Above the Meadows, Beyond the Clouds
Maximum Altitude
16,200 ft.
Trek Duration
7 Night / 8 Days
Trek Distance
60 Km
Difficulty Level
Difficult
Start/End Point
Prince Chowk, Dehradun
Nearest Airport
Jollygrant Airport, Dehradun
Best Season
May- June / Sep - Oct
Accomodation
A night in hotel room & during trek in dome styled tent
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner
Permits
Forest Department & Trekking permit
Temperature
5°C to 15°C (Day) , 0°C to -15°C (Night)
Snow
December to February
Bali Pass Trek is among the most difficult yet rewarding treks in Uttarakhand with an incredible altitude that is 16,200 feet (4,938 meters). The trek is situated in the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park This stunning 60-km crossover trek is a link between the stunning Har Ki Dun Valley (Supin Valley) with the sacred Yamunotri Valley (Vaitarni Valley), offering one of the most varied trekking adventures within the Indian Himalayas.
Beginning from the charming village in Sankri beginning in Sankri, the trail travels through old Himalayan villages, thick deodar woodlands, alpine meadows, glacial lakes with snowy mountain passes before reaching the renowned Yamunotri Temple, one of the four holy Char Dham shrines.
The top highlights of the trek include the quaint Osla Village, the pristine Ruinsara Tal, and breathtaking views of some of Garhwal Himalaya's most imposing peak, such as Swargarohini (6,252 meters), Bandarpoonch (6,316 m) as well as Kala Nag (Black Peak) (6,387 m).
The trek is rated as an difficult trek, Bali Pass is intended for trekkers who are experienced and have good physical fitness. The route comprises steep snow slopes glacial moraines, slippery screes, challenging downs and the famed sixty-degree Bali Pass descent that makes one of India's most challenging trekking adventures. If you are prepared, have experienced trek guides, and the proper equipment The Bali Pass Trek offers an unforgettable Himalayan adventure.
Contrary to the majority of Himalayan treks that return via the identical route and return, this trek is unique in that it follows a single route. Bali Pass Trek is an unplanned point-to-point expedition. The trek begins in the lush forest that line Har Ki Dun Valley and end in the holy Yamunotri Temple, witnessing a different landscape every day, and not having to return.
A few treks in Uttarakhand give you close to the massive peaks that are the Garhwal Himalayas.
Through the trek you'll see stunning views of:
These majestic peaks will be the mainstays during the expedition.
Bali Pass is deeply connected to Indian mythology.
According to local belief that according to local legends, the Pandavas adhered to the route in their final trek to heaven. The trek is also a route through the quaint village that is Osla which is famous for its renowned Kath-Kuni's wooden structure and the ages-old Someshwar Mahadev Temple that gives visitors a glimpse into the distinctive tradition that is Har Ki Dun Valley. Har Ki Dun Valley.
It is the Bali Pass Trek is renowned for its challenging terrain.
Trekkers travel across glaciers, moraines rocky slopes, snowfields as well as the infamous sixty-degree descent to Bali Pass, making it one of the most thrilling trekking obstacles within the Indian Himalayas. In the the early summer the snow-covered slopes need using microspikes and the right trekking techniques, whereas post-monsoon conditions bring slippery scree, and rocky descents that require careful feet.
One of the most memorable trek attractions are Ruinsara Tal which is a stunning glacial lake with a backdrop of alpine meadows birch forest, as well as the towering Himalayan mountains.
It is less crowded than other well-known trekking places, Ruinsara Tal offers incredible camping and crystal-clear reflections and total Himalayan tranquility prior to finishing the ascent up to Bali Pass.
Very only a handful of Himalayan treks finish in one of India's most sacred pilgrimage locations.
When crossing Bali Pass, the trail is descending down into Yamunotri Valley, and ends at the cult Yamunotri Temple which is one of four Char Dham temples. A lot of trekkers take a dip in the hot springs that are natural before embarking on their return journey to their homes, which makes for a memorable and spiritually satisfying end of the expedition.
