Detailed Route
Buran Ghati Trek — Detailed Route
Duration
7 Days
Total Distance
48 KM
Max Altitude
15,000 FT
Trek Type
linear
Altitude Profile
Points show end-of-day camp altitude. Summit days show peak altitude reached.
Day by Day Breakdown
Drive: Shimla to Janglik
Homestay in Janglik. Expedition briefing. Technical: 8-hour drive through the Pabbar Valley. Road quality deteriorates after Rohru. The last 20 km to Janglik is a rough dirt track. Carry snacks for the drive. Landscape: Janglik is a remote Himalayan village with traditional slate-roofed houses. The village has a sacred temple dedicated to Shikari Devi. It's the kind of village where life moves to the rhythm of seasons, not clocks.
Key Landmarks
Trek: Janglik to Dayara Thach
Tent camp. The meadow is wide and beautiful. Stars are extraordinary. Technical: Steep climb through thick forest. You gain nearly 5,000 ft today — the biggest single-day gain. Pace is critical. The trail transitions from forest to open meadow at Dayara Thach. Landscape: Dayara Thach is a vast alpine meadow used by Gaddi shepherds. In June-July, it transforms into a carpet of wildflowers — irises, primulas, and potentillas. Safety: Major altitude jump. Hydrate 4L+. Oximeter check at camp.
Key Landmarks
Staying At
Trek: Dayara to Litham & Chandranahan Lakes
Camp at Litham. Visit to the lakes is a side-trip from camp. Technical: The climb to the lakes is steep and rocky. Chandranahan Lakes are a series of 7 glacial lakes, of which 2-3 are typically accessible. The upper lake is sacred — no bathing or washing. The entire area is a glacial cirque. Landscape: Chandranahan means 'moon-bathed'. The lakes are believed to have been created by the tears of the moon goddess. They are the source of the Pabbar River. Locals from Janglik and Chirgaon consider these lakes the most sacred water bodies in the Shimla Hills. Safety: 12,100ft. AMS check. Wind at the lakes can be extreme. Layer up. Do not stay above the lakes after 3 PM.
Key Landmarks
Staying At
Trek: Litham to Buran Ghati Base (Dhunda)
Base camp night. Early sleep for the 4 AM start. Technical: Walking on snow from today. The trail is unmarked above the lakes. Follow cairns and guide markers. Dhunda is a flat, wind-exposed campsite at the base of the pass wall. Safety: Critical AMS check. 13,500ft with sub-zero temperatures. Carry warm water in thermal flasks. Summit briefing tonight.
Key Landmarks
Staying At
Pass Day: Dhunda to Buran Ghati (15,000ft) & Ice-Slide Descent to Barua
Celebration camp at Barua. The hardest part is behind you. Technical: Start at 4 AM. The ascent to the pass is a 3-hour snow walk. The pass crest is narrow. The defining moment: a 70-degree, 200m ice-wall descent on the far side. You are harnessed and roped, and either rappel down or slide (controlled) on the snow face. Guides manage the ropes. It takes 15-20 minutes per person. After the ice wall, a long moraine and boulder descent to Barua. Landscape: The ice-wall descent separates Buran from every other trek in India. It's the moment that makes veterans out of adventurers. Safety: Turnback time: 10 AM. Helmet mandatory for the ice wall. Do not unhook from the rope until the guide signals. Snow instability increases after 11 AM.
Key Landmarks
Staying At
Descent: Barua to Mud Village & Drive to Chirgaon
Hotel/Homestay stay. Technical: Long descent through forest. Reach the road-head at Mud village and drive to Chirgaon or Rohru.
Key Landmarks
Drive: Chirgaon to Shimla / Chandigarh
Return drive. Trek concludes.
Day by day, camp by camp. Send this to your group so everyone's on the same page.
Love this itinerary?
Find operators who follow this exact route with verified acclimatization days.
Find matching operators