By- Stella Wildfoerster, Valleria Prifti, Guilio, Katerina, Nadja, Williams, Charlie, Jules, Ecco & Nani
Our trip on the first day began with a ride to our hotel at 6:30 o’clock in the morning. We were all so excited and anticipating the adventure to come. A traveller came, and we laid our bags on top of it, and we covered it well with the rain cover.
I opted for the best seat with a window and all the views on the way were just amazing. These mountains were like magic. The entire way, our driver Ravi did his best. On his way never rushed and his driving was very smooth. We stopped at various beautiful spots to click pictures, have snacks, and lunch.
We arrived at 5 PM for our homestay, it was amazing. It was so beautiful, made all wood and gave it such a warm and cozy feeling. Luckily it was drizzling (so it was even more magical). Time for tea and pakode for snacks and it was just right after the long drive.
Then we went on to check in to our room and store our bags in the room. The rooms were very comfy and peaceful. We had dinner at about 8:30 P.M. and then rested excitedly after a beautiful and tiring day, for the many days to come.
Day 2
It was a lovely black tea in the middle of a peaceful mountain that started Day 2. The morning air was fresh and the views were spectacular. I woke up about 6:30 a.m. and I can say that the tea was more refreshing than I have ever tasted.
I had a little time for meditation in that quiet, silent place; and it was a very quiet time in my life. I felt that nature was healing me, my soul was. Then we had a tasty breakfast with tea, and then lunch boxes were packed for us on the journey as well as juice and chocolates – what a thoughtful and caring thing to do!
We then started our journey from Sankri Homestay to Osla Village. All the way along the trail was like a dream; majestic mountains, green meadows, natural springs, rivers, and natural beauty everywhere. I felt like walking through a postcard was the closest I could get to it being real.
We arrived at our homestay about 3 pm and had some rest. The spot where the homestay was – it was absolutely beautiful to see the glaciers from right in front of our window, I was just in awe. After that I visited the local spots of Osla Village and the Someshwar Temple was so pure, spiritual and radiant with positive energy.
We ate dinner together and again they served us dessert around 8 pm. This time, it was coconut sweets — and by all means, it was my first time eating them — they have a very simple taste, yet so unforgettable.
I felt nothing but gratitude that night, when I entered my room once again, and lay down to sleep. I will never forget the warm welcome that I received, the culture, the spirituality, and the beauty of the mountains of Uttarakhand, as a foreigner.
Day 3 was one of my most memorable days on the trip. Our journey began from Pauni Garaat towards Kalkattidhar/Boslo, a long journey through steep ascents, beautiful meadows, waterfalls and forests where unspoiled biodiversity is found. Each section of the trail was vibrant and enchanting. On the way to Har Ki Dun, going through Osla Village was so special — serene, wild and a very animal type village.
It wasn’t smooth sailing, but at certain times, it was really hard to keep my speed up due to the incline and fatigue. The guides, however, were amazing in every way during the trek. They were never like they were leaving me behind. Instead, they walked along with me patiently, helping me keep up with them, encouraging me all the way, and remaining humble and kind. I can assure you this was really such a difference with their warmth and support.
It was about 3/30 p.m. when we came to our campsite and at that exact moment it began to snow. I don’t even know how to say how I felt in that moment. It was as though nature had given us something magical. Slowly, all around us, snowflakes fell, making the ground a beautiful white sheet. It was so brilliant to see and still makes me shiver when I remember.
Exactly after that, we were given hot tea and soup as snacks; it was a perfect combination at that time. It was so cold and we were holding a warm cup of something, and snow was falling all around as if it were a dream.
Special touches of the evening were our guides’ attempts to catch us off-guard with a bonfire in the middle of the snow. They were able to somehow find a safe little space between the trees, and cleared the space and lit a fire for everyone. It was so fantastic to see the flames dancing in the snow all around us that I didn’t want to wake up from my dream.
Then we had dinner together and at the end we went to our camps. Although outside there was a lot of snow falling, the sleeping bags were remarkably warm and cozy. What a sense of comfort and tranquility there was in the tents…I was getting ready to sleep, and I was grateful for the feeling that I had my own heart.
Such experiences as this are things that you cannot fully articulate as a foreigner. The mountains of Uttarakhand make you feel small, peaceful, emotional and alive – all at once.
A peaceful mountain morning was had on Day 4. When we woke up it was a fresh cold morning, we had tea together, breakfast and got ready around 9AM to head off towards Har Ki Dun. The trail was only about 3 kms away from the destination, but each step of the trail was magical.
All the way was adorned with snow; it was like the fairytale. En route we saw sparkling springs, extensive meadows and flowing river streams, and virgin nature all around. Everywhere I went, the mountains were alive and amazing.
