Bali Pass Trek

Bali Pass is a mountain pass that peaks slightly short of the 5000-meter mark and connects the Har Ki Dun - Ruinsara Valley to Yamunotri and vice-versa. The Bali Pass trek runs through numerous heritage Villages of Har Ki Dun Valley such as Osla, Gangaad, and Taluka, and ascends deep into the Govind National Park. On the route, we come across the beautiful Ruinsara Lake. Multiple Waterfalls lie on the way to the pass.

The Bali Pass trek distance is 66 KM from Taluka to Janki Chatti. The trek is on the difficult end as the Bali Pass trek altitude is more than 16000 feet and has long walking days, with steep ascents and descents. If one plans to attempt the Bali Pass trek solo, it is highly advised to trek along a route guide as it is easy to misjudge the trail while descending or ascending the pass, with steep sections that can cause mishaps.

Highlights of the Bali Pass Trek

1. Exploration of the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park

• Flora: Deodar cedar, Chir pine, Oak, and conifers like Spruce, Blue pine, and Silver fir.
• Fauna: Himalayan snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, Brown bear, Monal pheasant, Bearded vulture, Golden eagle, Western tragopan, Steppe eagle, and Black eagle.

2. High altitude and challenging terrain

At a stunning height of 16,240 feet (4,950 meters), this walk You will travel quite a distance in the early stages of trekking to the Bali Pass on generally moderate slopes until the Ruinsara Lake. 1012 kilometers on an average day. The altitude will next rise until the base camp, when the elevation will be roughly 3,000 feet in one day followed by an additional 1,000 feet the following day.

From Bali Pass to Yamunotri is steep; the altitude drops around 8,000 feet in only two days.

3. Village Exploration

Exploring the village of the Har Ki Dun Valley (Datmir, Gangad, Puani, and Osla) and the Yamunotri Valley (Kharsali, Hanumanchatti, and Jankichatti).  iscover local customs and agricultural techniques of both valleys and see many different building styles.

4. Thanga and Devsu Thatch/Meadow-

An alpine pasture 1 km from Ruinsar Lake, Thanga Bugyal is an area. It has a beautiful view of Kyarkoti Bugyal and a 2 km ridge walk with white rhododendron blooms along the way. 

Devsu Thatch is a huge grassland along the way from Puani Garat to the Waterfall on the Supin River, & it is at 10,032 feet high. Day 3 was surrounded by heavy trees. There are well-kept grass mounds. And a variety of flowers, such as orchids, poppies, anemones, primulas, daisies, and marigolds. it offers a stunning experience. Barefoot walks on lush grass turn into a sensory dance with nature, motivating a day of camping to appreciate beauty.

5. Camping at the pristine lake Ruinsara

Standing at 11,483 feet (3,500 meters), Ruinsara Lake is a crucial point on the Bali Pass path, showcasing the beauty of Govind National Park with brilliant flora- particularly orchids. Along the Tons River through quaint communities like Gangad, Seema, and Osla, the trail winds. A day at Ruinsara Lake lets visitors explore close to the Black Peak base camp and Banderpoonch glacier.

6. Kyarkoti Glacier

This is the base camp for the Kalanag, Swargarohini, and Dumdar Kandi Pass trek, located around 8 kilometers from Ruinsara Bugyal. Starting for the Tons River, which comes from the Kyarkoti Glacier, it is at an altitude of 12,795 feet (3,900 meters) above sea level.

7. Waterfalls along the trail

The beauty of the 66 km Bali Pass trail is enhanced by the many waterfalls you meet. Particularly, the third day's trip across Seema and Swarn Dhara includes some stunning waterfalls that very much improve the magic of the entire hike.

8. Yamunotri Dham

Coming down from Lower Dhamini to Yamunotri, you will locate the holy Yamunotri temple, one of the Chota Char Dham in Uttarakhand. It is a particularly great location for trekkers as well as pilgrimsas it is found in the center of the Himalayas. For everyone who comes here, the tranquil surroundings offer a peaceful refuge; respect and calmness fill the air.

8. Saptrishi kund

Towards the end of the Bali Pass walk, the magnificent Bandarpunch Glacier and Saptrishi Kund materialize as the actual origin of the Yamuna River.

