Trekking in the remote areas of the Himalayas is often accompanied by folklore and stories. The locals in the base villages often have stories of mysteries and beliefs, sometimes tales of the past.
Bagji Bugyal, adjacent to Bageshwar and Chamoli remains untouched by the maddening crowd. The Bugyal is spread over a large area and situated at an altitude of 11100 ft. above sea level. Its unending meadows spread like a lush green carpet in spring with wildflowers adding a riot of colors. The same meadow is covered in the colors of autumn in October, and it turns into shades of golden. The trail is secluded with hardly any trekkers on the way. You traverse through unexplored forests, picturesque campsites, and a trail full of small streams flowing. The route is decorated with coniferous forests till the forest area concludes and the grassland opens.
The trek offers you majestic views of view of Mt. Satopanth (7075 m), Mt. Chaukhamba (7138 m), Mt. Trishul (7120 m), and Mt. Nanda Ghunti (6309 m). The mountains present you with a clear and crisp views as the sky remains clear during the autumn season.
The towering mountains, the sound of nature, and the calmness of meadows offer you an absolute wilderness experience. Bagji’s Bugyal trail has rare flora and fauna. If you are lucky enough, you’ll get to witness Musk Deer and Monal at the Bugyals.
Blessed with mountains, meadows, and virgin forests, Bagji Bugyal is a perfect getaway if you are longing to be in the wild. The 6 days-long trek lets you witness and experience the rawness of nature in its full glory.
The base camp of Bagji Bugyal Trek is Ghes, a remote village in the Eastern Garhwal. To reach the base camp of Bagji Bugyal, plan your travel to the nearest airport or the railway station well in advance. The base camp is around an 8 to 10-hour drive from Dehradun city.
The distance between Dehradun and Ghes is approximately 292 km. Ghes is a quaint village located in the Dewal block of Chamoli District that still retains its traditional charm, and remains untouched by modern-day practices. As you make your way to Ghes, you will pass through scenic uphill narrow lanes and be greeted by the sight of traditional Garwali houses painted in bright hues of blue or yellow with stone slate roofs, adding to the beauty of the place.
OWLS helps to arrange the pick-up from Dehradun to Ghes for the participants. The pick-up will be available at the Inter-State Bus Stand, Dehradun (ISBT Dehradun). Reach the pickup location at 6 a.m.
The base camp Ghes is around 292 km and is a 10- 11 hrs drive from Dehradun. Dehradun is easily accessible by air, train and road. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant International Airport in Dehradun. You can book your tickets well in advance till Dehradun to avail of tickets at cheaper rates. You can choose to travel by air from any metro city to Dehradun. The other option is to reach Delhi by air and travel by train or bus from Delhi onwards.
If you are reaching Dehradun by air, here are a few options for planning your travel.
Dehradun Airport is well connected with all the metro cities. Book a direct or connecting flight to Dehradun. If you plan to reach Dehradun by air, ensure to land in Dehradun on Day 0.
Dehradun city is 32 km away from the Jollygrant Airport. It takes 1 hour to reach the city. You can opt to hire a cab/auto directly from the Airport. The other option is to exit the Airport complex and book an auto. The charges for prepaid cabs at the airport are exorbitant. Another low-cost alternative to get to Dehradun city is to travel on a city bus. Walk towards the Dehradun – Rishikesh highway and hop on a shared auto or city bus. You will have to wait for the bus. Regular city buses run between Dehradun and Rishikesh almost every half an hour.
If you land in Dehradun on day 0, book a hotel or dorm near ISBT, Dehradun. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam’s hotel is 10 minutes away from ISBT and offers rooms at reasonable rates. They have economical as well as deluxe rooms.
OWLS pick-up will be available on Day 1 at ISBT Dehradun at 6. a.m.
This option will be economical for you. Flight to Dehradun will be slightly priced higher than flight to Delhi. To cut down your travel budget, fly to Delhi, then get on a bus or train from Delhi to Dehradun.
You can book and find bus options at UTC Online or Redbus. Another option is to go to Kashmere Gate and book a bus offline. Try to board a bus or train which will arrive in Dehradun on the evening of Day 0. Reaching Dehradun on Day 0 helps you to rest before your trek starts on Day 1.
If you want to travel overnight, Nanda Devi Express runs daily and departs from H. Nizamuddin at 11.35 p.m. and arrives at Dehradun early at 5.40 a.m. Overnight Volvo AC buses also run frequently between Delhi and Dehradun. It takes 6-7 hours to get to Dehradun from Delhi. How to plan your return flight/train to Delhi.
Your Bagji Bugyal Trek spans over 3 days, including travel to and from the base camp. The team will be back in Dehradun on Day 3 around 7 and 8 pm.
While returning, you can fly directly out of Dehradun to your city. The second option is to travel by bus or train to Delhi.
If you go with the first option, you can book a direct flight from Dehradun to your city on Day 4.
The second option requires you to travel to Delhi by train or bus. Once you reach Dehradun in the evening, you can head to ISBT Dehradun and book an AC Volvo bus to Delhi and travel comfortably. The other option to reach Delhi from Dehradun is to book a train. If the second option suits you better, book a flight that departs late morning or early afternoon of Day 5. The overnight buses from Dehradun arrive in Delhi in the wee hours. However, it is wise to book a flight departing in the afternoon to avoid rushing.
Some trekkers prefer to stay back for a day and use the buffer day to explore Rishikesh or Mussoorie. You can either stay for a night and explore Dehradun city or proceed home the same evening if flying out of Delhi.
