Shrikhand Mahadev Trek — Attraction in Himachal Pradesh

Shrikhand Mahadev trek is a pilgrim trail that leads to the ShrikhandMahadev peak named after Lord Shiva. This trek can be done either from the Nirmand side or the Arsu side. You will witness several ranges of Kullu, Jorkandan, and Rangrik ranges of Kinnaur and Hansbeshan and other surrounding peaks in the southeast of the Satluj river. This trek can be done in 5 - 6 days India, the land clad with the beautiful velvety combination of history and culture has been the abode of relief to the tired hearts across the world. One such treasure of history, culture, and beauty altogether is Shrikhand Mahadev. The engrossing beauty of the natural landscape of the land of Himachal Pradesh and soul-soothing vision of the snow-covered peaks of Himalayan mountain ranges and the ardent faith in the Almighty makes thousands of Hindu pilgrims across the world take this difficult trek without a sigh and a word of complaint.

About Shrikhand Mahadev Trek



Positioned at a height of 17,150 ft. above sea level, Shrikhand Mahadev, situated in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India is one of the Five Kailash, which includes Kinnar Kailash, Mani Mahesh, Kailash Mansarovar, Adi Kailash, and Srikhand Mahadev. The Shiv Ling shaped peak is the most sacred place for Hindus across the globe which does not fail to attract swarms of Hindus every year. The peak of Shrikhand Mahadev is, as the folklore says, is believed to be the abode of the most worshipped figure of Hindu mythology - Lord Shiva. Above 17150 ft. at the mountain top stand the shiv ling shaped rock which forms the ultimate destination of the trek and is the holy shrine the pilgrims look up to.

Shrikhand Mahadev Trek Facts

Altitude: 5,227 meters i.e.17,150 feet above sea level.

Location: Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.

Total Distance: 32-35 km on one side which is 70 km in total

Difficulty level: Moderately difficult

Starting and End Point: Shimla

Trail Type: The ascend of the trek makes it way through steeply inclined forest trails and further leads to rocky moraines and glaciers. People with no prior trekking experience or medically unfit are not advised to attempt the trek.

Base Camp: Jaon Village or Singhgad.

Destination: Shrikhand Mahadev Peak i.e. the Shivling

Trek Guide

Shrikhand Mahadev Trek, the Himalayan Trek is one of the toughest and most difficult treks in the world. Clusters of beautiful valleys, ravines are always to accompany you while you make your way up to the peak of Shrikhand Kailash - another name for Shrikhand Mahadev. The trek makes its way through both the forests and the glaciers which spices up and adds on to the adventures of the trek. Where in the first half of the trek the diverse flora and fauna of the forest trails charms the human eyes, the adventure laden trek through the snow, and glaciers cast magic spells in the second half. While on the trek, one gets to witness the celestial beauty of Himalayan Range from Parvati valley.

There are two paths from which the trek can be undertaken. One begins from the Jaon village of Nirmand and the other from the village of Arsu, but mostly the one from Jaon village side trek is highly preferred due to the immensely beautiful vision of the valleys and the cherish worthy experience it offers.

How to Reach:

By Air:

Jubbarhatti, Shimla is the nearest located airport. Further from there road transportation facilities are available up to the Jaon village of Nirmand from where the trek begins.

By Rail:

The nearest railway station is again located in Shimla. The Jaon Village from where the journey begins is 170 km from Shimla and as mentioned before, is accessible via road transport.

By Road:

A well-established network of Buses run from Shimla to the Jaon village from where the yatra begins. It is a five-hour journey via road. Apart from the bus, the cab facility is also available from Shimla to Rampur (130 km), heading to Jaun village via Nirmand (Kullu), but the last 8 km from Bagipul to Jaon is a stretch of kutcha road.

From Kullu's side, the last village connected via road is Bathad...

The Shrikhand Mahadev trek is a pilgrim trail that leads to the Shrikhand Mahadev peak (5,227 meters/17,150 ft), named after Lord Shiva. The key attraction of this trek is the breathtaking view of the Himalayan ranges from the Parvati valley. You see ranges of Kullu, Jorkandan and Rangrik ranges of Kinnaur and Hansbeshan and other surrounding peaks in the south east of Satluj river.

This trek can be done either from Nirmand side or Arsu side. The popular and widely travelled route is from the Nirmand – Jaon village side.To reach the base camp, you have to drive from Shimla towards Rampur and cross the Satluj riverto enter Niramand region of Kullu district and drive till Jaon Village. This trek can be done in 5 – 6 days, (i.e. Delhi to Delhi, involving 3 days of trekking).

A pilgrim trail with breathtaking view of the Himalayan ranges

The Shrikhand Mahadev trek is a pilgrim trail that leads to the Shrikhand Mahadev peak (5,227 meters/17,150 ft.) named after Lord Shiva.

The key attraction of this trek is the breathtaking view of the Himalayan ranges from Parvati valley of Kullu, Jorkandan, Rangrik ranges of Kinnaur and Hansbeshan and other surrounding peaks in the south east of Satluj river.

The trek can be done either from Nirmand side or Arsu side. The popular and widely travelled route is from the Nirmand – Jaon village side.

Trek Facts

Altitude: 5,227 meters/17,150 ft

Trail Type: Difficult gradients. Steep incline trek going through rough glaciers covers, rocky moraine path. People with no or less High altitude trekking experience should not attempt this trek.

