Roopkund Trek

Day 1 - Arrival at Lohajung and stay at Wan Village.

Drive from kathgodam is a long distance of 220km. It can take upto 8hrs to reach first Lohajung and then nearby Wan village. The village is base camp of the Roopkund trek and is the last market to purchase essentials. Ethnic mix is rich with cultural heritage. People worship "LaatuDevta" who is believed to be the brother of ‘Goddess Nanda Devi’ (wife of Lord Shiva). The journey would be blessed by offering prayers at the LaatuDevta temple before moving forward on the Roopkund trek. The hospitality is going to be warm and high on folklores.

Stay in this beautiful village on your arrival day at homestays. You can intermingle with the villagers, share your stories, listen to the folklores and enjoy the Garhwali cuisine served at dinner. Try to sleep early giving your body proper rest and get energized for the trek commencement next day.

Day 2 - Wan Village to BedniBugyal (12km trek).

Trekking Roopkund lake starts today early in the morning after having tea and high energy breakfast. Walking for about 30 minutes on the trail leads you to the quaint mountain settlements and subsequent oak forests. Villagers welcome you with tea and snacks at their personal stalls. The prime attraction is village toddlers greeting you ‘Namaste’. After having a refreshing tea or coffee at the top of first ascent, restart your journey towards BedniBugyal.

Oak,Pines and Deodar forest adorns the trail. Just before the BedniBugyaltreeline abruptly ends. From there the lush green sprawl is mesmerizing enough to fill you with the divine vibes in the presence of majestic Mt. Trishul in the background. The mist at the bugyal flows incessantly thereby causing appearance and disappearance of Mt. Trishul alternately. Hot soups and coffee is ready before you reach Bedni.

There is a small lake named "Vaitarani" (BedniKund) situated amidst the meadow. At night, the sky is clear enough so that Constellations, planets and comets can be spotted at mere sight. Moderate temperature at BedniBugyal provides cozy and comfortable sleep helping you to get re-energized for trekking Roopkund next day.

Note:- Activities like volleyball, football, cricket e.t.c. can be availed at the trekkers choice mentioned at the commencement of the Roopkund trek. This helps you acclimatize better at high altitude and reduce the vulnerability to Acute Mountain Sickness.

BedniBugyal to PatharNauchni (5km trek)

No need to wake up early in the morning, enjoy the lazy moments in your cozy sleeping bags. Part of Roopkund trek to be covered today is just 5km. Get lost in the moment of overwhelming sunrise at Bednibugyal with morning tea and breakfast at your side and then start your trek uptoPatharNauchni.

Now the hike is parallel to the clouds. Trekking next to Glacial giant Mt.Trishul seizes the breath and rushes the adrenaline. Moving on the trail, you will stumble upon boulders at PatharNauchni. It is a transitional zone between sprawling grass and rocky surface. It had been a landslide zone long aback.

The folklore behind the meaning of word "PatharNauchni" describes that a long time ago, the local King was on pilgrimage of Goddess Nanda Devi. The king, his Guards and female court entertainers Camped at this place. As per the legend, king enjoyed the dance performances of female entertainers and after getting tired cancelled the Pilgrimage. Goddess Nanda Devi unleashed her wrath upon the king's company and transformed them into giant boulders.

PatharNauchni to Baguabasa (5km trek)

On this day, you face the 3km strenuous hike of Roopkund lake trek from PatharNauchni to ‘KaluVinayak’ temple. After breakfast and packing bags, packed lunch will be provided by kitchen staff. Starting from PatharNauchani, the serpentine plus steep trail needs to be walked slowly and carefully but don’t worry your hard work pays off after reaching Kaluvinayak. From there, Just two more kilometers of straight trail leads you to Baguabasa.

The barren landscape is lifeless with patches of glaciers here and there. Along the trek length, there are several smaller streams originating beneath the moraines. The serene landscape and fragrance of freedom & peace in the air freezes your moment.

Stay at Baguabasa is also important for acclimatization in thin air. A slight touch of Acute Mountain Sickness might already hit you, but the victory over it is what you are here to conquer. Drinking lot of water, playing some sports, hiking up a few metres& return back to campsite and having a healthy & hygienic diet are the keys to cure the Acute Mountain Sickness.

At an altitude of 4500m, rocky terrain houses the last Campsite before Roopkundlake . Horizon is full of mountain peaks and ranges, small streams are making their way just above and beneath the pebbles, stones and boulders. Mirrored white snow is distributed in the form of patches in summers while the landscape is draped in snow in the winters. The weather changes dramatically at this altitude. The gusty winds, shivering cold and hazy ambience are the primary features.

Day 5 - Baguabasa - Roopkund - JyunraGali and back to PatharNauchni (13km trek).

Trekking Roopkund from Baguabasa requires utmost attention and careful obedience to the instructions of Trek leaders and support staff. Crampons come into use for walking on small snow patches along the route and climbing on the last ridge before Roopkundlake. Trail is serpentine and the most steep of all. Most of the Summit push is pre dawn to witness the first morning ray and beautiful landscape.

Congratulations! You are on the Summit now. Experience the peace within your soul while easing yourself next to Roopkund lake. Examine the mysterious giant human skeletons and make up your own story about them. Capture the moments by clicking some pictures.

Next in the sequence is the choice to scale up to ‘JyunraGali’. JyunraGali is the gateway to witness the Trishul massif. The highest attainable altitude is 4889m. It is at mere trek length of 400 meters from skeleton lake but the hike is the most steep of anything you have experienced before. Path is snow clad throughout the year.

It is an amphitheatre to witness the lofty Himalayan peaks and to rise above all in the Roopkund trek. The most thrilling experience is to be on top of the world and come back with the proudest memories you are going to narrate throughout your life.

JyunraGali in the local language means ‘valley of death owned by Lord Yamraja’. This valley of death is the connecting point of Mt.Trishul and the ridge on which you are standing. It is all worth reaching there yourself. Relax on the Summit for 30 to 45 minutes and then get back down To PatharNauchni.

PatharNauchni to Ali Bugyal (8km trek).

You might be thinking that interesting part of your trek is almost over but it’s not. Get ready for the final surprise offered on this trek. Ali bugyal is the next camping destination. Despite the fact that Bednibugyal is the largest meadow in Uttarakhand, Ali is considered much more beautiful and mesmerizing. It is close to Didna village and is located at an altitude of 13000 ft. giving some of the most fascinating panoramic views and perfect Campsite for star gazing. This lush green grassland is widely spread and perfectly qualifies for the relaxing Campsite at the end of your trek.

Ali Bugyal to Wan Village (10km trek).

Descent from Ali Bugyal to Wan Village is about 10km. Take your steps slowly and cautiously to reach down to Wan Village. Now, you are free to relax the way you like. Roopkund trek is now over with lot of tales to narrate.

Trek completed.

Day 8 - Baguabasa - Roopkund - JyunraGali and back to PatharNauchni (13km trek).

Departure.