Roopkund Trek: Try this alluring getaway in Uttarakhand

Roopkund Trek: Try this alluring getaway in Uttarakhand

Where: Uttarakhand
How long: 8 Days
Harsh or easy: Moderate To Difficult
Maximum Altitude: 15,696 Ft
Approximate trekking distance:53 Km

Towering mountains, low valleys, gleaming rivers flowing with milky waters, dense forests, vast pastures and fantastic view. Uttarakhand is home to just about every adjective that is synonymous with natural beauty.

When it comes to trekking, India is a favored country among many and Uttarakhand enjoys an exceptional reputation among adventure lovers and trekkers. The Himalayan mountain range is full of secrets and magical trails and routes that trekkers cover every year. Roopkund trek is the trail of your dreams. Vast, quaint and safe from the bustle of the city, Roopkund trek is a dream for many.

Pic credit wiki Creative Common

The Roopkund trek is located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and is home to real Himalayan beauty. The name of the trail comes from the beautiful lake in the same state that stays frozen all year long. Tucked quite high in the country and surrounded by even more towering, almost supernatural mountains, the lake’s beauty is unmatched.

Among a striking feature of Roopkund is the human skeletons you will see at the end of the lake which is a huge attraction. The Roopkund Lake is at an incredible height of 16,499 ft amidst snow-clad peaks and soaring mountains. The Roopkund trek is fascinating and full of natural beauty and located at the altitude of 5,029 m.

Best time for Roopkund Trek :

The best time to cover the Roopkund trek is summer months of April, May, June and autumn months of September, October and November. The summer seasons is favored by many as they are less cold but windy. If you fancy an adventure, then summer is the best time to go. Autumn too has its set of advantages as the weather stays clear during autumn months, but season remains a hot favorite.

Roopkund Trek: Your eight-day long Itinerary

The first day involves traveling from Kathgodam to Lohajung (7,662 ft.). You will stay at the guest house after a 10 hour and tiring, 210 km long drive. Feel free to connect with your buddies and brag about the altitude as the local market is bustling with life and network is available. On your first day of the trek, allow your body to get used to the temperature and take sufficient rest as what awaits you is some hard work on the next morning.

Enjoy the views of Kathgodam, Bheem Tal, Gwaldam, Almora, Dewal, Kausani, and Lohajung.

Day 2 :

The second day is when the trek starts, and you walk all the way from Loharjung to Didna Village (7,662 to 8,045 ft.), covering 6.5kms in one day. The goal is to reach Didna before lunch and once you are there, enjoy your homestay and the local culture. Spend the evening witnessing how life goes about in the small village of Didna and prepare for day three.

Day 3 :

Your day three will take you from Didna Village to Ali Bugyal (8,045 to 11,320 ft.) through a 10.5 km long trek. Accommodation is made available through tents so you can get the authentic trekking and hiking experience under a dark, starry sky. Your day three will take you through oak and rhododendron forest and give you a good view of the big alpine meadows.

Pic credit: Abhijeet Rane

Day 4 :

Your day four is all about reaching Patar Nachauni from Ali Bugyal via Bedni Bugyal and Ghora Lotani (11,320 to 12,818 ft.), covering around 7 km. It is the easy part of the trek, and you get to live in a tent again. The goal is to reach Patar Nachauni before lunchtime so you will be going through Bedni Bugyal, Ghora Lotani and getting some great views of the vibrant blue sky and sparkling peaks.

Day 5 :

The day five takes you to Bhagwabasa from Patar Nachauni via Kalu Vinayak covering (12,818 to 14,117 ft.) stretching around 4 km. The drill remains the same, get to the campsite by lunch hour and enjoy the extensive, effervescent, hypnotizing views of Uttarakhand during the trek. If you want to see some snow then better try the trek during summer months, but if you are okay dealing with rocks, autumn is the best time to do it.

Pic credit: Abhijeet Rane

Day 6 :

For day six, the destination is Patar Nachauni from Bhagwabas and Roopkund (14,117 to 15755 ft.) through a 10km long trek. Here too you stay in a tent, but the specialty is the early morning start. Day six trek is a bit challenging so carry your energy boosting snacks with you after a delicious breakfast at the remarkably beautiful Roopkund. After this awe-inspiring trek, you would’ve enjoyed one of the world’s most beautiful treks.

Day 7 :

Day seven takes you back to Lohajung from Patar Nachauni via Bedni and Wan (12,818 to 7,662 ft.) through a 15km long trek. After spending some nights inside a tent, under the cold black sky, you will perhaps appreciate your guest house more than usual. You will cover Patar Nachauni to Ghora Lotani, Bedni Bugyal, Doliya Dhar, Ghaeroli Patal, Neel Ganga, Ranka Dhar, Wan Village road head and finally a beautiful drive to Loharjung spanning only 45 minutes.

Day 8 :

And, finally, your day eight will take you back to Kathgodam covering a considerable distance of 210kms. Here you can go shopping for souvenirs and get a taste of the local culture of Uttarakhand.

Here is how to keep safe and warm on your trek:

To stay safe, warm and cozy, you just need to follow some instructions to stay healthy. Here are the things you should carry for sure:
Warm clothes (mostly jackets, thermals, hand gloves, raincoats, etc.)
Trekking poles, trekking shoes
Gear and clothes to keep safe from sun (hat/cap, sunglasses, towels, sunscreen etc.)
Waterproof backpack on this trek is must
Energy bars to munch on snacks while trekking

Things you should remember while on the trek

Make sure that you take time to get acclimatized since sudden changes might harm the body. So, when you arrive in Uttarakhand and reach the higher altitude, take some time to let your body get used to it.
Follow your leader since they are locals and know just about everything on trek
Avoid alcohol and drugs altogether
No trekking after sunset and stormy weather
Ensure presence of a first aid kit on the trek

Summary of Roopkund Trek

Place | Uttarakhand
Starting point | Loharjung
Trek length | Approx 50-60km
Time of trek | 8 days.
Difficulty level | Moderate
Mode | foot with wooden stick support
Essentials | Power bank, poncho, move/voilini and toiletries.
Terrain | trekking through rock surface, loose rocks in autumn and snow trek in winter.
To see | Water cascades, clouds, clear blue skies and skeleton lake.
Definitely Do’s | Night star gazing and alpine meadows photography.
Don’ts | Rush to cover the distance. avoid trekking at night.
Note | Please don’t litter

Other recommended treks of Uttarakhand: Gomukh Tapovan Trek

Trek Himalaya