Har ki Dun trek is one of the best and the most popular trekking spots of Uttarakhand. Har ki Dun trek is also called to be the stairway to heaven and also famous by the name of Hanging Valley of Gods which is a cradle-shaped valley. Nestled at the splendid peak of Fateh Parvati and at a height of 3,566 m from sea level, Har ki Dun is one of the isolated and remotest places in the Devbhoomi of Uttarakhand. Its alpine vegetation and snow-capped peaks make this cradle-shaped valley a perfect spot for trekking excursions. You would be taken to the ancient Himalayan villages to explore them by trekking through the Har Ki Dun valley. The trek is famous for dense forests and sparkling peaks.
The Har ki Dun valley can be explored by starting from the Govind National Park.
If you are an adventure lover and trekking enthusiast then Har Ki Dun trek should be on your bucket list. If you are a professional trekker and you have not tried out this trek then you would be missing out on a lot of fun. You can view the most spectacular scenes of the Himalayas while being on this trek.
Season to Visit
Har ki Dun has pleasant weather conditions throughout the year except for monsoons. From December to March, the region experiences wonderful snowfall, thus, you need proper physical training and experience to head for the trek during this time. The average temperature ranges from 11°C to 2°C, although at night temperature and falls below freezing point.
Moreover, the spring season i.e. from mid-April to June is considered as the best time to engage in the expedition. At this time, the average temperature ranges between 22°C to 10°C.
September to November is considered a safe weather condition. The average temperature ranges between 18°C to 9°C.
How to Reach
As the Har ki Dun trek starts basically from Dehradun. Dehradun is very well connected with airways, roadways, and railways.
The Jolly Grant airport is the domestic airport of Dehradun and it is well connected with all the cities of India. The railway station of Dehradun is the Dehradun railway station and it also is connected with all the cities.
You can also choose the roadways and choose the bus journeys for reaching Dehradun. You can either opt for public transport as well your private transport.
Any of these mediums is convenient to reach the city. You can choose the one that you prefer. And then from Dehradun, you have to take a drive to Sankri to start the trek.
Har ki Dun Trek
The Har Ki Dun trek officially starts from the Sankri area. It is a 10-hour drive from Dehradun.
Sankri is the base camp. All together it’s a 24 Km trek from Puani Garaat to Kalkatiyadhar to the Har ki Dun.
In Puani Garaat the trek gradient is quite easy and you will come across some amazing forest trails. From Kalkatiyar the trek starts increasing its density.
You would easily view the meadows from here and the confluence of the two rivers.
You would have to climb the boulders and finally reach the forest stretch. The view here is simply gorgeous.
The difficulty level of the Har ki Dun trek is moderate. The trek is not an easy or a basic one.If you are a beginner or have never been on any trek then it is advisable to gain some experience because of the strenuous trek gradients. It is an 8-day trek so it might become quite difficult for you to survive if you are a beginner. If you are a professional trekker then consider this trek to be a fun one and definitely have this on your bucket list.
The highest altitude of the trek is 11, 700 feet and it is quite high. This makes the trek quite difficult. The meadows, forest trails, ridges, and climate makes it a tough trek. The climate of the place is also challenging and this makes the trek a difficult one.
The chilly winds in the forest trail, with the lakes all around, and under the sky make the whole ambiance cold enough. The best season for this trek is during the months of Monsoons to Winters and this makes the trek tough enough.
Permits and Permissions
Before going to any Himalayan destination including the Har Ki Dun trek, you need to take permission and the permit of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) to let your Himalaya trekking expedition go smoothly. It takes one day to issue this permit.
These permits and permissions are really important to take before going on any Indian trek because they are the ones who give you the authority to enter a certain region.
If you are going on a trekking expedition through a trekking company then they take these permissions on your behalf and sort your issues.
Things to carry
- Respect nature and local traditions
- Be in a group of 3 to 4 people
- Respect local culture and be sensitive towards wildlife
- People with heart disease, diabetes, asthma or high altitude sickness should avoid the trek
- Work on the fitness levels for the trek
- Trekking shoes/Trekking pole
- Warm clothes
- Mosquito repellent
- LED flashlight
- Headlamp with extra batteries
- Extra pair of woolen socks/ Raincoat/Gloves
- Sunscreen Lotion
- Sunglasses/Lip balm
- Water Bottles
- Energy drink and bars
- Emergency Medical Kit
Har Ki Dun’s trekking expedition not only gives you wonderful memories to cherish but also helps you conquer your fears. A closer sight of the jewels hidden in the snow capsule mountains is something that you should definitely experience at least once in a lifetime.
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