Sankri, the famous base village of Uttarakhand, has a rare and radiant ridge trek called The Phulara Ridge trek. This unusual Himalayan ridge is barely discovered by trekkers and is yet to be heard of by the masses. Situated at 3,700 M, Phulara Ridge is a roadway to the heavens that stretches between vast valleys, lush meadows, and some prominent peaks like Swargarohini (6,252M) and Kalanag (6,387M). So, avid trekkers and first-timers, if you are looking for a change and trying to explore the Himalayan terrains in a different way, then you and the Phulara Ridge trek are a perfect match made in the mountains. This spectacular trek is a Himalayan teaser with special effects and HD imagery designed to delight just you.
What makes the Phulara Ridge trek so exquisite? Is it the dark and dense forests, the lush green meadows, or the captivating ridge? Well, let's answer that together as we go through the highlights of the trek.
Highlight 1: Walking Through the Woods
An extraordinary experience awaits us on the second day of the trek. We begin our journey in the morning and walk towards the entry point of the trail. A natural setting straight out of the cover of a travel magazine is beautifully placed to welcome us into a jungle trail. It starts with pine trees towering over each other and competing with one another for being the tallest – the competition is fierce on both sides of the track. Get deeper inside the forest and the pine trees get mixed with oak, rhododendrons, and deodar trees. The ambiance turns denser and darker with every step. As soon as we enter into the wild, all our senses come alive.
Do not forget to look up; small Himalayan birds play hide and seek, flitting from one branch to another. Spotting one between thick vines and leaves is nothing short of a gift and an absolute fun exercise to indulge in. Now, look down; 20 minutes later, the land adorned with dry ferns and fallen leaves attains a new texture with velvet green moss. Press your shoes firmly into it and you will soon realize that it is smooth, soft, and satisfying to walk on. Once in a while, take a look behind you as well. Slim, thin, and long shades of trees create an architectural marvel built of nothing but shadows. When the downhill winds pass by them, they gently move and groove in rhythm. Witnessing this gentle jungle concert is a sight as soothing as the mountain air.
Highlight 2: Basuriwala Dhaba (Flutist's Canteen)
Be it the trails of Phulara Ridge or the famous Kedarkantha trek, on the first day of the journey, an iconic Dhaba arrives, serving as a landmark for trekkers. 3 kilometers into the trek, the jungle trails give way to a massive clearing with a charming little wooden hut at its centre. We break for rest here. Vijay Singh Rawat, a simple and hard-working host, welcomes us to his dhaba with a smile as bright as day. Sit down and stretch your legs. A hot cup of tea and some divine music from Vijay is a delectable delight we can never get in the city. When Vijay holds his instrument and blows wind through the hollows of the flute, everything around him sings with delight. His flute, it sings about the tales of nature and the ways of simplicity. You can hear the sound of gratitude and humbleness in his music. A mere 15 minutes of his soul-fulfilling music, and it refreshes you to carry on ahead.
Highlight 3: JKT (Juda Ka Talab)!
After crossing the Basuriwala Dhaba, we enter the forest area once again. The trails ascend for 1.5 km, land on a clearing, and a stunning lake appears in front of us. This is the legendary JKT – Juda Ka Talab. JKT – Juda Ka Talab is a famous alpine lake in the Sankri region. Legends believe that the almighty Lord Shiva was looking for a place to meditate. When he entered this clearing, he removed a few hair strands from his head (Juda – strands of hair) and made a divine lake here (Talab meaning lake). To sit next to the emerald green lake and observe the reflection of moving trees and clouds on its surface is surprisingly calming. The best activity to do here is to witness the short flight of a falling leaf. When the wind brushes the dried leaves, they twirl, swirl, fall on the lake and float around. Their carefree nature and fluid movements hold the power to add a tinge of tranquility to the ambience and bring a little bit of comfort to your eyes.
JKT is also well known as a campsite for the Kedarkantha trek. The narrow trail that runs right next to the lake will take you to the peak of Kedarkantha. After lunch at JKT, we embark on the route opposite the Kedarkantha trail, get into the forest and walk for another 500 meters towards the third and final clearing of the day, our campsite next to a small water stream.
Highlight 4: The Boulders and Meadows of Bhoj Gadi
For the first time, on the third day of the trek, a vast meadow with a grand skyline emerges at the end of 3 km. Just like a royal façade, the tree line ends at the beginning of the meadow section, creating a natural setting for the entrance. Ten minutes deeper onto the trail, the meadows expand with huge boulders. Go up and down on the grassland and round and round around the boulders. We get a wide view of the massive Sankri range here. The captivating highlight is the arresting views of the renowned Kedarkantha peak on one side and the humongous Phulara Ridge on the other. The Kedarkantha trek (3,810M) is a prominent winter trek of the Himalayan region in Uttarakhand, famous for its snowscape and white shades. During the months before winter, the brown and dry shades of this peak overpower the landscape, as seen from the trails of the Phulara Ridge trek.
Highlight 5: The Ridge Walk!
Get ready to experience the grand spectacle of the trek, the ridge walk. On the day of the ridge walk, we start early, ascend along the trail that runs a little lower and parallel to the ridge. At the end of 2 km, a colossal ridge appears at 3,700 M spanning its way between several valleys and snow-capped mountains of Uttarakhand. Once on top, take a spin; whichever direction we face, a wide range of exquisite mountains and lush meadows greet us with their scenic vistas. We spend more than 4 hours on the ridge trail, and the 360-degree view tends to stay with us throughout our time on the ridge. Cover a kilometer and notice the difference in colors. The pathway takes us on a vibrant route with golden brown shrubs and maroon-red crops. As we keep walking further, the heads of the majestic peaks Swargarohini (6,252M) and Kalanag (6,387M) appear and enlighten us with their presence.
Highlight 6: The Descending Meadows of Pushtara!
Walk the plank and dive into the ocean. Walk the ridge and dive into the meadows. After walking on the massive Phulara Ridge for around 4 hours and 4 km, we stop at a descending point for rest. Take a peek and check out the green meadows of Pushtara. Yes, we can close our eyes, awaken the child in us and run forward. The walk on these meadows is bliss in motion, and it is the easiest descent of the trek.
We don't have to rush here. Besides walking in the meadows, sit down on the soft grass, feel the breeze and hum your favorite song. A pleasant vibe may soothe your sore muscles.
Highlight 7: A Walk Through the Taluka Village!
On the last day of the trek, we descend for 3 km from the Pushtara campsite, walk out of the forest line and arrive at a T-junction on a well-paved pathway. The path towards the right takes us on the trail of the famous Har Ki Dun (3,500M) trek, and the path to the left takes us to the ancient village, Taluka. We take a left and walk on the antique lanes of Taluka. Witness the turquoise blue Supin River from the distance, heritage huts built on wood and sand, and the vibrant attires of the villagers. It is pahadi culture (mountain lifestyle) at its best. As a famous saying goes, "In villages, all the people are equal." As we enter Taluka, we see men and women of different age groups harmoniously working hard on farms under the scorching sun. Spend some time with them, and you may taste true humbleness with the salt of the earth.
All in all, Phulara Ridge is a perfect combination of adventure, nature, and culture. If you have any questions regarding the trek, leave a comment or feel free to reach out to us.
