Dayara Bugyal Trek

REGION: Uttarakhand
DURATION: 6 days
DIFFICULTY: Easy-Moderate
HIGHEST ALTITUDE: 12,500 ft
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE: Day time: 13°C-18°C; Night time: 7°C-12°C

Amongst all the treks in Uttarakhand, Dayara Bugyal is considered to be the most
breathtaking. The trek brings us to a highland meadow situated in the Uttarkashi
district of Uttarakhand which stands tall at an elevation of 10,000-12,500ft.

This lush green expanse of meadows serves as an excellent destination for skiing during
winter and is spread over 28 sq km. This breathtaking location is nestled amidst
towering snow-peaked mountains. While on this memorable Himalayan Dayara Bugyal
trekking tour in India at Uttarkhand, catch sight of the lake of Barnala Tal strewn across
the green alpine prairies– in whose reflection the peaks look even more beautiful.
The route of the Dayara Bugyal Trek trails through gorgeous Oak forests, clear water
bodies and sprawling grasslands while offering views of specks of huts, grazing sheep all
while overlooking the valley and high-rise mountains. Wild flowers also bloom around
streams and brooks that run across the pastures.
 Short itinerary
Day 1: Reach Raithal; 7-8 hours drive from Dehradun. Transport will be arranged from Dehradun
college campus at 7:30 am.
Day 2: Raithal (7,400 ft) to Gui (9,500 ft), 4-5 hours
Day 3: Gui (9,500 ft) to Dayara Bugyal (11,100 ft), 3-4 hours
Day 4: Dayara Bugyal (11,100 ft) to Dayara Top (12,057 ft) and back, 5-6 hours
Day 5: Dayara Bugyal (11,100 ft) to Barsu (7,400 ft), 4.5-5 hours , Drive from Barsu to Dehradun.

The stay in Raithal will be at a lodge. You will camping on other days (3 per tent). You can
leave behind luggage (no valuables) that you do not require for the trek at Raithal. Our staff
will transport this to Barsu at the end of the trek.

It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a copy of their photo id for entry at forest check posts
on the trek.
Vast snow-laden meadows
from December to April
Is Dayara Bugyal the most beautiful meadow in India? This is a debate that refuses to die.
When trekkers discuss about the most beautiful meadow in India – Dayara Bugyal is often
placed at the top position, only to be hotly contested and pushed to the next best, after
Bedni Bugyal. But there is no debate amongst trekkers that Dayara Bugyal would fall within
the two most beautiful high altitude meadows in India. It is not difficult to see why.

Trekking across the snow laden meadows of

Dayara Bugyal in winter
For hundreds of years, shepherds from afar have been taking their flock to graze at
Dayara. They have come back with stories of the abundance of grass and splendor of
the mighty Himalayan mountain peaks cradling the meadows. They described the place
with such intensity that soon, word about Dayara Bugyal reached explorers.

A small pond at Barnala

When our explorers got back from the Dayara Bugyal trek, they came profoundly affected. The
meadows were exactly as the shepherds had described them – but only more beautiful. The
mountains they talked about were the Bhagirathi peaks, Bandarpoonch, Black peak and scores of
other peaks they could not name. They discovered clear water bodies strewn across the green
meadows – in whose reflection the peaks looked even more beautiful. Flowers sprung up around
streams and brooks that ran across the meadows.

In the winter, these meadows transform into a

snow filled carpet under your feet.
The Trek
Raithal, the base camp for the Dayara Bugyal trek, is around 7-8 hours away from
Dehradun. The drive takes you through lovely forest stretches. You’re right next to the
Bhagirathi river for most parts of the journey. The largest town on the route is
Uttarkashi, from where you head to Batwari. As you approach Raithal, you witness
the brilliant colours of sunset over the John Lee and Draupadi ka Danda peaks.

