Roopkund Trek Guide: A Journey You Must Try This Autumn
Sometimes, it becomes overwhelming to put a trekking experience in words. For me, the Roopkund trek has been such an experience. You cannot ignore the profound sense of spirituality palpable here and the beauty of the Oak trees in Gehroli Patal.
At the same time, the Skeleton Lake, with skeletons of humans scattered around from antiquity, triggers deep fear and makes you learn the uncertainty of life.
I am not alone in finding Roopkund Trek (Chamoli district of Garhwal, Uttarakhand), a one-of-a-kind expedition to conquer. Despite a moderate to strenuous difficulty level, many have taken this journey, and many more will be smitten by its beauty.
So, as we have just stepped into October 2024, the trek route awaits you with a clear sky and the best views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Let’s explore the stories and discuss everything you need to know.
What Is Roopkund Trek Distance?
The distance of the Roopkund Trek is around 53 Km. Further, with Kathdogam as your starting point, the trek will take you 6 to 8 days. Kathgodam is well connected through railways to major stations in various parts of the country. You can even fly to the Pantnagar Airport and drive around 35 Kms to reach Kathgodam.
Last year, this trek route was closed, and there were even restrictions on camping in the meadows. I have checked with many tourism companies this year, and they are open to trek trips in October and November.
However, major trek organizers like Indiahikes are not organizing any treks to Rupkund due to the ban on camping in the Alpine meadows.
| Roopkund Trek is one of the best routes for solo trekking in India. It has a moderate+ difficulty level, but it can be easily conquered with the help of local guides. However, you must be good at bargaining to avoid those extra pocket pinches 😜. * Nevertheless, I got my trek guide, ration supplies, gear, and everything else I needed at Lohajung. You can even get your guide, porter, and all these essentials from Wan. *The overall cost for my Roopkund Trek in 2022 was INR 23,120. So, keep a budget of around INR 25000 while traveling this October. |
Nevertheless, I am sharing the itinerary for my trek to Roopkund, which may change based on the weather conditions and difficulties you face.
⁍ 11th October 2022 (Day 1) : My Journey Starts From Kathgodam To Lohajung
The journey from Kathgodam To Lohajung itself is a rewarding experience. In this journey of more than 10 hours, you will come across destinations that stand out as popular tourist spots on the right.
So, don’t make a mistake like me and reserve a day or two more to explore the following places once you return from Lohajung to Kathgodam.
⦿ Bheem Tal
Bheem Tal is the largest lake in Uttarakhand, and according to the Mahabharata, this lake was built by Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers.
Today, Bhim Tal is famous for the Bhimeshwara Mahadev on its bank, paragliding activities, and bird watching (winter).
⦿ Almora
| “These mountains are associated with the best memories of our race: Here, therefore, must be one of the centers, not merely of activity, but more of calmness of meditation, and of peace, and I hope someone to realize it.” – Swami Vivekananda to The People of Almora |
The land of Chand Kings, Almora, is soaked in spirituality. The Nanda Khat, NilKhantha, and other mountains surrounding this municipality in Uttarakhand echo the stoicism of eternal masculinity as depicted in Hindu philosophies.
Further, it has important religious destinations like the Chitail Golu Devta Temple and Maa Nanda Devi Temple.
Moreover, the cultural capital of the Kumaon region, Almora, has names associated with spiritual and cultural icons like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, Guru Dutt, and Zora Sehgal.
September to November is a great time to visit Almora, and you need at least two days to explore the best of this place.
⦿ Kausani
Kausani is famous for the breathtaking vistas of mountains like Panchchuli, Nanda Devi, and Trishul. The Kaushani Tea Estate and the Rudradhari Falls and Caves are two major attractions of this Uttarakhand village.
However, the hidden gem of Kausani is the Anashakti Ashram. This peaceful place is great for meditation, self-contemplation, and spiritual enlightenment.
⦿ Gwaldam
Around 40 Kms away from Kaushani, Gwaldham is famous for its apple orchards and the most scenic view of the Nanda Devi Peak.
Gwaldham basks in its laid-back charm, letting you indulge in the moments of “nothing to do.”
⦿ Dewal
Dewal Village in Chamoli is a beautiful place with Kuman Gad and the Alaknanda rivers flowing nearby. Further, Dewal is a transition point or an important destination for many treks, including Rookund and Devprayag.
⁍ 12th October 2022 (Day 2): The Journey To Didna From Lohajung
I started trekking early in the morning as I had to complete more than 6 Kms of trek on the 2nd day.
The destination for the first lap of our trek was the Ruan Bagad Bridge. It was like a steep descent for around 4.5 Kms. Once I reached the bridge, I took a break for around 10 minutes, filled my bottles with water from the Neel Ganga River, took some snaps, and carried on.
The remaining 2 Km of the Roopkund trek route is a steep ascend to Didna Village.
⁍ 13th October, 2022 (Day 3): Trip To Ali Bugyal
The journey got more strenuous on day 3 as I had to reach Ali Bugyal from Didna before the Sunset. The trek distance was more than 10 Km, and the altitude change was close to 3000 feet.
