The Complete Guide To Buran Ghati Trek
A Grand Buffet Of The Greatest Himalayan Treks
Every trek has sections that are extremely beautiful. 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.
Before we begin here are a some quick facts about Buran Ghati trek.
Buran Ghati trek is a 37 km trek hiked over a period of 5 days (8 days including drive to and from trek and the buffer day,) in the Greater Himalayas.
The trek lies in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It begins at Janglik and ends at Barua.
It is a modertake (more on this ahead on this page) and having an experience of a Himalayan trek or two does come in handy while on this trek.
Use this table to navigate through content on this page:
- What I Like And Don’t Like About Buran Ghati
- Best Time To Do The Buran Ghati Trek
- Weather And Temperature On Buran Ghati
- How Difficult Is The Buran Ghati Trek?
- Is Buran Ghati Trek Safe?
- How To Reach Buran Ghati?
- What To Pack For Buran Ghati Trek?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Buran Ghati
(If you still have doubts, drop them in the comments section at the bottom of the page. We’ll have our best experts respond to your questions.)
What I Like And Don’t Like About Buran Ghati
As one of the veterans of the trekking community in India, here’s Arjun Majumdar, the founder of Indiahikes, talking about one of the grandest treks in our country.
What I like about Buran Ghati
1. Dayara Meadows
Dayara meadows has to be one of my favourite sections, and I think trekkers will say so too. You first see it from a high ledge as you climb out of a deep dark coniferous forest. Right in front for miles is a sprawling table land carved out from the sides of a mountain.
One grassy side climbs the sides of the mountain, the other drops down a cliff into the gorges below. In between is the vast green stretch where horses gallop.
I couldn’t believe we would actually camp in these splendorous settings. That too on Day 1! When you compare with meadows on other great treks, I would put Dayara meadows right on top of my list.
2. The Buran Ghati Wall And Slow Slides
It is a very high altitude trek, going up to 15,000 feet — which puts the trek in the high adventure category. Getting to the top of the Buran Ghati and then rappelling down to the other side is a thrill I cannot forget.
Buran Ghati wall has become famous now. I think it must be the world’s highest rappelling point! Afterwards sliding down multiple snow chutes is what really makes Buran Ghati a great adventure. Trekkers will love this adventure. I put Buran Ghati high on my adventure list as well.
3. Villages of Janglik and Barua
The two villages on the trek, Janglik and Barua — I think — people must just do the trek just to observe the ancient culture and how it is still preserved. Of the two Barua is my favourite.
I love how we get in on the upper village, and then wind ourselves down, observing the culture in the villages until we get to its foot, almost one thousand feet down! Look out for the architecture, people, and the temple. Lots of fruit trees too!
4. Litham Campsite
Litham mesmerized me. Here was a campsite at the confluence of two valleys. You could sit at Litham and gaze for hours at the two valleys. But the sight to watch out for would be the towering waterfalls from the Chandranahan snout. People talk about the famous Rupin waterfalls on the Rupin Pass trek. But this one is as impressive!
5. Trek To Chandranahan Lake
I think the side trek to the Chandranahan lake is very underrated. For me it felt better than even doing the Buran Ghati crossing. The moment you get to the snout of the Chandranahan falls, you are transported to an alpine zone. You are in a high altitude narrow snow lined valley.
Snow capped mountains tower over you, all at touching distance. The Pabbar river is still along you. You make your way over one beautiful ledge after another to get to the heart of the valley. The journey and the setting still stays with me for the visual treat.
6. The Coniferous Forests
I loved the forests of the first day of the trek. It is just lovely gradually climbing through the coniferous forests with its birch trees, some maple and oak, birds singing along. Trekkers will just love it.
7. The River Campsite And The Waterfall
On the other side, I loved the river campsite. At the camp looking back at the great Buran wall, we are at a great height still. We are in the greens but all around are still alpine settings. It is terrific to camp at such heights.
Speaking of high camps, Dhunda would be another great moment for trekkers. Looking at the Buran Ghati for the first time, plotting your route endlessly to the pass are great thrilling moments. For me the waterfall right at the camp is what made me happiest.
What I don’t like about Buran Ghati
Ok, for the first time I don’t have a line to write about what I didn’t like. Buran has to be the most complete trek I have done. It has stunning scenery, one of the best meadows, great culture, well paced out, terrific high altitude adventure. Even the road journey to the base camp is superb!
Best Time To Do The Buran Ghati Trek
When you take out all the best parts of our Himalayan treks and stitch them together to make one perfect trek, that’s 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.
Buran Ghati in Summer (mid-May to end of June/early July)
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 Buran Ghati trek in summer.
To give you a picture of how it looks in this season — imagine vast snowfields starting from Dhunda all the way 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. There are multiple snow slides that 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 color of the trail also starts changing shades of white to greens and to 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 colorful experience with the forests, grasslands, flowers coming to life after months of winter.
Buran Ghati in Autumn (mid-September to mid-October)
The autumn season is a shorter one as compared to summer. The biggest miss in October is that there is no snow and no rappelling down the ice wall of Buran Ghati.
In spite of this, autumn is one of the best times to do the Buran Ghati trek as you get to see the fiery, glorious colours during this time.
The trail changes colour as you trudge deeper into the trek. Initially, you’ll notice many shades of green near the base camp. This continues as you trek through forests and grasslands. But as you gain altitude and closer to the pass, you’ll notice more yellows, oranges and browns.
You see snow, but in smaller patches. The ice on the Buran Ghati wall has melted away , exposing rocky terrain.You trek down this rocky patch while descending. There’s no rappelling. This makes the trek a bit easier in the autumn.
But the grandeur and adventure of Buran Ghati remains the same in summer as well as autumn.
By October, there are chances of witnessing the first winter snow of the year.
Weather And Temperature On Buran Ghati
As mentioned in the previous section, Buran Ghati Trek can be done in two seasons — Summer and Autumn.
The summer season on Buran Ghati trek starts in mid-May and continues until the end of June. It might even stretch to the first week of July. Then the trek closes for monsoon season.
After that it reopens in mid-September and goes on until the second or third week of October. And the weather and temperatures in each season are different.
Summer: The Buran Ghati trek starts at Janglik, which is at 9,200 feet. Compared to other base camps, Janglik is at a much higher altitude. Therefore, expect the night temperatures to be colder than usual.
After sundown, the mercury can drop to as low as 10° C at Janglik itself. A jacket is enough to keep you warm here.
Protip To stay warm at campsites, start layering up as soon as you reach the campsite. Do not wait for the sun to go down or for the temperature to dip. This helps in preserving your body heat.
Expect the temperature to drop as you climb higher. At higher campsites you can expect evening temperatures to drop as low as 0 °C.
The day time temperatures, on the other hand, remain pleasant for trekking. At lower altitudes, you can trek in a t-shirt. But as you get closer to Dhunda, you might need to put a layer of fleece on.
| Note 1: The pass day is long and there will be a lot of exposure to snow. Make sure you’re wearing the right gear before leaving the campsite. Here’s a guide to layering up on a trek.
| Note 2: If the sun goes behind the clouds or there is a bout of rain, the temperature can fall by 8 – 10 °C in the day. Always carry a padded jacket in a bag with you when at high altitude.
Autumn: Autumn temperatures are generally 3-5 °C colder as compared to summer throughout the trek.
Nights are chilled even at the lower camps. Higher campsites are perceptibly colder with temperature dropping to 2-3 °C below zero.
As you move into October, the high altitudes become really cold. We have experienced temperatures dropping to even -5 °C at night at Dhunda and above.
While trekking in autumn, day temperatures are pleasant at around 13 – 18 °C, but any rain or slight drizzle brings down temperature rapidly to around 8 – 12 °C. Again, carry a warm jacket always with you.
Weather Chart
How Difficult Is The Buran Ghati Trek?
The Buran Ghati trek is rated as a moderate-difficult trek.
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, 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 Buran Ghati takes you to a height of 15,000 ft. Trekking to 15,000 ft brings its own share of challenges. By that sheer altitude itself it takes the trek to the moderate-difficult category.
Most days on Buran Ghati are straight forward without posing challenges. However, the pass day makes up for the other easy days. The pass crossing sees you climbing to 15,000 ft gaining 2,000 ft on a straight ascent. The descent from the pass is also not for the faint hearted unless it is managed by a well trained mountain technical team.
The rappelling is followed by a 2 hour long boulder section. This is followed by a long descent to the campsite. The entire pass day falls under a difficult grade.
However, outside this there aren’t many sections that pose too much of a challenge. Most days easy, a difficult pass day and climbing to 15,000 ft make the trek to be rated as moderate-difficult on the difficulty scale
Having said that, you cannot ignore being mindful of your safety on the trek.
Is Buran Ghati Trek Safe?
Yes, Buran Ghati trek is safe.
It is not a trek to be taken lightly. You need to be physically fit.
Also, it is not a trek that you can do by yourself. Especially early in the season in summers.
You will need a guide who is technically skilled as well as equipment like ropes, helmets, harnesses etc., to climb down the ice wall at the Buran Ghati pass.
There are a number of factors on this trek that require you to be alert, and trek carefully. The trek climbs to over 14,000 ft, classifying it as a high altitude trek.
It is not a trek to do alone for first timers or if you have limited experience in the Himalayan trekking. The terrain, the weather and the altitude do post challenges to your health and safety.
As a trekker you should be aware of challenges to safety as well as steps to keep yourself safe when on the trek.
We, at Indiahikes, have listed those factors and described them in great detail.
Safety on Buran Ghati — Terrain wise
Amongst our very high altitude treks (treks that go over 15,000 feet), Buran Ghati poses the least risk. The only risky section is the descent from the pass down the great wall of Buran Ghati. This must be done only with the help of technical safety equipment and a competent technical safety team.
Being a high altitude trek, Buran Ghati does have some sections you need to be careful about. We discuss them here:
1. Snow section after Dhunda, the final camp before the pass: Your final high altitude camp before you attempt the Buran Ghati pass crossing is Dhunda. As you step out of Dhunda, you’ll do it early in the morning, perhaps before sunrise. Forty minutes to an hour out of Dhunda is when you will step on your first snow patch (in summer).
The snow is going to be hard at this time having frozen overnight. This snow section continues until you get to the pass, getting steeper as you approach the pass.
| Safety Advice: Ensure your microspikes are worn before you step on snow. Hard snow is extremely prone to slips. A small slip can result in injuries like a ligament tear, a sprained ankle or even a fracture. Always put your foot on footholds made by earlier trekkers. Look out for deep footholds. Do not try to make new paths of your own.
If you are trekking with Indiahikes your Trek Leader will let you know when to wear the microspikes. Indiahikes technical team will lead the team in this section. Technical team will make the footholds required for trekkers to step on. This section does not require ropes. However, if the snow is feeble, the technical team will use ropes to take the team forward.
The technical team will also be assisted by the Indiahikes Trek Leader.
2. Descending from the pass: At the pass is where the great wall of Buran Ghati is. You have to descend down the wall, until you get to the section where the slope starts to become gradual.
