Good Time
Roopkund in May
Uttarakhand, India
May opens the Roopkund trek season. The trail from Lohajung to Wan to Bedni Bugyal is clear of snow, though patches remain above 4,000m. The alpine meadows burst with wildflowers — a preview of Valley of Flowers. The final push from Bhagwabasa to the skeleton lake requires snow navigation and crampons. Temperatures at the lake hover around -5 to 5°C. Commercial trekking groups start operating. Fitness requirement: serious.
The May story
May opens the gates. The trek from Lohajung to Wan (flat, 3 hours) leads to the forest trail climbing to Bedni Bugyal — where the world opens up into a meadow so vast you lose depth perception. May wildflowers carpet the meadow in purple, yellow, and white. The route from Bedni to Bhagwabasa (4,880m) crosses snowfields that require care. Summit day to Roopkund starts at 3am — headlamps, snow, and the slow revelation of dawn over the Himalayas. The lake itself is small, glacial, and surrounded by the bones that make it famous. Seeing human skulls and femurs scattered at 5,029m, knowing they've been here for over a thousand years, is genuinely unsettling and unforgettable. Descend the same day — don't linger above 5,000m.
Why May scores 4/5
Weather
Trek season opens. Bedni and Ali Bugyal melting. 8-18°C at camps. Snow still at lake. Acclimatization essential.
Roads & Access
self drive: Possible to Lohajung — high clearance needed. Then 8-day trek. road condition: Rough mountain road to Lohajung via Karnaprayag. Last 50km very bad. Then multi-day trek. public transport: Buses to Karnaprayag from Rishikesh. Shared taxi to Lohajung. Then trek only. from nearest city: Lohajung (trek base) then 8-day trek. Rishikesh — 260km to Lohajung, 10hr. last km difficulty: extreme
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 1/5. rescue: SDRF helicopter — weather dependent. Trek operator responsible for group safety. helpline: 1077 (UK disaster). ambulance: Not available on trek. Helicopter evacuation only (weather dependent). police station: Lohajung outpost — basic. nearest hospital: No medical facility for 3+ days on trek. Lohajung PHC first aid only. District Hospital Chamoli — 100km
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: No, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. NO mobile signal for entire 8-day trek. Weak BSNL at Lohajung only. Completely off-grid
Kids
Not ideal for kids — Once-in-a-lifetime experience for very fit older teens
Elevation
5,029m — High altitude, acclimatisation needed
Who should go
- ✓Experienced trekkers / adventurers
- ✓Fit trekkers ready for 53km at altitude over 7-8 days
- ✓Wildflower enthusiasts — Bedni Bugyal is spectacular
- ✓Mystery-seekers wanting to see the skeleton lake firsthand
- ✓Adventure photographers wanting bones-at-5000m compositions
Who should think twice
- ✗First-time travelers
- ✗Anyone with health conditions
- ✗Altitude-inexperienced trekkers without acclimatization plan
- ✗Those with heart, lung, or blood pressure conditions
- ✗Casual hikers expecting a weekend walk — this is 7-8 days at altitude
- ✗Anyone without proper snow-rated gear for upper sections
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0/5 | Deep snow at 5,000m. Trail buried. Skeleton Lake frozen under meters of ice. No access until May. Extreme conditions. |
| February | 0/5 | Snowbound. Trail completely impassable. Village bases like Lohajung accessible but trek impossible. Extreme winter. |
| March | 0/5 | Snow still deep above 3,500m. Lower approach clearing but summit route months from opening. Not trekking season. |
| April | 1/5 | Snow melting at lower elevations 5-14°C. Bedni Bugyal still under snow. Trek not viable yet. Lohajung accessible. |
| Mayviewing | 4/5 | Trek season opens. Bedni and Ali Bugyal melting. 8-18°C at camps. Snow still at lake. Acclimatization essential. |
| June | 5/5 | Best month 8-18°C. Ali and Bedni bugyals carpeted in alpine wildflowers. Skeleton Lake snow-free. Clear summit views. |
| July | 2/5 | Monsoon. Dangerous trail conditions. Slippery rock, zero visibility. Skeleton Lake hidden in cloud. Leeches. Avoid. |
| August | 1/5 | Peak monsoon. Trail extremely dangerous. Landslides common. Cloud cover total. Multiple trekker rescues yearly. Avoid. |
| September | 3/5 | Post-monsoon window 4-14°C. Trail clearing. Bugyals golden. Lake emerging from cloud. Brief September window works. |
| October | 4/5 | Late season 0-10°C. Golden autumn bugyals. Skeleton Lake visible. Cold nights. Snow approaching summit. Last window. |
| November | 1/5 | Winter closing in -5 to 5°C. Snow at summit. Lower camps accessible but lake trek dangerous. Season ending. |
| December | 0/5 | Snowbound. Trail buried. Skeleton Lake frozen. Lohajung base accessible but no trekking possible. 5-month closure. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Lohajung (trek base) then 8-day trek. Rishikesh — 260km to Lohajung, 10hr. Roads: Rough mountain road to Lohajung via Karnaprayag. Last 50km very bad. Then multi-day trek. Self-drive: Possible to Lohajung — high clearance needed. Then 8-day trek. Public transport: Buses to Karnaprayag from Rishikesh. Shared taxi to Lohajung. Then trek only. Last stretch: extreme
Elevation
5,029m
Difficulty
hard
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in May
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