Balang Ri Trek - Trek The Himalayas

Overview

Nestled deep in the captivating frontiers of the Himalayas, Balang Ri Trek is an incredible high-altitude hike into the mountains. It is located at a substantial altitude of 16,250 feet overlooking Demul Village in the beautiful Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It truly offers some of the most breathtaking vistas of the barren highlands of this region. The sweeping vantage view from the ridge-top of this trek is absolutely incredible. Balang Ri is an easy to moderate trek that can be accessed by beginners without needing sound technical skills. The total distance you have to cover in this whole trek is approximately 8 km, which is usually a one-day expedition.

As you follow the trail, you go through breezy hills, ridges with colorful wildflowers and far-stretched alpine meadows. This magnificent route takes you to an astonishing height that lets a 360-degree view of the raw and unbelievably beautiful landscape in Spiti.

The summit of Balang Ri offers you a panoramic view of 18 high-altitude Himachali villages that simply fills you with awe. These villages are: Demul, Komic, Hikkim, Langza, Lhalung, Rama, Kibber, Gette, Tashigang, Dhankar, Mudh, Sagnam, Tailing, Mane, Sumling, Lingti, Kaza, and Hull. Other key attractions of this trek are rivers - Spiti, Pin, and Lingti; and prominent monasteries - Key, Dhankar, and Tangyud.

Cultural and Spiritual Roots

Balang Ri is also known for its deep spiritual and cultural significance, particularly for the people of Spiti. The Namkhan Festival, which is usually celebrated in August, serves a window into the soul of Spiti. During this festival, this entire region gets completely transformed from a quiet and isolated place into a vibrant and bustling congregation of people. During this pre-harvest ceremony, young men, who lead the people of the village, climb over the mountain with fresh prayer flags, offerings, and the hope of the entire village. The otherwise high-altitude barren landscape comes alive with vivid colors and sounds. The entire valley starts resonating with diverse sounds of traditional horns, conch-shells, and chants of mantras.

Key Attractions of Balang Ri Top Trek

• Wonderful Vegetation

Once you step on the trail to Balang Ri that begins from Demul Village, you will be astounded by the unexpectedly surprising landscapes of Spiti Valley. The route takes you through the diverse beauty of this high-altitude terrain. After leaving Demul Stupa, you will gradually climb through the slopes and the views suddenly open up into a vast barren land. During summers, the trail explodes with captivating wild flowers such as Chives, Bergenia, and yellow potentillas. The solitude of this trek is so tempting that it unfailingly keeps you traversing the path towards the summit.

• Enchanting Sights from the Summit

The most prized view of the whole journey is kept for the topmost point of the trek. From this spot, you can witness a mesmerizing visual of Spiti Valley in its entirety. It’s a complete 360-degree view that showers you with the rugged beauty of expansive ridges, deep valleys, and traditionally-enchanting villages. These soothing settlements are like shining gems in this alpine and rugged territory. Apart from these distinct venues, you can have a panoramic visual of the iconic river valleys of the region- the Spiti, the Pin and the Lingti. The summit also allows you a clear sight of the well-known monasteries of the region – Key, Dhankar, and Tangyud.

• Hikkim Post Office: World’s Highest Post Office

Hikkim is a notable place for being the highest post office in the world. It is just 25 km from Demul Village. Located at an elevation of 4,400 m (14,400 ft), Hikkim is doing a great job of connecting the small villages in this isolated region to the rest of the world. There’s an incredible way to make this visit a memorable event - send a post card from this post office to any of your loved ones.




• Ancient Monasteries

Himachal is also known to have a bustling Buddhist culture in various parts. So it has many famous monasteries that have deep cultural value. The Balang Ri Trek also offers you to visit some of the popular monasteries. The 10th-Century Lhalung Monastery is just 2 hours drive from Demul village. The iconic Dhankar Monastery is only 35 kms from Demul.

One-Day Itinerary

Balang Ri is a short yet a delightful trek with uncanny visuals that are hardly found in any other trek. It can be comfortably completed in one day, but we would suggest you to start early in the morning for the best experience.

• Demul Stupa is a crucial site on this trek as the walk begins from here. It is approximately 5 km from Demul Village and around 27 km from Kaza town. If you are planning to come all the way from Kaza by your own vehicle, we would recommend you to start your journey as early as 5:30 AM. That way you are likely to reach Demul Stupa by 7 AM. In case you are planning to stay overnight in Demul Village, you can board the HRTC bus at around 7:30 AM to reach Demul Stupa by 8 AM.
• As the Balang Ri Trek is short and moderate, you don't necessarily need guides to do it. But if you do, they are available.
• By whatever means you have reached Demul Stupa, you are all set to start the trek by 8:00 AM. Try to maintain the pace in such a way that you can reach the summit by 10:30 AM. It will give you sufficient time to experience every possible view from the top.
• After spending enough time and satisfying your senses, you can start the descent by 11:30 AM.
• If you have already planned to stay in Demul Village, you can return to your booked homestay. But if you have to travel to Kaza for a night stay, then you must book your mode of transportation in advance as there are no public transport options available after the 7:30 AM bus to Kaza.

