Dayara Bugyal Trek

Vast meadows, snow covered landscapes & more!

A great Trek for Beginners & Families

Duration
4 Days
Trek Altitude
12,447 Feet
Destination
Uttarakhand
Trek Distance
20 KM
Group Size
12
Best Time
All Year

Dayara Bugyal Trek

Barnala Tal at Barnala Meadows on the way to Dayara Bugyal

Dayara Bugyal-Stairway to Heaven, is a beautiful alpine meadow situated in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India. The trek to Dayara Bugyal is popular among trekkers and nature enthusiasts, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks. Dayara Bugyal is a meadow trek that can be done in either 3 days or 5 days depending on the route that you follow. The Dayara Bugyal Trek routes offer you two starting points to choose from. The trek starts either from Raithal or Barsu and often is done in a loop with trekkers returning to the same base camp they start the trek from, i.e. Raithal or Barsu. Another unique option is to start the trek from Raithal and end the trek at Barsu. This unique itinerary allows trekkers to experience more in the same trekking duration. The Dayara meadows are known for their beauty and the lush green meadows turn into a sprawling snow ground during the winter months and are ideal for skiing or snowboarding as well. This is usually possible from December end to early March. The Dayara Bugyal Trek difficulty level is considered to be easy. A 10-year-old can also complete this trek without facing any problems Views of the Gangotri range reward the trekkers and peaks such as Srikantha (6,133 m), Jaonli (6,632 m) & Draupadi ka Danda are visible. On the route, we go through amazing Oak forests. While descending from Dayara towards Barsu, we come across Barnala Meadows with Barnala Tal, a small lake with beautiful views of snow-capped peaks in the background. You can alternatively check out the 3-Day Dayara Bugyal Trek if planning for a shorter visit such as a weekend. Both the Dayara Bugyal Trek itinerary are available on our website. Dayara Bugyal winter trek is a great alternative to the crowded Kedarkantha trek in peak winters when trekkers in huge numbers visit Kedarkantha. The trek will have ample snow and rhododendrons along with pine trees offering great contrasting views.

Weather Overview:

Dayara Bugyal experiences distinct weather patterns, with the temperature varying significantly across seasons. Dayara bugyal in the winter months from November to March the meadow is blanketed in snow creating a mesmerizing winter wonderland trekand the temperature can drop below freezing, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a snow-filled adventure. In contrast, the summer months, from April to June, bring milder temperatures and lush green landscapes. The daytime temperatures range from comfortable to cool, offering a pleasant environment for trekking and exploration.

Dayara Bugyal Trek in Various Seasons-

The trek is accessible during various seasons, each offering a unique experience. Here's a brief overview of Dayara Bugyal trek in different seasons:

In Winter:

Dayara Bugyal transforms into a snowy paradise trek place, temperatures in winter, from December to February hover between 8°C and 12°C during the daytime and drop to chilly -5°C to -10°C at night. The landscape, draped in white, offers a magical experience. Soft snowflakes decorate pine trees, creating a cozy, Christmassy ambiance. However, be prepared for the trek's increased difficulty due to the snow. Dayara Bugyal's snow time is most probably in the last week of November, and the first snowfall is truly a fantastic and awe-inspiring moment for trekkers.

In Spring:

Dayara Bugyal trek undergoes a magical transformation, as spring unfolds, daytime temperatures range from 13°C to 17°C, dropping to 0°C at night in the month of March and April. The last traces of winter snow begin to disappear, revealing vibrant greenery and blooming flowers. Rhododendrons add a splash of color to the trees, creating a picturesque contrast of snow, greenery, and blossoms.

In Summer:

Dayara Bugyal basks in warmth, with daytime temperatures ranging from 18°C to 20°C, dropping to 5°C at night in the summer months of May to June, Most of the snow has melted, and the meadows turn bright green. While the air carries a distinct summer fragrance, the trek is at its easiest during this time, making it suitable for family adventures. However, be prepared for hazier views due to dust and pollen.

In Autumn:

In Autumn, Dayara Bugyal transforms into a riot of colors, daytime temperatures range from 12°C to 15°C, dropping to 2°C at night in the month of September and October. The absence of snow reveals golden meadows and fiery red maple leaves against the backdrop of clear blue skies. This season offers the sharpest mountain views, making it ideal for capturing the majestic Gangotri range and Bandarpoonch through your camera lens.

Dayara Bugyal Current Forecast:

For those planning a visit, keeping an eye on the current weather conditions is crucial. The temperature in Dayara Bugyal weather forecast may vary, so it's advisable to check the latest updates before embarking on your journey. Weather forecasts are readily available, ensuring that you are well-prepared for your trek or exploration.