The descent down the wall is done by rappelling in two sections. The first 50 meters to a small ledge. And further down another 40 meters to another ledge from where it is possible to walk/slide down.
If you are trekking with Indiahikes this entire section is done under the supervision of the Indiahikes technical team. Ropes are anchored to the pass. You will be asked to wear a safety harness. This safety harness will be clipped to a rope with the help of a carabiner.
In addition, there will be a backup safety line. Safety mittens will be given to you to wear over your hands. This protects your skin from chafing.
You will be descended down by our technical team to the first ledge. A similar process will be followed to descend you down from the first ledge to the start of the gradual slope. On the second leg of the descent, the safety harness may not be used, depending on the angle of the slope (it changes season to season).
The whole process will take about an hour and half for the full team.
3. Snow slides after the pass: After the descent on ropes, you will have to slide down to a section where the snow levels off. This may require 2-4 slides depending on the snow accumulation. Snow slides are done by sitting down on your back and just sliding down. It is fun!
| Safety Advice: Do not slide at a high speed. You may spin out of control and injure yourself. Avoid any boulders or large stones on your path. Do not slide two in a row (doubles). Do not slide on your poncho or rain jacket. This may increase your speed to uncontrollable levels. Use speed arresting techniques as shown by your Trek Leader/technical team.
At Indiahikes, the Trek Leader will show you the techniques on how to slide, slow down and arrest your slide. Follow them strictly. Once out of the slides, practice ‘plunge stepping’. This is a step where you dig your heels first, so that your body weight is slightly behind you. Do not lock your knees.
4. Boulder section after the slides: Later in the season, or if the snow is less, the slides lead you to boulders. These boulders are tightly strewn across the lower section of the slides. You need to cross this section before getting to your river camp.
| Safety Advice: Scrambling over boulders requires careful navigation. You must ensure that you don’t allow your foot to slip in between the boulders. While this is not difficult, being careful and nimble is essential in this section. If required use your hands to scramble across. If the boulders are wet due to rain/overnight snow, then wait for your Trek Leader’s instructions.
5. Slippery traverse between River Camp and Munirang: There are short 50-100 meters sections between the river camp and Munirang where the trail becomes narrow, hugging over the river. On these sections the trail is not flat but slightly at an angle. The trail is hard and a bit gravely. Footings may slip. A slip on these sections can lead to a fall for at least ten feet or more.
These sections are 3 or 4 in total.
| Safety Advice: Tread carefully on these sections. Avoid any form of distractions, especially talking to other trekkers. Do not look towards the river or hold hands of other trekkers. Do not use mobile phones or cameras in these sections. Take short, firm steps to navigate these sections. If you are nervous, seek the assistance of your Trek Leader.
Safety on Buran Ghati — Weather wise
Weather plays a big role in your safety on the trek. Here are some of the weather related issues that can play an important role in your Buran Ghati trek.
At altitudes above 15,000 ft, snowfall can happen anytime. A spell of rain on the lower slopes, almost usually leads to a light or heavy snow on the upper regions.
It can rain or snow abruptly at any time at such high altitudes. A rainfall or snowfall that lasts more than four hours can change your trek plans. Rain can flood the trails or make them too slushy to walk safely on. Some normal sections can become very slippery.
On the Buran Ghati trek, snowfall is a distinct possibility near the pass. Especially in the summer months or towards the end of season in October. Snowfall can obstruct previously made paths. Which means fresh tracks have to be cut on the snow.
It is keeping this in mind that we have a buffer day scheduled as a part of the trek itinerary. The buffer day allows the team the flexibility to wait and let the bad weather pass by before making another attempt to move ahead on the trek.
The Indiahikes technical team along with the Trek Leader takes a call on when to proceed with the trek and when to take the buffer day. A team may have to turn around from the highest camp if the weather turns for worse.
Safety on Buran Ghati — Altitude wise
The Buran Ghati pass starts at a high altitude. Janglik, the base camp is at a height of 9,200 ft. At altitudes above 9,000 ft, the risk of developing Acute Mountain sickness is quite high.
On the first day, you climb to Dayara at 11,000 ft, adding on 2,000 ft . This invariably becomes too much to acclimatize for many people. Dayara is one of the campsites that sees the highest incidences of AMS on Buran Ghati.
If you are doing well at Dayara, things get a bit easier from there on. The next day to Litham is very short — 3 hours and you gain less than 700 ft. The acclimatization day trek to Chandranahan lake and the second night spent at Litham also keeps you well acclimatized for Dhunda and the pass crossing.
Anywhere on the trek, watch out for symptoms like loss of appetite, nausea, a mild lingering headache or inability to sleep at night. If you feel any on them, report to your trek leader.
It is a myth to think that you won’t be hit by AMS if you’re an experienced trekker. Even experienced trekkers are equally likely to be affected by AMS.
A good level of fitness makes the trek less strenuous for trekkers and thus reducing the chance of being affected. But do not forget that even a fit person climbing too high too soon runs an equal risk of developing AMS.
At Indiahikes, we have kept the safety of our trekkers as well as staff as utmost priority while planning the trek route.
Here’s a Complete guide to Acute Mountains Sickness:
While on the trek if you experience any symptoms of AMS even in the slightest start taking steps to treat the sickness.
If you are trekking with Indiahikes, your trek leaders are trained and equipped to take care of any emergencies like these.
At any point in the trek, inform your trek leader about your condition immediately if you feel any symptoms of AMS.
If your symptoms do not subside on basic treatment for AMS and rest, it is better not to go further into the trek.
There is only one exit point on the trek before the pass crossing, and that is retracing your way back to Janglik.
Exit Points on Buran Ghati
Another factor that contributes to Buran Ghati being labelled as moderate-difficult trek is the lack of easily accessible exit points.
There are only two exit points on the trek — Janglik before the pass crossing and Barua after the pass crossing.
In case of emergency before the pass, this means retracing path that you take all the way back to Janglik and further to Tangnu.
Or if you’re closer to the pass or have already crossed, then a long walk to Barua skipping the river campsite of Munirang.
Given the difficulty of exits on the trek, it is very important that trekkers in consultation with Trek Leaders take turn around calls early on Buran Ghati. Proceeding on the trek with mountain sickness or injuries can put lives at risk.
Dayara and Litham campsites are the best places to make a decision to turn around. From Dhunda it will be a long walk back to Janglik. Heading to Barua will be extremely challenging given the pass crossing to be tackled and steep descent too.
Closest Hospitals to Buran Ghati
In case of medical emergency, the closest hospital is Rohru which lies approximately 50 km away. However the treatment facilities are basic.
Here are details of a few hospitals in Rohru:
1. Civil Hospital Rohru
Rohru, Himachal Pradesh – 171207
2. Rai Hospital and Maternity Centre
Court Road, Rohru, Himachal Pradesh – 171207
For any advanced treatment, head to Shimla which is 100 km/4 hours away.
On the other hand, if you’ve crossed the pass, the closest hospitals are located in Rampur Bushahr.
Here is a list of hospitals where medical assistance can be sought:
1. Government Hospital
Rajpur, Rampur Bushahr, Himachal Pradesh – 172001
2. Dr BK Arora Hospital
Chuha Bagh, Shimla NH-22, Jori Road,
Rampur, Rampur Bushahr, Himachal Pradesh – 172022
Ph: +919816233900
Here too the facilities are basic. Shimla is the place to head for any advanced treatment. It’s 125 km/5 hour drive from Rampur.
How To Reach Buran Ghati?
The Buran Ghati trek starts in the remote eastern corner of Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh.
The trek starts at a village called Janglik and meanders through the valley along the Pabbar river until you reach Buran Ghati pass. After crossing the pass, the trail leads you to Barua village very close to the town of Sangla in the Kinnaur district.
Along the trail you’ll cross numerous meadows, forests, and climb up the pass before the thrilling rappel down the wall of Buran Ghati.
| Did you know? The entire Buran valley runs parallel to the Rupin valley. So the Buran Ghati and Rupin Pass treks are geographically parallel to each other. There’s just one range of cliffs dividing the two valleys. As the crow flies, the two passes are just 3.8 km apart.
The first thing to understand is that there is no direct transport to Janglik – the base camp for Buran Ghati.
These are the important points along the way Shimla – Rohru – Chirgaon – Tangnu – Janglik
The second thing to remember is that it is essential to leave early in the morning from Shimla if you want to make it to Janglik the same day. There is no transport from Rohru after 4 PM to Tangnu. Therefore it is essential that you reach Rohru before 4 PM to make it to Janglik without an overnight stay.
Here’s a step by step guide to reaching Janglik:
There are buses leaving at 7.00 AM, 8.30 AM, 11.00 AM and 12.00 PM from Lakkar Bazar to Rohru. The journey to Rohru through the narrow mountain roads takes close to 4 hours. As mentioned earlier, we strongly recommend that you take the 7.00 AM or 8.30 AM bus.
Once at Rohru, you can have a quick lunch before continuing further to Tangnu.
Rohru is the last place where you’ll find a local dhaba/restaurant. There aren’t many food options after Rohru including Tangnu or Janglik.
There may be a few eateries in Chirgaon. But unlike other base camps like Sankri or Lohajung, there are no eateries in Janglik.
Don’t take a chance. Eat at Rohru. If you are someone who gets motion sick easily, then pack a lunch box from Rohru itself.
From Rohru, there are regular buses going to Tangnu. You will also find shared cabs at the exit of the bus stand towards Chirgaon.
The bus costs Rs.70. While a shared cab costs Rs.100-150 based on how many passengers the driver is able to get.
The journey from Rohru to Tangnu is approximately 50 km long and takes a couple of hours. But if you decide to take a shared cab, you might have to wait until the driver gets the desired number of passengers for the journey.
From Rohru, the journey continues on the highway until Chirgaon where you take a detour off the highway and head towards Tangnu. The final couple of hours to Tangnu are a bumpy ones on dirt roads leading to it, at the same time extremely beautiful. You follow the Pabbar river through the thick of pine and oak forests on both the sides of the road.
From Tangnu it is a 45 minute hike to Janglik.
Tangnu is the last road head in this part of the world. There used to be an iron bridge that connected Tangnu to Janglik, but it is currently broken. A stone bridge also got washed by the recent heavy rains.
Carefully get down the iron bridge holding its pillars. Once at the bottom, it is a 45 minute walk to Janglik.
| Travelling With Indiahikes? Click here for more information
What To Pack For Buran Ghati Trek
Before you start shopping and packing for the high-altitude Buran Ghati trek, watch this video to get a clear idea about what you need to take along.
Complete Video Playlist: How To Pack For Buran Ghati Trek
• What to take on your trek
• How to pack your backpack
• How to choose your trekking shoes
• Trekking shoes vs sports shoes. How are they different?
• How to layer up on a Himalayan trek
• Why you need a trekking pole
• How to manage sanitary waste on a trek
Mandatory Documents to carry On Buran Ghati Trek
Carry an Original and photocopy of government photo identity card. Anything such as a driver’s license, Aadhar card, a passport will do.
You will need to submit your identification to the forest department. Without these, you will not be allowed to trek.
| Tip: Keep important documents in a clear plastic cover and slide them into the inner pocket at the back of your backpack to prevent them from getting wet.