Altitude: 7,400 ft
Time taken: 7-8 hours drive
Day 2: Raithal to Gui

Altitude: 7,400 ft to 9,500 ft

Time taken: 4-5 hours
Trek gradient: Easy-moderate.
Gradually ascending trail
throughout.
Water sources: None. Carry 2
litres of water

View from Gui camp

At Raithal, you can see Srikhand Mahadev and Gangotri 1, 2, 3 in the distance
along with the mountains mentioned above. These become more prominent as
you gain altitude on the trail to Gui. The forest where the Gui campsite is located is
visible
. from Raithal
The trail from Raithal to Gui is a gradually ascending one. The initial part is a little
steep and might make the trek seem difficult since your body is also trying to find
its rhythm. But this is actually an Easy-moderate day.
The trail is very well marked. It goes through a forest which consists mainly of
green and brown oaks (moru and kharsu) and rhododendron. This makes it a very
rich forest. Unlike other places, you do not find pines here.
Continue on the marked path leading out of Gui. You will see a small clearing in
about an hour. Trek through this for another hour and a half and you will reach a
small hut. This is a good point to take a break. In winter, you will start finding snow
from around here. From here, the trail continues through the forest. You will pass
another couple of small clearings before you reach Gui.

The campsite at Gui is located in a small clearing surrounded by forests. There is a

small tal close by. You will find village huts around – these are used by villagers in
the summer. There is also a u-shaped forest department hut at some distance.
Day 3: Gui to Dayara Bugyal
Altitude: 9,500 ft to 11,100 ft
Time taken: 3-3.5 hours to Dayara Bugyal
Trek gradient: Easy-moderate. Gradually ascending trail
Water sources: None. Carry 2 litres of water.

Trekkers headed to the Dayara campsite. Spot John

Lee and DKD1 mountains in the background
Once you cross Gui, you start seeing mountains on the other side, which were earlier
hidden from view. It is a short trail today. As soon as you leave the campsite, you are in the
midst of an oak forest again. After about 1.5 hours of trekking through the forest, you
reach a hut. This is a good point to take a break.

From here, the trail winds up to a board which says ‘Dayara’. To the right of the trail, there
are no trees and huge mountain views appear all of a sudden as you approach Dayara. The
trail continues to ascend gradually all the way to the campsite.

The Dayara campsite is completely open and very windy. You get views of Bandarpoonch
and Kala Nag on one side.

After lunch, stroll up to a higher point close to the campsite. In the evening, the rays of the
sun falling on Bandarpoonch range to the left make for a beautiful sight. As your eyes
move to the right, you see Kalanag, Srikhand Mahadev, and finally Draupadi ka Danda at
the extreme right.
Day 4: Dayara Bugyal
to Dayara Top and back

Altitude: 11,100 ft to 12,057 ft to 11,100 ft

Time taken: 5-6 hours
Trek gradient: Moderate. Undulating walk across meadows followed by a final ascent.
Water sources: Carry sufficient water. There is one water source on the trail.

Walking across the Dayara meadows

Take the trail that crosses the stream beyond the campsite and moves into the oak
trees. The trail goes out of the forest cover within five minutes, with magnificent
views of Bandar Poonch and other peaks. If in summer, start early. A 7.00 am start
is perfect if you are a bigger group. In winter, you can start by 9.00 am with a
packed lunch to have at the summit.

Keep the tree line on your left and climb up the ridge until you meet the trail that
goes to Gidara Bugiyal. It is a breathless 10 min to the trail.

The early morning view of Dayara Bugyal is worth every effort put in to get there.
Miles of undulating meadows stretch in every direction, with the rays of the sun
catching them in many moods. If early in the season (May-June), thousands of
yellow, violet and white flowers sprout across the meadows – sometimes, there
are so many that you have to deliberately skirt around them. In winter, you see
miles and miles of powdery snow on the undulating terrain.
Bandarpoonch dominates the sky once
The traverse along the ridge to Siyari
you reach Dayara and stays on for the
next two days
Stick to the trail as it naturally leads you out of the meadows to the north-western
edge (your extreme right). On the edge, it descends sharply through a cluster of dwarf
rhododendrons, flattening out to a clearing with a shepherd’s hut. There is a small
water point here. Beyond the hut, the trail climbs again topping at a flat ridge of
Devikund.

