Binsar loop

The Binsar (extended) loop
The Binsar Loop is a popular trekking route in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Almora district of Uttarakhand. The loop offers a unique blend of natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural experiences, making it a must-visit for nature lovers and trekkers. Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, often simply called Binsar, is nestled in the Central Himalayan region at an altitude of around 2,400 to 2,500 meters above sea level. Spread over 45 square kilometers, the sanctuary is known for its rich biodiversity, dense forests, and panoramic views of the Kumaon Himalayas, including peaks like Nanda Devi, Trisul, and Pindari.
The Binsar Loop is a circular trekking route within the sanctuary, designed for those who want to explore the area’s natural beauty and wildlife on foot. The loop typically covers around 6 to 11 km, depending on the chosen path, and takes about 2 to 5 hours to complete.
The Binsar loop
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/india/uttarakhand/binsar-loop

The Binsar extended loop
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/india/uttarakhand/binsar-extended-loop

Head out on this 6.0-km or the 11km extented loop trail in Binsar. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 2h-5h to complete, depending on stops. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and walking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Binsar has been the summer capital since the 7th century, initially, it was the summer capital for the Chand Dynasty rulers, but with time, it has become the summer capital for all the people who enjoy nature and wildlife. Binsar is named after the ancient temple of Bineshwar Mahadev temple. This particular temple was built in the 16th century and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This hamlet is located at a very unique location that provides some of the most stunning views of the Himalayan peaks of Trishul, Nanda Devi, Shivling, Panchachuli, and Chaukhamba. Verdant green environments make up the surroundings of this wildlife sanctuary. Himalayan Goral, Musk Deer, Chital, and leopards are just some of the species of animals that reside in this area. It is pretty diverse in terms of avifauna as well, and species like Grey Bushchat, Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher, Green-backed Tit, and Coal Tit are just to name a few of the many species of birds observed in this location.

️ Key Attractions Along the Loop

  1. Zero Point: The starting point with panoramic Himalayan views.
  2. Binsar Mahadev Temple: A small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, adding a spiritual touch to the trek.
  3. Wildlife Viewing Areas: The sanctuary is home to species like leopards, langurs, and over 200 species of birds.
  4. Flora: Dense forests of oak, rhododendron, pine, and deodar trees, along with seasonal wildflowers.

🛣️ How to Reach Binsar

  • By Road: Binsar is about 30 km from Almora, well connected by road from Kathgodam and Haldwani.
  • By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, around 75 km away.
  • By Air: The nearest airport is Pantnagar Airport, approximately 120 km from Binsar.

Other hikes in the nearby area
🥾 Dhaulchhina loop
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/india/uttarakhand/dhaulchhina-loop

Try this 11.1-km loop trail near Almora, Uttarakhand. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. This trail is great for birding, hiking, and walking, and it’s unlikely you’ll encounter many other people while exploring. Dhaulchhina is a small village in the vicinity of Binsar and Almora. The trail leading to Binsar from Dhaulchhina is a beautiful one taking one deep into the jungles of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. These areas are lush with green environments that are highly biodiverse. Himalayan Goral, Musk Deer, Chital, and leopards are just some of the species of animals that reside in this sanctuary.

🥾Dhaulchhina (extended) loop
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/india/uttarakhand/dhaulchhina-extended-loop

Discover this 11.7-km loop trail near Almora, Uttarakhand. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. This trail is great for birding, hiking, and walking, and it’s unlikely you’ll encounter many other people while exploring. Dhaulchhina is a small village in the vicinity of Binsar and Almora. The trail leading to Binsar from Dhaulchhina is a beautiful one taking one deep into the jungles of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. This is a trail that goes through multiple villages as well, Kathdhara and Naiel are the two villages that are en route on this extended loop.

Gonap Trail
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/india/uttarakhand/gonap-trail

Enjoy this 8.5-km out-and-back trail near Binsar. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. This trail is great for birding, hiking, and walking, and it’s unlikely you’ll encounter many other people while exploring. This is a quaint little village nearby Binsar inside the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. Spectacular views of the Himalayas can be enjoyed from over here and peaks like the Trishul, Nanda Devi, Shivling, Panchachuli, and Chaukhamba can be spotted from here. Verdant green environments make up the surroundings of this wildlife sanctuary. Himalayan Goral, Musk Deer, Chital, and leopards are just some of the species of animals that reside in this sanctuary. It is pretty diverse in terms of avifauna as well and species like Grey Bushchat, Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher, Green-backed Tit, Coal Tit, etc are just to name a few of them that can be observed over here. A wide variety of floral species can be seen here as well.

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