Har ki Dun Trek

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Trek Overview

The mountains of Garhwal come with dramatic formations and diverse geographic regions. Streams of crystal-clear rivers formed by the melting of glaciers, lush green meadows, hamlets, pine forests and rugged terrain form the varied topography of this region. But it is perhaps the mythological aspect of the Har Ki Dun trek that makes this onerous journey more special. It would be a heavenly experience to trek along the 'Valley of Gods', and follow the track once beaten by Pandavas on their way to the heavens. So how closer you come to heavens is quite impossible to say, but the panorama of the gorgeous settings amid the snow-clad peaks would be no less than a divine experience.

Har ki Dun exists as one of the most spiritual and ancient treks of all time. Being the most beautiful valley in the Garhwal region, this trek attracts a large number of tourists every year. It is agreed to be one of the top listed favourable summer treks for the trekkers that takes you through some of the most beautiful scenic views. You would find meadows covered in green patches with orchids, rhododendrons and dense jungle all around you during the trek. Har ki Dun is nested at a height of 11,675ft and still is granted as an Easy trek for the trekkers with little or no experience at all.

Har ki Dun is known as the hanging valley and along with that, this trek would take you through some of the most beautiful scenes. This trek is also known as beginners trek and during your trek, you would come across some lush greenery and the vibrant beauty of the mountains. You can soak in the positive energy dripping from the beauty of the region with the dense alpine forests and the panoramic view of the mountains.

This trek is one of a kind because it would take you through one of the most unexplored regions of Garhwal Himalayas where civilization has not affected the lifestyles of the simple hill folk here. The forests have decorated the area in such a way that every scene would be picturesque. This place is rich in wildlife and is a heaven for nature lovers as well those people who are deep bird watchers. This trek can be done both in summers and winters and is accessible through Govind National Park. The Har Ki dun trek takes you through thickets, terraced fields, glaciers, fragrant orchids, and sprawling meadows giving you an overall experience of every kind of terrain. You would get once in a lifetime chance to witness the various species of birds and mammals that thrive in this region. You can easily spot a number of langurs near Puani Garaat.

This place is a cradle shaped valley which is filled with ancient villages that are around 3000 years old. You would not just witness the beauty of the region but also get an opportunity to meet the local people and learn about their day to day life. While on the route of your trek you would come across many horses and cows grazing at the meadows and river banks. This trek is the real heaven for all nature lovers, adventure seekers and also shutterbug enthusiasts. You can capture some of your best shots while you head out for this trek. Before you head out for the trek in the morning, you need to refresh yourself with some hot cup of tea or even coffee.

About Har ki Dun

This place has a heart of itself as it is filled with a variety of vegetation and animals. It is located at the base of Fateh Parvat, at an altitude of 3,556 meters which makes approximately more than 11,600ft. Apart from being totally surrounded by dense pine trees, this place offers a special habitat to animals like black bears, langurs, and wild boars. This trek is not challenging and can be said to be a moderate to difficult trek with just 44kms to trek. So it can be done by fit beginners or families with children over 9 years.

Though, reaching Har ki Dun would involve about 5-6 hours of walking each day and hence you should be prepared for that. You will spend days walking through the gorgeous landscape, and evenings around campfires under starry skies with the snow-capped mountains around you. But if you choose this to be your first trek, then there might be some problems for you on the trek, so you need to be mentally and physically prepared for it. You can start a regular fitness routine 3 to 5 months prior to your trek and start preparing your body for the trek. This is a widely traversed trek and with a little hard work and dedication, you will be able to complete this trek.

The trek would take approximately 7- 9 days to complete. The base camp would be the Sankri village. First, you need to reach Dehradun which you can reach by road, air or even train. After that, you would drive to Sankri and then to Pauni Garaat. From here the trek to Har ki Dun begins.

Highlights of this Trek

Being the most popular trek among the tourists this place holds a lot of secret places to itself and that is the reason it stands out. Apart from being rich in flora and fauna this place has gives you a beautiful attractive place of Swargarohini and Jaundhar Glacier are in the south-east of this cradle shaped valley. Once you reach Har Ki Dun valley, you can explore the Morinda Lake, Jaundhar glacier, Borasu pass.

Also, this trek would offer you some of the most mesmerizing views of the majestic peaks like Kalanag, Bandarpunch, and Swargarohini. The main highlights of this mesmerizing trip would be the traditional villages of Sankri, Saud, Taluka, Osla and Seema that have been culturally preserved for ages. You also would have the chance to witness the local and village culture. You will be entitled to some breathtaking views of Jaundhar Glacier and Morinda Lake.

