Uttarakhand Trek Archives

Har Ki Dun Trek- A journey to the Valley of Gods

A journey that passes through the spectacular alpine meadows, sky-piercing pine forest and some ancient hamlets eventually take you to the Valley of Gods or Har Ki Dun. It is said that through the same route, the Pandavas (from mythology) ascended to heaven.

The trek

Day 1
The Har ki Dun Trek is a 5-8 days trek to an altitude of 1950 metres. It starts from Sankri which is approximately 200 km from Dehradun. You would have to cover this distance by road which will take approximately 6 to 7 hours.

Day 2
Your next destination is Taluka, and to reach there you would have to walk through the plain for almost 5-6 hours. It is a vast meadow at the foothills of Himalaya that is bestowed with such a beauty that might leave you awestruck. During spring, the meadow is covered with a blanket of wild, aromatic flowers.

Day 3
The next day you can start your journey on foot, for 10-12 km towards your next destination, Osla. This place is home to the most beautiful species of flowers, orchids.

Day 4
Har ki Dun is another 14 km climb from Osla, which is situated at the foothills of Swargrohini Peak. A walk of another 2 km from here will take you to Jaundhar glacier that lies at the base of Swargarohini Mountain.

Difficulty level of trek

The level of the trek is from easy to moderate. Even a child above 10 years of age who is physically fit can go for the trek. The trek goes through some of the most isolated parts of the country where you wouldn’t have ever imagine that life existed. On an average, you will be covering almost 9-10 km per day.

Who can all go for this trek?

This trek is meant for all beginners. A physically competent person above the age of 10 can easily do this trek. It will be a lifetime experience for all those who take the trek to see the nature from so close.

Best time to go for trek

The most ideal time to go for Har ki Dun trek is during October-November. This is the time when the meadows are blooming with lush greenery and beautiful flowers. You can see horses silently grazing over the meadow along the river bank.

Precautions to take

Going for a trek is never like a regular journey, pack your bags and go. There are a number of things and precautions that needs to be taken care of while planning a trek. Some of the ones that need to be taken while going to Har ki Dun are:

1. Start preparing from early days. By the time you go for the trek, you should be able to cover the distance of 5km in not more than 30 minutes.
2. Start exercising- stretching, jogging or anything in that case so that you start building up stamina and can avoid cramps on your journey.
3. There are no well equipped medical facilities at such height, so carry a general medical tool and be calm at time of any sort of emergency.
4. You won’t find mobile signals beyond Purola and Sankri, so inform your closed ones before you begin the final trek.

For any queries regarding treks, drop us a note at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com

7 Winter Treks in India that’ll leave you with the most surreal experiences

In India, the winter doesn’t arrive in December. We are talking about the real spine-chilling winter which only arrives in the mid-January. So what is the perfect timing for the treks in the snow, the last week of December is the answer. The snow isn’t thick enough to cause disturbance to the trekkers and they have a wonderful experience roaming around sightseeing in the pure white snow. There are a few popular places in the country which are deemed perfect for the treks in the snowy mountains, here we have listed our top picks among them, take a good look.

Kedarkantha- Located in the western part of the North Indian state, Kedarkantha is popular as one of the most exciting yet risky treks in the snow. The trek is four days long and the camping up in the mountains amidst the deadly cold temperature is one experience not meant for the week of the hearts. The camp at about 1200 feet from the ground will give you a great 360-degree view of the entire area.

Har ki Dun- Located in the same state as Kedarkantha, this is one another highly desired trek routes in the northern part of the country. However, many people are not aware the fun they can have here in the winters, so they go for the summer treks. But the situation has immensely improved in the past couple of years. The 8-day long trek moves through the beautiful valley and even more beautiful villages.

Deoriatal- Chandrashila- Another winter trek makes its way into hearts when the snow begins to fall in Uttarakhand. The entire ranges of western Uttarakhand are visible when you achieve the highest point during the trek. The eccentric view of all the magnificent mountain ranges of India are visible and its turns out to be a magical experience. The trek lasts for about 6 days and is known to be one of the most dangerous trek routes in the country.

Sandakphu- On the eastern part of the country is one hidden gem of a winter trek which remains unexplored to a large extent. This is one of highest snow treks in the country and you get a great view of all the tallest Indian mountain ranges in a great 360-degree view. The 7-day trek is mostly taken in the summer and other seasons but in winters, the experience is breathtaking.

Brahmatal- This beautiful trekking location is there in Uttarakhand again but it has managed to secure the place in our list due to the added attractions you witness once you go up the mountain. The frozen lake on the way, the eccentric view of the valley from one of the highest points in the country, everything begins to make sense and you realize it feels very short even when it lasts for 6 days.

Chadar – Want to head for a trek the snow-bound villages? Some villages become absolutely inaccessible right from November till March. But imagine a way to access the snow-bound villages? Yes you can trek on the top of the ice of frozen rivers. The chadar trek is one such significant route which connects the villages in the in Zanskar valley with Chillingon the road to Leh along the iced up Zanskar River. The route has been experienced since centuries for trade and transportation purposes. It is said to be most reliable in February when the ice is most stable.

Parashar Encircled by the Dhauladhar ranges in Kullu Valley is a blue-water lake called Prashar which is no less than a graceful secret in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. You will be greeted by a charming trail through a forest and several rivulets while you experience the trek. Meanwhile, one can cherish the local culture as the trail goes through villages as well. The trek offers the most magnificent 180-degree view of the Dhauladhar, Pir Panjal, and Kinnaur mountain ranges.

Snow trekking is adventurous, risky, brilliant and magnetic. Yes, there are risks and there are a few accidents that do take place every now and then. But there is the certain charm about it that compels people to do it again and again and this is an experience that remains unforgettable for years, even decades.