Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek

SHORT ITINERARY:

• Upon arriving, guests can enjoy a breathtaking long drive of roughly 7-8 hours which introduces them to various green mountains and hills that eventually lead them to the base camp of Lohajung at the end of the journey where one’s sight is filled with views of the Garhwal Himalayas.

• On the other hand, throughout the journey, the sight of Nanda Ghunti peak can be witnessed while the village offers a calm environment in order to acclimatize before beginning the trek.

• In Lohajung, there are 7-8 villages close which gives the chance to experience the local culture and also indulge in some shopping for various trekking essentials. 

• In those moments, settle down at Lohajung enjoy the beautiful landscapes, and prepare yourself mentally for the trek.

DETAILED ITINERARY: 

The first step towards the Ali Bedni Bugyal is a picturesque drive that takes you to Lohajung, the base camp of the trek. The distance is nearly about 190 kilometers and it is said to be one of the most beautiful tours one can imagine. After Nainital, the road passes through green hills and crooked mountain passes with views of the Garhwal Himalayas in the distance, especially on sunny days. It takes about 7 - 8 hours with the hills being replaced by forests as you get closer to Lohajung.

As soon as you set your eyes on Lohajung, the mesmerizing Nanda Ghunti peak welcomes you. Lohajung is a quaint little village situated at the intersection of multiple mountain ranges, and there's a handful of other villages in the vicinity - around 7-8. The scenic beauty of the village is famous and it makes for an excellent place to get adjusted before getting to the trekking part. Although a few local boutiques do sell trekking materials such as jackets, gloves, and shoes, it is recommended that before one comes here, these pieces of stuff be taken along.



SHORT ITINERARY:

• To get to the beginning of your trek, you will need to get into a car for about 45 minutes which will take you from Lohajung to Wans: what a ride!

• After some time of trek, ancient cypress trees will come into your line of sight as well as two trails. One of them goes to the temple of Latu Devta.

• Lohajung, Wan, and the valley can all be seen and enjoyed at the same time after approximately 30-45 minutes climbing Ranaka Dhar.

• Continue your trek through the beautiful forest of oaks and rhododendron trees until you reach Gehroli Patal campsite where a stunning view of Mt. Trishul awaits you.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

To begin your journey, you take a motor vehicle from Lohajung to Wan. This takes around 45 minutes.

The first road from Wan is cemented and runs through a few houses. After 15 minutes of your trek, there is a small group of cypress trees that are centuries old! It would take four people to go all the way around the tree! Give it a try and wrap yourself around it.

From this point, two marked trails are visible. One goes straight on towards the ridge. The other one is a lateral distance from the shrine of Latu Devta temple. This local hero is Latu Devta who is locally worshipped to guard the area. The mountain folks worship him before venturing onto higher reaches during Nanda Devi Jat Yatra. Listen to the temple bells here and schedule the safe trek before returning to the ascending route towards the ridge of Ranaka Dhar. It takes 30-45 minutes to move upwards from Wan to Ranaka Dhar. At the time when Ranaka Dhar is reached, enjoy the sights of Lohajung, Wan, and the valley under it!

Hereafter, there is a gentle slope to the famous Neel Ganga. The bridge on Neel Ganga can be described as perfect for a relaxing moment. Trees cover the river and the water cascades over rocks in the shade. The water here is soothing and quite cool.

The breathtaking gradual climb to Gehroli Patal, the first campsite, starts at this very spot. The trail which gently winds its course now traverses Oak and Rhododendron trees and the route is covered with layers of dry leaves crumbling and crackling under your trekking shoes. Among the various flora that you will come across on this ascent include walnuts, pears, Himalayan roses, and other varieties. You may even see birds like a flycatcher, magpies, and some others. Do be attentive.

This is an approximately 3-hour trek that takes you to a beautiful grooved area with a green trekkers’ hut and Trishul hilly peak in its vicinity. This is then, Gehroli Patal.

If the day is free of clouds you will get remarkably clear sights of Mt Trishul overshadowing the entire region. This is the place to make your camp for the night.

SHORT ITINERARY:

•  As you keep moving up, cross the oak and rhododendron forests and come to the bedni bugyal with its meadows and bedni Kund in the background. 

• Walk for some time and you will come to Bedni top, the highest altitudinal point of the trek with fantastic views of Mount Trishul and Mount Nanda Ghunti. 

• Be aware of abrupt changes in weather cold, sun shining bright makes way for clouds with sporadic rains. 

• Move in the direction of Ali Bugyal, a large meadow full of horses grazing. From here head on up towards the Abin Kharak campsite, situated on the ridge

DETAILED ITINERARY:

Carry on with your trek and go to the top of the climb where the oak and rhododendron forest is located. A cyclone traces the vertical bars and rather follows them beyond the tree density straight till you reach Bedni Bugyal. In the extreme distance but still hundreds of meters away is located the famed Bedni Kund.

From here, simply go 800 meters straight ahead and you will have arrived at a great vantage point that is the highest point on the trek which is Bedni Top. The greatest views are at the top of the hill. Mt Trishul and Mt Nanda Ghunti all at that time are right in front of you.

The climate in the vicinity is changeable, with shifts that seem haphazard and can be quite breathtaking. The warm, golden sunshine is one moment present, but the following moment clouds rush in delivering a distinct gloom to the area. 

