TREK DIFFICULTY
Moderate-Difficult: Level 1
TREK DURATION
8 days
HIGHEST ALTITUDE
15,000 ft
AGE LIMIT
13 to 55 years
A Grand Buffet Of The Greatest Himalayan Treks
Every trek has extremely beautiful sections. Every trek also has sections that are, we grudgingly admit, a little imperfect. However, when you are on the Buran Ghati trek, even with your best critical eye, these imperfections are hard to spot.
There is not a moment on this trek where you are disappointed. It is as though someone has taken out all the best parts of our Himalayan treks and stitched them together to make one perfect trek.
The trek starts at the ancient village of Janglik, reminiscent of the kind of old, “untouched by civilization” villages you would find on the Har Ki Dun trek. The trail climbs out of Janglik and goes into a delightfully deep forest and then bursts into Dayara meadows. Most trekkers stop in their tracks here, with their jaws agape at the wonderment that is Dayara meadows.
You walk out of Dayara with an expectation that the meadows are over – and you wouldn’t be more wrong. The trail to Litham is filled with forests and meadows. And there is the Dunda. If any campsite can give you the beauty of an alpine mountain zone and the thrill of a splendid climb to come, then Dunda will be among the best.
Barua, on the other side of the pass, is a charming old village that would distinctly remind you of Hobbiton from Lord of the Rings. Old houses, fruit-bearing trees, alleyways – it is a world of its own.
As we see it, the Buran Ghati trek has all the highlights of a tough trek, with an extremely thrilling pass crossing, put together in a moderate trek. There are rapid scenery changes and save for the Pass day, most days are easy-moderate. If you are looking for a summer or autumn trek, don’t think twice, go for Buran Ghati.
Buran Ghati Videos
Watch these videos to prepare well for your trek
Quick Itinerary
A route map of the Buran Ghati trek
Day 1
Drive from Shimla to Janglik (9,415 ft)
Drive distance: 147 km | Drive Duration: 7-8 hours | Pick up point for Indiahikes trekkers: Opp. to Hotel Crystel Palace, Shimla Old Bus stand road | Pick up Time: 6 am | Location of Indiahikes basecamp: Janglik
Transport will be organised from Opp. to Hotel Crystel Palace, Shimla Old Bus stand road at 6:00 AM. The cost of cab will be Rs 8,500 per vehicle (for a 5-6 seater SUV/Trax)
Day 2
Trek from Janglik to Dayara
Trek Distance: 7.5 km | Trek Duration: 5 hours | Altitude gain: 9,415 ft to 11,115 ft
Day 3
Trek from Dayara to Litham
Trek Distance: 5.9 km | Trek Duration: 3-4 hours | Altitude gain: 11,115 ft to 11,485 ft
Day 4
Acclimatisation hike to Chandranahan Lake
Trek Distance: 6.9 km | Trek Duration: 4-5 hours | Altitude gain and loss: 11,485 ft to 13,020 ft and back to 11,485 ft
Day 5
Trek from Litham to Dhunda
Trek Distance: 4.6 km | Trek Duration: 4-5 hours | Altitude gain: 11,485 ft to 13,425 ft
Day 6
Trek from Dhunda to River campsite via Buran Ghati
Trek Distance: 8.4 km | Trek Duration: 9-10 hours | Altitude gain and loss: 13,425 ft to 15,000 ft to 10,745 ft
Day 7
Trek from River campsite to Barua. Drive to Shimla.
Trek Distance: 7.15 km | Trek Duration: 5 hours | Altitude loss:10,745 ft to 7,725 ft | Drop off point: Shimla Old Bus stand.
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 10,500 per vehicle (for a 5-6 seater SUV/Trax)
Please note: The distance between campsites may vary by 100 meters depending on weather conditions and your route. The altitude may also vary by 100 feet for similar reasons.
Day 8
Buffer Day
This depends completely on the weather conditions on the trek and the call will be taken by the trek leader.
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.
IMPORTANT POINTS
- 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 along with the mandatory documents of the Medical Certificate and Disclaimer form. This is required for entry at forest check posts during the travel and before the start of the trek.
- There are no facilities to take a photocopy at Janglik. Do not leave this till the end.
