Dayara Bugyal vs Deoriatal Chandrashila: Which is a Better Beginner’s Trek?

Dayara Bugyal and Deoriatal Chandrashila are two beginner-friendly treks in Uttarakhand which are very distinct from each other but also worthy competitors on almost all fronts. They are multiple-season treks with a lot to offer to a trekker in each season.

In this article we provide a comparison of the two treks to help you choose depending on what appeals to you more. While both the treks are a gateway into Himalayan trekking, this information can make it easier for you to pick your next adventure. 

Level of Difficulty

In terms of difficulty, both the treks are rated a Level 2 on the Bikat Rating Scale (BRS) which makes them both easy level treks. They are similar on most markers of difficulty. Housed in the state of abundance – Uttarakhand, both the treks are 5 days short, and take you to an altitude of 3700-3750M above sea level.

(Read, Dayara Bugyal: Who is it Meant For?)

In terms of distance, Deoriatal Chandrashila is slightly longer at 30 kms while Dayara Bugyal covers a distance of 21 kms. Because both the treks are 5 days long,  the day-wise distance covered covered in Deoriatal Chandrashila is more than Dayara Bugyal. This might make Deoriatal Chandrashila a tad bit more challenging than Dayara Bugyal.

(Read, Deoriatal Chandrashila: Who is it Meant For?)

Day-wise distribution of distances covered:

2. Best Season

Both these treks have multiple personalities, changing at the turn of each season which truly makes them year round treks. They adorn a different character each season.

Summers see them dressed in a flowy green for as far as your eye can see, winter brings its white charm covering the green of the summers under its thick, white sheet. Autumns is a burst of colours with clear skies, a carpet of wildflowers and the clearest mountain views and rhododendrons rule the land in the spring. So, in terms of colour, climate and texture, both the treks are on the same plain with no major differences. If anything, Dayara Bugyal might have a slight edge with this since it is a meadow and hence you see a wider expanse of unobstructed color here.

The only season to avoid for both these treks is monsoons since the cloudy skies hide the whole range of Garhwal Himalayas, the route gets extremely slippery and chances of landslides remain high.

3. Starting points

Dayara Bugyal begins and ends at Raithal which is a quaint village located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The village offers a perfect rural setting to let go of your city blues in its peaceful environment. Rich in flora and fauna, Raithal becomes a hotspot for birdwatchers in summers. Eurasian Jays, Himalayan Bulbul, Red-flanked Bulbul, Scarlet Minivet and Yellow-Breasted Greenfinch along with other native species of Uttarkashi decorate the village skies during spring. Country scenes as vivid as one’s imagination with terraced farms, pink and blue homes and stone cottages paint the landscape with admirable views all around.

 (Read, How to reach Raithal)

Deoriatal Chandrashila starts and ends at Sari which is a picturesque hamlet in the Ukhimat block of the Rudraprayag district. The village is bordered with oak and rhododendrons trees which are also a constant throughout the trek. Declared as an eco-tourist village by the government of Uttarakhand, this quiet farming hamlet rests peacefully in the lap of the Himalayas far away from the noises of the city. Patterns formed from the dozens of paddy fields on the many slopes of the mountains in the village make for a neat design soothing to the eye.

Both these villages are as much of a highlight for each trek as the trek itself. No matter which trek you choose, you are feasting yourself to witness the warmth of high-altitude living.

4. Highlights

Dayara Bugyal is a captivating Himalayan experience with diverse landscapes which include thick forests, massive meadows, two tranquil high-altitude lakes which wear the valley’s winter colours to perfection. It is also a haven for birdwatchers and a feast for those who love their fauna in its brightest shades. Dayara Top is a perfect culmination of this Himalayan experience with the 360-degree view of the entire Garhwal Range of high snow clad mountains.

For more on the highlights of Dayara Bugyal, read, Highlights of Dayara Bugyal Trek

Deoriatal-Chandrashila, a tapestry woven with emerald lakes, vibrant rhododendron blooms, and piercing Himalayan peaks, promises an odyssey for your senses and soul. This is where the crystal Deoriatal reflects Chaukhamba's blushing sunset, spring is a rhododendron kaleidoscope, and the thrilling climb from Tunganath to Chandrashila offers panoramic views of the Garhwal-Kumaon ranges. This trek of three climaxes, Deoriatal, the ancient Tunganath temple and the moon rock – Chandrashila all wrapped up in one fascinating account of historical (mythological?) tale is not just a trek; it's a spiritual awakening.

For detailed highlights of the trek, read Highlights of Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek.

5. Visible Peaks 

Lined with oak, pine and maple trees with Rhododendrons scattered across the landscape, the trails of Dayara Bugyal offer magnificent views of reverential peaks such as Mt. Bandarpoonch (6,316M), Mt. Srikanth (6,133 M), Gangotri I (6,672 M), and Black Peak (6,387 M). Across the summit - Dayara Top, one can witness a splendid panoramic view of the Garhwal range. 

The climax of Deoriatal Chandrashila is made of clear and unobstructed views of giants such as the Gangotri range of mountains, Thalaysagar, Nanda Devi, Bandarpoonch, Chaukhamba, Kedar Dome, Kedarnath, and Trishul to name a few. 

All in all, no matter which trek you pick, you are in for a great Himalayan adventure which will prove to be your first of the many to come in the future!