The thought of spending coming months trekking in Himalayas was keeping me awake for most of the nights. My fingers were crossed and my heart burst into epitome of joy when I received the trekking calendar plan. Har Ki Dun trek was going to be my first trek as content writer. I feared nothing as I knew that now; the much awaited journey has begun.
I arrived at Dehradun meeting point and met other trek mates at 7 in the morning and started the road journey to village Sankri that was going to be my first home stay experience. Within first few minutes we all got to know what an amazing people we were having in our group. As we passed Mussoorie and gained the elevation, the breeze became chill and roads were decorated with dried pine needles. The view was already amazing and the travel time was spent getting to know each other better. Arrival at Sankri was another heart warming experience that offered us such cosy home stay experience.
Left or Right?
Sunset at Sankri Village
1 night at Sankri home stay was definitely not enough but the excitement of reaching Har Ki Dun gave us the motivation to keep moving ahead. We covered first 12KM by road till Taluka after which the real trekking starts to Har Ki Dun. The ride till Taluka was very bumpy and only 4 by 4 vehicles can make it to Taluka. Taluka took me back by its rustic touch, the wooden shops and small huts but I had a 12 KM long journey to cover before sun sets. Biding adieu to the roads at Taluka we made our way across the Tons River into the dark forest of coniferous trees. Everything seemed so magical, far away from any connectivity. We were walking amidst the dense forest and listening to the mighty flow of river Tons. The gradient was mixture of ascents and descents and it took us nearly 7 hours to complete the journey of 12 KM.
Bridge crossing on the way to Seema camp site
Into the Wild!!
Our morning started with a brief session of yoga that channelized our energy and boosted our moral. Our today’s destination was kalkattiyadhar, named after the sharp ridge like structure of this mountain. Unlike yesterday we did not had forest shades along the way but we did enjoy the view of lot of waterfalls and small wooden bridges. Right after crossing Seema village, there was a bridge crossing, followed by a steep ascent, followed by the beautiful view of waterfall. We also crossed a 300 years old temple dedicated to Devi Kandhara. A part of trail lies through the rice farms of Osla villagers. We reached kalkattiyadhar at 2:30 in the afternoon right after which there was heavy rainfall and storm but the weather in mountains is very unpredictable. Soon after the torrential rains, the weather clears up and we got the window to play in the meadows.
Bridge crossing on the way to Kalkattiyadhar
Waterfall view after steep ascent
Making way past the rice fields
Kalkattiyadhar camp site
Who-so-ever has quoted that the best view comes after the hardest climb, has quoted it very aptly.
The trail started with steep descent and ended with steep ascent only to give us the best view of the valley. Hata Peak, Swargrohini I,II and III were clearly visible from our camp site. The camp site couldn’t have been more beautiful. Tents pitched at the foot of green valley along the stream surrounded by trees and mesmerizing view of snow clad mountains. We reached our camp site at 11 in the morning and after lunch head out to see the valley. The floral bed at Har Ki Dun valley took me by surprise. That night the whole valley was painted in the silver light of full moon.
Hata Peak
Har Ki Dun camp site
Swargrohini peak visible from Har Ki Dun valley
Floral bed at Har Ki Dun Valley
Watching sun rise from behind the swargrohini peak was the best morning view of all the days. We all had successfully completed our trek and now was the time to start the return journey. The thought of it made all of us bit nostalgic but there was an excitement to visit village Osla on the way back to Seema. Osla village is famous for having a temple dedicated to Duryodhana, eldest of the Kaurvas in hindu mythology ‘Mahabharat’ but villagers denied the theories and states that it belongs to Lord Shiva.
Waterfall view at Kalkattiyadhar break point
Someshwar temple at Osla Village
On the wayback to Seema camp site
As we descent down to the base the nostalgic feeling starts getting stronger and stronger. The relief of sleeping in cozy homestay was there but the ache of trip coming to an end was more overpowering. We reached Sankri and 5 in the evening and just about the time it started downpouring. No one was talking, or managing their stuff .. everyone was just staring at the rainfall and the torrential winds holding on to their hot tea cups. Everyone knew they won’t find this view back in their city lives hence everyone stayed out a little longer knitting their memories of Har Ki Dun in their memories’s travelog.