Located at 4,421 meters, Saptrishi Kund is a high-altitude lake and the main source of the Yamuna. Formed by the commanding Bandarpunch Mountain, this lake is surrounded by rock glaciers, adding to the magnificence of the terrain.

How to Reach the Bali Pass Trek

1. How to Reach Dehradun from Delhi:–

• By Road:- Overnight UKRTC buses and Volvos, ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 900, operate from ISBT Delhi to ISBT Dehradun
• By Train:- It’s recommended to opt for the overnight Kota Express, also known as Nanda Devi/Kota Express, departing at 11:50 PM, and arriving in Dehradun at 5:45 AM, aligning with our morning pickup schedule.
• By Air:- IndiGo and Vistara , are some regular flights from Indira Gandhi Airport, Delhi to Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun. The schedules for these flights can be easily checked online.

The Dehradun railway station, a hub for private and shared cabs heading to Sankri, is situated 30 km from the airport. Private taxis are easily accessible within the airport premises, with booking charges of Rs 1200 - 1500 for a Dzire or similar and Rs 1800 – 2200 for an Innova or similar vehicles.

2. How to Reach Sankri from Dehradun:-

Every morning, a limited number of shared cabs and buses depart for Sankri from the vicinity of Dehradun Railway Station.

• Govt. Buses and Private Buses- Only one government bus departs from Dehradun Railway Station to Sankri at 8:00 am. Additionally, two private buses leave around 7:00 am from just outside the Dehradun Railway Station heading to Sankri town. The fare for this journey is approximately Rs. 400-500 per person, which is roughly the same for both the government and private buses.
• Private Cab or Taxies- You can easily locate shared taxis near Hotel Milan or Hotel Grand, merely a 2-3 minute walk from Dehradun Railway Station. These taxis operate up to Purola, which is 54 kilometers away from Sankri. The journey lasts approximately 5 to 6 hours, with a fare of Rs. 400-500. Take shared cabs from Purola to Sankri in the morning before noon. Fare is 200-300 rupees per passenger when the cab is full. Plan your arrival in Purola accordingly.

If you miss Dehradun buses or taxis, opt for a private taxi near Prince Chowk, around 100 meters from the Railway Station. Expect to pay Rs. 6,000 to 7,000 for a Maxx or Bolero booking.

3. Getting back from Janki Chatti (Yamunotri)  to Delhi:-

The trek concludes at Janki Chatti, and then you'll travel by car/bus to Dehradun, which takes about 8-9 hours. There's a single government bus departing from Jankichatti to Dehradun at 6:00 am. In case you miss the bus, you can choose a local taxi to Barkot. From Barkot, another taxi or the government bus departing at 11:00 am can take you to Dehradun, with a fare of approximately Rs. 300-350 per person.

For a more comfortable journey, You can order a separate cab for Rs. 5000–6000 each cab to make your trip more comfortable. This will take you from Janki Chatti to Dehradun. You should be there around 8:00 p.m.

If your next destination is Delhi, you can return by either the Mussoorie Express (departing at 9:20 pm) or the Nanda Devi Express (departing at 11:30 pm) from Dehradun.

Best Time To Visit Bali Pass Trek

The best times to do the Bali pass trek are before and after the monsoon season, which happens in the summer and fall. Depending on how much snow fell the winter before, summer starts around the middle of May and lasts until the end of June, when the monsoon starts.

After that, the beautiful season of autumn begins in September and lasts until the end of October. These exact times not only guarantee good weather, but they also give trekkers a beautiful view of nature with bright colours and a variety of sceneries.

1. Bali Pass Trek in May and June (Pre - Monsoon)

• Flora: In summer, the forests and meadows transform into vibrant shades of green, adorned with blossoming flowers, creating a picturesque and refreshing landscape.
• Snow condition- As summer progresses, the accumulated snow and glaciers melt, revealing a vast expanse of icy snow.
• Weather & Temperature- The daytime warms up to 10°C to 20°C in Bali Pass, especially in sunny conditions. At night or early morning, the base temperatures range from 5°C to 10°C.

