Uttarakhand being one of the Himalayan States has numerous trekking trails. Every trek is unique with its en-route surroundings. In the monsoon season, when clouds come and rain happens then en route forests, meadows and others get refreshed and greener than earlier. When you see the beauty of the treks, you can’t stop yourself from trekking on these trails. Therefore in this article, we have compiled the best monsoon treks in Uttarakhand. To know all about these monsoon treks, go through the article till the end.
Note: Monsoon treks are risky and with recent climate change, cloud bursts and landslides are becoming common in the Himalayas. Before venturing out for treks make sure to have proper info regarding road connectivity, weather updates, and govt guidelines.
Table of Contents
1) Valley of Flowers
Valley of Flowers is a beautiful monsoon trek on the right side from Joshimath to Badrinath Route. As the name signifies, this trek will take you to a vast National Park i.e. valley of flowers. There are more than 75 species of flowers and so the butterflies. In the monsoon season, when the rain falls, the flowers begin blooming and slowly the entire valley becomes colourful and fragrant. All the people who have a heart for flowers must trek to this epitome of natural beauty.
| Region | Chamoli District |
| Basecamp | Govind Ghat |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Total Distance | 38 km (Out and Back, Including Hemkund Sahib), 27 km (Out and Back, Only Valley of flowers) |
| Altitude | 3352-3658 m |
| Minimum Age | 5 Years |
| Terrain Type | Steep, Narrow, Rocky |
| Best season | July-September |
| Nearest Town | Joshimath |
Insights of Valley of Flowers Trek
- The Valley of Flowers, a cherished trek between Joshimath and Badrinath, is an ideal site to trek in monsoon season for trekkers and nature lovers.
- It is situated in the Chamoli district at an elevation of 3600 m. The trek starts from Govindghat which is only 18 Km away from Joshimath.
- So this trek starts from Govindghat and then you hike to the Valley of Flowers via Bhyudar.
- Due to the rainy season, sometimes the trail becomes slippery and challenging to walk. Hence, it requires good physical fitness and a guide to trek on this trail.
- This landscape is truly blessed with exquisite Species of rare flora, such as Blue Poppy, Red spider lily, rock ferns, Himalayan Balsam, Himalayan Snow Lotus, Wild Roses, Rhododendrons, Larkspur, Monkshood, Himalayan Lily, Black Pea, Drumstick Primula, Himalayan Rose, marsh marigold, and many more.
- This national park also serves as the home to diverse fauna. Some of the Wildlife found here are the Red fox, Asiatic black bear, Himalayan monal, flying squirrel, blue sheep, snow leopard, etc.
- With a stretch of 6-7 km, this valley of flowers offers a Stunning view of Gauri Parvat, Nilgiri, Nanda Devi, and Dunagiri, to name a few.
- The recommended time to visit the valley is from July to September. During these seasons, the glory of this huge valley reaches its peak when the flowers are in full bloom.
- It became a part of the World UNESCO Heritage Sites in 2005.
2) Nag Tibba
Nag Tibba Trek serves as a perfect escape into the forests and Mountains during the Monsoon Season. Among travelers, the Nag Tibba Summit in Jaunpur Forest Range is quite famous for its link to Hindu Mythology. It is believed here that this Himalayan range is dedicated to the Lord or the King of Serpents. In festivals such as Nag Panchmi, locals from nearby villages climb up here on Nag Tibba and worship the Nag Devta.
On reaching the highest point of the trek, the 360° view of the valleys and the snow-clad mountains will leave you astonished. It is one of the preferable monsoon treks to hike during the refreshing weather in Monsoon.
| Region | Tehri Garhwal |
| Basecamp | Pantwari |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Total Distance | 6 to 7 Km |
| Altitude | 3,050 m |
| Minimum Age | 5 years |
| Terrain Type | Gradual Ascent |
| Best season | All year |
| Nearest Town | Mussoorie, Dehradun |
Insights of Nag Tibba Trek
- The Nag Tibba located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand is a perfect Weekend trek. From the height of 3050 m, it provides a great chance to visualize the beauty of the Himalayan forests from the top. If you trek on a foggy day, then it looks like tree canopies are covered with the Carpet of Fog. And gradually, when the fog clears then the tree canopies become clearly visible and perfect to capture in the camera.
