Har ki-Doon, situated in the upper catchment of river Tons ,is one of the most fascinating and lesser exploited area of Garhwal Himalaya.The meadow areas fall under the Govind Pashu Vihar Sanctuary.
Har-Ki -doon, though a less known ,stands well with the world famous vallsy of flowers.With regard to the variety and richness of the flowering herbs,it greatly surpasses the valley of flowers in the area.Faunistically,Har
-Ki-Doon is one of the richest parts in Garhwal Himalaya.Broadly spesking the area harbours almost all the major group of the high altitude animals known to reside in the Himalayas.
For long this unique area on account of its remoteness,remained free from the human impact.It has been only after forties of this centuary that few hunters and nature lovers forged their way to this area.It has been because of this,that is this area nature has remained more ofr less in its pristine form.While trekking in the area started only recently .The life style,dress,dialect,the traditions nad the religious sentimentsdof local Tawai population inhabiting the villages enroute,are markedly different from the rest of Garhwal.Many traditions like polyandry are still practiced here.
The temple in the every villager is centrally located .Locally called Ring ghar these temples are largely resemble pagodas.Surprisingly,Kauravas are worshipped in the entire area,and not the Vishnu,Brahma,or Shiva.Obviously,most of the temples are related to Duryodhna and
Karna.
With all its cultural and natural resourdes,this area is paradise for trekkers,mountaineers,Wild lifers,ecologists,anthropologists,and social workers. This trek links a visit to this valley with a trek over the Yamnotri pass,(5172 mts).To Yamunotri,which is the source of river Yamuna.From the pass one gets a superb view of the
Bandarpunch,(6387 mts) and Swargarohini,(6252 mts.) peaks.The trek upto Har-Ki
-Doon acclimatizes one for the cross the high pass.The final stage is on Hindu pilgrim trail and is,therefore of cultural interest.
ITINERARY
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Days >>
(12 N/13
D) |
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Day 1 |
RISHIKESH O/N :
CAMP
Arrive Rishikesh and
transfer to Hotel
for meals and
overnight stay. |
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Day 2 |
RISHIKESH/NETWAR
DRIVE : 7-8 HRS O/N
: CAMP
Today one drives
through the toen of
Dehradun to
Dakpathar.From the
town of Dakpathar
the road winds its
way over forested
hills.The scenery is
specially beautiful
and is set with
typical slate roofed
Garhwali
Villages.Camp is
established at a
site a few
kilometers beyond
the village of
Netwar.Altitude 1380
meters.Meals and
overnight camping. |
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Day 3 |
NETWAR O/N : CAMP
Today one walks down
to the Netwar
village.It is a
typically unspoilt
Garhwali village
composed of large
roughly carved
wooden
buildings.Visited
the village temple
with interesting
carving apart from
the animal horns
fixed on the temple
porch. |
|
Day 4 |
NETWAT/SAUR/GHIAGAD
DRIVE : 1 HRS TREK :
4-5 HRS O/N : CAMP
Today driving up to
the village of Saur
one starts trekking
to Ghiagad.The camp
site is situated
near a gushing
stream and set
amidst gigantic
trees and surrounded
by forests
harbouring Leopards
and Bears.A distant
view of distant snow
clad peaks can be
obtained from the
camp site.Meals
overnight camp. |
|
Day 5 |
GHIAGHAD/TALUKA/SEEMA
TREK : 6-7 HRS O/N :
CAMP
Upto the village
Taluka one treks on
a mud road and then
along the trail
through dense
forests of
Chestnut,Walnut,Willow
and China up to
village of
Seema.Campsite is a
kilometer before the
village .Altitude
1401 meters.Meals
and overnight camp |
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Day 6 |
SEEMA/HAR KI DOON
TREK : 6-7 HRS O/N :
CAMP
Intially the trek
goes past sosme
fields of beans and
rich and also some
isolated
villages,where the
like style is same
old,the unchanged
one.The dress worn
by the people is
traditional.Their
cheerfulness and
innocence combined
with their simple
way of life make
them very
appealing.Acommon
scene in the evening
is that of ruddy
cheeked village
belles returning
home,carrying on
their backa huge
loads of pine
needless to be used
as fuel.The trail
steadily ascends the
side of the ridge
across the river
supin and then veers
lefts to the Har Ki
Doon valley .Dense
forests at this
paart give way to
the meadow that are
scattered with
flowers and
flowering
herbs.Crystal clear
streams wind their
way silently through
these
meadows.Looming in
the background is
Har-Ki -peak.The
upper Har-K-Doon
valley is at base of
this peak.To the
right of the
valley,at close hand
is the Swarga rohini
peak Whilento north
east is the Jaundhar
glacier.The camp
site is beside a
clear shallow river.
Meals and overnight
camp. |
|
Day 7 |
HAR-KI-DOON O/N :
CAMP
Today we visit the
Jaundhar glacier in
the morning while
the evening is spent
at the lower valley
or in relaxing at
the camp.Meals and
overnight camp. |
|
Day 8 |
HAR-KI-DOON/SEEMA
TREK : 5-6 HRS O/N :
CAMP
Today we trace our
steps back to
Seema.Meals and
overnight camp. |
|
Day 9 |
SEEMA/RUSHAR TAL.
TREK : 7-8 HRS O/N :
CAMP
Today the trek is
uphill till Rushar
Tal lake,which is
the bvase camp for
the climbing of the
Swarga Rohini peak.A
long day.Meals and
overnight camp. |
|
Day 10 |
RUSHAR TAL/THANGE
TREK:4-6 HRS O/N :
CAMP
A short easy trek up
hill again to
Thange,which is rock
shelter before the
Yamunotri pass.Meal
and overnight camp. |
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Day 11 |
THANGE/YAMUNOTRI
PASS/DAMNI TREK :
6-8 HRS O/N : CAMP
Trek across the
pass,altitude 5172
meter,and then to
the alpine plateau
of Damni.From here
one gets the Duperb
view of Bandar Punch
and Swarga Rohini
peak .Meals and
overnight camp. |
|
Day 12 |
DAMNI/YAMUNOTRI/H.CHATTI/S.CHATTI.
TREK 6-8 HRS DRIVE
30 MIN O/N : CAMP
Trek to
Yamunotri,the
sources of river
Yamuna,and one of
the most important
shrines for the
Hindu Pilgrims.After
visiting the temple
dedicated to the
Goddess Yamuna,trek
down to
Hanumanchatti.Arrive
and commence drive
for
Syanachatti,Where we
camp away from the
clamour of the
pilgrims .Altitude
of Yamunotri :3185
mts.Altitude of
Hanumanchatti :2400
mts.Meals and
overnight camp. |
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Day 13 |
SYANACHATTI/RISHIKESH
DRIVE : 8-10 HRS O/N
: CAMP
Today we drive down
to Rishikessh,a
small town world
famous for its
institutes to teach
Hinduism,Yoga and
meditation.Arrive
and transfer to
hotel for meals and
overnight stay.
Tour Terminates
upon arrival at
Rishikesh |
ALTITUDE: Rishikesh 340 mts.,Netwar 1380 mts.Mussorie 2004 mts.Taluka 1900 mts.Har
-Ki-Doon 3566 mts.Yamunotri pass Hanumanchatti 2134 mts. Syanachatti 1982
mts.
BEST TIME :
MID JULY TO OCTOBER
GRADE : STRANEOUS
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