Trekking Roopkund-Kuari Pass

My wife and I are interested in making a trek beginning at Mundoli/Bedni Bugyal/Roopkund and continuing over Kuari Pass during October 2005. We are experienced backpackers in our mid-50's. We want to go on our own but are interested in using porters. Is a guide needed? Can we hire the porters in either Delhi or Rishikesh, or are they provided at the trailhead town? Can the trek be started in either Joshimath or Mundoli (I think we prefer Mundoli from what I have read, so we can finish closer to Badrinath, but welcome any advice.) Can we make the arrangements for porters and other assistance on arrival in Delhi or Rishikesh? Any suggestions on transportation or lodging before the trek begins? Can any trek permits that are needed be obtained in Delhi or Rishikesh or are they available in Joshimath, Mundoli or Gwaldam? Any suggestions about food--bring it from the US or purchase in India? We would really appreciate your advice and would love to hear from anyone who are arranged a similar trip.

Hi

I have done Joshimath-auli-kuaripass-panarani-durmi tal circuit. You can start your trek from Joshimath or Auli. There is a ropeway from Joshimath to auli. The physical distance is about 12 Km's. The altitude difference of 1500 mtrs. Auli is at 3000M. From auli you can can make it to Kuari pass on the second day with one day camp after crossing Gorson Bugyal. You have to camp in the middle of the jungle. From there you will reach Kuari pass in about 5 hours. The trail descends very steeply from there. You have to make another stopover just after crossing Kuari. The next day will take you to a village "Panarani" from where trek to Roopkund bifurcates. If you are coming from Roopkund then also you will head for Kuari pass via this village.
Porters and ponies you can hire from Joshimath. I don't have the idea of the trail head on the Roopkund side but it should not be a problem. The trek from Panarani to Auli requires a guide as the trail winds through jungle and high grass. You can stay at Pana. There is a school there. Or you can just ask for Lakhpat's house. He is a nice host. He can open up a room for you. Don't be dissappointed with the room. That's all Panarani can offer.
The climb from panarani to Kuari pass is very steep. A full day's climb without respite. But the views are amazing especially on the Auli side of the pass.
Checkout on the weather for Roopkund. I have heard it can be treacherous. But it's a beautiful trail you've chosen.
As for the permits I don't think any are required because this area is not in the inner line. Yes there is a national park boundary before Joshimath. You will ahve to pay per day charges for cameras and all.

Have a nice trip.

Lucky

....for Roop Kund. You will be able to see the bones in the lake as the ice will have thawed out properly. Guide, porters will be available at Mundoli, but may not be English speaking. Guide charges around rs 500 per day and porter cost rs 200 per day. Permits not reqd from any authority at all. Even from the point of gaining altitude gradually, Mundoli to Joshimath is a better option. Rishikesh also has many agencies arranging guides/porters. Delhi has agencies which will do the whole thing for you at around USD 90 per day per head.

Dave, I did this in Oct '97 from Josimath. It was a trek organised by an Australian/Indian company called World Expeditions so I can only answer a couple of your questions. I really enjoyed it. Mundoli is a very small village, I dont remember seeing any "agencies" there or a shop to buy provisions. Josimath is a small town, I noticed a couple of trekking agencies there, if not more and of course a market to buy things at. There are also hotels and lodges at Josimath, we camped our last night at Mundoli but I expect there will be lodges there. I think this means if you want to start from Mundoli you will need to make your arrangemetns elsewhere. Rishikesh would be an option for this. We did the trek outlined in the Lonely Planet guide which also discusses organising these things individually. The Uttaranchal tourist dept appears to organise treks also. There is a lot of info on the net as well.

I did the Pindari Glacier trek (well covered by this site) last year without guides etc. Comparing the two treks I think there are some spots on the trek you are planning that you will need a guide and porters.

As for food the locals eat rice, dahl and vegetable curries most of the time. Indian bread and curd is often available. If you organise a guide and a cook you could vary this a bit.

hope this helps

hey guys..
new to this place.. but already in awe.. looks like this place has sollutions to evrything.. n so much of info too..

we're going on a trek in sep'07 to Kuari via Roopkund in Chamoli distt of Uttaranchal.. We are three of us... my partners are British.

its a 15 day trek which would require (atleast;-) moderate fitness levels.. a lil' better will b even better.. (:
it would b nice if we could have a couple more like minded IMers with us..

would reduce cost n increase fun too..

cheers

hi there,
i am ajay from delhi and like u .. i am also interested in trekking the route u described..I did Pin Parbati pass last september and this yr the same group has decided to do the kalindi khal passthis sep. 2007.If by any chance it does not materialise then i would really be interested in joining ur group.. and i hope i would be an asset to the group in the sense that i am widely travelled and have done a couple of treks more in uttranchal...for any further contact u could e mail me at ajaysahrawat@hotmail.com best regards ajay

hey aj..
good to c u..
how 'bout checking out the IM meet up tread...
lets get together in delhi sm time..
it'll b nice to have u on the trek with us u know...
i'm from uttaranchal ..
cheesr

Hi,

Has anybody done a combo-trek of Kuari-Pass with Rup-Kund?

