Dyalishera Bugyal Trek

WINTER TREK | ALPINE MEADOWS | PANAROMIC MOUNTAIN PEAKS | ETHNOLOGICAL CHARM

INR 10500

per person

6 Days & 5 Nights

Duration

3,815 m / 12,516 ft

Max. Altitude

21,00 m / 6,900 ft

Min. Altitude

26 Km

Walking distance

WINTER TREK | ALPINE MEADOWS | PANAROMIC MOUNTAIN PEAKS | ETHNOLOGICAL CHARM

Dyalishera bugiyal trek

Hidden deep within the Garhwal Himalayas lies a high-altitude sanctuary where geography, mythology, and human wonder quietly converge — Dayalishera Bugyal, a bowl-shaped meadow suspended at an elevation of 12,270 feet (≈ 3,740 metres) above sea level. Far from the popular trails and touristic clamor, the Dayalishera Trek offers not just a journey through terrain, but through time, story, and stillness.

The trek is modest in length — approximately 20–22 km round-trip on foot — but its emotional and intellectual reach is vast. What begins as a gentle walk through paddy fields and oak forests transforms into a steep ascent into realms of alpine wonder. Along the way, you pass through forests of golden oak (Quercus alnifolia) and rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense), moving through ecotones that shift as dramatically as the light in the high hills.

But this isn’t merely a botanical or topographical exploration. Dayalishera is a place where myth continues to grow. According to local legend, it was here — on this improbable patch of high-altitude earth — that the Pandavas, exiled and hungry, cultivated rice during their wanderings. The meadow’s name itself is a map of memory: Dayali meaning ‘bowl’ and Shera meaning ‘paddy field’. Even today, a strain of wild rice mysteriously sprouts here after the monsoon, flourishing briefly before fading — a living echo of epic times. At the edge of the bugyal lies Hanuman Tal, a serene glacial pond with a small shrine to Lord Hanuman — yet another thread in the mythic fabric that weaves this land.

The Dayalishera Trek is not designed for conquest. It does not scream its presence from glossy brochures or Instagram grids. It is a quiet pilgrimage — one that rewards curiosity, humility, and the ability to listen. You come here not to escape the world, but to see it more clearly: to sleep under ancient skies, to cook over open flame, to journal your thoughts in wind-stirred meadows, It is a trek of modest distance but profound depth, of myth made tangible, of landscape as teacher. And for those who walk it with open eyes and quiet minds, Dayalishera doesn’t just leave an impression — it leaves an imprint.

Summary

The journey begins from Joshimath (6,070 ft / 1,850 m), a gateway town in the Garhwal Himalayas. From here, the motorable road gently climbs through pine and rhododendron forests, winding along streams and terraced fields, and leads to Tugashi (7,050 ft / 2,150 m), a quaint village from where trekkers starts their hike amidst serene surroundings.

As the trek continues, the trail ascends further into lush meadows at Guling (8,530 ft / 2,600 m), offering panoramic views of snow-capped peaks like Nanda Devi, Dronagiri, and Kamet. The route then passes through Khullara Camp (10,170 ft / 3,100 m), a perfect spot to rest, acclimatize, and enjoy the peaceful Himalayan landscape.

The real highlight is the climb to Kuari Pass (12,139 ft / 3,700 m), where trekkers are rewarded with sweeping vistas of some of the highest peaks in the Garhwal region. On clear days, the horizon is dotted with the entire Nanda Devi group, Hathi Ghoda, Chaukhamba, and Nilkanth, making it a spectacular destination for photography and nature lovers.

The trek covers around 35 km round trip, with moderate gradients suitable for beginners and intermediate trekkers. Along the way, trekkers experience a mix of dense forests, open meadows, cascading streams, and tranquil villages, offering both adventure and cultural immersion in the heart of the Himalayas.

FEATURED

Enchanting alpine meadows (Bugyal): Dayalishera Bugyal is a vast bowl‑shaped meadow which sustains a paddy field at high altitude, green from monsoon till October.

Legend and culture: The lore of the Pandavas cultivating rice here, the presence of a local shrine, and Hanuman Tal add a mythic and spiritual layer.

