Har Ki Dun is a trek that needs no introduction. Trekkers have always trod upon these trails to witness the beautiful Swargarohini massif from Har Ki Dun. 

Yet we wanted to veer slightly off the beaten path. We wanted to show trekkers a side of the Har-Ki-Dun trek they rarely see. So we chose a route different from the regular trail, which includes terrific scenic beauty on the new route while retaining the ancient charm of the old route, at the heart of which still lies a journey towards the beautiful Swargarohini peaks. 

Allow us to take you through the new route, where some sections are among the best-kept secrets of this region.  

Take, for example, the enchanting woods of Boslow. The new route through Boslo winds through dense conifers and oaks in the shadow of the mountains before emerging into daylight. Snow patches glide into the forest from high above, sometimes cutting through the forest floor (though you must be early in the season to see this). It is a sight to behold.

Another hidden area is just after the Boslow Forest; we cross the Ruinsara Gad and climb to the Devsu Thatch. Little is written about Devsu Thatch in the trekking world, yet it is among the most beautiful trek scenes. We’d go as far as to say that if you trek to Har Ki Dun but miss Devsu Thatch, the trek is incomplete. 

Devsu Thatch is a large clearing high above the Thamsa River. It is so large that it is technically a meadow in the middle of the forest. Beautifully landscaped grassy mounds, like islands within dense forests, create a mesmerising multi-tiered effect. You can walk barefoot, feeling the soft, moist grass under your feet as you explore Devsu Thatch. It is so beautifully landscaped that we had to include a day’s camping here just to take it all in.

As you trek on this new route, you still weave in and out of the old Har Ki Dun route, trekking through ancient villages. 

These villages never fail to charm trekkers. The houses, all wooden, have unique designs. The temples’ culture, deities, and rituals are from a civilisation we do not know. The temples are the heart of the villages, the focal point around which daily life revolves. Villagers wear traditional attire and headgear. It’s as if time has stood still. 

Peering into their homes, we see a lifestyle worth learning from. A sense of harmony exudes from their lives, where humans, animals, and the natural world coexist in beautiful harmony. 

The fact that we witness this firsthand is a big reason to do the trek. But because this is among the biggest takeaways for trekkers, we have included two days of village stays—at Gangaad and Datmir. In between, we also pass through the last village, Osla, where traditions are the richest. 

We could go on talking about the Har Ki Dun trek — the delight of constantly trekking beside the Thamsa river, the allure of the Swargarohini peaks in the distance, and the amphitheatre-like views of the valley. But we could write several scrolls about this and not be done. It’s best experienced firsthand.