Fachu Kandi Pass Trek

Day 1 – Dehradun to Sankri: Drive Distance: 190 KM | Duration: 8-9 hrs |Altitude Gain: 2100 ft. – 6,750 ft.

We start the journey early from the city of Dehradun and drive initially to the queen of the hills – Mussoorie. Consecutively we cross Kempty Falls, known for its waterfall. After just over 100 km, we pass close to the temple of Lakhamandal. According to locals, Duryodhana of the epic Mahabharata conspired to burn the Lakshagriha house of the Pandavas around this area. Purola is the last big settlement on the route with a large market. So, it is recommended that the trekkers can buy anything they might have missed out. It is also the last village where there is a good network connectivity.

The arrival of Mori, where you will find the last ATM, is preceded by a beautiful drive along the river Tons, through a straight stretch of road running parallel to the river. The river Tons flows beside us till Netwar. We enter the wildlife sanctuary (Govind Pashu Vihar) at Netwar. Tiuni, located not far from here, habors the confluence of the rivers of Rupin and Supin to form Tons. The peak of Kedarkantha can be seen from various points along the way from here. We reach Sankri by early evening. We drive towards Kotgaon by taking a road headed uphill, right to the village of Sankri. Overnight stay at Sankri.

Day 2 – Sankri to Juda Ka Talab: Trek Distance: 5 KM | Duration: 4 hrs |Altitude Gain: 6,750 ft. – 9,100 ft.

Our trekking journey starts from Kotgaon after a walk to Sankri from where we continue heading inwards towards the Saud (Saur) village and after a walk of approximately 1 km from Sankri. Take a right turn towards the trail headed to Kedarkantha. The trail is steep from here, all the way up to Juda ka Talab. We come across tea stalls halfway through the journey and cross a stream which can be used to fill your water bottles.

The trek takes you through dense forests of pine and the trail is well marked. We camp either at Juda or slightly ahead of Juda Ka Talab. The path diverges into two from the Lake, with the left heading towards Phulara and the straight one heading towards Kedarkantha. We take the trail to the left. Overnight stay at Juda Ka Talab.

Day 3 - Juda Ka Talab to Bhoj Gadi: Trek Distance: 6 KM | Duration: 4 hrs |Altitude Gain: 9,100 ft. – 11,000 ft.

We continue on the eastward trail to Bhoj Gadi, through the dense Pine trees. After almost 2 KM we cross a stream where a broken bridge can be seen. We can use this stream to fill water bottles and take a short break here. After another 20-30 minutes of walking, we come across a small clearing, before losing the sight of the trail again in the forest. The ridge that can be seen to our right, connects Pushtara Meadows all the way to the Kedarkantha peak, and is known as Phulara Ridge. One can even summit Kedarkantha and follow this ridge to Bhoj Gadi, which is slightly below the ridge. We trek one section of this ridge on our way to Pushtara Meadows. The ascent from Juda Ka Talab to Bhoj Gadi is more gradual than day 1. Overnight stay at Bhoj Gadi campsite.

Day 4 - Bhoj Gadi to Pushtara Meadows via Phulara Ridge: Trek Distance: 7 KM | Duration: 5 hrs |Altitude Gain: 11,000 ft. – 12,150 ft. - 12,470 ft.

After a climb of 20-30 minutes from Bhoj Gadi campsite, we reach the ridge top, from where we simply follow the astounding trail to the east, all the way to Pushtara Meadows. It is an easy day with very little ascent. The day can be well utilized to enjoy the beauty of the ridge with panoramic views on its either sides. We can even see Kedarkantha from here.

Day 5 - Pushtara Meadows to Rateri: Trek Distance: 4 KM | Duration: 3 hrs |Altitude Gain: 12,470 ft. – 13,000 ft.

The trek today is short and we split the journey to the Fachu Kandi Pass in order to acclimatize to the high altitude. The trek can be covered in 3 hours at a comfortable pace. Overnight stay at Rateri.

Day 6 - Rateri to Saru Tal: Trek Distance: 3 KM | Duration: 2 hrs |Altitude Gain: 13,000 ft. – 13,779 ft.

Saru Tal is an alpine Tarn, situated at an altitude of 4,150 meters. It is a small lake with a ridge surrounding it on one side, similar to Roopkund, although not in as grandeur setting. Yet the beauty and solitude that this lake provides, is bound to leave you speechless. Wild grass and flowers bloom alongside this lake in summers. The trek can be challenging for some people, as the high altitude leads to lack of oxygen in the atmosphere, and each step becomes slightly more difficult. It is important to find a steady but comfortable pace. The journey is not very long, so it is not required to rush through any stretch. We can camp near the lake, but with caution, so as to not damage these fragile environs in any way. Overnight camping at Saru Tal.

Day 7 - Saru Tal to Leka Dogri via Fachu Kandi Pass: Trek Distance: 11 KM | Duration: 8 hrs |Altitude Gain: 13,779 ft. – 14,290 ft. - 8,530 ft.

The ascent to the Pass from Saru Tal is short but steep. We are required to gain an altitude only around 140 meters vertically, before we start the descend and the trek henceforth becomes easy, as we no longer struggle with the altitude. It will take less than an hour to reach to the Pass even at a slow pace. The views from the top are magnificent. The long walk down to Leka Dogri is sometimes gradual, while at other times it is a steep descend. We rest midway to eat our packed lunch. Arriving at the camp in this secluded forest, by late afternoon, we can spend the rest of the day exploring the floral surroundings. Overnight camp at Leka Dogri.

Day 8 - Leka Dogri to Hanuman Chatti to Dehradun: Trek Distance: 5 KM | Duration: 2 hrs |Altitude Gain: 8,530 ft. – 7,874 ft.

The trek to Fachu Kandi Pass concludes today as we leave for Hanuman Chatti, which is downhill. After covering the stretch in under two hours, we take the vehicle back to Dehradun. Overnight stay in a hotel in Dehradun.

Day 9 - Departure from Dehradun.

It's time to say goodbye and cherish unforgettable memories of this trek and start your return journey back towards your respective cities.