Devban Trek

TREK DIFFICULTY

Easy

TREK DURATION

2 Days

HIGHEST ALTITUDE

9,350 feet

GROUP SIZE

TREK DISTANCE

15 Km

BASECAMP

Uttarakhand

BEST TIME

All Year

PICKUP POINT

Dehradun

Devban Trek Overview

Devban or Deoban trek is one of the lesser known hiking destinations near Dehradun city in Uttarakhand. It is part of a reserved forest in the Kanasar forest range bordering Himachal Pradesh. It has a beautiful forest rest house located at an altitude of 2,865 m built in 1963. The nearest road head is Chakrata, 16 km away. This is one of the most fantastic weekend treks that can be completed by families, children, and beginners. It takes trekkers through the dense forests of the region. The forests are typically broadleaved Oak, coniferous Pine, Fir, Devdhar or Deodar as well thorny shrubs; especially near the rocky outcrops. The name of this forest comes from the "Devdaru" or "Deodar" tree. "Devdaru" is a Sanskrit word that means “divine wood.” In Hindi, "Dev" means deity and "Ban" means forest, so together, it translates to “divine forest”.

Chakrata is an old British cantonment town near this trek. The old stone houses with towering chimneys take you back to the British era. Most of Chakrata is inaccessible due to army restrictions. Geologically this region is part of the Shiwaliks and is mostly made of loose sedimentary and limestone rocks. In some places quartz rock bands are visible. Geologists have found a few limestone caves in the lower reaches of the hills. The locals speak the Jaunsari language and many Gujjar huts can be found along the slopes of the hills.

There is a motorable road all the way up to the forest rest house but in winters the snow makes the place inaccessible by road. This gives an opportunity to trekkers to walk along the old forest trail through the dense oak and deodar forests of this area. Chakrata is at an altitude of 2200 m and the trekking route till Devban climbs up to 3000 m.

History of Deoban Trek

As per historical perspective, Deoban and Chakrata regions were the part of Jaunsar-Bawar area which was ruled by the Sirmaur Dynasty founded by King Shubhans Prakash in 1195 and continued until the British came. The British later used this region as a cantonment area due its strategic location. They developed this area as per their requirement. Deoban was one of the favourite retreat areas for the British due to its natural beauty and peaceful vibes. The influence of the British can still be seen on the architecture of this region. The first recorded ascent of Deoban was also done by a British Climbing Team led by Frank Smythe in 1937.

Deoban is believed to associated with God (Dev) by local people. According to them, there many Sadhus (Sages) have meditated because it was considered the land of God. The power of meditation brought the positive vibration to this place. In Hindu Mythology, it is believed the Pandavas of epic Mahabharata traveled through the dense forests of Deoban and spent time here during their exile. Later they moved on to higher Himalayas.

Known for its dense deodar forests (Cedrus Deodara), Deoban holds economical significance as well. Deodar trees are considered precious wood due to its high-quality timber and fragrance. Some of deodar trees of Deoban are old over 500 years. The demand of deodar trees are high in market due to its durability. However, the Central Government put a complete ban on cutting Deodar and oak trees within the Mussoorie Cantonment Board.

Day 1: Dehradun to Chakrata drive and trek to campsite

The day starts from Dehradun. We follow the route to Vikasnagar via Indian Military Academy, Forest Research Institute and Institute of Petroleum. Next on the way is the industrial and educational town of Selaqui. This is the main road to Saharanpur/Shimla/Vikasnagar/Paonta Sahib and hence a lot of traffic is seen on the road. We turn right from Herbertpur Chowk towards Vikasnagar. The road now ascends towards Kalsi which is the major forest division in this region. Plenty of plantations of teak and eucalyptus can be seen along the roadside. Kalsi is a very ancient town and is mentioned in ancient texts as well. A very famous Ashokan Rock Edict is found here. It was discovered by a Britisher in 1895 and is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. The language on the edict is Pali and the script is Brahmi.We cross the Yamuna at Kalsi and reach Chakrata after 2 hours via the village of Sahiya. We have breakfast at one of the dhabas in chakrata.

The trek starts from the forest chowki 4 km after Chakrata. However we would recommend walking all the way from Chakrata. The road winds among dense devdhar trees with babblers, nut-thatches, thrushes and tits to give you company. There is a small museum near the forest chowki. The views of the higher Himalayas along the way cannot be ignored. The sun rays weave through the upright trees creating a beautiful geometric pattern on the road.

The trek now moves from the tar road to a bridle path which the locals often use. The gradient is comfortable upto the small stop way of Badrikhal. This place has a dhaba run by a Nepali family and a few houses scattered around. Badrikhal is located along the saddle of the ridge which overlooks the watershed of the famous Tiger falls below Chakrata. The village of Mohna just above the falls is visible from here. The route continues till the army rock climbing institute. This camp is aptly named spider colony. It is headed by a very able army man of Tibetan origin who has climbed Mt Everest twice apart from conquering Ama Dablam and Mt Lhotse. Photography is strictly prohibited here. The trek continues along the tar road for a while. The views along the Chakrata-Tiuni road are unending. This road leads to Kanasar (30 km from Chakrata) which is a majestic open field set among large devdhar trees. In fact Kanasar has the largest diameter (girth) devdhar tree in Asia. Although no rivers are visible in the valleys, the intersecting spurs of the hills make for a beautiful vista. The campsite for the night is located amidst tall fir and pine trees and is protected from the chilling wind. A starry sky wishes you good night.

