Har Ki Dun Valley Trek

Har Ki Dun Trek (Garhwal Himalayas)

The name "Har Ki Dun" itself is interpreted in two different ways. First is the literal translation, i.e. Valley of Gods - Har is the name for Shiva, one of the trinity gods as per Hinduism. Dun means a valley. The other name has more resemblance with the local culture and traditions. The second translation is "The sound of Shiva or the Sound of God". Every year to welcome Lord Someshwara (a form of Shiva) a festival is held in the valley, where a Dhaki (drummer) plays the drum. It is said that ages ago a Dhaki had disappeared in the Valley above and every year during the festival month one can still occasionally hear the Dhaki playing drums far up in the valley in the early hours of the day. Many village elders mention of several accounts throughout their lives about hearing these drums.

Trekking to the Har Ki Dun Valley

• The Har Ki Dun trek starts with a drive from Sankri to Taluka, from where we trek to the Har Ki Dun valley. It is situated approximately 25 KM further ahead of Taluka. The entire trek is 50 km and additional 2.5 km to the Marinda Lake.
• The path winds up alongside the Supin river from Netwar village. The trek is along the Supin river through the scenic Garhwali villages of Taluka, Gangad and Osla. Har Ki Dun has numerous camping places, one Forest Guest House & one Garhwal Mandal guest house (GMVN). Camping in the valley is prohibited since a few years.
• From Har ki Dun one can see the entire North Face of Swargarohini I (6,252 m) peak. This face drops to about 2,000 m in less than 2 km distance and is yet to be climbed. The legends associated with it say that Swargarohini is the path to heaven that was followed by Pandavas of the epic Mahabharata. Though, the same story is also associated with the Swargarohini steps seen from Satopanth Lake, which lies ahead of Badrinath.
• The beautiful Marinda Tal formed by a huge boulder obstructing the river, can be trekked in an hour from Har Ki Dun. We can explore the Hata Valley to the north of Har ki Dun. The hike to Jaundhar Glacier view point that takes us to the Swargarohini Base is also feasible.
• There are many passes in this region and a few of them cross over into Kinnaur, Himachal, such as Rupin Pass & Borasu Pass. Those towards Yamunotri & Gangotri, such as Bali Pass, Fachu Kandi & Dhumdhar Kandi, which goes to Gangotri valley.

Har Ki Dun Height & Other Details:

• Location: Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand.
• Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
• Maximum altitude: Jaundhar Glacier (4300m / 14107 ft.)
• Grade: Easy to Moderate
• Cost: Rs. 12,499/- (Dehradun to Dehradun)

How to reach Har Ki Dun Trekking Valley:

By Air

Dehradun brings the closest to our base location with the airport Jolly Grant. It is well connected to all the states and city with a daily flight from Delhi.

By Train

From Delhi - DDN NZM AC EXPRESS (2205)

From Kolkata - Doon Express (13009)

From Mumbai - Dehradun Express (19019)

From Chennai - Dehradun express (12687)

By Road

Dehradun is well connected by roads across the country with NH 72 connecting regions like Panchkula, Chandigarh, and Shimla. There are ample local and private buses to Dehradun.

Overview:

Day 1: Dehradun to Sankri - Eight hour drive
Day 2: Sankri to Pauni Garaat via Taluka (2,700 m) - One hour drive as well as  five to six hours of trekking
Day 3: Pauni Garaat to Boslo (3300 m) : ( 10 km 5 to 6 hrs)
Day 4: Boslo to Har ki Dun & Marinda Tal, return to Boslo (17 km Trek in 7 to 8 hrs)
Day 5: Boslo to Pauni Garaat (10 km Trek in 4 hrs)
Day 6: Pauni Garat to Sankri via Taluka – Four to five hours of trekking as well as one hour of drive
Day 7: Sankri to Dehradun - Eight hour drive

Har Ki Dun Trekking Itinerary

Day 1: Dehradun to Sankri

Altitude: 6,455 feet (1,967 meter)

Time taken: Sankri, the base camp for Har ki Dun, can be reached in 8-10 hours from Dehradun. Transport will be organized from Dehradun Railway station at 6.30 am.

Sankri, campground for Har ki Dun, is a little yet a lovely settlement with 250 houses. In top spell, it is normally clamoring with trekkers as it is the headquarters for treks such as Kedarkantha, Bali Pass and Borasu Pass. We start the excursion ahead of schedule from Dehradun and drive at first to the well-known hill station of Mussoorie. The drive to Sankri will take us through the towns and settlements of Nainbagh, Naugaon, Purola, Jarmola, Mori and Naitwar.

