The Buran Ghati trek is one of Himachal Pradesh’s most rewarding crossover routes: you start in the old village of Janglik near Rohru, in Shimla district, climb through pine and oak forest to the Chandranahan glacial lakes and high meadows, then cross the Buran Pass at around 4,575 m and drop down the far side toward Barua in the Sangla direction. It is famous for a steep, rope-assisted descent off the pass when snow holds.
The Buran Ghati trek is a moderate-to-difficult Himalayan crossover in Shimla district, running roughly 37–40 km over 6 trekking days (7–8 including travel and a buffer). It links Janglik to Barua over the Buran Pass at about 4,575 m, best done mid-May to June or September to October.
The Buran Ghati trek at a glance
Buran Ghati sits in the Pabbar valley, the upper Shimla district watershed drained by the Pabbar river. The trek is a true crossover: you enter from Janglik on the Rohru side and exit near Barua, toward the Sangla end of Kinnaur, so you do not retrace your steps.
The high point is the Buran Pass. Operator listings put it at about 4,575 m (15,059 ft); a few pages round it to roughly 15,000 ft (about 4,572 m), so treat the figure as approximately 4,570–4,575 m. Either way it is the trek’s crux and its main draw.
Quick facts (operator figures, so treat distances and camp heights as indicative, as of September 2026):
- Base village: Janglik, about 2,804 m, near Chirgaon and Rohru in Shimla district.
- Highest point: Buran Pass, about 4,575 m (15,059 ft).
- Distance: roughly 37–40 km on foot, depending on the operator’s exact line.
- Duration: about 6 trekking days; 7–8 days door to door with travel and a buffer.
- Grade: moderate to difficult, with a technical pass section.
- Highlights: the Chandranahan lakes, wide meadows, dense forest and the pass descent.
The Chandranahan lakes are the emotional centre of the walk. Several trekking sources describe them as a cluster of glacial ponds at around 13,900 ft that are considered the source of the Pabbar river. Local belief treats the water as sacred, so keep well back from the edge and do not bathe.
Best time to trek Buran Ghati
There are two clean windows, and they give you two very different treks. Bikat Adventures and other operators list the season as May–June and September–October, as of September 2026.
The summer window (mid-May to late June) is when snow still lies thick on the pass, so this is the season for the rope-assisted snow-wall descent. The autumn window (September to mid-October) brings crisp, clearer air and firmer trails, but by then the ice has usually melted off the far side, leaving rock and scree. Avoid the July–August monsoon: the forest sections turn slippery and slide-prone, and views close in.
| Window | Conditions | Pass descent |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-May – June | Snow on the higher camps and pass; cold nights; longer days | Snow wall; rope/rappel likely |
| July – August | Monsoon; wet forest, slides, poor visibility | Not advised |
| September – mid-October | Clear, dry, colder; firm trail; less snow | Scree and boulder descent; usually no rappel |
How to reach Janglik base
Janglik is remote. The standard approach is Shimla to Rohru to Chirgaon to Tangnu to Janglik. Himalayan High lists the legs as Shimla–Rohru about 115 km, Rohru–Chirgaon about 15 km, Chirgaon–Tangnu about 22 km and Tangnu–Janglik about 10 km, roughly 162 km and around 7 hours in total; Bikat Adventures gives about 150 km and 8–9 hours. The last stretch beyond Chirgaon is rough, and the road crosses the Pabbar river before climbing to Janglik.
| Leg | Distance | Approx time |
|---|---|---|
| Shimla → Rohru | ~115 km | ~4 hr |
| Rohru → Chirgaon | ~15 km | ~1 hr |
| Chirgaon → Tangnu | ~22 km | ~1 hr |
| Tangnu → Janglik | ~10 km | ~1 hr |
By rail: Kalka is the practical railhead. At least six trains run daily from New Delhi to Kalka; the New Delhi–Kalka Shatabdi (train 12011) is the common choice, departing New Delhi about 7:40 am and reaching Kalka around 11:45 am, calling at Chandigarh en route. From Kalka you drive on to Shimla (about 1.5 hours by road) or take the heritage Kalka–Shimla toy train, a 96 km, roughly 7-hour ride. Reconfirm train times on IRCTC or NTES before you book.
By air and road: Shimla’s Jubbarhatti airport has limited flights, so most trekkers use Chandigarh as the main airport and railhead, then drive up. From Shimla you will typically hire a shared jeep or private vehicle onward, because scheduled buses thin out past Rohru. Groups usually book a vehicle straight through to Janglik.
