Life in the Himalaya | Gaddi Shepherd Journey | 5,050m Kugti Pass

Crossing the treacherous 5,050-meter Kugti Pass with the Gaddi shepherds during their seasonal transhumance migration from Lahaul into Chamba. What began as a missed expedition turned into a high-stakes mountain pursuit... In early September 2026, I arrived in Rashil village carrying 4 days of self-sustained rations, a tent, offline GPS maps, and camera equipment. My goal was to document the ancient migration of the Gaddi shepherds. Upon checking into my homestay, locals confirmed my worst fear: the migration was practically over, and the last batch of shepherds had departed hours earlier. Just as I thought the journey was lost, a chance encounter with a local resident, Lokesh Xetteri, changed everything. A few urgent calls revealed that the Gaddis were camping at Kodlu Alyas—a high-altitude stone shelter beneath the shrines of Kodlu Devta and Khur Devta. We set off immediately on a grueling, steep ascent along an unfamiliar trail. After hours of climbing, the distant barks and bleating drifting down the valley confirmed we had caught up. A Shepherd's Journey begins here—an unfiltered look at high-altitude pastoral life. --- 🎥 Filmed, Edited & Directed by: Tent and A Tripod 📍 Location: Rashil Village to Kugti Pass (Lahaul to Chamba Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India) 🎞️ Format: 4K UHD | Native Field Audio 🎵 Music: Licensed via Artlist --- 🤝 Support Independent High-Altitude Documentaries: All my expeditions are self-funded and solo-produced. If you value authentic Himalayan stories, consider subscribing, sharing, or supporting future journeys: • UPI: vaibhav.bahukhandi@ptaxis --- 📌 Follow Along: • YouTube:    / @tentandatripod   #gaddicommunity #gaddiculture #shepherd #Himalayas #kugti #Lahaul #Chamba #Documentary #TentAndATripod #himalaya #gaddikutta #kugtipass