The main reason for this hike is that Phulara Ridge is unique. It’s unlike any other hike on our list of pre-selected hikes.
Most treks are summit ascents: Kedarkantha, Kanamo, Pangarchulla or pass traverses Kuari Pass, Buran Ghati, Pin Bhaba Pass, Rupin Pass or meadow/lake treks: Dayara Bugyal, KGL, Tarsar, Kedartal, and Brahma Valley. I can put almost all of our hikes into one of these three categories.
Phulara, on the other hand, is a tightrope walk.
Why is this balancing act so special?
On the Phulara Ridge Walk, hike the ridge that connects the peak of Kedarkantha to the ridge behind the village of Taluka. To its left is the Thamsa Valley, stretching from Sankri to Har Ki Dun. And on your right, the mountains roll in layers to Jamunothri.
The ridge goes up and down, but you’re always on top of the ridge. To put it into perspective, it’s like hiking a peak for several hours. The view, the wind, and the landscape are as if you were at the top of the peak. It’s even better because as you hike up the ridge, the scenery continues. The feeling of being on top of the world accompanies you throughout the hike.
On the Phulara ridge trek, your tightrope walk takes 4-5 hours. You are at an altitude of about 12,000 feet where you are still in alpine meadows. Velvet carpets descend on either side. Great mountains open up around you. You almost feel like the mountains are going with you!
The Beauty of the Trek
The next reason Phulara is a must-see is that it’s extremely beautiful. Our scouting team led by Suhas Saya came back and told us that it is as beautiful as trekking in Kashmir. If someone says that, we know what they mean. On the hike, you have a large meadow area. The feeling of openness is unmatched.
The Phulara Ridge hike starts next to the Kedarkantha hike but makes a quick left turn just before Juda Ka Talab. The first Sikolta camp set amongst beautiful oak and pine trees matches the clearings you encounter on the Kedarkantha Trek.
Next comes the Bhojgadi camp just below the ridge. At 11,200 feet, Bhojgadi is almost above the tree line. The meadow leading to the ridge stretches far. It is a precursor to the landscape reserved for the next day.
Then follows the tightrope walk. I’ve already talked about how exciting tightrope walks can be. Our tightrope walk here takes 5-6 hours.
Pushtara is this vast meadow just below the ridge line. Pushtara is so big that it is part of two treks.
Phulara Trek and Phachukhandi Pass Trek
Camping at Phushtara, you can retrace up the ridge. The sunset in Phustara with the western light hitting the meadows makes for a perfect night in the mountains.
Trekking in the Pulara Mountains is one of the less explored gems of the Himalayas, hidden in the vast landscape of the Sankri Mountains. It is a neighbor of the famous Kedarkantha Trek and a great destination for all trekking enthusiasts looking for something new. Ridges often appear as part of many high-altitude Himalayan treks, but here they are a problem. Imagine a walkway from above, with views of massive glaciers and peaks on either side. Few mountain ranges are as spectacular as the Fulara Mountains.
Like a miniature version of the Great Wall of China, the Fulara Mountains cut through various valleys and grasslands of Uttarakhand. During the tour, you can spend more than 4 hours on this heavenly path, but walking is eternal and timeless. This Himalayan refuge is located at an altitude of 3700m in Sankri, Uttarakhand. The 5-day hike combines culture, nature, and adventure and is suitable for both beginners and experts looking for a unique experience. The five-day
Fulara Trail takes you through lush meadows and lush forests, offering a mystical atmosphere, sweeping grasslands, and panoramic views. The taste here will remind you of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
The highlight of this trek is the impressive ridgeline and breathtaking views of the Swargarohini (6252m) and Kala Nag (6387m) peaks. Until now nobody has climbed Swargarohini, one of the sacred peaks of Uttarakhand. On the other hand, Kalanag, also known as Black Peak, is a famous peak in the Tech Exploration category.
Alongside ridges and peaks, hiking in oak and pine trees, camping sunsets, bird watching, wildflowers, and traversing the scenic Taluka landscape- Villages and relaxation on wide meadows are further highlights of this trip. The best time for this trip is summer from May to June or winter from September to October.
On the Bicat rating scale, this hike belongs to level 2 – Easy. However, climbing to heights and shooting at long distances requires a reasonable level of fitness and a good knowledge of the equipment.
