Trek to RoopKund Lake in Uttarakhand

Roopkund is a picturesque and beautiful adventure trek destination in the Himalayas, located near the base of two Himalayan peaks, Trisul (7120 meters) and Nandghungti (6310 meters). Located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Roopkund is clear water Himalayan Lake. Most of the time, the mysterious lake is covered with snow. The Roopkund Lake Trek is surrounded by snow covered majestic Himalayan glaciers. The starting point of the Roopkund Trek is Debal which is situated on the Nanda Jat route to Hemkund, which is just about 2 meters in depth. A religious festival is held at the alpine meadows of Bedni Bugyal every autumn with nearby villages participating. The Nanda Devi Raj Jat, a large celebration, takes place once every twelve years at Roopkund Lake. The Roopkund Lake is also called Skeleton Lake as a large number of human skeleton are clearly visible at the bottom of the lake. However, the journey to Roopkund is an enjoyable experience. All along the way, one is surrounded by mountain ranges from all sides. In the month of September the mystery lake of RoopKund melts for about a fortnight or so, yielding its dark secrets.

Day 01: Kathgodam to Loharjung After you arrive in Kathgodam, proceed towards Loharjung via bus or taxi. From Kathgodam, you will travel through the scenic hilly routes in order to reach your destination. On arriving in this little village, find your lodging and rest for the day.

Day 02: Loharjung to Didna Village Your Roopkund trek begins near the bus stand of the town. You start climbing from an altitude of 10500 feet and walk through a picturesque forest comprising Himalayan cedar and oak trees. After an easy walk for about 2.5 hours, you will reach the spot called Ruan Bagad, where you cross an old bridge across the Neel Ganga River. Alternatively, you can also take the road through Wan village, and on the way along this route, you pass by the village of Kulling. From here, the steepness of the trail towards Ruan Bagad increases, which continues till you reach Didna. The hike from Ruan Bagad to Didna village, despite its tough terrain, takes only about 1.5 hours.

Day 03: Didna Village to Ali Bugyal Continue Roopkund trekking after waking up early in the morning and climbing to Ali Bugyal. There are two routes that you can take to reach your destination. You can either climb the mountains directly or take a detour and continue through Tolpani. The first route is difficult due to the high gradient of the climb while the other one can take two hours more than the former. Whichever way you choose, you should try to reach Ali Bugyal by noon to behold the enchanting views from up there.

Day 04: Ali Bugyal to Ghora Lotani This day, your Roopkund trekking package will take you from the beautiful meadow to the breathtaking site of Ghora Lotani. The way to it is not steep at all, and you walk on a well-marked path built of stones. At such a height, short grass is all you see as the tree line ends at Ali Bugyal itself. Also, while you are trekking along the path, the clouds may often be near the surface and almost touching your face, making the atmosphere mystical.

Day 05: Ghora Lotani to Bhagwabasa The ensuing stage of this Roopkund trek is relatively tougher because of the considerable gain in altitude. As you will enter an area of high elevation, you will need to take all necessary precautions to avoid altitude sickness. Hiking up a zigzag path, you reach the temple of Kalu Vinayak, which houses an idol of Lord Ganesha. The temple is constructed by arranging irregular pebbles and bricks atop each other. You may stop here and pray to the deity for good luck before hiking further. After reaching Bhagwabasa, rest for the night at the provided spot.

Day 06: Bhagwabasa to Roopkund| Roopkund to Bhagwabasa To continue with the Roopkund trekking, wake up at 5 am to reach Roopkund before the rising sun melts the snow and makes the path slushy. After hiking for about 3.5 hours, you reach the destination. If the weather permits, you may climb higher up to Junargali Pass as the ascent is quite short and takes only about half-an-hour. Post seeing the mystical skeletons and exploring the site, retrace your path and return to Bhagwabasa.

Day 07: Bhagwabasa to Loharjung via Bedini Bugyal and Wan This day, make your way back to Loharjung as a part of your, passing by Bedini Bugyal and Wan village. You may click photos of the views that you see from the bugyal or relax for a while. After resting, recommence descending through the Himalayas to Wan. The hike from Bhagwabasa to Wan will take around 6.5 hours and after you reach the village, board a vehicle and drive to Loharjung.

Day 08: Loharjung to Kathgodam This is the end of your trekking excursion, but not of your amazing journey. Even as you drive from Loharjung to Kathgodam for the onward journey back home, you will encounter amazing views on the way.

Start Point: Lohajung

Meeting Point: Kathgodam

Nearest Railway Station: Kathgodam

Roopkund Trek Best Time: May and June

Accommodation Details: Camps, Tents & Guest Houses

Things to Carry:

Windproof jacket,
Warm and thick Fleece
Full-sleeve Woollen sweater
Thermal inner wear (upper & lower)
Woollen cap,
Woollen gloves,
Woollen socks & regular socks (3-4 pairs)
Scarf/muffler (optional)
Comfortable Trekking/Hiking shoes
Lightweight floaters/sandals/slippersRaincoat / Poncho
Small light weight towel
Sturdy Water bottle,
Sun glasses
Walking stick
Lip Balm
Torch / Flashlight (with extra batteries)
Personal medicationsPersonal toiletries

Pricing starts from
PRICE ON REQUEST
Package Includes:

Pick up from the Airport / Railway Station
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners
Airport transfers
Group medical kit
Good quality accommodation
Trek pack including sleeping bag, down or fiber filled jacket and insulated mat
Private transportation
All park entrance fees and trekking permits
Porters to carry all personal and group equipment.