If you have registered with Indiahikes, you also need to carry the Disclaimer Certificate and the Medical Certificate.
For an exhaustive list of things to carry, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buran Ghati
1. How long is the Buran Ghati trek?
Buran Ghati is not a very lengthy trek. A total distance of 37 km is covered in 5 trekking days.
On an average a day, you cover about 7 km.
2. What is the height of Buran Ghati?
The Buran Ghati pass lies at an altitude of 15,000 ft above sea level.
Having said that a few things to note about altitude and Buran Ghati trek.
The trek starts at Janglik which is situated at 9,200 ft. It is higher than most of our base camps for other treks.
Moreover, almost every night on the trek you’ll be camping at an average altitude of 11,500 ft or more.
This makes you susceptible to AMS. It is therefore essential that you’re mindful of the signs and symptoms of AMS and take necessary steps to keep yourself safe.
3. Will there be any mobile phone network on the trek?
The last place you’ll find mobile phone signal is Janglik. There is Vodafone/Airtel network at Janglik.
However, after Janglik you won’t find signal at any of the campsites. You might find a bit of network somewhere on the trail in the mountains, but do not depend on it.
Finish all your important calls at Shimla itself. Please inform anxious family members about limited phone connectivity. There will be no electricity charging points anywhere on the trek.
4. Will there be any electricity on the trek?
Janglik is the last point that is electrically connected. However, the electricity is extremely intermittent and can be absent for most part of the day.
So, we strongly encourage you to bring additional batteries for your cameras and a power bank with more than 10,000 mAh to last you the entire trek.
Protip Beware that the power from your batteries will drain faster in the cold temperatures of this region. So, put the batteries in a small pouch and keep it inside your sleeping bag to keep them warm during the night.
On the other side of the pass, Barua might have electricity. But we, at Indiahikes, leave for Shimla as soon as we reach Barua.
5. Where will I find ATMs on the trek?
Rohru is the last town where you’ll find ATMs to make cash withdrawals. It lies about 40 km before Janglik.
All major public and private sector banks have their ATMs at Rohru. Therefore, Rohru is your best option if you want to withdraw cash. Post that there are no ATMs.
If you’re travelling with Indiahikes, ensure that you have enough money to pay your driver, and some money as an emergency fund.
Although there is no opportunity to spend money while on the trek (except in case of a buffer day being used).
6. Can I keep extra luggage at the base camp?
The option to leave extra luggage is not available for this trek.
Buran Ghati is a crossover trek. This means you will be starting the trek at a point, crossing a mountain pass, and ending the trek at a different point. You will not come back to the same base camp of Kafnu.
Most trekkers keep their extra luggage at their hotel in Shimla and collect it later.The other option is to carry only what is necessary on the trek.
7. What is buffer day and how will it be used?
At Indiahikes, we understand the time, energy and efforts that you put into preparing for a trek.
And it is awful to have to leave the trek incomplete and come back because of any weather related issues. Especially a trek as beautiful as Buran Ghati.
Therefore, we account for a buffer day to take care of any delays caused by weather or terrain related challenges that cause a delay in proceeding with the trek.
If buffer day is utilised, you will need to pay Rs.2,500 + 5% GST (Rs.125). This amount is to be handed over to your Trek Leader.
SHORT ITINERARY
Day 1: Drive to Diude/Janglik
It is a 9-10 hours drive from Shimla. Transport will be organised from Hotel Crystal Palace in Shimla at 7.00 AM. It is a 10-minute walk from the Old Shimla Bus Stand. Cost of cab will be Rs 6,500 per vehicle
Day 2: Trek from Diude/Janglik to Dayara
Trek distance: | Duration: 5 hours
Altitude gain: 9,200 ft to 11,075 ft
Day 3: Trek from Dayara to Litham
Trek distance: | Duration: 3 hours
Altitude gain: 11,075 ft to 11,737 ft
Day 4: Excursion to Chandranahan Lake
Trek distance: | Duration: 4-5 hours
Altitude gain: 11,737 ft to 13,900 ft
Day 5: Trek from Litham to Dhunda
Trek distance: | Duration: 4-5 hours
Altitude gain: 11,737 ft to 13,365 ft
Day 6: Dhunda to River campsite via Buran Ghati
Trek distance: | Duration: 9-10 hours
Altitude gain and loss: 13,365 ft to 15,000 ft to 11,800 ft
Day 7: Trek from River campsite to Barua
Trek distance: | Duration: 5 hours
Altitude loss: 11,800 ft to 6,700 ft
Day 8: Buffer Day
If the buffer day is used, you have to pay us Rs. 2,500 per day (INR) +5% GST. The money will be collected by the Trek Leader only if we use the buffer day. This depends completely on the weather conditions on the trek and the call will be taken by the trek leader.
Transport from Barua to Shimla will be arranged to start at 1.00 PM. You will reach Shimla around 10.30 pm.
The cost for the return travel is Rs 9,000 per vehicle. Please factor in the buffer day in your travel plans – book your onward journey from Shimla only after Day 8.
The stay at Janglik will be in a lodge and the rest of the days during the trek is in tents (3 per tent).
It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a copy of their photo id for entry at forest check posts on the trek.
The trek
The base camp of the Buran Ghati trek is Janglik. The drive from Shimla takes you past Rohru, from where the road follows the blue waters of the Pabbar river. In an exquisite journey, the road climbs gracefully along the Pabbar, the scenery changing rapidly. From square wheat fields along the river and beautiful Himachali homes, you drive past pretty villages and mixed forests until till you get to the pine forests around Tangnu.
The motorable road at Tikri, just after Chirgaon, turns left and becomes an absolute dirt track for the rest of the way. It takes two hours along the dirt track to get to Tangnu. At Tangnu, the dirt track drops down to the river, crosses the Pabbar and climbs to Diude in swift switchbacks. Janglik is a short walk from Diude.
- Altitude: 9,200 ft (2,804 m)
- Time taken: 9-10 hours from Shimla.Vehicles will be arranged from the pick up point Hotel Crystal Palace in Shimla at 7:00 am. It is a 10 minute walk from the Old Shimla Bus Stand.

Day 2: Diude/Janglik to Dayara
- Altitude: 9,200 ft (2,804 m) to 11,075 ft (3,376 m)
- Time taken: 5 hrs
- Trek gradient: Moderate. Around 75 minutes of ascent followed by a 15 minute flat walk. Gradual ascent into a forest for about 30 minutes followed by a gradual descent for about an hour in the meadows ending with a gradual ascent through a forest.
- Water sources: Carry 1 litre of water from Janglik. There are sources along the trail to refill your water bottles.

Today’s trek is perhaps the most beautiful first day of any trek that you will walk on. Climb out of Diude past the superbly crafted wheat fields – lined by beautiful wooden farm houses on their edges — some of them with attractive roofs in red and green. In fifteen minutes the last huts of Diude are behind you. The climb, though beautiful, gains altitude rapidly. In an hour, step on a ledge and look behind you for a commanding view of Diude, Tangnu and other villages.
The ledge under a pine tree is a wonderful place to take a break. Fifteen minutes later, past a clearing on your right, the trail climbs into a oak and pine forest. Getting deeper into the forest, the steep trail levels off to remain a gradual pleasant climb. The trail through the forest is just the treat that you needed after the long climb. Under the shady trees of the forest, streams running across the trail, brings a bounce to your step.

Half hour later, the trail pops out of the tree line into a vast expanse of meadows climbing into the hills to your left. The sudden change in scenery is startling. It takes time to soak in the view of the climbing meadows to your left and the dark shadowy tree line of the pines to your right. Ahead, the white snow patches that still remain in the folds of the cliffs opposite the Pabbar compliment the view to an extent that is hard to believe.
The trail out of the tree line descends gradually, skirting the top of the pines. The trail is well defined and broad. Almost an hour later, the trail enters another magnificent forest of pine and oak — this time thicker and denser. The walk on the dark moist earth and the brown carpet of leaves strewn over them is a moment to be cherished. Through the forest, the trail climbs gradually before popping out of it again in another half hour.
Day 3: Dayara to Litham
- Altitude: 11,075 (3,376 m) ft to 11,737 ft (3,577 m)
- Time taken: 3 hours
- Trek gradient: Easy. Starts with a gentle ascent for about 15 minutes followed by a stream crossing. Gradual ascent through a pine forest and meadows for about an hour followed by a gentle descent through a Silver birch forest and finally across meadows.
- Water sources: Carry 1 litre of water from Dayara. There are sources along the trail to refill your water bottles.
Gunas Pass appears in the distance as you trek through meadows and forests from Dayara to Litham. PC: Arjun Majumdar
Start your day exploring the Dayara meadows. It looks most glamorous as it soaks up the golden glow of the morning sun. A walk on the meadows early in the morning needs to be savoured by every trekker.
The trail from Dayara to Litham will take you through dense forests, wide green meadows, gushing streams, and little brooks as you gain an altitude of 737 feet in 3 hours. The trail traverses across the meadows towards the Gunas Pass. A gently ascending trail enters another clump of pine forest fifteen minutes out of the Dayara camp site. Then you get to a stream that needs to be leaped over.
Across the stream, the trail climbs out of the forest and rounds a wide curve to regain the views of the snow capped mountains of the Dhauladhar range and Gunas Pass. Just as the trail takes the curve is a superb scenery of the grasslands leading down from the trail and into the dark depths of pine forests about 300 feet below. Behind the pine forests are snow lined towering cliffs completing a scenery that is perfect in its harmony.
Half hour later the trail dives into another beautiful forest — this time of Silver Birch (Bhoj). The forest is old and the silver birches gnarled with age. Descending gently through the forest leads to another perennial stream in the fold of the mountain. Refresh here and climb out of the fold to your first clear view of Litham.
Across the meadows the trail dips to the Chandranahan stream that you need to cross before throwing down your backpacks at the Litham campsite. There are plenty of brooks running across Litham, choose a flat spot and good views to settle down for the day.

Litham has gorgeous views on three sides. On your left is is the snout of the Chandranahan waterfall, beyond which is the Chandranahan lake. In front are the towering snow clad mountains that hide Buran Ghati but set the heart fluttering in anticipation of a great adventure ahead. On the right are the snow patched cliffs that hide the Rupin valley. The Litham campsite is a dramatic nest, the last of the great meadows of the trek.
Day 4: Excursion to Chandranahan lake
- Altitude: 11,737 ft (3,577 m) to 13,900 ft (4,237 m) and back
- Time taken: 6-7 hours
- Trek gradient: Difficult. 90 minutes of gradual ascent to the snout of the waterfall followed by a steep climb for about an hour. Steep descent on the way back to Litham.
- Water sources: Carry 1-1.5 of water from the campsite. There are water sources along the trail.
The Chandranahan lake is a glacial tarn that is perennially fed by snow flanks of mountains that surround it. It is not a very big lake, but getting to it is an exciting journey and extremely rewarding. Cross the stream that you get just before the Litham campsite. Continue upstream on the shepherd’s trail to a ridge top. Walk towards the snout of the waterfall from where the stream emerges. It takes about an hour and a half to get to the snout of the waterfall, marked by beautifully placed stone cairns.