Forests of golden oak & rhododendron: Trek through steep, dense oak (Quercus) forests and vibrant rhododendron woods before the landscape opens into alpine expanses.

Panoramic Himalayan Scenery: From Kuari Pass summit, sweeping views of towering giants like Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba, Kamet, and Trishul—peaks that hold both geological and mythic weight.

MEALS INCLUDED

Breakfast : 5

Lunch : 4

Dinner : 5

TRAVELING STAFF

Guide

Cook

Muleteer

TRANSPORT

Mini bus/Traveller

ACCOMODATION

3 nights of camping

DEGREE OF WALKING

Moderate

GROUP SIZE

Up to 10 people

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Dehradun/Hrishikesh to Karchon via Joshimath

You rise before dawn, leaving behind the sacred confluences where rivers whisper their ancient tales—Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag—each a hymn to the meeting of water and stone, faith and earth. The winding road begins its steady climb, carrying you upward through shifting light and cooling air, a slow unraveling of the world below. Over the course of approximately 280 kilometers, the journey unfolds through valleys stitched with pine and cedar, past ancient temples and mountain hamlets that breathe stories of time and tradition. Elevation climbs gently yet surely—from the foothills' warmth to the crisp breath of altitude—as you ascend from near 400 meters to the mountain town of Joshimath, perched between 1,900 and 2,000 meters (6,150–6,500 feet). from Joshimath you will be taken to the rustic village of Karchon the base village for Dyalishera.

By evening, the bustling hum of the plains fades, replaced by the quiet pulse of highland life. Here, the scent of pine mingles with the cool mountain air, and the peaks stand sentinel, waiting. Rest well, for tomorrow you step beyond roads and into the wild embrace of the Himalayas

Meals

DINNER

Difficulty level

EASY

Distance

280 KM

Traveling time

7 TO 8 HOURS

Maximum height

2000 M / 6500 FT

Tavel Mode

Bus/ traveller

DAY

Karchon Village to Dhurkund Meadow

Your hike starts at Karchon, a village perched at roughly 7,900 feet (2,400 meters), where the stone paths and terraced fields whisper the last remnants of human habitation. From here, your real ascent begins.

The trail winds upward for approximately 3 kilometers, gaining nearly 1,600 feet in elevation over the course of 4 hours. The trek from Karchhon to Dhurkund may be only 3 kilometers, but it is a passage into another rhythm entirely. Karchhon’s stone paths echo with centuries of footsteps. Paddy fields shimmer like green mirrors in the morning sun, and then suddenly you are swallowed by forest. The path climbs steeply under the golden canopy of Quercus alnifolia, Himalayan oak whose leaves glow amber and gold. You breathe deeper here, in a cathedral built of trees.

Midway, a meadow opens unexpectedly, sacred in its stillness. Shepherds once rested here; you do too. By late afternoon , you arrive at Dhurkund, 9,500 feet (2,895 meters) first campsite. But this is more than a place to sleep, it is where you reconnect with the earth: cooking your own food over firewood, learning survival skills from seasoned guides, and understanding that the wilderness does not just surround you, it invites you to belong.

Meals

BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER

Difficulty level

EASY

Distance

3 to 4 KM

Traveling time

4 TO 5 HOURS

Maximum height

2925 M / 9600 FT

Tavel Mode

HIKE

DAY

Dhurkund to Dyalishera Campsite

Morning mist clings to oak leaves as you climb steadily toward the high meadows. Today’s path is more demanding, more dramatic—a continuous dialogue between ascent and wonder. Today’s trek is about 4.5 to 5 kilometers, with an initial altitude gain of 1,000 feet. The trail begins with a steep pull through dense golden oak, branches whispering secrets in the wind. You emerge into a sharp, sunlit incline—a high meadow that tests the thighs and rewards the spirit. Then the trail narrows, snaking along cliffs, offering vertiginous views that force stillness upon you.

Just when you think the landscape can surprise no more, the rhododendrons appear, (Rhododendron catawbiense) their magenta blossoms flaring like banners of spring. Then, like a curtain drawn back, Dayalishera Bugyal reveals itself: vast, undulating, a high-altitude amphitheater ringed by ancient ridgelines.

