Buran Ghati, Himachal Pradesh

The initial plan was to start the exciting Rupin Pass trek, but due to unfortunate landslides, we had to change our plans at the last moment to the beautiful Buran Ghati. We began our trip from busy Bangalore after overcoming all the tough fitness challenges and milestones, making sure we were fit and ready for this amazing trek. It was my very first flight, and I eagerly booked a window seat for the early morning 4 AM journey, choosing the right side specifically to catch a glimpse of the sunrise. The flight was smooth and calm, and upon reaching the lively city Chandigarh, we took a cab to the charming town of Rohru, the starting pick-up point for our trek organized by India Hikes.

On our scenic drive to Rohru, we were captivated by the pretty sights of Shimla and the tall mountains filled with apple orchards. We playfully wished to pluck a juicy apple along the way and wash it in a clear stream, and fate intervened to grant our wish—thanks to an unexpected car puncture. Upon reaching Rohru, we received last-minute news of landslides and road blockages to the Rupin Pass base camp at Jiskun, allowing a quick change to Buran Ghati. This alternate trek is almost as beautiful as Rupin Pass, though it lacks the stunning waterfalls at the end. Buran Ghati is located in the same Peer Panjal range of the Himalayas. After settling in, my friends and I rejoined each other, slowly bonding over fun games of Uno and enjoying the warmth of friendship as we prepared for the night ahead. We were a close group of ten from Bangalore, and I found myself as a bridge between them, totally unaware of the close connections that would form in the coming days of our trip. The next day marked the beginning of our exciting journey. Day 1: we climbed into a sturdy Bolero, playing upbeat songs and enjoying an exciting off-roading experience. We playfully pushed the car when it got stuck and even drank cool river water directly from the stream, capturing every thrilling moment along the way.

We finally reached our base camp at Janglik, a village that was truly beautiful, and the air was becoming pleasantly cool. Upon our arrival, we were warmly greeted by three adorable Himalayan Mastiffs, who welcomed us in the friendliest way. Oh my goodness, that cream-colored dog was especially friendly, overflowing with cuteness! We met our guides and other team members, going through all the necessary steps, including fitness checks, oximeter readings, document verifications, and introductions to everyone from various parts of the country. Our last dinner together was a delicious mutter paneer, warm roti, and sweet jalebi left us feeling completely satisfied. With full bellies, we settled down and rested for the night, ready for the adventures that lay ahead.

Day 2: The Exciting Trek Begins We awoke with a thrilling sense of anticipation for the start of our trek. With all our gear carefully packed, we engaged in a light warm-up and stretching session, enjoying the fresh mountain air. After receiving important instructions from our friendly trek guide, we eagerly set off on our adventure. Before us loomed the grand mountains, their peaks covered with lush pine trees beneath a wide blue sky, lit up by the bright, golden rays of the sun. Armed with filled water bottles and bananas for a quick snack, our group began hiking, sharing laughs and chanting "Ganapathi Bappa Moreya" in our own joyful way, happily unconcerned about what others might think. We captured videos from different angles, trying to remember our lively moments. As I took in the stunning views, the scenery seemed to improve with every step as we climbed higher. The trail was a beautiful mix of everything nature had to offer. Time passed, and we entered a dense forest section, where vibrant greenery surrounded us. Soon, we encountered rocky boulders, with delicate white flowers scattered around, creating a picturesque view. Meanwhile, mules carrying supplies and luggage gracefully crossed our path, adding to the unique atmosphere. After three hours of hiking, we stopped for a well-deserved break at a cozy little hotel shed, complete with a warm firewood stove. Sipping hot tea and enjoying fluffy omelettes felt utterly rewarding. We even turned our plates into frisbees, tossing them around and capturing funny pictures of our playful moments. As the day went on, our group naturally split, and we found ourselves getting closer to the Dayara campsite. Being the first day of trekking, the trail had been moderate yet refreshing. Our trek guide thoughtfully shuffled the group, pairing us randomly with other members to help us connect, which turned out to be a great idea.

Finally, after all the excitement, we reached the campsite. Oh my goodness! As we turned to our left, the view looked just like a beautiful Windows XP wallpaper, with soft green mountains stretching into the distance under a clear blue sky. A few fellow trekkers had already arrived, and it was around 2 PM when we pitched our tents. We even created a time-lapse video of the tent pitching process with a GoPro—what a funny sight that turned out to be! We enjoyed a tasty lunch while surrounded by grazing cows, taking in the beautiful Himalayan landscape before us. As evening approached, we had pasta for snacks, and the sun began to cast a warm glow over the mountains, painting them in stunning colors that transformed the scene, adding a magical touch. As the temperature gradually dropped, we gathered under the night sky to play a fun game called “Who Was Killed,” a lighthearted and entertaining diversion. The water was so cold that we could barely touch it, yet we managed to wash our plates with a sense of achievement. Later, we enjoyed a night photoshoot, capturing the dark, starry sky, which was utterly enchanting.

Day 3: An Adventure to Litham Campsite, our trek guide assigned navigators and a trek leader from our eager group, adding excitement to our adventure. In the morning, equipped with walkie-talkies, we began our thrilling journey toward the Litham campsite. It felt great to be part of the action, with my friends. I, Vivek and Suraj leading as the fearless “Alpha” team, Sushma and Chakri forming the lively “Beta” team in the middle, and Subramanya bringing up the rear as the “Charlie” team, assisted by a local guide. As we hiked, we spotted a large family of vultures soaring above—those birds were huge! After a while, we caught our first glimpse of the snow-capped mountains in the distance, shimmering brightly under the sun, creating a truly stunning scene. The cold-water streams danced playfully off the rocks, flowing beneath a wooden bridge that we crossed, adding a sense of adventure to our trek.

