Sach pass

It was once the big daddy of all passes. Over the years the road conditions have improved. This pass at 4414 mts is situated in the Pir Panjal ranges and connects Chamba with Pangi. The ones crossing the pass have very less backup as after Biragarh there is literally no habitation till one reaches Killar. There is also a vast change in the adventurous angle depending upon when you travel, pre and post monsoons. In pre monsoons one might find snow walls upto 20 feets on side of the road, with literally a stream flowing on the road on which you are driving. Post monsoons the snow tends to melt away and the water bodies tend to lighten down with their strenght. Apart from the challenges it offers it has many beautiful vistas to offer. Pangi still is very less crowded and unexplored. 

Day 1.Chandigarh to Mcleodganj. (241 kms)

Pick up from airport/ hotel. Drive though wonderful tarmac raods which you will miss during your off road drives on the road to Sach. Overnight stay at Mcleadganj. 

Day 2. Mcleodganj. 

Get up to a wonderful morning at this serene place. Mcleodganj's culture is a beautiful blend of Tibetan with some British influence. The charm and vibes of this quint little tibetian town will get a grip of you in no time. Visit the local monasteries and the Tibetian institutes. Enjoy the short walks around. We have no major itinerary for this day. It’s more about having a relaxing day. Night stay at Mcleod ganj.

Day 3. Mcleodganj to Chamba (132 Kms).

Today we embark on the first leg of our adventurous journey. We will first descend from the Mountains then drive down in the valley to again ascend into the Chamba mounatins. Chamba is a small town situated on the banks of the river Ravi. In the evening we will explore this town and do our final preparations fro our journey beyond. Overnight stay at Chamba. 

Day 4. Chamba to Killar ( 158 Kms). 

Today is the most important day of the journey. We will start our day early. Initailly the road goes though a green and cultivated valley. It is partly tarmac in patches. The last station on this side of the pass is Bairagarh. The route is has some beautiful vistas to reckon and the landscape gets more amazing as we approach the pass. Lots of stream crossings on the way. The road is now just mud and gravel. The last ascend is long but gradual. At 4414 metres Sach pass stand in its full grandeur and grace. Pre monsons there is always snow on the top, which lessens with time. The descend on the other side is a long one and is steep at times. Eventually the road descends till we drive along the river Chenab. After crossing a ridge on the river we ascend for a short while to reach the town of Killar. overnight stay at Killar. 

Day 5. Killar -Sural Batori -Killar ( 22 Kms.)

Killar is a very small town with a few thousand inhabitants. Some government buildings are the most prominent structures here and all private buildings are generally traditional wooden homes although concrete is beginning to overtake nowadays. Today we will take a journey to Sural Bhatori. Sural Bhatori is the last village in the Sural Valley, at an altitude slightly more than 3000 metres and 22 KMs from Killar town. As the name suggests, it is inhabited by Bhotia People (Buddhists of Tibetan descent). It also has the most important monastery in Pangi Valley, located amidst a grove of Himalayan Birch trees. We return in the evening to Killar. 

Day 6. Killar -Udaipur- ( 73 kms.)- Sissu ( 75 Kms.) Today we will drive along the river. The road is narrow at places with lots of water crossings. As we get close to Udaipur, the road gets better. We will visit the Trilokinath temple which is 9 km from Udaipur. The temple is the only place in the world where both Hindus and Buddhists worship. The diety is considered as ‘Lord Shiva’ by Hindus while the Buddhists see it as Arya Avalokiteshwar. ‘Trilokinath’ is another name of Shiva, a Hindu god and it means the ‘Lord of Three Worlds’. However, it is believed that the Trilokinath Temple was originally a Buddhist monastery.

At an altitude of 2760 metres, the Trilokinath Temple and is considered as the most sacred pilgrim tirth after Kailash and Mansarovar. The colourful Tibetan prayer flags swaying in the wind, the sound of the brass bell with the surrounding snow-clad mountain peaks and pine trees. Then we proceed towards Sissu. On the way we will cross Tandi, which is the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga river. Overnight stay at Sissu. 

Day 7. Sissu to Manali.( 40 Kms) 

Today is a relaxed day as we have done the most treacherous part of the journey and now it’s just an easy journey across the Rohtang tunnel into the Beas valley. Overnight stay at Manali. 

Day 8. Manali Chandigarh. ( 300 Kms.)