Har Ki Dun Trek is a lovely valley in Uttarakhand snuggled in the arms of the western Himalayas. The valley may be entered through the Govind Ballabh Pant National Park; make your way walking through the pine and alpine woods, moraine ridges, glacier basins, and historic settlements that hum the fabled legends of the Pandavas finding their way to heaven through this valley.
The tale
The mountains tell the story of Yudhishthir, the eldest Pandav brother, and a dog ascending to heaven via Swargarohini, the valley’s highest mountain peak.
Following their trail will take you to a breathtaking panoramic view of the Swargarohini – I, II, III, Bandarpoonch peak, and Blackpeak (also known as Kala Nag peak). From this valley, one may also glimpse the peaks of Ruinsara.
How to reach Har Ki Dun Valley?
To begin the Har Ki Dun trip, travel to Sankri, a small village around 200 kilometres from Dehradun. You can take a jeep or trek to Taluka, which is roughly 12 kilometres away from Sankri. The path from here is a little steep for a few kilometres before dropping to Har Ki Dun.
What all to do and see?
This area supports a diverse range of plants and fauna. So while you travel along the Thamsa River to the Har Ki Dun Valley you may easily identify families of Langoors, golden eagles, the brilliant Himalayan monal, which is also the state bird of Uttarakhand. If you’re lucky, you might even see black bears, wild boars, and barasingha, among other species, prospering in their native habitat.
1. Trekking
Though there aren’t many sights to see along the way, the abundant natural beauty of snow-clad mountains, gushing rivulets, and cascading waterfalls flanked by untouched forests of pine and oak overwhelming your senses with the odour of the earth keeps the eyes and souls of the adventurous travellers captivated at all times.
Trek 4 kilometres ahead of Har Ki Dun to reach the Jamdhar glacier and Morinda Tal.
2. Camping
After a full day of trekking and exploring the valley, one can relax and rejuvenate with their companions in a nice tent beneath the open sky, with no light pollution to obscure the view of the majestic Himalayan peaks and millions of stars above illuminating the night.
3. Village tourism
You will pass through several hamlets that house the indigenous communities of these more than 300-year-old mountains. Beautiful villages like as Osla, Sankri, Taluka, and Jakhol, for example, have a lot to say about their history, tradition, and slow-paced rustic existence away from the concrete chaos of cities. You can take a break and explore these locations to enhance your Har Ki Dun experience.
4. Bird watching and photography
With so much to see, memories must be preserved. Photographers are captivated by the enormous variety of flora and fauna. Bring your cameras to capture the moments so you can remember them later.
Also Have a Look on – Hampta pass Trek
