What lies beyond the popular Valley Of Flowers? It must be beautiful, isn't it? Can we explore further and exit to the other side of the valley? Where would it take us to?
These are a few questions that hit my imagination when I read about the discovery of the Bhyundar Valley and Valley of Flowers by an elite British Explorer - Frank Smythe. That's how perhaps every exploration begins. So did mine. Merely reaching the Valley of Flowers and returning back never satisfied my soul. The simple thought of walking on the trails deep in the Himalayas where very few people venture is what gives a perfect Himalayan High. So is the trek to Bhyundar.
Approach March For The Bhyundar Khal Trek - Route Details
The trek to Bhyundar Khal involves negotiating a huge amount of glacial moraines in steep sections and a few crevasse laden zones. All these require a high amount of cautiousness and alertness not just on the trail, but also while camping. The campsites are limited and might not be comfortable to your desires, but then if you want comfort you did rather return from Valley Of Flowers itself and sleep in a hotel!
Approaching the Bhyundar Khal from the Valley of Flowers side rather makes better sense, though it can be approached from Ghamsali side as well. We favour this route as the ascend on moraines from this side appears safer than that of the opposite side. Though on paper it could not look very different from the other side as well, but on such treks, we should plan to bring things into our favour as much as possible. especially keeping the weather contingencies and grade of ascent in mind, approaching from this side has a little upper edge.
Extending Bhyundar Khal Trek With Gupt Khal
The Bhyundar Khal trek can be extended to go further via the Gupt Khal to exit ion Badrinath rather than Ghamsali. This definitely makes the trek longer but adds to a lot of thrill and exploration satisfaction. The route is done by only a very few trekkers in our Country and hence has an excellent Himalayan High in it.
When you approach the Bhyundar Khal from the VOF side, after crossing the pass, the route intersects the Bankund Glacier which feeds the Dhauli Ganga on the other side of the valley. The route to Gupt Khal takes a left turn from here and wanders through some of the most exquisite campsites and mountainscapes before opening up near Badrinath.