ALI BEDNI BUGYAL 4 days journey to my heart.

[Tilak Ram Rawat]

Reaching Lohajung on my own is quite  a task. If one has missed their direct bus from Anandvihar at Delhi or thought that taking a shared taxi from Dehradun is a bad idea then you're in for a treat to reach Lohajung in a couple of days. 

taking a taxi from Garur. Last point for shared bus to drop me. Took taxi to Gwaldham and Rested for the night. 

I reached here by changing 3 share cabs and 2 buses from Delhi and didn't even regret a minute of my journey cause it was a treat to my eyes.

Tharali Bridge, you see this bridge know that you're just a couple of hours away from your base camp. 

 

Pindar River view from Tharali. Pindar river in full action as it was quite a rumbling weather for few days here. 

The tall trees and narrow roads open to sharp valleys far across the Horizon and you see a huge huge mountain covered with snow and you are eager to know which one is it. Oh my God. What a beautiful feeling. 

First view of Tharali village. 

The same feeling strikes when you reach Lohajung. 

View from our Lohajung base camp and mellow greetings of Mt Nanda Ghunghti. 

Lohajung is a beautiful town hanging in between mountain ridges facing a beautiful valley surrounded by many treks around. Ajan top is an hour away at 8100ft from here and Bhramatal trek starts from Lohajung. Also, trekkers going to Wan for the Roopkund trek stay here. Roopkund is banned by government for all the trekking organisations, locals take small group of trekkers. Most of them can't find it the trek due to weather. 

A view of Lohajung from the way to Ajan top.

 It is the closest market for village Mandoli 5 km away from here. You will see this village crowded by trekkers and pilgrims at the time of festival and trekking season. 

You can buy a lot of trekking gear and also rent them as there are quite a few stores which rent them in case you've missed renting trekking gear from us. 

You get the best Samosa chole from Anni da's Dhaba. Right in front of Maa Nanda devil temple, it's the first Dhaba on your left when you're walking towards Deval from the lohajung centre. 

You can also Visit Pujari Hardware and General store for some stealer deals on thrift Trekking gear. 

 

25th October sunset from Ali Bugyal on the day of partial solar eclipse. 

I have recently led two batches of AliBedniBugyal with my entire IH crew and before we started the season I did a Recce of the trek all by myself and trust me autumn is the best time to visit this beautiful meadow and experience the surreal walk in the forest of Tolpani.

Autum colours at its best in middle of tolpani forest. 

I can't wait to see how beautiful this forest would look in winter and walk on the endless meadows covered with snow. 

Diwali morning. First diya of the festival on the sky.

Day 1 we begin from Lohajung base camp descending into the forest and walking by on the beautiful path. Unfortunately due to a small landslide here for now the trek is starting from Kuling village which is 4kms ahead of Looking. 

view of Didna village, our first camp site from Lohajung basecamp. You will see small houses on the green patch hanging by the valley.      Mt. Nandaghunghti stealing the show. 

The walk is now shortened as we board a vehicle from Lohajung and start descending to the forest which leads to Didna village. This can be changed in future and your trek could begin walking from base camp itself. 

a well laid trail leading you to Didna village. 

right under the iron bridge lies a closer view point of this waterfall and a serene quite moment.

It's a 1000ft descent to one of the most serene waterfalls I've witnessed to date. Almost 300ft tall tall mountain and water falling from the didna divide in layers, meeting Neel Ganga river coming from Wan flows with a neutral current right in front of you. Best view comes witnessing the falls from far. 

first view of the waterfall on the way towards Iron bridge. 

From the Iron bridge, the trail walks up to didna village, a few zig-zags leading you to an altitude gain of almost 1800ft.

5 more minutes to reach the campsite 🤭

 It would take one easily 90 to 100 minutes to reach Didna village from the iron bridge if they've trained well. If not, then let's take a couple of hours. 

all our trekkers pitching tents by themselves. 

We camp in an open field facing the valley where you can spot the Jhandi top of Bhramatal trek right in front of you, and a beautiful sunset happening behind it. 

