Roopkund Trek- The Splendid Himalayan Marvel

If you admire the beauty of Nature and fantasize about being in her lap, then probably there is no better option than going on a Himalayan trek and Roopkund is one of the most majestic trek.

The mighty Himalaya offers plenty of spellbinding treks ranging from some easy and leisure treks like Hampta Pass to some very difficult treks like Goecha La Trek. Roopkund is a moderately difficult trek containing every flavor of the Himalayas like deep virgin forests, gurgling brooks, breath-taking campsites, miles of undulating meadows, snow and ice and the taste of a great adventure as you climb from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft in six days.

A Gist on Roopkund Trek

Region: – Uttarakhand
Duration: – 8 Days
Grade: – Moderate To Difficult
Max Altitude: – 16,000 Ft.
Approximate Trekking Km :- 55 Kms.

Experience through my eyes

I unapologetically take pride in my decision of choosing Roopkund as my first ever trek. It was my relentless search for solitude and adventure that drove my decision to pursue a trek in the middle of the virgin Himalayas.

I booked for the trek around 1 month in advance. It was September 2016 and I was travelling alone. The itinerary starts from Kathgodam Railway Station. So I took a flight from Guwahati to Delhi and then a train from Delhi to Kathgodam. The train was mostly flocked by trekkers and backpackers heading towards Kathgodam. On reaching Kathgodam railway station early next morning at around 5.30 AM, we were welcomed by our agency.

Literally our journey starts from this point.

Daily Itinerary and My Experience in Nutshells

Day 1:- Kathgodam to Lohajung; Distance= 210 Kms (Drive); Altitude= 7662 ft.

An areal view of our base site at Kathgodam

At Kathgodam, the respective agencies assembled their trekkers. We introduced ourselves to each other in the vehicle which drove us to the base camp, i.e. Lohajung situated in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. There were murmurs that the previous group could not complete the trek owing to the downpour that came their way. We did not want to meet the same fate and kept our fingers crossed throughout. Thankfully the Gods were kind to us!

The fun already started as all the trekkers began to play antakshri in the vehicle. Our group consisted of 20 trekkers from various states like Delhi, Maharastra, Kerela, Gujrat, Rajasthan, Orissa and more. I was the lone trekker from North East.

We stayed at Lohajung base camp that night where we were briefed about the trek along witha few basic instructions. We were also allowed to keep our extra luggage at the camp and also given the option of hiring porters for the trek who carry the bags. I opted to carry my backpack myself.

Day 2:- Lohargunj to Didna Village; Distance= 6.5 Kms; Altitude= 8045 ft.

Its a completely different feeling to be amidst nature, far from the hustle and bustle

We have got companies!

Mules which carried our stuffs

It was the first day of our trek and I could sense the excitement on everyone’s’ face. We were all raring to go after having breakfast. Two guides, two cooks, two helpers and four mules accompanied us on the trek. We trekked through the lean trails towards Dinda Village. Though the temperature was low, the weight of the backpack and the ascending trail made me remove my jacket on the way.

We reached Dinda Village by late afternoon where we would spend the night in a cozy home stay. Delicious dinner was served and we played cards and Charades till late night. The friendship among the group grew instantly and we did not feel as if we were strangers and had met only the other day. The excitement was clearly visible on everyone’s face and all our worries and anxieties henceforth took a backseat.

Day 3:- Didna Village to Ali Bugyal; Distance= 10.5 Kms; Altitude= 11320 ft.

This day the trek was quite steep and tiresome. The trail was treacherous and the temperature gradually began to drop as we ascended. We were awestruck by the beauty of the trail and the freshness of air.

When you walk solitary in the Himalayas all you can hear and feel is your own breath and heartbeat!

It was time for some rest and grab some snacks

We reached the next destination by late noon where we were provided lunch. It is advisable to end the journey by late noon in the Himalayas because the climate in the evening may be unpredictable and harsh. Thunderstorm or rains may come up at any moment without any warning.

My mountain abode

That night we stayed in tents. Tents were fitted by the crew members. We were provided with sleeping bags and fleece for sleeping.

Day 4:- Ali Bugyal to PatarNachauni via BedniBugyal and GhoraLotani; Distance= 7 Kms; Altitude= 12818 ft.

The night was chilly and unless you are accustomed to sleep in sleeping bags you won’t get a proper sleep. Temporary toilets were arranged. However we had to go in search of water. Searching for water is not a problem though as there were small waterfalls from where fresh water can be gathered for drinking, etc.

We were ascending at our own pace

After breakfast our journey for the day started. I found myself alone most of the time during the trek. Though we start together, but everyone had different pace! Walking alone in the Himalaya with breathtaking beauty of Mother Nature all-around and the tranquility and silence where I can only hear my own breath and heart beat was a majestic feeling. I was completely immersed in nature and nothing could make me more ecstatic!

We posed for some pictures

I was resting in my tent with such a view!

Warm-up sessions before starting the trek for the day

We stayed in tents and the night was colder than the previous one. Every night before sleep our guides used to check our oxygen levels to confirm our fitness.

