Where is Mudh Village?
‘Mudh’ village is the ‘last on-road motorable accessible’ village in the Pin Valley of SPITI region of Himachal Pradesh. Made up of less than a 100 Households (as shared by my trek guide and locals); this village is nested within the Pin Valley National Park . The village forms the gateway between SPITI and Kinnaur districts of Himachal . However the road connectivity has still not been made between Mudh village and Kinnaur due to some “political reasons”. If this road project gets completed which has actually been stalled for over a decade now (and most Villagers are now revolting this )..then acccessing the SPITI and PIN Valley from Shimla and Kinnaur districts will become very easy. Around 150 kms of driving distance will be reduced .
Currently the only way to reach Mudh Village in PIN Valley is from Shimla .
My route was as follows :
Shimla (1 N) → Narkanda → Rampur → Sangla Valley- Rackcham (3N) – Kalpa (1N) → Reckong PEO →POOH → Nako → Tabo (2N) → Attargo Bridge → Gulling → Sagnam → Mudh Village (Pin Valley)
'Mudh' can be reached from Kaza / Tabo (55-65 Kms), over a 3 hours drive . However its advisable to halt 1-2 nights first at Shimla , followed by Rackhcham or Kalpa and followed by Tabo /Kaza before proceeding to Mudh Village . This is for better acclimatization and also for soaking the Spiti Region and its flavours. Each of these stations have their distinct flora/ fauna and adventures !
I chose Rackhcham over Kalpa (which are at distance of 6-7 kms apart ), and Tabo over Kaza (again some 10 kms inter-distance), since I was seeking SPITI at its remote , picturesque, non touristy and less crowd state !
Kalpa and Kaza are commercial stations and though both serenely beautiful , Its better to chose the latter if you are a Nature soaker and prefer solitude and more interaction with Spiti Culture.
Start by 8 am from Kaza or Tabo for Mudh Village , since driving time can take anywhere from 3 hours + depending on road conditions. Avoid Travelling during July-Aug . Roads are largely closed in the winter months (Nov-Feb) , due to heavy Ice falls and can be bit of a challenge.
What is the Pin Bhabha Trek?
The Pin Bhabha trek is an overall 8-9 days duration (ex Shimla) and 4-5 days from Pin Valley (from village ‘Kafnu’), or you can join from the Mulling region (grasslands of Pin Valley) .
Standing at 16,100 ft the Pin-Bhabha joins the Bhabha Valley behind and the “Pink/Green/orange” SPITI ! This trek is famed to be the most dramatic ! Appearing as a magical mix of Kashmir, Uttarakhand and upper Icy Himalayan regions with breathtaking meadows. The level of the trek is “moderate to difficult”
From the Mudh Village there is a trail road used by villagers to join the Kafnu and Mulling trek road which finally connects with the PIN-Bhabha trek ! This was a revelation I got when I landed at Mudh Village ! And this is how I tried to embark on “as much as I can go in 24 hours ” before returning back to Mudh Village by sunset ..
And here goes my following lines on the breathlessly changing experiences of my 14 kms trek from Mudh Village
Starting the Walk
4th July, 2026 .
Most treks, we start early morning before sunrise to cover the sun intensity at high altitudes; and based on this experience I had requested my home stay owner (Sonam), to have my guide (Gautam) join me early morning by 8 am ! However the entire previous night , Mudh village was experiencing downpours and even till 9 am, sky was still over cast!
My heart was having a mixed emotion of – excitement and concern …on when and If this trek would be possible . Finally we decided to start after a good breakfast of potato-stuffed parantha’s and egg omlettes at 10 am !
Gautam had packed something for lunch and water and also tea ! This was not a normal trek route and nothing would be found on this route I was told. This made me feel more “high” actually ! Gautam’s umbrella became my walking stick throughout the “unclear trail” roads and loose gravel paths .
THE First 2 kms, 1 Hour ...THE TOUGHEST onset part of the trek
Many of my pre -trek beliefs were shred to pieces on this trek ! 🙂
They say and its also mostly true that it “gets harder later”! But todays trek was reverse . As we started walking out of our homestay , some 400 metres down there went a mountainous “stone path” cut manually to reach down the valley where the Pin river was flowing! The steps were narrow, slippery and one lose step could make me fall 50–600 mtres down into mud (thanfully no river bed till then )! 🙂
I was wearing my bestest trek shoes …while Gautam was galloping down like a fresh bred horse on his Flip Flops !! Was totally awed by him .
Also simultaneous was praying to God to get me to better terrain ..This first hour was something!
From some where “Sheru” a Mountain Dog had joined us from first 20 minutes !