The night sky is unforgettable. You should get your warm layers out and stare at the night sky without miss. 

clear sky view from Didna campsite

We all shared our challenges for the day and highlights where one of the gentlemen says the trail, the entire ascend was a highlight for him and that made me realise how things are beautiful in their own way. 

a few minutes into the Tolpani forest 

The next day our ascend begins for Abhin Kharak camp via Ali top. It is an ascend of 3500ft to Ali's top and the longest day of the trek. We carried packed lunch as we walk through one of the most scenic forests of our country. Tol Pani has lots of Oak trees and small beautiful clearings with a few thick patches of dense trees and you walk through them. The crackling sound of dry leafs under your feet as your eyes sore into the dense forest while the sunlight cuts through trees and forms different patterns of light and shade is an extra ordinary place to be at. 

dont miss out the sharp lights cutting out from tall trees in the middle of Tolpani forest 

The properly laid trail takes you to the top of the hill and there you will see a clearing called Khobar. We're just 3 hrs into our trek and we started feeling hungry already cause of the steep ascend. So prepare well folks.  Trust me ascends are beautiful, you make a pace of yourself and slowly keep climbing up and it's the journey and the view both are so rewarding that it takes you to the top of the mountain.

often look back and soak in the amazing forest ridge you'd walk on to.

After walking the dense forest now we walk a dense forest which is on a ridge, when I went here for recce the scene went so surreal

on the day of my recce. I was all alone, weather went violent I managed to finish my recce and get back to base in 11 hrs. 

 

 

Upon walking for an hour on the ridge we reached a small clearing with a majestic view of the Gangothri ranges and ate our packed lunch here.

just before the Chaukhamba view point. 

The Ali top is still 45 minutes far from here. The moment we reach Ali's top it felt so exuberant as you've done your best to reach here and climbing 3500ft in a few hours isn't easy. You yourself are the reward for your hard work.

a watercolour canvas view from Alitop. 

I have seen my trekkers breaking down while we shared gratitude, I've seen them alive and happy.  We've spent moments of silence from the top witnessing vast canvas of the watercolour painting.  As the sun started to set down behind the mountain on our west the lights started to difract and made things more dramatic.

Sunset time we started descending to Abhin Kharak campsite. 

All the scattered light particles were making the meadow look golden and 8k like live footage, the skies were getting much bluer complimenting the greens of the meadow's and mighty Himalayas perfectly. 

morning light falling on Mt.Magthoni, view from Abhin Kharak campsite. 

 

Abhin Kharak at 11200 ft is one of the coldest campsites in the trek and one of the darkest. So imagine the night sky here. It often gets late in the evening to reach the campsite, the earliest you can reach here is by 330. So things wrap up pretty soon as you have to push a little early in the morning to get a clear view of the entire Himalayan range of Gangothri and Kumaon from Bedni Top.

Suripaji being one with the mountain. 

Walk to Bedni Top is one of the serene and blessed ones, you'd be walking on a narrow trail with the Himalayan range right in front of you,

We start the morning with Gangothri range in front of us. 

on your side there is this deep valley filled with trees and at the horizon you see hills touching the sky in the dusk with different shades of blue and green while the brown trail leads you to your destination.

trail starts to curve and lead you to bedni entrance with a steep valley on your left. 

Hike to Bedni top is a good Ascend of 800ft from the bedni entrance and it has a good gradient.

team pushing all the way to top. 

Moments pass by and in a couple of minutes, you find yourself half the way up already. To your left stands tall Nandaghungthi and Mt.Trishul looking at you ease your way up and when you stop for a quick breather behind you is the great Gangothri range and Nilkanth peak, while clouds slowly crawl in towards these mountains.

Gangothri range behind us when we hike up to Bedni top. 

It is a solid motivation to see a view like this and the moment you reach the top you have ample space to walk towards the end of the Bedni top. 

Postcards from the summit with a beautiful view. 

You get the Grand Majestic view of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nandaghungthi from the bed top, this kind of perspective so close to the mountains which you have been waiting for a very long long time brings tears to your eyes. It gets quite windy on top as we're at 12500ft. 

and we summit.....Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nandaghungthi behind us. 

