Trek Overview

Quick Facts

Maximum Altitude
12,100 ft.
Trek Duration
3 Night / 4 Days
Trek Distance
20 Km
Difficulty Level
Easy to Moderate
Start/End Point
Prince Chowk, Dehradun
Nearest Airport
Jollygrant Airport, Dehradun
Best Season
All year except (Monsoon)
Accommodation
At Raithal Guesthouse
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, evening snacks & dinner
Permits
Forest Department & Trekking permit
Temperature
10°C to 18°C (daytime) - 5°C to 5°C (nighttime)
Snow
December to February

Dayara Bugyal is one of the most spectacular treks in India that offers a fabulous combination of easy access and some of the most expansive countryside views of the Himalayas. The trek starts at Raithal, which is approximately 7,400 feet above sea level. The first part of the trek will take you through dense forests filled with red rhododendrons and oak trees. As you reach Dayara Bugyal you will see a huge, undulating expanse of alpine meadows that span approximately 28 square kilometers. Dayara Bugyal is shaped like a natural amphitheater with clear views of the huge peaks surrounding the meadows (Mt. Bandarpoonch, Kala Nag (Black Peak), Draupadi ka Danda, and the entire Gangotri range). The versatility of Dayara Bugyal throughout the year is exceptional. In the spring months, it is filled with bright colours and wildflowers; in summer, a thick, emerald green blanket of vegetation; and during winter it will be a skier's paradise with deep snow covering the slopes. The gradual slope commencing from Raithal and extending over 4–5 days (a total of about 20 km) makes this trek an ideal choice for families, beginners or photographers interested in capturing a true Himalayan scene.

Why is the Dayara Bugyal Trek so special?

The geographical and cultural aspects of the Dayara Bugyal trek set it apart from other Himalayan Trails, and there are several specific metrics that demonstrate the uniqueness of the Dayara Bugyal trek as compared to the majority of other trails in this area. This trek is much more than a trek; it’s a unique experience that offers trekkers the opportunity to experience an ancient seismic landform and a unique sub-alpine ecosystem.

1. The Sky Plateau, Geomorphology

Most of the Himalayan meadows are fairly confined by narrow ridgelines and limited open areas while Dayara is a large undulating table land covering an area of approximately 28 square kilometers (70,000 acres).

The Infinity Effect: With a mean elevation of 11,500 feet, the topography of the plateau consists of extensive rolling hills which obscure the depth of the valleys below.
Spatial Scale: The combination of these characteristics provides a psychological infinity effect whereby one feels as though they are walking across an endless ocean of green (or tundra) that has become separated from the earth, thus providing a scale of which one does not have the experience of often along typical trekking routes.

2. The Zero Obstruction Panorama

The way the plateau has been oriented to face the Greater Himalayan Axis makes the absence of interfering ridges from which to obstruct views very important.

Vertical Relief: From the foot of the meadow to the peak of Mt. Bandarpoonch (20,721 feet) there is a total of 8,000 feet of vertical relief visible at once.
Peak Visibility: The 180-degree arc offers the highest density of giant peaks: Kala Nag (or Black Peak) and Mt. Srikanth and the Gangotri I, II and III massif are all seen as being very close together from vantage points.

3. Koti Banal: Seismic Skyscrapers (Heritage)

Located at Raithal, the trek base, Koti Banal architecture is one of the most prominent examples of an ancient style of seismic-proof construction that has been around for over 900 years.

Structural Engineering: One example of Koti Banal construction is Panchpura Bhawan, a dharamshalla built using alternating layers of Deodar logs and dry stone concrete blocks.
Seismic Resilience: The special crib-log construction method makes five-storey structures flexible, enabling them to dissipate energy from earthquakes and survive without collapsing. Every major tectonic event has occurred since at least the 16th century, and Koti Banal buildings have been able to withstand them all due to this construction method.

4. The Anduri Biocultural Event (Tradition)

Located within Dayara, the Anduri Utsav is celebrated every August 17th as a "Butter Holi."

Pastoral Ritual: Resident shepherds and villagers come together to express gratitude for the meadows, which have provided verdant pasture lands for grazing animals.
Resource Density: Over 500 kg of fresh milk and butter is ritualistically used during the festival. This festival is regarded as one of the most exceptional examples of a highland agricultural festival that incorporates creativity and spirituality in light of the successes of agriculture.

5. Natural backcountry ski lines (Winter Physics)

Dayara is very much a season-specific location for skiing and snowshoeing activities in the winter months of October through February.

Fall Line: The meadows here have an approximately consistent gradient of 15-25 degrees (15-25%) over the distance of 3 kilometres. Hence, Dayara has a natural fall line for downhill skiing.
Dry Powder: Dayara is situated at a relatively high elevation, making it a great place to get dry powder (i.e., dry, crystalline snow), a snow type that is very desirable by professional skiers while generally uncommon for resorts located below 3,000 meters.

Trek Highlights

Scenic Beauty and Landscapes

One of the most defining features of this trek is the massive and mysterious Sky Plateau, a flat expanse that sits 28 km (over 7,000 acres) in the heart of the Himalayas.

