Har Ki Dun Trek

rek Overview

Quick Facts

Max Altitude
12,000 ft.
Trek Duration
6 Night / 7 Days
Trek Distance
42 Km
Difficulty Level
Easy to moderate
Start/End Point
Prince Chowk, Dehradun
Nearest Airpot
Jollygrant Airpot, Dehradun
Best Season
March-June / Sep- Dec
Accomodation
A night in hotel room & during trek in dome styled tent
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner
Permits
Forest Department & Trekking permit
Temperature
10°C to 18°C (daytime) & 5°C to -10°C (night)
Snow
March to Mid May / Nov to Feb

The Har Ki Dun Trek is one of the beautiful mesmerizing valleys in the Garhwal region. It is also known as the Valley of God with an elevation of 11,700 ft high in Govind Pashu Vihar National Park (Uttarakhand), and is considered to be one of the most picturesque valleys in the Himalayas. This 'cradle' valley of gods has deep connections to Vedic mythology, as it is believed to be the route taken by the Pandavas before reaching heaven via the stunning Swargarohini Peaks, Bandarpoonch Peak and Black Peak that tower above the valley floor. The trek is a moderate 42-kilometre starting from the picturesque base camp of Sankri, taking you through ancient wooden villages, such as Osla (2000 years old), allowing trekkers to experience a unique form of life that has changed little since ancient times, in the midst of dense chestnut and deodar forest. The Har Ki Dun trek is one of India's most famous trekking destinations due to its distinct cultural legacy, paths along the banks of the Supin River and breathtaking views of the mountains covered in snow.

Why is the Har ki Dun Trek so special?

1. The Hanging Valley structure

It exhibits glacial discordance (the large difference between the eroding power of the larger/main trunk glacier versus the smaller/secondary, or tributary, glacier). An example is seen in Har Ki Dun, which is a hanging valley that is well-known in the area due to the smaller tributary glacier being unable to effectively erode its way down from the summit (trunk glacier), thereby creating an abandoned hanging valley.

The step feature: has an elevation change that is hard to believe due to the step elevation almost 500 meters (1,640 feet) vertically, all within a measurable distance of less than a meter. The reason for such an elevation change is due to the carver action of the Supin River cutting the gorge below, while the Har Ki Dun glacier remained above it.
The Amphitheatre Basin: Unlike the typical V-shaped valleys of the Himalayas carved via water erosion and the more typical narrow 'U' shaped valleys, this basin is a Macro Wooden-Basin. The Jaundhar and Swargarohini glaciers were massive blocks of ice and would have been difficult to transport as a result. The upper reaches of each would have acted like a giant grinding stone and sanded down the valley floor, thus creating a flat and wide meadow up to 1.5 km in width.

2. The Kath-Kuni Structure: (seismic engineering/construction)

The architecture of Osla and Gangad serves as a great example of the use of indigenous design methods to protect against seismic activity.

The Sandwich Approach: The deodar (Himalayan cedar) is a soft wood with a high resin content and therefore resistant to rotting. The fact that this system does not require mortar is intentional. During seismic activity, the interlocking timber and stones will shift and rub against each other, serving as a means of absorbing and dissipating (through friction) the kinetic energy caused by the event.
Thermal and Snow Management: In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, the cantilevered balconies create a 2–3 m dry zone beneath the house, where the villagers keep livestock and firewood. The environment on these balconies is crafted with cultural significance through the use of decorative carvings featuring the Brahma Kamal flower and various species of ferns endemic to the region of Rawain.

3. River Benchway Trail (Fluvio-Glacial Terraces)

The trail's "Constant Gradient" is due to fluvial terraces that are flat parcels of land that were once the riverbed thousands of years ago.

Ancient Floodplains: Instead of trekking along the ridges, you will walk along these "Benches" to maintain a constant heart rate and oxygen consumption, making this an ideal long-distance endurance trek as opposed to a vertical struggle.
Confluence Dynamics: Downstream from Osla, the Ruinsara Gad flows into (dark, sediment-heavy) Supin (clear blue, carrying meltwater from the Ruinsara region). The demarcation line in the river creates a feature called a confluence plume which can be seen for several hundred meters downstream.

4. The Bhojpatra Transition (as Bio-Indicator)

The transition at 11,000 ft marks the Ecological Timberline where the hardiest coniferous species give way to specialists that thrive at greatest elevations.

The Bio-Indicator: The Bhojpatra (Betula utilis) is the last tree species to grow before the start of the alpine meadow zone. The peeling characteristic of this tree is an adaptation that allows it to shed the moss and fungi that would cause decay in the high humidity snow zone.
Ecological Niche: This area is classified as a high-quality habitat because of its ecological importance to the Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus). The Monal feeds on roots and tubers found in the moist, soft earth below Birch trees. The trail runs through the centre of this specific grove and thus the trekkers that walk through it are entering an area that has been identified as a wildlife corridor and therefore have an increased chance (90% probability) of spotting a Monal during the early morning.

5. The 'Swargarohini' Visual Anchor

Vertical Relief: The 2,700m slope of Swargarohini I is an absolutely massive structure with a staggering visual elevation of 6,252m when viewed from the base of the mountain (3,566m). This creates a visual angle of about 45 degrees when viewed from the campsite making the mountain appear as if it is falling on the viewer.
Physical Verification of a Myth: The 'Four Peaks' are not simply points on a map; they are four completely unique stepped ridges. For a traveler 2,000 years ago, the four massive stepped ridges made of perennial ice looked very much like a staircase. The data that backs up the myth shows that the ridgelines of the massif contain a stair-stepped shape which is physically separated by roughly the same vertical stair-step interval. Therefore, the ridgelines form a literal stair-step geometry unique to this massif.