We shadow the Yamuna River upstream. The Kamal Ganga River converges with Yamuna close to Naugaon and escorts us till Purola. Purola is the sole remaining vast neighborhood on the course with a huge market. Therefore, it is suggested that if the trekkers want to buy any last minute stuff, they can purchase it from Purola itself. It likewise is the last town where the majority of the mobile networks work. The drive after Purola is through lovely woods of pine trees. From close to the countryside of Mori, the river Tons streams next to us till about Netwar. One can start to feel the dip in temperature from here.

After we cross a check post at Naitwar, we finally enter Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is often viewed as the southern passage to the nature reserve as the vast majority of treks through the locale begin from here. The northern fringe of the preserve converges into Himachal Pradesh. Near here, the streams of Rupin and Supin congregate to frame Tons River, which is the biggest offshoot of Yamuna and in actuality bigger than Yamuna itself, considering the volume of its stream. The summit of Kedarkantha can be seen from different focuses en route from here.

We arrive at Sankri by twilight. The hamlet has various apple plantations which are collected beginning from pre-fall. The market zone is new contrasted with the old hamlet region, a fragment of which is known as 'Saud'. The hamlet furthermore harvests peach, apricots and potatoes. We chill and relax around evening in a visitor house or in camps. The hamlet offers a gorgeous perspective on the sun setting behind the greater Himalayas. The Swargarohini peaks glow in the nocturnal sun, soaring lofty over the edges past Sankri.

Day 2: Sankri to Pauni Garaat via Taluka

• Altitude: 6,455 feet (1,967 meter) to 8,160 feet (2,487 meter) via 6,916 feet (2,108 meter)
• Time taken: 5-6 hours trek. One hour 12 km drive to Taluka, 12 km trek to Pauni Garaat
• Trek gradient:  Smooth climb for preliminary 3 kilometers. After that there is a nonstop hike and descent all over the trail.
• Water sources: You can refill your water bottles in the river along the trail.

There is a four-wheel-drive street that interfaces Sankri with Taluka. Trekkers with Treks and Trails drive from Sankri to Taluka (12 km, 60 minutes). Since, the excursion is long, we start as ahead of schedule as possible in the first part of the day. After breakfast we board a SUV and drive through a forest road. The drive is very rough. The vehicle crosses a couple of streams in transit. We arrive at Taluka in about 60 minutes. Taluka is a tiny parish with solid houses, couple of shops and two Government visitor houses. This is rather distinctive from the design fashion in nearby hamlets like Sankri, Osla and Gangad, which are near 300 years timeworn.

This is where the actual trek starts from on a gravel-strewn trail. The climb is outstanding, going past a progression of wild roses, irises, and bamboo, chestnut and cedar trees. The aroma of cedar trees can be sensed about Taluka. Once in a while during winters, or particularly during periods with rather weighty spells of downpour, the way to Taluka might be excessively hazardous for vehicles, as streams stumble into the street and in this way one might be needed to walk a stretch of around 8 km up to Taluka, though it is just in case of heavy rainfall.

We walk along the Supin River spouting through rapids. This spot is favorable for refilling your bottles. Under the shade of pecan, pine and cedar trees, the walk is reasonably pleasurable. In pre-winter we can frequently discover pecans lying around. One must abstain from touching the vegetation on the sides for there are stinging nettle plants here natively known as 'Bichhu ghas' which exactly means 'scorpion grass'. A slight touch can give a stinging sensation which goes on for around twenty to thirty minutes. This grass is used as a spice and is likewise cooked as a vegetable and eaten. High up above on the left, we get the opportunity to gaze at the town of Datmir. It is lined by an arrangement of step ranches. The ranches have the splendid red hued Cholai developing from late rainstorm to early fall.

The trail traverses a couple of streams which converge with Supin River. Following a couple of long stretches of walk, the settlement of Gangad can be seen towards the left, over the Supin River. One can spot a yellow throated marten in the backwoods of this region. We can likewise discover eatable fruitlets of sea buckthorn. They are orange in hue and propagate in packs. Likewise, known as 'leh berries', the delicious and acrid organic buds are a rich source of Vitamin C. We continue our trek and soon we reach the secluded campsite at Puani Garat.