The Infinity Effect: Perfectly situated at 11,500 ft along the southern slopes of Dayara, the vast expanse of grassy knolls hides the steep cliffs surrounding this particular area. Making it feel like you have entered a vast expanse of green (or white) tundra, separated from all reality.
Orography: At the same time, the Sky Plateau gives you a unique opportunity to experience an unbelievable 8,000 feet of vertical relief between its elevation and the top ridge of the Bandarpoonch before you.

Summit Experience

The focus of this trek is the meadows, however they have a destination and will culminate in reaching Dayara Top at 12,100 ft. dayara top is often followed up with visiting Bakariya Top which is a bit higher at 12,400 ft., to be able to take in a full 360-degree experience available.

Ridge Walk: On the last leg of the trek, the main challenge you will face is the narrow ridge to walk along as you will be looking directly down and out over the Bhagirathi Valley on one side.
Panoramic Reach: You will have the ability to see the widest view possible from the highest point of this trek. In addition to having an excellent view of the mountain you stood on, you will also be able to see a 180-degree arc of the landscape all around you as well as a view of the surrounding mountain range including Kala Nag (Black Peak), Mt. Srikanth, Draupadi Ka Danda, Gangotri I/II/III range.

Best Season & Seasonal Beauty

Summer - May/June = Emerald phase: During the summer the meadows will be green and lush, the meadows will have colourful wildflowers such as Primula and Potentilla covering most of the area.
Autumn - September/October = High Definition phase: After the monsoon there will be no atmospheric dust on the air which makes it easier for an individual to photograph from a distance and have clear, easier to view pictures.
Winter - December/February = Arctic phase: The plateau will be completely white due to snow covering everything that existed there during the summer and fall. This location will be a great area to snowshoe and will have dry powder snow and enough snow to enjoy a winter wonderland.

Cultural & Village Life

The trek starts in Raithal, which has a history of Koti Banal—an ancient engineering style that dates back over 900 years—and living examples of this style can be found in Raithal.

Seismic Skyscrapers: You will come across 5-story houses, many of which are over 500 years old, built using alternating layers of deodar timber and dry stone bricks or concrete. Because of the flexibility of their design, the buildings can sway during earthquakes rather than collapse under the stress of seismic activity.
Butter Festival: If you are here in August, you will be able to partake in the Anduri Utsav, which is a celebration for the "Butter Holi" ritual in which many hundreds of kilograms of milk and butter are smeared on each other across meadows by the local villagers as a demonstration of gratitude to their Creator.

Flora & Fauna

Each time you trek up 1,000 feet on Dayara Bugyal, a different Biological World is revealed to you through an ecological transition, or altitudinal zonation. The Dayara Bugyal trek is a vertical laboratory that offers you the opportunity to walk through multiple ecosystems over a period of only several days of trekking.

The diversity and zonation of forests: The trail traverses through the dense Oak and Maple forests at lower elevations; which changes into a vibrant Rhododendron zone that creates an astonishing crimson canopy every March-April.
The change to timberline: Upon crossing 11,000 feet, all of the trees will have disappeared and the area will be dominated by large alpine meadows (Bugyals) covered with thousands of Primulas, Potentillas and various medicinal plants in the summer months.
The Himalayan Monal: The trek provides some of the most concentrated habitats for the Himalayan Monal (Uttarakhand's state bird), which can be recognised by the many colours of its iridescent plumage.
Wildlife hotspots: The areas surrounding water bodies, such as Barnala Tal provide excellent opportunities to view animals like the Himalayan Red Fox, Barking Deer, and occasionally the Musk Deer during the dawn or dusk hours.
High Elevation Birds of Prey: The open skies of the plateau are filled with the mighty Golden Eagle and Bearded Vultures, who take advantage of the thermals created by the mountain range to soar high above the ground.

Adventure and Difficulty Level

The Dayara Bugyal trek has been classified as an Easy to Moderate trek, as it provides trekkers with a high reward for low effort. Its slope profile is beginner friendly.

Effort to Reward Ratio: Rated Easy to Moderate. The Trek offers, essentially without exertion, one of the most beautiful views of the Himalayas. Beginners have an increase of roughly 1 vertical meter per 10 meters walked. Physical trekking is reasonably easy and can be accomplished by most people.
The Cold Sink Effect: The greatest difficulty of this trek is the topography of the plateau, which acts as a basin for freezing, heavy air that gets extreme drops in winter temperatures. Because of the accumulation of cold air in the Camping areas, at night, the temperature could reach -12 degrees Celsius or less. Oxygen is available at 70%. Because of the decreasing atmospheric pressure, you only have access to 70% of the Oxygen at sea level.
Focus on Thermal Control: With very low physical effort but a high degree of environmental intensity, the real adventure and challenge is to control your heat very carefully and to properly adapt your body to the conditions found.

Unique Experiences

Effortless Impact: Trekking safely to an incredible 20,000 is easy with the generous 1:10 incline that gives you access to all of that view without the twisting and turning associated with vertical trekking.
Mirror Point Lakes: The pristine bodies of water tucked away in Gui and Barnala both offer perfect 1:1 reflections of the Grand Himalayan Peaks.
Monal Sanctuary: Terrestrial views of the magnificent colour displays created by the Himalayan Monal provide these flying rainbows against the white snow background.