Why Ruinsara Tal Is A MUST DO With Har ki Dun Trek?

Our Opinion

We at Himalayan High believe that Har Ki Dun - Ruinsara Tal Trek is more Value for Money and Time as compared to the usual Har Ki Dun Trek . Here is why we feel feel so strongly about it. 

Har ki Dun Trek - Needs No Introduction

Anyone who has done just 1 or 2 treks anywhere in the Indian Himalayas would likely have heard about the Har ki Dun Valley and the beautiful trek that has so many things to offer as a part of Himalayan Experience. Its a complete package. Some treks are such that one can never write enough to describe them. Har ki Dun is such a trek. It is undoubtedly one of the best known and most loved treks in India. This speaks volumes about the experience of doing Har ki Dun and how much all the trekkers have loved doing this trek over the years. Trekkers have been going to do Har ki Dun trek for many decades.

However, can we make the Har ki Dun trek even better and more Meaningful?

Yes, it is possible. Just add 2 more days to your itinerary and explore the adjacent valley that goes towards the Bandarpoonch and Kalanag Glaciers. Doing this takes you through the high alpine forest and meadows to take you nearer to the beautiful snowcapped peaks of Bandarpoonch, White Needle, Ruinsara and Kalanag. Not to forget, you walk beside the big mountain massif of the Swargarohini group of mountains. The entire experience is just top class and will add much value to the Har Ki Dun trek which we feel is very short to relish the true beauty and feel of this valley. Not just the snow-covered mountains, you gift yourself camping beside one of the most picturesque and serene lakes in the Himalayas - The Ruinsara Tal

photo by Aachal Thapa

5 Reasons Why Adding Ruinsara Tal to Har Ki Dun Trek Is Worth Adding The Extra 2 days.

1. 5 day Har Ki Dun Trek Descends Too Early: We believe that the usual itinerary for the Har Ki Dun Trek is rather a short trek and its charm ends in just 1 day, that too after 3 hard days of climbing to reach Har Ki Dun. We believe that only if you have serious time constraint you should do the 5 Day Har Ki Dun Trek. Otherwise, you should definitely consider doing the Har Ki Dun - Ruinsara Tal Trek. While there is no doubt that Har Ki Dun is a very beautiful place, what we have problems with is that the trek rather starts descending too early. Just when you bring yourself ( after hard climbing of 3 days ) to the best point on the trek you start your return journey. You gain altitude from 1900 meters to 3600 meters and rather than remaining in that altitude zone for a few days exploring and enjoying the beauty of it, you descend back, that too via the same old route you climbed up. isn't that boring? Since you have worked hard to bring yourself up to this altitude, remaining in that altitude and exploring the other beautiful elements of this region makes more sense and value for time and money.
   
   
   photo by Sanjay Joshi
   
    

2. Opportunity To Explore the Bandarpoonch and Kalanag Valley: There are 2 major streams that runs through this region splitting the valleys into Har ki Dun Valley and the Ruinsara Valley. While the Hata peak, Swargarohini Massif and Har Ki Dun peak dominates the Har Ki Dun Valley, the Ruinsara Valley is dominated by the elegant peaks of Kalanag, Twin peaks of Bandarpoonch, White Needle and the Ruinsara Peak. It can be considered that that Swargarohini massif consisting of 4 peaks divides this 2 valleys. Accesing the Ruinsara Valley from Har Ki Dun valley is very easy and in just a days trek you reach the other side of the valley which opens up new peaks and meadows. Adding 2 more days to your Har Ki Dun Trek and exploring the Ruinsara Valley makes your trek more rewarding. 
   
   
   photo by Aachal Thapa
   
   
    
3. Camping Beside Ruinsara Tal: Ruinsara Tal is a big beautiful lake surrounded by tall mountains, green meadows and many different species of colourful wildflowers. The slow waves of the lake will definitely calm you down and perhaps help you solve many life problems. The lake being surrounded by tall beautiful mountains looks very picturesque and photogenic. After working so hard to reach here, the Ruinsara Tal offers the much required peace and calmness to make your trek a memorable and life-changing experience.
   
   
   photo by Himanshu Gupta
   
   
    
4. Devsu Bugyal Is Just Beyond Words: While on the usual Har Ki Dun trek you descend down the same route that you climbed, the Ruinsara Tal - Har Ki Dun trek descends down via the Devsu Bugyal and this is a vast meadow which is very scenic and photogenic with its ciontrasting lush green colour against the blue sky and sparsely populated coniferous trees. Definitely much better than the usual Har Ki Dun Trek.
   
   
   photo by Aachal Thapa
   
   
    
5. Lesser Crowd and Heavenly Solitude: While the Har Ki Dun trek is more popular as it is shorter, easier, it is more crowded as well. Unlike that, the Ruinsara Valley is much less crowded. On this route, you will only find couple of shepherds grazing their sheep or may be a few trekkers who attempt the Bali Pass trek. Apart from them, not even local villagers venture here. Hence by modifying your itinerary and adding Ruinsara Tak to your Har Ki Dun Trek itinerary, you gift yourself proper Himalayan ambience, Solitude and peace.|
   
   
   photo by Aachal Thapa

Finally,

I hope you now realize why you should push to add couple of days your Har Ki Dun Trek plan and complete it with Ruinsara Tal. Remember, you wont be coming here again as next time you would visit some other place. Even if you do, you will have to climb all the way up again and only then access this valley. Hence, doing it together i.e Har Ki Dun - Ruinsara Tal Trek is more Value for Money and Time.