tehri Garhwal (the top lies on the Rudraprayag district border)Uttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Ghansali for first care (not confirmed by our sources); AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Ghansali, the last town on the road to Ghuttu (not confirmed by our sources; carry cash from Tehri or Dehradun)
- Phone network
- Signal drops sharply after Ghuttu; BSNL may work only intermittently at the lower camps.
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 Panwali Kantha
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Panwali Kantha Trek — Bikat Adventures
- Panwali Kantha Trek — Himalaya Shelter
- Panwali Kantha Trek — Himalayan Dream Treks
- Panwali Kantha Trek — Trekup India
- Panwali Kantha Trek — Trek The Himalayas
- Panwali Kantha Trek (documented trek) — Indiahikes
Photos: Vaibhav78545, CC BY-SA 4.0; Dr.IMRAN ALI VETS, CC BY-SA 4.0; Vaibhav78545, CC BY-SA 4.0