Trek Highlights

Scenic Beauty and Landscapes

The Hanging Valley: It is an example of how glaciers form hanging valleys. The formation is understood geologically by its position on a geological step that is above the main valley formed by the Supin River. The scientific measurement of this geologic formation shows that the floor of this valley was formed in a wide, flat U-shape as opposed to being formed by a narrow V-shaped valley.
The amphitheatre effect: The valley also contains features of being one of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, created when a massive glacier retreated down the valley and created the surrounding valley walls. This feature allows excellent views of the Swargarohini mountains to the north of the valley, which are rare in the rugged terrain of the Garhwal Himalayas.
Glacial Moraines: When entering the head of the valley, it transitions into the Jaundhar Glacier, which is a barren, dry area with extremely high rocks, moraines, and vividly colored blue ice.

Summit Experience

Vertical view of Swargarohini: The most prominent feature in the view from the valley floor of Har Ki Dun is the South Face of Swargarohini; it rises a vertical distance of 2,688 metres (8,800 feet) from the valley floor to the summit of the mountain, which rises to 6,252 metres (20,300 feet) above sea level. This creates an incredible visual impression of vertical distance as a person trek towards the summit from the valley floor.
Trinity of peaks: The summit view from the Har Ki Dun plateau contains three significant peaks; Kala Nag at 6,387 meters (20,600 feet), Bandarpoonch at 6,316 metres (20,500 feet), and Swargarohini at 6,252 meters (20,300 feet).
Harmonious Soundscapes: The high-altitude basin creates an ambience where the sound from the Supin River creates cascading walls against the surrounding mountain peaks, thus resulting in an environment that creates a left out effect.

Best Season & Seasonal Beauty

Spring (April - June): This is referred to as the Green Season as a result of the overflowing amount of alpine flowers along the valley floor; it is during this time period where you will be able to see the blooming of Rhododendrons as well as the maximum amount of water flow through the Supin River channels as the snow melts.
Autumn (September - November): This is known as the Crystal Season, where after the monsoon season we are left with absolutely clear weather, thus allowing for crystal clear photos of mountain views. In addition, the Deciduous trees in the low altitude zones exhibit brilliant orange foliage.
Winter (December - March): In winter, the valley transforms into a White Wonderland. It is one of the few high-altitude treks in India that remains a part of the trekking season even when it is covered in deep snow, thus giving you a real taste of a Himalayan winter. But we are not operationally governing this trek during this month.

Cultural & Village Life

Kath-Kuni Building Methods: In Osla and Gangad Villages, you will see the traditional building method of using Deodar wood logs and dry stone to create a wood-stone sandwich structure, which is built without any type of binding material (mortar) and thus allows for the wood and stone to interlock together.
The Someshwar Cult: The culture of this community is separate and distinct from the overall culture of the general region of Uttarakhand. The wooden temples of the Someshwar have elaborately carved doors, windows, and door hinges made from large serpents and deities, and the people of this community still dress in Pattu (handmade woolen) clothing and live communally according to ancient forest laws.
Mythological Corridor: This area of the Himalayas has long been thought to be the Stairway to Heaven since every important landmark along the route corresponds to the final journey taken by the Pandavas, whom the Hindus believe were five brothers (Pandavas).

Flora & Fauna

Bhojpatra (Paper Birch) Groves: At elevations above 11,000 ft., the tree species changes to that of an ancient Bhojpatra tree, which gets its white and peeling bark from the same material used to create the earliest manuscripts written in India.
Monal Belt: The combination of Birch and Rhododendron trees in this particular area makes it a prime breeding location for the Himalayan Monal, whose magnificent feather colours can be seen by anyone who walks through this region during the early morning.
Apex Predators: The Govind Pashu Vihar National Park has an abundance of Snow Leopards in the upper elevations of the park and Himalayan Black Bears living within it, as well as being a sanctuary for both species.

Adventure and Difficulty Level

Slope of the River-Bench: The trek is mostly a sloping, or gradual ascend. Compared to trekking over mountainous passes which may require extreme efforts to trek steep slopes, the slope of this route rather follows the natural geological form of the benches (or terraces) of the river along the valley.
Technical Difficulty: It is rated as moderate technical difficulty with an approximate round trip distance of 47-54 kms. The main challenges of this route are the difficulty of the distance and also the adventure of the last step to get to the upper valley of Har Ki Dun. To complete the trek successfully will require a high degree of physical conditioning, particularly a strong cardiovascular system.
Altitude: The Trek begins at 6,400 ft. (Sankri), travelling to a maximum elevation of 11,600 ft.(Har Ki Dun) and is suitable for those seeking to experience elevated altitude without the rigours of executing treks on an extreme technical level.

Unique Experiences

Crossing the Pullas: To walk across traditional wooden cantilever bridges that away slightly as they span the thundering waters of the Supin River is an integral part of the Har Ki Dun experience.
Contrast of Stream Confluence: Witnessing the Ruinsara Gad (dark, silt-laden waters) and the Supin River (clear, turquoise waters) merge at the base of Osla village presents one of the most impressive aspects of the hydrology and ecosystem of the Himalaya.
Verification of the Myth: The four prominent ridges of the Swargarohini Massif (mountain group) actually do resemble huge stair steps. Witnessing this so-called Stairway to Heaven lends credence to the myth for many trekkers.