Also, for people who love to see flowers, you can take a detour on the trek and explore Hata Valley. The meadows here are fully carpeted with alpine flowers that commonly bloom during the spring season and make a very pleasing sight. Though, contrary to the popular belief that Har Ki Dun trek is not a very easy trek and has a long trail on almost all days and so it is said to be suitable for seasoned trekkers as well as beginners.

This trail is situated in the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park in Garhwal Himalayas. This trek of Har ki dun valley would give you the panoramic view of the Mother Nature and its wonders. The cradle shaped valley of Har Ki dun signifies peace and serene beauty and describes Nature in an ultimate way to attain peace and calmness. Each step that you take while trekking in this magnificent valley would allow you to get the feeling of paradise in the lap of Himalayas.

Har ki dun is one of a kind valley as it is the only place from where one can witness the Swargrohini 1, 2, 3, Bandar Poonch, black peak and Ruinsara peak. You would eventually realize that at this place Nature never skips the chance to amaze humanity. The indigenous native people of the Har ki dun valley is an example of how beautifully they are taking care of nature and irony that how city life is destroying nature at the same time.

Har ki dun valley is covered with some of the most ancient villages that are over 3,000 years old. While the locals of Har ki dun valley mainly worship Duryodhana as it is believed that the valley was the home of the worrier Bhog Dat who was a supporter of Kaurava and that is the reason it is among few places where people worship Duryodhana. What makes this trek stand out from others is that this is a valley trek where you trek along the Supin River to Har Ki Dun trek in the Himalayas since the trekking trail isn’t treaded upon too often, birds and animals thrive in this region.

The beautiful state bird of Uttarakhand, the colorful Himalayan Monal, thrives in the forests here. The Har ki Dun trail takes you back in the medieval times. This cradle shaped valley is populated with ancient villages that are over 3,000 years old. This is also one of the few treks where you would be able to come across the local lifestyle in close proximity and get one in a lifetime of an experience living their lives and tasting their cuisine.

Most of the residents here grow rajma, potato, and rice for a living. Apart from farming they also weave their own wool and make jackets and coats. You can get an intimate look into the lives of villagers as they pass you by.

The Legend

As the age-old mythological story goes, the Pandavas from the Mahabharata once took this route on their way to heaven through Swargarohini, a masiff of four peaks, three of which are clearly visible from several points along your route. It is from here that it derives its title, "The Valley of Gods".

How to Reach Har ki Dun

You have to start your journey from Dehradun and you can reach Dehradun by air, train or road. 

Dehradun to Sankri- The first destination is Sankri which is 220kms away from Dehradun and would take you approximately 10 hours to reach. You can even come from Delhi to Sankri by bus. At Sankri you would find the last ATM throughout the trek at Purola.

The next destination is Chilurgad via Taluka which is a 12km drive and would take you approximately 1 hour. After reaching Taluka you would trek to Chilurgad which is 10kms away and would take 6 hours.

The next morning the trek to Simantra begins which is 9kms away and would take 6 hours.

Then from Simantra, the trek to ultimate Har ki Dun begins which is 5 km away and would take you 4 hours at least. From Har ki Dun hilltop you would be able to see snow peaks like Swargarohini, Hata Peak, Black Peak and many more.

Best Time To Visit Har ki Dun

This place is actually a hotspot for trekkers all year round but the best time to visit this place is during summers and monsoons which is from April till November.

The best time to do this trek would be summer (from April to June) & Post Monsoon (from September to December). Although, if you have a different set of plans and are interested in snow trekking then the best time to visit is winters. Since climatic conditions in the high altitudes vary from the plains you need to take adequate time to get acclimatized to high altitudes.

In Summer

You can expect subtle and pleasing weather during the summer season. Though usually, you won’t find any fog and sky remains clear most of the time but you really can’t make any predictions about the weather here. If you are planning a trek in the summer season then you must carry light woolen clothes as temperature mostly remains low during the night.

Sankri: 5°C

Seema: 1 to 2°C

Har Ki Dun: (-1° C) to -2°C

In Monsoon

During the monsoon season, the trekking trails remain most prone to landslide. The roads usually remain blocked, but the scenic beauty is worth all the risk. The bit when you are travelling in monsoons you must make sure to check with local authorities, tour guides or tour operators about the weather and road conditions before you actually start your trip or trek.