The trek culminates in the simultaneous clash of elements - stress and ease. Following days spent exerting oneself while trying to acclimatize to the elevation difference, you will reach the foot of the mountain where you can find solace at the Surya Kund hot springs in Yamunotri. By soaking in the hot springs, you should experience both an emotional/physical cleansing. Transitioning from the pain associated with descending to the warmth of the hot springs creates a rounded off experience that the Bali Pass is an unrivalled trek in the Himalayas.
The Bali Pass is rated as a difficult level trek and is considered one of the most physically demanding treks in Uttarakhand. The crux of the expedition occurs during the descent to Yamunotri when you have to trek an almost vertical wall of 60 degrees. This section requires complete mental focus and technical foot placement while traversing steep scree or ice. It is a true test of mountain grit, where every step you take will require calculation and security.
You will cross through the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park, which is a sanctuary for rare and sacred species. The trail leads you through groves of Bhojpatra (Indigenous Paper Birch); in ancient times, the bark of these trees was used as the parchment for sacred scriptures. You may see the magnificent Himalayan Monal, with its beautiful and iridescent multi-coloured feathers, or the elusive blue sheep (Bharal), which moves among the high cliffs, if you are silent and patient. Close to the permanent snowline, you might see a legendary flower that is rare in nature called Brahma Kamal, which grows only in these extreme conditions.
The Bali Pass Trek is an experience both spiritual and physical. You will trek through the (two) oldest and most culturally intact villages in the entire Himalayas (Sankri & Osla). The villages have had some of the most majestic wooden temples that are centuries old and carved with intricate designs which depict stories from the Mahabharata. There is an extremely strong living connection to these legends by the locals. The unique combination of being on top of a mountain (extremely high vertical elevation) and possessing a rich history of human existence creates a profound human spirit within the inhospitable environment as well as showing evidence that these people have endured.
The trek consists of completely different views and experiences physically and visually. In the pre-monsoon period (May/June) the terrain is like a winter wonderland for people who like to play in the snow. The snow is at its peak level which makes for a great opportunity to slide down the tremendous slopes! Below the summit in the meadows, the areas will be vibrant with an explosion of colour from wildflowers and rhododendron flowers. After the snow has melted (September/October) the mountains will appear to be bare, like the bones of the mountain, with a rugged appearance which reveals the skeletal aspect of the mountain. You can clearly see the mountains due to the clarity of the air and hence take amazing pictures due to the closeness of the trees. When you look down from the mountain there will be an array of brilliant autumn colours from yellowish orange.
Standing at the summit (4,950 metres) is difficult to describe in words. It is a very narrow and dangerous place to stand. Like the view from the summit of Mt. Shivling, the panoramic view from the summit of Mt. Kalanag is simply breathtaking. The mountains that you see at the top of Garhwal are collectively called the Garhwal Trinity. The three peaks of Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch, and Kalanag amaze all who see them from the summit. In addition, there are some very deep, jagged, trenches on the surface of the earth (valleys), as you look into the valleys below, and there are some very jagged peaks that you can see in the distance on the horizon.
The first part of this trek starts in The Land of the Gods. When you trek into the area, you are immediately surrounded by some of the oldest, largest forests in the world. The trees are beautiful, ancient Deodar and Blue Pine trees. They create an almost magical feeling as you step into the woods. As you trek to the mountain, you begin to notice that the density of the trees is becoming less dense. You eventually reach Ruinsara Valley, which is one of the largest glacial basins in the world. One of the most beautiful parts of the Ruinsara Valley is a mountain lake, or Ruinsara Lake, which looks like a blue diamond because it is located within a bunch of nice big granite boulders. It is cool that this is one of the few lakes with salt water at this height. After you pass Ruinsara Lake, you will not see any vegetation anymore, and you will enter a surreal world of lateral moraines, broken ice, and cliffs.
