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Surya Top

A Summit Climb Amidst Grand Meadows

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TREK DIFFICULTY

Moderate

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TREK DURATION

7 Days

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HIGHEST ALTITUDE

12,900 ft

A Summit Climb Amidst Grand Meadows

In our country, we have some of the grandest meadows to walk on and then some of the finest summits to climb. But there is one trek that combines both of these, and that is the Surya Top Trek.

Surya Top is an extension of our much-loved Dayara Bugyal trek. Trekkers often get teary-eyed upon reaching Dayara meadows on the Dayara Bugyal trek. They're floored by the endless grasslands, not to mention the big mountain views. Such is the setting of the meadows. 

What if we told you that this is just the tip of the iceberg? 

Surya Top is a real deal when it comes to experiencing the grandeur of Dayara meadows in its entirety. You trek on the meadows not just for a couple of hours but for two full days! At Devkund, you are at the end of the Dayara meadows. Right behind you are endless stretches of perfectly manicured meadows that extend as far as your eyes can reach. You explore all that Dayara Meadows has to offer. This is only possible when you do the Surya Top Trek.

Our first group of trekkers was bowled over by the beauty of Surya Top. See the photos here.

Another highlight of Surya Top is the ridge walk from Devkund to Siyari. You have beautiful valleys on both sides. Mt Bandarpunch and Kalanag stand right in front of you. On top, it‘s not a regular straight ridge walk. It meanders, and as it does so, the mountains play hide and seek with you. 

As you think this trek cannot get any better, comes the summit climb to the Surya Top. Though it’s not a technical climb, it tests your endurance. Once you are at the summit, the Gangotri range, Mt Bandarpoonch and Mt Kalanag that you were seeing from afar now stand at a touching distance from you. Especially Mt Bandarpoonch is so close to you, it feels like you can just jump to the other side and land on Bandarpoonch. Views like this are something any mountain lover would die for!

To sum it up, Surya Top ticks off all the boxes on the checklist of a great trek. It is a must-have trek on every mountain lover’s bucket list. 

In our country, we have some of the grandest meadows to walk on and then some of the finest summits to climb. But there is one trek that combines both of these, and that is the Surya Top Trek.

Surya Top is an extension of our much-loved Dayara Bugyal trek. Trekkers often get teary-eyed upon reaching Dayara meadows on the Dayara Bugyal trek. They're floored by the endless grasslands, not to mention the big mountain views. Such is the setting of the meadows. 

Surya Top Trek Videos

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Surya Top - 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 Dayara Bugyal 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 that extremely useful.

Highlights

What we like about the Surya Top Trek

1. The grand ridge from Surya Top to Devkund

There are only a handful of treks that have long ridge walks in our country. Surya Top is one of those treks.
When you are on the ridge, it feels like you are trekking next to the most celebrated mountains in our country. The mountains around you play peek-a-boo as you trek. They show up for a moment, then hide behind misty curtains. It's like a game of hide and seek with nature.

Our trek leader, Shravan, who led the first group of trekkers to Surya Top, came back from the trek mind-blown.  “This is the grandest ridge walk trek I have done to date. I was awestruck the whole time I was on the ridge.  From left to right are the Gangotri range: Bhagirathi I, II, Mt Meru, Thalay Sagar, and Kedardome, and the Yamunotri range, consisting of Bandarpoonch I, II, and Kalanag. There are mountain views everywhere. It was a humbling experience," says Shravan.  “The trekkers, too, couldn’t stop talking about the ridge walk," adds Shravan.

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The ridge walk from Surya Top to Devkund is the most dramatic one. Photo by Mayank Khare

2. Dev Kund Campsite with views of Mt Bandarpoonch

Camping at Dev Kund is one of the best experiences on this trek, with the Bandarpoonch massif right in front of you.

"When you unzip your tent and step out, you'll see the huge Bandarpoonch massif dominating the landscape. But it's when you're inside the tent that the mountain looks super impressive, like a giant painting right in front of you,” says Indiahikes Trek Leader Vignesh, who led another group of Surya Top.  “This is a luxury you rarely get on a trek,” he adds. 

In the quietness of the campsite, as you look out from your tent, you'll feel a mix of things. The mountain makes you feel small, but at the same time, you'll feel a strong connection to it. The sunlight and shadows on the peaks, the fresh mountain air, and the sound of leaves create an atmosphere that goes beyond just camping. It's more than sleeping outdoors; it's like being part of a beautiful story that the mountain is telling, and you get a front-row seat from the comfort of your tent.

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Mt Bandarpoonch in it's full glory. Photo by Mayank Khare

3. Experiencing the Dayara Meadows in its entirety

The next big reason to do the Surya Top trek is the Dayara Meadows. You trek on the Dayara meadows for a full two days, with Gangotri and Yamunotri ranges accompanying you throughout.

Trekking on the meadows stays in your mind for a long time, even after the trek; they're covered in a bunch of colourful alpine flowers like Himalayan blue poppies, daisies, and primrose. It's like a painting with bright colours all around.

Irrespective of the season you trek in, the settings of the meadows do not fail to mesmerise you. The meadows are lush green in the summer and turn golden brown in the autumn. 

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Beautiful meadows of Dayara. Photo by Arjun Majumdar

5 Reasons Why Indiahikes

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

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

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

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

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

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