Latika is a Senior Content Writer and one of the rare team members who has seen Indiahikes from its initial days. She was among the first few to begin creating content at Indiahikes, documenting treks around Maharasthra, interviewing trekkers and writing their stories.

Latika started trekking after joining Indiahikes and has trekked to Roopkund, Hampta Pass, Kedarkantha, Dayara Bugyal, Tarsar Marsar, and Har Ki Dun.

With a strong background in print media and have worked with several publications. Latika is always hunting for great stories hidden in the folds of the mountains. Horror stories from ancient routes and villages of the Himalayas are her favourite.

She is presently working on bringing out news from the remote trekking regions of our country.

Oct 27, 10.00 a.m.: This time, Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek had an early start. And our first group got to witness a different side of this dense jungle. 

"I have never seen this forest with such green undergrowth!" shares Senior Trek Leader Nitesh Kumar. He has observed the forest three years in a row now. "The water level in the streams is high and the birdlife in the forest is also more vibrant, compared to Dec-Jan season," he adds. 

We have always conducted the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek in December-January. But this time, we started the season in October. This shift allowed trekkers to witness a strikingly green jungle! 

Answering our concerns about hot weather, Nitesh adds, "Surprisingly, it doesn't get hot here in the national park. Trekkers did not feel drained with heat at any point of time. Afternoons are exactly the same as in Dec-Jan, in fact better, with clouds floating in, a gentle breeze blowing, bringing in some moisture. After sun down, one fleece jacket was enough to keep warm," Nitesh shares, describing a perfect weather for trekking.

It's been a promising start  for this year's robust season of Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek, spanning over four months. And we'll soon share more detailed updates from this trek.

We have always conducted the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek in December-January. But this time, we started the season in October.

Lush forests, full of birds welcome trekkers on the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

Chhattisgarh - Jungle trek - Birds - Forest

Please note that this is a special trek designed for stargazing enthusiasts. The trek fee is slightly more than the regular fee. Know more about the trek here. 

This is a trek specially designed for trekkers above 58 years. The trek fee is Rs 3000 more than the regular fee (Please note this is only for Himalayan treks) Know more about the trek here. 

Please note that this is a special trek. The trek fee is Rs 3000 more than the regular fee. Know more about the trek here. 

Please note that the family treks are meant for families with a child/children under 14 years of age. If you do not fit this criteria, you can register for any of our regular groups. Read more about family treks here.

You are joining our waitlist. Your chances of getting a confirmation are high, but not certain. We will notify you as soon as a trekker cancels their trek.

When we brought out new trails in Indian trekking, safety came with us. Back in 2012, we were the first to introduce microspikes, and two years later, pulse oximeters became standard thanks to us. Nobody does safe treks like Indiahikes. In the mountains, emergencies don't care who you're with – everyone knows that when trouble hits, you look for the yellow tents of Indiahikes.

We are India’s safest trekking organisation

We are pioneers in trekking. Since 2007, we have brought out treks that have become India's most famous treks: Roopkund, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Kedarkantha, Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar, Brahmatal, Phulara Ridge—the list goes on. In 2023 alone, we brought out five new treks in Indian trekking. We know treks better than anyone. This comes directly from the reason why Indiahikes was born: to bring out trek information and enable trekkers to trek on their own.

We are pioneers of treks in India

More than 25,000 people trek with us every year. We are the largest trekking organisation in India. 24% of our trekkers come back to trek with us every year. Over 4,000 students from the top educational institutions trek with us every year. Aside from this, families with children choose to trek with Indiahikes knowing that our treks are the safest. We have taken over 8000 children trekking so far, and the number continues to grow. 

We are India’s largest trekking organisation

We focus on designing transformative experiences. Our trek leaders conduct thought-provoking exercises that help you reflect and contemplate. This impact stays with you for a long time. Trekkers return feeling energised, more confident, or developing abilities to deal with difficulties. Many have changed careers, rethought their core values, become more humble, shown gratitude to others, or started a new fitness journey. 