Devikund is a small junction that signals the end of Dayara meadows. A trail descends
from Devikund to Dodital, two camps away.

Take the trail that climbs upward and to your right. It opens out to a flattish walk on
the steep flank of a large mound. Ahead, Badarpoonch keeps you company, ever
watching with its presence. The trail curves around the western flank of the mound
before descending gently to the top of a ridge.
Oak trees flank the eastern edges of the ridge. Peep through the trees and spot Barsu
many thousand feet below. Take the trail that veers off the ridge to the left and gently
descends to a thick cluster of rhododendrons. The trail widens considerably and
weaves a flattish trail through the rhododendrons before rounding a shoulder again
regaining the ridge. The trail continues to weave in and out of the ridge and into
clusters of rhododendrons, finally ending the ridge at the base of the climb towards
Surya top.

The climb is short but steep, over a series of switchbacks topping at a tiny pass. From
the pass, the view of the entire Dayara Bugyal is worth pausing a few moments for. In
front, Bandarpoonch seems a touching distance away towering over the entire
landscape.

The trail hugs the eastern side of the ridge, descending mildly in a wide curve to get to
another pass in ten minutes. This is the Gidara pass. From the top of the pass, the trail
bifurcates in opposite directions. The one on the right heads to Pichkiya and the one
on the left leads to Gidara Bugyal.
Day 5: Dayara Bugyal-Barsu-Dehradun
Altitude: 11,100 ft to 7,400 ft
Time taken: 4-4.5 hours
Trek gradient: Easy. Short stretches of ascents and descents for 1.5 hours followed by a
steeply descending trail
Water sources: Carry 2 litres of water. You can refill your bottles from a couple of water sources along
the trail.

Thick oak forests mark the descent to Barsu.

It’s a long descent to Barsu. Start early from the campsite. Keep the stream to your left
and take the trail that hugs the right of the valley, climbing slightly on its flank. At the
end of the valley, the trail narrows and dips suddenly into the tree line. If there are mules
with you on the trek, then, this is not the trail for them as it is too narrow. They need to
retrace yesterday’s steps to the Gidara pass and head down to Pichkiya from the ridge
above.

The narrow trail is just about wide enough for a person to pass through. The trail
meanders in and out of roots of the oaks and rhododendrons, sometimes dipping
sharply and at times, rising quickly but at most times having around the same altitude.
The forest is thick and sunlight rarely reaches the trail. Within half an hour to fourty
minutes into the trail, take a break at a permanent stream that runs down a gully. The
water is clean and pure.
Continue on the trail as it weaves in and out of the routes, until you get to a clearing with
a terrific view of the summits in front and the meadows behind. The trail climbs and
descends alternately through the thick undergrowth of oak rhododendron and
occasionally mixed trees. The trail suddenly curves around a bend to give you a view of a
shepherd’s hut perched on a ridge against the backdrop of an empty sky. Get to the hut
to catch up with a friendly family of Gujjars. On the right are the last of the descending
flanks of the Dayara meadows – a flank the locals call Ki’uttoral.

The shepherd’s hut is a junction of sorts, three trails merge here; the trail that descends
from the Gidara pass, another that climbs from Barsu and Pichkiya, and the third, the
trail we just came across – that leads to Siyaari and further on the Gidara. From the
shepherd’s hut, take the trail that descends into the forest below. The trail gets wide, but
descends steeper too.
 Trekkers approaching Barnala.

In about 2 hours, you reach Barnala. You will find a lake here and a temple dedicated
to Nag Devta next to it. Keep your bags near the forest hut and go explore the lake and
temple. In peak winter, people visit Barnala to go skiing.

The trail from Barnala to Barsu is around 5 km. The amount of snow on the trail reduces
from here. The descent is gradual till just before the village, from where it becomes
steep again.
Many side trails emerge and again converge together many times. To avoid getting the
feeling that you are lost, always take a trail that is descending and moving to the right.
Avoid any trail that looks flattish. Though, keep in mind all trails at some point converge
and eventually descend to Barsu.

