Nag Tibba - abode of the God of Snakes
Nag Tibba Range, or the Serpent's Peak, is one of the three principal ranges of the Lesser Himalayas, along with Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal. It is barely a few hours away from Dehradun and Mussoorie and is one of the most popular short treks in Uttarakhand. The locals believe it to be the abode of 'Nag Devta' or the God of Snakes, and often come here to offer prayers for the protection of their cattle.
The Nag Tibba Trek
The Nag Tibba trek is an easy trek that begins at an elevation of 3,500 feet and ends at 10,000 feet. The trek begins from Pantwari which is located 90 km from Dehradun. The trail of the Nag Tibba trek cuts through dense and misty forests of oak with orchids and scarlet rhododendrons at your feet.
You also get to see the hills lush with purple blossoms of bauhinia trees with the white anemones being here in plentiful. While trekking, you'll also get to see some rare birds like flameback woodpeckers, jungle babblers, red and blue bulbuls, and hill mynas
At the summit of the trek you'll be stunned by the gorgeous views of the Great Indian Himalayas towards the Yamunotri side. There’s also the magnificent views of various peaks of Bandarpoonch range, Kedarkantha, Chanabang, Black Peak and Srikanth. During the nights, you'll also see the lights of Mussoorie glimmering and dancing in the distance.
Great for beginners
The Nag Tibba trek is perfect for beginners for various reasons. First, it is a wholesome trek of just 2-3 days but it showcases most of the things that a much longer Himalayan trek has to offer: rhododendron forests, ankle deep snow and splendid views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains.
Second, the trek itself is not that long. It is only 10 km from the base to the top and the trail is gentle without long stretches of steep climbs. Hence, very little fitness is required to trek to Nag Tibba. If you are a beginner and already follow a basic workout routine, you're already fit enough for the Nag Tibba trek.
Nag Tibba trek Itinerary
The Nag Tibba trek will take you to the top of a ridge peak in the Nag Tibba range of the lower Himalayas. You'll trek through delightful paths, meeting friendly farmers and locals along the way. It's about 4 to 5 hours of trekking with some steep patches. At the top, your campsite will be set up for a complete outdoors experience with basic comforts like tents, sleeping bags, toilet tents, all led by a friendly team of guides and porters.
The ground is covered with wild mint, which the cook will pluck to make you a deliciously refreshing cup of tea. The rest of the evening is free for you to explore the campsite, pluck some fresh mint, and admire the spectacular views of snowy peaks like Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch, Srikanth and Black Peak.
You will camp at two different campsites, walking through mountain pastures and oak forests by day, and sleeping under the stars by night. In the morning, you'll wake to see gorgeous views of the peaks all around. On the way back you’ll visit the Nag Devta temple before beginning your descent.
The Nag Tibba trek is considered to be an easy trek that beginners can do in summer or winter. Check out other snow treks recommended for beginners.
Nag Tibba Weather
The Nag Tibba trek can be done all year around. It is the perfect place for camping during summers, with bright and sunny days with temperature highs of 22 degrees C and lows of about 12 degrees C at night.
During the winter, it is one of the best short winter treks as other trails become hard to navigate due to heavy snowfall. The weather in Nag Tibba during winter varies between 0-8 degrees C. For those looking for a snow trek, Jan-Mar is the right time depending on the snowfall that year.
Getting there
The pick-up point for the Nag Tibba trek is Dehradun, located 90 km from Pantwari. Dehradun is a famous tourist destination in India. Dehradun is famous for various adventure activities like trekking, rafting, bungee jumping, camping, etc. The city is well connected to the rest of India by means of road, rail and air.
If you prefer flying, then you can book your flight tickets to the Jolly Grant Airport which serves Dehradun. The airport is well connected to most major cities of the country by regular flights and to Delhi by daily flights.
Dehradun also has a railway station which is connected to major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Allahabad, etc. by regular express trains.
There are also well-marked and well maintained roads connecting the city to major towns and cities of North India. Many state as well as privately run bus services ply between Dehradun and rest of North India.
Packing list
For the Nag Tibba trek, the tour operator will provide all the technical and camping equipment, so that's something you don't have to worry about. All you need to carry is personal gear and essentials. You need to carry a comfortable backpack which can hold all your essentials. You also need to carry sun-cap, sunglasses, a walking pole, personal first med kit and toiletries, etc.
One of the most important gears while trekking is a pair of quality trekking shoes which are comfortable, sturdy and preferably waterproof. If you buy new shoes, make sure you ‘break them in’ well before the trek to avoid blisters.
Apart from this, you need to get clothes that are weather appropriate. You should wear quick-dry, full-sleeve t-shirts and full length pants. If you're going during the winter season, then you also need to wear inner thermals, down and fleece jackets, woollen/synthetic gloves and socks, neck gaiters and balaclava. Avoid wearing any kind of restrictive clothing, especially denim jeans.
The tour operator will provide a packing list which you need to follow properly to ensure a safe and comfortable trek to Nag Tibba.
Nag Tibba Trek Summary
- State: Uttarakhand
- Nearest city: Dehradun
- Total days: 2-3 days
- Grade: Moderate
- Max altitude: 10,000 feet
- Total trekking distance: 19 km
- Season: Summer and winter
- Avg temperature: 0 to 20 degree Celsius
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