Difficulty
Moderate-Difficult | Level 1
Duration
8 Days
Highest Altitude
15,000 ft
Age
13 to 55 years
Duration
8 Days
Age
13 to 55 years
Difficulty
Moderate-Difficult | Level 1
Highest Altitude
15,000 ft
Buran Ghati Trek
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: 40 km | Drive Duration: 7-8 hours | Pick up point for Indiahikes trekkers: Shimla Old Bus Stand | Pick up Time: 6 am | Location of Indiahikes basecamp: Janglik
Transport will be organised from Shimla Old Bus Stand 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
Beautiful first day with the trek through the forests of pine and oak with streams running across the trail. It pops out of the tree line into a vast expanse of meadows climbing into the hills.
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
The trail takes you through the meadows, forests of pine, and silver birch to begin with. Behind the pine forests are snow-lined towering cliffs completing a scenery that is perfect in its harmony.
Day 4
Excursion 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
Trek towards the snout of the waterfall from where the stream emerges. The trek is a moderate climb. The closed alpine valley with snow patches all around is a treat. It is a steep descent from the lake to Litham.
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
A gradual ascent for about a couple of hours in the valley and then a sharp climb to reach the campsite of Dhunda. You can clearly see Buran Pass here. Take a moment to take in the splendour of the pass and the upcoming thrill of the next day.
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
A thrilling climb to the pass and an equally adventurous descent from 15,000 feet. The view of the valley in front is 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 boulders.
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
The trail is full of surprising changes in scenery that make it an absolute delight. Finding another trek with so much diversity while descending is difficult. The trail descends rapidly through the high-altitude pines, giving way to a mixed forest of other trees.
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.
- 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
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.
Onward Journey
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.
Return Journey
The drive from Barua to Shimla is a long, but eventful one. The roads snake alongside the Baspa River, which joins the Sutlej River at Karcham, where you see the Karcham Wangtoo Dam. The drive from there onwards goes through important landmarks of Himachal Pradesh -- Rampur Bushahr, Narkanda, Theog, and Kufri -- until you reach Shimla late in the night.
Buran Ghati is Best Discovered Through Pictures
Picture by: Vishal Kumar
Campsites at a Glance
At Indiahikes, we are very particular about choosing terrific campsites. For the Buran Ghati trek too, after a lot of back and forth, we have settled on these terrific campsites, which trekkers have come to love and have a great experience.
The first campsite of the Buran Ghati trek would be the Dayara Campsite, amidst the beautiful setting of the meadows. Look around to see a flock of sheep, horses, and mountain goats graze around the entire region. Picture by Gautham Reddy
The second campsite of the trek, Litham Campsite during September post the monsoon season. The sounds of the Pabbar river flowing keep you company throughout. Picture by Aseem Bhatia
View of the Dhunda campsite with glaciers and high mountain passes neighbouring the Buran Ghati. Picture by VishwajeetChavan.
What I Like and Don’t Like About Buran Ghati Trek
What I Like About the Buran Ghati Trek
Know Your Trek
We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.
Use this section to learn about the 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.
PRO TIPS
Why Fitness Matters on Buran Ghati Trek
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.
Your goal is to comfortably run 5 km within 32 minutes.
Note: If you are above the age of 58 years, you'll need to submit a Treadmill Test report within 7 days of registration.
Did You Know?
Important Things To Know About Buran Ghati Trek
How to Get Fit for Buran Ghati Trek?
Tap to enlarge.
A Himalayan trek like Buran Ghati requires a good fitness level. The trek has long climbs and steep descents daily. As a measure of your fitness, we need you to:
Run at least 5 km in 32 minutes before your trek. Consistency of your workout also matters, so aim to jog 25 km a week or 100 km in a month. It's a minimum mandatory requirement if you wish to trek with us
Once you get confirmed for your trek, we will diligently follow up on your fitness routine. Our team will also assist in putting you through a fitness plan. It will ultimately help you have a safe trek experience
Follow this chart to get fit for Buran Ghati trek.
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The Mysterious Lake of Chandranahan
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.
The Barren Mountain Range
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.
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