Himalayas - The Great Indian Treks
Trekking in India is a real
exciting and full of fun. Himalayas - the world's greatest
mountain chain - is the abode of perpetual snow. Fittingly called
the Lord of the Mountains, it has been an object of fascination
for millions of people – explorers, traders, adventurers or
simply seekers of spiritual enlightenment.
These inaccessible and formidable mountain ranges offers
challenging trekking adventure options in India.
The Garhwal - Kumaun region ensconced in the Himalayas,
overflows with flowers, thickly-forested valleys, rippling rivers
and snow-tipped peaks kissed by clouds, offers myriad
possibilities, from mountaineering to nature holidays, pilgrimages
to sightseeing.
Garhwal has been the destination of millions of hermits, sages
and pilgrims with the famous Chaar Dham (holy pilgrimage of
Garhwal) namely, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath.
To fire the spirit of adventure in you, here are some adventure
trekking itineraries ranging from hard to mild. The trekking
season peaks between late spring and summer. However, if you like
to live life in the fast lane you can trek at any time of the
year, including during winter at lower altitudes.
|
Panwali Kantha - This triangular adventure
trek including Trijuginarayan and Kedarnath is a blend of both
historical legend and adventure for the trekkers. Kedarnath is one of
the 12 Jyotirlinga, situated in the Mandakini Valley. According to
legend, Trijuginarayan is said to be the place where Lord Shiva
married Goddess Parvati.
The Milam Glacier fed by Nanda Devi is a mild trekking adventur route
with interesting towns like Pithoragarh and Munsiyari on way!
¤ RoopKund Lake
or the 'Mystery Lake' attracts thousands of tourists, as human
skeletons and remains of horses from the paleolithic age were found
here. This beautiful lake is surrounded by rock - strewn glaciers and
presents a breathtaking view of the snow - clad peaks.
¤ Promote Eco-Tourism
The awesome and serene snow-bound Himalayas are one of nature's most
beautiful gifts to mankind and offers some of the challenging
adventure trekking options in India. While visiting these majestic
mountains, one must make sure to respect local traditions and culture,
help maintain local harmony and protect the natural environment.
¤ Do's & Don'ts
*Limit deforestation, make no open fires. Care should be taken to use
kerosene or fuel-efficient wood stoves, and minimise the use of
firewood.
*Avoid using polythene and even if used, do not litter.
*Carry away all non-degradable litter and burn or bury paper before
leaving any spot. Dispose off glass-bottles properly, and burning
cigarette butts should be extinguished to prevent forest fires.
*Abstain from graffiti and help keep the locale clean.
D*Allow the flora and fauna to flourish in its natural environment.
Taking away of cuttings, seeds and roots is illegal in many parts of
the Himalayas.
|
Badrinath-Valley
of Flowers-Hemkund Sahib
|
|
Kedarnath
|
|
The highlight of this adventure
trek is the Valley of Flowers - where the entire valley is covered
with a thick blanket of alpine flowers. Another important
pilgrimage for Sikhs and Hindus is Hemkund Sahib - a high altitude
lake surrounded by seven huge snow mountains - presenting an
enchanting view for all to see!
|
|
Trekking on the 14km trek along the
Mandakini River from Gauri Kund makes an excellent adventure trip
and offers fabulous views of the Kedar Dome, Sumeru Parbat and the
Kedarnath peaks. The grey-stone temple in Kedarnath is said to
have been built by the Pandavas, and houses the hump of the bull
Shiva had disguised himself as, to evade the Pandavas.
|
|
Gangotri
- Gaumukh - Tapovan |
|
Yamunotri |
|
This strenuous trek covering
Tapovan via Gaumukh has some beautiful views of the Shivling peak
and the Bhagirathi peaks. |
|
This 4 day trek to the source of
river Yamuna is dominated by the massive Bandarpoonch peak.
|
|
Har-ki-Dun |
|
Naag
Tibba |
|
One of the least explored areas of
the Garhwal Himalayas, this valley shares its boundary with
eastern Himachal Pradesh and is dominated by the Swargarohini
peak. |
|
Situated in the Dehradun valley, it
is the highest peak in the area. It is an easy trek for 4 days,
with awesome views of the Himalayas - including the Swargarohini,
Gangotri, Kedarnath group of peaks and many more !
|
|
Dodital
Lake |
|
Pindari
Glacier |
|
Situated between the Yamunotri and
Gangotri mountain ranges, this lake set amidst conifer-clad slopes
has the best view of the Bandarpoonch peak and is also the source
of the river Asi Ganga which merges with the river Bhagirathi. |
|
It is the largest glacier of Kumaun
and this route passes through the Nanda Devi Sanctuary offering
views of Panwali Dhar and Maikotli peaks.
|
|
Winter
Treks to Auli and Chopta
|
|