- We have a cloakroom facility on this trek. There's an option to leave excess luggage behind in Rohru. After the trek, your cloakroom luggage will be handed over to you in Rampur. It will cost Rs 200 per 10 kg bag. Anything beyond 10 kg is considered second luggage and will be charged accordingly.
(The luggage could be a backpack/suitcase/duffel bag or anything similar.).
- If the buffer day is used, you must pay us Rs 2,500 per day + 5% GST. The Trek Leader will only collect the money if we use the buffer day. This depends completely on the weather conditions on the trek, and the trek leader will take the call.
A route map of the Buran Ghati trek
PRO-TIPS
1. Book flexible flight tickets
You are going on a Himalayan trek, where there are several unpredictable factors. It's best to book flexible flight tickets, which you can reschedule if required. These are available for a small added cost with most travel companies.
2. Stay at Shimla after the trek
A bit risky but it is something we have seen that works. Book for your stay on the last day of the trek. Take this call based on the buffer day being used. When the trek is about to end at Barua, you get network connectivity. You can either book directly or ask your friends or family members to book while you are travelling to Shimla. You may not get the best of hotels but you usually get a room over your head.
3. Insights on using the buffer day after the trek
If you have a buffer day in hand, consider experiencing the narrow gauge train from Shimla to Kalka and then take a bus/train to Delhi. It is a heritage train which is still run by the Indian Railways. The train passes through some astounding mountain scenery, besides diving through over 100 tunnels. You will have to book the Himalayan Queen train in advance to ensure you get seats. It departs from Shimla at 10.30 am and reaches Kalka at around 4 pm.
There is a connecting Himalayan Queen that leaves for New Delhi at 4.50 pm from Kalka, getting to New Delhi at 10.40 pm. You can also think of taking the faster Shatabdi that leaves Kalka at 5.45 pm and gets to New Delhi at 9.55 pm.
You also get fast buses from Kalka to Chandigarh which roughly takes an hour (usually less).
3. Download the GPX file for the Buran Ghati Trek
We go to great lengths to ensure you have a safe trek. So here’s a GPX file to help you navigate without getting lost.
Photo Gallery
Buran Ghati trek at starts at Janglik. Go for a walk around the village before you start the trek. The houses have roofing with stones, and the temple and carvings on the wood are much beyond appreciation. Photo by Sandhya UC
The mixed Oak and Pine forest from Janglik to Dayara is a delightful trail to trek in. You trek in the dense forest for an hour long with the gushing sound of the Pabbar River. Photo by Jothiranjan.
The dense forest trail from Janglik to Dayara is best experienced when you trek in silence. Observe the rustling of leaves, hear the chirping of birds and just take a moment to pause and reflect. It truly is a transformative experience. Photo by Jothiranjan.
What I Like and Don’t Like About Buran Ghati Trek
What I Like About the Buran Ghati Trek
Buran Ghati Complete Trek Information
We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.
Use this section to learn about the Buran Ghati trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find these extremely useful.
Day 1 (Pick-up Day): Drive from Shimla to Janglik
Drive Duration: 7-8 hour drive | Drive Distance: 40 km
Vehicles will be arranged from the pick-up point at Opp. to Hotel Crystel Palace, Shimla Old Bus stand roadat 6.00 am.
Altitude: 9,415 ft (2,804 m)
Highlights: You'll love the drive to Janglik! It follows the old Hindustan road which has history written all over it. After Theog, the road slips to the other side of the hills. You would reach Rohru from here. The turquoise/teal Pabbar River would be gushing to the right through your drive. The beautiful green valleys start opening up. The high peaks start to be visible from this point onwards.
The base camp of the Buran Ghati trek is Janglik. The drive from Shimla takes you past Rohru, where we pick you up, 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 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.
Day 2: Trek from Janglik to Dayara
Duration: 5 hours
Altitude Gain: ⇗ 1,875 (9,415 ft to 11,115 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate. The trek starts with an ascent followed by a gradual walk. The trek then takes you through the lovely pine section for about an hour before entering the meadows.
Highlights: Trek from the beautiful Janglik village towards the pine forests. You get a treat through shady trees of the forest, and streams running across the trail. You get blown by the first sight of the Dayara campsite. Explore the campsite and look at the sheep, and horses grazing the lush meadows.