- The trail of this particular trek is enjoyable. The more you walk on the trail, the more you feel motivated. In the beginning, the Nag Tibba trek is elevated but not that tough. While the last stretch of 1.5 km is steep and narrow. So you need to be careful in the last few kilometres.
- On both sides of the trek route, there are dense forests. Which will give you the best insights into alpine forests. If you are someone who likes to observe trees then you can take mini breaks on the route and stare at the beautiful coniferous trees.
- The highest point of the trek offers a 360° view of the surrounding mountain ranges, such as Swargrohini, Kalanag, Gangotri, Bandarpoonch, and others.
- Talking about its religious link, Nag Tibba is referred to as an abode of the Lord of Serpents. The villagers worship the Nag Devta for blessing their villages.
3) Dayara Bugyal Trek
Surrounded by the Himalayas, the trek to Dayara Bugyal is a must-try in Monsoon. This trek features dense forests of Oak and vast alpine meadows with numerous flora and fauna. Seasonally, Dayara is recommended as the Winter trek but it’s equally beautiful in monsoon. During monsoon, the flowers are in full bloom, and whole meadow is full of life. If you are lucky you will get to see the flock of Himalayan Sheep.
| Region | Uttarkashi District |
| Basecamp | Raithal/Barsu/Natin |
| Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Total Distance | 22 km |
| Altitude | 3,639 m |
| Minimum Age | 5 years |
| Terrain Type | Gravel and Rocky Terrain |
| Best season | March-July and Winters |
| Nearest Town | Uttarkashi |
Insights of Dayara Bugyal Trek
- From the Raithal or Barsu village, the trek to Dayara Bugyal starts and covers around 21 km of trail that ends in the huge alpine meadow.
- To reach Dayara Bugyal, you should take the Uttarkashi Gangotri Route. From Bhatwari, you can take the route on the left side and then the Raithal Village.
- The beauty of the Dayara Bugyal gets enhanced in the Rainy season. It appears like the rain showers have washed the Meadow.
- The trek is elevated at an altitude of 3,639m. Its trail is surrounded by giant lush green trees of Deodar, oak, and flowers like Rhododendrons.
- On climbing up to its endpoint, the beauty of peaks such as Draupadi ka Danda, Gangotri range, Jaonali, and more.
- The Dayara Bugyal is also famous for its Butter Holi which holds lots of significance for the villagers. It is celebrated annually during April when they use Butter or Buttermilk instead of Colors.
4) Har Ki Doon Trek
Har Ki Doon signalling the term “Valley of God” is a precious trek near the Barkot in Uttarakhand. Beginning from Sankri Village, this trek is a steep, uphill trail, which offers you beautiful views of the Swargarohini and Kalanaag ranges. Overall this trek is about 20 Km long and en route, you will see a few hamlets and forests of Deciduous and Coniferous trees. Majorly the trees on the trekking route will be Deodar, Oak, and Pine trees. Finally, there is Marinda Lake, which is a beautiful spot to visit.
| Region | Uttarkashi District |
| Basecamp | Sankari Village |
| Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult |
| Total Distance | 25 km (One side) |
| Altitude | 3,600m |
| Minimum Age | 5 years |
| Terrain Type | Rocky and steep |
| Ideal for | Monsoon Trek |
| Best season | March-June, September-December |
| Nearest Town | Purola |
Insights of Har ki Doon Trek
- Har ki Doon begins from the Sankari village. From Sankri Village, when you trek towards the Har ki doon, the Taluka, Gangarh, Dhatmeer, Osla and Kalkatiadhar will lie on the route.
- Being a part of Govind Wildlife Sanctuary National Park, Har Ki Doon Valley is a good spot to experience the real unmixed raw beauty of Earth.
- Firstly you will witness the majestic Har ki Doon valley near a glacier named Jalandhar. On moving further, Marinda Tal, a delightful high-altitude lake will appear. Marinda Lake is both a monsoon and winter-friendly trek.