My Uttaranchal Guide-Porter, Debu, who has done many treks in these two routes, was suggesting a 15-day trek combining Rup-Kund and Kuari Pass as follows:

Day-00 Gwaldham - Wan by Share-Jeep
Day-01 Wan - Bedni Bugyal ........... 14Kms
Day-02 Bedni - AliBugyal - Bedni ....... 4Kms
Day-03 Bedni - Bughubasa ............... 10Kms
Day-04 Bhugubasa - RupKund - Bhugubasa... 10Kms
Day-05 Bhuugubasa - Bhujang TRC ......... 8Kms
Day-06 Bhujang TRC - Kunol Vill ........ 9Kms
Day-07 Kunaol Vill - Sutol ............ 12Kms
Day-08 Sutol - Ramni .................... 14Kms
Day-09 Ramni - ChetakTop - Jheeji ...... 13Kms
Day-10 Jheeji - Pana .................... 10Kms
Day-11 Pana - Dakwani ................... 14Kms
Day-12 Dakwani - KuaraiPass - Kachua .... 15Kms
Day-13 Kachua - Tapoban ................. 6Kms
Day-14 Tapoban - Joshimath (by jeep).....
Day-15 Extra buffer rest day to use as needed

The village names and distances may be approx ... they were provided by a local guide guy ..... so may not exactly match with standard trek guide-books.

Can this be done reasonably around 7th July 2007, despite monsoon rains? Has anybody done this or part of these treks?

Any ideas, suggestions, advise ...most welcome.

Thanks in advance
KS

When are you back at Rishikesh ? do yu start the trek in september or earlier?

I have already given my opinion on this trek under the thread 'Auli-Kuari Pass-Auli.
We trek himalaya mainly for adventures and enjoying the beauiful landscape and mountain ranges. While you may feel adventurous doing the combo trek in rainy season, the chances are that you may not get to see the best sceneries during the trek. For me it will be a great disappointment of not able to see Nanda Gunti from Bedni Bugiyal, a number of peaks in almost 180 degree range from Kuari Pass and beautilful Tapovan Valley because of clouds and mists.

I have done two treks in rainy season -(i) Valley of Flowers and Hemkund and(ii) Har-ki-Dun. But the main purpose of the treks were to see wild flowers. But in doing so, I could no see Swargarohini in Har-ki-Dun trek and could not enjoy the sight of Hemkund due to cloudy and misty weather.

Sadanand

Sadanand,

I saw your replies too in auli-thread ... I too agree july is not a good time to try Rup Kund + Kuari, which are difficult treks, even under normal seasons, I am told. Just want to get others views on the route. And maybe do teh actual trek in Sept.

I like your idea of Valley of Flowers ...... July should be a ideal time for that. So maybe do that in July.

- KS

Yes, all depends upon Monsoon. In case you plan to do the valley of flowers, then you can combine Kauri pass which you may approach from Joshimath. First Kauri pass and then VOF. Keep only roopkund for Sep and add Home kund to it rather than returning back.
VSK

Sharma-ji,

Thanks for you input .... also seen your comment in the Auli thread.

I think I will settle for VOF .. if at all I go ... and after VOF park myself for a week, in a nice little hut, somewhere in ranikhet or kausani or ..., drink chai, watch the rains pour, smell the wonderful smell of drenched earth and hear the beats of music on the roof of my hut....and if i get bored of that, I will carry plenty of books to read.

Did you do the kuari pass or rup kund treks anytime? How were those treks in your experience? if you have already posted your somewhere else ... let me know where?

Best Regards,
KS

well, i tried bedni bugyal in august last year. could not make it to roopkund as i had only 2 days holidays. the greenery is stunning, but u migth miss out on the white peaks..coz most of the time they will be covered. but i was lucky on the 2nd day coz the clouds parted for some time and i could get some views. the pics r on my blog..the bedni bugyal trek.

but even the greenery is very enjoyable. and on the bedni trek, i met a leopard in the jungles..wow

Hi, I did Roopkund long time back. Must be 20 years back. I and my friend Dorjee did it and those days we used to carry ll the stuff ourself. I lost all my photos in the accident on the otherside and so I have not posted any on the site. These days people are not going across. Once down it is great.The view of the two peaks is something to be seen.
VSK