Two Generations, One Track: Shripad’s Snow Trek to Dayara Bugyal with Thrillophilia
Some moments in life come silently and settle deep within. For me, it was the sight of my grandson Param scrolling through pictures of snow-covered mountains.
He looked up and said, “Grandpa, do you think we could do a trek like this together?”
Most people expect you to slow down in old age. But I have always believed that life does not give expiry dates to dreams; it only changes their shape. So when Param asked me that question, I did not hesitate.
“Yes, Param. Let’s go on an adventure.”
That is how we decided to book the Dayara Bugyal Trek in Uttarakhand. It was a 4-day journey into the snow, forests, and meadows of the Garhwal Himalayas. We did not know what to expect, but we were excited.
A Drive from Dehradun to Raithal
We arrived in Dehradun on the morning of March 2025. From there, it was a 7-hour drive to Raithal, a small village situated above Uttarkashi. As the city noise faded behind us and the winding mountain roads took over, there was complete silence in the car. Param watched the plains turn into forested slopes from the window.
“Grandpa, it is so green! Look at that waterfall!” he pointed out, with his voice rising at every turn.
Raithal was peaceful as there were just a handful of homes, mountain dogs lazing in the sun, and the smell of pine in the air. We reached at our homestay, where we met our trek guides, Ashish Rawat and Kapil Rawat. They were young, cheerful, and energetic. During the briefing session, Ashish said with a smile, “Sir, it is not every day that we see a grandfather-grandson duo. You are an inspiration.”
I laughed. “I just hope I don’t hold the group back.”
Kapil replied, “You will probably lead the way.”
That night, under the clear mountain sky, Param and I sat on the steps of the homestay and talked about what lay ahead.
Trek to Gui
The next morning, we packed our bags and began our trek to Gui, which was our first campsite. The track was gentle at first as it moved through dense oak forests and wildflowers along the path. Param walked ahead of me.
“It looks like a movie!” he said while looking around, surprised.
We often took breaks to catch our breath and soak in the beauty as birds chirped from the treetops, and sunlight filtered through the branches.
The climb took about 4-5 hours. As we reached Gui, the forest opened up to a wide clearing. Tents were laid down in neat rows, and the view of the distant mountains took my breath away. The air was thin but refreshing.
We took an acclimatisation walk in the evening, as advised by our guides. Around the campfire, the trekkers shared stories, and we listened.
A Dream Come True Experience
The big day had arrived, as it was the day of our trek to Dayara Bugyal. We woke up early, covered in layers, and stepped out to find frost on the grass. After a healthy breakfast, we began the climb.
The track took us through more forests and opened into wide alpine meadows, known as bugyals. I had seen pictures, but nothing prepared me for the beauty of Dayara Bugyal. The entire landscape was covered in snow.
We kept walking, and the view grew more stunning with every turn. The last stretch was difficult, but our guides motivated us. “Walk slowly and steadily,” Ashish said. “We are almost there.”
When we finally reached Dayara Top, the world seemed to stop. From there, we saw the Dodital range. Param raised his arms in joy and shouted, “We did it, Grandpa!”
I laughed and hugged him. “We really did.”
We sat there in silence and enjoyed the wind and the view. I watched Param throw snow in the air, and his cheeks were red with cold and excitement. For me, it was a timeless memory.
Later, we began our descent back to Gui, with hearts full and legs tired. With sore muscles and sleepy eyes, we lay in our tents at night. I whispered, “You will never forget this, Param.”
“I know,” he whispered back.
The Return
The final morning was bittersweet. We packed up and began our trek back to Raithal. The trek was familiar now, but it felt like the forest had accepted us.
Kapil walked beside me and said, “Sir, not everyone completes a snow trek at your age. You did great.”
I smiled. “Maybe it is the company that makes all the difference.”
Param walked beside us and talked about coming back for another trek. “Next time, let’s do a tougher one,” he said with a smile.
We reached Raithal in the afternoon, where our car was waiting to take us back to Dehradun. As we drove away, I looked back at the mountains. They had given us something that neither time nor distance could erase.
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