- This Trek offers spectacular glimpses of mountain peaks like Bandarpoonch, Bali Pass, Swargrohini, Black Peak, etc.
- Sankri region is well known for it’s Jaunsari and Garhwali culture.
5) Kush Kalyan trek
Kush Kalyan Trek, a trail in the Tehri Garhwal District is a perfect 35 Km long stretch for those who wanna go on a 5 to 6 days trekking tour. The Kush Kalyan is actually a vast Bugyal at 3838 m. altitude, which turns into a vibrant Bugyal consisting of several kinds of herbs and flowering plants in the Monsoon Period. In the monsoon season, a different kind of freshness and energy spreads in the atmosphere, and it feels more motivated to go hiking and explore the hidden points of these interior treks. It takes about 3 days to do one-way hiking to Kush Kalyan Bugyal. We can say it’s a beginner-friendly trek for those who want to go on more challenging and altitude treks.
| Region | Tehri Garhwal District |
| Basecamp | Silla Village |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Total Distance | 35 km |
| Altitude | 3,838 m |
| Minimum Age | 7 years |
| Terrain Type | Ridge, Forest, Steep |
| Ideal for | Monsoon Trek |
| Best season | April-June, September-October |
| Nearest Town | Uttarkashi |
Insights of Kush Kalyan Trek
- The trek to Kush Kalyan Bugyal includes a 35 km trail that starts from the Silla village and passes through Gairi, Chuli La pass, and Oak forests.
- This Trek lies in the old route of Gangotri to Kedarnath, so years ago, it was a frequently visited route by pilgrims. But now it’s visited solely for trekking purposes.
- There are a few local Deities temples and Chhani in the route. These small points of worship dedicated to Local Deities are often visited by nearby tribes and residents.
- Additionally, you will find some locals roaming in the Bugyal with their cattle. They generally bring their cattle here for grazing and sunbathing. Besides this, they offer a night stay and cooked meals for the trekkers in their Chhani i.e. Hut.
- The bugyal serves as a home for diverse wildlife such as Himalayan black bears, Bharal, Ibex, Musk deer, pika, Tahr, Therag, etc.
- Varieties of flora found in the alpine meadow, which are the real jewel of Kush Kalyan are rare flowers like Cobra lily, Himalayan Daisy, Blue Poppy, Buransh, Thuner and Moor.
6) Sahastra Tal Trek
Sahastra Tal trek is an offbeat monsoon trail leading to the Lake of Gods through multiple meadows and forests. The location of this trek is exactly near the Balganga and Bhilangana valleys, and you can reach the starting point of Bhatwari from Uttarkashi. To be precise, Bhatwari, the beginning point of the Sahastra Tal trek is about 28 to 29 Km away from Uttarkashi. You can reach there with the help of a taxi in 1.5 hours easily. Beyond Bhatwari, you will start the trekking. Let me tell you, this is not a One Day trek, it’s an 8 to 9 Days trek. It takes about 5 days to reach the Sahastra Tak by hiking from Bhatwari.
Besides Sahastra Tal, that region has other 6 glacial lakes in close vicinity and all of those are either inspired by Mahabharata Characters or mystical names.
| Region | Uttarkashi |
| Basecamp | Bhatwari |
| Difficulty | Difficult |
| Total Distance | 45-65 km (Depends on chosen basecamp) |
| Altitude | 15,580 ft |
| Minimum Age | 10 years |
| Terrain Type | Narrow Ridges, Bugyal, and Forests |
| Best Season | May-June, August- October |
| Nearest Town | Uttarkashi |
Insights of Sahastra Tal Trek
- Amidst Balganga Valley in the west and Bhilangana Valley in the east, the Sahastra Tal is a spiritual lake located at an elevation of 15,580 ft.
- This Sahastra Tal trek starting from Bhatwari passes through Silla Village, Gairi, Kush Kalyan, Kyarki and Lamb Tal.
- The trail provides a view of peaks like Kalanag, Jaonli, Srikanth, Draupadi ka Danda and others are visible. Especially, if you reach there on a sunny day then the golden views of clouds and fog being scattered, and sun rays falling on the mountain peaks will give you goosebumps for sure.