Our treks are transformative

Since 2012, we have pioneered sustainable practices that have become standard in trekking. Using eco-bags, our trekkers have cleared over 120 tonnes of litter from the mountains. We do not carry packaged foods; instead, we serve freshly made food. We do not light campfires; we carry coal to light angethis to keep you warm. Our bio-toilets not only keep our toilets odour-free but also enrich the soil. When you trek with us, you leave mountains better.

We are India's most sustainable trekking organisation

5 Reasons Why Indiahikes

If you are unable to complete a trek, or if you love a trek, you can repeat it with us anytime. You don’t have to pay us for it. See our thoughts behind this here.

You’re guarded with our trek again philosophy

Our thrice-a-day oxi-metre checks keep altitude sickness at bay, never allowing you to reach a point where you need evacuation.

Daily 3-time health checks keep you safe at any altitude

With around 30% of our trekkers being women, all women, including those travelling solo are comfortable to join any of our groups.

Join any group, they are all women-friendly groups 

Our kitchen teams understand your needs as a vegan (or a Jain). We will take special care of your food, even in the remote Himalayas. 

We have specially designed bio toilets to ensure you have no sight or smell in toilets, at the same time making sure the toilets cause no harm to the fragile ecosystem we trek in.

Be comfortable and sustainable with bio toilets

We’ll admit it. Our love for food surpasses our love for minimalism. Expect freshly cooked, multi-cuisine food at all camps, designed to meet your nutritional requirements and keep your taste buds happy!

TREK DIFFICULTY

TREK DURATION

HIGHEST ALTITUDE

SUITABLE FOR

If there is a trek in India that surprises you at every turn, it has to be the Rupin Pass trek. This trek is like an orchestra, building momentum with surprises in scenery every hour. You’ll never see it coming. Allow us to take you through the trek.

To begin with, Rupin Pass is a high altitude mountain pass, climbing to 15,250 feet. The adventure and thrill of ascending to such an altitude in the Indian Himalayas makes it a terrific trek on its own. And then come the surprises.  

The surprises begin even before the trek, on your drive from Rohru over the Chainsheel Pass. Unpaved roads wind uphill through forests, changing views by the minute. The forest is so unique that you will want to step out of your vehicle now and then to admire it. At around 11,000 feet, you burst out of the forests into grasslands. These grasslands stretch far and wide. They last until you reach the Chainsheel Pass. 

On the first day of your trek, the hanging village of Jakha, perched on a ridge, takes you by surprise. The next day, the sudden appearance of the tall and dark coniferous forest about an hour outside Jakha is jaw-dropping. The abrupt end of the forest and the sudden appearance of a snow bridge below you (if early in the season) are equally mind-boggling. 

We are yet to get to Day 2, where the islands of Saruwas Thatch and a sudden view of the famous Rupin Waterfall catch you by surprise. Even though you have heard the waterfall is tall, its sheer 1,500 ft drop takes you by surprise. 

The perfectly “U” shaped glacial valley of Dhanderas Thatch, with hundreds of waterfalls streaming down, make you marvel at how such formations naturally exist. The following day, climbing to the top of the Rupin waterfall over its numerous snow bridges is unexpected. Then, out of the blue, you get to the upper waterfall campsite, with the Rupin river calmly gliding alongside your camp. 

After a long climb from the upper waterfall camp, you step into the vast snowfields of Rata Pheri. It is an alpine setting that is least expected. 

From the edges of Rata Pheri, the first sight of the Rupin gully leaves you in awe, accompanied by an adrenaline rush. When you realise you have to climb the gully to get to the pass, it is an adventure that trekkers least expect. 

The climb to the knife-edged Rupin Pass, the vast slides on the snow after that, and the long grassy descent to the last Ronti Gad campsite are new surprises on the other side. 

The Rupin Pass trek is so full of quick scenery changes that it leaves trekkers breathless until the end. Only when you reach the road at Sangla, do the surprises finally end. 

Count the sudden scenery changes as you do the Rupin Pass trek. It is a unique combination of high-altitude adventure with stunning changes in scenery —a combination so rare that it makes the Rupin Pass one of the top treks to do in India. 

This fee includes everything from base camp to base camp.

Please note: The insurance has to be claimed within 7 days from the specific incident for it to be deemed valid.  

Watch these videos to prepare well for your trek.

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.

