Phulara Ridge Trek

Dehradun - Sankri

• Altitude(Sankri): 1,950m/ 6,400 feet.
• Drive Distance: 200 km (9-10 hrs approx).
• Pickup: Dehradun at 6:30 AM.
• Transportation Amount is not included in the trek cost.
• Type Of Vehicle: Tata Sumo/Tempo traveler or similar vehicle.
• Network Available: BSNL.
• Arrival at Sankri: 5:00 PM.
• Stay in a hotel with, an attached washroom with running hot water.

Our journey starts from Dehradun where we will pick you up in Tata Sumo or similar vehicles at 6:30 AM. You are requested to report at the pickup point by the time. From Dehradun, we will drive to Sankri, which is at a distance of 200 km from Dehradun. It may take about 9 - 10 hrs or more to reach Sankri as the mountain roads can be quite bumpy at times. However, the road to Sankri is quite scenic. 

On your way, you will cross picturesque places like Mussoorie, Mori, and Naitwar, etc. You will drive along the beautiful Yamuna and Tons River with pine trees lining the road. The River is milky white in some places and clear green in others. The fragrance of pinewood and the beauty of nature will make up for the long ride to Sankri. The last stretch of the road, about 22 km from Sankri, is even more beautiful as you enter the Govind National Park, famous for being home to much exotic flora and fauna. On reaching Sankri, we will check-in at our hotel. After freshening up, you can spend the evening at the quaint hamlet of Sankri at your leisure.

You can head out for a stroll through this charming village. Sankri is a trekkers’ hub as it is the base camp for not one or two but 11 Himalayan treks including popular treks like Har Ki Dun. At Sankri BSNL network is available but it is very erratic. You can also watch a beautiful sunset at Sankri Village in the backdrop of the Himalayas, a great opportunity for shutterbugs to capture all the beauty around. At night, you can have dinner at your hotel or in the local village dhabas to get a taste of the local flavors. Stay overnight at Sankri and we will start our trek the following day.

Sankri - Sikolta

• Altitude(Sikolta): 2850 m/9,400 ft.
• Trek Distance: 7 km | Duration: 5-6 hrs.
• Gradient: Moderate.
• Ascending trail.
• Water Source: Small stream near a broken bridge about 3.5 hrs into the trek
• Stay:  In tents, Twin sharing.

On the first day of your trekking, today you will trek from Sankri to Sikolta basecamp. The first leg of the journey crosses through a serene pine cover and this is a great spot for bird watching. You may spot several varieties of Himalayan birds like treepies, drongos, barbets, woodpeckers, and more in the coniferous thickets. 

The trail today is ascending throughout and as you continue climbing uphill, the forest will soon give way to a clearing where you will spot some dhabas. About an hour and a half on the trail, you will come across a bridge crossing which we will get to the other side of the river. Mind your steps as you climb uphill on the trail. 

Walk on further and you will arrive at Jainot Thatch followed by an ascent to Marikoda, a scenic spot that unfolds the views of Dhunda Top on the left and the first glimpses of the Phulara Ridge. The trek branches here and one takes you to the beautiful alpine lake Juda Ka Talab while the other takes you to the Sikolta campsite. Walk onwards towards the Sikolta campsite and soon you will observe the majestic snow-covered peaks revealing themselves on the left and in the spring, the path is lined by Yellow Marsh Marigold and Lillies. Keep walking ahead until you reach a clearing in the meadow. This is your Sikolta campsite. You may spot some broken Gujjar huts here and towards your right, there is a water source that is filled with water during the post-monsoon season where you can refill your water bottles. 

Once you reach Sikolta, set your bags down and pitch your tents. This is where you will camp for the night.

Sikolta - Bhoj Gadi

Today you will trek to the Bhojgadi campsite from Sikolta. The initial climb starts with walking through a dense forest for about 30 minutes. Crossing the forest, you will arrive at a water source, it is a lovely stream that flows under a bridge. You can fill up your water bottles here. Crossing the wooden bridge you will walk for about 15 minutes until you reach ‘Karasu Thatch’, which is a section in the trail filled with verdant green vegetation and lined by yellow wildflower blooms. 

