Har ki Doon - Day 1

Details of the Day 0 journey can be read at:
Har ki Doon - Day 0

The night spent in the Eco Log huts at Taluka was a comfortable night. We slept well. I got up at 5:30 and went outside to catch the beauty around, with other 3 members of our team. It was still dark outside. Since it was a full moon night and moon was still shining high, the view was beautiful but little bit scary also. Moonlight spreaded over huge mountains, empty surroundings, few houses, chilling breeze, big fluffy mountain dogs, huge trees standing straight everything was scenic. In some time, with the crack of dawn all team members got up. Soon we packed our bags and got ready for the breakfast.

Eco Log Huts

Pre Breakfast Photo Session (Picture clicked by a team member)

The breakfast and also the dinner was prepared by a local family. They served us Aloo Parathas and boiled eggs with tea in breakfast. 

Family who served us tasty food at Taluka

By the time we were having our breakfast, we could see sunlight on the peaks of mountains but it still hasn’t touched the village.

Taluka Village

After having breakfast we all got ready for the adventure, being accompanied by our guide and two porters. We were all excited for the challenging trek of 14 kms till our next stop to Seema village. We clicked few pictures and started our trek with great exuberance at around 9 o'clock in morning.

Post Breakfast Photo Session (Picture clicked by Rosy)

Team ready to start trek (Picture clicked by Rosy)

We, group of 17 enthusiastic people (14 from IIT Roorkee + 1 Guide + 2 Porters) were all walking in the lap of nature among high mountains, accompanied by peacefully flowing Supin river, praising unusual but beautiful plants in the forest. The heavy baggages, slipping sides, narrow paths these were not a cup of tea. We halted at various places sometimes to catch breath and off course at times to get clicked. We continued moving listening music, sharing experiences, giggles, clicking pictures. Each of us was so much involved in natural beauty that even Kgs of weight on our shoulders didn't let our spirits down.

This trek is not like the usual treks where we keep on climbing till we reach our destination. The path is up and down. At some places you walk on a steep height and next moment you will be moving down on a slope. And at some places you will be walking on a flat surface.

Team Members

Supin River

Supin River is originated from a glacier near Har ki Doon valley and flows through the Bunderpoonch, Swargarohini, Black Peak massifs. It confluxes with the Rupin river, which originates from a glacier near Rupin Pass and River Tons is born in Naitwar. River Tons is a tributary of Yamuna which later joins Kals in the North Western part of Dehdradoon Valley.

The entire track stays long the Supin River and passes through the dense forest of the long Alpine and Deodar trees. The wooden bridges, natural waterfalls, fallen gigantic trees were all ornating the track. We met many trekkers en route, who were returning from Har Ki Doon after successfully completing the trek.

Picturesque view of the track

While walking through the path, we encountered many local people who lives in the nearby local villages. Just by seeing them, we can have a clear introduction to their routine life and the hard work involved in it. They are really strong and hard working people and peacefully and dedicatedly involved in their work. One thing I observed about these mountain people is that they are very composed and serene. At many places we asked them for help, inquired about the path and distance already covered and to be covered. And, every time they politely replied us.

Local People busy in their Routine Tasks

Team Members with a Local Villager

In the dense forest, we saw that at many places Uttarakhand government has done sustainable utilization  and management of natural water resources. Free flowing fresh water in the forest is made to flow through a pipe. A tap is connected to the other end of the pipe and is fixed in a concrete structure. The entire setup is causing no harm to the nature rather drinking water is easily available to the the travellers.

Drinking Water facility on the way

The path continues to travel along the river and it by passes all the major villages like Ganghar and Osla. Soon we got the picturesque view of the Ganghar village. The village was settled on another mountain (left side) and could be reached by crossing a bridge constructed over Supin River. Ganghar village has approximately 90-95 houses. The houses are constructed of wooden logs of Alpine trees and almost every house has same architecture. Local people told us that there is a primary school in village but for higher education they have to send their kids to Sankri or Purola.

View of Ganghar Village

Walking for few kilometers after the Ganghar village, on the steep terrain in the midst of beautiful forest we soon got the first sight of Osla village. Osla village is also settled on the mountain on the left of the Supin river and could be reached by crossing the bridge hanging over River Supin.

Leaving Osla village behind, we continued walking through the terraced path in the dense forest. At few locations enroute we encountered snow, there we clicked pictures and envisage our rest of the journey ahead.

Snow on the way

Around 4 O’clock in evening, with all passion and vigor we reached Seema Village. Seema is a small village with few wooden huts, one Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) guest house, one Forest Rest House and a local dhaba.

On our way to Seema Village

First view of Seema Village

Snow covered path

Temple in Seema Village

All the camping sites at Seema village were occupied by a private Trekking company. So we decided to set our camp 3 kms ahead from Seema. And in few minutes we started our onward journey to the camping location. From Seema village one track goes to Ruinsara Lake and one heads towards to Har ki Doon. The track to Har ki Doon diverges through a 600 meters long suspension iron bridge over the Supin River. 

Suspension bridge at Seema village

After crossing the bridge, the track climbs up to a steep terraced path of few meters. We stopped at many locations to rest in those few meters. The scenic view of the entire valley after climbing that precipitous path was marvellous. Following the up down track, we continued walking. The path passes above a local temple, having several large meadows and big boulders. For us it ended at a beautiful plain surface, which was our destination of Day 1 and also our camping location. By the time we reached our camping site, sun was setting down. The sky was all red and wind has become more chilled.

View from camping site

Soon we set up our tents and some of us went to collect the dry wood for bonfire. In some time, our porter and cook served us hot, delicious "Hot n Sour" soup. We enjoyed the beautiful evening, sipping our soup, sitting around bonfire. While our dinner was getting ready we played some music on our mobile phones. Some of us were dancing, laughing, chit chatting and few (our trek leaders) were involved in deep discussions for next day plans.

The night sky was pitch black, with moon shining high and playing hide and seek with the clouds. Infinite number of twinkling stars were seeming like they are smiling at us and welcoming us. In our surrounding, the trees, stones looked so different in the dark. As if the daytime trees, stones are replaced by slightly creepy version of them. But, the whole ambience was poised, tranquil, soothing and relaxing.

Moon playing in the clouds

Soon our dinner (Khichdi) was ready. After having our dinner, we all went into tents and soon fell asleep.

Onwards journey will be covered in the next post.