Trekking in India

What is Trekking?

Trekking or a trek refers to a foot journey of long duration to regions, which are not usually featured with availability of any common mode of transport. In spite of the fact that this kind of adventurous activity is undertaken on a mountainous area, still this is different from mountaineering.

Is Trekking Popular in India?

Since long time back, trekking has been one of the most favored adventure activities in the country of India. A person with a fascination towards exploring the unexplored often sets off for a trek to any of the enthralling and breathtaking trekking routes in India. Apart from exploring the rugged mountains, Indian trekking routes even offer, a trekking enthusiast, the opportunity to fall in love with nature. The shimmering waterfalls along with the meandering rivers flowing through those mountain ranges add on to the beauty of the nature. The country, being the location of some of the beautiful places in the world, has got many unexplored places that attract a trekking lover most. Owing to the fact that trekking is mostly done in places located at high altitudes, these trekking areas in the nation are pollution free. Any trekking tour in India even ensures to make a visitor flavor the touch of the country as well as its people.

Most parts of the country have got varied kinds of adventure options. Trekking is such a kind, which is waited by both national as well as international trekkers. These adventurous trekking options include places ranging from vast hardy regions to wonderland soft areas, which are not comprised of too much hard rock. One, who loves to trek, finds his or her dream come true on those high altitudes of the nation. An experienced trekker or mountain walker or skilled "Sherpas" often contributes to the fulfillment of a novice trekker's dream though.

Major Trekking Areas in India

India, being fortunate enough to have the Himalayan range located towards its northern side, has got many beautiful unexplored places to trek. Trekking in India can be mostly enjoyed in the foothills of the Himalayas. The mountain ranges of the Himalayas along with the Karakorams forms a vast amphitheatre for such an adventurous activity. The Kumaon and the Garhwal areas in Uttaranchal, amid this enthralling arena, are said to the main hub for trekking. These places, because of their special and unique interesting features, attract the trekkers most. These areas situated on the Himalayan foothills, being one of the ideal trekking regions in the nation, make a trek lover experience something unforgettable. Some of the other prominent trekking regions in India are as follows:

• Chamba, Kangra Valley, Kullu, Lahaul - Spiti, Manali in Himachal Pradesh
• Zanskar and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir
• Leh in Ladakh
• Northern Rishikesh
• Yuksam in Sikkim
• Northern part of Uttar Pradesh
• Darjeeling in West Bengal

Among these above mentioned places, the trekking areas of Garhwal, the Zanskar range, Kullu as well as Lahaul have the most interesting routes for trekking in India. These can even be regarded as the most challenging places for an experienced and skilled mountain climber. Thus, depending upon the nature of the place, a trekking region can be categorized as easy, moderate or tough trekking area. The following table provides information about some of these categorized trekking areas in India:

Location	Easy Trekking Regions	Moderate Trekking Regions	Tough or Alpine Trekking Regions
Garhwal	Chandrashila Summit Dodi Tal Dehradun - Mussoorie Hemkund Har Ki Dun Kempty Rishikesh Pauri Binsar Mussoorie - Naqtibba Snow View Valley of Flower Snow Winter Yamunotri	Gangotri - Goumukh Gangotri - Kedarnath Gangotri - Nandavan Kauri Pass Kauri Tapovan Kedarnath Vasuki Tal Panch Kedar Nanda Devi Roop Kund Rishikesh - Gopeshwar Sources of the Ganges	Auden's Col Kalindikhal Pass Kedarnath Khatling Sahasratal Shivling
Ladakh	Indus Valley Sham Spituk	Ladakh Monastery Lamayuru - Alchi Lamayuru Chilling through Dung - Dung La Lamayuru - Martselang Markha Valley Manali -Ladakh Sangla to Leh Spiti to Ladakh The Nubra Valley Wild Ladakh Tsomoiri Lake Zanskar (Darcha – Padum)	Darcha - Lamayuru Frozen River Hemis Rupsu - Darcha Junglam Lamayuru - Padum Markha - Stok Kangri Remote Zanskar Stok Kangri Southern Zanskar The Rupshu Trans – Zanskar
Sikkm	Darjeeling to Sikkim The Goecha La Yuksom To Dzongri	Green Lake Singalila Ridge	Sikkim and Kanchenjunga
Himachal	Bias Kund Chandratal Dalhousie - Kishtwar through Sach Pass Indrahar Pass Jagatsukh To Base of Deo Tibba Kinnar Kailash Manimahesh Kailash	Chandrakhani Pass Charang Valley Dalhousie - Manali Deo Tibba Jalori Pass Kalihani Pass Kugti Pass	Bara Bhangal Bhabha Pass Chandratal Baralacha Dharamsala Nayagroeon Friendship Peak Hampta Pass Kareri Lake Pin Parvati Pass Sach Pass Shepherd Trail Gaddi
Kumaon	Kafni Glacier Pithoragarh Sinla Pass Pindari Glacier	Milam Glacier Pancha Chuli Sunderdhunga	Adi Kailash Namik Glacier Nanda Devi (East)

Specific Time for Trekking in India

Trek in India can best be done during the period in between the months of April and November. However, some of the trekking routes in India can be explored in months specific to those trekking areas since, they remains open just for a month or two in a year. For example, one can trek in the different regions of Ladakh during July and August whereas, trekking season in Arunachal Pradesh starts mainly from the month of October and continues till February.



Last Updated on 05 December 2011