Har ki Dun Trek

Har ki Dun is one of the most popular treks in Garhwal Himalayas, simply because it offers such a trance-like an experience during the whole journey. At Har-ki-dun valley, you wake up under the shade of Swargarohini peak – which in Hindi means the ‘path to heaven’. And that experience is not describable, you just feel it.

Har ki dun lies in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand in one of the remotest part of Himalayas. The cultural experience here is next to none. Villages like Gangar and Osla on the way makes you contemplate about life. To experience the difference of lifestyle between them and yourself is something that the Himalayas does to you. It makes you think and question. Har ki dun is one such trek where your imagination will go into the dreamlike mode.

Although Har ki dun is considered round the year trek, it may not be so for beginners. In the months of July and August, the monsoons don’t allow much of adventure in this region. And in extreme winters, the bitter cold and snow make life hard. Therefore, the best time to pursue Har ki dun trek is right before the onset of monsoon and right before the arrival of winters.

The trek details given below are the most accurate one and provided by a travel writer of HelpTravelerOnline. So they are very reliable.

HAR KI DUN TREK DETAILS

• Difficulty: MODERATE
• Trek Distance: 55-km
• Trek Duration: 7-8 Days
• Location: Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand, India
• Best Time: April-June and mid-September till November. Winter trekking is also possible.
• Nearest international airport: New Delhi, India
• Nearest domestic airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradun, Himachal Pradesh

Equipment Checklist for Har ki Dun Trek

• Footwear: Trekking Boots (snow and water proof), normal walking boots, and floaters.
• Luggage: Backpack (50-60 liters), Daypack, Duffel bag.
• Clothes: Waterproof breathable jacket & pants, Jacket (synthetic or fleece of down feather), insulated pants (Synthetic), Poncho, Sweatshirt, inner thermal (upper & lower), t-shirts, cotton trekking pants, shorts.
• Gear for Hand & Head: Liner glove, Bandanna, Sun hat, Woolen caps, Face mask etc.
• Accessories: Sunglasses/Goggles, anti-glare glasses, Headlamp with spare bulb and extra batteries.
• Trekking Gears: Emergency tool kit, etc.
• Protection and First-Aid: Sunscreen, Toiletry kit, Water purification tablets, Zip-lock bags, Ear plugs, First-aid and all essential medicines.
• Camping Equipment: Tents, sleeping bags (extreme -5 Celsius) with liner, trekking poles, water bottles, Sleeping mat, etc.

Har ki Dun trek Overview

The Har ki Dun trek covers well about 50-60 km of trekking in 05 odd days of backpacking. The drive from Dehradun to Sankri and Taluka is totally mountainous but very exciting. You get to witness mountains farming style and local scenery even during the drive to Sankri.

From Sankri, a 45-minute drive to Taluka will start your backpacking days in the Himalayas. One thing noteworthy about Har ki dun trek is that you will find GMVN guesthouses at Seema and Har ki Dun. So you may skip the option of staying in tents if you plan properly and book rooms at the guest house in advance.

Near Seema is the pretty village of Osla. Make sure you visit there for a while and speak to local people there.

The Har ki Dun trek also gives you outstanding views of major peaks of Garhwal like Bunderpoonch, Swargarohini and Kalanag (Black peak) to name a few.