Harkidoon Trek - April, 2011
Harkidoon - pathway to the heaven.
from left - Prashanth Pai - trek lead, Deepak, Vaibhav, Naveen, Srikanth, Prasad Aruva.
The drive through the stretch of road after Mussurie through the deodar trees was too good. By afternoon, we reached Purola and had lunch. Took a private mini bus to Sankri. I must say few kilometres before the Sankri, you will pass through a dreamland with Pines trees all around.
Dreamland - the pine plantation
Journey to Taluka was as beautiful as the destination, Harkidoon. Met Pratap and Ramu at Taluka, the road ends here. Went for a walk to the Supin river, returned and slept in the dormitory. Vaibhav tested Deepak's camera, with a pic of the candle.
they were collecting wild mushroom
tea time at our campsite
with guide Pratap
We reached the Kalkatiyadhar meadows had lunch and discussion that if we have to go to Ruinsara as well, we have to camp here. Then without bags go to Harkidoon, come back and go to Ruinsara. I said no, and we proceeded to Harkidoon valley.
The trail takes left turn and the Harkidoon valley comes in the view for the first time. We have to cross the treeline though.
Our tents were already pitched by the time I reached the camp. While having tea, shot a time lapse photography - how the clouds can cover-up a Mountain in Minutes. Watch the next 7 pics.
punching the snow ball throws
Flora
We didn't go till the jaundhar glacier as it was getting cloudy and we enjoyed the sliding in snow slopes. Reserving the glacier walk for a future trek. I must appreciate the above family, they came here with the little kids. Years later, I got to know the Mom is an author, Anamika Mukherjee - I bought her book WORTH EVERY GASP. The kids were adopted by them. Evening the camp area was blanketed with clouds and it was a very cold night.
last view - bye doon, trail takes a turn
identify the black sheep
Osla team's all-rounder in action
looking at our tents, from Gangarh
looking at Gangarh, from our tents
Deepak got down at Dehradun, he said he will join us Tomorrow. Rest of us went to Rishikesh and stayed next to Ganges near the Ram Jhula bridge. During Dodital trek return journey we stayed a night there. After freshup, went to Chotiwala restaurant for dinner - our fav at Rishikesh - bhurp. We booked for the water rafting in the Ganges with the help of the hotel guy.
Deepak arrived Rishikesh bit late and missed the rafting. Rest of the day we spent time on the banks of the Ganges, some shopping etc.
Introduction
Mountains call you - after the Dodital trek in 2009 we finalized Harkidoon as our next - with Pratap as guide.
Day 1 - Early morning flight to Delhi, bus to Dehradun.
How can you sleep, when you're about to go on your fav trek. Hardly slept, 4am started the walk to aero express bus stop with backpack on - as warmup. Seeing me walk at the odd time, one guy stopped his car and offered me lift. He dropped me at JNTU stop, got in the bus and called Pai. He and Naveen boarded the same bus at Shilparamam. Srikanth joined us at the airport. Security check-in failed for Pai, thanks to the swiss pocket knife. Off to Delhi and waited for Vaibhav at the Delhi airport. Went to Kashmere gate bus stop and had yummy bread omlet and took bus to Dehradun. Deepak was in his hometown Dehradun that time and he is coming with us, we paid visit to his house. Met his family and enjoyed the snacks, thanks. We stayed for the night at a hotel near the Dehradun railway station. The red hunting Jeep with rifle slot, infront of the hotel caught our attention.
Day 2 - Dehradun to Taluka.
Early morning, Deepak joined us at the bus stop and we took 6:30am bus to Purola.
Pai on top of the bus, helping to load n tie the backpacks on the bus.
Soon the bus was in the hills and it got chilly. One hour into the journey, we were at Mussurie and the views were great.
Roses on the road at Mori.
Bit of apple plantation is there but no fruits, may be off season. Bus dropped us at Sankri and we waited to hire a Jeep to Taluka which is further 12km. Lot of foreigners around the Jeep stand.
Sankri - terrace fields and a peak
We boarded in and on the Jeep, full packed with several locals too.
And the guys sitting on the top of the swinging Jeep went crazy, what a ride with steep fall to the left side - my bad I was seated inside. We didn't take the video, sharing the link of some other folks for the feel of it - Jeep ride video
Day 3 - Taluka to Osla.
Some locals were doing woolen handloom in the premises of TRC.
Morning veiw of the Sankari range
Our first resting point was at this wooden bridge, cross it to go Jhakol village, Rupin pass trek passes through the hanging village.
Funny incident, one of our guys checked the Limca cool drink in a small tea shop and says it's not cold enough. The shop boy says '1 minute sir and dips the bottle in the above river for a minute - chilled.