The route, day by day
The itinerary below follows Bikat Adventures’ published plan; camp names and heights vary a little between operators, so read them as a guide rather than a survey.
| Day | Stage | Approx altitude |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shimla → Janglik (drive) | 2,804 m |
| 2 | Janglik → Dayara meadow | 3,366 m |
| 3 | Dayara → Litham | 3,533 m |
| 4 | Litham → Chandranahan lakes and back | 4,029 m |
| 5 | Litham → Dunda | 4,025 m |
| 6 | Dunda → Barua via Buran Pass | 4,575 m (pass) |
| 7 | Barua area → Shimla (drive) | — |
| 8 | Buffer day | — |
- Day 1: the long drive from Shimla to Janglik. Settle in, meet the team, sort gear.
- Day 2: a steep pull out of the village through forest onto the Dayara meadow, a broad grassy shoulder with big valley views.
- Day 3: a shorter, gentler day along meadow and stream to Litham, the base for the lakes.
- Day 4: an acclimatisation excursion up beside a waterfall to the Chandranahan lakes, then back to camp. This extra height helps your body adjust.
- Day 5: climb from Litham to Dunda, the high camp below the pass, on rockier ground.
- Day 6: the big day. An early start for the Buran Pass, the crossing, and the long descent to the Barua side.
- Day 7: walk out and drive back toward Shimla; day 8 is kept as a weather buffer.
The rope descent at the pass, honestly
The pass day is why the trek has its reputation, and it deserves a straight description. On the Janglik side you gain the col on snow or scree. It is the far side that is the crux: the ground drops away steeply, and in the early season it is a near-vertical snow-and-ice wall.
In the May–June window, trekkers rope up and are lowered or rappel down that face, a descent several sources put at roughly 150 m, before the angle eases into a snowfield you can plunge-step down. This is technical ground. It should only be attempted with a guided team carrying rope, harnesses and ice axes, and it is not a section for beginners going unsupported.
By September–October the ice has usually melted off, exposing rock and scree. There is then generally no rappel; instead you pick your way down a steep boulder-and-switchback slope, which is tiring and needs care but is less technical. Conditions change year to year, so ask your operator what to expect for your exact dates, and be ready to turn back if the snow is unstable.
Difficulty and altitude sickness
The Buran Ghati trek is graded moderate to difficult. The hard parts are the height gain to about 4,575 m, the technical pass descent, and long days on mixed snow, rock and scree. Prior high-altitude trekking experience and solid fitness are strongly advised.
Altitude is the real risk. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Yellow Book, acute mountain sickness (AMS) can begin at sleeping altitudes at or above 2,450 m, and headache is the cardinal symptom, usually with tiredness, poor appetite, dizziness or nausea. The CDC advises, once above 3,000 m, ascending no more than about 500 m per night in sleeping altitude and allowing an extra night for every 1,000 m of sleeping-altitude gain. The route’s built-in acclimatisation excursion to the Chandranahan lakes follows this logic.
The CDC’s golden rules are simple and worth memorising: never climb higher to sleep while you have any symptoms of altitude illness, however mild, and descend if symptoms get worse despite rest at the same height. Tell your guide early. Descent is the cure.
Permits and rules
This route does not cross into the restricted inner-line belt of Kinnaur or Spiti, so Indian trekkers do not need an Inner Line Permit for the Buran Ghati trail itself, as of September 2026. Foreign nationals should still check current rules with their operator, since permit requirements near border districts can change. Forest-area entry or camping charges may apply on the ground; registered operators normally arrange these, so confirm what your fee covers.
Beyond paperwork, treat the meadows and the sacred Chandranahan lakes with care: carry out all waste, avoid single-use plastic, camp only where your team directs, and do not wash or bathe in the lakes or streams. Himachal Pradesh restricts plastic litter, and mountain villages take the cleanliness of their water seriously.
What it costs
Guided departures are the norm here because of the technical pass and the remoteness. The figures below are planning estimates only, per person, and should be reconfirmed with operators for your dates; they are not verified live prices.
| Item | Indicative range (₹ per person) |
|---|---|
| Guided trek package (Shimla to Shimla, ~6 days) | ₹13,000–22,000 |
| Shimla–Janglik–Shimla shared transport | ₹2,500–4,500 |
| Train/flight to Kalka or Chandigarh (from Delhi) | varies widely |
| Personal gear hire, tips, buffer | ₹2,000–4,000 |
Package prices usually cover camping, meals on the trek, guides, permits where needed and safety gear, but often exclude transport to base and gear rental. Always read the inclusions line by line, because that is where operator quotes differ most.
What to pack
This is a cold, high trek with a technical section, so pack for snow even in summer.