Along the trail, we admired the beautiful variety of wildflowers—it felt like we had found a hidden valley of flowers, even more lovely than we had imagined. Each twist and turn of the path revealed new trails and scenery, making it hard to take in all the beauty. Adding to this perfect setting were the dogs joining us on our journey, especially a friendly black dog named Kallu, who made everything feel even better. After some time, we stopped for a well-deserved break. One of the guys pulled out a frisbee—this time, it was the real thing, not just a plate! In a big circle, we started playing, our laughter echoing against the backdrop of bright sunshine, green mountains, and a gentle breeze. The mix created a playful, carefree atmosphere that was incredibly relaxing. As the day went on, we got closer to the snow-capped mountains, their beauty captivating us endlessly—I could have watched them all day.

Finally, we reached our campsite, a gorgeous spot where a small river flowed nearby, its water sparkling like diamonds as it cascaded down from the glacier. This peaceful stream would eventually feed into a larger river down in Rohru.

Once again, we pitched our tents and enjoyed a tasty lunch with refreshing lemon water, which was absolutely worth it after our trek. Afterward, we ventured to the riverbank. From a distance, the river looked small and easy to cross, but up close, it revealed its true strength—it was wider and forceful, presenting quite the challenge. Determined to cross, I explored different points along the river, but every spot seemed just as tough. Then, feeling a bit too confident, one of my friend suraj tossed his crocs to the other side, giving us a new mission: we had to get them back! We started building a DIY path by dropping large boulders, much like creating our own bridge like “Ram Sethu”. However, our efforts didn’t work out. Eventually, we used our trekking poles to test the freezing cold water, but the current was too strong. After all our daring attempts, we accepted defeat—those crocs would remain a funny memory in the river!

Later, a local guide easily crossed the river to fetch his mules from the other side, and in a stroke of luck, he threw my friend's crocs back to us, turning our adventure into a shared moment of laughter. As the sun set, we gathered for dinner, followed by fun group games led by our trek leader, Sayantan Das. The games were a delightful mix of logic and fun, bringing us closer as a group. Eventually, we settled in for the night, but as evening fell, the rain began to pour, creating a slightly tension atmosphere as the weather turned rough.
Day 4: A Rainy Adventure to Chandernahan Lake We woke up early on Day 4 to find that it was still raining. Today’s plan was to visit the Chandernahan Lake at 13,200 feet, mainly to help us acclimatize. The trek was a bit steep and slippery, with some boulder sections. Wearing our ponchos and carrying apples as our trail snack, we started climbing the mountain. The rain made the path risky, with a steep drop on the right side. We kept our spirits high by playing games as we hiked, and eventually reached a point where we could see five lakes in total, with the fifth one being the Chandernahan Lake. At the top, it was very quiet and calm—a truly peaceful spot. Other trekkers had stacked rocks around the lake, adding to the serene atmosphere. The lakes were small, and as we moved closer to the snow-capped mountains above, they became partially visible through the fog.

As we gained altitude, the temperature dropped, and we finally arrived at Chandernahan Lake. This special place featured a small trident trishul surrounded by rocks, and the lake itself was a picture of pure peace and stillness. Small birds chirped around us, and I marveled at how they managed to survive at such a high altitude—nature is truly mysterious! We spent some time sitting quietly by the lake, enjoying the moment. Kallu, our friendly dog, was also there, and we played with him before starting our descent. The way down was a bit tricky and slippery—I almost slipped about 20 times but did not fall. Thank goodness it would have become my last fall, LOL. From higher up, we could see our campsite with its tiny tents, which made me happy knowing we were close. When we returned, everything was wet and cold, so I jumped into my tent and fell asleep like there was no tomorrow.
In the evening, we were treated to delicious snacks—unexpectedly, we had aloo bonda and chai, which felt amazing! Later, we played a group game called MAFIA. It was so much fun! As a villager in the game, I got really into it—I laughed, cried, and even nearly fought, all while saying, “BRO, please, Bro!” In the end, the mafia won, but we had a blast.

The next morning, when we woke up, something incredible had happened: the mountains that had been bare of snow were now blanketed in a fresh layer of snow overnight. It was truly magical, a sight of beauty at its best. Later, I shouted at the donkey to kick Vivek, and it was hilarious when it actually did! After getting ready and packing our bags, we took a group photo with the Karnataka flag, marking the time to say goodbye to the majestic Himalayan mountains until next time.

On our way back to the base camp at Janglik, we spotted a baby Russell viper snake, which was quite a spectacle. We finally reached Janglik base and enjoyed a village tour, playing games and resting for the night. The following day, On our way back, Suraj, Vivek, and I sat on top of the Bolero, seeing the mountains up close, with the wind blowing, and the madness multiplied! we headed back to Shimla, where we booked an Airbnb and relaxed for two days. We explored Shimla's nightlife, which was fantastic and felt really good.

All the memories from these days were priceless. Every laugh, every moment of madness, every breath, and every second was fully lived here. It wasn’t just about the mountains; it was about the company and the time we spent together, which almost felt like home. I felt like I truly belonged. We gained so much more than we expected. I didn’t realize how much our group would bond, and we all made a positive impact on each other. Next time, we plan to venture even deeper into the Himalayas—it felt like just a preview of the adventures to come.