Hi, I’m Renu from Uttarakhand, and recently I went on a winter trip to Munsyari in Feb 2026 with my cousins. Of course, when you’re in Munsyari, you have to do the Khaliya Top trek — and if you have the energy, the Zero Point above it.
Real numbers (no random guesses ):
- Khaliya Dwar to Khaliya Top: ~4 km
- Khaliya Top to Zero Point: ~2 km
- Total one-way distance: ~6 km
- Total trek (up + down): ~12 km
- Altitude of Khaliya Top: ~11,500 ft
- Zero Point altitude: ~12,500 ft
So yes — it’s high, cold, and totally worth it.
📍 How We Reached Munsyari
Our route was:
Bageshwar → Kapkot → Birthi → Munsyari
We booked a cab (our driver was a friend’s neighbour), which made the mountain drive much easier.
🚆 How to Reach Munsyari from Delhi
If you’re coming from Delhi, here’s the easiest way:
Option 1 (Train + Cab – most comfortable):
- Train from Delhi to Kathgodam
- From Kathgodam, take a cab/shared taxi to Munsyari (8–9 hours)
Option 2 (Direct Bus + Cab):
- Overnight bus from Delhi to Almora / Pithoragarh
- Then shared taxi or cab to Munsyari
Travel is long, but the views on the way make it worth it.
🏕️ Day 1: Munsyari to Khaliya Base Camp
We reached Munsyari around 2 PM and had lunch at the Tourist Rest House Munsyari — easily one of the best meals of the trip.
From there, we went to Khaliya Dwar, the trek starting point.
- Entry fee: ₹50 per person
- Distance to base camp: ~4 km (uphill)
- Level: Beginner-friendly (but winters make it challenging)
We carried one water bottle each, which is super important if you want to maintain a good trekking pace. Cold weather dehydrates you without you even realizing it.
Around 2 km in, we started seeing snow. And yes… we played with snow like kids for a while before reality hit 😂
Then came black ice and slippery patches — tough but beautiful. The views of the Panchachuli Peaks were just WOW.
We reached base camp around 4:30–5 PM.
⛺ Stay at Base Camp
We decided to stay in tents instead of rooms. There are two options — rooms or camps.
We met Sundar Bhaiya from Outdoor Journey and booked 3 tents.
Each tent easily fit 3 people with space left over.
Follow him and get updates on upcoming amazing treks.
So ,What we got in the package:
- Warm sleeping bags (comfortable even at -10°C)
- Extra blankets
- Dinner + Breakfast
- Power bank to charge phones (lifesaver in cold weather!)
Dinner was delicious, the vibe was cozy, and it was FREEZING cold 🥶
At night, don’t miss the sky — the star gazing is magical. Bonfire, chai, stories, and early sleep because sunrise was waiting for us.
🌄 Day 2: Khaliya Top & Zero Point Sunrise
We started at 5:30 AM with a guide — Sundar Bhaiya himself came with us.
From base camp onwards, it’s all snow. Just endless white hills, like ice cream scoops on mountains 🍦
We reached Khaliya Top in about 1 hour, but didn’t stop there.
We pushed ahead to Zero Point — challenging route, heavy snow, but totally worth it.
The sunrise started while we were still trekking, and when we finally reached Zero Point, the view was… unreal.
We were the first group to reach that day 🎉
360° views, glowing peaks, pure silence — photos don’t do justice to this moment.
Peaks Visible from Zero Point (Khaliya Top)
From Zero Point above Khaliya Top, you get a 360° panoramic view of the Kumaon Himalayas. On a clear winter morning, our guide pointed out several famous peaks. The major ones you can see include:
- Panchachuli Peaks – The most prominent and closest-looking massif
- Nanda Devi – Visible on very clear days
- Nanda Kot – Often seen near Nanda Devi
- Rajrambha Peak
- Hardeol
- Trishul – The trident-shaped peak, sometimes visible in super-clear weather
🛷 The Fun (and Slightly Risky) Way Down
Going downhill is harder on the knees, but being pahadi helped us 😄
We slid down most of the snowy slopes (not recommended if you’re not confident — it’s risky).
We were back at base camp in about an hour.
After breakfast, which was poori and alloo loved it and ofcourse chai, we packed up and started descending to Khaliya Dwar. The route was muddy + snowy, and many of my cousins slipped on ice (no injuries, just drama 😅).
We reached Khaliya Dwar by 12 PM.
Our cab driver was waiting, and we headed back to Bageshwar.
We were home by 7 PM — tired, frozen, and extremely happy.
Best Time to Visit
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Snow lovers, this is heaven
- Spring/Summer (Mar–June): Rhododendron flowers bloom everywhere — super scenic
Both seasons are beautiful in different ways.
❗ Quick Trek Tips
- Carry at least 1 litre of water per person
- Good trekking shoes with grip are non-negotiable
- Thermal wear, warm pants, gloves & caps are must
- Phone batteries drain fast in cold — carry power banks
- Walk slowly on black ice
- Play with snow, but don’t forget you still have to trek 😄
💰 Budget
We completed this entire 2-day trip in ₹2500 per person, including:
- Cab
- Tents
- Food
- Guide
❤️ Final Words
Khaliya Top + Zero Point in winter is magical.
Snow fights, starry nights, frozen trails, sunrise views — this trek gave us memories for life.
Photos don’t do justice. If you’re thinking about it… just go.
Follow me too guys.