Today’s trek is perhaps the most beautiful first day of any trek that you will walk on. Climb out of Janglik past the superbly crafted wheat fields – lined by beautiful wooden farmhouses on their edges — some of them with attractive roofs in red and green. The climb, though beautiful, gains altitude rapidly.
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 an 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 bring a bounce to your step.
A 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 remain in the folds of the cliffs opposite the Pabbar complement 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 to reach the stunning Dayara campsite.
Day 3: Trek from Dayara to Litham
Duration: 3-4 hours
Altitude loss: 11,115 ft to 11,485 ft
Difficulty: Easy. Gradual descent and ascent through forest section followed by a trek through the meadows section.
Highlights: Watch out for the lovely silver birch section and the small forest section before you hit the meadows and approach the bigger mountains. Enjoy the sounds of the Pabbar River at the campsite.
Start your day exploring the Dayara meadows early in the morning. 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 campsite. Then you get to a stream that needs to leap 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.
A half hour later the trail dives into another beautiful forest — this time of Silver Birch (Bhoj). The forest is old and the silver birches are 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 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: Acclimatisation hike to Chandranahan lake
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
Altitude Gain and Loss: 11,485 ft to 13,020 ft and back
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult. Steeper ascent to the snout of the waterfall and walking through the valley with a series of lakes. The steep descent on the way back to Litham.
Highlights: Exciting day hike without your backpack to the snout of the waterfall and then towards a series of glacial lakes. Do not forget to turn back to see a change in scenery as you enter the alpine region.
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 a 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 around is a treat. In later June, the valley floor has good amounts of snow but nothing 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 amphitheatre, the lake is fed by the snowfields 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: Trek from Litham to Dhunda
Duration: 4-5 hours
Altitude Gain: 11,737 ft to 13,425 ft
Difficulty: Moderate. Gradual ascent for about 1.5 hours followed by a steep ascent all the way to Dhunda.
Highlights: Your day takes you from the meadow region towards the alpine zone. The view of the Buran Ghati Pass and Gunas Pass gives you butterflies in your tummy with nervous excitement for the big day.
Buran Ghati is a trek that can be easy or difficult depending on where you camp for the passing assault. Dhunda at 13,300 ft is perfect. It is about 3-4 hours of 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 splendour 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: Trek from Dhunda to River camp via Buran Ghati
Duration: 9-10 hours
Altitude Gain and Loss: 13,425 ft to 10,745 ft via 15,000 ft
Difficulty: Difficult. Gentle ascent of about an hour to the base of the pass followed by an hour’s steep climb on snow. Sharp, steep descent on the other side for about 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.
Highlights: The adventurous climb to the Buran Ghati. What's more adventurous is the descent from the pass to the other side. In summer, it's about 400 metres of rappelling down through a steep ice wall. In autumn, it's a steep descent to through the boulders..
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 snowfield 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 towers 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 next to the river.
Day 7: Trek from River Camp to Barua
Duration: 6 hours
Altitude Loss: 10,745 ft to 7,725 ft
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Gradual descent for around 4 hours followed by a steeper descent to reach the village of Barua.
Highlights: The trail is full of surprising changes in scenery that make it an absolute delight. It is difficult to find another trek that has so much diversity in forests while descending. Watch out for the maple, and walnut trees as you trek towards the apple orchards. Also, watch out for the houses built with stones and wood, a small waterfall, and while entering Barua village.
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 make 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 mixed forests of other trees.
An hour and a 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, peach trees laded 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. 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 onto 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 Reckong Peo for more connectivity to Shimla.
Day 8: Buffer Day
This depends completely on the weather conditions on the trek and the call will be taken by the trek leader.
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.
Moderate-Difficult | Level 1
Suitable for Fit Beginners
At Indiahikes, while rating a trek difficulty we consider a number of factors. These include, altitude gained every day, length of trek everyday, highest altitude, nature of the terrain, weather etc. Base on this we rate a trek as easy or difficult or somewhere in between.
Buran Ghati is a moderate-difficult trek. The pass crossing day is the difficult bit. On this trek, your mental strength is as important as physical fitness. If you trek in June, on the pass crossing day, you need to rappel at least 400 meters down an ice wall. During the autumn season, the pass crossing is still challenging without snow. It involves a long day of trekking through the boulder section. Apart from this portion, the trek is of moderate difficulty and will not exhaust you if you are well prepared.