- At night, the temperature around the lake falls below 0°C, so you should return by trek from Sahastra Tal before sunset. Additionally, due to being located above 15000 ft, the area around the lake has less oxygen level, so you should not stay on the final point for so long.
- Religiously, Sahastra Tal is a mystic, spiritual lake and the so-called “The lake of gods”. Validating its religious significance, the Hindu devotees of adjacent villages like Thandi, Gangi, Silla and Gairi visit this lake during festivals and ceremonies.
- According to local folklore, on the shore of this lake, a king offered a thousand Brahma Kamal to Lord Vishnu. They say, that this is how the lake got the name of Sahastra Tal.
- The Sahastra Tal trek becomes double mesmerising during monsoon when infinite Brahma Kamal and fen Kamal bloom in the boundary of the lake.
7) Dodi Tal Trek
At an altitude of 3024 m Dodi Tal Trek is a beautiful typical Himalayan trail that offers the best en route and lake views in monsoon season. This trek goes to the Dodi Tal, which is actually a lake and spiritually affiliated with the Temple of Lord Ganesha. It’s believed that this is the very place where Lord Ganesha was born.
The starting point of Dodi Tal Trek, I.e. Agoda Village in Barahat Range, is situated 19 to 22 Km North of the Uttarkashi. You can reach Agoda by taxi in 1 hour. And thereafter, you have to trek for Dodi Tal, which is a 20 Km trail.
Around the lake, there are a number of conical trees, whose reflection looks clear in the lake. Behind these conical trees, you can see the curvy triangular mountain ranges, which make the entire view a landscape. Some people trek to the Dodital for Darshan in Lord Ganesha Temple, while some trek to enjoy the beauty of Dodi Tal. In the monsoon months, this natural beauty around the lake appears more eye-catching and perfect from a viewing perspective.
| Region | Uttarkashi District |
| Basecamp | Agoda Village |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Total Distance | 20 km |
| Altitude | 3,024 m |
| Minimum Age | 5 years |
| Terrain Type | Rocky, steep |
| Best season | Monsoon and Winter |
| Nearest Town | Agoda |
Insights of Dodi Tal Trek
- The trek of Dodital begins from Agoda Village which takes you to this Freshwater Lake, located on a high elevation of 3,024m. To reach Agoda, you should first arrive in Uttarkashi and then to Agoda.
- From Agoda, you will reach the Dodi Tal final point in 2 days via passing from Manjhi and Bebra Villages.
- Dodital trail consists of a rocky path, a Forested trail and a steep climb. En route, you will see the Alpine trees on both sides of the trail. In short, the trekking route is challenging yet very rewarding.
- The Dodital Lake is encircled by the Bandarpoonch, Kalanaag and Swargarohini mountain ranges. If we look at the location of Dodital by keeping Himalayan routes aside then it’s actually amid Yamunotri and Gangotri Routes horizontally. Via Darwa Pass one can descent down to Yamunotri from Dodital. .
- Beside the lake, there is a shrine dedicated to Ganpati Ji and Devi Annapurna.
- The spiritual link of this place is with the Birthplace of Lord Ganesha. And so there is a temple beside the lake built in the Pahadi Architecture. On the exterior wall of the Lord Ganesha temple, the idols and paintings are engraved on both sides of the door. This temple highlighting the Green, Blue, Red and Yellow colours looks really beautiful.
- There are other trails as well that you can follow from Dodital. One is the Dodital and Dayara Circuit other one is the Dodital and Surya Top Circuit.
Summary
For your quest to hike on the Himalayan Treks, we have penned down some of the best monsoon treks in this article. All of these above-mentioned treks are ideal to go on trek tours with your trekking group or family. These monsoon season treks basically reflect the essence that these treks look most scenic and perfect in the Monsoon. We can say that generally, they are at their best in the Monsoon season, but if you want to explore other seasons then you can go for it. Let’s end it here and we hope you will enjoy this content about Best Monsoon Treks In Uttarakhand
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