What is the significance of Har Ki Dun?
The Har Ki Dun walk is thought to represent the path taken by the Pandavas on their way to paradise. Without a doubt, the magnificent beauty of the ‘Valley of Gods’ restores one’s faith in the route’s ability to lead one to heaven. Har Ki Dun Valley is located at an elevation of 11,675 feet in Govind Pasu Vihar National Park. The Har Ki Dun cradle-shaped valley, nestled in the heart of the towering Himalayas, is brimming with vegetation and animals, undisturbed by urban civilisation. For nature enthusiasts, adventurers, and photographers, the Har Ki Dun journey is a gold mine.
Har Ki Dun Trek separates one from the rest of the world and leads them on a journey to find their soul. It’s the ideal place to unwind, revitalise, and rediscover oneself. It is one of the best treks in Uttrakhand, and as a result, it is very popular with hikers. Har Ki Dun will be one of the best trekking selections you will make, with its exotic scenic beauty and comfortable trek experience provided by our skilled guides!
Day 1: Dehradun to Sankri
- All eager trekkers congregate in Dehradun, a charming city in its own right. We begin our journey with our well-trained guides and everyone prepared for the road ahead, driving towards Sankri, the starting location of our trek. The route is full of breathtaking mountain views, and we will frequently pass by the Tons River, which will run parallel to us as we make our way to our destination.
Sankri is situated at a height of 1950 metres in the Govind Pasu Vihar National Park. It astonishes with its beautiful beauty and well-equipped facilities. After a 10- to 11-hour trip, during which we will make a few stops for lunch and refreshment, we will arrive in Sankri, a remote and peaceful village. - The trip leader gives us an overview of the journey’s itinerary for the next day. After that, we can retire to our comfortable mattresses to rest and prepare for the exciting voyage ahead.
Day 2: Sankri to Taluka
- At Sankri, we are greeted by a spectacular sunrise. It’s best seen with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning when the sun rises over the snow-capped Swargrohini. Today is the day that all of the trekkers will hit the road and begin their journey. They are given a nutritious and stimulating breakfast. Everyone is asked to bring plenty of water bottles and a few energy-boosting foods to keep them hydrated and energised throughout the journey.
Day 3: Ganghad to Kalkatidhar
- Today we’ll hike to the main campsite, which we’ve all been looking forward to seeing since we started our adventure to Har Ki Dun. The journey is 11 kilometres long. As we begin trekking with our guides, leaving the lovely Osla village behind, we will be immersed in the Himalayan region’s rich green foliage. We’ll walk through orchid-adorned meadows and be able to see the beautiful mountains that surround the valley.
Day 4: Kalkatidhar to Jandhar Glacier
- As the sun rises from behind the massive mountains and fills the valley with morning light, the dawn in the Har Ki Dun valley is breathtaking. We’ll eat our breakfast in this natural setting before continuing our Uttrakhand hiking adventure. By this time, one has become very accustomed to the Har Ki Dun hiking routine and has acclimatised to the Har Ki Dun weather. As a result, fully prepared and fueled, we set out on our Har Ki Dun trekking track once more.
- We’ll be travelling over 15 kilometres from the campsite to our destination today. The Jaundhar Glacier will be our destination. The Jaundhar glacier, which is the highest point on the Har Ki Dun valley walk, is a massive glacier. If you hike in the winter, the trail is grassy and snowy. In the winter, we may see a magnificent snowy trail on our way to the Jaundhar glacier, making the journey to Har Ki Dun one of the best treks in Uttrakhand.
Day 5: Trek from Kalkatidhar to Osla
- The journey today will take virtually the entire day. The walk, however, will be easy because we will be going downwards. We’ll pass through a few villages as we make our way south. The landscapes and scenes we’ll encounter look like they came straight out of a painting. Har Ki Dun Valley Trek stimulates your creativity and imagination. It is one of the best hikes to undertake if you want to take a break from your daily routine and simply be one with nature.
We arrive at Osla physically exhausted, but intellectually and emotionally revitalised. We re-energize with a delicious dinner, and it is recommended that you stay properly hydrated along the trip. Finally, we spend the night in Osla before beginning our final Har Ki Dun trip the next day.
Day 6: Trek from Osla to Sankri
- We had a wonderful night in the peaceful village of Osla, and today we will begin our descent back to Sankri village. The Har Ki Dun walk is easy because we travel downwards and get to see the Himalayan splendour. We can finally call it a day when we arrive in Sankri. Make sure to sample the local cuisine before venturing out to tour Sankri’s village. You’ve arrived at one of Uttrakhand’s best trekking sites, and it would be a shame not to become acquainted with the local culture and all that the region has to offer.
