Top 5 Rivers You’ll Cross on the Hampta Pass Trek
by Kuldeep Singh Rawat
2025-06-04
Top 5 Rivers You’ll Cross on the Hampta Pass Trek in Himanchal Pradesh
The
Hampta Pass Trek is not simply about mountain scenery or passes at great heights — it's also an experience through some of the prettiest, glacier-fed streams and rivers in Himachal Pradesh. Not only do the rivers contribute to adventure in the form of thrilling river crossings, but they provide a peaceful rhythm to the trek as well — the sound of running water becoming your companion for stream, forest, and meadow valleys.
1. Rani Nallah – The Start of the Flow
Your initial experience of mountain water is at Jobra, where the picturesque Rani Nallah flows parallel to the trail. This stream paints the picture for the trek — crystal clear, cold, and teeming with life. You proceed alongside it for hours, its gentle babble harmonizing with your footsteps as the forest gives way to broad meadows.
2. Chikka Water Stream – A Balance Test
The terrain at Chikka turns rocky, and a broad stream asks for your attention. It's one of the first river crossings that is adventurous. You might have to take off your shoes, experience the freezing current gush under your feet, and negotiate it cautiously. It's one of those things that alerts every sense — cold, crisp, exhilarating.
3. Jwara's Glacial Streams – Bloom and Flow
When you arrive at Jwara, the landscape opens up into stunning flower meadows, and several small glacial streams run across your route. Here, you don't merely ford a river — you traverse a landscape alive. These rivers mirror the snow peaks surrounding you, painting postcard-quality scenes that you'll retain long after the hike is over.
4. Balu Ka Ghera River – Born of Ice
At the base camp before the pass, Balu Ka Ghera, a raging stream is born out of melting snow and hidden glaciers. It thunders with energy, particularly after the monsoon, and makes you remember how raw and wild nature can be. This is not a crossing; it's a reminder that water is born out of the same peaks you are planning to conquer.
5. Lahaul Side Stream (Descent to Chatru) – Last Flow
As you come down from the
Hampta Pass, crossing a last stream of a large size, cold, and with great speed greets you — the Lahaul Side Stream. Against the stark landscape of Lahaul, its presence ends the green trail and commences a desert-like valley. Fording it has a symbolic feel, akin to crossing over from one world to another.
Each river on the
Hampta Pass Trek adds a chapter to your tale — some challenge you, some calm you, and all of them leave their mark. So when you trek here, do remember — it's not only the summits that you will remember, but the waters that sang along with you.
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