Trekkers usually assume that Chandranahan lake is close to the snout of the waterfall but it is another hour of trek into the glacial valley. The journey to the lake takes a difficult turn the moment you get to the flat at the snout of the waterfall. The closed alpine valley with snow patches all round is a treat. In later June, the valley floor has good amounts of snow but nothing that is difficult to walk on.

The lake is not very big but what it lacks in size, it makes up for it by its setting. Nestled in a bowl like glacial amphitheater, the lake is fed by the snow fields all around. In between are grassy patches that jut out of the snow. Tiny waterfalls that turn into brooks trickle down to the lake from all sides. Lovely arrangements of stone cairns mark the lake. Spend time taking in the sights of the setting before heading back to Litham the way you came. It is a steep descent from the lake to Litham. You must start early in the morning to be back at Litham at lunch.
Day 5: Litham to Dhunda
- Altitude: 11,737 ft (4,237 m) to 13,365 ft (4,074 m)
- Time taken: 4-5 hours
- Trek gradient: Moderate. Gradual ascent for about 1.5 hours followed by a steep ascent all the way to Dhunda.
- Water sources: Streams along the trail

Buran Ghati is a trek that can be easy or difficult depending on where you camp for the pass assault. Dhunda at 13,300 ft is perfect. It is a short two hour climb to the pass. The pass is always visible and inspirational. The setting is extraordinary. The Dhauladhar range looms over the trail with the Gunas pass sitting pretty on top of the snowy flanks of the grey mountains. It is a monochrome setting of grey and white in front with the green grasslands of Litham to the left and cliffs of the bordering Rupin valley to the right. The Pabbar is no longer a gently descending stream. It is now a virulent stream descending rapidly. The trail takes a sharper ascent. Continue up the left bank until the trail gets into a U shaped gorge like valley and you get the first view of the Buran Ghati on your left. Take a moment to take in the splendor of the pass and the upcoming thrill of the next day.
Start the climb to Dhunda by following the well marked shepherds’ trail that leads in the general direction of the pass. An hour of climb, perhaps a bit more, will bring you to the ridge top of Dhunda. At Dhunda you get absolutely clear views of Buran Ghati and the trail that leads to it. The camp is in an alpine zone. Snow capped mountains flank the campsite on all sides. Even in late June snow patches are everywhere. If any campsite can give you the beauty of an alpine mountain zone and the thrill of a splendid climb to come, then Dhunda would be voted among the best.
Day 6: Dhunda to River camp via Buran Ghati (15,000 ft)
- Altitude: 13,365 ft (4,074 m) to 11,800 ft (3,597 m) via Buran Ghati (15,000 ft/4,572 m)
- Time taken: 9-10 hours
- Trek gradient: Difficult. Gentle ascent over boulders for about an hour till the base of the pass followed by a hour’s steep climb on snow. Sharp, steep descent on the other side for 100 meters followed by a series of short descents for about 2 hours till the end of the snow line, easing off into a gradual descent.
- Water sources: None on the trail till the last 2 hours. Ensure you are well hydrated and carry at least 2 litres of water before starting from Dhunda

In September, the snow melts and it is not difficult to climb the pass. Out of the Dhunda campsite follow the ridge and hop over boulders towards the base of the pass. From the base it is an hour long climb to the top, mostly on snow. Buran Ghati at exactly 15,000 ft is a thrilling climb. It is a narrow ledge on the top. The drop on the other side is sharp and steep.Without the rope, the descent can be risky even with an ice axe. Getting down to the first snow field about 100 metres below the pass is your first objective. Thereafter it is a series of descents over smaller ledges that you can slide down!
Descending on the Buran Ghati trek is quick and very soon you lose all the altitude that you have gained. It takes about 2 hours to get to the end of the snow line. You also lose about 3,000 ft in altitude. Out of the snow line, the descent takes you down a ridge with junipers and lovely flower crested shrubs. The view of the valley in front is lush green as far as the eye can see. Beyond, a long range of mountains tower over the setting. Descend for another hour to get to a stream that needs to be hopped over. Across the stream the first farmers’ huts appear. This is where you camp for the night.
Day 7: River camp to Barua village
- Altitude: 11,800 ft (3,597 m) to 6,700 ft (2,042 m)
- Time taken: 6 hours
- Trek gradient: Easy-moderate; gradual descent for around 4 hours followed by a steep descent.
- Water sources: Carry 2 litres of water. There are 3 water sources along the trail

The descent to the Barua village is remarkable for the variety in vegetation and diversity. The trail is full of surprising changes in scenery that makes it an absolute delight. It is difficult to find another trek that has so much diversity while descending. Take the path that logically follows the Barua Khud. Stick to the trail that is broadest and most used. The trail descends rapidly through the high altitude pines, giving way to a mixed forests of other trees.
An hour and half later the trail descends to a large gushing stream thundering to meet the Barua Khud. A makeshift bridge lined with junipers and mud is the only way across. Climbing out of the stream, the trail is greeted with more diverse vegetation.Late in June, lovely purple shrubs line the trail on either side. Further on apricot, peaches tree laden with fruit crowd the trail. An hour later the first apple orchards and signs of civilization await the trekkers. From an overhanging rock on the trail the entire view of the Barua village sitting on the ridge below is breathtaking.
Half an hour later the trail enters Barua village through an arch. It is a long descent through the village as the trail meanders and descends through. Life on the trail comes alive as the simple villagers are happy to see you. They want to hear your stories and invite you to tea. Look out for the grand temple on your right as you continue your descent. From time to time the trail rushes past apple and other fruit orchards.

Once at the heart of the village, the descent is more rapid. In half an hour the trail pops out on to the road bridge over the Barua Khud. Transport will be arranged to leave from Barua to Shimla at 1.00 pm and you will reach Shimla around 10.30 pm.
If you wish to set out on your own, you can wait to get a vehicle to Karcham, which is a junction 3 km ahead or you could simply walk it. Karcham is a junction where roads from Rekong Peo and Sangla meet. The big hydel project by the Jaypee group also starts at Karcham. From Karcham either take a vehicle to Sangla, 17 km away, or to Reckong Peo for more connectivity to Shimla.
Plan Your Travel for the Buran Ghati trek
It is great to see you going on the Buran Ghati Trek, a grand buffet of our greatest treks. While it is a great trek to do, you need to get your travel plan worked out perfectly.
Here is a step-by-step guide on what to do next. Use this guide and nothing else to plan your travel.
- A quick view of your travel plan (Skip to section)
- Planning your onward air/train booking (Skip to section)
- Planning your return air/train booking (Skip to section)
- Planning your hotel booking (Skip to section)
- How to reach Janglik on your own (Skip to section)
1. Here’s a quick view on how to plan your travel
Day zero (the day before Day 1): Book your air ticket to Chandigarh or Delhi. If Chandigarh, proceed to Sector 43 and take a bus to Shimla. If Delhi, book an overnight bus to Shimla. Click here for more explanation.
Day 1: Shimla to Janglik drive. It is an 8-9 hour drive from Shimla. Janglik is the basecamp for your trek.
We organize transport from the parking lot of Hotel Crystal Palace in Shimla at 7.00 AM sharp. It is a 10 minute walk from the Old Shimla Bus Stand. Transport to Janglik costs Rs 6,500 per vehicle (shared between 5-6 trekkers).
Day 2 to Day 6: Trek the Buran Ghati trail
Day 7: Drive to Shimla. Start in the afternoon after the day’s trek. The drive is around 8-9 hrs drive from Barua to Shimla. Expected arrival time at Shima 10-11 pm. Ensure you have pre-booked hotel accommodation at Shimla.
Day 8: Buffer day (explained below)
Day 9: Book return flight/train ticket from Chandigarh or Delhi. Do not book plane tickets to your hometown from Delhi on Day 8. Click here for more explanation.
| Important points to note:
1. While getting to Shimla, we recommend you arrive a day earlier and stay close to the Shimla Old bus Stand. Staying at Shimla gives you a well deserved rest for the night. Plus some bonus sightseeing.
2. On your return, your trek ends at Barua. Barua is a small village and you don’t have any public transport. We again arrange for the transport for the return to Shimla on the same day. You reach Shimla between 10.00 and 11.00 pm. It costs Rs 9,000 per vehicle on the way back from Barua.
Buffer Day: The Buran Ghati Trek is a very high altitude trek. Situations are dynamic and can change any moment. Keep a buffer day for emergencies. This is outside the itinerary. You cannot predict bad rain, snowfall, landslides, even mountain medical emergencies on such treks. Your trek is 7 days long, but keep an extra 8th day as your buffer day. If you don’t use the buffer day on the trek, you can always use it for sightseeing in Chandigarh, Shimla or Delhi.
Always book your return flight/train tickets after including the buffer day in your itinerary.
Your travel route to the Janglik basecamp passes through Kufri, Theog and Rohru
On the return, you come via Rampur and Narkhanda. See map.
2. Planning your onward flight/train booking
If you are travelling from Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai or any other city, book your air tickets for Day Zero, which is the day before Day 1 on the itinerary.
Example: If your trek start day is 25 September, then book your air tickets for 24 September to either Chandigarh or Delhi.
There are two options for your flight tickets.
Option 1: Fly directly to Chandigarh
We recommend this. It gives you an added rest day at Shimla. It also makes your travel time less. However, if the cost of the flight ticket to Chandigarh is too high, book your flight to Delhi and travel to Shimla by bus.
| Tip: Land at the Chandigarh airport and head directly to Sector 43 (which is the main Interstate bus terminal of Chandigarh). You get AC airport buses to Sector 43, from just outside the arrivals. It is about 10 km and the buses run every half hour or so. A ticket costs Rs 60 for these buses.
Always target to reach Chandigarh before 12 noon. It takes an hour or so to get out of the airport and get to ISBT in Sector 43.
Getting a bus connection to Shimla may take about half an hour or so. It is usually a 4 hour bus journey to Shimla (125 kms on mountain roads). The number of local buses to Shimla will reduce post 3 pm. You will later get only overnight buses post 3 pm.
Pro Tip: If you are in a group of 3-4, then it may make sense to take a taxi from Chandigarh airport to Shimla directly. A taxi charges about Rs 1,600 for the trip. You can book a taxi from Goibibo or Ola in advance. We use this system often.
Option 2: Flying to Delhi
Flying to Delhi may be a lot cheaper than getting to Chandigarh. Make sure to book a flight that reaches Delhi by 7.00 pm. You must arrive in Delhi on Day Zero and not on Day 1.
| Note: If you notice the difference in air ticket prices between Delhi and Chandigarh less than Rs 1,000 then book directly to Chandigarh. The rest and shorter travel time is worth the difference.
