Har Ki Dun Ruinsara Lake Trek

Trekkers will be picked up in a Tata Sumo or equivalent vehicle from Dehradun at 6:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. is the expected arrival time at Sankri. NH 507 is a 220 km trip that takes about 10 hours, 1,950 meters (6,400 feet) above sea level. Purola is the last ATM and there are a few small shops selling trekking equipment and other miscellaneous products. The BSNL network is unreliable. Stay in a Guest House for the night. Only dinner is included.

You’ll be riding in a local vehicle from the base camp across the harsh steep landscape. Prepare to cross a creek and pass by spectacular waterfalls on your thrilling jeep ride. You’ll be left near the Taluka Village after a crazy ride over the Garhwal Himalayas’ topsy-turvy roads. From here, you’ll begin your trip across the beautiful fields and raging torrents. The communities that line the walk path are also worth seeing. These villages, which date back to the time when this valley was part of Duryodhan’s empire, exhibit a distinct culture. The little hamlets perched on the hillocks appear like something out of a fantasy book.

As we begin our day’s trip, we are struck by the sheer beauty of the area surrounding Osla, which is dotted with terraced farms. Every season changes the colours of these areas. From late monsoon onwards, the red farms of Cholai (Amaranth) appear spectacular. On the way to Har ki Dun, Osla is the last village. The trail progressively climbs higher from Osla, and the river can be seen far below. We come to a temple on the right side of the trail, some distance below the trail. We walk through flowering shrubs that include orchids, fleece flowers, and sunflowers. The climbing trail rises far above the Supin River’s junction with the Ruinsara Valley’s river.

The day’s walk can be deemed long because we’ll be visiting Har Ki Dun and Marinda Tal, a small lake formation due to an obstructing boulder across the river stream 2 kilometres ahead of Har Ki Dun. As we begin our hike, we come across a hidden and roaring waterfall with a small tea store alongside it. We enter the final stretch, which is inside a forest, after climbing higher up along the river’s real right bank. The forest opens up into Har ki Dun’s main camping spot, which is located next to a trickling creek. This is a spectacular viewpoint in Har ki Dun, situated at the confluence of two valleys.

A moderate hike of about 6-7 kilometres will lead you to the same trail that leads to Osla village. The path then descends to the Ruinsara Valley. Before reaching the camping areas beside the waterfall, the Ruinsara hike traverses through dense forest for a few kilometres. On this hike, the ancient trees appear to be kissing the sky. The forest ultimately gives way to a large green expanse. The broad grassy meadows, along with the gentle sound of the falling waterfall, make for an ideal camping location. On a moonless night, the night sky is studded with glittering stars. Untigad’s campsite is distinguished by the sudden appearance of Bhojpatra trees and a dramatic change in terrain in comparison to the valley.

The walk begins early in the morning with a short rise to Ruinsara Lake, which is located at an elevation of 3600 metres. As we all know, the lake is considered sacred. On significant occasions, the villagers also execute some rites. The hills surrounded by rhododendron and birch trees easily distinguish the flora and fauna of this valley. 

The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains on a flat grassland plain. Rhododendron (locally known as ‘Buransh’) shrubs are green and laden with pink and purple blossoms. Local beverages and jam are made with the juice collected from the same flowers. One of the highlights of the region is honey made from these flowers.

We retrace our ways down the Supin River ahead of Seema, which should take no more than an hour and a half, and then another 1-2 hours for Gangaad. We spent the day strolling through the village.

We said our goodbyes to the village early in the morning and began our trip to Taluka. We return to Sankri in a car from Taluka, where we spend the day in campgrounds or a guest home. On Day 8 of the Har ki Dun Ruinsara Lake Trek, the group heads for the pickup point at Taluka, following the Supin River’s course. By now, the breath-taking scenery you’ve left behind has made you miss your hiking adventures. You’ll soon arrive in Taluka Village, where you can board the jeeps for another round of a wild journey to Sankri.

The Har Ki Dun Ruinsara Lake Trek Itinerary concludes with a scenic drive back to Dehradun, retracing the serpentine roads and relishing the nostalgic stretch along Mori, where the river runs parallel to the road. This region, rich with unexplored trekking trails, invites you to return for future adventures. If you have an extra day, consider stopping in Mussoorie to explore the charm of this iconic hill station.