Pages From My Travel Journal’22: Brahmatal and Dayara Bugyal Trek

 Brahmatal Trek: 15th to 20th February, 2022

Scared, excited and overwhelmed I reached Dehradun alone. And once I landed, with the freshness of Dehradun, I felt the freshness within me too and then, my journey of travelling and trekking for the first time started with much enthusiasm.

On the first day, we had a drive from Dehradun to Lohajung. The journey from Haridwar to Lohajung was long yet, had magnificent views that will stay in my heart forever. We came across many confluences of rivers and spectacular landscapes all along the drive from Haridwar to Lohajung. We passed through Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag. We also found the confluence of the two purest rivers namely Bhagirathi and Alaknanda at Devprayag. The water was crystal clear and was accompanied by a light blue texture. From Devprayag, we made our journey to Srinagar which was around 40 kilometres. An hour of the drive took us to Rudraprayag which was around 33 kilometres from Devprayag. Here, we found the confluence of the Mandakini and Alaknanda river. The way to Kedarnath starts from Rudraprayag. A further drive of 120 kilometres took us to Lohajung. We started our journey next day early in the morning. Once we reach Lohajung, we could see the beautiful Nanda Ghunti peak and as we reached before sunset, the colour of Nanda Ghunti amazed us. Lohajung, as the locals say, is the place where Goddess Parvati had a war (Jung) with the demon, Lohasur. Hence, the name, which translates to ‘war with Lohasur.’ It is a centre point of close to 12–15 nearby villages.

On day 2, we started early with a few minutes of yoga and healthy exercise. After having breakfast at the previous campsite, we advanced to Bekaltal. The altitude of Bekaltal was around 9,876 feet and it took around 4–5 hours to reach the Bekaltal campsite. The complete trek distance from Lohajung campsite to Bekaltal campsite was around 6.3 Kilometres through some green vegetation with really beautiful serene beauty of the hills. One-third of trail comprised of dense mountain forests covered with oak and fir and the rest through frost. There was a moderate-level ascent through the oak forest. The serene alpine meadows will fill one’s heart with joy. We witnessed a bunch of snow-clad mountain peaks from there and were mesmerized by the awe-inspiring views of the Nanda Ghunti peak. The panoramic landscapes, wide lush green pastures, frozen ice valleys and a thrilling advancement of the trail made the journey a memorable one for us. We also found spring and manmade water points to replenish our water needs. Following the trail, we reached the Bekaltal campsite soon. After reaching the camp, tents were pitched and hot lunch was served. We went to Bekaltal lake for an evening walk which was at a distance of 15 minutes’ walk from the campsite.

On the third day, we trekked from Bekaltal to Brahmatal. This trek was around 7 km in length and it took 4–5 hours to reach the destination. We enjoyed the mountain vegetation and trees en route and the overnight stay was at Brahmatal. We started our day as early as possible. After breakfast, we set out on the journey to Brahmatal from Bekaltal. We witnessed the beautiful sunrise from Bekaltal. During the first 1.3 hours, we found a steep ascent via Bekaltal Lake. Then we found a gradual ascent for a few hours followed by a steep descent and then a gradual ascent till the campsite. We also witnessed the Shivalik range as well as the Greater Himalayas from there. There were no water points throughout the trail and hot packed lunch was served on the trail. After reaching the Brahmatal Campsite, we rested for some time. In the evening, we went to visit Brahmatal Lake which was merely at a distance of 500 metres from the campsite. Dinner was served at night and tents were set up for the overnight stay.

The fourth day was the most important day of the trek. We were destined to conquer the Brahmatal and then descend back to Brahmatal campsite. Brahmatal trek was located at an altitude of 12,600 feet while Brahmatal campsite was located at 10,735 feet. The total trekking distance was around 7.6 kilometres and it would take approximately 5–6 hours to complete the day’s journey. That was ideally a long day but the exhilarating journey to conquer the peak was worth the challenges. We started the day early with a healthy breakfast and set our foot on the journey to the Brahmatal trek. The amazing view of the sunrise as we started to ascend from Brahmatal base camp was breath-taking. The warm rays of the sun incorporated some positive energy amidst the tough terrain. On the further advancement on the trail, we found a small stream that was formed as a result of the melting of the snow. The trail was so deceptive that every passing top felt like the final ascent. After walking for a while, we finally reached Brahmatal. The mountains that were visible include Chaukhambha, Mandir, Mana, Nilgiri, Neelkant, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, and Maitoli to name some of the mountains of the Panchachuli range. The alluring 360-degree panoramic view of the snow-clad mountains of Himalayas was a mind-blowing experience that we are gonna cherish throughout our life. We spent some time at the summit and descended back to the base camp. We had an overnight stay at tent with a delicious dinner which brought us to the end of the tiring yet beautiful day.

