The Dev Kyara Trek is a 7-day moderate trek in Uttarakhand, India, climbing from Jakhol to the 4,100m Dev Kyara meadow at the foot of Ranglana Peak. The Vertical Tribe runs it as a Dehradun-to-Dehradun trip: one drive day in to Jakhol, five trail days (Jakhol → Obra Thatch → Bhawa → Dev Kyara, then back to Jakhol), and one drive day out. It was named Trek of the year 2019 (Uttarakhand Tourism Board), and base village Jakhol won the Ministry of Tourism's Best Adventure Tourism Village award in 2024.
Highlights
- Trek of the year 2019 (Uttarakhand Tourism Board).
- Jakhol is a Best Tourism Village 2024. The Ministry of Tourism named the base village a winner in the Best Adventure Tourism category at the national Best Tourism Villages competition in September 2024. You start the trek where the country says adventure tourism is being done right.
- A meadow at 4,100m. Dev Kyara opens up at the foot of Ranglana Peak, with sightlines to Swargarohini, Black Peak (Kala Nag), and Bandarpoonch: a Garhwal panorama from a single bugyal.
Dev Kyara Trek at a glance
- What is the Dev Kyara Trek?
- A 7-day moderate trek to a 4,100m meadow in Uttarakhand, under Ranglana Peak. Trek of the year 2019 (Uttarakhand Tourism Board).
- How hard is it?
- Moderate. Five trail days, no technical climbing; the high point is 4,100m on Day 4 and the longest day is the 13 km descent to Jakhol on Day 6.
- How long does it take?
- 7 days, Dehradun to Dehradun: one drive day in, five trail days, one drive day out.
- How much does it cost?
- ₹18,000 per trekker, Dehradun to Dehradun. Covers transport, all stays Day 1 to Day 6, all meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 7 breakfast, all permits, and certified trek leaders.
- When is the best time to do it?
- Mid-May to June (pre-monsoon) and mid-September through November (post-monsoon). We do not run it in July and August.
How difficult is Dev Kyara Trek, really?
Graded Moderate. There is no climbing on this route: it is five trail days of 6 km, 8 km, 5 km, 8 km and 13 km, taking 3-4 hours on the shortest day and 6-7 hours on the longest, with a drive day at each end.
- Altitude
- High point 4,100m at Dev Kyara on Day 4. The sleeping ladder is Jakhol 2,500m, Obra Thatch 2,500m, Bhawa waterfall 3,500m, Dev Kyara 4,100m, Bhawa 3,500m, then Jakhol 2,500m.
Overview
The trek begins with a 190 km drive from Dehradun to Jakhol — the trail head and the 2024 Best Adventure Tourism Village. From Jakhol you walk to Obra Thatch (2,500m), then climb to the Bhawa waterfall camp at 3,500m. Day 4 is a short, steep push up to the Dev Kyara meadow at 4,100m, the trip's high point under Ranglana Peak. Day 5 is exploration around the meadow before retracing to Bhawa, and Day 6 is the long return descent — 13 km — back to Jakhol. Day 7 is the drive back to Dehradun.
Who climbs with us
Dev Kyara is a tented trek to a high meadow under Ranglana Peak. The 13 km descent on Day 6 asks for some leg conditioning; the rest is forgiving.
The route, point by point
| Point | Altitude | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jakhol | 2,500m | Best Adventure Tourism Village 2024; trail head and base for the trek |
| Obra Thatch | 2,500m | First trail camp |
| Bhawa Waterfall | 3,500m | Forest camp under cascading waterfalls |
| Dev Kyara | 4,100m | High meadow at the foot of Ranglana Peak |
Itinerary
7 days, Dehradun to Dehradun.
Download the full itinerary- Day 1: sleeps at 2,500m .
- Day 2: sleeps at 2,500m .
- Day 3: sleeps at 3,500m .
- Day 4: sleeps at 4,100m .
- Day 5: sleeps at 3,500m , climbing to 4,100m.
- Day 6: sleeps at 2,500m .
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Day 1 Dehradun to Jakhol
Approach Jakhol · 2,500mDrive from Dehradun to Jakhol — the base village and the Ministry of Tourism's Best Adventure Tourism Village 2024. Settle in for the night.
