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Uttarakhand

Sankri (Har Ki Dun)

Govind park trailhead for Har Ki Dun and Kedarkantha

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Best time to visit Sankri (Har Ki Dun)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: May to June and October to February
  • Shoulder: March to April and September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: July to August

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryMayJuneOctoberNovemberDecember

Sankri (Har Ki Dun) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

December-February Sankri is the Kedarkantha base: snow from the village up, -5C nights, and every homestay booked out.

Summer March to May Prime time

May-June is Har Ki Dun season at 8-22C, rhododendron on the lower ridges and the Swargarohini wall closing the valley head.

Monsoon June to September Prime time

July-August the Tons valley road from Purola slips badly and the Har Ki Dun trail turns into leech-ridden mud all the way.

Autumn October to November Prime time

October-November is the cleanest trekking window of the year: dry trail, cold nights, and no fresh snow above 3000 m yet.

What Sankri (Har Ki Dun) is actually like

A one-street trailhead village of homestays and trek outfitters; you will find a group to join within a day of arriving

Things to do in Sankri

The local places worth your time in and around Sankri, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Kedarkantha

    Trek · 11 km out

    3810 m summit, the classic two night snow climb from Sankri via Juda ka Talab; December to April for snow, guides in village.

  • Juda Ka Talab

    Lake · 4 km out

    Forest lake and campground a 4 km climb above the village, fine as a half day walk; it freezes over in January.

  • Taluka

    Village · 12 km out

    Road head for the Har Ki Dun trail, shared jeeps grind the rough 12 km from Sankri; the last one back leaves by mid day.

  • Osla

    Village · 22 km out

    Old wooden village above the Supin with the Someshwar Mahadev temple; on the trail, homestays but no shop, carry cash.

  • Mori

    Activity · 30 km out

    Tons river rafting base downstream, grade 3 to 4 water in May and June; the drive out to Dehradun passes through it.

Getting to Sankri (Har Ki Dun)

200 km and 9-10 h by bus from Dehradun via Purola; Govind sanctuary permit issued at the Sankri forest office

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
5 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
1920 m
State
Uttarakhand
Coordinates
31.0780, 78.1841

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Sankri (Har Ki Dun)?

May to June and October to February is peak season in Sankri (Har Ki Dun). March to April and September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid July to August. December-February Sankri is the Kedarkantha base: snow from the village up, -5C nights, and every homestay booked out.

How many days do you need in Sankri (Har Ki Dun)?

5 days is the usual stay. A one-street trailhead village of homestays and trek outfitters; you will find a group to join within a day of arriving.

How do you get to Sankri (Har Ki Dun)?

200 km and 9-10 h by bus from Dehradun via Purola; Govind sanctuary permit issued at the Sankri forest office. Practical ways in: road.

Is Sankri (Har Ki Dun) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

What are the best things to do in Sankri?

Kedarkantha, Juda Ka Talab, Taluka, Osla and Mori. 3810 m summit, the classic two night snow climb from Sankri via Juda ka Talab; December to April for snow, guides in village.

Nearby, and where to go next

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