Rail head: Shimla is the nearest rail head to Jaon village – 170 Km. Shimla is connected with narrow gauge line with Kalka.

Road Head: Buses are available from Shimla ISBT. Take a cab/ local bus from Shimla to Rampur 130 km, then to Jaun village via Nirmand (Kullu). Finally , the last 8 km from Bagi pul to Jaun is a kuccha road.

Base Camp: Jaon Village or Singhgad. Day 1: Drive from Shimla to Jaon. Trek to Singhgad (6,873 ft); 5-6 hours drive + 3 km trek

Day 2: Singhgad (6,873 ft) to Thachru (11,318 ft)

Day 3: Thachru (11,318 ft) to Kaali Ghat (12,500 ft) to Kunsha (12,200 ft)

Day 4: Kunsha (12,200 ft) to Parvati Baag (13,662 ft)

Day 5: Parvati Baag (13,662 ft) to Nain Sarovar (14,527 ft); return to Parvaat Baag (acclimatisation)

Day 6: Parvati Baag (13,662 ft) to summit (17,150 ft); return to Bhimdwaar/Parvati Baag

Day 7: Bhimdwaar/Parvati Baag (13,662 ft) to Thachru (11,318 ft)

Day 8: Thachru (11,318 ft) to Jaon. Drive back to Shimla

Day 9: Buffer day

The Holy Shrikhand Mahadev Trek starts from Jaun village which lies in Kullu district at 6,397 ft. It is a small village on the right bank of rivulet Kurpan which originates just from the bottom of Shrikhand Mountain Range. This is a fast flowing rivulet with white water. During monsoon, this small rivulet Kurpan looks like a treacherous river.

Jaun is a small village of around 50 houses and a temple dedicated to Mata Katyayni. From Baagi Pul to Jaun there is a Kuccha road of 8 Kms. Jaun is a village in the midst of great Himalayan range. One can admire the beauty of mother nature sitting amid mountains, rivulets, small houses, temples and most important and pleasant fully developed apple orchards of Jaun.  Jaun provides a clear and beautiful view of Shrikhand Mountain. If the weather is clear you can get a glance of holy Shrikhand peak from here. Jaun is the last place from where you can buy a few necessary goods for the trek.

Jaun is a place where one can find innocent people with a lovely smile on their faces always. They are the most hospitable people. This is the place where you can spend some time with the locals who can familiarise you about the folklore related to the Shrikhand Yatra and how it has become a source of remuneration...

This is the most difficult pilgrimage trek yatra of India and takes about 3 to 6 days to complete based on one's fitness level.

We have to reach base village Jaon, Himachal Pardesh, located near Nirmand and about 10 hrs drive from Shimla/ Chandigarh.

There are many camp sites in the whole trek route and Free food Langar seva is also there in certain campsite only during official dates in the month of July.

We can have our first day stay in Jaon village or can walk further till next campsite knowns as Singhgad which is about 30 to 45 minutes trek from Jaon village.

We need to do our registration and medical checkup at Sinhagad camp site. This is compulsory when you are doing yatra in official dates.

One can have night stay at Sinhagad campsite and have free food in Langar.

Next morning start yatra towards Shrikhand Mahadev. Next campsite is Thachdu, which is about 7 hrs trek from Singhagad badecamp.

Here you can have food in Langar and can rest for some time and continue trek.

Next campsite is Kali top . Here is Kali ma temple and can find some tents for night stay also.

From Singhad campsite till Thachdu and Kali top there is constant ascend trek. No pliain walk or no descend walk.

So you must be physically and mentally fit to walk such hard trek.

You can have night stay at Kali top camp site or trek till next campsite of Bhimtalai or Kinshu or or Bhimdwar depend on your fitness level.

From Kali top to Bhimtalai it is constant descend walk of 45 minutes. From Bhimtalai to Kinshu or Bhimdwar there is ascend and descend walk and you cross many waterfalls and water streams and few glaciers as well, if you trek in official dates in July month.

I had night stay at Singhaad camp and next days stay at Kinshu.

Then next morning from Kinshu to Bhimdwar it takes 4 hrs only.

But if you reach Bhimdwar before 7 am police will allow to go next camp Parvati bag and then to Shrikhand darshan.

So if you reach Bhimdwar after 7 am you will have to stay at Bhimdwar campsite on that day and after 12 am night they will allow to trek further.

So I had my stay at Bhimdwar and started trek towards darshan at 2 am in the night.

Bhimdwar to Parvati bag there is big waterfall need to ross with the help of rope which alteady tied there by officials, but its very risky crossing at darkness, but can be done . Need torch with you.

So after this we reach Parvati bag and then Nain sarivar and then Shrikhand Mahadev darshan.

So from Bhimdwar to Darshan it takes about 8 hrs hard trek covered with big rock patches. And you have Mahadev darshan.

But view is very beautiful.

So overall it takes about 3 to 5 days to comple this trek.

When I visisted it was raining there and fog was also there and it was very cold.

I saw ma y peiple quit from half amd came back due to helath issue weather co dition, altitude sickness oxygen issue at 18 thousand ft. Of this trek route.

During night darkness I did trek in rain cold 🥶 . It was very shievering.

But completed somehow. One way distance is 32 kms from base Jaon village. And beed to come back same route.

Dont take heavy and unnecessary items with you in bag.

Only take water bottle glucose electrolyte torch rain coat and remaing items you can keep at Bhimdwar campsite or at basecamp.

Overall nice adventurous and spiritual experience.

Har...