Buran Ghati Pass Trek

Meadows of Litham on Buran Ghati trail

Buran Ghati (altitude 4572 meters) — also called Burando pass — trek is a classic sheepherder’s route connecting the Pabbar valley of Shimla to Baspa valley of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh.

The icing on the cake on this route is Chandernahan lake — the source of the Pabbar River.

It is an hour’s trek away from Litham Thach meadows. Pabbar river is a right-side tributary of the Tons River, which itself is a tributary of the Yamuna River.

Hikers sitting beside the shore of Chandernahan lake

The Buran Ghati pass trek is the easiest hiking route from Baspa into Pabbar valley — the other routes are:

  • Bundajan trail (altitude 4450m).
  • Yusu pass (altitude 4750m).
  • Gunas pass (Sangla valley to Janglikh village via Sangla Kanda and Soroden lake).
  • Rupin pass (Sangla to Dodra – Kwar). 

Buran Ghati Pass ⛰

This trek from Sangla valley in Kinnaur begins in Brua (also known as Bruang or Buran village) and ends in Janglik village. Janglikh is a lovely village in the Shimla district’s Pabbar valley.

Shepherds and inhabitants of Janglikh village and the surrounding area still continue to use this route.

⚡ Buran Ghati 2023 Trek Rundown

RegionBaspa & Pabbar valley
Trip Span8 days and 7 nights
Difficulty LevelModerate
Apex Altitude4725 m (Buran pass)
Best TimeMay, June, July, and September month
Trail Length~ 20 km.
Scheduled eventsin May, June, and September
Max group size10
Starts fromBrua village (Sangla valley)
Ends atJanglikh
ActivityCamping, walking, hiking, glacier walking, boulders and scree slope crossing.
Buran Ghati Pass Trek Summary

⚐ Trek Itinerary for Buran Pass

  • Day #1: Shimla – Sangla
  • Day #2: Sangla – Brua Village
  • Day #3: Brua village – Brua Kanda
  • Day #4: Brua Kanda – Pass Base Camp
  • Day #5: Pass Base Camp – Litham (A detour to Chandranahan lake)
  • Day #6: Litham – Dayara
  • Day #7: Dayara – Janglik Village
  • Day #8: Janglikh village – Shimla

Note: The days of the itinerary are not fixed.

Shephard's camp near Dayara meadows
Shepherd’s camp near Dayara meadows

Buran Ghati Trek Events In 2023

Our Buran Ghati pass departures are scheduled for second week of May, third week of June and first week of September. We are looking for a minimum group size of 5 people.

Hikers walking on glacier near Buran Ghati pass
Approaching Buran Ghati pass

We also can run the customized Buran Ghati trips for smaller groups (less than 5 people) for an additional cost. The trek dates are subjected to the notifications and the pandemic guidelines by the government.

₹ What Does Buran Ghati Pass Trek Cost?

Our cost estimation for 2023 is based on the number of factors like the group size, pick-up place (Chandigarh/Shimla) and add-ons needed like backpack offloading, accommodation before and after the trek & drop off point (Shimla/Chandigarh). Drop an email to avail group offers & early bird discounts.

A Brief History of Buran Ghati Pass Trek Route

Janglikh village witnessed its prosperous times in history during the early colonial period.

In times when there was no road to Kinnaur; when people had to walk over high passes in order to reach Kinnaur, the trek through Pabbar valley was most frequented by both locals and European travelers.

Buran ghati pass trek vlog

Travel of Europeans gave access to rare cash and employment to villagers of Tungu, Romai and Janglikh while local travelers, which included mostly Kinnauras gave wealth to these villages through a barter system.

The people of Janglikh and Tungnu-Romai still talk about the time when Kinnauras (people of Brua, Sapni, etc) were so poor that their main cereal was Buckwheat (called Fafra in Kinnauri dialect); while Janglikh people had the luxury of eating rice and wheat. Brua and Sapni villagers used to shop in Janglikh and Tungnu villages.

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Buran pass when viewed from Sangla side
Buran pass when viewed from Sangla side. Photo by Arvind Negi

However, with the subsequent floods in Andhra khad, Pabbar river and damage to British infrastructure as well as easier access to Kinnaur through the construction of the Hindustan-Tibet Road, these villages fell out of favor and dipped in seclusion.

But, as they say, history repeats itself; the Sun is once again beginning to shine on the economic prospects of these villages.

There are two legends on how Janglikh village was named so. Some believe that it is named after the village deity “Jakh or Jakhoh”.