Use this section to learn about the Rupin Pass trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. 

Study this map to get a visual cue of the Rupin Pass trek.

➤ Stay facility: The stay at Jiskun and Jakha will be in a lodge, and the rest of the days during the trek are in tents (2 per tent).

➤ Documents required: A copy of your photo id is mandatory for entry at forest check posts on the trek. Since Jiskun will have limited facilities to photocopy, do not leave this till the end. These documents will be part of the Safety Check-in done by the trek leader when you arrive at the base camp.

➤ Cloakroom facility for excess luggage: We have a cloakroom facility available at the Rohru basecamp for extra luggage. It will cost Rs 200 per 10 kg bag. Anything beyond 10 kg is considered second luggage and will be charged accordingly. After the trek, your cloakroom luggage will be handed over to you in Rampur.  

You are going on a Himalayan trek, where there are several unpredictable factors. It's best to book flexible flight tickets, which you can reschedule if required. These are available for a small added cost with most travel companies.

Download the GPX file for your Rupin Pass Trek

We go to great lengths to ensure you have a safe trek. So here’s a GPX file to help you navigate without getting lost.

10 Surprising Twists on the Rupin Pass Trek

Arjun Majumdar, the Founder of Indiahikes, went on the Rupin Pass trek much before he started Indiahikes. He is a veteran of the trekking community in India and one of the earliest to trek Rupin Pass and put it on the maps of our country. Here’s Arjun talking about the trek full of surprises.

What I Like and Don’t Like About the Rupin Pass Trek

The Rupin Pass trek is rated as a moderate-difficult trek. At Indiahikes, while rating a trek difficulty we consider several factors. These include altitude gained every day, length of a trek every day, highest altitude, nature of the terrain, weather, ease of access to and exits from the trail etc. Based on this we rate a trek as easy or difficult or somewhere in between.

The Rupin Pass takes you to a height of 15,279 ft. Trekking to 15,000+ ft brings its share of challenges. By that sheer altitude itself, it takes the trek to the moderate-difficult category. The route from Jiskun to Dhanderas Thatch is more or less straightforward. However, from Dhanderas Thatch onward is where the route gets challenging. In summers there are snow bridges to cross and vast snowfields of Rata Pheri to navigate before the steep ascent to Rupin gully. 

The same sections during autumn might require setting up ropes or pulleys to cross as there are no snow bridges and river flows with a strong force. Moreover, irrespective of the season, the pass crossing is a difficult day that takes close to 10 hours from Upper Waterfall to Ronti Gad across Rata Pheri and Rupin Pass. 

It is these factors that lead to us at Indiahikes rating this trek as a moderate-difficult trek. Therefore, planning your safety is one of the factors that are of utmost importance while trekking

Cardiovascular endurance – Target 10 km in 60-70 minutes before the start of the trek
On the Rupin Pass trek, you have to cover around 10 km on the undulating trail for 6 days. This requires a good amount of endurance. You can begin by jogging every day. Start slow and increase your pace every day. Swimming, cycling and stair climbing without too many breaks in between can help too.

To be prepared for a high-altitude trek, you should have a combination of distance and speed targets.

At Indiahikes, while rating a trek difficulty we consider several factors. These include, altitude gained every day, length of a trek every day, highest altitude, nature of the terrain, weather etc. Based on this we rate a trek as easy or difficult or somewhere in between.

The Rupin Pass trek climbs beyond 15,000 ft. Like any other classic high-altitude trek, Rupin Pass is open for trekking only for a few months in a year. There are mainly two seasons when you can do the Rupin pass trek - Summer and Autumn. During summer, the trek can be done from mid-May to the end of June. While in autumn it can be done from mid-September to mid-October. These are the best times to do the Rupin pass trek.

Summer is traditionally the favourite time to trek to Rupin Pass. It's popular in summer because of the fantastic snow experience the trek offers.

Rupin Pass is one of those rare treks which has lots of snow bridges. Almost every summer, you will find your first snow bridge right after the forest section beyond Jakha, surprisingly, right below the forests. From here the snow sections start and go on in patches until Dhanderas Thatch.