Cardiovascular endurance – Target 10 km in 60-70 minutes before the start of the trek
On the Buran Ghati trek, you have to cover 9 km on an undulating trail for 6 days. This requires a good amount of endurance. You can begin by jogging every day. Start slow and increase your pace every day. Swimming, cycling and stair climbing without too many breaks in between can help too.
To be prepared for a high altitude trek, you should have a combination of distance and speed targets.
Watch this video to know how difficult is the Buran Ghati trek
How Safe Is Buran Ghati Trek
The pass crossing is the only difficult bit of this trek. At the pass, you come across a vertical ice wall which you need to rappel down with a rope. After the steep section, you slide down the snowy slope. This is why Buran Ghati is not a trek that you can go on your own. You need the assistance of a trekking organisation or professionals who can help you descend the wall.
In June, post the pass crossing comes 4 to 5 slides down the snow. Approaching the River campsite, the last camp is a small exposed section that overlooks a river which you need to be careful while traversing. In September and October when there is no snow, there is a trail that opens up which is tread by shepherds. It does not have any tricky sections like overhangs or landslides. It is a pretty straightforward meadow trek.
Since the trek begins at 9,000 ft at Diude, altitude sickness can get to you in the first 2 days. To have a safe trek here is some information that you must know if you have registered for this trek. At Indiahikes, we believe that as long as you are well-informed and well-prepared, you can survive easily at high altitudes.
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:
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. A 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.
Descending from the pass:
At the pass is where the great wall of Buran Ghati is. You have to descend 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 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 from season to season).
The whole process will take about an hour and a half for the full team.
The Buran Ghati pass starts at a high altitude. Janglik, the base camp is at a height of 9,415 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 thereon. 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 keep 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 about 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 an utmost priority while planning the trek route.
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 light or heavy snow in 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 the season in October. Snowfall can obstruct previously made paths. This means fresh tracks have to be cut on the snow.
It is keeping 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 worse.
Another factor that contributes to Buran Ghati being labelled as a 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 the path that you take 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, trekkers in consultation with Trek Leaders must take turnaround 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 decide 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 Hospital To Buran Ghati
In case of a 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 a 125 km/5 hour drive from Rampur.
In case of a 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 a 125 km/5 hour drive from Rampur.
When you take out all the best parts of our Himalayan treks and stitch them together to make one perfect trek, that’s the Buran Ghati trek. But to appreciate its beauty, you need to time it properly. This section will help you do that.
There are two great seasons to do the Buran Ghati trek — summer and autumn.
Buran Ghati in Summer (mid-May to end of June)
Day time temperature: Between 13 °C and 17 °C | Night time temperature: Will drop to zero at higher campsite
Presence of snow: You will find snow at the Litham campsite in May. During June, you can expect snow at the last alpine campsite of Dhunda.
No. of warm layers required: 4 warm layers in May and 3 warm layers towards June
Summer is a coveted season to do the Buran Ghati trek because the Buran Pass itself is a dramatic wall of ice in June. So, you get to rappel down an ice wall while crossing the famed pass. That is a major attraction. One that makes many adventure seekers choose the Buran Ghati trek in summer.
To give you a picture of how it looks in this season — imagine vast snowfields starting from Dhunda till the pass.
Then, you rappel down from the top of the pass for about a 150 m section. Even after crossing the pass, you trek in snow for around an hour. Multiple snow slides will have you squeaking with almost childish delight.
This snow starts melting in the latter part of June. So, while there will be snow close to the pass, it may not be enough to offer you big slides.
The colour of the trail also starts changing shades of white to greens and yellows as you move from May to June. Wildflowers start blooming on the meadows and around the campsites. The grasslands turn a bright shade of green interspersed with bright yellow flowers.
It is truly a colourful experience with the forests, grasslands, and flowers coming to life after months of winter.
Buran Ghati in Autumn (mid-September to mid-October)
Day time: Between 12 °C and 16 °C | Night time temperature: Will drop to zero to -4 to -5 °C at higher campsite
Presence of snow: You can expect frost at the campsite of Dhunda. There are chances of snowfall at the Buran Ghati Pass when weather goes bad.
No. of warm layers required: 4 warm layers
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.