Lunch
Pratap's deal to buy the mushrooms failed, oops I should have negotiated
huge traffic jam
count the sheep
Gangarh village
Mustard
Tea break at Seema
Rajesh kanna fan, chowkidar
Pakodas, tea. covid practitioner
Photographer of the year
Day 4 - Osla to Harkidoon.
Woke up and played cricket with the kids, custom made bat n ball. Bat is a log, we too had in our childhood but ball was really innovative.
unpacking the tents; kids watching us
next gen, Osla cricket team
Pahadi attire, sheep skin backpack
Our caravan
Kalanag Peak in the center
First time on snow
By the time we reached here we were tired, since it was a hot day. But happy to see in the trees again, can walk in shade. There were few big Langurs in the woods.
Day 5 - Exploring the valley, fun games
Good Morning! Harkidoon what an awesome place to camp. River, trees, snow peaks - all around you and in view from your tent.
Sparrow, wherever you go I do
zoom to find the snow leopard tracks
Swargarohini peak
Snowman by this layman
Guide and couple of guys didn't join us for the morning trek. One guy spent time in reading a novel, the other was resting and watching the reader. Jokes apart, that trail takes to Morinda tal and further ahead cross the Borasu pass to land in the Himachal Pradesh. We returned to have the lunch.
Yummy lunch
Afternoon, all of us went on a trek towards the Jaundhar glacier.
Sliding in the snow, background score by Pratap - Snow slide video
Swargarohini, right infront of us
Day 6 - Harkidoon to Gangarh.
Hard to leave a place like doon valley.
I picked an old 10 paise coin as token, dropped latest coins - zoom to find. I still have the coin in my wallet.
Comrade in red at the steep bend -selfie with normal camera. Green meadow behind my head on the other side of the river is Devsu bughyal on the path to Ruinsara tal, Kalanag peak, Bali pass.
Kalkatiyadhar meadows
Farms of Osla, no words.
Ruinsara trail on the other bank.
Kids from Osla, welcome us.
Someshwar temple at Osla
We had soup and boiled eggs for lunch. I had cramps here and guys went into a big laughter.
Bedi babu
There was a satillite phone facility in the village and we all called families.
Guess, why the stream is passing below the hut? -Answer at the end of the blog.
Our plan was to go till Taluka but the mules were not comfortable. So stay put near Gangarh. We made friends with the above localite and we went up to see the village of Gangarh.
Day 7 - Gangarh to Taluka.
Took bath in the stream, very cold one though. Didn't take much pics as it's the same path. We picked the garbage - polythene, wrappers, bottles etc. thrown along the path - Swatch Bharath dear trekkers.
I had to mention about the kid above, she was unwell and had to walk all the distance for the doctor visit. Next day morning, we met them at Purola during breakfast in the tiffin center.
By afternoon, we reached Taluka and had to wait for the Jeep. Meanwhile there was rain with hail. Jeep ride to Purola in the rain listening to old Hindi songs. Road was blocked at one place as a tree fell. Some of us pulled it out and we reached Purola. Took rooms in a budget lodge, freshup and went out. I bought the local Rajma grains, thanks Deepak -my family liked those. During the trek completion party, there was a discussion on why we couldn't do Ruinsara tal. But Today I say, what we did was the best.
Day 8 - Purola to Rishikesh.
Morning bid bye to Pratap and Ramu, they have to go Uttarkashi and rest of us to Dehradun - different paths.
Day 9 - Water rafting at Shivapuri.
Had a relaxed day at Rishikesh, rafting and roaming around the Ram Jhula.
Jeep arrived with the raft
Rafting point at Shivpuri
Cameras are not allowed in hand, so deposited with the captain's safe in the raft. What a ride in the rapids, there was a break in the session at the crowded cliff jumping point. The first jump was the difficult one, I did three jumps to overcome the fear. Continued the rafting till the Laxman jhula, Rishikesh. Then the below boat to reach the other side of the river bank to meet Deepak, who was waiting for us.
Dip in the Ganges
Took night bus to Delhi, went direct to the airport and enjoyed the cheese Pizza - the city habits.
Day 10 - Morning flight to Hyderabad.
Back home with the memories of the most beautiful trek. Can do this trek 100 times without getting bored, that's the beauty. I must have watched the pics 1000 times, thats why so many pics in this blog.
Thanks Prashanth Pai for organizing the trek, my tent mates for the awesome moments. Deepak was the standout trekker, Naveen was searching his soul, Srikanth the silent chap, Vaibhav naughty thug & was practicing for covid from 2011. He became a wildlife photographer after this trek. Pratap and Ramu for guiding and helping us all the way. Last but not the least the mules and their caretaker.
Hut with the stream passing under - it's a community flour mill, runs with the water current like a turbine.
Inside view of the indigenous mill, Deepak explaining how it works.
Book and the 10 paise coin on it.
Thank you!
Happiness is only real, when shared.
Wonderful. So good to go back the memory lane. Would love to go there once again, and once more :D
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