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit Dayara Bugyal is in the spring when the meadows are in full bloom, specifically in March and April, when the weather is favorable, and the meadow is alive with vibrant flora. This period provides a unique opportunity to witness the beauty of the Bugyal in full bloom. However, for those seeking a winter wonderland experience, the snow-covered landscape from December to February is simply enchanting.

How to reach the basecamp of Dayara Bugyal Trek: Barsu or Raithal-

Embarking on the Dayara Bugyal trek, which commences from the Barsu and Raithal village, covers a distance spanning approximately 9 to 10 kilometers. The beauty of this trek lies not only in its distance but in the gradual altitude gain, making it an ideal expedition for beginners seeking a taste of the Himalayan trails. Even though the Dayara Bugyal trek is not hard in terms of difficulty, it is still important to undergo proper acclimatization before embarking on the trek. The trek starts from Barsu, situated at 7,670 feet, and gradually ascends to Dayara Bugyal trek with an awe-inspiring altitude of 11,950 in feet from the mean sea-level. This gradual elevation allows for a more comfortable acclimatization process, ensuring trekkers can fully enjoy the stunning landscapes without undue strain. For those journeying to Dayara Bugyal from Delhi or Dehradun, reaching the basecamp Barsu is essential. Barsu is accessible by road, serving as the starting point for the trek to the mighty Dayara Bugyal. Trekkers embark on a scenic journey from Barsu, venturing through captivating landscapes to reach the breathtaking heights of Dayara Bugyal on foot. The journey covers approximately 450 kilometers from Delhi and about 182 kilometers from Dehradun. Travelers are treated to picturesque scenes as they wind through the roads leading to this charming starting point. To mitigate altitude-related concerns, it is advisable to spend a day acclimatizing in Barsu before commencing the trek. This precaution ensures a safer and more enjoyable experience, allowing trekkers to adjust to the changing altitudes gradually. The Dayara Bugyal trek from Barsu promises a memorable Himalayan adventure for both novice and seasoned trekkers alike. Also, the trek starts from Raithal, is a scenic 9-hour drive from Dehradun. Passing through picturesque forest landscapes and Mussoorie. From Raithal to Dayara Bugyal is at a distance of 9 km via Gui campsite.

Mountain Peaks Visible During Dayara Bugyal Trek:

The whole trek is filled with astonishing natural scenery. Not only you will traverse through beautiful Himalayan forests and meadows, but you will also be able to spot some of the most famous and beautiful snow-capped mountain peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Some of the most beautiful Himalayan peaks are Mt. Gangotri I,II,III along with Mt. Jaonli, Mt.Bhrigupath, and Mt. Thalaysagar.

Hotel Options in Dayara Bugyal Trek:

In Dayara Bugyal, accommodation options are limited, with a few hotels available. However, camping is an excellent choice to fully immerse in the mountain's beauty. Numerous campsites in Dayara Bugyal provide tents, sleeping bags, and camping gear for rent. One notable option is Dayara Resort Barsu, a lovely retreat at the base of Dayara Bugyal. The resort offers various lodging choices, including tents, cottages, and dormitories. It also features a restaurant, a bar, and a swimming pool, providing comfort and amenities for a pleasant stay amidst nature.

The Special Goat Village in Dayara Bugyal:

Dayara Bugyal is also renowned for its snow-capped peaks, lush meadows, and crystal-clear streams, Dayara Bugyal holds a unique charm – the Bakra Basti, or the "Goat Village." This village is home to goats that reside in the meadow throughout the year, contributing significantly to the local villagers' income.

Dodital Dayara Bugyal Trek:

Dodital and Dayara Bugyal are two of the most popular trekking destinations in the Garhwal Himalayas. From Dodital to Dayara Bugyal trek is a challenging but rewarding 7 to 8-day trek that takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery in the region. The trek starts at the village of Agoda (7,382ft) and goes via Dodital, located at an altitude of 3,310 meters (10,860 feet). From there, you will hike through forests, meadows, and mountain passes before reaching Dayara Bugyal.

The Unique Butter Festival in Dayara Bugyal:

Dayara Bugyal is renowned for its Butter Festival. The high-altitude Butter Festival, known as Anduri Utsav, is indeed a unique and special celebration in Dayara Bugyal. Held annually during Sankranti, this festival is a local celebration of gratitude to Mother Nature. Villagers bring their cattle to Dayara's grasslands, expressing their love for the meadows that provide fodder. The festivities kick off with around 500 villagers playing Holi with buttermilk on Dayara's slopes, creating a joyful spectacle. Locals sing, dance, and rejoice with butter-smeared faces. Following this, children present cultural programs, showcasing Lord Krishna in elaborate skits with costumes and makeup, adding a charming touch to this unique celebration.    