Despite 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 remain the same in summer as well as autumn.
By October, there are chances of witnessing the first winter snow of the year.
Watch this video to know more about the best time to do the Buran Ghati trek:
It is great to see you going for the Buran Ghati Trek, a grand buffet of our treks. While it's a beautiful 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.
1. Here’s a quick view of how to plan your travel
Day 1: Shimla to Janglik drive. It is a 7-8 hour drive from Shimla. Janglik is the base camp for your trek.
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. The expected arrival time at Shima is 10-11 pm. Ensure you have pre-booked hotel accommodation at Shimla.
Day 8: Buffer day (explained below)
Day 9: Book a 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 pick up point. 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.
Buffer Day: The Buran Ghati Trek is a very high altitude trek. Situations are dynamic and can change at any moment. Keep a buffer day for emergencies. This is outside the itinerary. You cannot predict bad rain, snowfall, landslides, or 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 makes your travel timeless. However, if the cost of the flight ticket to Chandigarh is too high, book your flight to Delhi and travel to Rohru by bus.
| Tip: Land at the Chandigarh airport and head directly to Sector 43 (Chandigarh's main Interstate bus terminal). 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. A ticket costs approx. Rs 60 for these buses.
Always target to reach Chandigarh before noon. It takes an hour or so to get out of the airport and get to ISBT in Sector 43.
You can also take a bus to Shimla and then a bus to Rohru. 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 km on mountain roads). The number of local buses to Shimla will reduce post 3 pm. You will later get only overnight buses too 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: Fly to Delhi and reach Shimla by road
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 is less than Rs 1,000, then book directly to Chandigarh. The rest and shorter travel time are worth the difference.
Bus to Shimla: Take the bus to Shimla from ISBT Kashmiri Gate to the ISBT Shimla Bus Stand, Tutikandi. It is a 10-11 hour bus journey from Delhi to Shimla.
Take a bus that leaves Delhi to Shimla 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 requires 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 the Airport by bus.
You get buses from the Shimla Old bus stand and the ISBT Shimla 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 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.
4. Planning your hotel/stay
Booking stays 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 bookings.
| 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.
Hotel options in Shimla
➤ YMCA Shimla
It is run by Christian missionaries and is 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: ymcashimla@yahoo.co.in
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 reaching 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.
Buses are leaving at these timings: 5.30 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).
Pro Tips:
1. Stay at Shimla after the trek
A bit risky but it is something we have seen that works. Book for your stay on the last day of the trek. Take this call based on the buffer day being used. When the trek is about to end at Barua, you get network connectivity. You can either book directly or ask your friends or family members to book while you are travelling to Shimla. You may not get the best of hotels but you usually get a room over your head.
These are documents required for legal purposes by Indiahikes and the forest department. Without any of these, you will not be allowed to trek.
- Original and photocopy of government photo identity card. Anything such as a driver’s license, Aadhar Card, or passport will do. This is required by the forest department for your identification.
- Medical and Disclaimer certificate. There are two sections to this. One is to be filled by a practicing doctor and the second is filled by you. The disclaimer certificate is a legal requirement.
Download the PDF, read carefully, print it back to back, and sign it. This must be handed over to your Trek Leader during the registration at the base camp. This is a requirement by both the forest department and Indiahikes – Download the PDF
Note: Please carry the above document with you. The document needs to be downloaded (PDF), filled in, signed, and handed over to the trek leader at the base camp. Please print these back-to-back on two sheets. Do not print separately and help in reducing paper usage.
PRO TIPS
Keep important documents in a clear plastic cover and slide them into the inner pocket at the back of your backpack. This keeps them from getting wet.
Before you purchase any gear, make sure you visit the Indiahikes rental store, where you can get custom-made high quality gear at 5% of the buying cost.
You can rent trekking shoes, backpacks, padded jackets, trekking poles, rainwear and headlamps for less than Rs 1400 for the entire duration of your trek. Visit the store here.
Here is a list of everything you need for your trek.
