Bisurital Trek
Rudraprayag (Bisudi Top lies on the Chamoli border), Uttarakhand
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- Max altitude
- 4,011 m
- Days
- 7 days
- Distance
- 48.6 km
- Difficulty
- Difficult
Remote, unmarked trail with a river-gorge crossing, landslide zones and a near-vertical 2.2 km climb gaining about 750 m to Chitra Vadaar; the summit day to Bisudi Top and the lake takes about 12 hours.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Rishikesh → Sari
340 m → 1,945 m
Day 2
Sari → Deoriatal
1,945 m → 2,423 m
Day 3
Deoriatal → Tali Bugyal
2,423 m → 2,544 m
Day 4
Tali Bugyal → Chitra Vadaar
2,544 m → 3,413 m
Day 5 · highest point
Chitra Vadaar → Chitra Vadaar (via Bisudi Top and Bisudi Tal)
3,413 m → 4,011 m → 3,413 m
Day 6
Chitra Vadaar → Tali Bugyal
3,413 m → 2,544 m
Day 7
Tali Bugyal → Gadgu (drive to Rishikesh)
2,544 m → 1,702 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Sari
at 1,945 mLoading forecast…
High point · Bisudi Top (Bisuri Dhar)
at 4,011 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Sari (nearest town: Ukhimath)
- Nearest railway
- Rishikesh (Haridwar for most long-distance trains)
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- By road
- Rishikesh (about 190 km via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag and Ukhimath)
- Drive
- About 8 h from Rishikesh
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹7,000–13,000
With an operator
₹7,500–15,000
Per person, ex-Rishikesh/Dehradun. Only one operator publishes a current price: Himalaya Shelter ₹7,000 + 5% GST + ₹180 insurance for its 6-day Chopta-side version, ex-Dehradun, with shared transport to the roadhead charged extra. The upper guided figure is our estimate for a 7-day Sari route with transport. Indiahikes and Trekup India document the Sari route but do not sell it. Self-guided is an estimate: shared jeep or bus to Sari, a night in Sari, a local guide who knows the unmarked upper trail, porters, tent and stove hire, and sanctuary entry fees.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 33
Nights near 4,011 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Some signal around Sari and Deoriatal; Himalaya Shelter says mobile network is mostly unavailable beyond the roadhead, so expect none on the upper trail.
- Last ATM
- Ukhimath, about 10 km before Sari; carry cash.
- Nearest hospital
- Ukhimath for first care; Rudraprayag and AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases.
- Water
- Streams and seasonal waterfalls on the Tali-Chitra Vadaar section and the Gadgat river crossing; little water on the Bisudi ridge, so carry two litres on summit day. Treat all water.
Highlights
- Close-up views of Chaukhamba, much nearer than from Deoriatal, with Kedarnath, Kedarnath Dome, Mandani, Jaonli and the Gangotri peaks along the Bisudi ridge
- Camps on Tali Bugyal, a wide meadow ringed by oak forest and shepherds' chhani huts
- Rolling high meadows above the treeline from Chitra Vadaar to Bisudi Top (about 4,011 m) and the small Bisudi Tal
- Dense oak and rhododendron forest of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, with good chances of seeing monal, barking deer and griffons
- Chitra Vadaar, a shepherds' rock shelter with paintings on its walls
Risks
- The climb from the Gadgat river to Chitra Vadaar is a steep, narrow ledge trail covered with dry leaves; it is slippery and passes a landslide zone.
- The upper trail is unmarked and remote, with few exit points and no shelter; go with a guide who knows the route.
- Himalaya Shelter advises against July-August (monsoon rain, leeches and landslides) and November-April (cold and heavy snowfall that can block the trail).
- Summit day is about 12 hours above 3,400 m; watch for altitude sickness.
Know before you go
Questions
How long is the Bisurital trek?
The Sari route documented by Indiahikes covers about 48.6 km over 7 days, including the drive from Rishikesh to Sari and the drive back from Gadgu. A different route from Chopta, sold by Himalaya Shelter, is about 60 km over 6 days.
When is the best time to do the Bisurital trek?
May to mid-June and mid-October to November. Rhododendrons bloom in spring, and autumn brings clear views and golden meadows. Avoid the July-August monsoon, when rain and landslides make the gorges and ledges risky, and deep winter, when snow can block the upper trail.
Is Bisurital suitable for beginners?
No. It is a demanding trek with long days, a near-vertical forest climb to Chitra Vadaar and a 12-hour summit day. Trekup India suggests doing a moderate-difficult trek such as Kedarkantha, Brahmatal or Rupin Pass first.
How do I reach Sari, the start of the trek?
Sari is about 190 km from Rishikesh, a 7-8 hour drive via Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Ukhimath. Buses run from Rishikesh to Rudraprayag early in the morning, and shared taxis go on to Ukhimath and Sari.
Do I need a permit for Bisurital?
The trail runs through Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, and forest entry permits are taken at Deoriatal. We could not confirm the current official fee, so check with the forest office before you start.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: Rudraprayag (Bisudi Top lies on the Chamoli border)Uttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Ukhimath for first care; Rudraprayag and AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases.
- Last ATM
- Ukhimath, about 10 km before Sari; carry cash.
- Phone network
- Some signal around Sari and Deoriatal; Himalaya Shelter says mobile network is mostly unavailable beyond the roadhead, so expect none on the upper trail.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Bisurital
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Bisudi Tal Trek - A Trek That is Big on Summit Views and Adventure — Indiahikes
- Bisurital Trek | Scenic Trekking in Uttarakhand, Route & Best Time — Trekup India
- Bisurital Trek - Himalaya Shelter — Himalaya Shelter
Photos: Vishalamu81, CC BY 4.0; Ayush Pant, CC BY-SA 4.0
