A Roopkund Trek: How the Himalayas Shaped the Birth of TheRecreations
Join me on an extraordinary 55km journey through the breathtaking Himalayas to Roopkund Lake at 16,700 feet. This transformative 3-day trek through Uttarakhand's majestic landscapes not only tested our physical limits but also inspired the creation of TheRecreations. Follow our adventure from Lohajang village through challenging terrain, dramatic weather, and stunning vistas as we embraced sustainable trekking principles by carrying our own gear rather than using pack animals.
Reaching the Trek Starting Point
Our adventure began with a straightforward journey from Delhi to Rishikesh by bus. While you can fly directly to Dehradun to save time, we chose the scenic route. From Rishikesh, we took a private cab to Lohajang village in Uttarakhand, where we spent the night preparing for our trek.
Early the next morning, we secured our mandatory forest permits and met our guide - a requirement from the forest department. Making a conscious choice for sustainable travel, we decided against hiring mules to carry our gear. Instead, we shouldered our own 14kg Osprey backpacks, embracing the philosophy that would later become central to TheRecreations: enjoying nature without causing harm to animals for our recreational activities.
The Ascent: Challenging Heights and Breathtaking Views
Day one saw us departing early from Lohajang, making our first stop at Gahroli Patal campsite for a quick lunch of dehydrated food and energizing black coffee. Pushing ourselves further, we continued all the way to Ali Top on the same day, where we set up camp against the magnificent backdrop of Trishul mountain. The weather was intense, but the views were worth every challenging step.
With just the three of us at this remote location, we experienced a profound connection with the Himalayas. After a night under the stars and morning coffee with spectacular mountain views, we descended to Gahroli Patal to rest and prepare for the most demanding part of our journey.
Conquering Roopkund and Junar Gali
The third day presented our greatest challenge - the ascent to Roopkund Lake and Junar Gali. Rising at 4 AM, we began our climb in darkness, reaching Roopkund by 11 AM. At 16,700 feet, the mysterious glacial lake known for its skeletal remains greeted us with its eerie beauty. Once again, we found ourselves alone at this remote location, three tiny humans in the vast expanse of the Himalayas.
From Roopkund, we pushed on for another 20 minutes to reach Junar Gali, conquering the highest point of our trek. The panoramic views of endless Himalayan peaks created a moment of pure awe that would later inspire the ethos behind TheRecreations - finding profound connection through challenging outdoor experiences.
Not resting on our achievement, we descended the same day to Bedani Top and continued to Gahroli Patal campsite for our final night in the mountains. The physical demands were extreme, but the sense of accomplishment was even greater as we covered significant distance and elevation in a single day.
Return Journey and Reflections
Our final morning began with the now-familiar ritual of quick coffee and dehydrated meals before we started the long descent back to Lohajang. Remarkably, we completed the return journey all the way to Rishikesh on the same day, bringing our Himalayan adventure full circle.
This trek covering 55 kilometers in just 3 days and reaching heights of 16,700 feet—was more than just a physical achievement. It became the spiritual foundation for TheRecreations, embodying our philosophy of sustainable, mindful outdoor experiences that challenge the body while nurturing the soul.
The Roopkund trek taught us that true recreation comes not from convenience, but from meaningful challenge and respect for nature.
Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we'll share a detailed breakdown of exactly what we carried in our backpacks for this epic journey - essential gear that made our self-supported trek possible without relying on animal transport.
A Special Thank You
We extend our special thanks to Indiahikes for providing invaluable initial insights that guided us in planning and executing this trek.