Gautum told me that Shery had just “returned” from the Pin Bhabha trekkers groups last njght , and that he doesnt belong to Mudh Village !! So non one know his real name ..and “Sheru” was the name Gautam had given !
Sheru must be having so many names by now ..depending on which trekkers group he joins ….and I was left wondering …..he doesn’t care of names he get called by ..he doesn’t care of whom he is travelling his life with …he just travels !
It was evident that Both Sheru and Gautam were avid mountain and trek lovers !
And it was my destiny to have my this journey with these two beautiful souls !!!
Walking Along the Pin River
The Pin River was appearing like the “nature’s soul” guiding us on the trek. It was following us , leading us on our path . In those crosses and turns where the river’s course was lost from our eye sight, its gushing sounds of the waveshitting the boulders were telling us …“I am there”…keep walking !
The “Pin River” was the life line of ‘Mudh’ village . On my trek course I found blue pipelines drawn which were connected by valves . There was a network of such pipelines losely fixed on the mountain terrains. Gautam told me that these were the responsibility of the clusters of villages in “Pin Valley”. Every household has a fixed tube line to get their water from. Pin River has multiple streams traversing the Mountains which broke sometimes into huge waterfalls ! The sight of the waterfalls was nothing less than a visual and physical test to reach ! I almost lost my heart out on trying to reach a waterfall . And to imagine that Gautam mentioned …the word “Paani ka stream” to this dangerous waterfall on the mountain ! Perceptions are always so subjective !
Had I not been pulled up by Gautaum …I might have not been texting currently !
Whatever happens in SPITI is pure God’s grace .
Pin River could be “touched” in multiple ways . This trek showed me how sometimes a river can be merciless and test our strength, faith and power ! At some points I had to cross the Pin river on a flimsy man made “rock-sand-bag” bridge ! And then it dawned after i crossed these bridges ..It had rained whole night ! What if the weight of the sand bridge had already crossed the weight limit ! And I was also wearing thick woollens and not a ideal weight as well! All these thoughts will cross when unimaginable sights lay in front of your eyes !
The Mountains Keep Changing
I was earlier awed the previous day when I reached Mudh village .
How can the Mountains have multiple colours of rainbow here !? It can happen only on a paint canvas by an artist. What was the scientific reason behind this !?
This trek showed me the “Why’s and “Hows” !
The Mountains were not just “Mountains”. They were like a “Stage of drama unfolding “! In some there were patches of Blue, Purple, Pink wild flower pastures . In some places the thick green “Sweet pea” field of various shades of green (depending on the annual cycle) . In some places the melting ice streams had truncated the mountains and eroded to give various colours of white and cream !
In some places there were Pink and dark red rocks, and grey lithosphere material (which geologists) could reveal .
And to top it off , Pin Valley get Sun shines in various angles and differing altitudes. The sun’s rays flushed multiple colours to the already vivid Mountains .
THE EMOTIONAL ROLLER-COASTER - WHILE ON THE TREK
Gautam throughout was narrating stories on the locals all through the trek ! His boyish experiences on camping, trails, all the village names and roads connecting them. It was as if he belonged to Pin Valley completely and Pin belonged to him!
Alongside were stories which donot get recorded. Of the beliefs of the people. The festivals. Their living adaptations. I hope to write a separate section on this as well soon!
Walking down and climbing with heaving breathing ..what the next scene will unfold no one can predict on this trek. Every ascend makes heart beat rise and emotions rise with absolute “Reverence” to the beauty of Nature and questions us …”This itself must be God..nothing lesser”!
We found cattles and livestock on the mountains. There were related stories on this too. Every Morning one appointed villager will take the entire village cattles and stay in these mountains the whole day . Before sunset andother Group will come to colllect the cattles back to the village . We mpved through some 2-3 Hamlets on our trek. Crossed by small 1-2 camps made by locals. Out came of these smiling beautiful women some so aged ! Every time we crossed these camps , we were offered tea in Spitian dialect .
Finally around 2 pm , some 8 kms off ……we decided to have our Lunch !
I wanted to pick a place on the Mountain side for having lunch and fixing my tripod stand for capturing panoramic views on time lapse sensors !
Gautam was searching for just the Opposite site !
He said Madam …..Mountain side sitting will not only fly-off our Lunch but both of us as well !We need a Non-Breezy closer to inner mountain side 🙂
Ooops ..I did not realise that I was already at 11,000 Ft with such high wind velocity .
I could barely manage to hold my Tri-pod stand by putting a couple of rocks on it !