Day 7: Sankri to Dehradun (Departure)
- We depart from Sankri and travel to Dehradun. We’ll drive and arrive at Dehradun in the late evening. Har Ki Dun’s beautiful trekking journey comes to an end at this point, and all of the travellers depart for their different destinations.
Also See: Helpful Tips if you are Trekking First Time and About Brahmatal
HAR KI DUN-RUINSARA TAL TREK
Trekkers believe that treks like Rupin Pass and Buran Ghati are among the best in the world. When we tell Ruinsara about Har Ki Dun, they think of it as a poor relative. That is a major blunder.
1. Ruinsara’s Har Ki Dun walk
It boasts a rich old culture, breathtaking mountain vistas, woods, grasslands, meadows, rivers, streams, and even an alpine lake. This walk is not strenuous on the legs, making it an ideal summer experience when compared to other summer hikes.
A nice trip turns amazing once Ruinsara is added to Har Ki Dun. This is one of the most comprehensive treks you’ll ever undertake.
Our creator, Arjun Majumdar, describes it as “performing a new trek by only adding two days.”
Most trekkers know Har Ki Dun for its culture and history, therefore they just walk to Har Ki Dun, missing out on the Ruinsara Tal’s beauty and variety.
I’ve included a list of some of my favourite sections from the walk below. They cover both the cultural and aesthetic aspects. However, reading about it is one thing, and experiencing it is quite another.
As a result, I strongly encourage any mountain enthusiast to take this walk to experience this unique combination firsthand.
The journey from Taluka to Gangad is the first.
This is one of the trek’s most underappreciated sections. You’re on an uneven track right beside the Thamsa river in less than five minutes after starting your trip. You’re always surrounded by lush greenery.
Old wooden bridges that span the river appear out of nowhere, providing excellent photo opportunity. This track allows you to travel miles without breaking a sweat.
As you progress, you’ll notice that the coniferous forest becomes denser. For an hour, the short trail twists through this dense, gloomy forest before opening up to the first signs of civilisation – the ancient settlement of Gangad.
On treks, I’m not used to such lush beginnings. It was nearly like taking a stroll through a picture-perfect pine forest. I savoured every moment of it.
2. The Kalkatiyadhar meadows
On the Har Ki Dun hike, no one ever talks about the campsites. Kalkatiyadhar, like everyone else, I assumed was either a small settlement or close by.
Kalkatiyadhar, contrary to my expectations, turned out to be a big green field. The valley’s vastness took my breath away. We were positioned at a vantage height in the middle of multi-level cricket-field-sized meadows.
The trail climbed to the Swargarohini peaks, which were just visible on the horizon to my left. Dense jungles surrounded me on my far right, with mountains rising behind it. This was the Ruinsara trail.
A field surrounded by pine trees was to my right across the river. I could see the Kedarkantha trek mountain miles away behind Kotgaon and follow the trail down to Seema.
Such vast settings in the highlands above 10,000 feet, with trees, meadows, rivers, and large mountains all in one frame, are not something you see on every hike.
3. Legends about old villages
The ancient communities of Har Ki Dun have been the subject of much discussion. These towns, spread out on the mountainside with houses seemingly hanging in the air, are visible from afar. I couldn’t wait to climb up to them and discover what was on the inside.
Spending the night in the village home transports you hundreds of years back in time. The stories of the village elders and the grins of the children are something you want to photograph and bring back with you.
The settlements bring the Har Ki Dun adventure to a close. You will stay in at least two separate villages during our walk — Gangad and Osla.
4. Devsu Thatch: The trek’s best-kept secret
The best-kept secret of the entire Har Ki Dun – Ruinsara path turned out to be Devsu Thatch. Except when you’re inside the meadow, you can’t see much of it. Pine trees have effectively encased the secret!
The meadows were my favourite since they ran 600 metres from top to bottom and spanned nearly 2 kilometres. In the spring, flowering plants line the meadows, and tiny multicoloured flowers sprout from the ground practically everywhere.
The nicest views of the triangle valley may be found here, as it is higher than its counterpart Kalkatiyadhar on the opposite side of the valley.
In the evenings, I remember sprinting from one end of the meadow to the other to get my sunset photographs, as each corner appeared to provide a different perspective.
5. The valleys of Har Ki Dun
The two valleys that this trip honours are Har Ki Dun and Ruinsara Tal. These are, without a doubt, the most gorgeous parts of the walk.
The vastness of the Har Ki Dun valley drew me in. Everything works in the valley’s favour. Massive snow-capped mountains rise out in front of you. A large river runs through the centre. Lovely lush pastures strewn throughout the landscape. I could spend the entire day just staring at this scene.
