Quick answer: Bandarpunch is a 6,316 m (about 20,722 ft) snow peak in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, whose western face holds the Yamunotri shrine. You cannot trek to its summit, which needs a mountaineering permit, but the Trekkaro winter treks in the table below show it, from Benog Tibba at 2,216 m to Darwa Top at 4,150 m.
Bandarpunch is named in the views of Trekkaro winter treks from Benog Tibba to Darwa Top. On the Aancha Top trek it stands close by from the summit, and from the Benog Tibba and Kedarkantha summits it is among the peaks that catch the first light. Below: what and where the peak is, who can climb it, and a table of the camp or summit and the day on which each trek shows it.
What and where is Bandarpunch peak?
Bandarpunch, also written Bandarpoonch, rises to 6,316 m (about 20,722 ft) in Uttarkashi district of the Garhwal Himalaya.
The peak's best-known link is with the Yamuna. Incredible India describes Yamunotri, at about 3,293 m, as standing on the western face of the Bandarpunch peak. So the same mountain you see from a winter summit is the one above the source shrine of the Yamuna.
Its close neighbours are Kala Nag, also called Black Peak, and Swargarohini I at 6,252 m. Kala Nag sits beside Bandarpunch in the views from Aancha Top, Benog Tibba, Nag Tibba and Darwa Top.
Can you trek to the top of Bandarpunch?
No trekking route goes to the summit. Bandarpunch is a mountaineering peak, and an attempt needs permission through Uttarakhand's mountaineering permission system: the Indian Mountaineering Foundation forwards the request and the Forest Department approves it and issues an e-permit. That is a mountaineering expedition, not a trek. For trekkers, Bandarpunch is a peak to see from a summit or an open meadow on the treks below.
Which Trekkaro treks show Bandarpunch, and from where?
These are the points on Trekkaro's winter treks where Bandarpunch is named in the itinerary, ordered from the lowest viewpoint to the highest.
| Trek | Where you see Bandarpunch | Height of that point | Day | Trek length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benog Tibba | Summit at sunrise, with Swargarohini, Kala Nag and the Gangotri group | 2,216 m | Day 2 | 2 days |
| Nag Tibba | Summit, with Swargarohini, to the north | 3,022 m | Day 2 | 2 days |
| Aancha Top | Dinnala meadow, to the north, and the sunset over it; then the summit, with Kala Nag close by | 3,277 m; 3,818 m | Days 3 and 4 | 6 days |
| Kedarkantha | Trail to the base camp; summit at first light | 3,429 m; 3,810 m | Days 3 and 4 | 5 days |
| Gulabikantha | Summit, with Black Peak, Swargarohini and Draupadi ka Danda | 3,658 m | Day 3 | 5 days |
| Dayara Bugyal | The meadow and Dayara Top, with Black Peak and Srikanth | 3,749 m (top) | Day 3 | 4 days |
| Chopta Chandrashila | Chandrashila summit, in a skyline with Chaukhamba, Trishul and Nanda Devi | 3,962 m | Day 4 | 5 days |
| Dodital Darwa Pass | Darwa Top, with Swargarohini, Kala Nag and Draupadi ka Danda | 4,150 m | Day 4 | 6 days |
Which trek gives the closest view of Bandarpunch?
It depends on what you want from the view.
| If you want | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The closest view | Aancha Top | Bandarpunch and Kala Nag stand close by from the 3,818 m summit, and the sun sets over Bandarpunch from the Dinnala camp the evening before |
| The highest viewpoint | Dodital Darwa Pass | Darwa Top, at 4,150 m, with Bandarpunch and Swargarohini both in the view |
| The shortest trip | Benog Tibba or Nag Tibba | 2-day treks; the first light falls on Bandarpunch from the Benog Tibba summit on a clear morning |
| A snow summit at sunrise | Kedarkantha | In view on the Day 3 walk to base camp, and at sunrise from the 3,810 m summit on Day 4 |
| The widest skyline | Chopta Chandrashila | From 3,962 m, Bandarpunch is one peak in a skyline that runs to Nanda Devi |
On grade, Benog Tibba and Nag Tibba are easy; Kedarkantha, Gulabikantha, Aancha Top and Dayara Bugyal are easy to moderate; Dodital Darwa Pass and Chopta Chandrashila are moderate. The guide to winter treks for beginners compares the easier options.
When is Bandarpunch most clearly visible?
Each view above needs a clear sky. On Kedarkantha the summit push starts well before dawn so the group is on top as the first light reaches Bandarpunch, and on Benog Tibba the Day 2 sunrise puts the first light on Bandarpunch. For Dayara Bugyal, autumn, from September to November, is the season Trekkaro names for the sharpest views of Bandarpunch, Srikanth and Black Peak.
If cloud sits on Bandarpunch on summit morning, a trek with two chances to see it helps: Aancha Top (Dinnala on Day 3, the summit on Day 4) and Kedarkantha (the base camp trail on Day 3, the summit on Day 4) both do.
What do the treks with a Bandarpunch view cost?
Here are the Trekkaro fees with GST for each trek in the table. Transport to the trek start is not part of these fees.
- The Benog Tibba trek costs ₹4,016.
- The Nag Tibba trek costs ₹4,016.
- The Kedarkantha trek costs ₹9,450, plus the shared cab from Dehradun to Sankri at ₹1,000 per person each way.
- The Gulabikantha trek costs ₹8,925.
- The Dayara Bugyal trek costs ₹8,190.
- The Aancha Top trek costs ₹9,870.
- The Chopta Chandrashila trek costs ₹8,662.50, plus the shared cab from Rishikesh at ₹6,500 per 5 to 6 seat vehicle one way, split among the group.
- The Dodital Darwa Pass trek costs ₹11,025, plus the shared cab from Dehradun to Agoda at ₹6,500 per 5 to 6 seat vehicle one way, split among the group.
Trekkaro's Free Trekking Gear on these treks covers Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket, trekking poles, gaiters and microspikes, against a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge. Travel insurance is compulsory and not in the fee.
See Aancha Top trek dates and book | Swargarohini peak | Kedarkantha trek best time
Frequently asked questions
What is the height of Bandarpunch peak?
Bandarpunch rises to 6,316 m, about 20,722 ft. It stands in Uttarkashi district of the Garhwal Himalaya.
Is Yamunotri on Bandarpunch?
Yes. Yamunotri, at about 3,293 m, stands on the western face of Bandarpunch. Incredible India places the shrine on the western face of the peak.
Can a trekker climb Bandarpunch?
Not on a trek. Bandarpunch is a mountaineering peak, and an expedition needs a permit: the Indian Mountaineering Foundation forwards the request and the Uttarakhand Forest Department issues the e-permit.
Which is the easiest trek to see Bandarpunch?
Benog Tibba is the easiest, a 2-day trek graded easy with a summit at 2,216 m. On a clear morning the first light falls on Bandarpunch from its top.
Is Kala Nag the same peak as Bandarpunch?
No. Kala Nag, also called Black Peak, is a separate summit that stands beside Bandarpunch. The two appear together in the views from Aancha Top, Benog Tibba, Nag Tibba and Darwa Top.