Customize Your Trek:

In Himalaya Shelter, we provide you with the option to customize your trekking experience. Whether you're a solo traveler, a group of friends, or a family, you can opt for our personalized tailor-made trekking program. This customized trek will be exclusively designed for you, taking into account your specific requirements for transportation, accommodation, meals, and any other premium facilities you may need during the trek. No other participants will be added to your group. Choosing a customized trek will enable you to fully enjoy the trek with your loved ones. Click here to learn what a Customized Trekking program looks like.  

Itinerary

Drive: 190 km, 7-8 hrs

Altitude Gain: 2,100 ft – 5,905 ft

Accommodation: Hotel / Guest House

Meals: Dinner

 

We start our trip from Dehradun railway station at 6:00 am and move towards Raithal village. It takes around 8 hours to reach Raithal. Raithal village is the base camp for the Dayara Bugyal trek which is 32km from Uttarkashi and it's on the way to Gangotri. We will be passing through Mussoorie, Chamba, and Uttarkashi. There will be an Overnight stay at Raithal in a Homestay or Guest House.

Trek: 5 km, 2-3 hrs

Altitude Gain: 5,905 ft – 9,500 ft

Accommodation: Alpine Tents

Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

 

After early breakfast, we begin our trek. Raithal to Upper Raithal is a quick hike of simply 1 km which may be effortlessly performed in much less than an hour. It is a perfect campsite to mark the start of the trek with beautiful views of Mt. Shrikanth, Mt. Jaunli & Mt. Draupadi ka Danda.
Moving ahead you’ll witness a stunning forest full of flora and fauna. A 4 km step-by-step ascending course from Upper Raithal ends in shepherd huts at Gui, an old-fashioned little hamlet instantly out of a mythical world. We will set up our campsite at Gui. This day trek is going through open land and dense woodland at exceptional locations. You will witness igloo huts a beautiful lake(Gui taal) in Gui, a majestic landscape of Rhododendrons, and a forest covered with Silver oaks and deodar trees.
Visible peaks from the Gui base camp will be Mt.Shreekantha, Mt.Gangotri, Mt.Jaunli, and more.

Trek: 7 km, 4-5 hrs

Altitude Gain: 9,500 ft – 11,950 ft – 9,500 ft

Accommodation: Alpine Tents

Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

Wake up at sunrise to witness the spectacular beauty of Dayara Bugyal. Starting from Gui to Dayara Bugyal.
Dayara Bugyal is one of the most beautiful meadows in India. it’s Vast and pristine and offers different landscapes in different seasons. You can explore the region. Soak in the divine peace the Himalaya offers you. After having packed lunch, we will start descending following the same route. On this day, we can explore the nearby Gidara Bugyal and walk on the ridge connecting Dayara to Assi Ganga Valley. The Banderpunch massif, Mt Gangotri, Draupadi ka Danda, and the Black Peak can be seen clearly from here. Early in the evening, we will reach back to our campsite at Gui.

Trek: 5 km, 2-3 hrs

Drive: 190 km, 7-8 hrs

Altitude Gain: 9,500 ft – 5,905 ft – 1,200 ft

Meals: Breakfast

Today, after having breakfast, we will trek downhill back to Raithal and board the vehicles to leave for Dehradun. Travelling through the Himalayan roads will be a mesmerizing experience for you. After enjoying the journey, we will arrive back in Dehradun at night around 8 p.m. You can plan your further travel accordingly.

Upcoming Treks

  • January 27, 2024 open
  • January 28, 2024 open

  • February 3, 2024 open
  • February 10, 2024 open
  • February 17, 2024 open
  • February 24, 2024 open

  • March 2, 2024 open
  • March 9, 2024 open
  • March 16, 2024 open
  • March 23, 2024 open
  • March 30, 2024 open

  • April 6, 2024 open
  • April 13, 2024 open
  • April 20, 2024 open
  • April 27, 2024 open

  • May 4, 2024 open
  • May 11, 2024 open
  • May 18, 2024 open
  • May 25, 2024 open
  • May 31, 2024 open

  • June 1, 2024 open
  • June 8, 2024 open
  • June 15, 2024 open
  • June 22, 2024 open
  • June 29, 2024 open

FAQS

  • The trek is easy to moderate. Children above 12 years of age can trek without any issues.
  • It is an easy trek and highly recommended for beginners, thus called ‘pre-trek’ .Amongst the high-altitude treks, this is the least risky.
  • The initial 1km from the base camp to the forest as well as the climb to the dayara top at the end is steep which will test your stamina.

  • Hard snow is prone to slips. A small slip can result in injuries like a ligament tear, a sprained ankle or even a fracture. Thus you should wear your microspikes while climbing the steep sections in snow.
  • At high altitudes, there’s a high chance of getting acute mountain sickness. You should watch out for symptoms like headache, dizziness, fatigue and weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, etc.