On day five, after having early and a healthy morning breakfast, we set out for the next trail which was straight forward to Lohajung village. The schedule was to descend from Brahmatal base camp to Lohajung which was located at an altitude of 7,662 feet above the mean sea level. The total trekking distance was 9 kilometres and took approximately 6–7 hours to complete the journey. We had to descend around 3,000 feet through oak and rhododendron trees. This was a very ecstatic trek which gave us ample time to click endless number of scenic pictures. There was only one water point. We then reached Lohajung by evening and went to explore the lovely village of Lohajungi and buy some handmade stuff which served as a souvenir of the location. A lot of mela and fairs were organized there where we witnessed the tradition and culture of the place. We enjoyed the North Indian cuisine at a nearby Dhaba. The good time was followed by a warm sleep.

On the last day of the trek, we drove back to Dehradun from Lohajung village. A return drive of 300 kilometres on the beautiful trail advanced us to Dehradun where it all began. We again passed through Rudraprayag, Srinagar and Rishikesh. We reached Dehradun by 7 pm. This marked the end of our journey, carrying bag full of memories and experiences with us.

Brahmatal Trek, a truly beauty and mesmerizing place it was! This was my first ever solo journey and really must say, I really enjoyed each and every moment of it. From being brave for travelling alone to meeting new people, the journey was wholesome, I’m gonna cherish this experience forever.

Dayara Bugyal Trek: 10th to 15th November,2022

After going for the Brahmatal Trek, I really wanted to trek more. So, after my exams I thought of trekking to Dayara Bugyal all alone. With much more confidence and excitement than the previous trek, I started my journey for this trek on the 10th of November.

A secluded yet serene village, Raithal was the starting point for the trek. It was around eight hours’ drive from Dehradun. During the drive, I witnessed the scenic beauty of forests, the beautiful Bhagirathi brook, and several paradisiacal sceneries. During the drive from Dehradun to Raithal, I was welcomed with a mesmerizing sunset over the sternly standing mountain Jaonli and the peaks of Draupadi Ka Danda. I also managed to get a glimpse of beautiful Mt. Shrikhand, and the Gangotri Peaks.

On the second day, our adventurous journey started from the base camp at Raithal, where I met theteam and the guide and leader, who guided the batch towards the Dayara top. From there, we moved forward through the alpine forests, towards the campsite at Gui, an ancient and an undiscovered village. After a little break at basecamp, we started our climb upwards, leaving behind Raithal and eventually reaching the pasturelands of the area. The trek of Dayara Bugyal immediately started through the blend of trees and shrubs, of the maple, oak, and pine forests along with wildflowers. From dry leaves crushing beneath our feet to wet plants passing by touching our skin, the trail was amazing. Once we reached the water point, we freshened up a bit, we then continued our trail along the woods of variant oaks. The fragrance of wildflowers became more prominent, as we reached the ending line of the forest.After mapping a few more steps, we reached the campsite. We explored the various forests and the culture of villagers who lived nearby.

On the third day, it was an easy trek through the woods, trek route from Gui campsite to Barnala was a relaxing stroll towards our destination. From there, within thirty to sixty minutes of climbing, we reached Barnala.After lunch, we headed towards the Barnala pasturelands, which was around ten to fifteen minutes climb from the campsite. The meadows of Barnala were as pleasing as the bugyals of Dayara. The vibrant flowers, grazing cattle, and various temples were really pleasing. On the way, also got a glimpse of various igloo-like structures and houses. Further, through the meadows, we climbed on a steep surface, which was the only tough path in our journey, to visit Nag Devta temple. During our journey to this temple, the trekking pole was handy trek equipment. Once we reachedthe temple, we explored it. While our way back to the campsite, we saw the entire belt of Gangotri ranges covered with the hue of the evening sky.

On the fourth day, starting early in the morning, we were lead uphill through the grazing lands of Barnala, entering the forest area again. We enjoyed the shed of trees above us till the next one hour, after which we entered the meadows again. The oak and pine treescheered us up as we climbed. We walked through the meadows filled with bright shades of a variety of flowers, especially rhododendrons. After the strenuous climb, we finallyexplored the exquisite pastures of Dayara, reaching the peak of Dayara. After exploring the meadows of Dayara for some time, we headed towards one of those Chania huts. After getting a bit refreshed, from that Chania hut we easily descended towards Chilapada.

On the fifth day, we woke up quite early to reach Raithal timely. The trail from Chilapada to Raithal was quite similar to the one that we covered on day two. From Dayara, we descended towards the rain shelter, from where we reached the Gui campsite, after an hour. While continuing our trail from there, we could take the last glimpses of Mt. Bandarpunch, as we left it behind us. After another hour’s trek downwards, we reached the earlier seen water pointwhere freshened up as. Finally, from the water point, we commenced towards our final trek back to Raithal. After reaching the guest house, we took rest and planned our journey further. Our trekking period had officially come to an end.

On the last day, from Raithal’s guest house, I rode back to Dehradun along with some friends from the trek group. We explored the beauty of the state and left for our respective states the next day.

The Dayara Bugyal Trek was truly a magical experience for me. With all those beautiful scenic places locked in my heart, I have promised myself to go for even more solo treks, next year. Trekking is and will always be my favorite thing to do, until I settle amidst the mountains once I’m old!