The start of the Bhadraj Hill trek is at Library End. The streets around Library End have lovely old Victorian buildings. The trek from Library End to Cloud End Hotel is five and a half kilometres and from there to Bhadraj Temple is another seven and a half kilometres.
From Library End, take the road that goes on the left and upwards. This road is diagonally opposite to The Mall road. To ensure you’re on the right track, ask a local person for the road to Hathipaon. The initial trail is in good condition. After half a kilometre, the trail swerves right and ascends to a school. You can see the trail all the way to Cloud End stretching ahead of you.
Most of the road is level and well-made. After two kilometres, you will reach a junction, from where the trail goes to a marvelous George Everest House property. There are a couple of shops and a restaurant at this junction. However, if you have started early from Mussoorie, then it’s likely for the restaurant to be shut.
Around half an hour later, you will reach a vast meadow. This is Cloud End. From here, take the cemented trail ascending into a dense forest. After 10 minutes the trail bifurcates. Take the trail that ascends gradually all the way to Cloud End Hotel. Cloud End is a very popular picnic spot. It also serves as a camping spot.
Bhadraj Temple
From Cloud End Hotel to Dudhli, the distance is three kilometres. This section is a refreshing downhill walk. From here, in half an hour, you’ll reach a junction again where the trail splits. Take the trail towards your right. It winds through a dense oak forest. You’ll see multiple trails in the forest leading to Dudhli.
As you reach the village, look for a newly built building with an ascending trail on its right. Look for ‘dukaan’ (shop) written in Hindi script. Keep in mind that packaged drinking water is not available here. However, you can get eatables like biscuits, maggi, etc. From Dudhli, observe the trail meandering to the second ridge of Bhadraj forest.
After trekking for few hundred meters, the trail forks again. Take the ascending trail. One can see a signage with details of the distance to Bhadraj Temple. The trek becomes a tad bit difficult from here. Stride by a rocky trail for about one and a half kilometres. The trail emerges into vast grasslands with great views of Bandarpoonch and Swargarohini ranges.
After this stretch, you enter the upper Bhadraj Forest. The trek to the temple is about two kilometres from here and should take you just over an hour. The initial one kilometer is a smooth flat walk. There are a few camping spots alongside the trail. As you exit the forest cover, a rain shelter appears.
From here, the last kilometer follows a winding trail all the way to temple complex. There are multiple shelters in the temple premises with large open areas with seats made of rocks. The temple priest visits only occasionally. It’s possible for the temple to be vacant.
Look towards the stairs at the backside of the temple. There is a trail that descends sharply to Koti. This is an alternative route to trek to Bhadraj Hill. This route is shorter. Take this route only if you have your own vehicle for a drop from Koti to Mussoorie.
We start early morning from Dehradun Road towards Mussorie via Dhanaulti Road. The drive is about two to three hours to Cloud’s Hill in Mussorie. From this point, we start our hike to Bhadraj Hill which is about 11 km from here. We soak in the beauty of this hill and head back towards Dehradun by early evening.
The trek to Bhadraj Temple can be completed in a day. It takes around 5-6 hours to reach the temple and return to the starting point.
The trek is considered to be of moderate difficulty. It involves a gradual ascent through a forested trail, which can be steep in some sections.
While it’s not mandatory to hire a guide, having one can enhance your experience. Guides are familiar with the trail and can provide valuable insights about the surroundings.
The best time for the Bhadraj Trek is from March to June and from September to November when the weather is pleasant and the views are clear.
No special permits are required for the Bhadraj Trek.
Bhadraj Temple is situated at an altitude of approximately 2,215 meters (7,267 feet) above sea level.
The trek offers panoramic views of the Himalayan range, including peaks like Swargarohini, Bandar Punch, and Gangotri. Bhadraj Temple itself is dedicated to Lord Bal Bhadra, and there’s a small freshwater lake nearby.
There are limited accommodation options along the trail, including guesthouses and homestays in nearby villages. However, many trekkers opt for a day trek and return to Mussoorie by evening.
Some essential items to carry include sturdy trekking shoes, comfortable clothing, a backpack, water bottles, snacks, a first aid kit, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Bhadraj Trek Inclusions
All accommodations on twin sharing tents as per the itinerary.
All meals during the trek (vegetarian with occasional serving of eggs) including breakfast, hot/packed lunch, and dinner with morning and evening tea Mayali Pass Trek