2. Bali Pass Trek in September and October (Autumn)

• Flora- In September and October, the scenery changes with colorful autumn leaves. Trees and grasses paint the surroundings in yellow, orange, and brown, offering a delightful sight.
  Snow- In September, there is less snow, and by October, the likelihood of fresh snowfall increases.
• Weather & Temperature- As you advance toward the Ruinsara Lake campsite and beyond, the weather significantly becomes colder. Daytime temperatures range from 5°C to 15°C in September and during nights or early mornings, temperatures range from 2°C to 8°C. In October, temperatures decrease noticeably, ranging from 5°C to 10°C. Be prepared for temperatures in the higher camps to drop below 0°C at night.

How difficult is the Bali Pass trek?

Bali pass trek difficulty/ High altitude trek at At the height of altitude of 16,240 feet/4,950 meters. The trek has a distance of 66 km, starting from Taluka to the endpoint at Janki Chatti. It takes 6 to 7 days to complete the trek on foot. Thus we will walk around 10 KM on average every day.

The altitude of Taluka, where the trek starts, is 6,825 feet (2080 meters). We thus have a net altitude gain of 9,250 feet (2,820 meters) over a duration of 5 days, thus climbing an average of 550 meters a day or 1800 feet. That is a considerable altitude gain. The distance, altitude gain, and finally the technical pass crossing make Bali Pass fall in the category of a Moderate-Difficult trek.

It requires physical preparation and regular exercises that must be started at least 1 month prior to trekking to the Bali Pass.

What makes the Bali Pass Trek a fantastic option?

• Up Close with Kalanag and Swargarohini Peaks

Bali Pass has a lot to offer apart from its virgin trails and a challenging pass climb. We are surrounded either by the mighty Swargarohini or Bandarpunch ranges at almost all times.

We get to see Kalanag (Black Peak) & Swargarohini Peak up close. At 6,387 meters, the Kalanag peak is the highest in this region. This peak was first summited by Jack Gibson in 1955 and the students of Doon School. We spent a day beside Ruinsara Lake. The walk across the two meadows of Devsu Thatch and Thanga is breathtaking. One of our camps will be beside a waterfall and another one lies above 4,000 m.

• Wild Encounters and Summit-like Adventures

Wild animals such as Himalayan Ibex and Blue Sheep, Black Bears, and Brown bears can be spotted occasionally on this trail! Our teams sighted the Black bear on this trail ahead of Seema and near the waterfall camp, while the Brown bear was spotted near Thanga Campsite, and during an exploration towards Dhumdhar Kandi pass during the rest day at Ruinsara Lake. While the trail to Bali passes turns southward towards Yamunotri ahead of Ruinsara Lake, the eastward route continues to the challenging Dhumdhar Kandi. It's a daunting pass sharing its base camp with Black Peak and goes to Harsil.

The Bali Pass unlike a conventional pass, which means a saddle-like opening between neighboring rising ridges, rises like a peak and gives a summit-like adventure when you reach the top. The same can be visually seen in the summit stretch picture of the Bali pass below.

Towards the end of the Bali Pass trekking, we see the Bandarpunch Glacier & Saptrishi Kund. They are the true source of the river Yamuna. We also get an opportunity to visit the holy temple of Yamunotri. All in all, Bali Pass is a wholesome adventure that provides trekkers with every element of a Himalayan trek.

Bali Pass Trek Route Map

The Bali Pass Trek route map shows you the way across the stunning Garhwal Himalayas. It takes you past the charming Devsu Bugyal and Ruinsara Lake to reach the stunning Bali Pass at an impressive altitude of 16,200 ft. Following the scenic route along the Supin River, the map points out the awe-inspiring sights of snow-capped peaks and lush meadows. It promises an exciting adventure for both trekkers and nature lovers.

How to Plan Bali Pass trek?

The pass is more approachable from the  Har Ki Dun Valley as the gradient is less steep and gives good time for the trekkers to acclimatize to the altitude. Although a few trekkers start the trek from Yamunotri too, which is not generally recommended. This is because the altitude gain from Yamunotri is very quick and the steep trail can quickly tire trekkers. It can even lead to acute mountain sickness as there is barely any acclimatization to the high altitude.

The route from Sankri has multiple campsites on the route and the itinerary can be easily changed for the convenience of trekkers. Generally, the pass is attempted from Thanga, situated at 4100 meters. However, we can push to camp further at the base camp at a whopping 4,600 meters of altitude. This reduces the strain for the pass crossing day and further gives a unique experience of camping at a very high altitude. The Swargarohini has astounding views from the Bali Pass basecamp.