6 Must-do Treks you must do in India
You must do them. 3 Musts. They are that good!
By Mrunmai Menon
To be frank, whenever you get a chance to trek, you must do it. That way you would cover almost all the possible trekking routes in the country and that would be ideal. After all, you can never really get tired of trekking. Trekking has a high you can never really overcome completely. Once you’ve been there, you will keep wanting to go back again, and again.
Yet, time, money and an aching back can be quite constraining for a passion like this. So, it’s expected that wanting to do every possible trek might just be a little, well, impossible. Yet, there are some treks you just shouldn’t miss. These are the ones that take you higher than you’ve ever been before, figuratively and literally too. Most of these treks can be done by anyone with a reasonable level of fitness, a good appetite for adventure and a ferocious love of peace and nature.
1. Valley of Flowers Trek, Uttarakhand
The National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site is a favorite trekking destination and for good reason. For 3 months in a year, from July through September, the otherwise frigid valley within the Nanda Devi National Park blooms to a riot of colours. It finds mention in ancient Indian texts, is referenced in literature and visited by trekkers and travellers all over the world.
It is also a relatively easy Himalayan trek, at an altitude of 3352 to 3658 meters (no more than around 15,000 ft.). It’s almost a hike, what with roads and steps now being hewn to accommodate tourists and doesn’t take more than 4–5 days from Govindghat, covering Hemkund Sahib as well. In fact the next few years are the best time to go, as the valley now sees only a fraction of the crowd it used to, owing to the floods in 2013.
2. Forts of Maharashtra, Sahyadris (Western Ghats)
Maharashtra’s cultural history and the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Mahaji are inextricably bound, and trekkers are eternally grateful for that. The Maratha Emperor and Warrior built and/or captured and fortified more than 200 mountain forts in the state, each offering immense scope for all kinds of adventure activities: trekking, hiking, rock climbing, rappelling across a wide range of grades. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned trekker — you will find a fort to whet your appetite. While monsoons are the generally the best time to trek, with the western ghats at their greenest best, any time is a good time for trekkers!
Here’s Lohgad in the Western Ghats
This is the view from Kalsubai, highest peak in Maharashtra.
Sinhagad. Image courtesy of http://bit.ly/1KfNwuR
3. Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir
You cannot truly call yourself a trekker if you haven’t visited Ladakh, at least once (and preferably not on a bike) Many a traveller has called it an enchanting, mystical land and it’s mysteries are best explored on a trek. From monasteries, gompas, Tibetan villages, grasslands, deserts, arid and barren mountainsides to chilling peaks, mirror lakes, glaciers and more — Ladakh offers nature at its rawest best. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, there are treks suited to everyone. Ripcher Valley, Nubra Valley, Markha Valley are popular trekking destination for amateurs, whereas those looking for a challenge can try the Stok Kangri climb.
Sands of Nubra Valley. Image courtesy of http://bit.ly/1QFHq9l
Stok Kangri. Image courtesy of http://bit.ly/1UVysKZ
4. Glaciers in Garhwal, Uttarakhand
Trekking a glacier is an experience in itself, and a frozen glacier is just the cherry on the cake. Glacier trekking requires some decent prior trekking experience, particularly with snow and ice. With most popular glaciers located in Garhwal, glacier treks take you to the lower reaches of the Himalayas giving you a taste of hard-core mountaineering (and some boasting ground). Beginners can try the Pindari or the Milam glacier treks in the Kumaon Himalayas, Garhwal, Uttarakhand. Kafini Glacier to the left of Pindar Valley is also a popular trekking route which can easily be enjoyed by amateurs.
However, if you’re looking for the adult-versions of these treks, you can try the Khatling Glacier or the Gomukh Glacier, which is known as the origin of the Ganges. And if you really want to up the ante, go for the Chadar Trek, that takes you over the frozen Zanskar river and to the Zanskar Valley. Considered the most thrilling and breath-taking adventure by trekkers, it matches trekking a glacier any day.
View of Nandadevi from the Pindari Glacier. Image courtesy of http://bit.ly/1OezWvF
Scenes from the Chadar Trek. Image courtesy of http://bit.ly/1UUEFSg
5. Eastern Ghats
Like their Western Counterparts, the Eastern Ghats too have marvellous trekking opportunities but unlike the Western Ghats, these haven’t been fully explored yet. While avid climbers can make a bee-line for Dodabetta in the Nilgiris or Jindhagada in the Arakku Mountain ranges, there are innumerable splendid trails in these ranges, each offering incredible vistas and a great sense of adventure and peace. In the Nilgiri’s, Ooty forms the perfect base camp for most treks, and one can go off to Parsons Peak and onwards to Madumalai National Park; or leave towards Kolaribetta, passing Avalanche Dam, and Emerald village on the way. Nagala and Arakku Valley treks are also hugely popular as well as rewarding
6. The North-East
With the presence of the HMI (Himalayan Mountaineering Institute) in Darjeeling, you can be confident that the North-East is quite a trekker’s paradise. Promising to be an out-and-out wilderness experience, the North East not only offers a variety of complex terrains, but also a multi-blend of tribal and nomadic cultures across the seven states — and all without the snow. While Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling Hills and Meghalaya have well-mapped and guided trekking trails and tours; Nagaland and Mizoram are as yet largely unexplored. Sikkim leads the pack with the challenging Kanchenjunga & Dzongri treks, as well as smaller, moderately difficult Green Lake or Mainam treks while Darjeeling offers the picturesque Sandakphu trek. And of course, a visit to the North-East is incomplete without a trek to the living root bridges in Meghalaya.
Scene from the Dzongri Trek. Image courtesy of http://bit.ly/1KfQpfp
That should have you covered!
While trekking is great fun, most trekking, particularly in snow or ice requires a good deal of preparation. It’s also important to understand that terrains greatly affect your trekking experience. While you may a pro at scrambling over rocks in the Sahyadris, you may find yourself struggling to breathe on the Khardung la pass. Being fit and staying positive is of paramount importance on any trek, as is carrying proper gear. Also, ensure you always have a local with you on any trek. Weather conditions can change in minutes when you’re in the Himalayas, and locals have a natural instinct for such sudden occurrences.
They are also well versed with the indigenous flora and fauna, and can leave you with a wealth of information that you may not find on the internet, a point that Priyanshi, an avid trekker who trekked the Valley of Flowers in 2015 harps on. “Make sure you have a local accompanying you so you can spot tiny Strawberries, Blueberries, Rhododendrons, fresh farm apples and the purest weed amidst the shrubbery. Anyone well versed with the route will tell you to avoid the prickly ‘bichoo ghaas’, a poisonous variety of grass that will sting much worse than a bee would. And make sure you have a botany expert by your side so you know exactly what to look at.” And of course, pack your sense of adventure and a good dose of common sense and you’re set. Find a group, and get scrambling!
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