Bus to Shimla: Take the bus from ISBT Kashmiri Gate to the Old Shimla Bus Stand or also known as Victory Tunnel (ask the bus conductor specifically for this). It is a 10-11 hour bus journey from Delhi to Shimla. Avoid taking buses to Shimla ISBT at Tutikandi. Our pick up point at Hotel Crystal Palace is closer to the Old Shimla Bus Stand. The distance from Tutikandi ISBT to Old bus stand is about 5 km. Taxis will set you back by Rs 300 to 500 for that early morning drop.
Take a bus that leaves Delhi around 9.00 pm.
| Tip: Use HRTC or Himachal Tourism buses. They usually run on time.
3. Planning your return flight/train booking
Booking your return tickets require some thought. First, always book your return ticket keeping in mind the buffer day. The buffer day must be included in your itinerary. Day 8 is your buffer day. So plan your return journey for Day 9.
Option 1: Flying out from Chandigarh
Assuming you have stayed at Shimla the day before, take a bus to Chandigarh. Book a flight that flies out of Chandigarh post noon. It takes about 5 hours to travel from Shimla to Chandigarh by bus. And a further one hour from Chandigarh ISBT at Sector 43 to Airport by bus.
You get buses from Shimla Old bus stand and the ISBT at Tutikandi starting from 6 am.
If you take a private cab, a taxi charges about Rs 1,600 for the trip. You can book a taxi from Goibibo or Ola in advance. We use this system often.
Option 2: Flying out of Delhi
You get buses from Shimla to Delhi starting in the morning at 6 am from Shimla ISBT (At Tutikandi). The travel time to reach Delhi ISBT is around 9-10 hrs. If you are booking a flight from Delhi and taking a bus, then book an evening flight post 6 pm.
Pro Tip: 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 a 100 tunnels. You will have to book the Himalyan 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 getting to New Delhi at 9.55 pm.
You also get fast buses from Kalka to Chandigarh which roughly takes an hour (usually less).
4. Planning your hotel/stay
Booking stay at Shimla is not easy. In June, Shimla is packed with tourists. It is difficult to find good places at the last minute. So ensure to book your hotel stay well in advance.
During the off season (September- October), it is not difficult to find last minute hotel booking.
| Tip: Book for two nights in advance at Shimla. This guarantees you a confirmation of your stay irrespective of whether you use a buffer day or not.
Pro Tip: 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 traveling to Shimla. You may not get the best of hotels but you usually get a room over your head.
Hotel options in Shimla
➤ Hotel Amber
This is close to Shimla Old Bus stand. A decent hotel to spend a night in Shimla. The cost ranges from Rs 800 to Rs 1000 for a double bedroom. The advantage of this hotel is it’s just about 5 mins away from the bus stand. Website: http://www.hotelambershimla.in/.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/9H8Xakmt8p2TpYFS6
Contact Number: 070189 14266
➤ YMCA Shimla
It is run by the Christian missionaries and a very clean place. This is a good option for solo trekkers and backpackers. The stay is in bunk beds with shared bathrooms. The cost is Rs 500 for a one-night stay. It is behind the Church on the Mall road.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/MCfW3oNG7DdPFAtP6
Contact Number: 0177-2652375, 2650021
Email ID: [email protected]
➤ Hotel Crystal Palace
This is a moderate priced hotel. It may not be the very best but makes sense since your pickup and drop is from its premises. The cost ranges from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500 for a double bedroom. The cost varies according to the seasons.
Website: http://www.hotelcrystalpalaceshimla.com/.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/nm8ikNY8EUWJ7Udw6.
Contact Number: +91-9816025758
You can also look up Oyo Rooms and book your stay close to the Old bus stand. The price varies from one season to another.
5. What if you miss the Indiahikes pickup? How to get to Janglik on your own.
If you miss the Indiahikes pick up from Shimla, here is a step-by-step guide to reach Janglik on your own.
Step 1: Go to Lakkar Bazar from Shimla Old bus stand which is 2.5 km away.
Step 2: Take a local bus from Lakkar Bazar to Rohru. This is a 5 hour journey.
There are buses leaving at these timings: 7 am, 8.30 am, 11 am, 12 noon to Rohru.
There is also a bus from Lakkar Bazar that goes directly to Chirgaon (which is an hour away from Janglik). It leaves at 11 am. But do not bank on this bus — the bus can be very unpredictable.
Step 3: From Rohru you’ll need to move further to Tangnu, which is the last road head near Janglik. From Rohru or Chirgaon, there are regular buses to Tangnu.
You have buses at 8 am, 1 pm and 4 pm. However, you will have to reach Rohru before 4 pm. Post 4 pm, you don’t get any vehicles towards Tangnu.
From Rohru to Tangnu, it costs Rs 70 by bus. You will also find shared cabs at the exit of the bus stand towards Chirgaon. Shared taxis costs between Rs 100 to 150 based on the number of travellers the driver manages to get for the journey.
Step 4: From Tangnu you will have to trek to Janglik which is 3 km (45 mins) away. Tangnu is a very small village just before the base camp of Janglik. It is an initial descent to the river (10 mins). There is an iron bridge which is broken currently. A stone bridge is also washed up by the recent heavy rains. You will have to carefully get down the iron bridge by holding its iron pillars. Once you are done with this adventure, you have a steep hike to Janglik (30 mins).
How to get fit for the Buran Ghati trek
Buran Ghati is a moderate to 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 the month of June, on the pass crossing day, you need to rappel at least 400 meters down an ice wall. 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 undulating trail on 6 days. This requires a good amount of endurance. You can begin by jogging everyday. Start slow and increase your pace everyday. Swimming, cycling and stair climbing without too many breaks in between can help too.
In order to be prepared for a high altitude trek, you should have a combination of distance and speed targets.
Here’s a fitness routine that works:
In case you’re just starting with a regular fitness routine, phase out your distance targets in the following manner –
–>Target completing 5 km in 40 minutes when you begin.
–> Gradually increase your pace by running 4 times a week and bring it down to 5 km in less than 35 mins.
–>If you are above 45 years and is comfortable with brisk walking, then target covering 10km in 90 minutes.If you are somebody you prefers cycling over running, then try to cover 25 km in 60 minutes.
How to send us a proof of your fitness routine?
Record your run on an app like Nike Run. Start recording your run when you start running. At the end of your run, hit the stop button.
Take a screenshot of the summary of your run. We will need a detailed split of each kilometre of your run. This is usually integrated in all running apps.
Note: Make sure your GPS is on when you record your run. If the GPS is off, we will not accept the screenshot.
Upload two screenshots 10 days prior to the start of the trek — one of you covering 5km in less than 35 mins along with your picture and the other with splits of your run.
Strength – Target 4 sets of squats with 20 in each
This is another area you should work on. There is a lot of trekking distance that you will cover in high altitude carrying your backpacks. You have to walk on uneven terrain during the trek. It could be taxing for your legs. For this, strengthening your legs will help. You can do some squats to strengthen them. Start with 3 sets of squats, with 8 squats in each set and work towards reaching your target in 3 weeks.
Flexibility
Another aspect that will help you trek comfortably is flexibility. For this, you can do some stretching exercises – stretch your hamstrings, quadriceps, hip flexors, lower back muscles and shoulders regularly. On your trek, it is important that you arrive on the slopes with your muscles relaxed. Carrying a backpack, however light, can become a strain after a while. These exercises will help you to be in good shape before the trek.
➥ Here is a downloadble guide to help you get fit for the trek.
Working out indoors
If you can’t go out and jog because of time and space constraints, here’s a video you can use to work out indoors.
Things to get for the Buran Ghati Trek
Buran Ghati is a very high altitude trek. The trekking gear you need to carry for this trek is different from regular treks. So pay careful attention to this entire section.
- A list of everything you need for the trek (Skip to section
- A list of medicines for your trek (Skip to section)
- A list of mandatory documents (Skip to section)
First, The Essentials. You cannot do the trek without these.
1. Trekking Shoes:
Buran Ghati requires trekking shoes that are sturdy, have good grip, have ankle support and can handle snow. Here is a quick video on how to choose your trekking shoes.
| Buying Tip: The Trek series and MH series are good options by Decathlon. They are tried and tested. There really isn’t any necessity to buy the higher priced models. Here is a list of other budget shoes that trekkers are using.
| Rental: We have the Trek series and the MH series by Decathlon available on rent from the Indiahikes store. They are already broken into and in good condition. Rental shoes are not dirty or unhygienic. This is how they are kept clean.
2. Backpack:
For a trek like Buran Ghati, you need a 50-60 litre backpack. Make sure your backpack has good hip support, shoulder support and quick access pockets. Here is a guide on how to choose a backpack.
| Buying Tip: Wildcraft, Decathlon and Adventure Worx usually make good backpacks. While Wildcraft has more expensive ones, the other two brands have budget-friendly backpacks to choose from.
| Rental: The 48 litre backpack by Adventure Worx is available on rent from the Indiahikes store. They are custom-made for our Himalayan treks. Rent them if you don’t have a backpack.
3. Clothes:
Wearing layers is the mantra in the mountains. Layers give you maximum protection from all elements. And when the weather changes in the mountains (as it happens every few hours), you take take off or put on layers as required.
Base layer:
3 T-shirts:
Wear one T-shirt and carry two. Carry full sleeve dry-fit T-shirts (preferably collared). These prevent your arms and neck from getting sunburnt. In the rarified air on the trek, especially at high altitudes, UV rays can burn you in no time.
Dry-fit T-shirts quickly dry your sweat, they are easy to wash and in case of a rainy day, they dry quicker. Round neck T-shirts are ok, but collared ones are better.
| Buying tip: You can get dry-fit T-shirts from Decathlon. Also, stores like Reliance Trends, Max have dry-fit T-shirts. They don’t usually cost much.
| Cotton or Synthetic? As Indians, we love cotton. Down in the plains when the heat is a blistering 40°C it makes sense to wear cotton. But it takes a long time to dry when it gets wet. In the mountains, where it is cooler, synthetic is what you wear. They wick sweat rapidly and keep you dry. (But they do tend to smell quickly, so carry a roll-on deodorant with you.)
| Pro Tip: If you are extra susceptible to cold, you could get a set of thermal inners. In our experience, wearing two T-shirts over another works as a better thermal. And they save you weight and space, since you’re already carrying them.
3 insulation layers:
The highest altitude you reach on this trek is 15,000 ft. At these altitudes it can get freezing cold even in the middle of summer. You will need at least 3 insulation layers for this trek.
You will need 2 light fleece layers, 1 full-sleeve light sweater. Do not get your grandma stitched sweaters, which can be very heavy. You need sweaters and fleece jackets that can fold into compact rolls.
1 Outer layer:
A padded jacket serves the purpose here. You don’t really need a water resistant material. But you need an outer padded jacket that keeps the wind and cold out. Ensure your padded jacket has a hood as well.
| Do you need a down/feather jacket? Not really. A regular padded/shell jacket will do. This video here will help you to learn more about the difference.
Note: Down/feather jackets are really not available these days. Many jackets masquerade as down/feather jackets. They are essentially fine polyester-filled jackets. They mimic the function of a down jacket but are usually expensive.
| Rental: Padded jackets made by Fort Collins are available on rent at the Indiahikes store. They are custom made for Indiahikes and trekkers find them terrific, even in winter.