Day 3: Pauni Garaat to Boslo (3300 m) : ( 10 km 5 to 6 hrs)

Today we start the day by heading up towards Osla village, which is located on a sloping spur about a hundred meters above the river Supin. The initial trail to Osla is the steepest section along the entire trek and can take 30-40 mins to cover. The landscape surrounding Osla is full of terraced farms. The colors of these lands differ in every season. The red farms of Cholai (Amaranth) look amazing and can be seen from late monsoon. This grain is a powerhouse with its rich nutritional values and a favorite among the locals. Apart from these Kidney beans in wide varieties are cultivated in the area. Osla is the last village on the route to Har ki Dun. From Osla the trail gradually rises higher and we cross a few fields, while the river can be seen far below. We come across a temple some distance below the trail towards the right. We pass through bushes of flowers like orchids, fleece flowers and sunflowers.
The journey today is rather short, which gives the opportunity to acclimatize to the high altitude and prepare for the next days journey. We can take a breather basking in the sun at the beautiful campsite of Kalkatidhar. The ban to camp at Har Ki Dun has had a rather positive outlook to the trekking itinerary, as it allows for more comfort & at the same time preserves the natural beauty of Har Ki Dun.

Day 4: Boslo to Har ki Dun & Marinda Tal, return to Boslo (17 km Trek in 7 to 8 hrs)

The days trek can be considered to be rather long as we today visit Har Ki Dun and Marinda Tal, a small lake formation due to the obstructing boulder across the river stream, which lies 2 KM further ahead of Har Ki Dun. As we start the trek, at a short distance a hidden and roaring waterfall is encountered with a small tea shop beside the waterfall.

The ascending path climbs high above the confluence of Supin river and the river from Ruinsara valley. From near this confluence, we get a view of the snow-clad peaks of Ruinsara valley including Black Peak, the highest peak in the region. While towards north we can see the Har Ki Dun valley far in the distance. We can even spot the Forest hut at Har ki Dun from this point. After traversing higher up along the true right of the river, we enter the final stretch which is inside a forest. The forest opens up into the main camping area of Har ki Dun, right beside the gurgling stream. This is a very panoramic spot in Har ki Dun located at the junction of two valleys, one originating from Jaundhar glacier and the other from beyond Hata glacier. Higher up towards the North we can spot the Forest Rest House, while the wood crafted GMVN guest house lies further up in the distance. The Har ki Dun peak stands tall right in front of us behind the Forest Rest House. Towards its left, Hata peak which is usually snow covered can be seen. The minor ridge to our right, lined with a few scattered Himalayan birch trees Bhojpatra separates us from the massive Har Ki Dun valley that goes up all the way to the base of Swargarohini Peak. The paper like bark of these trees was used in ancient times to write religious scriptures.

The vast open meadows following the course of the Supin river can be explored. Further ahead of the meadows one can walk among the forests of Bhojpatra trees (Himalayan birch) or get a closer glimpse of the Jaundhar glacier and Swargarohini peak, for which we will have to head updwards the Har Ki Dun valley, towards the Swargaroini peak in the eastern direction.

We can choose to relax and soak in the environment for some time or we can continue our trek to Marinda Tal, in the north, just 2-3 km away from Har ki Dun. The trail is gradually ascending here. It is a small lake formed by a huge boulder obstructing the river which flows down from the base of the Borasu Pass.

After our short visit to Marinda Tal we make our return journey back to Kalkatidhar. We take the same route and it becomes much easier as its all downhill from here. We reach back by early evening and rest at the campsite.

Day 5: Boslo to Pauni Garaat (10 km Trek in 4 hrs)

The journey back to Osla is an easy walk. On the route we come across a good view of the trail all the way to Osla and see the valley descend towards Taluka, around the curve of the ridge where the two streams comng from Har Ki Dun and Ruinsara respectively, converge. A little short of this intersection we can get a glimpse of a trail to our left marked by a sight of a bridge down over the stream. This trail goes to join the trail to Ruinsara lake and is rarely taken. After reaching Osla, one can roam about in the village, talk to locals and soak in the Garhwali culture. We continue our journey from here to our earlier campsite of Puani Garat where we can spend time basking in the sun.

Day 6: Pauni Garaat to Sankri via Taluka

• Time taken: 4-5 hours, 12 kilometer, 1 hour drive
• Trek gradient: Easy. Descending trail and flat walking.
• Water sources: You can top off your bottles from the streams along the trail

Promptly in the first part of the day, we leave the campsite of Pauni Garaat and trek till Taluka. The walk is downhill and henceforth takes lesser time than last time. We stroll to the left of the River Supin until we at long last show up at Taluka, from where a vehicle returns us to Sankri. We resign for the day in camp close by the stream or in a visitor house in Sankri.

Day 7: Sankri to Dehradun

Time Taken:  8 hours’ drive

The trek to Har Ki Dun ends today as we bid adieu Sankri and reach Dehradun by late afternoon.

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