Dayara Bugyal - Uttarakhand's Most Revered Meadow!

 Meadows are perfect destinations for quick or short getaways. Dayara Bugyal, an extraordinarily beautiful meadow perched in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, is an exceptionally famous tourist hotspot, usually crowded with trekking enthusiasts from across the country. 

 It belongs to the Eastern Himalayan Alpine Meadow family of Uttarakhand and unfolds into exotic, mind-boggling views of nature in its absolute rawness. Occupying an area of 28 sq km, the Dayara Bugyal rises to a whopping height of 12,100 ft and continues to bewilder travelers with its peculiar beauty.

Wide screen views of epic mountain ranges such as the Gangotri Range, Bandarpoonch Range, and the Garhwal Himalayas are easily accessed on the Dayara Bugyal trek and that is precisely why this trek remains highly drooled over.

Every trekking company that executes the Dayara Bugyal trek, starts the trek from the enticing city of Dehradun since Dehradun remains the easiest gateway to the Dayara Bugyal trek. The Dayara Bugyal trek officially begins from Natin village that lies approximately 180 km away from Dehradun. There are many ways to reach Natin village from Dehradun. One can opt for public as well as private transports for the same. If you opt to do the trek with a trekking company, then they usually include the transportation from Dehradun to Natin in their package.

The drive from Dehradun to Natin village is extremely pleasant and soothing. It allows you to witness many iconic mountain peaks of the Gangotri Range and the Garhwal Himalayas. The Srikantha Peak of the Garhwal Himalayas remains the most prominent and will keep resurfacing every now and then as you traverse through the region to reach Natin. This drive lasts roughly for 7 hours.

After enjoying a blissful sleep, trekkers begin the first day of the Dayara Bugyal Trek with a short hike to Gui. Gui is a fascinating campsite that lies 3.5 km away from Natin. The route from Natin to Gui is embellished with thick forests of Oak and Rhododendrons.The trail ascends gradually allowing you to thoroughly enjoy the scenic views of the valley as you rise higher and higher. Remote villages encapsulated by vibrant alpine trees will indicate the close lying Gui. Located at an altitude of 9,500 ft, Gui unfolds into breathtaking views of the Gangotri Range. You will be astonished at the clarity and unfiltered magnificent views of the Gangotri Range accessed from Gui.

The mind-boggling aspect of the Dayara Bugyal trek is the transitioning landscape that switches from appearing milky white, snow smothered during winters, vibrant and lush green during summers, and a hybrid of both during spring. During each peak season, this Himalayan Alpine Dayara Bugyal puts on a refreshing aspect to it and offers surreal, almost utopian views of the region. It is splendid and thrilling how the Dayara Bugyal continues to arrest travellers with its electric charmer all around the year.

Roughly 3 km away from Gui lies Chelapada, the next stop on the itinerary, perched at 9,800 ft. The trek to Chelapada from Gui begins on the third day and remains the easiest part of the entire Dayara Bugyal trek. Since the difference in ascent from Gui to Chelapada is just 300 ft, this hike is completed relatively quickly. The trail from Gui dives into thick forests of Oak and Rhododendrons and swiftly emerges out of sparsely forested areas of the region that open into the campsite of Chelapada. This hike is covered in roughly 2 hours which allows trekkers to chill and rest for the remaining part of the day.

The fourth day of the expedition marks the climb to Dayara Top. Dayara Top nestled at an altitude of 12,100 ft lies 6 km away from the campsite of Chelapada. This hike from Chelapada to Dayara top remains the most anticipated part of the entire expedition. The trail from Chelapada sneaks into sparse forests and gradually ascends to the Dayara Top. As you reach closer to the Dayara Top, you will be overwhelmed and completely stunned by the jaw-dropping grandeur of the Himalayan Alpine meadow gracefully lying 12,100 ft above sea level. What adds to the fascination are the transfixing and arresting, magnificent views of the Dodital and Bandarpoonch Ranges.

As you walk over the rising and dipping folds of the sprawling Dayara Bugyal, you will be mesmerized at the discovery of the magical, enchanting and spellbinding panoramic views of the Garhwal Himalayas.

These views are extremely refreshing and remain highly aspired by trekking enthusiasts from all over the country. The effort vs reward ratio of the Dayara Bugyal trek is highly impressive and one of the key aspects that set it apart from other trekking expeditions.

Such grand views of the Garhwal Himalayas, eminent mountain peaks and unexploited wilderness are not very easily enjoyable otherwise.

Although, it is extremely difficult to resist from camping at the Dayara Top, trekkers nonetheless have to set back their temptations and return to Gui the same day after relishing the electric, goosebumps inducing views of the Gangotri Ranges and the Garhwal Himalayas from the Dayara Top.

After covering a total of 12kms of distance on the fourth day, it goes without saying that trekkers remain dead exhausted and go to bed early that night.

The Dayara Bugyal trek is resumed the next day with a short 3.5 km hike back to Natin Village.

As you retrace the trails to return to Natin from Gui, you will tend to feel a sense of nostalgia. Enjoy the scenic landscapes before you and gradually descend to Natin with a bag full of exciting, happy memories from the expedition. In approximately 2 hours of trekking, you will reach Natin and have the remaining day at your disposal. Admire the scenery and spend the remaining day as you please.

Wake up refreshed and energized on the 6th and last day of the expedition to hop on a 7 hour long drive back to Dehradun. The drive from Natin to Dehradun will offer you the last few chances to snatch glimpses of the relentlessly glorious Garhwal Himalayas. Admire the exotic and bewildering scenery en route and enjoy the pleasant drive back to Dehradun.