Triund trek — distance, fees, camping and the best months

The trail

From McLeodganj, walk or take a taxi up through Dharamkot to the Galu Devi temple, where the road ends. From there a well-marked path climbs through oak and rhododendron forest, gently at first, with a tea stall about halfway. The last stretch is a steep set of zigzags. Then you come out on an open ridge at about 2,850 m, with the Kangra valley spread out behind you and the Dhauladhar’s rock wall straight ahead.

From	One way	Time up
McLeodganj	About 9 km	4–5 hours
Galu Devi temple	About 6 km	3–4 hours

Fees and limits

Since December 2023 the forest department’s Ecotourism Society has charged trekkers at a checkpost at Gallu. When the scheme began it also capped numbers: 400 trekkers a day, and 40 people overnight at the top in no more than 20 tents. After local objections the state halved the fees in January 2024, to ₹100 per person per day. The tent fee was reported then as ₹550 for two. Registered local guides were exempt. Carry cash and ID, and check the current fee at the checkpost.

When to go

• March–June: the classic season, with snow still on the Dhauladhar behind the ridge.
• September–November: clear and crisp after the monsoon.
• July–August: rain, mud and leeches; the views often disappear in cloud.
• December–January: the top is often snowbound and very cold, and the trail may be closed for a while after heavy snow.

Beyond Triund

Triund was the traditional first camp for climbs to the Indrahar Pass on the Dhauladhar crest, used by Gaddi shepherds and by the British. That is a serious high-altitude crossing, not a day hike, and most people turn round at the ridge.

Staying in McLeodganj

Triund is easiest from a base in McLeodganj — read Dharamshala or McLeodganj? and the Dharamshala guide. Our Dharamshala tours stay in the area. If you want a day for Triund in one, tell us on WhatsApp. For other treks see trekking in Himachal.