Since the winter has already grappled most parts of India, it has now opened the doorway to the most exciting winter vacations cocooned in the Himalayan Region of Uttarakhand. But instead of going for a vacation again, why not try contemplating a winter trekking journey this time. Experiencing walking on snow-covered paths, watching the mesmerizing and famous mountains peaks, celebrating the rich Garhwali culture are not reasons enough to make you pack your bag and hop on the journey of a lifetime. And one such easy level trekking journey is – Dayara Bugyal trek which lets you witness the thrill of trekking while admiring the offbeat places of Uttarakhand.
About Dayara Bugyal Trek
Dayara Bugyal is as different and unique as its name sounds. First know the meaning of Bugyal, which is a Himalayan word, usually called by the Garhwali Locals of Uttarakhand for a fecund grassy upland region cuddled in the mountain’s embrace to where local people walk their sheep to graze during summer seasons. And Dayara is relatively the untouched Bugyal among the various Bugyals of Uttarakhand.
The scenic pastureland of Dayara Bugyal stands at a towering height of 12,100ft above the ground near the small little village of Basru in Uttarakhand. In an attempt to climb this gorgeous place, all the trekkers will pass through several open lands and thick forest cover of oak and maple. Once you reach the mountain top of Dayara Bugyal, you will witness the rich vegetation site and view of many other famous peaks like Srikhand Mahadev, Srikanth Peak, Bandarpoonch Peak, Black Peak, and set of many Gangotri Peaks.
Why Dayara Bugyal should be chosen above other trek journeys?
No prior technical trekking skills required – The Dayara Bugyal Trek has been acknowledged as an easy-level trekking expedition by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation itself. So, no prior technical mountaineering knowledge is required to upscale this beautiful meadow hidden somewhere among the Himalayan Mountains. And the per day trekking journey is also limited to under 9 km of distance.
Less crowd to hinder your experience – Dayara Bugyal is considered a lesser-known and virgin expedition still now so, it witnesses less crowd as compared to Kedarkantha and Triund. So, people who wish to upscale an untouched expedition will surely find their private refuge during the Dayara Bugyal trek.
Gorgeous expedition to map – The trekking expedition starting with a walk through a forest area filled with magnificent trees of pine, oaks, maple, and rhododendron will surely be etched in your heart forever. And a surreal view of the sun hiding behind towering snow-capped peaks like Gangotri ranges and Srikanta will be another joyful delight for you.
Harboring other opportunities to explore – Apart from mapping an expedition filled with mesmerizing views, a walk-through thick forest, and resting down at the huge meadow hidden among the Himalayan mountains, one can also explore other cheerful opportunities during this trek. Like learning about the local Garhwali culture by taking a walk down the Barsu village, enjoying the thrill of skiing during the months of Dec to Feb.
When is the ideal time to do the Dayara Bugyal expedition?
As per thousands of suggested posts on the Dayara Bugyal expedition, winter is considered the ideal time to map the journey of this beautiful pasture land. Although trekking during the mid-January to mid-February is often a troublesome period. But during the month of Dec, a thick sheet of snow covers this area and makes it one beautiful and surreal journey to walk.
Trying this expedition during summer will give you another type of thrill, instead of walking on a thick sheet of ice – travelers get to experience the lush green beauty that the Himalayan region proudly protects. And also, a walk beside the vibrant Garhwal culture and tradition.
What are the different ways one can reach to Dayara Bugyal trek?
To embark on Dayara Bugyal trekking journey, you first need to reach Dehradun because it is usually considered the base point for this journey. In order to reach Dehradun, you can hop on any one option-
By Air:
Taking a flight journey will be the healthy and fastest option for those who do not wish to get tired before even starting the real trekking experience. You can book a flight ticket from Delhi to Jolly Grant Airport which is the nearest option to Dayara Bugyal and from there, you can hop on either a bus or a private cab to reach the last motorable region – Barsu.
By Train:
Really easier connectivity has been crafted between Delhi and Dehradun so, you can get n number of train options between Delhi and Dehradun. The best train you could book a ticket is in Shatabdi Train which has an AC Chair Car option and takes around 3 hours of total time.
By Bus:
And for those, who wish to experience a bus journey from Delhi to Dehradun, they can book a bus ticket from Kashmere Gate, Delhi, and can hop on an overnight bus to reach Dehradun.
Dayara Bugyal Suggested Trekking Route
Day 01 – Dehradun – Uttarkashi – Barsu – Trek to Barnala Tal
In order to reach Uttarkashi, you will either have to hop on an early morning us from Dehradun or you can just hire a private cab to suit your traveling hours. Driving towards Uttarkashi will take you to the viewpoint on Mussoorie road from where you can catch a glimpse of the aerial beauty of Dehradun and also get to see the decade-old Tehri Dam.
Once you reach Uttarkashi, you can hop on a bus to Basru which takes around one and a half hours to reach. And from there, you will harness your trekking essentials to make a gradual ascend towards Barnala Tal where you will enjoy your first camping experience.
Day 02 – Barnala Tal – Dayara Bugyal
The small town of Dayara Bugyal is placed about 5km away from Barnala Tal however, you will pass the local settlement only at your 4km. If you commence on this journey during winters, this will be your last campsite area and end of your trekking journey because beyond this place, the region is covered with 2-3ft of thick ice, and walking on these ice stamps will be highly risky.
But if you commence on this journey during summers, you can walk to the grassy upland region of Dayara Bugyal and also, enjoy camping there.
Day 03 – Dayara Bugyal – Barsu: 9 km, 5-7 hours
Upon having breakfast sitting before a mesmerizing view of Dayara Bugyal, you can retrace your path back to the last motorable region of Basru. You may have to walk down about 9 km of distance to reach the small town of Basru and it will take around 7 hours of your time. Forbade yourself from taking a traveling option beyond Basru because it is not quite advisable to take on such stress.
Day 04 – Barsu – Uttarkashi – Dehradun
After witnessing another surreal moment of the sunrise from your campsite area, you will get ready to descend back and hop on a bus to Uttarkashi and from there, you will get an option to travel back to Dehradun.
What are items you need to carry for this trek?
Dayara Bugyal is one of the easy-level trekking expedition so, you may not need to carry technical trekking essentials with yourself. You will only need some usual items to pack in your backpacks like –
- Backpack with rain cover and boots
- Winter jacket with waterproof quality
- Warm trekking pants and thermal innerwear
- Trekking pole, gaiters, sunglasses, water bottle
- Sunscreen Lotion, lip balm, and other toiletries
- First-aid Kit and any personal medication
What are the important things to keep in mind before embarking towards Dayara Bugyal Trek?
- You have already grasped that it is an easy level trekking journey but still, you need to train yourself to avoid suffering any physical inability.
- The main requirement for any trekking journey is to avoid suffering dehydration so, you must triple your water intake.
- In an attempt to not experience premature fatigue, you should always try to match your rhythm with the rest of the group.
- Be sure to carry enough extra supplies for your camera because the region is usually famous for less connectivity so you may not get any help over here.
- Always try to buy a size larger than your size when going shoe shopping for a trekking journey so as to avoid getting sore feet and blisters.
- Before embarking on this journey please be sure to check every critical point about the journey with your traveling agent so as to increase your confidence.