Sheru was with us throughout the trip till the end . At one point he left us on our way back. I was saddened to turn around and not find him. I went our crying out his names …..but the sounds of the winds might not have carried my voices to him. But this was “unexpected” to me. How come Sheru left us without us knowing …where in the wilderness did he go ? What did he go looking for ? Will I get to see him again ?
I stopped my trek Too, post the lunch .
I asked Gautam these questions ..since I was really surprised and feeling low. But we could see no trace of Sheru !
Suddenly after a while down the Hills we saw a miniscule thing moving …..and some meters away a group of camping people !
It was Sheru !
He had run off in between our walk silently from our backs …darting down like an arrow piercing the mountains below ……to go “greet these campers” !
What a soul !
What stamina .
What a heart .
He just loved people.
He just loved people on treks !
So after finding Sheru …join the other campers . I felt somewhat OK ! But still low since he should have informed me before leaving!
I couldnt believe ..Myself ….I was not particularly a “Dog Lover”..
But did the 3 hours of my journey today make me so emotionally bonded with Sheru ?
And the more difficult question I was asking myself was “Why”? “How”.
My heart was filled with some unexplainable “LOVE” and “Reverence” to something ..Unknown
Sheru Joins me back after saying his hello to the campers ….how can he gallop so much is few minutes and return back . WHY DID HE RETURN BACK TO ME? MY QUESTIONS ONTHIS TREK WAS ENDLESS. Every question left me concluding …
some questions are to be just experienced not answered !
Trail Conditions and Difficulty
- Moderate to Difficult
- Distance – Can go uptill 15 -18 kms from Mudh Village , thereafter the road connectivity to Pin Bhabha is closed on this route . You have to start from Mulling or Kafnu (Pin Valley)
- Best Time – April-June ; Aug-Oct
Why This Trek is Perfect for Beginners
- easy trek in Spiti
- beginner trek in Spiti Valley
- day hike from Mudh Village
- short Himalayan trek
Flora, Fauna and Landscapes of Pin Valley
- Himalayan ibex
- Snow leopard habitat
- High altitude vegetation
- Pin Valley National Park
Before You Trek: Essential Safety Tips for Mudh Village
Trek Slowly and Respect the AltitudeMudh Village sits at an altitude of approximately 3,800 metres (12,500 feet). Even a short hike can feel more demanding than expected if you have recently arrived from lower elevations. Spend a day acclimatising in Kaza or nearby villages before attempting longer walks. Stay hydrated, avoid overexertion, and pay attention to symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, or unusual fatigue. Generally heart rates will be higher than normal, with low oxygen saturation. Keep hydrating well and enjoy the steps rather than overstraining out of excitement!
Do Not Underestimate the WeatherWeather conditions in Pin Valley can change rapidly. A bright sunny morning can quickly turn windy, cold, or cloudy, particularly in the afternoon. Carry a windproof jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses, and sufficient layers even if you are planning only a short trek.
Mobile Connectivity is LimitedNetwork coverage is unreliable in ‘Mudh’ village and non available along the trekking route. Inform someone about your plans before starting the hike and avoid relying entirely on online maps or mobile connectivity. Donot trek alone . Join a Group or a guide , the terrain is not clear and dangerous to navigate alone
Carry Enough Water and SnacksThere are no shops, cafés, or facilities once you leave the village. Carry sufficient water, energy bars, dry fruits, or snacks, especially if you plan to walk several kilometres along the Pin Bhabha trail.
Respect River Crossings and Trail ConditionsDepending on the season, streams and side channels can become difficult to cross. Avoid taking unnecessary risks, especially if trekking alone. If the trail appears unsafe due to water levels, loose rocks, or weather conditions, turn back and prioritise safety over reaching a particular point.
Start Early and Return Before DarkThe trail is best enjoyed in daylight. Starting early allows ample time to explore, photograph the landscape, and return safely before temperatures drop and visibility decreases.
Leave No TracePin Valley is one of the most pristine regions in the Himalayas. Carry back all waste, avoid disturbing wildlife, and respect local customs and grazing lands. The beauty of the valley depends on responsible travellers preserving it for future visitors.
My Take:
The trail beyond Mudh Village is not technically difficult, but its remoteness demands respect. One of the most beautiful aspects of the walk is the feeling of being completely surrounded by nature, far from roads, crowds, and distractions. That same remoteness means preparation, awareness, and good judgement are your most important trekking companions.
If you find yourself in Mudh Village, don't rush away after the photographs. Walk a little further into the Pin Bhabha trail. The landscape unfolds gradually, and somewhere between the river, the mountains and the silence, Spiti reveals its gentlest side.
