Gidara Bugyal Trek
Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
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- Max altitude
- 4,240 m
- Days
- 6 days
- Distance
- 28 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Most days are short (2.5-5 km), but the summit day is about 10 km and 9-10 hours: a climb to Gidara Top at about 4,240 m followed by a descent of nearly 1,000 m to Thirya, with steep ascents and changeable high-altitude weather.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Dehradun → Bhangeli
640 m → 2,300 m
Day 2
Bhangeli → Rikoda
2,300 m → 3,310 m
Day 3
Rikoda → Dokrani
3,310 m → 3,720 m
Day 4
Dokrani → Thalotya (via Dokrani Bugyal)
3,720 m → 3,930 m → 3,700 m
Day 5 · highest point
Thalotya → Thirya (via Gidara Bugyal and Gidara Top)
3,700 m → 4,240 m → 3,260 m
Day 6
Thirya → Bhangeli (drive to Dehradun)
3,260 m → 2,300 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 · Bhangeli
at 2,300 mLoading forecast…
High point · Gidara Top (above Gidara Bugyal meadow)
at 4,240 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
- Bhangeli (nearest town: Uttarkashi)
- Nearest railway
- Dehradun
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- By road
- Dehradun (about 185-190 km via Uttarkashi on the Gangotri road; the last stretch to Bhangeli village is a short walk from the road); Rishikesh (about 210 km)
- Drive
- About 8 h from Dehradun
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
₹6,000–12,000
With an operator
₹13,500–17,000
Per person, ex-Dehradun/Rishikesh. Guided prices published October 2026: Bikat Adventures ₹13,500 + 5% GST ex-Bhangeli (Dehradun transport is an extra add-on); Great Adventure from ₹12,890 + 5% GST + ₹680 insurance + ₹200 certificate, including transport from Rishikesh. Himalaya Shelter does not publish a price. Self-guided is an estimate: bus or shared jeep from Dehradun to Uttarkashi and Bhangeli, homestay nights, a local guide and porter (the route is little-used and unmarked), tent and stove hire, and forest permit 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 32
Nights near 4,240 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
- Patchy BSNL on parts of the trail; expect little or no signal after Bhangeli.
- Last ATM
- Uttarkashi (Bikat Adventures advises drawing cash in Dehradun)
- Nearest hospital
- District hospital at Uttarkashi; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Water
- Streams and small waterfalls along the route; Thalotya camp is beside a stream. Boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- Gidara Bugyal, one of the highest and largest alpine meadows of the Garhwal Himalaya, rising to Gidara Top at about 4,240 m
- Views of Bandarpunch, Srikanth, Jogin, Draupadi Ka Danda and the Gangotri peaks from the ridge
- Dokrani Bugyal (about 3,930 m) and quiet campsites at Rikoda, Dokrani and Thalotya, with far fewer trekkers than neighbouring Dayara Bugyal
- Lush meadows and wildflowers after the monsoon, in September
Risks
- Summit day is long (about 10 km, 9-10 hours) with a steep climb to Gidara Top and a descent of nearly 1,000 m to Thirya.
- Winter (December-March): Himalayan Dream Treks says the trek is not recommended without winter mountaineering experience, and Wikipedia says the route stays covered in snow; we found no formal closure.
- The monsoon usually arrives in late June or early July; operators publish batches only for May-June and September-October, and rain makes the meadow slopes slippery.
- Little or no mobile signal and no electricity on the trail; rescue is on foot to Bhangeli, then by road.
Know before you go
Questions
Where does the Gidara Bugyal trek start?
Most operators start and end at Bhangeli, a small village in Uttarkashi district about 185-190 km (around 8 hours) from Dehradun on the Gangotri road. A longer variant crosses from Raithal over Dayara Bugyal to Gidara and comes down to Bhangeli.
What is the best time for Gidara Bugyal?
May-June before the monsoon and September-October after it. Late September brings clear skies, green meadows and wildflowers. Winter is not recommended because snow covers the route.
How difficult is the Gidara Bugyal trek?
It is graded easy to moderate. Daily distances are short except summit day, which is about 10 km and 9-10 hours with steep ascents to about 4,240 m. Operators ask for the fitness to jog 3 km in 25-30 minutes.
How long is the trek?
About 28-29 km over 6 days from Dehradun (4-5 trekking days). The Raithal-Dayara-Gidara traverse is longer, about 40 km over 8 days.
Is there mobile network or an ATM on the trek?
BSNL is only sparsely available on the trail. The last ATM is in Uttarkashi, so carry enough cash from Uttarkashi or Dehradun.
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: UttarkashiUttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- District hospital at Uttarkashi; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Uttarkashi (Bikat Adventures advises drawing cash in Dehradun)
- Phone network
- Patchy BSNL on parts of the trail; expect little or no signal after Bhangeli.
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 Gidara Bugyal
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Gidara Bugyal Trek — Bikat Adventures
- Gidara Bugyal Trek 2026 The Hidden Ridge Walk to 13,944 Feet — Great Adventure
- Gidara Bugyal Trek — Himalaya Shelter
- Gidara Bugyal Trek — Himalayan Dream Treks
- Gidara Bugyal Trek near Gangotri — Indiahikes
- Gidara Bugyal — Wikipedia
Photos: Himalayan Dream Treks, CC BY-SA 4.0; Vaibhav78545, CC BY-SA 4.0; Vaibhav78545, CC BY-SA 4.0