Shoes and backpack
- Trekking shoes with ankle support (Available on rent)
- Backpack with rain cover (Available on rent)
Warm Layers and Clothes
- Warm layers (Padded jackets available on rent)
- 3 layers if you're trekking in in spring, summer and monsoon (1 woollen sweater, 1 fleece, 1 padded jacket)
- 4 layers if you're trekking in autumn (1 woollen sweater, 2 fleece, 1 padded jacket)
- 5 layers id you're trekking in winter (1 pair of thermals, 1 woollen sweater, 2 fleece, 1 padded jacket) - 3 Collared T-shirts (Wear one, carry two)
- 2 quick-dry trek pants (Wear one, carry one)
Accessories
- Sunglasses
- Sun cap with flaps (Available for purchase)
- Waterproof gloves
- Balaclava
- Woollen socks (3 pairs)
- Headlamp (Available on rent)
- Trekking pole (Available on rent)
- Rain jacket + pants / poncho
Toiletries:
- Sunscreen
- Moisturiser
- Light towel
- Lip balm or vaseline
- Toilet paper
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Reusable plastic covers (for used clothes)
Cutlery:
- Steel lunch box, spoon and mug
- Two water bottles or Hydration Pack
Once you run through this list, don't miss this ultimate guide on what gear to take on a trek. It contains tips on what gear to choose, where to get it from and how much to spend on it.
Our only tip: Keep your backpack light. Indiahikes practices low impact sustainable trekking in every aspect of the trek. Carrying your own personal backpack reduces your impact on the mountains by 20%. We expect all our trekkers to carry their own backpacks unless they have a justifiable reason not to.
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/Chandigarh every 12 hours (125 mg). Carry on the medication until you descend to Barua. Being on a preventive course of Diamox greatly reduces the chances of Acute Mountain Sickness on the Buran Ghatitrek. This is highly recommended for this trek.
- Dexamethasone (1 Strip): This is part of the Live Saving Drugs kit. Do not take this on your own. Your trek leader will inform you in case the need arises.
- Nifedipine (5 tablets): Again part of the Live Saving Drugs kit. Do not take this on your own. Your trek leader will inform you in case the need arises.
- 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.
There's an option to leave excess luggage behind in Rohru which comes during your journey from Shimla to the basecamp. After the trek, your cloakroom luggage will be handed over to you in Rampur.
It will cost Rs 200 per 10 kg bag. Anything beyond 10 kg is considered second luggage and will be charged accordingly.
(The luggage could be a backpack/suitcase/duffel bag or anything similar.)
Booking stays 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. Whether 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 travelling to Shimla.
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 need to pay Rs.2,500 + 5% GST (Rs.125) to your Trek Leader.
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 September, and October. Instead, you descend the trails from the pass, on a series of switchbacks.
The last place you’ll find a mobile phone signal is Janglik. There is Vodafone/Airtel network at Janglik.
However, after Janglik you won’t find a 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.
Janglik is the last point that is electrically connected. However, the electricity is extremely intermittent and can be absent for most 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 them 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.
Buran Ghati is a popular trek. Getting last-minute slots for this trek is impossible. So if you are keen on trekking to Buran Ghati, plan and register for the trek at least 2 months in advance. This will also give you adequate time to prepare for the trek.
Yes, if you are really fit. Buran Ghati is a moderate-difficult trek. For this, you ideally need prior high-altitude trek experience. That will help you enjoy the trek better.
But you can attempt Buran Ghati as your first trek if you have a strict fitness routine. To ensure this, your Experience Coordinator will request a fitness screenshot after you register for 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.
Buran Ghati Trek can be done in two seasons — Summer and Autumn. The summer season 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 the monsoon season.
After that, it reopens in mid-September and goes on until the second or third week of October. The weather and temperatures in each season are different.
In summer, the daytime temperature would be around 15-20 degrees Celsius. At night, the temperature would drop to 0 degrees Celsius.
In autumn, the daytime temperatures hover around 15 degrees Celsius. But at night the temperature could drop to sub-zero levels, especially at the higher campsites.
Buran Ghati is not a very long trek. A total distance of 37 km is covered in 5 trekking days. On average a day, you cover about 7 km.
On this trek, you climb from 9,415 ft to 15,000 ft in 5 days and descend on the 6th day. The toughest day of the trek is trekking from Dhunda to the River Campsite via Buran Ghati. On this day you trek for over 9-10 hours, covering 8.4 km. You touch the highest point of the trek on this day.
Before you register for the trek, we would like you to understand the challenges, and the fitness required.