It is a short day, and reaching the campsite via Bedni Kund is 2 hrs journey. 

 

first look of Bedni Kund 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't miss the sight of Nandadevi Temple at Bednikund and here our Guide shared few epics and beliefs of this region. 

team listening to the story of Bedni Kund. 

Which was just the right place to listen to them and resonate with the place.

 

my ecobag. Not even a single day went by without filling this fully. 

As this place falls on the way popular route of Homkund yatra and Roopkund trek you'd find a lot of trash here and as well on the trail to our campsite Gehroli patal (10200ft) so please green sweep wherever necessary and fill your eco bags. 

Its just endless view points on trail. On thedescend to Genhroli patal. 

it is a properly laid trail taking us into a dense forest and 40 minutes of your descend you see your campsite.

beautiful trail leading you to Gehroli Patal camp. 

 Camping in Gehroli patal is an experience one shouldn't miss.

first team of 6 members  camping at gehorli 

 

Take a walk with a group into the forest before it's dark look for the oaks turning golden, you'd notice a teardrop rolling out your eye. It did happen to me.

a few minutes into the forest the views just get lively. 

This campsite is equally colder so keep your warm layers dry and layer up quickly and keep a watch on Night sky. Best views. You can see constilations raising up behind Mt. Trishul from the campsite.

Night view from Gehroli patal and Mt. Trishul in the background looking transparent. 

 

Yes you can see Mt trishul from campsite. The sight of wind blowing the fresh snow is a must not miss one. 

 

Descend begins for the last day of trek. 

 

Last day we head down to Bedni Ganga also know as Neel ganga. Here the water looks turquoise blue and there are some beautiful spots if you explore a little further walking inside water. 

 

Ascend to Wan village starts from here and within 2 hours of walking towards Wan you reach the end point of this trek which is the pick-up point for Lohajung. You see villagers walking the trail with their cattle and cute kids carrying their fodder. Wonderful flowers and lots of temples with bells on the trail. 

Ali Bedni Bugyal is one of the beustiful treks you will ever do, one of the most challenging ones and shortest trek.

 

 

 

 

You're ride will be ready near Lathu maharaj temple.

Do enjoy your ride back from Wan to Lohajung. As you go along the road you see Mt.NandaGhungthi waving you good bye for being a wonderful trekker this 4 days. You reach base camp by 230. Lunch followed by rentals and Debreifing. Team bonding happens much more stronger at the reflections of debriefing and the next morning we set off to Rishikesh from Lohajung early at 6 or 7 am. 

 

 

Its your love towards mountains and attachment with nature has got you here and I hope you get a few more people and make them understand what it means to Trek at Himalayas and trek sustainably. 

 

 

 

Hope in this journey to wilderness you find yourself in every small and big part of this trek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare well before you go on any high altitude trek. You can ask your questions on this forum for trek preparation. 

Special thanks to my entire team. 

Team indiahikes for coming with this beautiful initiative to Trek sustainably and Feel the trek as it is. 

My trekkers to Takeup challenges and come for Himalayan treks, supporting the community of trekking and growing the spirit for adventure. 

My entire trek team and our guides. 

Here are the pictures of my guides and me. 

Mr. Pankaj, guide from Lohajung. Been working with us since a year now. 

 

Mr. Suri, Sr. Guide from Lohajung, right arm pace bowler. He has been working over a decade now.  

Mr. Gopal, Sr. Guide from Lohajung. Its been a decade for him too working with us. His story telling skills will make you feel you are a part of the story. 

this is me with a griffin feather and an uncool sunglasses. 

Thank you for reading. 

Feel free to ask me any questions you have about this trek. 

[Sneha Yadav]

What a beautiful photo story Tilak! I was lost in your captions and photos so much! 

[Shachi]

Such a beautiful account Tilak! Loved going through it! ✨

[Nithyam Nachappa]

Enjoyed every bit of it 😄

[Shubhanjana]

It felt as if I was part of this journey...so beautifully narrated!!