Day 5:- PatarNachauni to Bhagwabasa via KaluVinayak; Distance= 4 Kms; Altitude= 14117 ft.

I woke up at around 5.30 AM and it was damn cold! However, I was already accustomed to use chill water from the falls for drinking and my morning rituals.

The serene and tranquil trail

After breakfast, again we were ready to continue our journey. I admired how the crew always managed to prepare delicious breakfast and hot tea on time. The breakfast varies from Roti sabji, Noodles, Upma, Halwa, etc. and the dinner mostly comprised of Dal Chawal and Roti followed by sweet dish. The lunch also comprised of dal chawal and roti sabji. In the evening were often served with hot tea and pakoda. Everything was properly arranged.

Isn’t it too good to hang up with buddies in such a heavenly place?

The friendship among the group grew day by day. As it is said that birds of same feather flock together, we were also people of same mind trekking together! We often used to play games like cards, antakshiri, charads, etc. after trekking the whole day.

We took a group photo midway. I think it contains all our members!

We explore the nearby areas and spent time in some exotic spots with new buddies sharing our experience of the trek with each other and express our feelings towards the majestic beauty of the nature.

It was a wonderful sight

Each one of us had left their busy life behind. There was no mobile network to disturb, no concern for work and no crowd to care about. We all became free from the worldly entangles and were emerged in ourselves. We could feel the calmness and the silence of our minds.

It’s hard to erase memories of such tranquility. Its a beautiful lake in Patar Nachauni!

We kept walking and walking through the beauty of the Himalayas! It was indeed a nature’s marvel, a spectacular work of art etched by the Gods themselves.

Day 6:- Bhagwabasa to Roopkund to PatarNachauni; Distance= 10 Kms; Altitude= 15755 ft.

This day we will be doing our Summit. We were all very excited and prayed that each one of us completes the feat. The night was extremely cold with temperature going below (-)5 degrees. It was the wee hours of the morning and our tents were already covered with snow flakes. The twilight amidst the snow covered mountains were visible in the distant. It was a spectacular view which could not be imagined until experienced! I sat still and looked upwards to enjoy the beauty amidst the calmness inside me. The time seemed to lose pace and slow down!

We woke up to such beautiful views!

We were ascending toward heaven!

It was going to be a long day as we have to complete the summit and again descend back to Patar Nachauni.

Finally, the destination is nearby!

Rambling at our own pace, we reached Roopkund (the Summit). Roopkund is actually a lake, often called as the Mysterious Skeleton Lake due to the human skeletons, which have been discovered in and around it. There have been various theories on who these skeletons are of and when did they die. Some say that they belong to Japanese soldiers who died here during WWII. Other studies have determined that they are of people from an Indian tribe, who died here in the 9th century because of a severe hailstorm. Some believe that the skeleton belongs to the Palaeolithic age.

Human Skeletons in Roopkund Lake! Its still not known who they belong to…

The weather was pleasant and we continued ahead of our summit to the Junargali pass, which was optional which stands 16700 feet from sea level. It was damn steep and slippery and it took me about 45 minutes to climb. The climb was totally worth the effort! Spending more than an hour at Junargali pass is not recommended, as the oxygen level is very low up there for human survival. The wind was blowing hard and the temperature is on the negative. To be precise the condition was harsh up there and altitude sickness is common.

We thought its worth spending some time gazing at the view!!!

Most of the members from our group made up to the Junargali pass. All we could see around us, were beautiful snow laced mountains and snow filled landscapes etched in multifarious hues borrowed from Paradise. I chided my memory to recall if I had seen something more beautiful than what I was surrounded by. The BIG HIMALAYAN SPECTACLE were by far the most majestic and serene view I had ever witnessed in my lifetime.

Its the perfect freedom of the soul!

We were damn excited about everything. Mission accomplished!

The Summit

Now it’s time to descend. We gradually descended towards Patar Nachauni.

The camps where we will spend the night

I can keep walking throughout my life in such a heaven!

We camped the night. All of us felt a sense of accomplishment. We were awake till late night in the open sky full of stars.

Day 7:- Patar Nachauni to Lohajung via Bedni and Wan; Distance= 15 Kms; Altitude= 7662 ft.

Today is the last day of the trek. Completing the trek so smoothly was only in my dreams. Disoriented, overwhelmed, nostalgic; I could barely contain myself as a multitude of feelings launched at me all at once. I was happy, because I had checked another item from by bucket list, made new friends, had some lifetime experience. At the same time, a tinge of sorrow had touched me because a beautiful journey is about to end.

I consoled myself with the words that life is a continuous journey and it is our choice to make it beautiful always. Anyways, I am going to carry memories which will be my lifelong treasure!

That night we had a grand party!

Day 8:- Loharjung to Kathgodam; Distance= 210 Kms (Drive)

The day of departing had finally come. We were driven to Kathgodam railway station. We parted from the group members with a promise to keep in touch through the Whatsapp group!

I reached home with some sweet lifetime memories, new friends, more confidence, and yes; Sunburn!

Please note: Presently the Roopkund Trek is banned by the Hon’ble High Court of Uttarakhand keeping in mind the importance of conservation of the sensitive biodiversity of the meadows.