On Moderate-Difficult treks, you’ll walk for about 8-12 km each day. Gradual to steep ascents and descents are common on all days. Expect to reach high altitudes of 15,000+ ft. There will also be technical sections (such as rockfall zones, near-vertical sections, glacier walks), which our technical teams will help you navigate.
If you are above the age of 58 years, your Experience Coordinator will need a detailed account of your health. If you have done a Himalayan trek in the past or they have an active fitness lifestyle (marathons/cycling expeditions), we’ll need to see your Treadmill Test and fitness proof (Fitness proof: 5 kms in 38 mins).
But if you do not have any experience, we strongly advice you to start with an easy-moderate trek.
Having more footprint through porters or mules on any trail isn’t good for the ecosystem. This is why, at Indiahikes, we do not encourage offloading. A trekker carries his/her own backpack in the true spirit of trekking.
But if — due to a medical condition — you are unable to carry your own backpack, please get in touch with your Experience Coordinator.
Yes, the rentals are available for the Buran Ghati trek except for backpack. Head over to the Indiahikes rentals website to know more about what gears you can rent.
Book your air tickets to either Delhi or Chandigarh for Day Zero, which is the day before Day 1 on the itinerary. From there you'll get buses to Shimla. For a detailed explanation of how to plan your travel, click here.
We recommend jogging as the best routine to get fit for a trek. It works on the same muscles that you use while trekking — your calves, glutes and hamstrings. It helps increase your stamina day by day. It is also an easy routine that does not require any equipment or tools.
Fitness target:
To do this trek comfortably, you must be able to cover 5 km in under 32 minutes. This is the minimum fitness required for this trek.
How to achieve this fitness?
- Start jogging at least 4 days a week
- If you cannot run 5 km immediately, start with 2 km and increase to 5 km over 2-3 weeks.
- Once you’re able to run 5 km, increase your pace day by day.
- Gradually increase your pace and bring it down to 5 km in less than 32 mins.
- You must be able to run 5 km in 32 mins consistently for at least 2 weeks before the trek.
This trek requires at least 6-8 weeks of preparation. The longer, the better. So plan your trek soon and start preparing.
Here's a complete guide to get you trek fit.
Strength training tips:
How to get Fitness Approval from the Indiahikes team:
Every trekker needs fitness approval from the Indiahikes team 20 days before the trek date. Without this, you will not be allowed on the trek.
What to upload?
- A minimum of 3 screenshots of your runs/jogs/walks/cycling
- Monthly summary of your routine
Why fitness matters:
Every high-altitude trek comes with a set of challenges. Steep ascents and descents, uneven terrain, snow walks, stream crossings, pass crossings, and summit climb. Even the easiest of treks have some of these challenges if not all of them. Without fitness, trekkers struggle, get injured easily, lag behind, or simply fail to complete the trek.
At Indiahikes, we take pride in the fact that our trekkers are among the fittest in the country. Those who do not meet the fitness requirements are often sent back. Our philosophy is that trekking and fitness go hand in hand. Without fitness, there’s no trekking.
Green Trails
Leaving the mountains better than we find them
At Indiahikes, we focus on bringing in new practices that can reduce our impact on the environment. This is done through constant R&D. Once these new practices are implemented we focus on achieving the results consistently on all our treks. You will see this as part of our G6 practices.
Golden 1: Green Sweep - Clean the trail of visible litter. We have collected more than 1,00,000 kgs of waste since 2016.
Golden 2: Segregation At Source - Segregate all waste collected so that we do not add all this waste to the landfill. We have diverted 50% of the waste from landfill through segregation
Golden 3: Food Composting - All our kitchen waste is composted into useful humus for the mountain soil. All food waste is either eaten by mules or composted at source.
Golden 4: Biotoilets - All our human waste is composted at source through our specially designed dry toilet pits.
Golden 5: Water efficient dispenser - We have reduced our waste used per trekker by 70% through specially designed water dispenser systems.
Golden 6: Save energy - We use solar panels for our energy use at our campsites. We are also in the process of redesigning our stove and menu to reduce the amount of gas used on our treks.
Our trekkers are a big part of us keeping our promise to leave the mountains better than we found them.
- Indiahikes trekkers do not carry anything that can harm the environment - be it wet wipes, or any packaged food on the trek. In fact they practice a zero waste trek.
