High meadows of Kumaon | JAN Treks & Travels

HIGH MEADOWS of KUMAON

Trekking tour - 10 days/ 7 days trekking

About UTTARAKHAND

Uttarakhand is a state blessed with an enormous diversity of cultures and landscapes. Just like Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, it spans the whole altitudinal range from steamy jungle where tigers and wild elephants roam to some of the highest peaks of the Himalayas. One of them is Nanda Devi (7816 m, 25,636 ft), the highest mountain that lies fully in India.

TREKKERS’ PARADISE

The higher reaches of the Uttarakhand Himalayas are a mecca for trekkers. You can follow the herders up to the high bughyals (alpine meadows) and trek up to passes that in the old days gave access to Tibet. They reward you with some of the best glacial vistas in the Himalayas. Although the number of Indian trekkers is increasing, these areas still don’t get that many visitors as the much more known treks of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.

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Trekking in Uttarakhand is possible almost year-round. Although the monsoon months of June, July and August are not ideal for getting to the starting point of the trek due to road blocks caused by landslides or flooding, the highest trekking routes receive much less rain. Most lower and mid-range treks can be done the rest of the year (September to May). Many of them could be labeled winter treks, as they can be done in December – February. Trekking through snow poses an extra challenge, but the wintry wonderlands around you more than make up for it.

WILDLIFE

Wildlife enthusiasts find a treasure trove of biodiversity here, partly protected in national parks and wildlife reserves throughout the state. Most notably, Jim Corbett National Park and Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Park. Jim Corbett National Park is named after A famous British hunter-turned-conservationist. It is well known and popular as it is one of the tiger parks in India that is easiest to reach from Delhi. Apart from being home to a wide array of mammals, birds and plant life, it has very appealing landscapes and a well-laid out infrastructure of jeep trails. Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Parks are two formerly separated but now joined protected areas lying almost completely at or higher than 3500m (11.500 ft). They can be explored only on foot.

HINDU PILGRIMAGE

To Hindus – who make up 83% of the state’s population – the higher reaches of Uttarakhand are known as Dev Bhoomi – the abode of the gods. This is not just folklore, as present day Hindu culture finds many of its roots in this area. It is believed that the sage Vyasa scripted the Hindu epic Mahabharata here. In the Middle Ages, the Hindu kingdoms of Garwhal and Kumaon made up the western and eastern part of the present day state, respectively.

Millions flock every year to the many pilgrim sites that the state harbors. Easily accessible places like Rishikesh, Haridwar are not only popular with Hindu pilgrims but also host numerous ashrams and yoga schools that cater mainly to foreign visitors. Much higher up, you can witness die-hard Hindu pilgrims and saddhus dipping themselves in ice-cold waters where Mother Ganga (Ganges) emerges from the mouth of a glacier.

BREATHTAKING VIEWS, COZY RETREATS

Traveling by car, you may experience Uttarakhand as a never-ending series of curves and switchbacks, but after each of these bends new views and sights await you. The mountains are covered in forests and green fields and especially in the winter months you get breathtaking views of the snow-clad Himalayas on the border with Tibet (China). Uttarakhand counts numerous so-called hill stations, towns situated at medium elevation levels that have been welcoming tourist since the British era. These hill stations are popular with domestic tourists, but have a lot to offer to ‘foreigners’ as well. In and around them, you can find (with some effort) hidden lodges, boutique hotels and family-run retreats with a high degree of the ‘Hotel California factor’: you can check in any time, but you may never want to leave.

Region

Uttarakhand
(India)

Best Time

March-June &
Sept-Dec

No. Of Days

10 days, 7 days trek

Trip Character

Trekking tour

Sleeping Altitude

2520 - 3400 m

Trek Character

Camping trek
Level: 2

Price

INR XXX/ $ XXX

ABOUT THIS TOUR

A trek to the Himalayas is incomplete without its share of local stories and legends. And Bagji Bugyal has one of its own. The local villagers talk about a time, 60-70 years ago, when tigers (Bagh in the local language) used to freely roam along the meadows.

Tribal herdsmen used to avoid the bugyal lest their flock, or even worse, the herdsmen themselves fall pray to these cats. Just to mark these particular set of bugyal , they gave it name – Bagji Bugyal. The literal translation being tiger meadows. Unfortunately, the tigers disappeared.

Deep virgin forests, gurgling brooks, breath taking campsite and unending meadows is what makes this trek special. Ali and Bedni Bugyal are quite famous among trekkers, but add Bagji to them and they make a great trio of the high altitude alpine meadows. Simply put, the gigantic meadows on this 6 day trek will blow you away. It will be as if you walked into another world.

But the most stunning highlight of them all, aren’t the meadows. It is the views along the trail. More so from Bagji Bugyal Basecamp and the top as well. The trek offers 360 degree views of the all the neighboring peaks. hike the trail with views of Mt Trishul, Mt Mrigthoni, and Mt Nanda Ghunti for company. You will be spending the entire evenings and early mornings just gazing at those mighty mountains in awe.

YOUR custom-made TRIP

The tour described here, as well as the other ones on our website, are mainly meant as suggestions. We would be happy to offer you a travel proposal that fully meets your personal demands and expectations. That means that you choose where you want to go, what level of accommodation and type of transport you want and what activities you prefer.

Please let yourself be inspired by this and other trips on our website and then drop us a line (or call us) to explain your travel wishes. We will be happy to help you put together the perfect trip. You can reach us over e-mail, Messenger, Whatsapp or mobile phone.

