Uttarakhand
Destination
Trekking
Adventure
Roopkund is situated at a height of 4,700 m, in the lap of Trisul massif. This usually called ‘Mystery Lake’ since human skeletons and remains of horses were found there. The skeletons were discovered in 1942 by a park ranger. Every 12 years, thousands of devout pilgrims most of them from Garhwal make an arduous trek to the lake from Nauti Village. This Yatra (pilgrimage) is known as ‘Nanda jat’ or ‘Raj jat Yatra’. An annual yatra known as ‘Choti (small) Jat Yatra’ is celebrated every year around the end of August or beginning of September. Starts from Wan village and ends at Bedni Buggyal. It is a very colorful event, giving an insight into local Garhwali culture.
| Total Duration |
12 Nights / 13 Days
|
| Grade |
Tough
|
| Maximum Altitude |
5,029 m / 16,500 ft
|
| Best Season |
June to October
|
| Accommodation |
Hotel / Guesthouse nights – 5; Organized Campsite – 7
|
| Food |
Rishikesh, Lohajung, Wan – All meals included; on trek– all meals included
|
| Travel |
In small, non-AC vehicles/coach depending on the group size
|
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THIS ADVENTURE TRIP
Roopkund is situated at a height of 4,700 m, in the lap of Trisul massif. This usually called ‘Mystery Lake’ since human skeletons and remains of horses were found there. The skeletons were discovered in 1942 by a park ranger. Every 12 years, thousands of devout pilgrims most of them from Garhwal make an arduous trek to the lake from Nauti Village. This Yatra (pilgrimage) is known as ‘Nanda jat’ or ‘Raj jat Yatra’. An annual yatra known as ‘Choti (small) Jat Yatra’ is celebrated every year around the end of August or beginning of September. Starts from Wan village and ends at Bedni Buggyal. It is a very colorful event, giving an insight into local Garhwali culture.
1
DAY 1: HARIDWAR TO RISHIKESH (356 m / 1,168 ft; 24 kms; 30 mins)
Arrive at Haridwar. Transfer to Rishikesh. Check into a hotel. There is an option of visiting the temples and ashrams in Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula and also attend the evening aarti. Overnight at hotel.
2
DAY 2: MUNDOLI (2,134 m / 7,002 ft; 240 km; 8 hrs)
Drive from Rishikesh to Mundoli via Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Karnaprayag. A long drive along the Ganges with beautiful landscapes. Evening check into a guesthouse.
3
DAY 3: MUNDOLI – BEKHAL TAL – WAN (2,439 m / 8,002 ft; 14 kms; 7 hrs)
Post breakfast begin the trek with packed lunch, cross the Lohjung pass and continue to Bekhal Tal – a small lake amidst picturesque surroundings. Continue the trek to Wan village. The trail takes you via another small lake – Brahm Tal. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp / guesthouse at Wan.
4
DAY 4: WAN – BEDNI BUGYAL (3,354 m/ 11,004 ft; 11 kms; 5 to 6 hrs)
Today we will trek to reach Bedni Bugyal, probably one of the best camping sites in the Garhwal Himalayas. Bedni Bugyal is a charming, green meadow adorned with flowers in spell-binding varieties, in full bloom. There is a small lake situated in the midst of the meadow. Situated nearby is a small temple where devotees pay their obeisance, during their halt at Bedni Bugyal. Overnight at the camp.
5
DAY 5: BEDNI BUGYAL
Rest day for acclimatization/exploratory day. Overnight at the camp.
6
DAY 6: BEDNI BUGYAL – BAGUBASSA (4,100 m /13,452 ft; 10 kms; 4 to 5 hrs)
After breakfast trek to Bagubassa. ‘Bagua’ means flowery park and ‘Basa’ means place. And rightly the place was full of variety of flowers including the rare Bhram Kamal, a special godly lotus found at only and between the altitudes of 14,000- 15,000 ft. Overnight at the camp.
7
DAY 7: BAGUBASSA – ROOPKUND – SHILA SAMUDRA (3,658 m / 12,002 ft; 9 km; 6 hrs)
Baguabasa to Roopkund is steep walk in a moraine. On a clear day we can see many valleys towards west and south side. Click some pictures of Roopkund and its human remains before we climb another steep section up to Jurangalidhar (Death Pass). Jurangalidhar is very good spot for closer views of Trisul and Nandaghunti peaks. A steep descent will lead us to Sailsamudra. Camp in boulder strewn meadow in tents.
8
DAY 8: SHILA SAMUDRA – HOMKUND- SHILA SAMUDRA (3658 m / 12002 ft; 12km; 6-7 hrs return)
After breakfast we follow the trail to Homkund. This walk is less travelled, often walking on boulders and moraine. Homkund is destination point of legendry Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra. By the afternoon return to Shila Samudra. Overnight at the camp.
9
DAY 9: SHILA SAMUDRA – LATA KHOPRI (10 kms; 5 hrs)
We keep descending along the Nandakini river to Sutol village. Camp before the village. Afternoon village visit. Overnight at the camp.
10
DAY 10: LATA KHOPRI – SUTOL (2,173 m / 7,129 ft; 12 km; 5 hrs)
The descent to Sutol is a picturesque one, through the forest. Sutol is a beautiful village with a temple, shop and few homes. Overnight at the camp.
11
DAY 11: SUTOL- SITEL (10km; 4 hrs) DRIVE TO NANDPRAYAG (914 m / 2999 ft)
We finish our last day walking at Sitel and drive on a jeep trek to Nandprayag. Nandprayag is important confluence town among ‘Panch Prayag’. Overnight at hotel/guesthouse.
12
DAY 12: NANDPRAYAG – RISHIKESH / HARIDWAR (200 kms; 7-8 hrs drive)
We drive to Haridwar. Overnight at hotel.
13
DAY 13: RISHIKESH – HARIDWAR
Post breakfast transfer to Haridwar for your final departure.