According to the second legend, this village was infested by the attacks of wild animals and the village could be accessed only after walking through miles and miles of dense forest.

The village location shaped the villagers into a fearless tribe who were at home in the forest among raids of the wildlife.

Thus, outsiders started calling these villagers “Junglee or Junglee log” and the village of Janglikh. Finally, ‘Jungli’ got corrupted to Janglikh. The village still has a dense forest around it and is subject to occasional raids by wildlife.

Detailed Itinerary & Route

Day 1: Depart from Shimla to Sangla 

The Baspa Valley is named after the largest village of the valley, Sangla.

Located in the middle of the valley and about 18km from the nearest highway, i.e NH 5,  it has found a place in an itinerary of every traveler for its spellbinding attractions like Kamru, Chansu, Basteri, Rakcham, Chitkul village and Ranikanda meadows.

Day 2: Sangla – Brua Village

On Day two head towards Brua Village, a sub-locality under Sangla town.
The trek starts from Brua village.

The trail changes surprisingly and on the way witness the orchards fields welcoming you for the overwhelming trek. The trail is very beautiful. Dinner and overnight stay in tents just above the village.

Day 3: Brua Village – Buran Kanda

There are two routes to reach Buran Kanda. One is via Shong village(it is close to Sangla) and the second route is via Brua village — the one we are following.

After having a fresh breakfast, start early from Brua village to the pastures of Buran Kanda. As we gain altitude, Deodar and fir forests give way to the beautiful Birch forest — found above the 3000m altitude.

Buran Kanda gives a magnificent view of the Kinner Kailash Range towering over the Baspa Valley. Dinner and overnight stay in Bura Kanda.

Day 4: Brua/Buran Kanda – Buran Pass Base Camp.

On Day #4  we cross the meadows of Bura Kanda and reach the base camp of the Buran pass, which is also known as the Burando. Dinner and overnight stay in tents. Camp under the magnificence of millions of stars.

Day 5: Pass Base Camp – Buran pass -Litham (A detour to Chandranahan lake)

Meadows and snow capped Buran mountain range
Meadows of Litham. A trail diverges to Chandernahan lake from this point.

Day 05 includes crossing Buran pass (4570 m) and camping at Litham. It is an ancient route, English travelers during British rule and the Shepard from the villages often preferred this cooler route to Kinnaur to the arduous travel through the hot Sutlej valley.

A hiker standing on Buran Ghati pass
On Buran Ghati pass summit.

After setting up the camps at Litham Thach, we would take a detour to the Chandranahan lake. A ~1-hour hike would take us to the shore of Chandranahan lake — the source of the Pabbar river. Overnight camping at Litham.

Day 6: Litham – Dayara Thach

Camping on the infinite meadows - Dayara | Buran Ghati
Camping on the infinite meadows – Dayara

Today descends down from Litham to Dayara. The trek is moderate and the landscape is pretty good enough to overshadow the tiring journey. Get overwhelmed by the seamless green meadows and Birch-fringed pastures on the right bank of the Pabbar river. The perfect place to unwind and reflect. Overnight Tented accommodation at Dayara.

Day 7: Dayara – Janglik Village

Perched at a prominent spur, Janglikh — the last village of the Pabbar valley — is bordered by the Pabbar river on one side and its right side tributary, Tangnu on the other.

Buran ghati trek : Cattles grazing on the meadows - Dayara
Cattle grazing on the meadows – Dayara
Shepherd's hut near Dayara meadows
Shepherd’s hut near Dayara meadows

Trek down from Dayara to the village of Janglikh. Dinner and overnight stay in the village homestay/ tents.

Day 8: Janglikh village – Shimla

Barley fields of the Janglikh locals
Barley fields of the Janglikh locals
Taking a breather in Janglikh village
Taking a breather in Janglikh village

Drive back from Janglik to Shimla which takes around 5 hours.

Trek Cost Includes

  • All arrangements for overnight stays during the trip.
  • Camping & Climbing gear.
  • All food expenses.
  • Food will usually consist of morning breakfast, lunch, evening high tea, and dinner.
  • All food will be vegetarian.
  • Specially trained certified guides trained for emergency situations.
  • Local guides and workers with in-depth knowledge about the local area.
  • One luggage per person will be transported by us.
  • Inner line permits (if required) and arrangements en route will be arranged by the operator.
  • All stays and lodging on a twin sharing basis shall be provided..

Excludes

  • Any kind of personal expenses.
  • Any kind of insurance.
  • Anything not mentioned in the inclusion section.
  • Camera fees or any other costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances or situations beyond our control.