  • The trek can be done all year round except monsoon, although, the best season to visit Dayara Bugyal is from May to November. However, it receives a lot of tourist visits this during winters as well, mainly because of the refreshing snowfall.
  • The trek looks different in all different seasons.

The trek can be done all year round except monsoons.

  • Breathtaking snow covered peaks like Bandarpooch, Bhagirathi and Black Peak are visible.
  • The peaks of Draupadi ka Danda, Srikantha and Jaonli are visible easily.

 

  • The trek gives you the opportunity to visit one of the best meadows in Uttarakhand.  
  • This is an ideal place to ski in the months of January to March.
  • It offers clear views of the Gangotri range.

You will find the last ATM at Uttarkashi. However, there’s chances the last ATM might run out of cash, so be prepared beforehand.

BSNL and VI are both available at both Raithal and Barsu.

Electricity is available at Raithal and Barsu

The district hospital in Uttarkashi is the closest. Uttarkashi is an hour drive from  Raithal or Barsu.

Dayara Bugyal trek is one of the most beautiful yet one of the easiest treks in the Himalayan region. A 10-year-old can also do this trek without any trouble.

Dayara Bugyal is a 20km long trek which can easily be completed in the span of 3 to 5 days.

In Uttarakhand, there are 4 main treks that you can embark on during winter.

  1. Kedarkantha Trek
  2. Dayara Bugyal Trek
  3. Kuari Pass Trek
  4. Chopta-Tungnath-Chandrashila Trek

All these four have their unique beauty.

  1. Kedarkantha is a summit trek that offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding summits. Moreover, witnessing the sunrise from the Kedarkantha summit is an unforgettable experience.
  2. Dayara Bugyal Trek is one of the most beautiful and easiest winter treks in the Himalayan region. It offers a mesmerizing view of the thick forests and snow-covered meadows. Srikantha Peak, Gangotri 1-2-3 Peaks, Jaloni Peak, Pagaria Peak, Rakhau Peak, Draupadi ka Danda Peaks, Shastru Peak, and Bandarpoonch 1-2-3 Peaks are visible from Dayara Bugyal.
  3. Kuari Pass Trek is also a summit trek with an easy to moderate difficulty level. This trek offers you views of several well-known mountain peaks like Nanda Devi Peak, Kamet Peak, Drona Parvat Peak, Hathighodi Peak, Neelkanth Peak, Burma Peak, Nilgiri Peak, Chaukhamba Peak, Chauwau Peak, Mana Peak, Deoban Peak, and many more.
  4. Chopta-Tungnath-Chandrashila Trek is more of a spiritual trek. Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in Asia, offering magnificent views of snow-covered mountains. The Tungnath Temple remains closed during the winter season.

Reviews

1 review for Dayara Bugyal Trek

  1. Avatar

    Aleen

    This trek we did in last week of April22. We never thought we will be able to complete. The support staff of Trepan, Mukesh and Shyam Chacha(cook) ensured that we did, with encouragement, physical support and fantastic (sumptuous) food along the way. The tents were clean and appropriate, the two guest house night stay was very good in terms of location and comfort. The Force traveller was comfortable. Recommend 100%.

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Inclusions
  1. Transport support from Dehradun to Dehradun
  2. Pick-up location: Prince Chowk, near Dehradun Railway Station
    Pick-up Time: Around 7:30 am
  3. All vegetarian meals starting from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the last day
  4. Professional Guide, Cook and Support staff
  5. First-Aid kit with Oximeter and Portable Oxygen Cylinder
  6. Kitchen tents, common tents, toilet tents with portable toilet seats
  7. Rent for camping equipment like Clean sleeping bags and foam mattresses, Good quality ‘A’ shaped or dome tents, Camping stools, Table and Crampons and gaiters if required
  8. Forest entry charges for Indian nationals (Additional charges will be applicable for international tourists)
  9. Porter and mule support to carry camping equipment and NOT personal luggage
  10. Accommodation throughout the trek on a triple-sharing basis
  11. Guesthouse accommodation on the first and second last day on a triple-sharing basis
  12. All applicable taxes
Exclusions
  1. Personal expenses like tips, personal medicines, phone calls etc.
  2. Any transport support during the trek apart from what is included above
  3. Any cost or services not mentioned in the Inclusions
  4. Accommodation in Dehradun
  5. Adventure Insurance
  6. Cost arising due to unforeseen incidents like bad weather, medical evacuation, roadblocks etc
  7. Porter and mule support to carry personal Luggage can be arranged at an additional cost of INR 350 per bag per day (weighing up to 12 kg)
  8. Please carry a lunch box for packed lunch/breakfast to avoid using polythenes and Aluminium foils. Keeping the Himalayas clean is our own responsibility. Reduce the use of Plastic when you are in the abode of the Sacred Himalaya. 🌱