Two trek pants:
Twopairs of trek pants should suffice for this trek. Wear one pair and carry two just in case it rains. Trek pants with zippered cut offs at the thighs are very suitable for treks. Also, choose quick-dry pants over cotton. They dry up soon in case of small stream crossings / rain.
| Buying tip: Go for pants with zippered pockets. They come in handy to keep your phone, handkerchief or pocket snacks.
| Track pants or trek pants? Stretchable track pants make a good backup and can double up as your thermal bottoms. But track pants are not trek pants — so don’t use them as your main outerwear. Keep them only as a backup.
Mandatory Accessories, without these too you won’t be able to do the trek.
These accessories are mandatory. Don’t go to Buran Ghati without them. Trekkers generally put off purchasing / borrowing the accessories for the last minute. We suggest the opposite. Start gathering these accessories first.
1. Sunglasses:
Sunglasses are to prevent snow blindness. Especially in the month of May and June on a trek like Buran Ghati, expect to walk on long stretches of snow from Dhunda to the Pass and towards the River Camp. A small overexposure to direct sunlight on snow can lead to snow blindness (about a half hour’s exposure). That’s because fallen snow is like thousands of mirrors that reflect direct UV rays. So you need sunglasses with UV protection.
| Tip: Try getting sunglasses that wrap around instead of those that have openings on the side. Even peripheral UV ray exposure is not a good idea.
Wear sunglasses if the trekking day is bright and sunny (on open sections, meadows). On a snowy section you must absolutely never take off your sunglasses until the section has been fully crossed.
| If you wear spectacles: If you wear spectacles, you can get oversized sunglasses that you wear over your regular glasses (available at Decathlon). If that is cumbersome, photochromic lenses work equally well. Here’s a quick guide on managing sunglasses with spectacles.
| Contact lens users: If you use contact lenses, you can use them on the trek too. The lens solution will not freeze. You will also not face any problems in changing your lens in your tent. Just carry enough cleaning solution with you to clean your fingers well. Wear your sunglasses over your contact lens.
2. Suncap:
A sun cap is mandatory. Trekking without a sun cap can lead to headaches, sun strokes, quick dehydration and a sharp drop in trekking performance.
| Tip: In the mountains, the general rule is to keep your head covered at all times. During the day a sun cap protects you from the harsh rays of the sun (it is doubly stronger with naked UV rays). A sun cap keeps your body temperature in balance. In the evening/early morning, the reverse is true. Your head loses your body heat quickly. A woolen cap prevents heat from dissipating from your head.
| Pro Tip: Sun caps with flaps are a blessing for trekkers. They cut out almost all UV leaks. They prevent sun burns in every possible way. They are a lot more effective than sunscreen lotion. A wide brimmed sports hat also helps to prevent sunburn in a big way.
3. Synthetic hand gloves:
On a trek like Buran Ghati you are going to be handling snow quite a bit especially in the month of May and June. You’ll need gloves to grip something or to steady yourself in snow. You also want the gloves to keep you warm. Get synthetic hand gloves that have waterproofing on the outside and a padded lining on the inside. If you find the combination difficult to get (not likely), wear a tight fitting fleece hand glove inside a synthetic hand glove. Hand gloves are mandatory on this trek.
4. Woollen cap or Balaclava:
Ensure these cover your ears. In the cold mountains, you lose maximum heat from your head, not from your hands, feet or the rest of your body. Which is why you need to keep your head protected, especially when the sun is down. Early mornings, late evenings, a cold trekking day are when you must use your woollen cap.
Your ears are sensitive too, so a woollen head cap that covers your ears is absolutely essential. A balaclava is a modern version of the woolen cap. It covers your ears, neck and parts of your face as well. Do not get a woollen cap that only covers your head.
5. Socks (3 pairs):
Apart from two sports socks, take a pair of woollen socks. Sports socks give you cushioning plus warmth. Again the mantra is to wear synthetic socks or at least a synthetic blend. Cotton socks soak in water and sweat. They are very hard to dry. As for woollen socks, they help you to keep warm and snug in the night. If you cannot get woolen socks, wearing two sports socks serves the purpose as well.
6. Headlamp:
Trekkers are often confused about whether they need to get a headlamp or a handheld torch. You need to get a headlamp because it leaves your hands free to do other activities. On the Buran Ghati trek you’ll need your hands free to wash dishes, pitch tents and hold your trek poles.
| Buying tip: Ensure your headlamp covers a wider area and is not too focused as a single beam. On a trek, your headlamp must help you see around you as much as ahead of you.
7. Trekking pole (a pair):
Trekking poles give you stability and balance. They reduce your energy consumption by almost 40%. On the Buran Ghati trek there are steep ascents and descents. The trek up the gully to the pass is pretty steep, about 75% incline. A pair of trekking poles will make the difference between a comfortable and a strenuous trek. In India we tend to use a single trekking pole. However, two trekking poles give you greater stability and balance. They also increase your walking pace.
| Rental: Imported side-locking trekking poles are available on rent on the Indiahikes store.
8. Rainwear:
On a trek, the weather can change quickly. A bright sunny day can turn into a downpour in a matter of minutes. Carry a poncho or a rain jacket to tackle this. A poncho is a big rain cover with openings for your arms and your head. It is extremely effective because it covers both you and your backpack. It is extremely light and weighs next to nothing.
Rain jackets are more streamlined and less cumbersome but weigh more. Rain pants are really not required. Dry fit trek pants dry quickly even if soaking wet.
| Rental: High grade ponchos are available on rent on the Indiahikes store.
9. Rain cover for your backpack:
Backpacks are your life. You carry all your dry clothes, your warm gear in your backpack. It is important that your backpack stays dry at all times. Modern backpacks usually come with built in rain-covers. If your back pack does not have a rain-cover, ensure you get a rain cover by either (a) buying a rain cover (b) or cutting a large plastic sheet to the size of your backpack. You can roll the plastic sheet around your backpack and keep it in place with a string or elastic.
| Pro tip: It’s good practice to compartmentalise your clothes, accessories and other things in plastic covers inside your backpack. That way, even if it rains and your backpack gets wet, your things are water-proof inside the backpack.
10. Daypack (20-30 ltrs, optional):
Some trekkers opt to offload their bags to a porter on the Buran Ghati trek. While we do not encourage this practice, in case you opt for offloading, then carrying a day pack is mandatory. In your day pack you carry essentials like water bottles, rainwear, emergency medicines, headlamp, some snacks and a warm layer. Your main backpack that carries most of your equipment is accessible only at the campsites.
A day pack is a smaller backpack that is usually of 20-30 ltr capacity. Laptop bags are not day packs. Do not get them.
Other mandatory requirement
1. A toilet kit:
Keep your toilet kit light. Carry just the basics — toothbrush, toothpaste, small soap, toilet tissue roll, a small moisturiser, lip balm, and a roll-on deodorant. You will not be able to have a bath on the trek, so don’t overload on soaps and shampoos.
| Pro tip: Carry miniature-sized items. You will not need more than that. If you’re travelling in a group, share one toothpaste for all.
Avoid getting large toilet rolls. The smallest size roll is more than enough for a trek like Buran Ghati.
| For women: If you are likely to have your periods on your trek date, don’t worry about it. You can use your pads, tampons or menstrual cups on the trek. There will be toilet tents where you can get changed. Make sure you carry ziplock bags to bring back your menstrual waste. Don’t leave behind any waste in the mountains. Watch this video to learn how to dispose your sanitary waste.
2. Cutlery:
Carry a lunch box, a mug and a spoon. Your lunch box must be leak proof. You are expected to wash your own cutlery. Trekkers often expect Indiahikes to wash their cutlery. When you allow Indiahikes to wash your cutlery, your cutlery becomes part of a mass washing system. You immediately invite germs, bacteria to settle on your cutlery. Incidence of stomach disorders rises exponentially.
| Pro tip: Carry stainless steel cutlery. Avoid fancy high grade plastic cutlery. Stainless steel cutlery is infinitely easier to wash in cold water. Grease is easier to remove and hygiene is at the highest. Watch this video on why steel cutlery is better than plastic.
3. Two 1 litre bottles or a 2 litre hydration pack:
Buran Ghati has a few long walking days. You need to carry two one litre water bottles to keep yourself hydrated over the distance. If you are used to a hydration pack, then that is ok too. If one among the two bottles is a lightweight thermos, then that helps you to store warm water on a really cold day or for late evenings and early mornings.
| Rental: You could rent lightweight thermos flasks from the Indiahikes store.
4. Plastic covers:
Carry 3-4 old plastic covers to keep your used clothes. You could use them even for wet clothes. Re-use old plastic bags for this and do not buy new ones.
Personal Medical Kit
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 Diamox starting from Delhi every 12 hours (125 mg). Carry on the medication until you descend down to Barua. Being on a preventive course of Diamox greatly reduces the chances of Acute Mountain Sickness on the Buran Ghati trek.
- 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.
Mandatory Documents to carry
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, passport will do. This is required by the forest department for your identification.
- Disclaimer certificate. This is a legal requirement. Download the PDF, read carefully and sign it. This must be handed over to your Trek Leader during registration at the base camp – Download PDF
- Medical certificate. There are two sections in this. The first part must be filled by a practising doctor. The second part must be filled by you. Without the medical certificate the forest department will not issue permissions for your trek. It is also a requirement by Indiahikes – Download PDF
| Pro tip: 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.
How safe is the Buran Ghati trek?
The pass crossing is the only difficult bit in this trek. At the pass you come across a vertical ice wall which you need to rappel down from 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 River campsite, the last camp, is a small exposed section that overlooks a river which you need to be careful while traversing. In the months of 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. In order 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.
What Indiahikes does to ensure your safety
Our philosophy is simple. We ingrain safety aspects in the people we work with, in the processes that we follow, and in the equipment we carry. All our trek leaders are trained repeatedly on safety issues and protocols. Most issues are resolved with their intervention.
Right from the time you decide to register for the trek till the last day of the trek, these safety procedures will be running in the background. We have listed a few of them below:
1. Fitness criteria before registration
Over years of organising high altitude treks, we have found that safety issues thrive amongst those who are unfit and unprepared for the trek. So we have introduced an eligibility criteria for the Buran Ghati trek. Anyone who wants to register for this trek has to meet the fitness requirements, with the ideal BMI. The BMI and fitness regime will require proof. A high altitude trek is not to be taken casually.
2. Monitoring health on a trek
Any abnormal reading will be paid special attention to and action will be taken immediately.
On the Buran Ghati trek, your Trek Leader will be monitoring two aspects thrice a day.
- Oxygen Level
- Pulse Rate
Your Blood Pressure levels will be checked once a day.
This will help us ensure that your body is acclimatising as required.
Every trekker will be given a Health Card at the beginning of the trek. The Health Card is issued to monitor the trekker’s daily health, wherein they will be entering details about their health everyday. It also contains details of what symptoms one should look out for and what action should be taken during emergencies. These Health Cards will be collected back at the end of the trek.
