Mountain Passes
I explored more than 300 mountain passes across 10 thousand kilometers over 5 ultra journeys through the Western Indian Himalayas. Click on the map below and select any pass to bring up a detailed blog post.
Articles, Maps, Videos
Articles. Numerous articles and interviews in reputed magazines like Explorers Web, The Outdoor Journal, The Himalayan Club, Indian Mountaineering Foundation and others on my Himalayan explorations and geo mapping of the Western Indian Himalayas.
Journey Maps. Find detailed maps on my thousand kilometers long journeys across hundreds of mountain passes across the Western Indian Himalayas, Vietnam, Srilanka. Information on mountain passes, details on individual sections allow you to plan your own traverses.
Videos and short-films on my solo ultra journeys through the Himalayas. Some films won best exploration award in the IMF Mountain Film Festival. Hundreds of short videos taking during my explorations through challenging Himalayan terrains and heart warming encounters with local communities.
Journeys
Trans Jammu 2022. In February 2022 I did a first low-altitude trans-Jammu Winter traverse through Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Reasi districts. During April-May I did a second mid-level 800km Spring traverse through the lesser known regions in the districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban. I hiked along 3000-3800m high ridgelines separating the Chenab, Tawi, Niru, Siul, Kal Nal and Kagune Gad river valleys.
Trans Uttarakhand 20/21. Over 90 days during winter from mid Nov 2020 to mid Feb 2021 I hiked 2000km across Uttarakhand covering 110 lesser known passes with a total elevation gain of 1.7 lakh meters. To plan my journey I mapped thousands of trails from the Survey of India maps which appeared to be 90% accurate and still existing.
Trans Sahyadri 2019 A two months journey climbing 200 historical forts across the Sahyadri mountain range in Maharastra, India in the footsteps of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj covering 2000km between Nasik, Mumbai, Pune and Satara
Trans Himalaya 2019 Traversed 120 passes over 4 months (one per day) covering 3000+ km and 175 thousand meters elevation gain across glaciers, alpine meadows, canyons, high altitude deserts, wild streams, forests passing through 341 beautiful hamlets in the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal and J&K.
Trans Himachal 2018. A 75 days ultra hiking journey during mid July to end Sep 2018 across 40 high altitude passes in Spiti, Zanskar, Pangi, Chamba, Kinnaur, Shimla and Kangra districts of Himachal Pradesh and J&K.
Vietnam 2018. A 2000 km self-supported solo run across the remote mountains of Northeast Vietnam through the provinces of Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang and Bac Kan. Carrying a map, tarp and sleeping bag for shelter, experiencing heart warming hospitality in beautiful hamlets.
Spiti-Pangi 2017. A 2 week 700km run from Shimla to Jammu through the beautiful, lesser known valleys in Himachal: Spiti and Pangi. A self-supported run taking food in villages along the way. 14 days x 50km per day.
Ultra Races 2017. Throughout 2017, I participated in various beautiful international trail races across Europe and Asia with varying distances of 100km to 100 miles. Most races involve steep elevation gain, consist of very technical trails and (some have) alpine climate.
Pangi-Zanskar 2016. A self-supported 600K solo run from Dalhousie to Padum through the interior valleys of Pangi and Zanskar. Carrying basic gears, food and overnight stay in villages and home-stays along the way. 12 days x 50km per day on jeep tracks and single trails.
Vietnam 2016. A 2 week 800km 4 member cycle journey through the lesser touristic roads in the mountains of Northwest Vietnam from Hanoi to Sapa to Lao Cai. Self supported group with camping gears, taking food in villages along the way.
Pangi 2015. A 2 week 700km run from Srinagar to Manali through the mesmerizing remote Pangi valley in 2015. One runner and 3 cyclists. Self supported with camping gears on cycles. Food in the villages along the way
Spiti 2015. A 2 week 600km ultra run from Shimla to Manali through the high altitude desert of Spiti. A self supported group of 3 runners, 3 cyclists with camping gears. Food taken in villages along the way.
Srilanka 2015. A 2 week 800km cycling journey from North to South through the mountains and national parks of central Srilanka. 3 member self-supported group with camping gears, food in the villages along the way.
Spiti-Leh 2013. A 2-week 1000km journey from Shimla through Spiti & Lahaul to Leh, Ladakh. 3 students on 3 cycles, self-supported journey. Camping and food in villages and camps along the way.