Har Ki Dun – Trek to The Valley of God

Har Ki Dun is a beautiful cradle shaped hanging valley in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is surrounded by snow-covered peaks and alpine vegetation. This valley is at an altitude of approx 3500m above mean sea level and is snow-covered during November to March.

The 48 kms trek is a delight, passing through the Govind National Park, the trek consist of alpine meadows, moraine ridges, pine forests, glacier basins and 3000 years old villages and temples.

This is a valley trek where you trek along the Supin River to Har Ki Dun valley. The trek has a very interesting mythology to justify the name of “Valley of Gods”. It has been said that Pandavas took the very same route to ascend to heaven via Swargarohini, the mountain that surrounds the Har Ki Dun valley. This is the only valley from where you can see Bandarpoonch, Blackpeak and Swargarohini – I, II, III, all together. You can also see the Ruinsara peaks from here.

The trek is considered safe for beginners and young trekkers.

It is an 8-10 hours drive from Dehradun to Sankri. Pick up point will be Dehradun Railway station at 6.30 am.

The Base Camp: Sankri

Sankri, base camp for this trek, 1950 meters above sea level, is a small beautiful village with 250 houses. It is located in yamuna valley near Mori town in Uttarkashi district. Sankri is known as gateway for trekking journey as this serves as base camp for many other treks – Kedarkantha, Bali Pass and Borasu Pass. You must watch beautiful sunset from this village.

Road from Dehradun to Sankri will take you through Nainbagh, Naugaon, Purola, Jarmola, Mori and Naitwar.

Important to Note: ATM point and Mobile connectivity Purola and Sankri have BSNL mobile phone connections that work intermittently – both mobile and landline. Do not depend on the intermittent signal in the mountains. Finish all your important calls at Purola, which is around 2 hours before Sankri. Please inform family members about limited phone connectivity.

         “When you register for trek your body thoughts and emotions begin a new journey.”

• Altitude: 6,397 ft (1,950 m) to 8,280 ft (2,524 m) via 7,953 ft (2,424 m)
• Time & Distance: 8 hours. 12 km drive to Taluka + 13 km trek to Puani Garaat
• Nature of Slope: Easy. Easy walk for about 30 minutes followed by a 30 minute ascent, levelling off for about 45 minutes. Steep climb for 25 minutes followed by level walks and gradual ascents to Puani Garaat.
• Water Availability: You can refill your water bottles in the river along the trail.

Your Body, First 30 mins of walk, your heart shall beat so fast, that it would look almost impossible to imagine that you can do the entire trek. Your Mind shall begin to fight with your body for being on trek. Your Emotions shall not know which side to take.

You will not be sure, whether this is happening with you only or everyone on the trek is facing the similar situation. Soon you will realize, it’s same with everyone. Your emotions shall pair up with mind and shall inspire your body to keep moving, one step a time. A few sips of water every now and then. You would not realize, unless your trek leader shall tell you that you had been walking for 2 hours and you have gained significant altitude. Vistas will start shifting, you breathing shall find rhythm with your body. You will begin to congratulate yourself for being here.

• Altitude: 8,280 ft (2,524 m) to 8,956 ft (2,730 m)
• Time & Distance: 6 hours, 7 km
• Nature of Slope: Easy. Initial 90 minutes of level walks and small, steep sections followed by continuous ascent on a gradually increasing incline.
• Water Availability: You can refill your water bottles from the river along the trail.

Previous day you trekked for 13 km. You were amazed at yourself and at capacity of your body. You realized, in real life your are underplaying. Your mind shall be ticking and shall be sending you ideas for upgrading your games. Emotionally you shall be all charged up. Morning Dhyan and yog shall bring your entire energy at the center of yourself. You shall feel the silence inside out, this kind of connection with self shall be divine.
 
You shall experience having mindset of a champion. Your thoughts emotions and body shall team up, singularity of focus shall emerge. This state of mind is beautiful.

• Altitude: 8,956 ft (2,730 m) to 11,768 ft (3,587 m)
• Time & Distance: 5 hours, 4 km
• Nature of Slope: Easy. Initial descent of 15 minutes followed by mostly level walk for about 90 minutes. Steep climb for 15 minutes followed by a level walk and boulder section finishing off with a gradually ascending trail.
• Water Availability: You can refill your water bottles from the river along the trail.

This day of trekking you shall never forget in your life. Your emotions shall start wavering between two feelings. One you shall find your existence to be negligible in face of these mammoth mountains, this shall provoke futility of petty games that are sucking your energy in real life. You shall feel urge of letting go of a lot of past that you are holding onto. On the another hand your heart shall be saying, nothing else really matters except being happy and moving forward. Pay attention to your pristine thoughts, in those moments, your thought process can move dramatically for good.

On reaching har ki dun, you would be happiest as to begin with what was seemingly impossible, has become possible and beauty of nature shall encapsulate all of you. Breathe, rest, meditate experience being one with the nature.

When we reach Har ki Dun, the virgin beauty of the valley, alpine flowers and ever flowing Supin river shall melt your heart and you would never want to leave the valley.

You can explore either Maninda Taal or Jaundar Glacier or Swarg Rohini Meadows. Har ki Dun campsite is so beautiful that if you are an artist or a writer or have any other hobby, you must carry the required accessories and spending entire day Har ki Dun valley will be a bliss. Reading by the Supin River is another beautiful option that you must consider.

• Altitude : 11,768 ft (3,587 m) to 8,280 ft (2,524 m)
• Time & Distance : 6-7 hours, 11 km
• Nature of Slope : Easy. Trek back on the same route that you came by.
• Water Availability : You can refill your water bottles from the river along the trail.

A long journey back to Puani Garaat, 11 km. Today you are confident, 11 km is not scaring you, this itself is a victory. Your confidence on you body and fitness has taken new scale. You are singing your way down, you are more open to the beauty of supin river its color & its flow. Your focus has shifted from yourself to your team mates. More seems possible now. Your head is already making plans on what’s next? Till now you have heard the stories of victory, success, transcending your limits, today you are living them. Enjoy your flow, keep moving, keep weaving your stories.

• Altitude : 8,280 ft (2,524 m) to 7,953 ft (2,424 m) to 6,397 ft (1,950 m)
• Time & Distance : 8 hours, 13 km trek + 12 km drive
• Nature of Slope : Easy. Trek back on the same route that you came by.
• Water Availability : You can refill your water bottles from the river along the trail.

This is jungle route, trees you shall meet had been there for ages. They have unspoken wisdom. You may want to hug a few of them and soak their energy. Some trees shall be invitation to meditate. Passing through a jungle takes you to primitive you experience. No one escapes the thought that this is how our earth was and what we have made out of it. You would hate brick n mortar, you would promise to yourself that on going back you would plant a few more trees in your native place. Today you shall not want this walk to finish though your body shall be tired. Today you shall turn back atleast 20 times to capture beautiful trek that you are about to finish.

Depart from Sankri by 7 am. You are expected back in Dehradun by 6 pm. Time taken is 10-11 hours