Panpatiya Snowfield – The Lost Trail

Panpatia Col is a snow lamented belt. It is one of the most challenging treks in the Garhwal region of Himalayas, Uttarakhand. Panpatia glacier reigns at an impressive altitude of 17,257 ft and marries two of India’s most anticipated pilgrimage sites, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

This route is one of the tallest passes in the Himalayas therefore it is tough and is not fit for novice trekkers. The trail takes you through massive glaciers, crevassed snowfields, rocky moraines, and therefore the never-ending 7km long Panpatia snowfield which may be a treat for aspirational trekkers looking to tick challenging treks off their bucket list. During the daytime, the temperature ranges between 15 to 20 degrees, while nights get very cold with temperatures dropping to -5 to 10 degrees. Connecting two of the holy shrines of Hindu – Badrinath and Kedarnath, a mythological story has it that a sage used to perform rituals in both the temples on the same day using this route known as Kedar Badri. This created enough crest amongst the mountaineers and explorers to find a route connecting the two shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath.

The Panpatia Col Trek gives you unparalleled views of prominent peaks like Chaukhamba, Nilkantha, Balakun, Hathi Parvat, and Dhauliganga Peaks.

You will be required to stay at very high altitudes over lengthy periods of time and therefore acclimatization can be a big concern. You are also in for a bit of a surprise, largely because of the peculiar nature of the terrain and the snow conditions. Forests to remote places completely cut out from human civilization this is not for the faint-hearted. Would you dare to attempt this?