Pangi Valley in the upper part of Chamba District is a remote region placed between the Middle and the Greater Himalaya. The Valley is remained landlocked for about six - eight months due to heavy snow fall. During late summer and fall, it can be accessed through several passes which provide a challenge to serious trekkers & travellers.
People
The People of pangi are often called the 'Pangwals' and practically all the people live in small and fairly isolated villages. Almost everyone in pangi is directly or indirectly connected with agriculture and livestock. Life is still dictated by the cycle of seasons and the acts of sowing and reaping. Due to the geographical isolation and the weather, the communities are expectedly inward looking. People of Pangi valley are mainly Hindu with a small population of Buddhists.
Terrain
The elevation in the region varies from 7,000 feet (2,100 m) to 11,000 feet (3,400 m) above sea level. Roads are poor, with few of them surfaced and are covered with dust, boulders, mud, sand and water streams. The valley is believed to be rich in minerals like Iron Ore, Limestone and Mica.
Weather
This region experiences extreme winters and heavy snowfall from November to May, due to which it is open for tourists only between June to October. For the rest of the year, it is cut off from the rest of the world. Temperature varies between 25 to 30 degrees Celsius in the daytime, to around 5 degrees in the night, in September when our tours are planned. In July and August, the region experiences heavy monsoons. Sach pass can be extremely cold and might even receive snowfall.
Flora and Fauna
Approximately 80% of the valley comes under forest land consisting of conifer forests and alpine pastures and about 1.4% of geographical area is under cultivation. The vegetation of the valley is the consequence of geophysical conditions and precipitation pattern which is characterized by little rainfall and high snowfall. The cultivated fields give way to forests of pine, deodar, spruce and silver oak, and beyond that hardy shrubs. Pangi forests are one of the most suitable and safe habitat for a variety of fauna. Wild animals found here include Bears, Tahr, Ibex, Bharal, Snow Leopard, Musk Deer & Goral. Birds found here are Monal, Himalyan Snocock, the common Hill Patridge, Koklas, Snow Pidgeon & Ram Chakor.
For more information on Pangi valley, visit the Wikipedia page.
Ride to Pangi valley with us in our motorcycle tour to Pangi valley.