Shelter and Food
McLeod Gang
Hotels:
Food:
- Cheap hotels available if you go down the Yongling stairs on Jogiwana Road.
- It is a 10 minute walk from the main square.
- The rates of these hotels range from Rs 100 - 500 per day. Price is negotiable depending upon the number of days you want to stay.
- The Hotel where I stayed: OM SHANTI HOUSE, Contact person: Surinder Sharma, Contact no: +91-94187-92854, 98578-32092, 97365-60607
- I even spotted a clean and posh dormitory in the vicinity.
Food:
- Tibetan food: Tibetian Kitchen, next to main square
- Italian food: Nicks Italian Kitchen, Bhagsu road, 5 min walk from main square
- Pastries and cakes: Chocolate log, Jogiwana road, 20 min walk
- Tea: Herbal Tea Shop, Tip road, 5 min walk
Trek to Indrahara Pass - 4 Days / 3 Nights
For your Indrahara pass trek its compulsory to hire a guide. You have two options:
- Either you make a deal with a travel agency for your entire 4 day trek. They will take care of guides, equipment, tents, utensils, grocery, porter (optional), etc. The rates depend upon the kind of facility you need. Generally it is around Rs. 4000-5000 per person for the entire 4 day trek. You need not shell a single rupee or worry for the food or shelter during your entire trek.
- Or you can rent everything on your own. This option is cheaper. You can rent a guide (~Rs 500/day), a sleeping bag (Rs. 200/day) and a tent (Rs. 300/day) from McLeod. But be sure to rent a good Guide. If you don't want to carry utensils and groceries on your shoulder (and make your rucksack lighter) its possible too.
Contact number of Guides
Tours and Travels - Packaged deals:
Guides:
- Manu adventures and tours: Opposite Anand Palace, Upper Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. Ph: 01892-220426, 221604, +91 94187-16421, 97368-71426
- IBEX Adventures Travels: Ph no: 01892-221224, 220017, +91-94182-21918
Guides:
- Uttamchand (Popularly known as Django): Best Guide of the region. +91-9816214339
- Harry: Young and energetic. Has done advanced course in mountaineering. +91-9736504536
- Mahendra: Local who knows the route. +919418795601, +91-9736335490
How to plan Indrahara trek without carrying a tent or groceries from McLeod.
Shelter for Day 1 (Mcleod to Triund) - @Triund
Shelter:
Food:
- Two guest house are situated at Triund. (a third one is also built recently in the far southern direction but I have little information about it)
- Government guest house: Should be booked well in advance. Can be booked from the office of Forest Department in McLeod. Contact them via phone number 01892-22488. Rent is about Rs. 500 per night.
- Private Guest house: Run by IBEX Adventures Travels. Contact no: 01892-221224, 220017, 220386, +91-94186-87165 or +91-94182-21918. (Dial all numbers, at least one should work!) Contact person: Naren Pathania. Rent is about Rs. 500 per night.
- Apart from these guest houses built of rocks and tin roof, tents are also available on rent. Either you can get a tent from the private guest house or other couple of shops on the hill. The rate is same as that of rooms.
Food:
- Packaged water, energy drinks, packed snacks, egg and bread items etc. are available in the shops built at Triund. The private guest house has a kitchen and the care taker, Kamlesh (popularly known as Lalu), will cook you almost everything from roti sabji dal chawal to soups. But the kitchen operates every alternate year only! (it was operative during 2013).
Shelter for Day 2 (Triund to Lahesh Cave) - @Lahesh Cave
Shelter:
Food:
- The nearest shop from Lahesh is Snow line cafe and it is a good 2-3 hr trek from Lahesh. If you plan to stay at Lahesh make sure you have carried your sleeping bags and woolen clothes. No tent can be pitched in or around the cave. Carry a plastic sheet to lay on the ground to protect from the wet surface of the cave.
- Many people stay at Snow line cafe overnight where food and tents are available on rent but its advisable to stay at Lahesh if you want a head start for Indrahara pass. Also trekking from snow line cafe to Idrahara pass in a single day is too much for an amateur trekker.
Food:
- Start with a heavy breakfast from Triund. Have lunch at Snow line cafe and pack some Dal-Chawal from there for your dinner at Lahesh Cave.
Shelter for Day 3 (Lahesh cave to Indrahara pass and back to Triund) - @Triund
Shelter:
Food:
- You will be back at Triund by evening. As mentioned earlier tents and guest house are available there
Food:
- Carry a loaf of bread and some jam/ butter from Triund (Day 1) itself for your breakfast at Lahesh (Day 3). You would be returning back from Indrahara pass to snow line cafe by noon so you can have your lunch at Snow line cafe. The dinner can be done at Triund or you can even return back to McLeod on the same day by evening if you are energetic enough.