Roopkund Lake Trek Tour

Area: Garhwal Himalayas
Duration: 08 Days (5 days trekking and 3 days travelling)
Best Season: Mid April - June & September - October (Except July & August)
Grade: Moderate
Altitude: 5029 mts
Total Trekking: 60 K.M
About Roopkund Lake Trek
Known for its mysterious surrounding and astounding scenic beauty, Roopkund is a high altitude trek in the base of Trishul Peak and Nanda Ghunti. The maximum height of this trek is 5029 m which adds to the zeal of trekking experience. The trek lies in the Garhwal Himalayas of Chamoli district and offers magnificent views of mountains surrounded by rock- strewn glacier. This 9 days trek goes through moderate to difficult grades and satiates the trekking-obsession of beginners to high altitude experts. The lake at Roopkund is also known as a 'mystery lake' for the human skeletons and remains of horses that are found in huge numbers in the surrounding areas of the lake. These remains are believed to be of around 15th to 16th century when a strong hailstorm took away the lives of hundreds of helpless people who went there for pilgrimage.
Lohajung is the base of this well acclaimed trek which is easily accessible by motor from Rishikesh. Generally the trekking teams drive from Rishikesh to Loharjung witnessing the snow-packed mountains, valleys and rivers. The original trek starts from Lohajung and passes through the village of Didna. In between Loharjung to Didna, there is a small village called Kulling where the bubbling river Neel Ganga flows between Wan and Lohajung. From Kulling a steep ascent leads to RaunBagad which is partly thick and densely dotted by the rhododendron oaks and pine forest. All along the walk the trekkers can hear the whistles of the thrushes and twittering of birds. Catch a glimpse of fork tailed Himalayan Magpie on the branches of Rhododendrons. On the lower levels of Neel Ganga River, Lammergeiers are found soaring over the valley. One can also see yellow throated marten.
The trail to RaunBagad ends at an iron bridge from where the climb to Didina starts. From Didina the trail leads towards BedniBugyal which again passes through Ali Bugyal. The trail from Didina to BedniBugyal is a stiff climb at the beginning and through an easy walk in the middle it ascends towards the end. The undulating Alpine meadows at Ali Bugyal are considered to be among the best in the country which are located atop a ridge.
The trail from Ali Bugyal to BedniBugyal is carpeted with soft green grassland. Those who would like to camp on the Himalaya, Bedni is the ideal place. Witnessing the evening reflection of sunlight on Trishul Mountain peak is a memorable experience. From BedniBugyal one has to lead towards the meadows of GhoraLotani where the vicinity is painted with the shades of olives and browns spread across all directions over the black terrain. Trekkers can witness abundant snow while reaching Bhagwabasa. Further one needs to head towards Roopkund from Bhagwabassa which is a 5 km ascent. There are series of switchbacks and a steep climb over the snow patched route but the stretch is not long and the hard snow is helpful to trek without being worried about the danger.
Roopkund Trek Highlights
Explore the mystery of the Skeleton Lake, Roopkund, witness the years long buried human and animal bones in the snow
Enjoy the breathtaking views of lofty Himalayan peaks like Nanda Ghunti, Chaukhamba&Trishul and Rudragaira
Cherish the sprawling lush meadows of Bedni and Ali
Get an opportunity to visit some of the remotest villages of Uttrakhand
Enjoy the opportunity to camp under the open sky and amidst the stunning landscape
Best Time to Visit Roopkund Trek
Roopkund can be trekked between May and June and August and mid-October. The harsh climatic conditions only provide trekkers with a small window to trek between the 1st week of May to about the 1st week of July. June is the perfect time to witness the twin Bugyals /meadows of Ali and Bedni as by this time, the meadows are in their full spring. Trekking between the last week of August and the first week of October is another good trekking season in Roopkund. The sky remains clear and the weather is perfect for a hike.
Where is the Roopkund?
Roopkund is situated in a remote area of Chamoli District of Uttarakhand State. It is an isolated place with no permanent human settlements in the vicinity, Roopkund is surrounded by glaciers and situated near the base of two Himalayan peaks Trishul, and Nanda Gunti. Despite of its increasing popularity, it generally remains inaccessible for six months in a year because of its high altitude and continuous snow.
How to Reach Roopkund?
By Air:Dehradun is the closest airport for reaching Karnaprayag. Scheduled flights operate to and from several major cities in India.
By Rail:The nearest rail head from Karnprayag would be Haridwar/Rishikesh. Haridwar is well-connected to major cities of India, whereas in Rishikesh the number of trains is comparatively less than Haridwar.
By Road:Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun are well connected from Delhi. One can find taxis to Loharjung from these destinations. On an average, Loharjung is 210 kms from Rishikesh.