3. High Altitude Medical Kit
Your trek leader will be carrying a full-fledged high altitude medical kit. This will include basic medicines and specific medicines catering to altitude sickness – Diamox, Dexamethasone (tablets and injections) and Nifedipine. Your Trek Leader will also be carrying a portable oxygen cylinder throughout the trek. In addition to that, there are oxygen cylinders installed at all high altitude campsites for any emergency situations.
4. High Altitude Trek Equipment
To ensure safe trekking on snowy terrain, Indiahikes will provide you with micro-spikes to attach to your shoes. This will give you good traction on hard snow. To avoid snow from entering your shoes, Indiahikes will provide you with gaiters that you can put on over your shoes. You will have qualified technical guides with you, who will lead the way on difficult terrain.
All our sleeping bags and tents are custom-made for high altitude. If it is cold outside, it will be around 10 degrees warmer inside the tent. The sleeping bags can withstand temperatures up to -10 degree Celsius.
5. Being hydrated and well nourished on the trek
You need to drink a minimum of 4 litres of water every day during the trek to ensure that you’re well hydrated. De-hydration on a trek can make you lose energy very quickly and intensify the effects of AMS. Your trek leader will brief you about the amount of water that you need to carry with you at the start of each day as well as water sources on the trail.
We provide trekkers with nutritious meals to ensure that they are energized to complete the trail each day. Apart from this, snacks or packed lunch is provided wherever the trail before a meal break is likely to be long. Make sure that you do not skip any meal as this can lead to serious health emergencies on high altitudes.
With all these processes and equipment in place, you can be rest assured that you will have a safe trek with Indiahikes.
Nevertheless, you will need to be cautious and report the slightest of symptoms to your trek leader as soon as you feel them.
What you compulsorily need to know if you’re going on the Buran Ghati trek
Acute Mountain Sickness:
At altitudes above 10,000 ft the chances of being hit by Acute Mountain Sickness cannot be ruled out. This risk can be avoided by going on a course of Diamox. Even while on Diamox, the risk of AMS still prevails. While AMS can be treated with rest and medicines for the most part, the symptoms must be recognised before it can go to advanced stages – High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).
HAPE and HACE are critical conditions that can be fatal within hours. And they can occur without AMS preceding them. So it’s doubly important to recognise any symptoms and nip them in the bud.
About Diamox:
Diamox is a tablet that is available off the counter. You can start your course one day before the trek. Take half a tablet once in the morning and once at night (after your meal). It reduces chances of AMS by 80%. There are almost no side effects of Diamox, except a tingly feeling at your finger tips. You might also feel the need to urinate more often, which is normal as Diamox makes you drink more water. You can learn more about AMS, its symptoms and treatment here.
Note: Diamox is a sulfa-based tablet. If you are allergic to sulfa-based drugs, don’t take the tablet. If you do not know whether you are allergic to sulfa-based drugs, take a Diamox around ten days before your trek and look out for any reactions, If there are none, you can safety take the tablet on the trek.
Take this specific precaution – Go on a preventive course of Diamox
We strongly advise you to go on a preventive course of Diamox. Diamox is a blood thinner and helps you acclimatise much faster and reduces the chance of AMS by around 80%. Take half a tablet twice a day from one day before your trek.
What to do if you have symptoms of AMS?
If you feel any symptoms of AMS on the trek, you must report to the Trek Leader immediately. Do not wait till the end of the day’s trek. Do not try to handle it yourself either. Our Trek Leaders are well-trained and experienced to handle any cases and they will be the decision makers in any such cases.
Watch the below video to understand the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness. In this video, Arjun Majumdar, the founder of Indiahikes will also tell you the protocol to follow when you see someone showing symptoms of AMS.
There are no easy exits on the Buran Ghati trek. In case of an emergency at or before Dhunda, you will need to return to Diude, and if this happens after the pass, then descend to Barua. It might take 1-2 days to reach the nearest medical centre. Medical expenses, if required, at the medical centre are to be borne by the participant.
Closest hospital:
If a medical emergency occurs before the cross passing, then Rohru is where you would need to go to get to a hospital. On the other side of the pass, Sangla and Kalpa have hospitals. Rohru is a couple of hours drive from Diude and Sangla can be reached within an hour if you drive from Barua.
Why you should personally know about the risks and precautions of high altitude treks
If ever you find yourself alone at high altitude, either while trekking independently or with another organisation, there are some life -saving steps you can take. Firstly, you should be able to recognise symptoms of altitude sickness. So acquaint yourself with the symptoms.
Secondly, there might be instances when you have to administer medicines to yourself or to a fellow trekker. There are three life-saving medicines that we suggest you always carry on you – Diamox, Dexamethasone and Nifedipine.
If you are trekking with Indiahikes, do not administer these to anyone without consulting your Trek Leader. If you are trekking independently then you need to know when exactly to administer these medicines and in what dosage.
Also ensure that you are well hydrated throughout the trek and do not skip any meal.
Acute Mountain Sickness
You can watch the video below to learn about HAPE and HACE and how to tackle them. In the video, Sandhya UC, partner at Indiahikes, explains in detail about High Altitude Pulmonary and Cerebral Edema, what the symptoms are and how to tackle them.
Click here to read about Sandhya’s first hand experience of suffering from AMS on her 28th high altitude trek.
If you’re of the opinion that fit people don’t get AMS, please get rid of that notion right away. AMS can affect anyone without paying heed to their fitness and prior experience at high altitude! Altitude sickness does not distinguish between a first timer and an experienced trekker.
For more detailed information about Acute Mountain Sickness, you can download and study the manual below.
The Indiahikes Special Covid Cancellation Policy
We understand the pain of cancelling a trek. As trekkers, we always look forward to treks, and after months of training and planning, if we have to cancel our trek, there’s no greater disappointment than that.
This is why we have one of the most trekker-friendly cancellation policies.
This policy is effective for registrations starting January 5, 2021.
| Face no cancellation charges any time before the trek date
– Cancellation upto 7 days before the start date of the trek — Get a complete cash refund (minus 4% transaction fee). The money is refunded to the same bank account, credit or debit card from where payment was made.
– Cancellation during the last 6 days before the start date of the trek, and not counting the day of the trek — Full refund with 100% of the trek fee in the form of an Indiahikes Trek Voucher. Valid for 1 year from date of issue. Can be used on any Indiahikes trek.
– Cancellation on the start day of the trek, or no show on the start day of the trek — Unfortunately, no refund.
Important note: The Trek Insurance amount is not refundable.
| In the rare event that we cancel a trek, this is the policy we follow:
We almost never cancel our treks. But in case we cancel a trek because of natural calamities (snowstorms, thunderstorms, floods, landslides, earthquakes) or unexpected political unrest, curfews, local riots, or government orders, Indiahikes will issue a voucher for the full amount of your trek fee (minus the trek insurance). You can redeem the Trek Voucher on any of our treks over the next one year.
Important note: The Trek Insurance amount is not refundable.
| The Indiahikes “Repeat My Trek” Policy (trekkers love this!)
There are some thoughts and ideologies that we hold close to our hearts.
1. As trekkers, there are times when we have to let go of a trek midway. Sometimes we fall ill, or get hit by AMS or at times simply fatigue pulls us down. At other times bad weather plays spoilsport, or the trail is blocked. It can happen that your Trek Leader sends you down due to a safety or health issue.
At Indiahikes we feel terrible when such an event happens.
Should such a situation occur that you have to drop out from this trek, we want you to know that we feel as bad as you do. You can always come back another time and finish your adventure. For this you do not have to pay Indiahikes any money.
2. On the other hand, there are times when you fall in love with a trek. So much so that you want to do it again, perhaps see it in another season. If you ever desire to do a trek again, please do so. You don’t have to pay Indiahikes any money for repeating this trek. Just inform your Experience Coordinator who will guide you through a special internal process.
Our only request: Just register for your trek in advance – you know how it is with our groups – they get booked in advance.
Note: The Indiahikes “Repeat My Trek” policy does not apply to our international treks.
If you cancel any rental gear from our store:
- Cancellation of rental gear 7 days before the start date of the trek — Get a full refund minus 4% transaction charges.
- Cancellation of rental gear less than 7 days before the start date of the trek — Get a voucher for the whole amount. This voucher is applicable on all our future treks.
If you cancel the offloading of your backpack:
The offloading fee will be refunded to your account with a 4% transaction charge.
If you choose to cancel your backpack offloading AFTER reaching the base camp, you will get a voucher of the offloading fee.
| How to cancel your trek:
In case, you wish to cancel your trek, follow these steps.
- Login to your Indiahikes Trek Dashboard using this link.
- Find your upcoming trek on your home page.
- Click on “Cancel Trek”
- Mention why you’re cancelling your trek on the form that appears.
- Choose either a voucher or a refund (where applicable).
- Click on “Cancel Booking”
How long does the refund process take?
After you have cancelled your trek, if you have opted for a refund, the refund amount will land in the same account that you have made the payment from. It will take 4-5 working days.
If you have chosen a trek voucher, it will land in your inbox within an hour. You will also be able to see it on your Trek Dashboard.
What is a Trek Voucher?
Trek Vouchers are credit amounts added to your Indiahikes account. You can redeem these on any of your future treks with Indiahikes. Every Trek Voucher has a validity of one year.
Important note: Indiahikes Trek Vouchers are non-refundable, not transferable to others or extendable.
How to use an Indiahikes Trek Voucher?
If you have received an Indiahikes Trek Voucher, you will automatically see it when you are making a payment for your next trek.
Once you click on the voucher and apply it, the system will deduct the voucher amount from your payable amount.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your Experience Coordinator.
What your trek includes
- Accommodation – Stay is included from Day 1 to Day 6 (Diude to River Campsite). You will be camping on all days of the trek (3 per tent).
- Meals – All meals from dinner at Diude on Day 1 to lunch on Day 7 . Meals are simple, nutritious and vegetarian.
- Camping charges – All trekking permits and forest camping charges are included.
- Trekking equipment – We provide high quality tents, sleeping bags, ice axes, roped, micro spikes, gaiters etc. as required.
- Safety equipment – First aid, medical kit, oxygen cylinders, stretchers etc.
What your trek does not include
- Transport to and from the base camp – We will arrange shared taxis for trekkers to pick you up from Shimla and drop you back from Barua. This will cost approx. Rs. 1,500 per trekker one way. The total cost will be shared with the other trekkers
- Food during transit to and from the base camp – The trek fee does not include meals purchased during the journey to Diude and return from Barua.
- Backpack offloading charges – Rs. 1,800 + 5% GST for the full trek. The backpack cannot weigh more than 9 kg. Suitcases/strolleys/duffel bags will not be allowed. Please note that charges will vary for last minute offloading in case you decide to offload your bag after reaching Diude (Rs. 400 per day inclusive of taxes).
- Anything apart from inclusions
- Buffer day on the trek: We have kept a buffer day on the trek to account for any weather related delay. If this is utilised, you will need to pay Rs.2,500 + 5% GST. This amount is to be handed over to your trek leader.
Cancellation Policy
In the event that you cancel your trek, this is the cancellation policy we follow:
– Cancellation 30 days before the starting date of the trek — Get your full trek fee back in an Indiahikes Trek Voucher OR get a monetary refund with 15% cancellation charges.