- Footwear: waterproof, ankle-high trekking boots, well broken in; gaiters for snow.
- Layers: thermal base layers, fleece, a warm down or synthetic jacket, and a waterproof shell.
- Extremities: warm gloves (plus a waterproof pair), a woollen cap, sun hat and buff.
- Sun and eyes: UV sunglasses (essential on snow), high-SPF sunscreen and lip balm.
- Kit: trekking poles, a headtorch, a 1-litre-plus water bottle, and a light daypack.
- Health: a personal first-aid kit, any prescription medicines, and rehydration salts.
Technical safety gear for the pass, such as rope, harness and ice axe, is normally supplied and managed by the operator. Do not improvise it yourself.
Practical tips
- Network and cash: mobile coverage and the last reliable ATM are around Rohru; beyond it, assume no signal, so carry enough cash and download offline maps in advance.
- Acclimatise: arrive a day early around Shimla or Rohru rather than rushing from the plains to Janglik and straight up.
- Nearest help: the closest towns with a hospital and services are Rohru and Chirgaon; on the trail you rely on your team, so trek with a group that carries a first-aid kit and, ideally, oxygen.
- Solo women: the more practical option here is a reputable mixed group departure, given the remoteness and the technical pass; there is no self-guided infrastructure.
- Timing the pass: if the rope descent matters to you, book a mid-May to June date; for firmer, drier walking, choose late September.
- Fitness: build stamina beforehand with regular walking, stairs or running, since the pass day is long.
Nearby places
The trek pairs well with a few days in the wider region if you have time.
| Place | From base/exit | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Sangla and Chitkul (Kinnaur) | Near the Barua exit side | Apple-orchard valley and the last village toward the border; see our Sangla and Chitkul valley guide |
| Shimla | Trek gateway | Colonial hill town and rail junction; part of our roundup of top hill stations in Himachal Pradesh |
| Rohru / Pabbar valley | On the approach | Trout streams, apple country and the road-head for the trek |
If you enjoy pass-crossing snow treks, the Uttarakhand classic covered in our Kedarkantha trek guide makes a good comparison for a first Himalayan winter-to-spring walk.
Frequently asked questions
How high is the Buran Pass on the Buran Ghati trek?
The Buran Pass, the highest point of the Buran Ghati trek, sits at about 4,575 m (15,059 ft) according to operator listings, with some rounding it to roughly 15,000 ft. Treat it as approximately 4,570–4,575 m. It is the trek’s crux and the site of the well-known descent.
What is the best time to do the Buran Ghati trek?
The two windows are mid-May to June and September to mid-October, as operators list them. Summer holds snow on the pass for the rope-assisted descent; autumn is drier and clearer with rock underfoot. Avoid July–August, when the monsoon makes the forest slippery and views poor.
Is the Buran Ghati trek difficult?
Yes, it is graded moderate to difficult. The challenges are the climb to about 4,575 m, a technical descent off the pass, and long days on snow, rock and scree. Prior high-altitude trekking experience and good fitness are strongly recommended before you attempt it.
Do you really rappel down the pass?
In the May–June snow season, yes: trekkers rope up and descend a steep snow-and-ice wall, roughly 150 m by several accounts, with a guided team’s ropes and axes. By September–October the ice usually melts to rock and scree, so there is generally no rappel, just a steep, careful walk-down.
How do I reach Janglik, the base village?
Drive from Shimla via Rohru, Chirgaon and Tangnu to Janglik, about 150–162 km and 7–9 hours. Kalka is the practical railhead, with Chandigarh the main airport; from Shimla most trekkers hire a jeep, as buses thin out past Rohru. The road beyond Chirgaon is rough.
Do I need a permit for the Buran Ghati trek?
Indian trekkers do not need an Inner Line Permit for the Buran Ghati route itself, as of September 2026, since it stays outside the restricted inner-line belt. Foreign nationals should confirm current rules with their operator. Forest camping or entry charges may apply and are usually arranged by registered operators.
Last updated and sources
Go if you have real high-altitude days behind you and want a crossover trek with a genuine mountaineering flavour at the pass. Aim for mid-May to June if you want the snow-wall descent, or late September for firmer, clearer walking.
Last updated: 25 September 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: CDC Yellow Book 2026, High-Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness; Bikat Adventures, Buran Ghati trek itinerary; Himalayan High, How to reach Janglik; Indiahikes, Buran Ghati; Wikipedia, New Delhi–Kalka Shatabdi Express (verify times on IRCTC/NTES); Himalayan Hikers, Chandranahan lake. Accessed September 2026.
