Day 1: Drive to Sankri from Dehradun
Day one is all about a hill drive along the mountains of the Himalayas. These are several modes of transport for reaching Dehradun from New Delhi. Running seven days a week, Nanda Devi Express leaves New Delhi railway station just before midnight and arrives at Dehradun at about 6 in the morning. This overnight journey would be quite comfortable as compared to a bus ride. To reach Sankri - the base camp - before dusk is quite important so that you may have ample time to relax and prepare yourself for the trek. So if you board a local cab at 7 am in the morning, you could expect to reach Sankri anytime between 6-7 in the evening. En route, you would pass local settlements at Nainbagh, Naugaon, Purola and Mori Naitwar.
It would be important to equip yourself as per the requirements. The essentials include a pair of trek pants, basic medications, sunglasses, cap, woolen clothes, etc.(download checklist for trek essentials item from the section below). On reaching Sankri, a village at about 1950 meters, you could unwind yourself and leave extra luggage at the base camp here before you begin the main journey from the next day. Glance past the ridges along this village to get some spellbinding distant views of the peaks of Swargarohini.
Day 2: Drive to Taluka from Sankri and trek to Chilurgad
The second day of the trek involves a 12 km drive to Taluka followed by a 10km trek to Chilurgad. The initial phase begins with an hour-long drive to Taluka. Since the route happens to be landslide prone, it may remain closed during rainy season. So you may opt for a trail that takes you past about a little less than a dozen mountain curves. You would come across streams of clear water bouncing down the hills and wildflowers, bamboo and deodar trees gracing your way. Taluka is an inhabited village with concrete houses and a government guest house.
If weather permits, you could better drive to Taluka so that there would be ample time for the 13 km trek to Puani Garaat. After an initial trek to a valley along River Supin, you follow a path that would be interspersed with forests and bridges. Another hour of the trek and you reach a bridge on a tributary of Supin river. You?ll find a camping ground as you cross this bridge. After some more climbing, walking and crossing a few more bridges, you?d reach Gangaad, a hamlet with few inhabitants. Green vegetation, wild orchids and majestic views of the impressive peaks would highlight, and at the same time, soothe this arduous trek.
Day 3: Trek from Chilurgad to Simantra
The first leg of this day begins with a short trek along the river that takes you to Osla, a small village. At about 8500 ft, this village has a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. You may have a short stop here in this village as you proceed further. As you begin your trek, you would find steep terrain as well as level grounds. You would have to cross two streams, with the second one having a wooden bridge for trekkers to walk over it. Subsequently, as you proceed ahead of a mountain bend, a series of grasslands would follow. Some of these have been used for cultivation at some point in time. With incline increasing gradually, you would find several boulders and tracts of grass.
After crossing two more meadows, just below the valley over Supin, you?ll find a wooden bridge that leads you to the grasslands of Dev Thach, Bali Pass, and Ruinsara Taal. But on your trek to Har Ki Doon, you need not take this route. Walking past the wheat fields, you move to the inhabited areas as your trail ascends over the confluence of Ruinsara and Supin. Now in this section of your Har ki Doon trek, you?ll find areas providing some of the majestic views of Kalanag and Bandarpoonch mountain peaks. By the evening, you would reach your campsite Simantra at about 8950 ft.
Day 4: Trek from Simantra to Har Ki Dun and return
Jaundhar Glacier or Maninda Taal are within reach treks from Har Ki Dun. 6-7 Hours duration. Camping in Simantra. Accommodation and food in Tents. The journey from Simantra is 5kms where you?d gain an elevation of over 2,500ft. On your right, you come across the pastures of Dev Thach, just where the two rivers meet. From this point, the valley bifurcates into two with Bali pass on the right and Har ki Doon to your left. On your way to the camping site, you could now have a glance at the peak of Har ki Doon. The grasslands and pine forests would give way to a small waterfall, and from this point onwards, a steep climbing for minutes would lead you to level land, with patches of snow becoming more and more prominent all along your path.
Some more climbing would take you to a forest stretch with a gradual incline. Along the way, you?ll find some forest guest house huts just above a small ridge. Once you reach Har ki Doon after crossing a wooden bridge, you?d see the valley dividing into two by a rivulet. The one to the left would lead you to Jaundhar Glacier, in case you decide to undertake this arduous trek. On your way, the scenic beauty of the Himalayas will keep charging you for this literally uphill task. This would include the proximate views of Swargarohini peaks and Jaundhar Glacier. Explore Har ki Dun for an hour depends upon the time you are reaching there and then return back to Simantra campsite.
Day 5: Trek from Simantra to Chilurgad
Beginning from Simantra camp, this downhill trek would involve descending about 3500 ft in 6-7 hrs. So better start early in the day as this 9km expedition would require you to take several stops. The mesmerizing beauty of the Himalayas would always be encouraging and you would find several vantage points to capture the eternal charm of the snow-clad peaks. The path to Chilurgad would pass through Kalkatiyadhar and Osla.
Day 6: Trek from Chiluragad to Taluka and drive to Sankri
This section of your journey involves a 10 km downhill trek to Taluka followed by a 12 km drive to Sankri. As you climb down the mountains, you would find many bridges and level grounds to cross. Given the less strenuous affair as compared to the uphill trek, you would have a great deal of time and energy to admire the natural diversity in the form of various types of trees, birds, shrubs and other creatures. On your drive back to Sankri, you are well bound to be consumed by the exhaustion of this expedition. So have a rest soon as you reach there to rejuvenate yourself for the last leg of your journey.
Day 7: Drive from Sankri To Dehradun
Hire a shared cab,public transport from Sankri to Dehradun.Bus will start early at around 7 a.m and board around 7 p.m at Dehradun. Transportation is low on Sankri. We preffered for cab booking while book trek with us, and come with your booked seats and enjoy the rest travel.
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