Har Ki Dun Trek - Uttarakhand
Har Ki Dun, also spelled as Har Ki Doon is a renowned trekking destination in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Encircled by snow-capped Himalayan peaks and alpine vegetation, Har Ki Dun is a cradle shaped valley that is located at a height of 3645 m in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The place is known for its magnificent views of the valley, gushing streams and the mountains.
Every year many trekkers from India and abroad, visit Har Ki Dun to explore the exceptional natural beauty of the place. Due to its awe-inspiring views, Har Ki Dun is often called as “The Valley of Gods”. The trek of Har Ki Dun goes from some of the most beautiful villages where you will find friendly and welcoming people.
One also gets the best views of Swargarohini Group of Peaks, Jaundhar Glacier, Bandarpoonch, and Black Peak during this trek.
Best Time to visit Har Ki Dun
Har Ki Dun is such a trek that can be done in both summers and winters. With every season, the charm of the place seems different. In winters, you will find the white blanket of snow scattered everywhere while in summers, you will find greenery spread across the valleys and mountains. The place has a revitalizing climate that soothes the mind.
So, from October to May, you can visit Har Ki Dun any time and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Har Ki Dun comes under the Govind National Park that remains closed during the monsoons. So, from July to early September, the entry of tourists is restricted in Har Ki Dun.
How to get to the base camp of Har Ki Dun Trek
The base camp of Har Ki Dun Trek is Sankri, a beautiful scenic village surrounded by pine forests and snow-capped mountains. Apart from Har Ki Dun, Sankri serves as a base camp to some other interesting treks like Kedarkantha Trek, Bali Pass Trek, Ruinsara Lake Trek, Borasu Pass Trek, Dev Kyara Bugyal Trek, etc.
Sankri is at a distance of around 200 km from the state capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun and it takes around 9 hours to reach there.
By Bus:
If you are travelling from Delhi, you can take an overnight bus to Dehradun that would cost you around Rs. 300 per seat. Once you reach Dehradun ISBT, take a shared tempo till prince chowk, from where you will get shared jeeps for Sankri that will cost you around Rs. 600-700 per person. There is a direct state roadways bus also from Dehradun to Sankri that leaves around 8 am from Mussoorie Bus Stand in Dehradun (just before prince chowk, outside the railway station). The bus fare would cost you around Rs. 400 per person.
By Train:
Dehradun is the nearest railway station to Sankri. There are numerous trains from Delhi and other cities to Dehradun.
By Air:
If you are travelling by flight from any other city then the nearest airport to Sankri will be Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. Dehradun is connected by air to many other major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Jaipur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc.
Trekking Package for Har Ki Dun
Although there are a number of travel agencies/adventure tour operators who organize Har Ki Dun Trek but, it is better to go with someone who has a vast experience of the place and is based out of the trekking region only. This is so because these people know every bit of the routes, villages, flora and fauna. They are the ones who have very good contacts with the locals/villagers, the transporters in that region, and the other logistics suppliers.
However, the list of trek organizers for Har Ki Dun is vast but I would recommend the below two operators as they are operating in this region from the past many years.
- HPMA (Harkidun Protection & Mountaineering Association) – https://www.harkidun.org/har-ki-dun/
- Himalaya Shelter – https://www.himalayashelter.com/
Itinerary for Har Ki Dun Trek
Day 01: Arrive Sankri Alt: 1920 M
On arrival at Sankri, check-in at your pre-booked homestay/guest house. You can speak to your trek organizer for your stay arrangements in Sankri. Evening, enjoy the rejuvenating climate of Sankri and explore this traditional village.
Overnight stay will be at your homestay/guest house in Sankri.
Day 02: Sankri – Taluka (Drive, 11 km) Taluka – Cheludgad/Seema (Trek, 13 km) Alt: 2700 M
After your breakfast, drive to Taluka by a shared jeep. After 11 km drive, reach Taluka and then start the trek from here for the first halt at Cheludgad. This trail is rough and passes through the dense pine forest, where you will get a chance to witness the varieties of animals in this region.
On reaching Cheludgad/Seema, check-in at your camp.
Overnight stay will be at camp in Cheludgad/Seema.
Day 03: Cheludgad – Seematra (Trek, 7 km) Alt: 3400 M
This day, have your breakfast early in the morning and start for the trek to Seematra. It will take around 4-5 hrs to complete this patch of the trek. The best thing about Har Ki Dun trek is that there are few small villages on the way and you get an opportunity to interact with villagers and about their traditional values.
With the trek, you get extremely beautiful scenic views around. On arrival at your campsite in Seematra, check-in at your camp.
Overnight stay will be at camp in Seematra.
Day 04: Seematra – Har Ki Dun (Trek, 7 km) Alt: 3645 M
Post breakfast, start your trek to Har Ki Dun, also known as “Valley of Gods”. On your way, you will come across many streams from where you can fill your water bottles. Hike up slowly and steadily crossing through the pine trees. You also get the beautiful sight of the snow-capped mountains from a distance that attracts the eye of every visitor.
On arrival at Har Ki Dun, enjoy nature, enjoy the beauty of this hamlet on earth.
Overnight stay will be at camp in Har Ki Dun.
Day 05: Har Ki Dun – Maninda Lake – Har Ki Dun (Trek, 3 km – One Way)
Today, proceed for a day trek to Maninda Lake, a small beautiful lake formed by a huge boulder obstructing the river. You will get plenty of scenic views and some rare flora and fauna including “Brahma Kamal”, a mountain flower.
Overnight stay will be at camp in Har Ki Dun.
Day 06: Har Ki Dun – Osla (Trek, 13 km) Alt: 2700 M
After breakfast, trek back downwards on the same trail to reach Osla, a village on the opposite side of Seema village. Osla is a culturally rich village where you will find traditional wooden houses. Visit the Duryodhana temple here.
Overnight stay will be at the camp/guest house in Osla.
Day 07: Osla – Taluka (Trek, 14 km) Taluka – Sankri (Drive, 11 km) Alt: 1920 M
Morning post breakfast, continue with the down trek to Taluka. You may stop at spring water points in between to take some beautiful pictures from your mobile phones/camera.
On reaching the road head at Taluka, board the sharing jeep and drive to Sankri.
Overnight stay will be at homestay/guest house in Sankri.
Day 08: Sankri – Departure
This day, after breakfast, check-out from your homestay/guest house and drive to Dehradun by bus/shared jeep to catch your train/bus/flight for further journey.
***End of the Trip***
Note: The above mentioned routing in the itinerary is indicative and subject to change depending on the trek organizing company. Please check with the trek operator for the detailed version of the trek program.
Also Read:
Trip to Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib – https://budgetescapes.in/valley-of-flowers-and-hemkund-sahib/
