Deo Tibba basecamp can be easily overlooked amongst its neighbouring popular treks around Manali such as Hampta Pass and Hampta Circuit— that's exactly why you shouldn't miss it. This trek is straight out of a Himalayan postcard and here's how you can get there:
Manali (2050m) – Jobra Naala (2707m) – Chikka (3100m) {Drive: 1 hour and Trek: 2- 3 hours}
One can start driving in the morning, say about 9, from Manali to Jobra Naala. The road is quite rickety. The trek starts from Jobra Naala, with Dhohangan river being your flowing companion. It is an easy hike unfolding every moment in a wonderland. Lush green meadows, boulders with inexplicable expressions on their timeless faces, and thousands of goats— keep the traveller’s heart humming.
Chikka, for sure, is an anti-depressant. Don't miss the ancient snake fossil, engraved in the heart of a rock! An old shepherd there explained the meaning of the name of this place. “Chikka” is a strap tied on the muzzle of an animal. It has been a grazing ground and to stop excessive grazing a “chikka” was tied on the animal’s face. Thus, the place gained its name.
Chikka (3100m) – Pandorupa (3500m) {Trek: 3-4 hours}
Making way across little rivulets, old wooden bridges, humming along with the loud Dhohangan, walking next to a hanging glacier, amidst a mixed forest, one reaches Pandorupa. Setting a few steep patches aside, it is an easy hike.
Now, here’s a little mythology. They say once upon a time, Panadavas planted rice here. The paddies are flooded with water, till date.
Pandorupa (3500m)- Seri (3900m) {Trek: 4 to 5 hours}
The trail starts as a mix of wild flowers: purple, yellow, pink, and little rivulets. But as you dive deeper in this exploration, you'll find yourself in the middle of an unending moraine zone. Mighty boulders! As the journey heads closer to Seri, river Dhohangan becomes calmer: closer to its source, and boulders become larger than life. As the hike to Seri continues the boulders give way to a long stretch of silt and sand, that surprisingly lead to a lush green-flat land, surrounded by snow mountains. That's how Seri welcomes wanderers!
