{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Triund | settlement_type = | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_flag = | coordinates = {{coord|32.2496|N|76.3339|E|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name1 = Himachal Pradesh | subdivision_name2 = Kangra | subdivision_name3 = | established_title = | established_date = | elevation_m = 2850 | demographics_type1 = Hindi, English | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | area_code = +91-01892 }} thumb|273x273px|The Triund meadow. The Forest Rest House is visible to the left. thumb|273x273px|A view of the Dhauladhar range from Triund. thumb|273x273px|Triund meadow from above. '''Triund''' is a meadow in the mountains above McLeodganj, in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Triund is located on a spur along the southern aspect of the Dhauladhar range, and is at a height of about 2,800-2,900 m. It is known as a scenic spot, the end point of a popular trek, and a stage in climbing mountains and passes of the Dhauladhar range.
== History ==
=== Pastoralism === For many generations, Triund has been an important meadow and halting point for Gaddi herders and their flocks of goats and sheep en route Dhauladhar range's Indrahar pass.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Šída |first=Petr |date=2023 |title=Ethnoarchaeological Observations of Pastoralism in the Mountains of the West Indian Himalayas, Results from Travels During Year 1999 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27261715 |journal=Anthropologie (1962-) |volume=61 |issue=3 |pages=327–342 |issn=0323-1119}}</ref>
=== Forest Rest House === The British colonial government first built a forest rest house at Triund over 1899-1900, at the cost of Rs. 980 at that time.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Department |first=India Forest |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Review_of_Forest_Administration_in_Briti/DN8_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=triund+forest+rest+house+built&pg=PA17&printsec=frontcover |title=Review of Forest Administration in British India |date=1902 |pages=17 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Department |first=Punjab (India) Forest |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Progress_Report_on_Forest_Administration/HzQ_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=triund+lahore&pg=RA1-PA5&printsec=frontcover |title=Progress Report on Forest Administration in the Punjab |date=1900 |publisher="Civil and Military Gazette" Press |pages=5 |language=en}}</ref> It was destroyed in the Kangra earthquake of 1905.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Department |first=Punjab Forest |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Progress_Report_on_Forest_Administration/29TkAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=triund+forest+rest+house+built&pg=PA6-IA8&printsec=frontcover |title=Progress Report on Forest Administration in the Punjab |date=1905 |publisher="Civil and Military Gazette" Press |pages=4 |language=en}}</ref>
The forest rest house had been rebuilt by the 1920s.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Alpine_Journal/lDVY2OFHClYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=triund+forest+bungalow&pg=PA348&printsec=frontcover |title=The Alpine Journal: A Record of Mountain Adventure and Scientific Observation |date=1927 |publisher=Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green |pages=348 |language=en}}</ref> One website mentions that the rest house at Triund was built in 1913-14, but does not cite any reference.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ecotourism Society of Himachal Pradesh {{!}} Triund |url=https://hpecotourism.com/Triund |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=hpecotourism.com}}</ref> In any case, this rebuilt rest house was again destroyed at some point towards the end of the 1920s - this time by an accidental fire - and was proposed to be replaced by 1930-31.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Department |first=Punjab (India) Forest |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Progress_Report_on_Forest_Administration/U0kXAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=triund+burnt&dq=triund+burnt&printsec=frontcover |title=Progress Report on Forest Administration in the Punjab |date=1930 |publisher="Civil and Military Gazette" Press |pages=6 |language=en}}</ref>
The first post-Independence mention of the forest rest house at Triund comes from 1951, from an Italian geography research paper on the topography and toponomy of Kangra valley. The paper mentions a 'current building' of the forest rest house at Triund, as well as the perimeter of the older destroyed building a few metres away, without mentioning when the 'current building' was built. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mussio |first=Giovanni |date=1951 |title=Contributo alla topografia e alla toponomastica del distretto di Kangra e dello stato di Chamba(Punjab |url=https://doi.org/10.36253/bsgi-5674 |journal=Bollettino della Società Geografica Italiana |pages=54–70 |doi=10.36253/bsgi-5674 |issn=2974-5780}}</ref>
In May 2011, lightening struck the forest rest house at Triund, causing a major fire. At the time, 31 students and their teachers from a school in Punjab were staying at the rest house. They narrowly escaped unscathed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bodh |first=Anand |date=May 27, 2011 |title=Major fire incident at Triund area of Dharamshala |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/yps-students-escape-major-fire-incident/articleshow/8614374.cms |work=The Times of India}}</ref>
=== Trekking and climbing === The British used Triund as a camping spot en route climbs of the Indrahar pass, Mon Peak, Slab Peak, and other points in the Dhauladhar range.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=Lt. P.R. |date=1931 |title=The Dharamsala Dhauladhar in 1930 |url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/ |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=The Himalayan Journal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=J.O.M. |date=1938 |title=Some scrambles on the Dhaula-Dhar |url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/ |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=The Himalayan Journal |language=en}}</ref>
== The Triund Trek == Trekkers can walk or drive from McLeodganj to the Galu temple above Dharamkot. From the Galu temple, a well-marked trail leads to the Triund meadow. It passes through a forest of oak and rhododendron. Most of the trail ascends gradually. But the final section before arriving at the Triund meadow is steep, through a number of zigzags. The Triund area is rich in wildlife, including black bear, monal, leopard, and a large variety of birds. Triund provides a panoramic view of the Kangra valley to the south and of the Dhauladhar range to the north. Triund is popular among bird-watchers and star-gazers, and as a scenic day hike.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaudhry |first=Minakshi |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Guide_to_Trekking_in_Himachal/-DvcK7Or0AIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=triund+trek&pg=PA76&printsec=frontcover |title=Guide to Trekking in Himachal: Over 65 Treks and 100 Destinations |date=2003 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-149-8 |pages=75-76 |language=en}}</ref>
== See also ==
*Dhauladhar *Dharamshala *McLeodGanj *Kangra district
== References == <references />
==Other websites== {{Commons category-inline|Triund}}
{{Kangra district}}
Category:Villages in Kangra district Category:Dharamshala