Here, at 12,270 feet, a small shrine stands in solitude—a gesture of devotion in a place already divine. This is your home tonight: beneath starlight, above treeline, beyond words. Here, you rest beneath a vast Himalayan sky, one foot still in the forest, the other on the edge of the alpine world. You are not yet at the summit but you are well within the domain of the mountains. Tonight, the stars will feel impossibly close.

Meals

BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER

Difficulty level

EASY TO MODERATE

Distance

5 KM

Traveling time

4 to 5 HOURS

Maximum height

3740 M / 12270 FT

Tavel Mode

HIKE

DAY

Explore Dyalishera Meadows & Hanuman Taal

There are no miles to cover today, only meanings to uncover. You awaken in the lap of the Himalaya, where silence is not emptiness but a presence so complete that it feels like a teacher. The bugyal stretches out before you like a celestial field, its slopes rolling into the horizon with a serenity that words strain to hold. The name of this meadow—Dayalishera, literally “the bowl of paddy”—carries a weight of legend. Here, folklore merges seamlessly with geography. The tale tells us that during their exile, the Pandavas cultivated rice in this very bowl, and even now, during the monsoon months, paddy rises unbidden from the earth. At this altitude, logic would scoff at such fertility, yet the meadow insists on its miracle. It is not just botany—it is myth in bloom, a reminder that truth in the mountains often wears the clothing of wonder.

At the far edge of the bugyal lies Hanuman Tal, a quiet glacial pond that mirrors the sky in its stillness. Beside it rests a shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman, another strand of epic lore woven into the terrain. Here, mythology is not confined to texts or temples; it breathes in the grass, shimmers in the water, and echoes in the wind.

The day unfolds unhurried, inviting you to inhabit time differently. You may journal in the grass, letting thoughts spill freely as the peaks keep silent watch. Or sketch the valley, translating mountain lines into your own human script. Perhaps you sit in meditation beneath the snow-clad giants, letting their immensity dissolve your boundaries. Some may join locals for an impromptu game of cricket on this natural plateau, where even play feels like a dialogue with the sky.

In a world that measures value by speed and productivity, Dayalishera teaches another rhythm—the art of pause, of simply being. It reveals that rest is not absence of action but the presence of awareness. By the time twilight drapes the meadow, you realize that today was not about covering distance but about entering depth. The mountain has not moved, and neither have you—yet within, something has shifted forever.

Meals

BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER

Difficulty level

MODERATE

Distance

2 KM

Traveling time

6 TO 7 HOURS

Maximum height

3815 M / 12516FT

Tavel Mode

HIKE

DAY

Dyalishera Meadows to Karchon

The descent begins as gently as the first touch of dawn, the path coaxing you away from the high meadow but never from the essence of what you have gathered there. Each step downward is a soft negotiation between body and memory, as if the mountain were reluctant to let you go. You slip once more through tunnels of rhododendron, their gnarled branches arching overhead like a blessing, then across open meadows where the wind carries the faint echo of your laughter from days before. Oak-shadowed trails fold around you with their quiet gravity, reminding you that the forest has watched countless travelers transform and return. Every bend in the path becomes a memory unwinding itself in reverse: the fire whose warmth once held the night at bay, the cliffside where your breath caught in awe, the little shrine where you pressed a whisper of prayer into the wind.

By the time the roofs of Karchon reappear, civilization feels both familiar and estranged, a reminder that walls and roads are only half a home. For within you now resides a new architecture—one built of altitude and silence, of effort and wonder—an inner expanse as vast as the mountains themselves.

Meals

BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER

Difficulty level

EASY TO MODERATE

Distance

11 KM

Traveling time

6 TO 7 HOURS

Maximum height

3815 M / 12516 FT

Tavel Mode

HIKE

DAY

Karchon to Dehradun/Rishikesh

You wake in Joshimath, no longer at the edge of the forest, but back within the pulse of human life—rooftops, chai stalls, cables swaying in the morning breeze. Today, you journey back to Rishikesh or Dehradun, retracing the winding mountain roads over 8 to 10 hours and covering nearly 260 kilometers—but this time, the road carries more than your body. It carries memory.