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Day 2 Jakhol to Obra Thatch
Approach 2,500mFirst trail day. Climb out of Jakhol to the meadow camp at Obra Thatch.
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Day 3 Obra Thatch to Bhawa Waterfall
Approach 3,500mClimb steadily through pine and oak forest to the Bhawa waterfall camp.
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Day 4 Bhawa to Dev Kyara
Approach 4,100mShort, steep push up to the Dev Kyara meadow at the foot of Ranglana Peak — the trip's high point.
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Day 5 Explore Dev Kyara, descend to Bhawa
Descend 4,100m→ 3,500m
Explore the meadow in the morning: sightlines to Swargarohini, Black Peak (Kala Nag), and Bandarpoonch. Descend to Bhawa for the night.
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Day 6 Bhawa to Jakhol
Descend 2,500mThe longest trail day. Long descent through the forest back to Jakhol.
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Day 7 Jakhol to Dehradun
Descend Drive outDrive back to Dehradun. Trip ends on arrival.
What's included
Included
- Transport — Dehradun to Jakhol and back
- Accommodation — stay from Day 1 to Day 6 in tents/stay (Jakhol to Jakhol)
- Food — all meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 7
- Permits — all trekking permits and national park charges
- Trekking and safety equipment — high-quality tents and sleeping bags
- Certified trek leaders, guides, and support staff
Not included
- Backpack offloading charges
- Any kind of personal insurance and rescue expenses
- Meals during road journey
- Personal expenses of any kind, and anything apart from inclusions
How it compares to other peaks
| Peak | Altitude | Grade | Best for | Why pick it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dev Kyara Trek (this) | 4,100m | Moderate | Trek of the year 2019 (Uttarakhand Tourism Board) from a Best Tourism Village | Pick this if you want an awarded Garhwal meadow trek under Ranglana Peak. |
| Black Peak Expedition | 6,387m | AD- | Climb the peak you see from Dev Kyara | Pick this if you want to climb Kala Nag — the same peak visible from Dev Kyara meadow. |
Dates & availability
No fixed dates yet — get in touch for the next Mid-May – Jun · Mid-Sep – Nov batch or private/custom dates.
No public slots are available for this trek yet. Reach out and we'll share the next departure as soon as it's confirmed, or set up a private group on dates that suit you.
or email us →Need different dates? Private departures are possible through Mid-May – Jun · Mid-Sep – Nov with a minimum of 4 trekkers — message us on WhatsApp.
Your leaders
Subodh Bhadauriya ITRA
Lead Trek Leader · Mountain Athlete · 8+ years
What we don't do
- We don't run this trek in the monsoon
- July and August are off the calendar.
- We don't pad the itinerary
- Seven days is what the route actually needs — one drive in, five trail days that build altitude steadily to the 4,100m meadow, and one drive out. No invented 'extra rest' days that exist only to inflate the price.
Permits, rules and cancellation
Permits
- All trekking permits and national park charges
Cancellation
- More than 60 days before the start date — full refund
- 60 to 30 days before the start date — 50% refund
- Less than 30 days before the start date — no refund
Rules on the mountain
- No alcohol or smoking during the trek
- Don't litter; do not disturb the flora and fauna
- No loudspeakers
- Leave No Trace
Frequently asked
Where is the Dev Kyara Trek?
In Uttarakhand. The trail head is Jakhol village, 190 km from Dehradun. The trek climbs to the Dev Kyara meadow at 4,100m.
Why is Jakhol notable?
Jakhol won the Ministry of Tourism's 'Best Village in Adventure Tourism' award at the national Best Tourism Villages Competition 2024, announced on 27 September 2024 (World Tourism Day). The Dev Kyara Trek was separately named Trek of the year 2019 (Uttarakhand Tourism Board).
What permits do I need?
All trekking permits and national park charges are included in the trek fee.
Where do we sleep on the trek?
Day 1 and Day 6 in Jakhol (tents/stay), and tented camps at Obra Thatch (Day 2), Bhawa (Day 3 and Day 5), and Dev Kyara (Day 4).
What's the cancellation policy?
Full refund more than 60 days before the start date, 50% refund 60–30 days before, no refund inside 30 days.
