— Document · 001 · Field Manual
The Dossier.
Everything a traveller needs to know before arriving at Chaminu — read once, print if you must. Nothing decorative, nothing hidden.
Latitude
32.5533° N
Longitude
76.1250° E
Elevation
1,720 m
Climate
Sub-alpine
§ 01
How to reach.
Nearest airport
Gaggal (DHM) · Kangra
185 km · 6 h drive
Nearest railhead
Pathankot Junction (PTK)
120 km · 4 h drive
By road · from Delhi
Overnight Volvo to Chamba town
580 km · 12 h
From Chamba town
Taxi to Chaminu via Saho
28 km · 55 min
Pickup
We arrange from Chamba bus stop
Included with stay
Last mile
Motorable to gate · gentle 40 m walk
No luggage carry
§ 02
When to come.
Mar – May
Spring
8 – 22 °C
Deodar pollen, flowering apple, clear ridges. Ideal for walking.
Jun – Aug
Monsoon
14 – 24 °C
River in full voice. Green, wet, dramatic. Bring waterproofs.
Sep – Nov
Autumn
6 – 20 °C
Apple harvest, clearest air, cool nights. The connoisseur's season.
Dec – Feb
Winter
-2 – 10 °C
Stoves lit, occasional snow. Slow days, long books, hot madra.
Best months for first-timers: April–June and September–November. Winter is for those who want the stove, the silence, and possibly snow.
§ 03
Altitude & body.
Retreat
Chaminu village
1,720 m · low risk
Day walks
Ridges & meadows
1,900 – 2,400 m
Sach Pass day-trip
High altitude · seasonal
4,414 m · June–Oct
Acclimatisation
First 24 h · rest, hydrate, no alcohol
Recommended
AMS symptoms
Headache, nausea · descend if severe
Rare below 2,500 m
Medical
Chamba town hospital
28 km · 55 min
§ 04
What to pack.
— Layers
- ◦Warm fleece or wool mid-layer
- ◦Waterproof shell jacket
- ◦Thermals (Nov – Feb)
- ◦Sturdy walking shoes
- ◦One dressier layer for the courtyard dinner
— Small things
- ◦Refillable water bottle (we filter on site)
- ◦Head torch for the walk from the gate
- ◦Sunscreen · lip balm · sunglasses
- ◦A book you have been meaning to finish
- ◦Cash for the village bakery
§ 05
The house.
Type
Restored heritage homestay over a Gharat
Est. 1890s
Rooms
Double · Twin · Family · Duplex
4 configurations
Included
Satvik breakfast · hot water · heaters · Wi-Fi
All rooms
Pets
Well-behaved dogs welcome
No fee
Children
Welcome · shallow river access supervised
Family room best
Payment
UPI · bank transfer · cash on arrival
No cards
— Colophon
Compiled at the retreat. Distances measured by odometer, temperatures by memory. Corrections welcome on WhatsApp.