You pass once again through the confluences—Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, Devprayag—each now reframed not as geographical landmarks, but as mythic signposts along a personal mythology. The rivers rush on, indifferent and eternal. The hills, too, return to their slow watching.

And yet, something in you has been re-aligned.This is the paradox of the mountains: you come seeking height, and leave with depth. You arrive in Rishikesh or Dehradun by evening, where the roads are busy and the world moves quickly—but you move differently now, steadier, as though the trail still echoes quietly beneath your feet.

Meals

BREAKFAST

Difficulty level

EASY

Distance

280 KM

Traveling time

10 TO 11 HOURS

Maximum height

2000 M / 6500 FT

Bus

TRANSPORT

DAY

In Hopping Trails, we specify the services included and not included in all the itineraries that appear on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details so that you don't miss anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so remember to read carefully before booking with us.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

High quality and safe service

1.Pre-Departure Briefing

On the evening before your trek, join us at 5:00 pm in our office for a detailed orientation session with your guide. This meeting will walk you through the route, safety protocols, equipment, and everything you need to know so you can step onto the trail with confidence.

2. Expert Guides

Our treks are led by highly trained, certified guides who bring both professional expertise and heartfelt passion. Fluent in English and Spanish, they are chosen for their knowledge, responsibility, and love for sharing stories of the land, its people, and its history. Beyond guiding, they ensure your safety, comfort, and peace of mind—so you can simply immerse yourself in the journey.

3. Camping & Outdoor Equipment

Your comfort in the wilderness is supported by carefully selected, expedition-grade gear:

Three-person tents with vestibule space for your backpack and gear.
Warm sleeping bags (temperature-appropriate for the season).
Sleeping bag liners for added hygiene and insulation.
Sleeping mats/foam pads to ensure restful nights.
A dining tent, where meals are served in a sheltered, comfortable setting.
Portable bathroom tent for hygiene in remote locations.
Complete kitchen setup with cookware, utensils, and equipment.

All equipment is carried by pack animals, so you trek light and free.

4. Safety & First Aid

Every trek is supported by a comprehensive first aid kit and oxygen supply, carried by your guide. They are trained to handle common altitude-related issues as well as minor injuries—ensuring help is always close at hand.

Accommodation & Food

Your journey begins with a night in a warm and welcoming village homestay or a comfortable hotel, allowing you to ease into the rhythm of mountain life before setting out on the trail. Once the trek begins, all accommodations are provided in high-quality expedition tents, carefully chosen to balance comfort and protection in rugged alpine conditions.

We use High quality tents such as Gipfel Fira and Gipfel High Mountain models, designed to endure the elements while ensuring restful nights. Each tent accommodates three trekkers comfortably, with ample space for sleeping and storing personal gear. Built for insulation and stability, these shelters offer safety, warmth, and reliable protection against the shifting moods of the high Himalayas—your secure haven after each day’s adventure.

Food & Dining

Our mountain chefs take pride in preparing wholesome, freshly cooked meals in the middle of the wilderness. Vegetarian, vegan, or other dietary needs are catered to at no additional cost.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner served daily.
Hot drinks and snacks available throughout the day.
Wake-up tea delivered to your tent each morning—start the day with warmth and energy.
Evening tea time (“happy hour”) featuring popcorn, cookies, coffee, and tea—a cozy ritual after long hours on the trail.

Transportation

Private vehicles ensure smooth transfers to and from Basecamp village to the nearest city, making the journey as seamless as the trek itself.

Cargo Mules-During the hike, pack mules carry all shared camping gear and your personal luggage (up to 7 kg / 15 lbs). Muleteers carefully handle your belongings, leaving you free to enjoy the trail with just a daypack.

Permits & Entry Fees

We take care of all permits and entrance fees, including: Access to the trail.

Around the clock support

Hopping Trails team is always just a call away—before, during, and after your trip—for any assistance or questions you may have.

