Har-Ki-Dun in Pictures

Due to unfavorable weather, and extreme cold, we decided to stay in Har-Ki-Dun for only one night. Initially, Bahadur was against this idea, and also a little angry with us. He had paid the GMVN manager for two nights, and cutting short our stay meant that his money was gone for good. At around 5 pm, a storm hit us, and Bahadur realized that staying back was risky. His men wouldn’t be able to go out to collect firewood, and that meant more money to GMVN to use existing firewood stocked inside the guest house. GMVN has a good stock of supplies – maggi, firewood, bisleri and other ration. This could have easily kept us alive for a week, should we have stayed back. But we weren’t prepared for the cold weather. The only warm clothes that we had was insufficient. Hence, we all decided it was best for us to return the following day. The dorm room in GMVN had about 10 beds, and we used up two quilts each to keep ourselves warm at night. The porters and Bahadur occupied the deluxe room, but don’t ask me how they managed without a toilet 🙂

Camping Area in Har Ki Dun

Fixing a broken Hiking Boot

GMVN guest house at Har-Ki- Dun in the middle of snow.
Back at Seema.
The lobby of our guest house 🙂 The fireplace is multipurpose. Used for cooking, keeping warm and drying wet clothes 🙂
View in front of the GMVN guest house. Glaciers far and beyond Har-ki-Dun.
A self portrait 🙂
Dusk at Seema.
Another view of the Gharwal glaciers.

We left the next day by 10 am, and reached Seema by 3 pm. The descend was fairly easy, although the threat of rainfall (and subsequent danger of landslides) was constantly troubling us. Luckily, we never caught any rain until we reached Seema. We met small groups that were trekking to Har-ki-dun while we were returning. We heard that some of them couldn’t reach their destination because of the rains in the upper Himalayas. We were not only lucky to finish our trek to Har-ki-Dun the earlier day, but also wise enough to return before the rains. We interacted with a couple from France near the bend. They had grand plans of camping out in the Himalayas for a week, and eventually descending via Yamunothri. Bahadur indicated that this was an extremely difficult trek at this time of the year. A third member from their group returned with us to Seema as he was unable to proceed further. The French couple had several years of mountaineering experience, and their confidence was as mighty as the mountains. I don’t know what happened to them eventually, but I am sure they had a whale of time tackling the Himalayas.

Two months after we finished the Har-Ki-Dun trek, Uttarakhand was battered by floods. The official death count ran into several thousands. Our prayers go out to the people of the Himalayas, who are at the mercy of nature. A lot of visitors come unprepared, and our prayers go out to the Lord to give them some basic common sense.

Misc. Trek Photos

If you wish to experience Har Ki Dun, check out these fixed itineraries from HikerWolf.

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23 Comments

  1. Dear Friend,

    Could you please give me the phone number of Bal Bahadur since I am planning a trip to Har-Ki-Dun next year in April or May. I will appreciate very much. Also, any special tips or advice would be most welcome.

    • Balbahadur: 9411399316

      I don’t have any special tips, but I would request you to respect the Himalayas and keep it as pristine as possible. Have a good trip!

  2. Nice Blog

    I am planning to visit HKD in December 2015. Can you please tell me things to carry for this trek?

    Thanks in advance.

    • Pankaj, do carry warm clothes and good trekking shoes. Also carry a walking stick or get one locally. I am not sure if the GMVN facilities have been rebuilt after the floods, so please check current situation before planning the trip.

  3. HI
    would like to know if the climb is steep or gradual.

    • Not a very difficult trek. Suitable for beginners too.

  4. can children of 4 yrs go on the trek?

  5. Hi, me and more friends are going for kedarkanth trek and if possiblenhar ki doon as well, i want to know whether i need a guide or not for this trek. And of anyboy wanna join. Us can contact us @7838158278 before 5 dec

    • I have not done the Kedarnath trek. So I don’t have any useful information.

  6. Pratap, it was wonderful to see your pictures. Which month did you do this trek? Can you recommend a trekking agency? We are planning to do this trek in the first week of March.

    • Hi Bijeta, you can contact India Hikes for trekking to Har-Ki-Dun.

  8. Can i get tents on rent at har ki dun trek? and if yes what is the price? or should i carry one ?
    What will be suitable tent camping out in snow ? do i need good expensive tents?

    • You can get Tents on remt at Sankri , Prices vary shop to shop but i think at 300-400 / day would be average.

  9. Har ki Dun is one of the snow treks in winter. I recommend everyone to do this trek.

  11. I was trying to track down Bal Bahadur of Uttarkashi with whom I did several treks way back in 2002/2003 but gave up eventually. Now that I read your blog, I think it might be be the same person. I would appreciate your help in validating this.I can send you a photo of my guide Bal Bahadur .

    • Hi Murali,

      I did this trek a long time ago in 2013. I am mot in touch with Bal Bahadur. Here is a pic of him from 2009. https://ibb.co/ZJLSF6P

  12. The Har Ki Dun is one of my favorite trekking spot I have visiting twice trail takes you through some of the ancient villages that are 2,000 years old highly recommended

  13. What an excellent travel blog.If you love adventure and willing to travel and explore various Beautiful Destinations then do visit our website for more information

  14. Great blog and amazing content. You are motivation to new writer.

  15. An awe-inspiring account of the snow trek to Har-Ki-Dun, brought to life with stunning pictures! Deluxe room is really awesome

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