It is a moderately challenging trek and will take around 5-6 hours to complete the hike and return to the base village.
One can divide the trek into three parts:
Part 1: Base Village to Dargah
It takes around 2.5 – 3 hours to cover the distance of 3.5 km to reach the Haji Malang Dargah from the base village. This trek part is relatively easy, with about 1500 concrete steps. Along the trail, you will see two smaller dargahs called Peheli Salami & Doosri Salami.
Because it is a Dargah, you find many devotees on the trek’s first section till the Haji Malang Dargah, after which the actual hiking trail starts.
Part 2: Dargah to Sone Machi
After crossing the dargah, you come across a few houses of the local villagers from where you hit the trail to start the summit towards Sonemachi. This part of the trek is relatively easy for experienced trekkers but can get a bit tiring for someone who has just begun. However, you can finish it efficiently if you have good fitness levels.
This part of the trail has rock-cut steps, rocks, and boulders.
This part of the trek offers a majestic view of the balekilla and is a sight to behold.
Part 3: Ballekilla
The most challenging trek part is crossing a 14ft. long stretch narrow gap on a pipe, and there are also monkeys on this part, which makes it more difficult.
We do not recommend novice trekkers to attempt this part of the trek as it requires ropes and expert guidance throughout the trail to reach Ballekilla.