OUR TREKKING TEAM

At the heart of every journey lies the people who guide it. Our team is composed of seasoned professionals who know these trails intimately—not only from years of guiding treks, but from living in these mountains and valleys for generations. Their deep connection to the land ensures that you are always in safe, capable, and knowledgeable hands.

What drives us is not only a love for hiking, but the joy of sharing these landscapes, stories, and experiences with you. Every step of the way, our guides, support staff, and local experts will walk beside you—ensuring your safety, enriching your journey with cultural and natural insights, and celebrating every milestone.

We warmly welcome you into this community of explorers. With us, you are not just a trekker—you become part of a team united by curiosity, resilience, and reverence for the wilderness.

Your journey will be led by a highly trained and deeply experienced professional, someone whose life has been shaped by years of hiking, exploration, and connection with nature. But what truly sets them apart is their passion for guiding people through transformative adventures—helping you not only reach your destination but also discover new perspectives along the way. With them, you are not just following a guide, you are walking beside a mentor who brings the mountains to life.

OUR TOUR GUIDES

After a long and demanding day on the trail, nothing restores the body and spirit quite like a hot, hearty meal.

That’s why every trek with us is accompanied by skilled mountain chefs, each with years of experience creating nourishing dishes in remote, rugged environments. With every meal, they bring a touch of home to the wilderness—turning simple ingredients into food that rejuvenates, uplifts, and prepares you for the journey ahead.

OUR CHEFS

On every trek, we serve nutritious, balanced meals—rich in energy-giving carbs, proteins, and healthy fats—designed to fuel you for the trail ahead. Ingredients are carefully chosen to stay fresh in the rugged Himalayas, ensuring strength where it’s needed most.

Beyond sustenance, our food carries flavors from both the mountains and across India, offering warmth, comfort, and a taste of home amidst the wild.

MEALS: WHAT TO EXPECT

Our muleteers and their steadfast horses are the quiet guardians of every journey. They carry tents, supplies, and baggage, allowing you to walk unburdened and fully present in the wilderness. Moving ahead of the group, they ensure that each camp is ready—safe, warm, and welcoming—so that your focus remains on the adventure itself.

OUR MULTEERS & MULES

THE BEST PACKING LIST FOR YOUR DYALISHERA BUGYAL TREK

Getting Ready for Your Himalayan Adventure

Thinking about setting out on the legendary trek? Preparation is key—and it begins with what you pack.

We’ve put together a comprehensive packing guide to help you get ready for this journey through one of South America’s most spectacular mountain regions. Inside, you’ll find clear details about every essential item you’ll need for safety, comfort, and success in high-altitude conditions.Along with practical information, we’ve added our own tried-and-tested recommendations for gear we personally rely on in the outdoors. These suggestions balance performance, durability, and value for money, ensuring that you’re equipped with gear that truly works on the trail.

With this list in hand, you’ll step onto the path with confidence and clarity, ready to experience Ausangate the way it’s meant to be.

Trekking Essentials

Shoes & Backpack

Trekking boots with ankle support – sturdy enough for rough mountain terrain.
Backpack with a rain cover – spacious and weather-protected for your essentials.

Clothing & Warm Layers

Insulating layers – adjust according to season:
- Spring/Summer/Monsoon: 3 layers (wool sweater, fleece, padded jacket).
- Autumn: 4 layers (wool sweater, two fleeces, padded jacket).
- Winter: 5 layers (thermals, wool sweater, two fleeces, padded jacket).
3 collared T-shirts – breathable and trek-friendly.
2 quick-dry trekking trousers – lightweight and durable.

Accessories

Polarized sunglasses – essential for snow glare.
Sun cap with protective flaps.
Waterproof gloves and socks – especially valuable in snowy conditions.
Balaclava for wind and cold protection.
Wool socks – two pairs of dry-fit plus one warm woollen pair.
Headlamp for night use.
Trekking pole for stability on steep or uneven trails.
Rain jacket with pants or a poncho.

Personal Toiletries

Sunscreen and moisturizer for UV and dry air.
Lightweight quick-dry towel.
Lip balm for chapped lips.
Toilet paper (strictly avoid wet wipes).
Toothbrush and toothpaste.
Reusable covers for separating used clothes.

