Dayara Bugyal Trek

The trip begins early, with a road journey out of Dehradun into Uttarkashi district. The drive itself is part of the experience — winding hill roads, forested valleys, and small towns along the way.

Passing through the Mussoorie belt gives good views of the Shivalik range. A short stop at Kimadi Waterfall is usually built in, followed by the Suwakholi viewpoint, which looks out over the lower Himalayan hills. Further along, Moriana Top offers distant views toward the Gangotri glacier region on a clear day, and the road passes close to Maneri Lake before reaching Raithal by evening.

Raithal is a typical Garhwali village with the farm and forests framing the mountain. The group overnight at a honey comb style farm or guest house, preparing for the trek and conservation project ahead of us.

After breakfast, the actual trekking begins with a forest trail leading out of Raithal. The climb is gradual, which keeps this section manageable even for people trekking for the first time.

Much of the day is spent under oak cover, with rhododendron stretches that turn red with bloom in spring. It's a good stretch for spotting Himalayan birds and small wildlife along the way. As the trail gains height, Bandarpoonch and the surrounding Garhwal peaks start showing up between the trees.

The forest eventually opens into smaller meadow patches before the trail reaches Gui, the day's campsite, set close to the tree line. The group camps here overnight, with a clear sky overhead once the sun goes down.

This is the main day of the trek. After breakfast, the trail continues from Gui up to the Dayara Bugyal meadow itself — one of the larger bugyals in the Garhwal Himalayas, and the whole reason for the trip.

After the trail finally breaks out into the meadow the views begin: Bandarpoonch and snow tipped mountains surround the meadow and the trail is wide open grassland to be wandered across. Photo opportunity here is second to none and time is usually set aside for just enjoying the view.

By afternoon, the group retraces the route back down to Gui for a second night of camping.

The last day starts with the descent from Gui back to Raithal, retracing the forest trail from Day 2 in the opposite direction. It's a good last chance to take in the oak and rhododendron cover before the trees give way to village and farmland views near Raithal.

The group arrives at Raithal before lunch, takes a brief break and then returns on the same Uttarkashi road in the evening, passing the same valley of rivers and hill views seen on the first day. They return to Dehradun.