In Winter

The serenity and solitude are at its best during winters at Har Ki Dun Valley. The valley is showered with snowfall during winters and the accommodation options are also few. If you plan on travelling during the winter season then don't forget to carry warm clothes, jackets, raincoats, fleece jackets, and thermals

Sankri: (-1) °C

Seema: (-3) °C

Har Ki Dun: (-15) °C to (-10) °C

The temperature at Har Ki Dun

If you want to trek in the season of spring and be able to experience the rhododendrons and other flowers of the region and you can opt for the months of October and November. If you are looking for a snow trek, which will be a bigger challenge worth taking if you want a more adventurous and thrilling journey to Har-Ki Dun to choose to trek this between March to April. Har Ki Dun Trek Temperature goes from about 15 degrees Celsius in the morning to 2 degrees Celsius at night. The temperatures in Har Ki Dun Trek range in winters from 2-degree Celsius to -2 degrees celsius in the months of December and mid-January, and -5 degrees Celsius to -10 degrees Celsius in February. In summer between the months of May and June, the day temperature is 25 to 30-degree Celsius and at night the temperature is 10 to 5-degree celsius.

Difficulty Level of Trek

This trek can be graded as easy to moderate; therefore, you can think of doing this even if you are a beginner. But if this is actually the first trek of your life, then there might be some problems for you on the trek, so you need to be mentally and physically prepared for it. For this, you can start off with a regular fitness routine 3 to 5 months prior to your trek and start preparing your body for the trek. This is a widely traversed trek and with a little hard work and dedication, you will be able to complete this trek.

Is the trek Safe?

Though the trek is safe and secure yet the trekkers with a heart problem, high blood pressure, asthma, and epilepsy should not apply. Also, the first-timers should be prepared in advance with a good fitness level.

Itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Sankri from Dehradun

Hire a shared cab or bus from Dehradun 210 Km Journey 10-11 hours drive along the mountains to Sankri. Accommodation, and food in Guest House in Sankri Village.

Day one is all about a hill drive along the mountains of the Himalayas. These are several modes of transport for reaching Dehradun from New Delhi. Running seven days a week, Nanda Devi Express leaves New Delhi railway station just before midnight and arrives at Dehradun at about 6 in the morning. This overnight journey would be quite comfortable as compared to a bus ride. To reach Sankri - the base camp - before dusk is quite important so that you may have ample time to relax and prepare yourself for the trek. So if you board a local cab at 7 am in the morning, you could expect to reach Sankri anytime between 6-7 in the evening. En route, you would pass local settlements at Nainbagh, Naugaon, Purola and Mori Naitwar.

It would be important to equip yourself as per the requirements. The essentials include a pair of trek pants, basic medications, sunglasses, cap, woolen clothes, etc.(download checklist for trek essentials item from the section below). On reaching Sankri, a village at about 1950 meters, you could unwind yourself and leave extra luggage at the base camp here before you begin the main journey from the next day. Glance past the ridges along this village to get some spellbinding distant views of the peaks of Swargarohini.

Day 2: Drive to Taluka from Sankri and trek to Chilurgad

6,397 ft to 8,645 ft. 12 Km Drive and 10 Km Trek 7 to 8 Hours duration. Camping in Chilurgad by 3 PM. Accommodation and food in Tents.

The second day of the trek involves a 12 km drive to Taluka followed by a 10km trek to Chilurgad. The initial phase begins with an hour-long drive to Taluka. Since the route happens to be landslide prone, it may remain closed during rainy season. So you may opt for a trail that takes you past about a little less than a dozen mountain curves. You would come across streams of clear water bouncing down the hills and wildflowers, bamboo and deodar trees gracing your way. Taluka is an inhabited village with concrete houses and a government guest house.

After an initial trek to a valley along River Supin, you follow a path that would be interspersed with forests and bridges. Another hour of the trek and you reach a bridge on a tributary of Supin river. You'll find a camping ground as you cross this bridge. After some more climbing, walking and crossing a few more bridges, you'd reach Gangaad, a hamlet with few inhabitants. Green vegetation, wild orchids and majestic views of the impressive peaks would highlight, and at the same time, soothe this arduous trek.

Day 3: Trek from Chilurgad to Simantra

8,645 ft to 8,986 ft. 9 Km Trek. 5 to 6 Hours duration. Camping in Simantra by lunch. Accommodation and food in Tents.