Winter colours at Barsu

Take in the beautiful view and continue your descent as a trail traverses the mountain
face. On its descent to Barsu, the upper reaches of Barsu with its pretty wheat and
poppy cultivation, soon falls on the trail. From here on, the trail dips towards Barsu
quickly, traversing its upper meadows to get a spot close to the temple.

With a trail entering the village from its upper echelon, take your time, witnessing the
life in the village of Barsu. Village kids scamper about around their homes, the women
thrash wheat and some tend to their cultivation. It is a fascinating moment for trekkers
to witness events from a world far removed from modernity. The trail gradually
descends to the village square and a primary school surrounded by wheat fields.
Temperature Chart
Rainfall Chart
 ATM Point and Mobile Connectivity

Uttarkashi and Bhatwari, on the way to Barsu, are the last places where you will find an
ATM in case you wish to withdraw money before the trek.
Idea network is available at Barsu. Signal on all other networks is available at Bhatwari, on
the main road. We suggest that you finish all your calls before reaching Barsu. Please
inform anxious family members about poor network in the mountains.
 How One Trek / Outdoor Leadership Training
can make you a Top Class Manager

Let me take a moment to explain.

Everyone knows that as you grow older in an organisation, your skills grow and so does your
responsibility. Likewise, the number of people you have to manage grows too.
Many think they can avoid taking on a management role; that they can specialise to be
technologists. It really does not work that way. At some point or another, you need to work
with a team. You need to do well and look to lead a team.

Most people think they can progressively “lean” into a management role. That they
will learn how to manage people.
But in reality, most people are not good at managing people. Their organisations absorb
a lot of their inefficiencies, sometimes reluctantly. So their future appraisals and
promotions get shaky.

Add to it the new push towards automation. You may think it is hyped, but automation
of tasks is definitely something to worry about.

To avoid a shaky future the safest thing to do is learn to be good at management of

people. The sooner you learn to do it, well, the better it is. Or else, like most people in
mid-career, you’ll find yourself fearful. The fear is straightforward too – you wonder if
your skills are good enough for your position in the organisation to be future-proof.

This is where pursuing a leadership training in the outdoors may work better than
anything else. It can make your career future proof, give rise to higher income and lead
to more job satisfaction.
Helping groups of trekkers cross rivers or climb
through mountain passes help learn the
importance of teamwork.
What does outdoor leadership training really mean?
A leadership training in the outdoors means learning how to be a leader in very
difficult conditions. Not only are the conditions difficult, you are also forced to be a
leader with real people, taking charge of real lives, in real situations.

While there are many kinds of outdoor leadership programmes, one of the most
challenging one is being an outdoor leader in the Himalayas.
At 12,000 feet, high up on a mountain pass in the Himalayas, leading a team through
rough weather is when management challenges are at their peak. Every decision
counts. They need to be taken every few minutes. Options are few.

 When you overcome these challenges repeatedly, the leader in

you emerges.
 Initially, these tasks are daunting. But gradually , you develop skills
to take critical decisions; you learn to manage complex tasks.
 Being responsible for the lives of several people is one of the
biggest challenges of being a trek leader. It helps you learn how
to think on your feet and put others before yourself.
An outdoor leadership training mirrors a course in BBA/MBA very closely

Like an BBA/MBA,our trek leaders also go through personal leadership activities, reflection
programs and skill development training.

A wrong notion people have is that up in the
Himalayan mountains, trek leaders are having
a good time, wandering in the mountains. But
this is not the whole truth they are improving
their skills as well.
On a side note, the IIM (Indian
Institute of Management, Indore)
runs a credit program for their
final year students with
Indiahikes every year — such is
the importance they give to
outdoor leadership training.

