Hanuman's tail
Bandarpunch, monkey's tail, is where Hanuman is said to have put out his burning tail after Lanka. Tenzing Norgay called it the Doon School mountain.
After the trail · the almanac
The trek in four numbers
Bali Pass is a hard, high crossing that ends at one of the Char Dham.
4,950m
Bali Pass
60km
Walking, over 7 days
3,565m
Ruinsara Tal
1of 4
Char Dham at the end
💪 Difficult❄️ May–Jun🍂 Sep–Oct🧗 Fixed ropes
Day by day
Eight days, step by step
This is Himalayan Dream Treks' plan, whose days add up to 60 km. Bikat's add up to 49.
How high you are on each kilometre
- Day 1Dehradun → SankriVia Mussoorie and Purola~220 km · 9–10 h🛏️ Sankri · 1,951 m
- Day 2Taluka → SeemaVia Gangad12 km · 7–8 h🛏️ Tents · 2,591 m
- Day 3Seema → RainbaseraVia Devsu Bugyal10 km · 6–7 h🛏️ Tents · 3,086 m
- Day 4Rainbasera → Ruinsara TalTo the lake7 km · 5 h🛏️ Tents · 3,566 m
- Day 5Ruinsara → OdariTo Bali's cave4 km · 3–4 h🛏️ Tents · 4,008 m
- Day 6Odari → Bali Col campUp the scree5 km · 6 h🛏️ Tents · 4,602 m
- Day 7Bali Col → Bali Pass → Lower DhamniSnow, ropes, the goat route14 km · 10 h🛏️ Tents
- Day 8Lower Dhamni → Yamunotri → Janki ChattiThen drive to Dehradun8 km · 4 h
Stories and nature
Through the Ramayana
Flowers that heal and kill
Brahma Kamal grows at Odari; poisonous aconite and buttercups line the trail too.
Over in four days
In May 2025 a four-member team crossed from Gangad to Janki Chatti in four days, despite storms and snow at base camp.
When to go
Spring snow or autumn
The Sankri–Taluka road often closes in the monsoon.
May–June
Snow above ~3,700 m; microspikes and snow slides on the descent.
Monsoon
Landslides; not run.
Sep–Oct
Clearer skies, nights below zero up high.
Winter
Closed.
Plan your trip
Getting to Sankri
Start at Sankri, finish at Janki Chatti on the Yamunotri road.
- Dehradun🚌 ~220 km via Purola, 9–10 h
- Sankri🚙 12 km
- Taluka
Exit: Janki Chatti, about 180 km by road from Dehradun. No mobile signal after Sankri.
Cost
Bikat Adventures charges ₹21,500 + 5% GST, Sankri to Janki Chatti. Trekup India charges ₹19,450.
Permits
Govind National Park permits; operators include them. Bring ID and a medical certificate.
Grade
Difficult (BRS 5): exposed ridges, a 60° scree slope, ropes on the descent.
Altitude sickness
The pass is near 5,000 m. Tell your leader about any symptoms, and go down if they get worse.
Good to know
The small things
Cash, signal, water, permits and help on the way. Checked October 2026; confirm with your operator.
Bring cash
The closest ATM is in Purola, about 25 km before Sankri. It can run out of cash. Himalayan Dream Treks
Charge in Sankri
Your Sankri stay is the last place to charge. Carry power banks for 7 days in camp. Bikat Adventures
Food on the trail
Three vegetarian meals a day, plus evening tea and snacks. Eggs on some days. Bikat Adventures
Toilets
Dry pit toilet tents at camp. On hard treks they may not go up to the highest camps. Bikat Adventures
Weather
May–June days are 10 to 20 °C lower down. In Sep–Oct, days are 5 to 15 °C. High camps freeze at night. Bikat Adventures
Carry 2 litres
There are no water points between Odari and the Bali Col camp. Carry at least 2 litres. Himalayan Dream Treks
Nearest hospital
The nearest hospital is in Mori, 21 km from Sankri. Himalaya Shelter
If you fall ill early
The trail passes Taluka, Dharkot and Gangad. You can hire a horse or mule there to get back to Sankri. Himalaya Shelter
Offloading
A porter or mule for your bag costs ₹4,800 with Bikat, ₹4,250 with Trekkaro and ₹5,500 with The Searching Souls. Bikat Adventures
Bus to Sankri
Buses to Sankri leave the Mussoorie bus stand near Dehradun railway station at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. Himalayan Dream Treks
What to pack
Your checklist
Tick items as you pack. Your ticks stay saved on this device. Items with a red price can be rented.
Clothing
Shoes
Gear
Papers and money
Health
List from Himalayan Dream Treks: Bali Pass packing list.
Rent or buy
Where to get gear
Many operators lend tents, sleeping bags and spikes. Ask yours before you rent.
Dehradun before you leave
DecathlonBuy · thermals, socks, fleece, gloves, torch, polesPlot 1591, Haridwar Bypass Road · Website
Himalayan Dream TreksRent · shoes, jackets, bags, poles, gaiters, power banks10 B Mothorowala Road, Dharampur · +91 80896 93825 · Website
Sankri at the start of the trek
Himalayan High Trekkers' LodgeRent · tents, sleeping bags, microspikes, gaiters, crampons, poles; pre-book onlineSaud, on the Taluka road, a little past the Kedarkantha trailhead · +91 80172 16725 · Website
Himalayan Dream Treks storeRent · per day: shoes ₹175, bag ₹100, jacket ₹100, pole ₹50+91 80896 93825 · Website
Shop details are from each shop's own page. Phone to confirm prices and stock.
Who runs it
Choose an operator
We found 8 operators with a Bali Pass page in October 2026. Most batches run in May–June and September–October; few are open before May 2027.
Prices are base prices from each operator's own page (October 2026); most add 5% GST. Ratings are what each operator shows, not an independent audit. Names marked † show last season's price or one seen only in a search snippet.