Har Ki Dun Trek: Here's Everything You Need To Know

Uttarakhand is home to countless treks and Har ki Dun trek is one such offbeat expedition, which takes you through the unexplored Himalayas. The word ‘Har ki Dun’ means the Valley of Gods and features a cradle-shaped formation perched at 3566 meters in the Govind Ballabh Pant National Park. The valley offers panoramic vistas of prominent peaks, including Bandarpunch, Kalanag and Swargarohini.

About Har ki Dun

The trek to Har Ki Doon, in Uttarkashi, is known by many names: Hari ki Dhun and Har ki Doon. The trek includes areas of mountains and valleys that are rich in biodiversity and offer great views of the Himalayas. The valley is a part of the Yamuna River System catchment area, where irrigation and hydropower plants are located.Har Ki Dun is a trek in Uttarakhand that can be done either as a day trip or as an overnight excursion. You can get to Sankri, the base point of the trek, from Dehradun by driving for 10 hours. Taluka is a serene hamlet featuring Kumauni cultures.

Pauni Garaat trek proceeds from Pauni Garaat towards Kalkattiyadhar. Har ki Dun is nearly 10 km from Kalkattiyadhar, and it takes 5 hours to reach the final destination. On returning, you will cross another Himalayan village, Osla, before reaching Sankri and eventually Dehradun.

Overview:

Region – Uttarakhand.

Trek Duration – 7 to 8 Days.

Difficulty Level – Easy To Moderate.

Max Height – 12,000 Ft.

Trek Distance – 44 km.

Trail Type – Round trail (Sankri – Har ki Dun – Sankri).

Base Camp – Sankri.

Best Time to Trek – Throughout the year, except monsoon. The region experiences snowfall between December to April.

Day by Day Itinerary

The Har Ki Dun trek takes you through the ancient villages of Himachal Pradesh, where you can meet the residents and experience an amalgamation of local cultures and practices that helps them meet their day-to-day challenges at these rough terrains. The following is the itinerary for the Har Ki Dun trek:

Day 1: Dehradun to Sankri (220 km drive).

Day 2: Sankri to Pauni Garaat via Taluka (12 km drive to Taluka, followed by 6 hours walk to Pauni Garaat).

Day 3: Pauni Garaat to Kalkattiyadhar (8 km walk that takes 6-7 hours).

Day 4: Kalkattiyadhar to Har ki Dun and return to Kalkattiyadhar (10 km walk that takes 9 hours).

Day 5: Kalkattiyadhar to Pauni Garaat via Osla (8 km walk that takes 5 hours).

Day 6: Pauni Garaat to Sankri via Taluka (10 km trek, followed by an hour drive to homestay or guest house).

Day 7: Sankri to Dehradun (220 km drive).

Har Ki Dun Trek: Places to See 

1.  Taluka village

The scenic hamlet of Taluka is a short drive from Sankri. It has a cluster of wooden houses where heart-warming locals welcome visitors for night stays at a nominal price. With the sounds of the gushing river and never-ending conversations about the region, Taluka is an ideal place to halt and explore the local lifestyle of remote Himalayan villages.

2.  Govind National Park

The Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area that covers an area of 958 sq km. It is home to the Rupin and Supin valleys, which form a catchment for the main tributary of River Yamuna. The region features diverse flora, including rhododendron, Himalayan cedar, beech trees, spikenard plants and spruce trees. Mammals include 20 kinds of mammals and over 100 species of birds.

3. Har Ki Dun Valley.

Har Ki Dun Valley is a hidden valley located at 3,566 meters. It is covered under a thick blanket of snow between December and March, offering spectacular vistas of Swargarohini Peak, Kala Nag Peak, Bandarpoonch and more. It is one of the offbeat valleys in Garhwal Himalayas.

4. Someshwar Mahadev Temple.

Someshwar Mahadev Temple in Sankri hosts annual festivals and fairs. The Pahadi-style architecture of the temple displays pure wooden art carved out of Deodars. The temple is a religious site that belongs to the Pandavas era, and you can spend some hours here while capturing the sights of Swargarohini peaks.

The Best Time for a Har Ki Dun Trek

Har ki Dun trek is best to plan between April to June and September to December. However, for snow trekking, you must visit in February or March. Make sure you put enough time for getting acclimatized to the high altitudes.

Summer

The summer months are a great time to visit. The weather remains pleasant, with clear skies making the trip comfortable. The temperature might dip down to -1° C at night, so make sure you bring warm clothes.

Monsoon

During monsoon season, avoid planning your expedition. Trail conditions may be treacherous and roads can be blocked by landslides.

Winter

Winters at the Har Ki Dun Valley are stunning. During the winter, snowfall occurs, but accommodation options are limited. Therefore, if you plan to visit in winter, pack warm clothes, jackets and raincoats; fleece jackets; thermals; or anything else that might get you through a cold day. The temperature ranges between -15 °C and -10°C at this time of year.