[Preeti Dubey]

21 hours ago, Tilak Ram Rawat said:

Reaching Lohajung on my own is quite  a task. If one has missed their direct bus from Anandvihar at Delhi or thought that taking a shared taxi from Dehradun is a bad idea then you're in for a treat to reach Lohajung in a couple of days. 

taking a taxi from Garur. Last point for shared bus to drop me. Took taxi to Gwaldham and Rested for the night. 

I reached here by changing 3 share cabs and 2 buses from Delhi and didn't even regret a minute of my journey cause it was a treat to my eyes.

Tharali Bridge, you see this bridge know that you're just a couple of hours away from your base camp. 

 

Pindar River view from Tharali. Pindar river in full action as it was quite a rumbling weather for few days here. 

The tall trees and narrow roads open to sharp valleys far across the Horizon and you see a huge huge mountain covered with snow and you are eager to know which one is it. Oh my God. What a beautiful feeling. 

First view of Tharali village. 

The same feeling strikes when you reach Lohajung. 

View from our Lohajung base camp and mellow greetings of Mt Nanda Ghunghti. 

 

Lohajung is a beautiful town hanging in between mountain ridges facing a beautiful valley surrounded by many treks around. Ajan top is an hour away at 8100ft from here and Bhramatal trek starts from Lohajung. Also, trekkers going to Wan for the Roopkund trek stay here. Roopkund is banned by government for all the trekking organisations, locals take small group of trekkers. Most of them can't find it the trek due to weather. 

A view of Lohajung from the way to Ajan top.

 It is the closest market for village Mandoli 5 km away from here. You will see this village crowded by trekkers and pilgrims at the time of festival and trekking season. 

You can buy a lot of trekking gear and also rent them as there are quite a few stores which rent them in case you've missed renting trekking gear from us. 

You get the best Samosa chole from Anni da's Dhaba. Right in front of Maa Nanda devil temple, it's the first Dhaba on your left when you're walking towards Deval from the lohajung centre. 

You can also Visit Pujari Hardware and General store for some stealer deals on thrift Trekking gear. 

 

25th October sunset from Ali Bugyal on the day of partial solar eclipse. 

I have recently led two batches of AliBedniBugyal with my entire IH crew and before we started the season I did a Recce of the trek all by myself and trust me autumn is the best time to visit this beautiful meadow and experience the surreal walk in the forest of Tolpani.

Autum colours at its best in middle of tolpani forest. 

I can't wait to see how beautiful this forest would look in winter and walk on the endless meadows covered with snow. 

Diwali morning. First diya of the festival on the sky.

Day 1 we begin from Lohajung base camp descending into the forest and walking by on the beautiful path. Unfortunately due to a small landslide here for now the trek is starting from Kuling village which is 4kms ahead of Looking. 

view of Didna village, our first camp site from Lohajung basecamp. You will see small houses on the green patch hanging by the valley.      Mt. Nandaghunghti stealing the show. 

The walk is now shortened as we board a vehicle from Lohajung and start descending to the forest which leads to Didna village. This can be changed in future and your trek could begin walking from base camp itself. 

a well laid trail leading you to Didna village. 

right under the iron bridge lies a closer view point of this waterfall and a serene quite moment.

It's a 1000ft descent to one of the most serene waterfalls I've witnessed to date. Almost 300ft tall tall mountain and water falling from the didna divide in layers, meeting Neel Ganga river coming from Wan flows with a neutral current right in front of you. Best view comes witnessing the falls from far. 

first view of the waterfall on the way towards Iron bridge. 

From the Iron bridge, the trail walks up to didna village, a few zig-zags leading you to an altitude gain of almost 1800ft.

5 more minutes to reach the campsite 🤭

 It would take one easily 90 to 100 minutes to reach Didna village from the iron bridge if they've trained well. If not, then let's take a couple of hours. 

all our trekkers pitching tents by themselves. 

We camp in an open field facing the valley where you can spot the Jhandi top of Bhramatal trek right in front of you, and a beautiful sunset happening behind it. 