The first part of this trek is more difficult as you can feel a shortage of breath during the steep ascent through the rhododendron and oak forest. However, the beauty here is breathtaking and humbling at the same time.
After the initial part of the trek, the ascent gets more moderate. You can relax and complete your journey to Ali Bugyal through Alpine meadows.
| Things to Remember: Don’t forget to carry adequate water and ORS solutions, as the ascent is difficult.Keep your gear ready, as you will have to reside in camps.Drinking water will not be available after Tolpani. So, don’t forget to fill your bottles. |
⁍ 14th October, 2022 (Day 4): To Patar Nachauni
After a difficult day 3 trek, day 4 was like a breather. This 7 Km trek route on day 4 comprised 6 Kms of ascent and 1 Km descent.
The first lap of the trek starts from Ali Bugyal and ends at Bedni Bugyal after an ascent of 2 Km. Then, it is an ascent of 4 Km to Ghora Lotani.
Now, I spent around 1 hour at Ghora Lotani. I was feeling nauseous, and a group passing through the route at the same time helped me.
“Didi, Aap Bach Gaye. Nahin toh Ghora Lotani acche accho ke liye khatra ban jata hai” (Sister, it’s great that you survived. Otherwise, Ghora Lotani can cause problems to even the best trekkers). This is what my local guide told me later.
Nevertheless, the lesson learned is that you will wait at Ghora Lotani for some time to acclimate. Then, you will start the descent to Patar Nachauni gradually (1 Km).
⁍ 15th October, 2022 (Day 5): Patar Nachauni To Bhagwabasa
Day 5 was a 4 Km trek, with ascents and a final descent. The main attraction of this route is the Kalu Vinayak or Kelwa Vinayak temple. I reached this temple after around 2.5 Kms of ascent.
I am an ardent devotee of Ganesha, and finding him in a makeshift temple high in the mountains was overwhelming for me. Further, so many bells surrounded his statue and the small temple.
I forgot to ask, but I thought those bells were beyond religious decor or offerings. They may have been useful for shepherds for signaling or communication.
After spending some moments at the temple and catching some breath, I climbed down more than 1 Km to reach Bhagwabasa.
I went on a trek in October. So, the terrain was rocky and clear. However, in May and June, this route will be more dangerous with snow covering.
⁍ 16th October, 2022 (Day 6): Bhagwabasa, Roopkund And Back To Bedni Bugyal
From Bhagwabasa to Roopkund, it’s a 3 Km trek. Remember, this is the toughest section of the Roopkund trek.
Further, I was not ready for what I saw when I reached Roopkund. I knew that the Lake had skeletons scattered around it. However, I did not imagine there would be so many.
In October, there is no trace of ice near Rupkund. So, the skeletons and skulls are also visible with the eeriest smile.
However, in May and June, the skeletons get covered with snow, making the area look the most beautiful.
I have never known a place that is such a spiritual destination and a dark tourist spot simultaneously.
⁍ 17th October 2022 (Day 7): Back To Lohajung
Trekking on day 7 was the longest and involved continuous descents. My left knee almost gave up after I reached Wan Village. Luckily, the trek ended there, and we had a car waiting to take us back to Lohajung.
Patar Nachauni
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Ghora Lotani
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Bedni Bugyal
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Doliya Dhar
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Ghaeroli Patal
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Neel Ganga
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Ranka Dhar
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Wan Village
The journey from Wan Village to Lohajung by car was arduous, and the road conditions were not great. Based on the road conditions, it will take 45 minutes to 1 hour.
⁍ 18th October 2022 (Day 8): Back To Kathgodam From Lohajung
Take a drive of around 10 hours to reach Kathdogam from Lohajung.
The Roopkund trek is not for beginners, and I am being honest with you. Even if you make it to Bhagwabasa, the next 3 Km to Roopkund will be very challenging.
Especially in this lap, your ability to acclimatize and balance your energy levels will help. Also, the terrain here is rugged, posing more difficulties for an amateur or beginner.
What Is The Roopkund Trek Best Time?
The best time to try the Roopkund trek is around summer and autumn. Summer months include April to June. Further, the autumn trek here starts in September and continues till November.
The table below shows the highlights of the Roopkund trek in summer and autumn.
| Roopkund Trek Season | Months | Highlights |
| Summer | April, May, June | ► The Rupkund Lake transforms into snow. ► Other parts of the trek route are covered with snow. ► Trekking becomes more difficult with snow, making the terrain slippery. ► Human skeletons around the lake are not visible due to snow accumulation. ► The availability of drinking water is higher during the summer trek to Rupkund. |
| Autumn | September, October, November | ► Drinking water sources have become scarce. ► Trekking is easier during autumn. ► You can see the human skeletons around the Rupkund Lake. ► You will love the lush greenery around the route during autumn. ► Autumn trekking offers the best views of the mountains and valleys with clear skies and moderate weather conditions. |
So, block the dates this autumn and get ready to explore the mysterious skeleton Lake in Uttarakhand.
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