From Karasu Thatch, the Kedarkantha Peak is nicely visible. Take the moment to absorb the beauty of your surroundings. From here there are sections of both gradual ascents and descents and you will see the trail ahead dotted with Rhododendron and Bhoj trees. Thirty minutes of further walking opens the trail into lush meadows; Dhunda Top is clearly visible from here. To reach the Bhoj Gadi campsite, you will have to walk for about 15 more minutes. The campsite offers stunning views of Kedarkantha peak, & Swargarohini peaks. Set against the backdrop of green grasslands and the white canvas of snow-covered mountains, this is a great spot for shutterbugs to get their cameras out and capture the beauty of the landscape. Walk around the campsite or simply sit and relax and the serenity of nature engulf you slowly.

Bhojgadi - Pushtara via Phulara Ridge

Today’s trek will take you to Phulara Ridge and Pushtara campsite. Welcome the day with a mesmerizing sunrise view and you will head towards Pushtara meadows crossing the Phulara Ridge. Today’s trek is full of many ascents and descents and also the most scenic day of your trek.

Starting the trek early in the morning from the Bhoj Gadi campsite, we will reach the highlight point of our trek, the Phulara Ridge in about an hour. The Phulara Ridge is formed by a continuous chain of mountains that crest for some distance. From the ridge, you get unobstructed views of some of the most magnificent peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas like Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Kalanag, Kedarkantha, Ranglana, Hanuman Top, Sarutal, Hata Peak, and more. 

The ridge drops to deep valleys on either side and as such, the mountain views from here are completely unobstructed. You will also catch a beautiful bird’s eye view of the Purola Valley in the distance. As the ridge ends, we will descend towards the vast, undulating meadows of Pushtara Bugyal. A picturesque expanse of green land, Pushtara Meadows offers a pleasant walk after the climb to the ridge. Marvel at the beauty of the meadows, dressed in green and dotted with various Himalayan wildflowers including the fabled Brahmakamal and fankamal. There’s a good probability to spot a rare Himalayan avian species here, the vibrantly colored Monal Pheasant, the state bird of Uttarakhand. The Pushtara Meadows will be our camping grounds for the night.

There are no water sources on the trail so it is recommended to carry at least 2 liters of water from the Bhoj Gadi campsite. You will have expert guidance from mountaineering-certified trek leaders all along the way and learn a lot of fun facts about the trek.

Pushtara - Taluka - Sankri

It is a complete descent to the village of Taluka and the last leg of your trek. Descend through the meadows of Pushtara for about 30 minutes and you will come across some broken Gujjar huts. Keep descending following the trail on your right and you will see a treeline start emerging which becomes denser. The valley floor is also strewn with beautiful yellow flowers. 

Descending for another 30 minutes, you will enter into a forest. Stay on the trail as the forest is quite dense and wide so you may get lost if you wander away from the trail. Towering pine trees loom over you as you walk under their shadows. Be mindful of your steps as there may be a few trees fallen on the ground. You will need to manoeuvre around or over the trees to cross them.

Further descend for another 30 minutes and you will begin to see signs of civilization. Stay on your trail and you will come across a pathway and water collecting pipe. There’s a huge water tank and stone-roof wooden huts begin to appear on the right. This is the village of Tumrikot. A quaint Himalayan settlement. 30 minutes of walking and you will arrive at the end of your trek. You have arrived at the small village of Taluka. You will also see a clearly defined marking for the Har Ki Doon trek here. You will come to appreciate the simple domesticity of these remote Himalayan villages and their daily life. From Taluka, a vehicle will drive you to Sankri once again. You will stay the night in a hotel or homestay in Sankri.

At night you may venture out to the Sankri local market and buy some souvenirs as a token of remembrance of this memorable trip.

Sankri - Dehradun

We start the journey back to Dehradun today taking back with you the memories of an incredible experience in the mountains. Drive to Dehradun will take approximately 10 hrs and you will drive along the same scenic road that you came in. The timing may vary depending on the traffic and road conditions. We will drop you off at Prince Chowk, Dehradun and you can book your onward journey from here. If you wish to stay a few more days, you can explore Mussoorie or Rishikesh, popular tourist destinations in Uttarakhand.