Finally we came to Har Ki Dun and I couldn’t speak. The pictures from the top were gorgeous. Right before our eyes stood the majestic Swargarohini Peak which looked so divin and unreal. The moment was made even more spiritual with the beautiful Shivling structure on top of a rock and the Nandi structure placed on the head of Shivling. It was a very peaceful and emotional moment to be alone with it in front of me surrounded by snowy peaks and silence.
We were fortunate to have a chance to proceed further on to Maninda Lake, a difficult climb but a worthwhile journey for a small amount of time. We were explained all this carefully and were told that anyone willing to go had to walk faster to be able to make it back to the camp site on time.
We decided to go and it really was one of the most memorable experiences of our journey, and without a second thought. It was a lot of work but it was definitely worth getting to Maninda Lake. The lake lay below the renowned giant rock, and the entire area seemed untouched and mystical. Beauty there was a beauty that words cannot capture. It was peaceful, holy and secluded from the world.
About 1 pm we began to head back and arrived back at the campsite for lunch. We had a very emotional and adventurous day so we had some rest and then dinner as a group around 8pm.
It was a day like no other, snow-white, snow-white, the mountains were all white, the snow lay thick on the ground, the trees were covered with white and white was the color of every flower. I am a foreigner in this land, and God in His raw beauty and spirit is so fortunate to be on display in these mountains. There are some moments that I won’t forget from this journey.
It was a new and tranquil morning in the mountains on Day 5. We had a nice breakfast with hot tea, chickpeas, bread and jam and admired the lovely scenery! After breakfast, we headed towards Osla Village, enjoying the scenic walk along the way.
After arrival in the village we stayed at our homestay and rested awhile. We walked around Osla in the evening to learn about the traditional wooden houses, quiet streets and local culture. The village was very special and the simplicity of the villagers’ lives was very delightful.
Around 7 p.m. we went back to the homestay for dinner. We were treated to fantastic home cooking and a delicious coconut sweet – a nice surprise. We had some time to sit and relax before bed then we went to sleep in a nice bed to sleep for the night.
The day was quiet and pleasant, with stunning vistas of the village, the warm hospitality of the locals and rather simple moments that made this journey extra special.
On awakening, it was about 7am, and the hot cup of tea was waiting for us, accompanied by the fresh air of the mountain. We had a simple but a very tasty breakfast of poha and tea around 08:00 am before packing up for the journey home.
Soon we began our 4km trek towards Dharkot. The walk was not too difficult and the lovely river which ran beside us was a great addition to the fun. Listening to the water, the fresh air and the old friends’ mountains seemed to be the ideal send-off to the journey.
Once we arrived at Dharkot, we got onto our car and started the drive back to Sankri which was about 20 km. We had beautiful scenery along the drive: lush valleys, meandering roads and spectacular mountain views at every corner. Before we knew it we had arrived at the Guest house in Sankri.
The guesthouse looked lovely and comfortable and, after checking in, we had a cup of tea and had some down time after the trip. We had a last dinner together in the evening. Delicious Manchurian, mixed vegetables, bread and rice were served and everything was fantastic following those days in the mountains.
That night we were all sitting together and it was a sad night to know that it was our last night in Sankri. Tomorrow we were to set off on our journey back to Dehradun, with a sense of beautiful friendships, memories and experiences that would stay with us forever.
On the final day of our Har Ki Dun trip, it was a mixture of emotions. But it was time to leave, after days of great people and peaceful trails and majestic mountains.
We got up early in Sankri and packed up our bags and after one final breakfast in the mountains we were off. The morning was calm, lovely and a little emotional. A long drive was to be started on the return journey to Dehradun and I was gazing out the window, trying to savor the final moments of sight.
It was incredibly beautiful on the way through Mori. The roads were lined by rivers, the hills were cloaked in forests and the imposing Himalayas continued to delight us with their beauty. There was always another stunning sight to be seen as they made their way, which was difficult to believe that they were almost back.
It was a long drive, but my mind could not help but keep thinking about the past week, the snowy paths of Har Ki Dun, the serene villages, the laughter and joy with my fellow hikers, the food, all the things that made this trip so special.
At the end of the day, we arrived in Dehradun. Even though the journey was over, it had been fresh in my heart. I learned so much from this trip, not just beautiful photos, but peace, new friendships, experiences I will never forget and a passion for the beauty of the Himalayas.
I knew that as I waved goodbye to everyone, that one thing would stay with me: A piece of my heart will forever stay in these mountains. Till next time, Himalayas.
Reflecting on this extraordinary Har Ki Dun journey, I am thankful in my heart. Thanks UttaraHikes for making this a trek and so much more. Every single thing was given careful thought and every single day was filled with love, care and wondrous moments since we arrived till the final goodbye.