 

The night sky is unforgettable. You should get your warm layers out and stare at the night sky without miss. 

clear sky view from Didna campsite

We all shared our challenges for the day and highlights where one of the gentlemen says the trail, the entire ascend was a highlight for him and that made me realise how things are beautiful in their own way. 

a few minutes into the Tolpani forest 

The next day our ascend begins for Abhin Kharak camp via Ali top. It is an ascend of 3500ft to Ali's top and the longest day of the trek. We carried packed lunch as we walk through one of the most scenic forests of our country. Tol Pani has lots of Oak trees and small beautiful clearings with a few thick patches of dense trees and you walk through them. The crackling sound of dry leafs under your feet as your eyes sore into the dense forest while the sunlight cuts through trees and forms different patterns of light and shade is an extra ordinary place to be at. 

dont miss out the sharp lights cutting out from tall trees in the middle of Tolpani forest 

The properly laid trail takes you to the top of the hill and there you will see a clearing called Khobar. We're just 3 hrs into our trek and we started feeling hungry already cause of the steep ascend. So prepare well folks.  Trust me ascends are beautiful, you make a pace of yourself and slowly keep climbing up and it's the journey and the view both are so rewarding that it takes you to the top of the mountain.

often look back and soak in the amazing forest ridge you'd walk on to.

After walking the dense forest now we walk a dense forest which is on a ridge, when I went here for recce the scene went so surreal

on the day of my recce. I was all alone, weather went violent I managed to finish my recce and get back to base in 11 hrs. 

 

 

Upon walking for an hour on the ridge we reached a small clearing with a majestic view of the Gangothri ranges and ate our packed lunch here.

just before the Chaukhamba view point. 

The Ali top is still 45 minutes far from here. The moment we reach Ali's top it felt so exuberant as you've done your best to reach here and climbing 3500ft in a few hours isn't easy. You yourself are the reward for your hard work.

a watercolour canvas view from Alitop. 

I have seen my trekkers breaking down while we shared gratitude, I've seen them alive and happy.  We've spent moments of silence from the top witnessing vast canvas of the watercolour painting.  As the sun started to set down behind the mountain on our west the lights started to difract and made things more dramatic.

Sunset time we started descending to Abhin Kharak campsite. 

All the scattered light particles were making the meadow look golden and 8k like live footage, the skies were getting much bluer complimenting the greens of the meadow's and mighty Himalayas perfectly. 

morning light falling on Mt.Magthoni, view from Abhin Kharak campsite. 

 

Abhin Kharak at 11200 ft is one of the coldest campsites in the trek and one of the darkest. So imagine the night sky here. It often gets late in the evening to reach the campsite, the earliest you can reach here is by 330. So things wrap up pretty soon as you have to push a little early in the morning to get a clear view of the entire Himalayan range of Gangothri and Kumaon from Bedni Top.

Suripaji being one with the mountain. 

Walk to Bedni Top is one of the serene and blessed ones, you'd be walking on a narrow trail with the Himalayan range right in front of you,

We start the morning with Gangothri range in front of us. 

on your side there is this deep valley filled with trees and at the horizon you see hills touching the sky in the dusk with different shades of blue and green while the brown trail leads you to your destination.

trail starts to curve and lead you to bedni entrance with a steep valley on your left. 

Hike to Bedni top is a good Ascend of 800ft from the bedni entrance and it has a good gradient.

team pushing all the way to top. 

Moments pass by and in a couple of minutes, you find yourself half the way up already. To your left stands tall Nandaghungthi and Mt.Trishul looking at you ease your way up and when you stop for a quick breather behind you is the great Gangothri range and Nilkanth peak, while clouds slowly crawl in towards these mountains.

Gangothri range behind us when we hike up to Bedni top. 

It is a solid motivation to see a view like this and the moment you reach the top you have ample space to walk towards the end of the Bedni top. 

Postcards from the summit with a beautiful view. 

You get the Grand Majestic view of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nandaghungthi from the bed top, this kind of perspective so close to the mountains which you have been waiting for a very long long time brings tears to your eyes. It gets quite windy on top as we're at 12500ft. 

and we summit.....Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nandaghungthi behind us. 