The first leg of this day begins with a short trek along the river that takes you to Osla, a small village. At about 8500 ft, this village has a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. You may have a short stop here in this village as you proceed further. As you begin your trek, you would find steep terrain as well as level grounds. You would have to cross two streams, with the second one having a wooden bridge for trekkers to walk over it. Subsequently, as you proceed ahead of a mountain bend, a series of grasslands would follow. Some of these have been used for cultivation at some point in time. With incline increasing gradually, you would find several boulders and tracts of grass.

After crossing two more meadows, just below the valley over Supin, you'll find a wooden bridge that leads you to the grasslands of Dev Thach, Bali Pass, and Ruinsara Taal. But on your trek to Har Ki Doon, you need not take this route. Walking past the wheat fields, you move to the inhabited areas as your trail ascends over the confluence of Ruinsara and Supin. Now in this section of your Har ki Dun trek, you'll find areas providing some of the majestic views of Kalanag and Bandarpoonch mountain peaks. By the evening, you would reach your campsite Simantra at about 8950 ft.

Day 4: Trek from Simantra to Har Ki Dun and return

8,986 ft to 11,760 ft. 5 Km Trek and exploring around to Har ki Dun and 5km back to Simantra Jaundar Glacier or Maninda Taal are within reach treks from Har Ki Dun . 6-7 Hours duration. Camping in Simantra. Accommodation and food in Tents.

Jaundhar Glacier or Maninda Taal are within reach treks from Har Ki Dun. 6-7 Hours duration. Camping in Simantra. Accommodation and food in Tents. The journey from Simantra is 5kms where you'd gain an elevation of over 2,500ft. On your right, you come across the pastures of Dev Thach, just where the two rivers meet. From this point, the valley bifurcates into two with Bali pass on the right and Har ki Doon to your left. On your way to the camping site, you could now have a glance at the peak of Har ki Dun. The grasslands and pine forests would give way to a small waterfall, and from this point onwards, a steep climbing for minutes would lead you to level land, with patches of snow becoming more and more prominent all along your path.

Some more climbing would take you to a forest stretch with a gradual incline. Along the way, you'll find some forest guest house huts just above a small ridge. Once you reach Har ki Dun after crossing a wooden bridge, you'd see the valley dividing into two by a rivulet. The one to the left would lead you to Jaundhar Glacier, in case you decide to undertake this arduous trek. On your way, the scenic beauty of the Himalayas will keep charging you for this literally uphill task. This would include the proximate views of Swargarohini peaks and Jaundhar Glacier. Explore Har ki Dun for an hour depends upon the time you are reaching there and then return back to Simantra campsite.

Day 5: Trek from Simantra to Chilurgad

8,986 ft to 8,280 ft. 9 Km Trek. 5 to 6 Hours duration Camping in Chilurgad by 3 PM. Accommodation and food in Tents.

Beginning from Simantra camp, this downhill trek would involve descending about 3500 ft in 6-7 hrs. So better start early in the day as this 9km expedition would require you to take several stops. The mesmerizing beauty of the Himalayas would always be encouraging and you would find several vantage points to capture the eternal charm of the snow-clad peaks. The path to Chilurgad would pass through Kalkatiyadhar and Osla.

Day 6: Trek from Chiluragad to Taluka and drive to Sankri

8,280 ft to Taluka at 8690 ft and Sankri at 6,400 ft. 10 Km Trek, 12 Km Drive. 10 Hours duration Stay in Sankri. Accommodation in Guesthouse as per the availability.

This section of your journey involves a 10 km downhill trek to Taluka followed by a 12 km drive to Sankri. As you climb down the mountains, you would find many bridges and level grounds to cross. Given the less strenuous affair as compared to the uphill trek, you would have a great deal of time and energy to admire the natural diversity in the form of various types of trees, birds, shrubs and other creatures. On your drive back to Sankri, you are well bound to be consumed by the exhaustion of this expedition. So have a rest soon as you reach there to rejuvenate yourself for the last leg of your journey.

Day 7: Drive from Sankri To Dehradun

210 Kms, 10 to 11 hours Drive. Try to leave early from Sankri to reach Dehradun on time.

Hire a shared cab,public transport from Sankri to Dehradun.Bus will start early at around 7 a.m and board around 7 p.m at Dehradun. Transportation is low on Sankri. We preffered for cab booking while book trek with us, and come with your booked seats and enjoy the rest travel.