Upon attaining Bedni Top, one would start traversing down towards the main trail. This is the same path used by the other trekkers as well while embarking on the well-known Roopkund Trek, however, today your direction changes towards Ali Bugyal. Paces after following the ridge, the slope becomes gentler while the horizon transforms into mesmerizing panoramic scenes of the vast stretches of meadow.

You are only two kilometers away from Ali Bugyal, which is approximately the same height as Ali Bugyal. It is just two kilometers away. There is beauty here; clouds tumble slowly up the ridge and now and then scatter over the tops of mountains. Herds of horses graze on the meadows at ease while foals dash about without a care in the world and move unchallenged across the wild terrain.

Your journey does not stop here as you are en route to Abin Kharak campsite towards the left of the ridge.

SHORT ITINERARY:

• Start the day by enjoying the view of rolling hills and large green plains and feeling the urge to walk on grass with no shoes to bother you. 

• Start descending from Abin Kharak. 

• Approximately 1.5 to 2 kilometers later, turn left, and you will see a mountain which is the last piece of the landscape making the descent a sight to behold. 

• The path goes through thick oak and rhododendron forests to Didna and beyond where there are nice views of Lohajung Kulling and Wan over the clear stream making it an ideal camping site.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

Take a breath in the morning and let your eyes wander across the beautiful rolling hills over the fields of Ali Bugyal. If you feel the urge to get rid of your slippers and touch the ground with your bare feet, do not resist!

You are right at the edge of a ridge that stretches in all directions like an umbrella. So many square kilometers of green pastures have been carved out from the elevations of the mountain.

Today’s walking goes down from Abhin Kharak to Didna village, during which scenic cotton fields and valleys provide wonderful landscapes.

After taking this breakfast, where you stop at Abhin Kharak, after a distance of around 1.5 km, an unusual feature of the landscape comes into view. So, for a distance of about 1.5 - 2 kilometers, you should gaze straight across to your left. Quite some distance away, one can see the mountaintop you should look out for. As you go down the hills, which is interesting, don’t forget to turn back and witness the sight. This will be followed by a further descent to Tolpani. Here, the woodland continues to adorn the pathway on both sides.

The drop, however, is a pleasant one as it goes through some of the thickest oak and rhododendrons that you will ever see. Below you is a massive brown carpet that is a horizontal layer of leaves. The jungle keeps transforming thunderously every thirty minutes and perhaps is one of the least polluted areas till Didna.

To the right of Didna stretches a clear stream and an ideal campsite. The camping activities around this identified site offer you an opportunity to check into one of the most isolated villages in Uttarakhand. Right across the valley, Lohajung, Kulling, and Wan spanned in a sweep from left to right.

SHORT ITINERARY:

• From Didna village, the trek attacks downhill with steep zig-zag turns towards a meadow that is about 200 feet down, along the outer portions of the village as well as the nearby woods.

• While going down, appreciate the rhododendron, reaching the iron bridge over the river bringing a welcome end to the trek.

• After the bridge, notice the River Wan, in the midst of Bedni Ganga by Raun Bagad, a picturesque riverbank ideal for sitting back and enjoying the mingling of two water bodies.

• From Raun Bagad, two paths are available, one goes to Kulling along the steep gradient and the other through scenic woodlands to Lohajung, the latter would reach by early afternoon for an afternoon nap which was much expected

DETAILED ITINERARY:

Start walking to the right and descend the steep zig-zag down the slope from Didna village, now it is time to head towards a meadow which is located about 200 feet vertically below Didna village. The route passes around the outer limits of the village, taking you around the edge of the woods, where your legs may start to feel fatigued due to the sudden change in altitude. You will also be able to enjoy the melody of nature as it displays thrush calls, and swallows dash through the rhododendrons and other trees. The path slopes down and the iron bridge appearing over the river comes into focus marking the midpoint of the trek.

Just after crossing the bridge comes Raun Bagad, a riverbank location.. At this point, you will be able to lay back and watch the Wan River swell and collide with the Bedni Ganga. This location offers both calm and dramatic beauty with the steep and narrow valley and high cliffs as a backdrop.

It takes about two hours to hike from Raun Bagad to reach Lohajung. The initial trek takes you to Kulling which is a small village located on the hill slopes looking over the Wan River. This particular path is quite strenuous and steep thus making it possible to climb quickly but is also quite taxing. The village is sparse, consisting of twenty houses or so and is surrounded by lush green terraced fields. The second trail on the other hand is more scenic as it leads through thick woods which offer lunch breaks at picturesque sites on a slow but steady incline towards Lohajung. By early afternoon this path brings you to Lohajung where you will relax after an enjoyable day of trekking.

SHORT ITINERARY:

• On Day 6, drive from Lohajung to Rishikesh covering a distance of more than 200 km in about 8-10 hours.

• Take a more scenic route which includes hills and valleys which also comprise a small village with terraced farming.

• Mountainous ranges are visible as the clouds fade away and the greenery makes way for the Ganges River.

• Head to Rishikesh and contemplate your experiences throughout the trek involving a remarkable Ali Bedni Bugyal.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

Begin your return on Day 6 as you drive back to Rishikesh from Lohajung, slightly over 200 km. The drive is long, taking anywhere from 8 – 10 hours, making it quite a pleasant one as well as there are hills and valleys to gaze upon. The smooth curves of the roads pass through little settlements, stepped agriculture as well as wide green stretches. With the view of the mountains behind, it is now the range of hills all along that bring the outline of the Ganges river as one closes in on Rishikesh. It has been a long day for you and as you put your feet up, the memories of the Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek will surely come flooding.