This is one of the most spectacular treks in the region that takes one from the lush green Parvati valley in Kullu to the stark and barren Pin valley in Spiti. On the way is the high-altitude Maltalai lake and the Pin Parvati Pass.

The trek's route borders the Pin Valley National Park, known for sighting of the elusive snow leopards and the Great Himalayan National Park that is famous for sightings of rare Himalayan birds like the Western Tragopan.

SEASON: July - September end

MAX. ALTITUDE: 5300m

NUMBER OF DAYS: 13 days

HIGH PASSES: Pin Parvati Pass, Kunzam La and Rohtang Pass

TREK GRADIENT: Challenging

Day 01: Arrive in Bhuntar from where a vehicle will pick you up and drop you to Manikaran.

Day 02: Manikaran - Barsheni - Khirganga (3020m)
Duration: 5 hours

Khirganga is a hot spring where Lord Shiva is said to have meditated. The difference between the spring here and in Manikaran is that after a bath in Khirganga, your skin will feel clammy and greasy whereas after a bath in the spring at Manikaran, your skin will feel dry.

Day 03: Khirganga - Tunda Bhuj (3285m)
Duration: 5 hours

The trek commences through dense forests and flower-strewn meadows. The progress is gradual and slow as it's a steep climb to Tunda Bhuj.

Day 04: Tunda Bhuj - Thakur Kuan (3620m)
Duration: 6 hours

The trail continues through a landscape strewn with waterfalls, lakes and meadows till Thakur Kuan.

Day 05: Thakur Kuan - Odi Thach (3800m)
Duration: 5 hours

Kidnapping a young girl is not an offence in some remote areas of Kishtwar district in Jammu. Kidnapping a girl and then tying the nuptial knot with her is an age-old tradition in the Gandhari area of Paddar Tehsil of Kishtwar.

Commonly known as “pithchuk” in local dialect, this tradition of kidnapping a girl was earlier common in many parts of the Gandhari area, located just near the Pangi belt of Himachal Pradesh.

As per this tradition, a youth first kidnaps his would-be bride and after marrying her takes her to his house on his back.

Sati tredition and Himachal Pradesh

Though the sati custom was declared illegal in India by Lord William Bentick in 1829, it continued in the princely state of Mandi and officially came to an end with a nine-point treaty between raja Balbir Sen and the British government in 1846. The treaty, inter alia, required from the raja to rub out three other black spots too, “to put an end to the practice of slave dealing, female infanticide, and the burning or drowning of lepers who are opposed to British laws”.