An outdoor leadership program has everything that happens in

an BBA/MBA program.
Here is what you learn through outdoor leadership training:

• Developing leaders through challenging expeditions

• The importance of building and maintaining positive relationships

• Using the right leadership style at the right time

• Providing the space for others growth and development

• Development of trust in the face of contingent outcomes

• Finding the balance between risk and safety

• The meaning of the big picture

 Why us?
Learning Experience: We do not just focus on completing the trek but also help you
develop basic trekking skills like:
Packing a rucksack
Morning Yoga & Evening stretching
How to pitch and dismantle a camping tent and properly use a sleeping bag
Ascend and Descend on a mountain trail
How to ensure camp safety and hygiene
Identify trail signs and signals

Personalized attention: We maintain a healthy ratio of 12:1 (Participants: Leader) on all our
batches to enable individual focus and monitoring.
Best Expedition Leaders: Our leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified,
specially trained in rescue procedures from NIM and certified first-aid responders. Even our
local guides are certified first-aid responders.
Safety norms: We have mapped every region with an emergency evacuation plan and safety
protocols maintaining a zero accident record so far. We carry an extensive first-aid kit
including high altitude medicines.
Safety equipment: Our trek leaders carry UIAA certified rescue equipment like static rope,
ice ax, harness, carabiners, jumar, pulley, short and long slings.
What's Included What's not Included

Meals during the trek Carriage of Personal Bags

during the trek
Forest Permits/Camping Charges, if
any Any kind of Insurance

Tents, Sleeping bags, mats Any expense of personal

Safety Equipment includes static nature
rescue rope, seat harness, carabiners,
pulleys Any expense not specified in
the inclusion list.
Trek guide, cook, helpers, porters &
mules for carrying common luggage
Services of a Certified Trek Leader

Meals during road journeys

Meals during Hotel/Guest House Stay

 Why us?
Learning Experience: We do not just focus on completing the trek but also help you
develop basic trekking skills like:
Packing a rucksack
Morning Yoga & Evening stretching
How to pitch and dismantle a camping tent and properly use a sleeping bag
Ascend and Descend on a mountain trail
How to ensure camp safety and hygiene
Identify trail signs and signals

Personalized attention: We maintain a healthy ratio of 12:1 (Participants: Leader) on all our
batches to enable individual focus and monitoring.
Best Expedition Leaders: Our leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified,
specially trained in rescue procedures from NIM and certified first-aid responders. Even our
local guides are certified first-aid responders.
Safety norms: We have mapped every region with an emergency evacuation plan and safety
protocols maintaining a zero accident record so far. We carry an extensive first-aid kit
including high altitude medicines.
Safety equipment: Our trek leaders carry UIAA certified rescue equipment like static rope,
ice ax, harness, carabiners, jumar, pulley, short and long slings.
 OUR BELIEF

Nature provides us with a sense of awe and wonderment; it aids deep reflection and
therefore creates thoughtfulness. Consequently, learning environments that are set in, and
judiciously use, nature help individuals to learn more effectively.

A sense of connectedness and a feeling of belonging are essential ingredients to human

well being - moving from dependence to independence to interdependence is essential for
personal growth and achieving ones goals. realising ones role and place in the larger
scheme of things creates happier lives.

We learn best in difficult times, in real situations that present real challenges - these
become crucible experiences that shape human character and build self confidence -
learning to solve problems builds self confidence and self belief.

We believe that emotional intelligence is critical for a happy and fulfilling life - my ability
to overcome fears, channel anger, deal with sadness are essential for self regulation. Our
ability to empathise and help others
We believe we truly only learn when pushed out of our comfort zones - change is
preceded by discomfort.Change is the only indicator of learning.

Challenge by choice allows people to learn at their own pace in a supportive

environment. Ability to stretch people slightly out of their comfort zone is both a
science and an art.
CAMPUS CREW
OUR TEAM
The show is run by our team of facilitators, Group Leaders and Instructors who
are experienced and certifiedwith NIM (Uttarkashi), ABVMI (Manali) or other
professional institutes in India or abroad
 GET IN TOUCH FOLLOW US
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+91 9837341736 Trexeo nation

TREK FEE PER PERSON

Rs. 7999

(Includes all costs of the trek from Dehradun-Dayara bugyal - Dehradun