It is a short day, and reaching the campsite via Bedni Kund is 2 hrs journey. 

 

first look of Bedni Kund 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't miss the sight of Nandadevi Temple at Bednikund and here our Guide shared few epics and beliefs of this region. 

team listening to the story of Bedni Kund. 

Which was just the right place to listen to them and resonate with the place.

 

my ecobag. Not even a single day went by without filling this fully. 

As this place falls on the way popular route of Homkund yatra and Roopkund trek you'd find a lot of trash here and as well on the trail to our campsite Gehroli patal (10200ft) so please green sweep wherever necessary and fill your eco bags. 

 

Its just endless view points on trail. On thedescend to Genhroli patal. 

it is a properly laid trail taking us into a dense forest and 40 minutes of your descend you see your campsite.

beautiful trail leading you to Gehroli Patal camp. 

 Camping in Gehroli patal is an experience one shouldn't miss.

first team of 6 members  camping at gehorli 

 

Take a walk with a group into the forest before it's dark look for the oaks turning golden, you'd notice a teardrop rolling out your eye. It did happen to me.

a few minutes into the forest the views just get lively. 

This campsite is equally colder so keep your warm layers dry and layer up quickly and keep a watch on Night sky. Best views. You can see constilations raising up behind Mt. Trishul from the campsite.

Night view from Gehroli patal and Mt. Trishul in the background looking transparent. 

 

Yes you can see Mt trishul from campsite. The sight of wind blowing the fresh snow is a must not miss one. 

 

Descend begins for the last day of trek. 

 

Last day we head down to Bedni Ganga also know as Neel ganga. Here the water looks turquoise blue and there are some beautiful spots if you explore a little further walking inside water. 

 

Ascend to Wan village starts from here and within 2 hours of walking towards Wan you reach the end point of this trek which is the pick-up point for Lohajung. You see villagers walking the trail with their cattle and cute kids carrying their fodder. Wonderful flowers and lots of temples with bells on the trail. 

 

Ali Bedni Bugyal is one of the beustiful treks you will ever do, one of the most challenging ones and shortest trek.

 

 

 

 

You're ride will be ready near Lathu maharaj temple.

Do enjoy your ride back from Wan to Lohajung. As you go along the road you see Mt.NandaGhungthi waving you good bye for being a wonderful trekker this 4 days. You reach base camp by 230. Lunch followed by rentals and Debreifing. Team bonding happens much more stronger at the reflections of debriefing and the next morning we set off to Rishikesh from Lohajung early at 6 or 7 am. 

 

 

Its your love towards mountains and attachment with nature has got you here and I hope you get a few more people and make them understand what it means to Trek at Himalayas and trek sustainably. 

 

 

 

Hope in this journey to wilderness you find yourself in every small and big part of this trek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare well before you go on any high altitude trek. You can ask your questions on this forum for trek preparation. 

Special thanks to my entire team. 

Team indiahikes for coming with this beautiful initiative to Trek sustainably and Feel the trek as it is. 

My trekkers to Takeup challenges and come for Himalayan treks, supporting the community of trekking and growing the spirit for adventure. 

My entire trek team and our guides. 

Here are the pictures of my guides and me. 

Mr. Pankaj, guide from Lohajung. Been working with us since a year now. 

 

Mr. Suri, Sr. Guide from Lohajung, right arm pace bowler. He has been working over a decade now.  

Mr. Gopal, Sr. Guide from Lohajung. Its been a decade for him too working with us. His story telling skills will make you feel you are a part of the story. 

this is me with a griffin feather and an uncool sunglasses. 

Thank you for reading. 

 

Feel free to ask me any questions you have about this trek. 

Wow! Loved every part of your story. Some of the pictures spoke more than words! Loved it!

 

[SuhasSaya]

Wonderful to read and go through your photostory! @Tilak Ram Rawat

It was really nice to see the smaller moments and joys you had on this trek.
Thanks for sharing with all of us! 🙂

[Jothiranjan]

Beautiful Photostory tilak. Glad and appreciate for improving your photography skills. Keep going.