Har Ki Dun is one of the oldest treks in the Western HIMALAYAS of UTTARKASHI District of GOVIND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY. It is well known for its vast variety of flora and fauna and the local culture of this beautiful place which inhabits here for many generations.
It is nestled in between a cradle shaped vale below the beautiful Har Ki Dun peak. The trail leads through beautiful alpine meadows and dense pine forest with lush greenery and snow-capped mountains all around.
With its long vast ancient history-the local culture of the village makes it most valuable and needs to preserve as it is one of the most important parts of GARHWAL culture which recognizes the local culture.
This is a valley trek which leads through a well-known SUPIN RIVER which is one of the most integral parts of this valley. If you have heard it a SUPIN and RUPIN that makes the TONS RIVER. And are tributaries of this magnificent river.
If you are lucky enough you may spot some life Flying squirrel, Fox, Deer, Langoor, Black bear, Wild boars and many more. You may spot some key birds like Myna, Hoopoes, Bulbuls, Owls, Bearded vulture, Golden eagle just to name few.
The valley which is also known as “VALLEY OF GODS” or “GODS OWN LAND” is the same places from where the PANDAVAS took the trail to heaven via SWARGAROHINI. It provides one of the most magnificent views of the surrounding mountains.
You can get to see the view of some of the key peak such as SWARGAROHINI, KALANAG (Black peak), BANDARPOOCH from here and a trail that lead to JAUNDHAR GLACIER and MARINDA TAL which is 3 km from here.
People over here worship the lord SAMESHWAR which is a common Idol deity in the region. The village OSLA which is one of the most well-known for preserving its local culture for generations is the last village in the valley.
Life for them here is full of challenges and struggle as the closest market is 14 km away with no motorable road. They buy their necessary goods from TALUKA the nearest MARKET. They carry goods on their back and especially in winter they stock the goods as in winter there is a lot of snow in the region.
Jolly Grant Airport (Google Map)
Dehradun
Sankri is a small market place with few hotels, GNVM, and the forest rest house and a few shops to buy things. It is a base camp for Kedarkantha, Phulara Ridge Trek, Bali pass and Black Peak expedition. It is mostly bustling with trekking activity as it is considered a trekker hub. It is not just a scenic place situated in the Uttarkashi district of Govind Wildlife Sanctuary. The place offers ecstatic views of the Himalayan skyline and a plethora of the mountain peaks surrounding Sankri.
The drive will take you through Mussoorie (the queen of hills) Kempty Fall, Nainbagh (from Nainbagh a road lead t Pantwadi a base camp for Nagtibba weekend trek) Naugaon, Purola, Mori, and Naitwar from where the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary begins. There is a checkpoint where your id will be checked before heading for Sankri and on your left turn from the checkpoint ahead, the road leads to Dhaula, which is a base camp for Rupin Pass trek and eventually you arrive in Sankri.
Start early today after breakfast. Trekker will drive in a MahindraBolero from Sankri to Taluka which is a 12 km and a 45 minutes long drive. The drive takes you through a dense pine forest and Halara Khad which is a most devastating place as it is prone to flood and the river overflow washing away the entire place almost every monsoon. The road goes through 10 to 12 mountain bends give the most beautiful view of the Shirga village. Though the drive is scenic, going through a bamboo, chestnut and dense deodars all around.
Finally reaching Taluka, a beautiful market with old fashioned wooden houses with corrugated roofs. Taluka marketplace for villagers from Datmir, Ganghad Osla, and Puwani where they buy their thing from. From here there is a tiny descend and crop field on the side. They are a few oaks and water stream with a small powerhouse for generating electricity. Proceeding farther you will get in the forest which is quite dense and the river on your left. After a level walk along the river, you will get the first glimpse of Bhida Ka Thach either side of the river where we set our emergency camp if needed.
Rest on the Thach for a while proceed further on your left as the road on your right clime up for a Datmir village. After a level walk along the river for half an hour, there is a little ascent and another ascent after an hour’s walk. You will arrive at a tea stall over we could get Maggi, coffee, and tea.
Walk straight you’ll get the glimpse of Gangad village on your left just above the river and little further you will bump into another tea stall and a homestay. There is an hour’s walk to get o Chillurdgad campsite. You will be camping just right next to the river.
There is a level walk along the river till Seema which is about 20-minute walk from the campsite from where the route diverts one for Devshu Thach and on your left crossing, the bridge goes for kalkatiyadhar. From a bridge is a steep ascend which about half an hour. After completing the ascent there is a straight walk for another 2 km when finally at on the crop field where the villager grows wheat, rajma, and potato which is common in the region.
Keep walking straight ahead for another when you finally will arrive one last ascent which is about 200 meters long. Finally, you will step on the field and kept walking for 5 more minutes when you will get to the campsite. Enjoy the evening over here with the amazing of the surrounding mountain peaks.
Today you will start early as you will have to as you will going to Har Ki Dun and then back to Kalkatiyadhar. There is an easy ascent, in the beginning, it proceeds into the glacier basin having moraines and alpine meadows. The giant deodar and pine and oak trees will greet you at every step.
As you reach the valley you can the mighty peak of Swargarhohini, Back peak, Hata peak and from here Maninda Taal is just 3km away from the valley. After exploring the valley head back for the Kalkatiyadhar campsite.
From today it is the return journey for the next two days it is the same trail you will be walking on. We shall be retracing the footstep through the Osla village to Chillurdgad. Follow the same route that you walked on earlier to get to Chillurdgad. Enjoy your last day of camping over here on the riverside.
It is a 5 to 6 hours walk from here to head back to Taluka and the 45-minute drive to Sankri. The vehicle will drive you from Taluka. Spent your last day exploring the Sankri market where you can buy an organic product from the local vendors or you try organic food over here, make most of the evening.
The seven-day long journey ends over here with 8 to 9 hrs long drive back to Dehradun. Enjoy the drive with a beautiful view of your Himalayan ride.