The famous 3 stage Rupin Waterfall also has a massive snow bridge that you use to climb the waterfall. This snow bridge stays the whole summer.

Until the last week of May, the section of the trek from Dhanderas Thatch to Ronti Gad is mostly under snow cover. This makes it an exquisite snow experience.

The snowfields of Rata Pheri in May look no less than a white moonscape. The pass climb and the snow slides on the other side are also experiences to cherish during the summer months.

The first half of June is our favourite period to trek Rupin Pass. This is the time when we get a wonderful combination of greenery and snow. The snows have melted till the meadows of Dhanderas thatch.

The meadow is in resplendent green with wildflowers blooming. This along with the snow experience of the upper reaches takes the cake for us!

But do not lose heart if you trek the second half of June. The upper stretches from Rata Pheri to Ronti Gad are still under snow.  The gully climb and the snow slides go on the whole of summer.

This setting changes in the next season of the Rupin Pass trek.

Presence of snow: You will find snow from the Lower Waterfall campsite in the month of May. During June, you can expect snow from Upper Waterfall.

Day time: Between 13 °C and 17 °C | Night time temperature: Will drop to zero at higher campsite

Rupin Pass in Summer (mid-May to end of June)

No. of warm layers required: 4 warm layers 

The autumn season brings in a whole new set of attractions on the Rupin Pass trek.

The monsoons are just fading and the entire valley from Jiskun has turned green. Hundreds of waterfalls appear out of nowhere all along the trail.

The meadows of Saruwas Thatch and Dhanderas Thatch are blooming with wildflowers.

As we move towards October, you’ll see the valley turning golden from the green that it was a few weeks ago. The snow is mostly missing in the Autumn season but the beauty and adventure of the trek don't let you feel the absence of snow.

Somewhere around the middle of October, the first snows of the season hit the pass. This makes trekking Rupin pass dangerous and difficult.

At Indiahikes, we wind up the autumn season by the mid of October.

Presence of snow: You can expect frost at the campsite of Upper Waterfall. There are chances of snowfall at the Rupin Pass when weather goes bad. 

Day time: Between 12 °C and 16 °C | Night time temperature: Will drop to zero to -4 to -5 °C at higher campsite

Rupin Pass in Autumn (September - October)

No. of warm layers required: 4 warm layers

Carry these medicines with you, easily accessible at all times. Do not take any medicine unless you have consulted your trek leader. 

Diamox (1 Strip): Be on a course of a half tablet of Diamox starting from Delhi every 12 hours (125 mg). Carry on the medication until you descend to Sangla. Being on a preventive course of Diamox greatly reduces the chances of Acute Mountain Sickness on the Rupin Pass. 

Dolo 650 (5 tablets): This is a paracetamol. It helps to tackle fever, mild pain

Avomine (4 tablets): Carry this especially if you are prone to motion sickness. Pop one-half hour before the start of your road journey.

Combiflam (5 tablets): Take a combiflam if you get a sudden twist of the leg or a muscle strain. It is a pain reliever. It also contains paracetamol. 

Digene (4 tablets): Take it if you feel the food that you’ve taken is undigested. Alert your trek leader immediately. It could be a sign of AMS. 

ORS (6 packs): Consume a pack of ORS water at least once a day, usually mid-day when you are in the middle of your trek. It replenishes essential salts lost while trekking.  Tip: It also makes cold water easier to drink.

Knee Brace (optional): Carry this if you are prone to knee injury or have known issues of knee pain.

Our trek leaders carry a high altitude medical kit with them which also consist of Life Saving Drugs. If there is an emergency our trek leaders know how to tackle it. Meanwhile, contact your trek leader before consuming any of these medicines listed here.

| Pro tip: We find that these medicines by trekkers are rarely used. But you cannot do away with them. At the end of the trek please donate unused medicines to your trek leader. Some of these medicines get distributed to villages on the trek and some are added to the Indiahikes medical kit.   

These are documents required for legal purposes by Indiahikes and the forest department. Without any of these, you will not be allowed to trek.

Original and photocopy of government photo identity card. Anything such as a driver’s license, Aadhar Card, or passport will do. This is required by the forest department for your identification.  