– Cancellation between 30 days and 20 days before the starting date of the trek — Get 80% of the trek fee in an Indiahikes Trek Voucher OR get a monetary refund with 50% cancellation charges.
– Cancellation less than 20 days before the starting date of the trek — No monetary refund, get 50% of your fees in an Indiahikes Trek Voucher
Fitness
A high altitude trek in the Himalayas requires considerable fitness. Your body needs to train itself to process more work with lower levels of oxygen. Therefore, on treks, cardiovascular training is critically important. The trek has gradual climbs and steep descents. As a measure of your fitness, we require you to be able to run at least 5 km in 35 minutes by the time your trek starts. If you are 45 years or above, try to cover 10 km in 90 minutes. This is a minimum requirement.
If you prefer cycling over running, then try to cover 25 km in 60 minutes.
Unable to do so can make your trek difficult.
In addition, preparation of trek needs to include strength and flexibility training. Registering for the trek is an understanding that you will undertake the mandated fitness training and upload the fitness screenshots on your dashboard. Trekkers who have not adequately prepared may be asked to discontinue the trek at any point.
Indiahikes has the right to reject trekkers who do not meet our eligibility requirement at the base camp.
Backpack Offloading
Indiahikes expects all trekkers to carry their own backpacks. All common gear will be carried by the support team. If for some reason a trekker is unable to carry his or her backpack, he/she can offload the same by paying an additional charge.
Backpack offloading charges – Rs 1,800 plus GST of 5%. Charges for last minute offloading during the trek will be Rs. 400 per day inclusive of tax. You can opt for offloading directly your dashboard after your payment is done for the trek.
Partial offloading is not allowed. The backpack cannot weigh more than 9 kg. No suitcases/strolleys/duffel bags will be allowed.
Online offloading in advance is possible up to three days prior to the trek start date.
Transport
Transport from Shimla to Janglik and return from Barua to Shimla can be arranged by us at an extra cost. This will cost approx Rs. 6,500 (for a 5-6 seater cab) per vehicle on the drive to the basecamp. The return cost will be Rs 9,000 (for a 5-6 seater cab) per vehicle
Participants are expected to share the cost of the cab. The amount is to be paid directly to our transporter.
Indiahikes only arranges the vehicle pick up and is not responsible for any issues during transport.
Repeat Trekker Policy
At Indiahikes, we believe that the mountains hold all the aces. The weather could play spoilsport, the altitude could mess with a trekker, the unpredictability of nature itself could turn against him. Whatever the reason might be, it is never nice to turn away from a trek midway.
In the event that a trekker has to come down without completing your trek, they can always head back to the mountain and do the same trek again. If this happens, trekkers don’t have to pay the trek fee. They have to just make the optional payment for the insurance amount.
On another note, it could also happen that you love a trek so much that you want to go back time and again. Trekkers don’t have to pay Indiahikes for repeating a trek.
Note – The Repeat Trekker Policy holds good only for Indian Treks.
It is not valid for treks we run in Nepal.
Discount for a group of 10 and above
If there is a group size of 10 trekkers and above, then we will waive off the trek fee charges for one person.
Note - There is no discount available if the group size is 9 or less than that.
You can register the entire group and send us an email. If the group is registering individually, then the primary participant needs to send an email to the Trek Coordinator with the list of trekkers from the same group.
If you want to make the payment individually, then individual registrations have to be done.
If you have a group of 15 trekkers and above, then we waive of 10% for every trekker.
This will be the case for a group of 10 trekkers. So if you have a group of 20 trekkers, then we will waive off the charges for 2 trekkers.
Can I keep extra luggage at the base camp of Janglik?
The option to leave extra luggage is not available for this trek.
Buran Ghati is a crossover trek. This means you will be starting the trek at a point, crossing a mountain pass, and ending the trek at a different point. You will not come back to the same base camp of Janglik.
Tip: Most trekkers keep their extra luggage at their hotel in Shimla and collect it later. The other option is to carry only what is necessary on the trek
What is buffer day on this trek?
The weather in the mountains is highly unpredictable. It might so happen that weather conditions prevent us from passing the cross as planned. We will then have to wait a day to do this.
Hence you must factor in the buffer day while planning your travel. Book your return journey on the next day after you reach Shimla.
Note - If the buffer day is used, you have to pay us Rs. 2,500 per day (INR) +5% GST. The money will be collected by the Trek Leader only if we use the buffer day. This depends completely on the weather conditions on the trek and the call will be taken by the trek leader.
How do I book for my stay on the last day after the trek at Shimla?
Booking stay at Shimla can be a bit tricky. There are two options we would suggest.
A. Book for two nights in advance at Shimla. This means a confirmation of your stay. Even if the buffer day is used or not, your stay is confirmed at Shimla.
B. 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 traveling to Shimla.
Will there be rappelling from the Buran Pass during my trek?
If you are going during the summer months of May and June, then you will rappel down on an ice wall at Buran Pass, which is at 15,000 feet.
However, do not expect the same after the monsoon. The snow would have melted away and you don’t rappel down in the months of September, October. Instead, you descend down the trails from the pass, on a series of switchbacks.
Is there mobile network on this trek? Are there any electricity charging points on this trek?
You’ll find Vodafone/ Airtel network at Janglik. There will be no signal at any of the campsites. Signal will be intermittent in the mountains. Do not depend on it. Finish all your important calls at Shimla itself. Please inform anxious family members about limited phone connectivity. There will be no electricity charging points anywhere on the trek.
Is there an option to offload my backpack on this trek?
Yes, there is an option to offload your backpack (have a porter carry it for you). This will cost Rs.1,800 + 5% GST if you inform us in advance. If you decide to offload once you reach Janglik, the amount will be Rs. 400 per day inclusive of tax. The offloaded bag should not weigh more than 9 kg. Strolleys, duffel bags, suitcases etc. are not allowed. Online offloading in advance is possible up to five days prior to the trek start date. You can opt for this from your dashboard directly.
Here is what trekkers have to say about their experience at Buran Ghati Trek
My encounter with the surrealistic Himalayas at Buran Ghati!
In her own words, Vidhya K Pai had "the time of her life" on the Buran Ghati Trek. From rappelling down the ice-wall to the never-ending Dayara Meadows.
Read full blogAvailable dates
- What the colours mean
-
Available:Registration is on.
-
Waitlist:The group is full, but cancellations are likely to happen. We have 5 waitlist slots for every group. You may register for the group. Waitlist slots confirmation chances are high if booked more than 30 days in advance.
-
Last 'x' slots:Indicates the number of slots available in a batch.
-
Full:Indicates the group is full. No further slots are likely.
Dates not suiting you? Click here to see other similar treks.
Hi! I would like to know if it’s possible to do Buran ghati trek in mid November ??
Hi Isha, the Buran Ghati pass will not be accessible in November. There will be too much snow in the approach to the pass, so it becomes inaccessible. The lower reaches of the trek are still accessible. We cover more than half the same trail in the Chandranahan Lake trek. You could consider that in November. You’ll find the details here – https://www.indiahikes.com/chandranahan-lake-trek/
Bhuran Ghati is available only in the months of May and June?
Hi Shruti, Buran Ghati is open in summer and in post-monsoon season. That’s May-June and Sept-Oct. These are the only two seasons when the trek is accessible. Before summer, there’s too much snow, and after summer, there’s too much rain. So if you want the experience of getting down the snow wall, then choose from May and June for your trek. 🙂
Hey. I did the Dayara Bugyal Trek in February 2019 and it was very wonderful experience with IH. Now i am confused between Buran Ghati and Rupin Pass trek. I want to do it May month as well i want to see some snow too. Which trek is ideal? Please help me out.
Hi Parin,
Rupin Pass and Buran Ghati are both fantastic treks for someone looking for a step up in terms of difficulty over Dayara Bugyal.
Honestly, they both are must-do treks- Rupin Pass for the way it surprises you at every turn and Buran Ghati for the best of every element you can expect on a trek!
If you specifically want to do a trek in the latter half of May, I would suggest doing Rupin Pass. Buran Ghati is best attempted in mid-June, as the trail comes alive with flowers then 🙂
Is there a possibility that theree can be a date for the trek during the 1st week of May?
Hi Anirudh,
Depending on the snowfall during winter, we take a call on when to open batches in May. Based on previous years’ snowfall, we have noticed that the end of May is a good time to begin our batches.
Incase we do open batches sooner, we will send you an e-mail.
What will be the weather condition of Buran ghati trek during 2nd week of october ? Can i experience of getting down the snow wall ?
Hi Sanju, usually the Buran Ghati doesn’t have much snow in October. This is around the time when the first winter snow comes in, but it depends on your luck, whether you see snow or not. If you’re going in SEpt/Oct, I’d say expect not to see snow, but if you do, it’s a big bonus. If you’re very particular about rappelling down the snow wall, go in May or June. That’s the best time to experience Buran Ghati’s famous snow wall.
Hii buran ghari available on November 2020
Hi Reshma
The autumn season for Buran Ghati runs from September to October. After which the winter arrives in this region. The mountains start receiving snowfall which blocks access to the pass.
Therefore it is not possible to do the Buran Ghati trek in the month of November.
Buran Ghati then reopens the next summer starting mid-May and going on until late June
I want to carry my laptop bag for trek. as i have done few treks with that only. If its possible then i will register for the trek.
Hi Varun, while you can do the trek with your laptop bag, it’s not going to be the most comfortable experience. It also depends a lot on the size of your laptop bag. We recommend 55-60 L backpacks to trekkers, especially for an 8 day trek like Buran Ghati. You’ll need at least 3-4 warm layers (which are usually the most bulky things in your backpack) and all other personal belongings. Here’s a precise list of everything you need – https://indiahikes.com/things-to-take-himalayan-trek/#gref
To carry all this comfortably on your back and trek, it’s best if you have a trekking backpack. We understand you may not want to invest in a new backpack. But you can rent good a good trekking backpack from us after you register for the trek. Our team will help you with that.
Hi Swathi Di…I am Devansh and my age is 23 years.
my running speed is 5km in around 34-35 minutes and i also ride bicycle for 12km everyday but i have no single experience of mountain trekking but i love mountain.
can in start my 1st trek with buran ghati?? because i want an adventures trek like buran ghati.
Hi Devansh, if you can consistently run 5 km in 34-35 minutes, you can comfortably do the Buran Ghati trek, even if it is your first one. Go right ahead and do it. 🙂
Planning for a trek in May end. I’ve done Har Ki Dun and Brahmatal before. I’m really confused between Rupin Pass and Buran Ghati. I believe I have a good level of fitness as I’m also preparing for my BMC and thus, looking for a difficult trek to challenge myself. Could you please suggest me one of these two treks ?
Hi Faizan, going by your objective, to challenge yourself and prepare for a BMC, Rupin Pass would be the better choice. Buran Ghati is pretty easy and straightfoward on all days except for the day of the pass crossing. Rupin Pass challenges you everyday, and more so on the day of the pass crossing. So definitely choose Rupin Pass as your trek.