- Indiahikes trekkers do not buy any packaged food in the dhabas on the trek - they do not take part in feeding the demand for packaged food
- Indiahikes trekkers clean the trails of waste using the eco bag as part of the Green Sweep Initiattive
- Indiaihikes trekkers carry their own backpack on the trek. They do not offload unless absolutely necessary
- Indiahikes trekkers do not pee/poop near any water source
- Indiahikes trekkers do not stray away from the marked trail
Trekkers who sign up with us pledge to follow these practices. When you sign up with us, you do too.
Everything you do on a trek creates an impact. The trail you trek on, the water you use, the waste you generate, how you poop, how you cook, what you eat — everything has an impact. The higher the impact, the greater the damage to the environment.
Yet, when done sustainably, trekking is one of the most environment-friendly sports.
When you trek with Indiahikes, you trek to leave the mountains better than we found them. This is part of our Green Trails promise.
Safety
How we keep you safe
Outside the facilitators, their fellow members, our Trek Leaders play a pivotal role in keeping all participants safe on the trek. It is not easy to be a Trek Leader with Indiahikes. There is a long, stringent, and difficult selection process.
After this they undergo a rigorous 8 month induction and training program before they are certified as Trek Leaders at Indiahikes. Only those Trek Leaders who are the best of our team are selected to lead the Himalayan Mountain Challenge.
All our Trek Leaders are certified mountaineers with a Basic Mountaineering Course or Advanced Mountaineering Course. Among them, the ones who are Wilderness First Responders (NOLS-certified) are assigned to lead all participants.
Apart from the Trek Leaders we have technical guides, trek guides, program facilitators and assistants who accompany all team members of the Collaborative Leadership Program. All of them are given specialised training in handling emergency mountain situations. If a situation arises, anyone of our team members will be able to evacuate the team members to safety, even in the middle of the night.
Ultimately, even an expert team such as ours cannot keep all participants safe unless they follow stringent safety processes. These are processes that have been developed by us for over ten years. They have been put in place after considering every scenario and evaluating every risk of a trek.
Our risk assessment and management systems are extensive and deep, as you will discover when you sign up with us. There is a process for preparing team members, a process to monitor their health 3 times a day, a process for management of accidents, a process for managing altitude sickness, and a process for evacuation. There are processes for even trekking and a separate process for difficult sections. Any potential risk is nipped in the bud.
Our extensive trek experience matters here. The trekking trails are not new to us. These trekking trails have been nurtured and developed by us for many years. We have our own base camps on these trails.
From the time the trek starts till it ends, the safety of all team members is our responsibility.
On the trek, we have a staff-to-team member ratio of 1:5. This means for every 5 team members there is an Indiahikes staff monitoring them closely.
Most of the modern safety equipment used in the Indian trekking community has been introduced by us. This has fundamentally changed how trekking is done in our country.
In all of our treks, we carry a high-altitude medical kit, an evacuation kit, a technical kit, radio equipment, and oxygen cylinders (pulse oximeters and BP monitors are standard equipment carried by our Trek Leaders, including ropes and carabiners).
Did You Know?
Important Things To Know About Buran Ghati Trek
The Mysterious Lake of Chandranahan
Picture by Anirban Banerjee
According to the locals, Chandranahan has seven lakes. However, what is interesting about this, is that there are a lot of mysteries surrounding the seventh lake on the top. The reason for this is its unreachability. Very few people from Janglik village have been able to climb up there. Sitting at approximately 17,000 feet, the lake poses a difficult trek even to the locals. But it is one of the hidden jewels of the entire Buran valley. The alpine lake shows beautiful colours when surrounded by snow.
Not only is this one of the few treks which have a trail alongside a river, but you get to see the glacier where the water originates from.
Picture by Anirban Banerjee
The Barren Mountain Range
Picture by Sooraj Jain
When you start moving from Dayara to Litham, on the right side you see a range of mountains. These are mostly barren with the rock face opened up. On these barren rocks, a lot of vulture nestings can be spotted. So make sure to take a pair of binoculars on this trek!
When the sun rises on the opposite side of these barren mountains, and when it is on the horizon, it turns the barren mountains red with its glow.
Picture by Sooraj Jain
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