Disclaimer certificate: There are two sections in this. The first part is a personal medical record.  The second part is a legal requirement. Download the PDF, read carefully, fill in and sign it. This must be handed over to your Trek Leader during registration at the base camp. – Download disclaimer certificate

Medical certificate: The medical certificate needs to be filled out by an MBBS doctor, without which the forest department will not issue permissions for your trek. It is also a requirement by Indiahikes – Download medical certificate

Note: Indiahikes has a panel of doctors who can help you with a medical certificate. They are available for online consultation. To get in touch with them, please write to trekmedicalcertificates@gmail.com. They will respond to you within 24 hours.

Keep important documents in a clear plastic cover and slide them into the inner pocket at the back of your backpack. This keeps them from getting wet.  

Before you purchase any gear, make sure you visit the Crosstrek Rental store, where you can get custom-made high quality gear at 5% of the buying cost.

You can rent trekking shoes, backpacks, padded jackets, trekking poles, rainwear and headlamps for less than Rs 1400 for the entire duration of your trek. Visit our Crosstrek Rentals store here.

Here is a list of everything you need for your trek.

Trekking shoes with ankle support (Available on rent)

Backpack with rain cover (Available on rent)

Warm layers (Padded jackets available on rent)
- 3 layers if you're trekking in spring, summer and monsoon (1 woollen sweater, 1 fleece, 1 padded jacket)
- 4 layers if you're trekking in autumn (1 woollen sweater, 2 fleece, 1 padded jacket)
- 5 layers if you're trekking in winter (1 pair of thermals, 1 woollen sweater, 2 fleece, 1 padded jacket)

3 Collared T-shirts (Wear one, carry two)

2 quick-dry trek pants (Wear one, carry one)

Sun cap, preferably with flaps (Available for purchase)

Waterproof gloves (Available for purchase)

Woollen socks (2 pairs of Dry fit + 1 pair of Woollen)

Rain jacket + pants / poncho (Poncho is available on rent)

Toilet paper (Wet wipes are strictly not allowed on our treks)

Reusable plastic covers (for used clothes)

Steel lunch box, spoon and a coffee mug (Lunch box is available on rent)

Two water bottles or Hydration Pack (Water bottles are available on rent)

Once you run through this list, don't miss this ultimate guide on what gear to take on a trek. It contains tips on what gear to choose, where to get it from and how much to spend on it.

Our only tip: Keep your backpack light. Indiahikes practices low impact sustainable trekking in every aspect of the trek. Carrying your own personal backpack reduces your impact on the mountains by 20%. We expect all our trekkers to carry their own backpacks unless they have a justifiable reason not to.

We recommend jogging as the best routine to get fit for a trek. It works on the same muscles that you use while trekking — your calves, glutes and hamstrings. It helps increase your stamina day by day. It is also an easy routine that does not require any equipment or tools. 

To do this trek comfortably, you must be able to cover 5 km in under 32 minutes. This is the minimum fitness required for this trek.

If you cannot run 5 km immediately, start with 2 km and increase to 5 km over 2-3 weeks.

Once you’re able to run 5 km, increase your pace day by day. 

Gradually increase your pace and bring it down to 5 km in less than 32 mins.

You must be able to run 5 km in 32 mins consistently for at least 2 weeks before the trek. 

This trek requires at least 6-8 weeks of preparation. The longer, the better. So plan your trek soon and start preparing. 

Here's a complete guide to get you trek fit.

How to get Fitness Approval from the Indiahikes team:

Every trekker needs fitness approval from the Indiahikes team 20 days before the trek date. Without this, you will not be allowed on the trek. 

A minimum of 3 screenshots of your runs/jogs/walks/cycling 

Every high-altitude trek comes with a set of challenges. Steep ascents and descents, uneven terrain, snow walks, stream crossings, pass crossings, and summit climb. Even the easiest of treks have some of these challenges if not all of them. Without fitness, trekkers struggle, get injured easily, lag behind, or simply fail to complete the trek. 

At Indiahikes, we take pride in the fact that our trekkers are among the fittest in the country. Those who do not meet the fitness requirements are often sent back. Our philosophy is that trekking and fitness go hand in hand. Without fitness, there’s no trekking. 

