Bali Pass Trek in Uttarakhand

After descending from the meadow, we enter the Ruinsara valley. At the end of today’s trek, we camp beside the stream close to the waterfall locally known as Roiltigad or Roiltia.

Day 4: Trek from Waterfall camp to Ruinsara lake (3,600 m) (4 km; 2 hrs)

On day 4, we will hike towards one of the most anticipated destinations of the Har Ki Dun trek — Ruinsara Tal, a high-altitude lake nestled in the midst of Rhododendron trees. During the 2-hour hike, we will notice a remarkable change in vegetation, as we move from pine and fir trees to birch and rhododendron trees. This thick forest is home to the rare Himalayan brown bear, which we might spot if we are lucky. The highlight of the day is the beautiful alpine tarn, Ruinsara Tal, surrounded by lush pink-blooming Rhododendrons. Considered one of the sacred lakes in Uttarakhand Himalayas, Ruinsara Tal is among the trio of lakes in the Garhwal region, the other two being Marinda and Maldaru. We will be spending the night camping near the lake.

Day 5: Rest and explore or Trek to Thanga from Ruinsara lake (3 km; 1.5 hrs)

On day 5, we will take a break from trekking to acclimatize ourselves to the altitude before heading to Bali Pass base camp the next day. Ruinsara Lake, at an altitude of around 3500 m, provides an ideal location for acclimatization. The crystal-clear lake is surrounded by alpine vegetation and rhododendron bushes, which make for a breathtaking view. The river Supin flows 100 meters below the lake, next to a ridge.
During this rest day, we can indulge in various activities like playing games with our fellow trekkers, reading a book or simply enjoying the serenity of nature. We can also explore nearby places like the Banderpunch glacier or Kyarkoti, which is the base camp for Kalanag and Dumdar Kandi Pass.
We will return to our campsite by the evening, all refreshed and ready for the next day’s trek.

Day 6: Trek from Ruinsara lake/Thanga to Bali Pass Basecamp (4,600 m) (8 km; 7 hrs)

On this day, we have a long journey ahead and therefore, start early in the morning to reach our destination, Bali Pass Basecamp, before afternoon. We begin by descending to the river bed, crossing it, and climbing up the opposite bank to reach the Thanga meadow. This area offers breathtaking views of the Swargarohini ranges and the Kyarkoti valley on the left.

After a while, we arrive at Odari, a place that has a natural rock cave and an interesting mythological story associated with it. It is believed that Bali, Hanuman’s brother, had stayed here for a night. During our trek, we may also encounter the Himalayan brown bear, a rare and endangered species.

Finally, we camp at the base of Bali Pass on a glacial moraine. This is a fantastic location for a camp, with a beautiful valley below us and the Pass behind us. The temperature drops significantly at night, with sub-zero temperatures being common. Camping at such a high altitude is a unique experience that only a few treks offer.

Day 7: Day 7: Trek from Bali Pass Basecamp (4,600 m) to Lower Dhamni (3,200 m) via Bali pass (4,900 m) (12 km; 9 hrs)

m to reach the Bali Pass summit by 8 am. The trail leads us southwards, across a ridge, and although it is a relatively short climb to the pass, it is quite steep, with plenty of glacial scree to navigate. The time taken to reach the top varies from 45 minutes to one and a half hours, depending on our pace.

Once we reach the top, we are greeted with a stunning view of the Yamunotri valley, which is truly breathtaking. We can see the Saptrishi Kund, the origin of river Yamuna, along with the Banderpunch peaks, and the summits of Dayara Bugyal, Barua Top, and Dokrani Bamak in the distance. After taking in the panoramic view, we descend carefully via a connecting ridge and reach the camping grounds of Lower Dhamni.

Day 8: Trek from Lower Dhamni to Yamunotri to Janki Chatti (2,400 m) (12 km; 6 hrs)

From Lower Dhamni, we continue our descent through a forested trail that takes us to the renowned Yamunotri shrine.