NOTE: Trekkers are required to bring a medical certificate deeming them fit for high-altitude trekking at the start of the trek.

Backpack carrying: A porter will carry your backpack, please do not bring extra items but only the essentials needed for high altitude trek. Besides detailed planning, taking care of all the logistics, food, and good equipment, packing a backpack efficiently and carrying essential things play a key role in the success of an expedition.

Buran Ghati Trek Bare Essentials

  • A pair of good quality waterproof trekking boots.
  • Three pairs of socks.
  • Two pairs of waterproof hiking pants.
  • A pair of shorts
  • Two pairs of fleece jumpers. 
  • Two pairs of thermal tops and bottoms
  • One down jacket.
  • Headgear (1 beanie/skull cap, 1 buff, and 1 trekking cap). 
  • A pair of thick gloves
  • Personal hygiene essentials (alcohol-based gel, hand sanitizer, soap, towels, toilet papers, baby wipes, etc.) 
  • UV-block sunglasses.
  • First aid kit.
  • A water purifier and filtration bottle.

FAQs

Is Buran Ghati trek doable in October?

Yes. Buran Ghati trek in October month is recommended for people are into astrophotography or dawn & dusk photography. The sky during this time stays clear, and the air is ideally crisp for shooting the night sky or Milky Way. 

How can I find a trek guide for Buran Ghati?

Raacho Trekkers have a team of local guides who have trekked this region for over 10 years now. Apart from trek/terrain expertise, they offer valuable insights on the everyday life of local people, their cultures and sociocultural traits. 

What is the difficulty level of Buran Ghati Trek?

Buran Ghati is a moderately difficult trek. If the weather conditions are perfect, the pass can be climbed by a person (who is in good shape), who never been to the Himalayas.  

Which trek would you choose? Buran Ghati or Rupin pass?

Both Buran Ghati and Rupin pass are located on similar altitudes — Rupin pass is slightly higher. The terrain and landscape is also similar. In fact, the Rupin pass is placed on the same range and aerial distance between the two pass shouldn’t be more than a few kilometers. Choosing one trek over the other is a personal choice. We don’t prefer Buran over Rupin or vice-versa. You shouldn’t either.  

Is Buran Ghati trek Doable In May?

Yes! We recommend May month to be the best time for the Buran Ghati trek. In May, you’lll witness the panoramic vistas of Himalayan ranges and lush greenery of the Pabbar valley — sans repulsive rains. 

14 responses to “Buran Ghati Pass Trek”

  1. Lalit Gorsiya Avatar
    Lalit Gorsiya

    Could you kindly share the cost per person we are 6 person

  2. Srinath Avatar
    Srinath

    Hello,

    Could you please share the depature dates and per person price ?

  3. Harshil Rustagi Avatar
    Harshil Rustagi

    Hello, me and my brother are looking for a trek guide for just the two of us to Bhuran Ghati. Please give me a means to communicate properly to you.

    1. raachotrekkers Avatar

      The details of Buran Ghati trek fixtures in 2023 have been emailed to you.

  4. Vineeta Avatar
    Vineeta

    Cost of Buran ghati trek .
    2 person.

  5. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    Very well explained Buran Ghati Pass, i would also like to do this trek.
    I got most of the information here.keep it up the good work.

  6. Fahad Hossain Avatar
    Fahad Hossain

    Hello, I would like to enquire about the Buran Ghati trek, we are a group of 4 people and would like to do the trek during the First Week of May. What will be the total cost of the trek and whether it is from Shimla to Shimla?

    1. raachotrekkers Avatar

      Hello Fahad! I have emailed you Buran Ghati pass trek batches scheduled for this year.

  7. Aritra Shankar Ray Avatar
    Aritra Shankar Ray

    Hello, I would like to enquire about the Buran Ghati trek, we are a group of 4 people and would like to do the trek during the last week of May. What will be the total cost of the trek and whether it is from Shimla to Shimla?

  8. Shilpee Chatterjee Avatar
    Shilpee Chatterjee

    I need the dates available for September and cost. What discount if I come in group. I am experienced do I can volenteer too

  9. Joy Avatar
    Joy

    Could you kindly share the cost per person and maximum group size for this trek?

    1. raachotrekkers Avatar

      Hi Joy. I have mailed you the details.

    2. Tejas Shimpi Avatar
      Tejas Shimpi

      RaachoTrekkers, I require the above details too. Could you share the same with me?

      1. raachotrekkers Avatar

        Hi Tejas. I have replied on the email.

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