Day Hike from Sethan to Chikka: Hampta Pass Experience

2 Comments / Destinations, Himachal Pradesh, Manali, My Experiences, Photo Story, Treks & Hikes / By

There is no hiding the fact that Hampta Pass Trek is among the most popular treks in the entire Indian Himalaya, if not the most sought after. I won’t say that it wasn’t on my list for trekking but the affinity of instagram travellers to sign up for the trek with one of the hordes of trekking agencies meant it had long ago dropped from my radar. While I have nothing against the trekking agencies – the possibility of coming across hundreds of noisy hikers is surely a major turn off. On a hike, I am keen on marvelling at the landscapes and admiring the solitude of nature. Therefore, Hampta Pass had steadily declined on my list of prospective hikes until I started living in Kullu Valley in 2021. When a friend joined us from Delhi, a fine day in the monsoon season resulted in us driving to Sethan and doing a day hike to Chikka and back.

We left early from our home and were at the Allain Duhangan Power Project barrier gate after taking the diversion from Prini at about 930 am. There was an entry charge even for local vehicles, and I filled an online form for the same and paid. We also gave a ride to a local who was headed to Sethan. She confirmed that it was a nice and easy day hike to Chikka from the last point till where the vehicles went. We had a heavy breakfast at home and also carried some apples to enjoy on the hike.

Here are a few phone photographs of a stunning day hike from Sethan to Chikka in August :

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape at sunset, with colorful clouds and a foreground of trees and houses.
Monsoon skies are something else : This is the view from our balcony in Kullu Valley.

A scenic view of a river flowing through a lush green landscape, featuring trees and rocky terrain, under a cloudy sky.
A flowing river surrounded by lush greenery and trees, with large rocks in the foreground and colorful prayer flags hanging across the scene.
First bridge at the start of the hike to Chikka.
A mountainous landscape featuring steep cliffs and lush greenery, with cloudy skies above. Tall trees are visible in the foreground, and a waterfall cascades down the rocky face in the background.
The alluring shade of green is a life changer.
A campsite in a green meadow surrounded by trees, featuring a colorful tent and a table with food and beverages, along with red and black chairs.
Chairs for a dhaba eatery.
A scenic view of a lush green landscape with cattle grazing in the foreground, towering mountains in the background, and cloudy skies above.
A scenic view of a mountain landscape featuring steep cliffs, lush green hills, and tall pine trees under a cloudy sky.
It was a most magical hike in the monsoon.
A steep, rocky mountain face covered with greenery, under a cloudy sky.

A scenic view of a lush green landscape featuring a rocky cliffside, dense trees, and a flowing river at the bottom, surrounded by ferns and grass.
Ferns growing in the wild.
A scenic view of a lush green valley surrounded by towering rocky hills, with patches of fog hovering over the landscape.
Thankfully the rain stayed away.
A bright yellow mushroom growing near a tree trunk, surrounded by green leaves.

A scenic view of a green mountain landscape under a cloudy sky, featuring a table and red chairs set up on the grassy terrain.
How’s that for a open air eatery!
A scenic view of a lush green valley with a flowing river, surrounded by mountains and clouds.
A group of women in traditional attire standing and sitting near a wooden bench in a picturesque mountainous landscape, with lush greenery and cloudy skies.
A scenic landscape featuring a river flowing through a rocky valley surrounded by lush green hills and foggy mountains in the background.
A scenic view of a mountainous landscape with tall cliffs, lush greenery, and a flowing river. Two horses are grazing on the grass near large rocks.
A scenic view of a lush green valley with several horses grazing on the rocky ground, under a cloudy sky with mountains in the background.
Its a trail filled with horses carrying loads of hikers and trekkers.
A person walking alongside a white horse in a mountainous landscape with lush green hills and rocky terrain under a cloudy sky.
A scenic landscape featuring rocky terrain, a flowing river, and lush green hills beneath a cloudy sky, with two individuals in red attire walking along a path.
Fun to walk along the river.
A rugged mountain landscape with steep rocky slopes, lush green vegetation, and a cloudy sky.
A scenic landscape featuring two camping tents beside a river, with horses grazing on the lush green grass. Dense forests and rocky hills are visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
The Chikka campsite was a bit ahead of this spot.
A scenic campsite in a lush green valley with tents, a rocky stream flowing through, and cloudy skies above.
A hand holding a bouquet of colorful wildflowers in a lush green landscape, with a river flowing in the background and gray clouds overhead.
Collection of colourful wildflowers.
A hand holding a branch with red berries against a lush green mountainous landscape with clouds in the sky.
Two cows grazing in a lush green valley surrounded by tall mountains and overcast skies.
Cows grazing in lush greenery.
A hand holding a cluster of flowers with red berries against a scenic background of lush green hills, tall trees, and a winding river.
A hand holding a bouquet of colorful flowers with lush green mountains and a stream in the background under a cloudy sky.
A scenic hillside with lush green grass and scattered rocks, featuring a small stream flowing through the landscape. In the foreground, a few horses are grazing, with a cloudy sky overhead.
A scenic view of a lush green valley surrounded by mountains under a cloudy sky, with two people visible in the foreground and a stream flowing through the landscape.
A lush valley surrounded by mountains under a cloudy sky, with a small stream flowing through and a person standing by the water.
A person dressed in traditional attire stands on a green hillside with trees and cloudy skies in the background.
Aunty dressed in a Kullvi pattu came on the hike with her relatives.
Three cows grazing in a green meadow with rocky terrain under cloudy skies.
A scenic valley surrounded by lush green hills and tall coniferous trees under a cloudy sky, with a gentle river flowing through rocky terrain.
A lush green mountain landscape with rocky terrain and a flowing stream, under a cloudy sky.
It started drizzling as we were near the Chikka campsite and had to turn back.
A person sitting on a grassy area in a mountainous landscape, surrounded by steep cliffs and dense trees, with a river flowing in the valley under a cloudy sky.
Hampta pass is a picturesque trek for sure.

We would have wanted to spend more time on the hike but the drizzle meant that we started hiking back and got back to the place where the car was parked at about 3 pm. So the time taken to reach Chikka was about 2 hours and we hardly took an hour to return.

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