Cutlery & Hydration

Steel lunch box, mug, and spoon – durable and eco-friendly.
Two water bottles or a hydration pack – minimum 2 liters capacity recommended.

Essential Personal Medicines to Carry on Trek

Always keep your medicines within easy reach. Remember: do not self-medicate—consult your trek leader before taking anything.

Diamox (1 strip): This is used to prevent altitude-related issues. Keep a close watch on how your body feels—symptoms like nausea, indigestion, unusual fatigue, or restlessness should never be ignored. If you experience any of these, speak to your trek leader immediately. Do not take Diamox on your own.
Dolo 650 (5 tablets): A basic paracetamol, useful for bringing down fever or managing mild aches and pains.
Avomine (4 tablets): If you are prone to motion sickness, carry this. Take one tablet about 30 minutes before your road journey starts.
Combiflam (5 tablets): Handy for sudden sprains, muscle strains, or sharp pains. It combines a pain reliever with paracetamol.
Digene (4 tablets): Helpful if you feel heaviness or indigestion. However, indigestion at altitude can sometimes be an early sign of AMS, so inform your trek leader if you experience this.
ORS (6 sachets): Dissolve one sachet in water and drink once a day while trekking—preferably around mid-day. It replaces essential salts and makes hydration easier in cold weather.
Knee Brace (optional): Carry this if you have weak knees or a past injury, especially for long descents.

Mandatory Documents for the Trek

For both legal and safety reasons, certain documents must be submitted before you are allowed to begin the trek. These are required by the forest department as well as our team, and missing paperwork may prevent you from joining the expedition.

Government Photo ID (Original + Photocopy): A valid identity proof such as Aadhaar Card, passport, or driver’s license is required for verification by the forest department.
Treadmill Test (for trekkers 58+ years): A stress test conducted within the last 12 months must be provided within one week of trek registration. This helps us assess your preparedness for high-altitude trekking.
Disclaimer Form: At the base camp, your Trek Leader will hand over the disclaimer form. Simply sign and return it. Note: If you are a minor traveling without parents, please carry a printed and signed copy of the disclaimer from your parent/guardian.
Medical Certificate: This must be completed and signed by a certified MBBS doctor. It is essential for forest department permissions and ensures your fitness for high-altitude conditions.

Day 1: Dehradun/Rishikesh → Joshimath (2,000 m) → Karchon

Drive 9–10 hours via Srinagar and Karnaprayag to Joshimath, followed by a short drive to Karchon Village. The journey traces the Alaknanda River through scenic valleys and confluences of the sacred Panch Prayags. Karchon serves as the base for the trek, surrounded by terraced fields and distant peaks. Overnight stay in homestay.

Day 2: Karchon Village → Dhurkund Meadow (2,800 m)

Trek 6–7 km (5–6 hrs). The trail gradually ascends through mixed oak and deodar forests, opening to vast alpine meadows. Dhurkund offers sweeping views of the Garhwal range and makes for a serene campsite amid lush grasslands. Stay in tents.

Day 3: Dhurkund → Dyalishera Campsite (3,400 m)

Trek 7 km (5–6 hrs). The route climbs gently through ridges and open pastures with glimpses of snow-clad peaks. Dyalishera Meadow unfolds as a broad, high-altitude expanse framed by wildflowers and mountain streams. Overnight stay in tents under starry skies.

Day 4: Explore Dyalishera Meadows & Hanuman Taal

A day of exploration and rest. Wander across the rolling meadows of Dyalishera, visit the sacred Hanuman Taal—a pristine alpine lake surrounded by silence and snow peaks. Ideal for photography, reflection, and acclimatization. Overnight stay in tents.

Day 5: Dyalishera Meadows → Karchon

Trek 10 km (6–7 hrs) descending through alpine pastures and forest trails. Retrace the path with fresh perspectives of the valley and distant mountain silhouettes. Overnight stay in tents or homestay at Karchon.

Day 6: Karchon → Dehradun/Rishikesh

Drive 9–10 hours back to Dehradun or Rishikesh via Joshimath, marking the end of the Dyalishera adventure.

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