Some treks take you to the top of the world. But the Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek takes you to a place where the world stands stillâwhere the sky touches the earth and your heart finds a quiet rhythm it didnât know it needed. I went in looking for mountains. What I found was something far more profound.
I had heard whispers of the alpine meadows of Uttarakhand, of green hills stretching endlessly under open skies, but nothing prepared me for what Ali and Bedni Bugyal had in store. Starting from Lohajung, a sleepy little village tucked into the Garhwal Himalayas, our group set off with backpacks and a bundle of expectations.
The first day was filled with winding trails, soft pine-scented air, and curious encounters with locals who smiled without hesitation. As we climbed higher, the villages faded away, replaced by dense oak forests and the occasional burst of rhododendron bloom.
The moment I stepped onto Ali Bugyal, I froze. Before me stretched a massive expanse of greenârolling alpine meadows that looked like they belonged in a painting, not real life. The clouds floated just above our heads, casting shadows on the velvety grasslands.
The silence was surreal. There were no honking vehicles, no buzzing phonesâjust the wind whispering through the grass and the distant chime of cowbells. I took off my shoes and let my feet sink into the earth. It felt like walking on natureâs own carpet.
That night, we camped on the edge of the meadow. Our tents stood in perfect contrast to the wild openness around them. As darkness fell, the sky lit up with a million stars. I remember lying in my sleeping bag, peeking through the tent flap, and feeling smaller than I ever hadâbut in the best possible way.
There was laughter around the campfire, shared stories, and the warmth of people brought together by the same longingâfor nature, for peace, for meaning.
The next day, we continued toward Bedni Bugyal, another high-altitude meadow often spoken of with reverence. This part of the trail was gentler, like the mountain inviting us in. The scenery was similar, yet the energy of Bedni was differentâquieter, more sacred.
We visited the Bedni Kund, a small glacial lake considered holy by locals. According to legend, this was where gods descended during the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra. Standing by that calm water, I could believe it. The air felt thick with storiesâof pilgrims, shepherds, and seekers who had walked these lands long before us.
Coming down from Ali Bedni Bugyal was harder than going upânot because of the trail, but because of the feeling that I was leaving something behind. I kept turning around to take one last look at the meadows, now partially veiled in mist. It felt like nature was gently drawing its curtain.
But what I realized was this: I wasnât leaving anything behind. I was carrying it all with meâthe stillness, the wonder, the clarity.
If you're someone searching for:
Then this trek is calling you. Loud and clear.
Whether youâre a beginner or a seasoned trekker, the Ali Bedni Bugyal trail is one of the most soulful experiences in the Indian Himalayas. Itâs not just a journey through beautiful terrainâitâs a journey inward.
Ali and Bedni Bugyal gave me what no city, no screen, and no schedule ever couldâpresence. In those quiet meadows, I remembered how to listen. How to breathe. How to simply be. If you get the chance, donât just go on this trek. Feel it. Let the meadows speak. They will tell you everything youâve forgotten.
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