Trekkers' Share Their Experience With Indiahikes

Here are unedited reviews shared by trekkers.

Complete the steps below to register for your Rupin Pass Trek

We go to great lengths to keep you safe on your trek. However, trekking with the safest organisation in India comes with certain commitments from your end. 

Complete information on the Rupin Pass trek. Trek details, itinerary, reviews, cost, maps, photos, videos and more.

Rupin Pass Trek 2024 - Treks In Himachal Pradesh - Indiahikes

Rupin Pass rupin roopin rubin roopen ropen rup roop RP

A Grand Buffet Of The Greatest Himalayan Treks

Every trek has extremely beautiful sections. Every trek also has sections that are, we grudgingly admit, a little imperfect. However, when you are on the Buran Ghati trek, even with your best critical eye, these imperfections are hard to spot.

There is not a moment on this trek where you are disappointed. It is as though someone has taken out all the best parts of our Himalayan treks and stitched them together to make one perfect trek.

The trek starts at the ancient village of Janglik, reminiscent of the kind of old, “untouched by civilization” villages you would find on the Har Ki Dun trek. The trail climbs out of Janglik and goes into a delightfully deep forest and then bursts into Dayara meadows. Most trekkers stop in their tracks here, with their jaws agape at the wonderment that is Dayara meadows.

You walk out of Dayara with an expectation that the meadows are over – and you wouldn’t be more wrong. The trail to Litham is filled with forests and meadows. And there is the Dunda. If any campsite can give you the beauty of an alpine mountain zone and the thrill of a splendid climb to come, then Dunda will be among the best.

Barua, on the other side of the pass, is a charming old village that would distinctly remind you of Hobbiton from Lord of the Rings. Old houses, fruit-bearing trees, alleyways – it is a world of its own.

As we see it, the Buran Ghati trek has all the highlights of a tough trek, with an extremely thrilling pass crossing, put together in a moderate trek. There are rapid scenery changes and save for the Pass day, most days are easy-moderate. If you are looking for a summer or autumn trek, don’t think twice, go for Buran Ghati.

Please note: The insurance has to be claimed within 7 days from the specific incident for it to be deemed valid.

Use this section to learn about the Buran Ghati trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find these extremely useful.

How Difficult Is The Buran Ghati Trek

What To Expect (And Not To) On The Buran Ghati Trek

Why Buran Ghati should be on top of your bucketlist

Why Janglik Is One Of The Most Charming Base Camps

4 Challenging Sections Of The Buran Ghati Trek

9 Tips To Descend Safely On A Trek

Watch these videos to prepare well for your trek

Why We Love The Buran Ghati Trek

- The stay at Janglik will be in a lodge, and the rest of the days during the trek is in tents (2 per tent).

- It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a copy of their photo ID along with the mandatory documents of the Medical Certificate and Disclaimer form. This is required for entry at forest check posts during the travel and before the start of the trek. 

- There are no facilities to take a photocopy at Janglik. Do not leave this till the end.

- We have a cloakroom facility on this trek. There's an option to leave excess luggage behind in Rohru. After the trek, your cloakroom luggage will be handed over to you in Rampur. It will cost Rs 200 per 10 kg bag. Anything beyond 10 kg is considered second luggage and will be charged accordingly.

(The luggage could be a backpack/suitcase/duffel bag or anything similar.).

- If the buffer day is used,  you must pay us Rs 2,500 per day + 5% GST. The Trek Leader will only collect the money if we use the buffer day. This depends completely on the weather conditions on the trek, and the trek leader will take the call.

A bit risky but it is something we have seen that works. Book for your stay on the last day of the trek. Take this call based on the buffer day being used. When the trek is about to end at Barua, you get network connectivity. You can either book directly or ask your friends or family members to book while you are travelling to Shimla. You may not get the best of hotels but you usually get a room over your head.

3. Insights on using the buffer day after the trek

If you have a buffer day in hand, consider experiencing the narrow gauge train from Shimla to Kalka and then take a bus/train to Delhi. It is a heritage train which is still run by the Indian Railways. The train passes through some astounding mountain scenery, besides diving through over 100 tunnels. You will have to book the Himalayan Queen train in advance to ensure you get seats. It departs from Shimla at 10.30 am and reaches Kalka at around 4 pm.