Day 2: Trek from campsite to Devban FRH and back to Chakrata

The next day we start our trek post breakfast and walk towards the FRH of Devban. Packed lunch is provided for the journey. We take a detour from the main road and walk along the forest trail. The main road follows a winding path till a Y-point with one end going to the Devban FRH and the other continuing for a further 24km upto the skiing slopes of Mundali. Mundali has one of the best FRH in all of Uttarakhand. We follow the forest trail which was used before the tar road was built. The trail rises upto the ridge and then curves behind the vertical rock patch. The forests here are very dense and you get a feeling of being watched all the way. Since very little sunlight reaches here most of the snow will still be 1-2 feet deep. The trail ends right at the main entrance of the FRH. The meadows in front of the FRH are beautiful and the green fence gives it a postcard feel. After having tea at the FRH we proceed to Vyas shikhar which is the highest point on the ridge. At a height of 3005m it gives a mesmerizing view of the Himalayan vista. The peaks of Kandariya Mahadev, Goshupishu, Koshni, Swargarohini, Ranglana, Banderpoonch, Shrikantha, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Dunagiri, Nandadevi and Trishul are visible from here. There is a stone marker indicating all the peaks seen from here. After finishing our packed lunch we head back to our campsite. We pack our bags and proceed back to Chakrata. The rest of the day can be spent sight-seeing around Chakrata. The famous Tiger falls can be visited and the Chintan-haran Shiv temple can be paid a visit. The main bazaar of Chakrata is called the Sadar bazaar and is a small place. There are small viewpoints built all around chakrata for tourists to sit and soak in the views. The army has done a wonderful job to keep the town clean and the construction regulated. Most of the official government buildings continue to be housed in old British colonial architecture style bungalows. The most prominent among them is the police Thana. We leave Chakrata and head for Dehradun.

Our treks are specially designed by the experienced team at Himalaya Shelter, taking you on an adventure of a lifetime all while making you connect not only with the bountiful nature but also with yourself and with others on the trek with you creating wonderful memories which will last you a lifetime. All Himalaya Shelter treks are guided by experienced Trekkers having vast knowledge and experience of the region, providing with insightful information and stories pertaining to the region’s flora and fauna and the history of the region whilst the trek. It is safe to say that on successfully completing the trek, one will gain tremendous insight and experience along with lifetime memories.

Inclusion

Transport support on day 1 and day 2 as per the itinerary.
Accommodation – At Base Camp, stay at a local homestay or guest house for one night each, which will give you an insight into the authentic lifestyle of the locals.( INR 5000 per person extra for single sharing throughout the trek )On Trek stay in a 2-person Vango Halo Pro/A-Shape tent, which is to be shared by two trekkers, built to withstand extreme weather conditions and at the same time making you comfortable after a hard day’s trek.
Camping Equipment – specially designed sleeping bags that can withstand harsh weather conditions, foam mattresses. Other safety gear like microspikes, gaiters, an ice axe, and helmets will be provided.
Medical Kit – our team will be equipped with an extensive medical kit, which our team is trained and experienced to use. Oxygen cylinders are used after they are thoroughly inspected throughout the Trek. Even campsites have large oxygen cylinders as backups.
Permission - Forest entry charges for Indian nationals (Additional charges will be applicable for international tourists)
Meals – Breakfast, packed lunch (on trek days), evening snacks, and dinner will be served. A hearty, delicious, and nutrition-filled Veg meals with egg preparation will be provided throughout the trek. (Jain and Vegan Food can also be arranged on prior notification.)There will be a dedicated Kitchen Tent along with a dining tent, which will have a dining table too.
Our Team – A highly experienced and AMC-certified Trek Leader who will help ensure that the entire trek goes smoothly and safely while navigating the challenging conditions during the trek, and is skilled enough to navigate any medical emergency that can arise during the trek. Local and route Guides who are well-versed with the region and provide an in-depth insight into the local customs and knowledge of the flora and fauna endemic to the region. A dedicated Kitchen staff, which includes a Cook, a helper, and other support staff. There will also be porters and mules to carry common equipment.
Cloakroom - We have a cloakroom facility available for extra luggage. Every trekker is permitted to leave their luggage behind at no charge.

Exclusions

Personal expenses like tips, personal medicines, phone calls etc.
Travel Expenses - Travel expenses from your hometown to the mentioned Pick-Up Point are not included in the trek fee.
From the scheduled pick-up spot to the base camp, we have our own fleet of vehicles like Bolero, Innova, Dezire, or Tempo Traveler (12-seater). This is be shared by trekkers for a pre-decided amount. All vehicles are non-AC.
Personal Equipment - Any personal gear like jackets, shoes, cutlery, or backpacks are not included in the trek fee. We recommend renting them from our Rental Store for an affordable fee. This can be pre-arranged to avoid last-minute hang-ups.
Offloading - We encourage carrying your backpack to get into the true spirit of trekking. However, if needed, you can opt to offload your personal luggage of up to 12 kgs for an additional cost of INR 350 per bag per day.
Trek Insurance - A mandatory trek insurance fee is charged in addition to your trek fee. Since most medical insurance doesn’t cover adventure activities, trek insurance offers essential coverage, enhancing your safety without a significant financial burden.
Buffer day on the trek - We have kept a buffer day on the trek to account for any weather-related delay. If this is utilized, you will need to pay an extra amount to your trek leader.
Anything apart from inclusions
Please carry a lunch box for a packed lunch/breakfast to avoid using polythene and Aluminium foil.