Har Ki Dun Valley Trek with Ruinsara

Day 1: Dehradun – Sankri 8 hour drive

The journey will start at 6.00 am from Dehradun Railway Station to Sankri and it will take around 9 hrs. We will drive via Dehradun and Mussoorie, alongside the Yamuna and also passes by beautiful pine forests. On reaching Sankri, we will explore the scenic hamlet to prepare for the trek. i.On the first day of your Har ki Dun Trek schedule, you will be heading to a little village in the Garhwal Himalayas named Sankri which is the base village of Har ki Dun Trek. It is located at around 190+ kilometre of distance from the city of Dehradun. The drive to this village is as enchanting as the views of the Garhwal Himalayas from this little hamlet of Sankri. On the way to Sankri, you would also be passing by the famous hill station of Mussoorie. Also, there would be several waterfalls welcoming you on the roads.Overnight stay at Sankri.

Day 2: Sankri to Talkua, trek to Chillurgad (2,500 m) 1 hour drive and 5-6 hrs Trek

From the base camp, you shall be riding in a local jeep, passing through the rough hilly terrain. Get ready to cross the stream and gushing waterfalls on your adventurous jeep ride. After a crazy ride on the topsy-turvy roads of the Garhwal Himalayas, you would be dropped near the Taluka Village. From here, your journey of traversing through the flowery meadows and turbulent streams starts. The villages along the trek route are also a sight to admire. Belonging to the era when this valley was a part of Duryodhan’s empire, these villages project a unique culture. Perched on the hillocks, the tiny hamlets looks like straight from the fairytale books.

The trekking route doesn’t include much of a steep ascent. River Supin would be gushing-by all along your trekking route to the Har Ki Dun Valley. After a stiff climb by crossing the Seema-Osla Bridge over a stream, you would reach one of the ancient villages of Har Ki Dun Valley.

The village here is known for the only surviving temple of Duryodhan where they have placed the deity of Someshwara. Until very recently, the people of the village followed the tradition of Mahabharata. The alluring view of the valley can best be admired from almost every house in this tiny village. You can also explore the handlooms run in small houses. The ladies here stitch the best woolen products that are exported to the markets all over India. People visiting this valley usually do not miss this chance of buying straight from the weavers.

Day 3: Chillurgad to Kalkatidhar (3,020 m) or Boslo (3,200 m) 5 hrs

As we start the days trek we realize the shee magnificence of the landscape surrounding Osla - full of terraced farms. The colors of these lands differ in every season. The red farms of Cholai (Amaranth) look amazing and can be seen from late monsoon. Osla is the last village on the route to Har ki Dun. From Osla the trail gradually rises higher and the river can be seen far below. We come across a temple some distance below the trail towards the right. We pass through bushes of flowers like orchids, fleece flowers and sunflowers. The ascending path climbs high above the confluence of Supin river and the river from Ruinsara valley. From near this confluence, we get a view of the snow-clad peaks of Ruinsara valley including Black Peak, the highest peak in the region.

The journey today is rather short, which gives the opportunity to acclimatize to the high altitude and prepare for the next days journey. We can take a breather basking in the sun at the beautiful campsite of Kalkatidhar. The ban to camp at Har Ki Dun has had a rather positive outlook to the trekking itinerary, as it allows for more comfort & at the same time preserves the natural beauty of Har Ki Dun.

Day 4:Kalkatidhar or Boslo to Har ki Dun, and return trek to Boslo. 7-8 hrs Trek

The days trek can be considered to be rather long as we today visit Har Ki Dun and Marinda Tal, a small lake formation due to the obstructing boulder across the river stream, which lies 2 KM further ahead of Har Ki Dun. As we start the trek, at a short distance a hidden and roaring waterfall is encountered with a small tea shop beside the waterfall.

After traversing higher up along the true right of the river, we enter the final stretch which is inside a forest. The forest opens up into the main camping area of Har ki Dun, right beside the gurgling stream. This is a very panoramic spot in Har ki Dun located at the junction of two valleys, one originating from Jaundhar glacier and the other from beyond Hata glacier. Higher up towards the North we can spot the Forest Rest House, while the wood crafted GMVN guest house lies further up in the distance. The Har ki Dun peak stands tall right in front of us behind the Forest Rest House. Towards its left, Hata peak which is usually snow covered can be seen. The minor ridge to our right, lined with a few scattered Himalayan birch trees Bhojpatra separates us from the massive Har Ki Dun valley that goes up all the way to the base of Swargarohini Peak. The paper like bark of these trees was used in ancient times to write religious scriptures.

The vast open meadows following the course of the Supin river can be explored. Further ahead of the meadows one can walk among the forests of Bhojpatra trees (Himalayan birch) or get a closer glimpse of the Jaundhar glacier and Swargarohini peak, for which we will have to head updwards the Har Ki Dun valley, towards the Swargaroini peak in the eastern direction.

We can choose to relax and soak in the environment for some time before we continue our trek to Boslo.

Day 5: Boslo to Untigad(3400 m) 5-6 hrs Trek

A moderate trek of around 6-7 km would first lead you to the same trail towards Osla village. It then moves downhill towards the Ruinsara Valley. A few kilometres of trail of this Ruinsara trek, before reaching the camping grounds near the waterfall, passes through the dense forest. The age-old trees on this trek seem to be kissing the sky. The forest then eventually opens into a vast green land. The open grassy meadows with the whispering sound of the tumbling waterfall make for a perfect campsite. The sky, on a no moon, the night can be seen studded with twinkling stars. The campsite of Untigad is marked by the sudden onset of Bhojpatra trees and a stark change in landscape with the valley widening. We camp here some 1.5 km short of the lake.