There is a connecting Himalayan Queen that leaves for New Delhi at 4.50 pm from Kalka, getting to New Delhi at 10.40 pm. You can also think of taking the faster Shatabdi that leaves Kalka at 5.45 pm and gets to New Delhi at 9.55 pm.

You also get fast buses from Kalka to Chandigarh which roughly takes an hour (usually less).

3. Download the GPX file for the Buran Ghati Trek

Arjun Majumdar, the Founder of Indiahikes, went on this exploratory trek almost a decade ago. He is a veteran of the trekking community in India and one of the earliest to trek Buran Ghati. He’s an expert when it comes to the trek. Here’s Arjun talking about one of the grandest treks in our country.

What I Like and Don’t Like About Buran Ghati Trek

What I don't Like About the Buran Ghati Trek

Buran Ghati is a moderate-difficult trek. The pass crossing day is the difficult bit. On this trek, your mental strength is as important as physical fitness. If you trek in June, on the pass crossing day, you need to rappel at least 400 meters down an ice wall. During the autumn season, the pass crossing is still challenging without snow. It involves a long day of trekking through the boulder section. Apart from this portion, the trek is of moderate difficulty and will not exhaust you if you are well prepared.

Cardiovascular endurance – Target 10 km in 60-70 minutes before the start of the trek
On the Buran Ghati trek, you have to cover 9 km on an undulating trail for 6 days. This requires a good amount of endurance. You can begin by jogging every day. Start slow and increase your pace every day. Swimming, cycling and stair climbing without too many breaks in between can help too.

To be prepared for a high altitude trek, you should have a combination of distance and speed targets.

Watch this video to know how difficult is the Buran Ghati trek

The pass crossing is the only difficult bit of this trek. At the pass, you come across a vertical ice wall which you need to rappel down with a rope. After the steep section, you slide down the snowy slope. This is why Buran Ghati is not a trek that you can go on your own. You need the assistance of a trekking organisation or professionals who can help you descend the wall.

In June, post the pass crossing comes 4 to 5 slides down the snow. Approaching the River campsite, the last camp is a small exposed section that overlooks a river which you need to be careful while traversing. In September and October when there is no snow, there is a trail that opens up which is tread by shepherds. It does not have any tricky sections like overhangs or landslides. It is a pretty straightforward meadow trek.

Since the trek begins at 9,000 ft at Diude, altitude sickness can get to you in the first 2 days.  To have a safe trek here is some information that you must know if you have registered for this trek. At Indiahikes, we believe that as long as you are well-informed and well-prepared, you can survive easily at high altitudes.

At Indiahikes, while rating a trek difficulty we consider a number of factors. These include, altitude gained every day, length of trek everyday, highest altitude, nature of the terrain, weather etc. Base on this we rate a trek as easy or difficult or somewhere in between.

When you take out all the best parts of our Himalayan treks and stitch them together to make one perfect trek, that’s the Buran Ghati trek. But to appreciate its beauty, you need to time it properly. This section will help you do that.

There are two great seasons to do the Buran Ghati trek — summer and autumn.

Summer is a coveted season to do the Buran Ghati trek because the Buran Pass itself is a dramatic wall of ice in June. So, you get to rappel down an ice wall while crossing the famed pass. That is a major attraction. One that makes many adventure seekers choose the Buran Ghati trek in summer.

To give you a picture of how it looks in this season — imagine vast snowfields starting from Dhunda till the pass.

Then, you rappel down from the top of the pass for about a 150 m section. Even after crossing the pass, you trek in snow for around an hour. Multiple snow slides will have you squeaking with almost childish delight.

This snow starts melting in the latter part of June. So, while there will be snow close to the pass, it may not be enough to offer you big slides.

The colour of the trail also starts changing shades of white to greens and yellows as you move from May to June. Wildflowers start blooming on the meadows and around the campsites. The grasslands turn a bright shade of green interspersed with bright yellow flowers.

It is truly a colourful experience with the forests, grasslands, and flowers coming to life after months of winter.

Lush forests, full of birds welcome trekkers on the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

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