Hamta Pass is a corridor in the

Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 100 ...

, between the Chandra Valley in

Lahaul The Lahaul and Spiti district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul () and Spiti (; or ). The present administrative centre is Kyelang in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, ...

and the

Kullu Kullu is a municipal council town that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district of the states and union territories of India, Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Va ...

valley of

Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh (; ; "Snow-laden Mountain Province") is a state in the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the thirteen mountain states and is characterized by an extreme landscape featuring several peaks ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. The pass is named after Hamta Village, below Sethan village. Lower Himalayan shepherds use the pass in summer for its high altitude grasslands in the summer, when the desert of Lahaul is barren.

Description

The pass includes vertical rock walls, waterfalls, hanging glaciers, pinewoods, rhododendron forests, open meadows, and small lakes, as well as 6000 metre tall peaks such as Mt. Deo Tibba and Mount Indrasan. Wildflowers and herbs grow between 3000 meters to 3800 meters.

Treks

Hikers travel from the Kullu valley through Hamta Pass, and into the region of Lahaul. The route includes glaciers and fast-flowing rivers, making it challenging but doable for some beginners. Some hikers continue to Chandrataal lake. The nearest hub is Manali, in

. Most itineraries include transport from Manali to Jobri, from where the trek begins. Depending on the trek itinerary, it typically takes 3 to 4 days to complete the trek. Hikers may stop at Chika, Balu ka Gera, or Chatru.

Gallery

File:Hamta Pass corridor.jpg, Hamta Pass corridor File:Chatru Settlement in the Spiti Valley from Shia Goru.jpg, Chhatru Settlement in the Spiti Valley from Shia Goru File:Enroute Balu ka Ghera.jpg, Valley File:Chandrabaga or Chenab River.jpg, River ;Panorama view (3777m)

References

{{Reflist Mountain passes of Himachal Pradesh Geography of Lahaul and Spiti district Geography of Kullu district