Best time to Visit Balang Ri Trek

The Balang Ri trail is 16,250 feet high and can only be trekked in the months of late May until the first month of October. Although you have an entire month when you can do this trek, the best time to go is between September and early October.

May to Early June

The trail might still have some patches of snow left in this season and this makes the hike more difficult. The landscapes are quite stunning, though they are more suitable to those who have some experience in hiking and are willing to make the journey a bit challenging.

June to September

Mostly the weather is good and there is hardly any snow on the trail. During the later months of July and August there might be a bit of rainfall that may make some sections of the trail slippery. Demul village celebrates Namkhan Festival during the second week of August, prior to the harvest period. At the end of the festival is a race to Balang Ri, and a ceremony where the old prayer flags are substituted with the new ones and the people continue celebrating on the ridge into the evening. This is a good time to visit, in case you want to experience the local culture.

June to September

It is a time of autumn when people are fewer, skies are clear, air is crisp, and colors are vibrant - essentially the period exceptional for trekking experience. Expect frosty nights: the temperature can drop to below 0 o C.

How to Reach the Balang Ri Trek

Alternative 1: Reach Balang Ri Trek by Personal Vehicle

As we have mentioned, Demul Stupa is the spot from where the hike begins, which is well-connected through road. The distance between Kaza and Demul Stupa is approximately 27 km and takes around 1 to 1.5 hours to complete.

Now:

• If you are coming from Manali side by your own car, then the route you need to navigate is: Manali > Kunzum La > Kaza > Demul
• If you are coming from Shimla side by your own vehicle, this route will help you: Shimla > Rampur > Lidang > Demul
• If you are planning to stay overnight in Demul village, you can then easily reach Demul Stupa the next morning from your hotel. Usually this stretch of the road is levelled and the drive is easy for most of the year. It gets damaged only if it rains heavily in the area. The monsoon months, for that matter, pose a big challenge in terms of road and connectivity. Thus, you need to confirm the weather status and road conditions from authorities at the HRTC bus stand.
• Note: If you are travelling from the Shimla side, Demul can be reached via a detour from Lidang before arriving in Kaza. The Manali–Kaza route, on the other hand, remains open only from mid-May to mid-October, depending on snow and road conditions. Regardless of where you begin your journey, it is strongly recommended to spend a night in Kaza, followed by another night in Demul. It will ensure that you are properly acclimatized before attempting the trek.

Alternative 2: Reach Balang Ri Trek by Public Transport

If you are using public transport, you need to reach Kaza before going on the trek. You can reach Kaza either from Manali or Shimla.

1. Traveling from Kullu/Manali: If you are coming from the side of Kullu or Manali, you can board an HRTC bus that runs between Kullu to Kaza. Available from early June to late September, the bus leaves Kullu at 4 AM and reaches Kaza by around 5 PM.
2. Traveling from Shimla: If you are coming from the Shimla side, you need to first come to either Rampur or Rekong Peo. From Rampur, the bus to Kaza starts at 4 AM, while from Rekong Peo, the available bus starts at 5 AM.

FAQs

1. How difficult is the Balang Ri Trek?

If you consider from an altitude perspective, the Balang Ri is a moderately difficult trek as it is situated at a height of 16,250 feet. While it has its own share of challenges, the hike is equally rewarding with dozens of stunning landscapes.

2. How to reach Balang Ri Trek?

To get to Balang Ri, you have to reach Demul Stupa from where the trek begins. Tourists driving from Manali should follow this route: Manali > Kunzum La > Kaza > Demul. Those from Shimla, need to follow this route: Shimla > Rampur > Lidang > Demul. If you are using public transport, then there is a bus that starts from Kullu at 4 AM and reaches Kaza by around 5 PM. For people travelling from Shimla, there’s a bus to Kaza that starts at 4 AM from Rampur.

3. Where is Balang Ri Trek?

The Balang Ri Trek is situated in a breathtaking region belonging to high-altitude Himalayas near Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India. It is one of the least explored and most beautiful places to go to.

4. How should I prepare for this trek?

Balang Ri is a one-day trek; you can comfortably complete it without too much stress only if you are physically and mentally prepared. For physical fitness, you need to follow a cardiovascular training and strength training routine.

• Start your mornings with brisk walking, light jogging, spot jogging,high intensity interval training,and cycling.
• For strength enhancement, you should perform squats, stair climbing, push-ups, and planks.

For mental fitness, follow the mindfulness and meditation regime, which will help you calm your mind and increase self-awareness. Another thing you can do is to perform breathing exercises that promote relaxation.

5. What is the best time to visit Balang Ri Trek?

The best time to visit Balang Ri trek is from May to October. During this time period the views are stunning, skies are clear, colors are vibrant, and native people celebrate Namkhan Festival.