EXTENSIONS & VARIATIONS

Apart from the tour as described here, you could consider the following add-ons and changes:

On all tours In India we can organise one or two days sight-seeing in Delhi, either at the beginning or the end of the tour. You would be taken to Connaught Place, the center of New Delhi, the bustling beehive of Old Delhi, the Red Fort, Qutub Minar (an old minaret), The Akshardam Temple and more if you like.
For those who want to see more of the Indian plains we can organise a one or two-day trip to Agra (site fo the Taj Mahal) or a three to five-day Golden Circle tour, taking in Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.
Include another short trek on which you walk up to the source of the Ganges at Gaumukh near Gangotri. This can be done at the beginning or end of this tour. It adds six days in total to the tour.
If trekking is not your cup of tea we can show you Uttarakhand and some of the beautiful high pilgrim places by car and by doing less strenuous day walks only.

ITINERARY

Day 01: Delhi - Kathgodam - Ranikhet (5 h train ride; 95km/ 3 h drive)
Early morning transfer to the railway station where you board the Shatabdi Express to Kathgodam, a mid-sized town at the foot of the Himalayas. On arrival our guide and driver will welcome you and take you to a restaurant for breakfast. After that we’ll drive into the mountains to Ranikhet.  Altitude 215 → 555 → 1750m.
Day 02: Ranikhet - Ghes (>150 km/ 5-6 h)
After an early start, you drive from Ranikhet to the small village of Ghes (2520m). Overnight in camp near Ghes. Altitude 1750 → 2520m.
Day 03: Trekking Ghes - Bagji Forest Camp (7 km / 3 h walking)
The first trekking day leads through forest upto the Bagji Bugyal (meadow). The distance is short but slightly steep, and as you will be climbing up to above 3000m you may experience the altitude. In the afternoon, you can explore the meadow and enjoy the views of a plethora of peaks, ranging from Kumaon to Garhwal. Overnight in camp. Altitude 2520 → 3200m.
Day 04: Trekking Bagji Forest Camp - Himni (trekking 8 km/ 3-4 h)
Today early morning we see the sunrise and explore the meadows more. After breakfast you descend to the village of Himni (2350 m) through the forest. Overnight in camp near Himni. Altitude 3180 → 2350m.
Day 05: Trekking Himni – Balan – (8km/ 3-4 h)
Today you walk to Balan village. To reach this village, situated on the other side of the valley, you need to descent to the river gorge and climb up again to the village.Altitude 2350 → 1900 → 2600m.
Day 06: Trekking Balan – Ali Bugyal Forest Camp (7km/ 4 h)
Today we will continue our climb to the one of the largest alpine meadows of Indian Himalayas, called Ali Bugyal. We will camp inside the forest close to the meadows at Abin Kharak (3400 m). In the afternoon you can explore the bughyal. Altitude 2600 → 3400m.
Day 07: Trekking Ali Bugyal Forest Camp - Didna (15 km,/ 6-8 h)
Today can be a challenging day depending upon how much you wish to cover. First, you cross Ali Bugyal and climb further to the adjacent Bedni Bugyal’s highest point (3800 m). From here, you will have a 180 degree view of the glaciated peaks. After spending some time here, you will gradually descend to Didna village. Overnight in a village lodge in Didna. Altitude 3400 → 3800 → 2450m.
Day 08: At Didna
Today is a rest and relaxation day. You can explore the pretty and interesting village of Didna and intermingle with the locals. Lodge stay. Overnight in village lodge. Altitude 2450m.
Day 09: Didna - Kuling - Ranikhet (80km/ 2.5-3 h driving; 150km/ 5-6 h driving)
Today, after an early breakfast after breakfast you will walk to the road head at Kuling village. First, there is a descent to the Neel Ganga stream, then a climb up to the road head. Here, your car will be waiting to take you back to Ranikhet. Altitude 2450 → 2000 → 2450m.
Day 10: Ranikhet – Kathgodam - Delhi (80km/ 2.5-3 h drive; 5 h train ride)
After a leisurely breakfast, your driver will take you down to Kathgodam, where the train for Delhi departs at 3:20PM (arrival 8:50PM). Altitude 1800 → 215m.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

RANIKHET

Ranikhet is a hill station in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It’s known for its views of the Himalayas and some noteworthy temples. Hundreds of bells adorn Jhula Devi Temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga. In the surrounding villages, people live of cultivation of millets, maize potatoes and several vegetables. The climate is also excellent for several fruit species. The larger portion of the town is occupied by the Cantonment. This area has been a military training and education centre since the British time. Many quaint cottages, resthouses, churches and other buildings from the early twentieth century are spread out here among the forested hills. Because of the army’s strict morale, there is hardly any garbage to be seen here, quite to the contrast with other hill stations.

THE BUGYALS of KUMAON

Like any high mountainous area, Uttarakhand has alpine meadows where shepherds graze their flocks. In Kumaon (the East of Uttarakhand) these are called bugyals. Most of them are found above the (artifical) treeline which lies at about 2500m. But they can be as high as 3500m. One of the main attractions of the bugyals are the unimpeded views of the Himalayan peaks. For this, the best time is not the summer months, as one might expect, but autumn, winter and early spring. During these times, the weather is generally clear and sunny, while in the summer rains and hay conditions prevail.

FLOWERS of the BUGYALS

The bugyals boast of a rich flora, including at least 200 species of flowering plants. Primulas are among the first to emerge. Later jewelweeds (touch-me-nots), figworts and gentianas appear. Due to heavy grazing, seeing extensive fields of these flowers is not common. However, in less grazed areas or protected areas (such as the Valley of Flowers) you can see this. In general, early spring, not too long after the snow melt is a good time for seeing flowers. This is from mid-March to mid-April.