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Why is it that trekking and
camping hold such a hold on people? Maybe because nature has immense
recuperative elements and can provide one with the luxury to bask in its
sensation of solitude and peace.
Imagine that India has deep
valleys covered with rich and luxuriant undergrowth filled with a vast variety
of flora and fauna, how will you rate this experience? simply unforgettable.!
Trekking is all about setting
oneself a challenging pace or a strolly one, to enjoy the landscape of wild
flowers, grand scenery, local people, breaking up when you please, conversing
and dancing, forgetting all worldly troubles and losing your mind and soul to
forging new, uncomplicated memories.
Trekking is a popular sport in the
Indian states and for exploring the magnificent world of the daunting Himalayas
there is no need for training or special equipment. Of course there is physical
fitness and an outgoing, adventure loving temperament.
There is no special reason for
picking up one particular trek. It is true that the Himalayan eco profile varies
widely, resulting in differing weather conditions, terrain, flora and fauna.
While the Ladakh Valley specifically Leh, Zanskar and Nubra, offers spectacular
and challenging treks, the foothills in Himachal Pradesh, has emerald green land
lush with greenery.
In Himachal
Pradesh there are the alpine regions of Lahaul, Spiti ,kinnur and
kulu. Sikkim is a trekking destination with a difference:- its colourful
traditional cultures and exotic landscapes have lured trekkers for long. The
picture postcard state of Andhra Pradesh provides a striking contrast; it rises
from the rain forest foothills to the icy watersheds of the Himalayas.
Standing somewhere between these
stark contrasts, are the Uttar Pradesh hill areas of Garhwal and kumaon. These
hills, with towering peaks reaching for the sky and flanked by the mixed
deciduous and alpine forests harbour some of the most exotic species of wildlife
and an amazing variety of botanical species. One can cross small streams and
rivulets on log drifts or take a dip in the hot springs or soak under a
waterfall or laze off in the grasslands.
IN INDIA ONE MUST TRY TREKKING IN
THE FOLLOWING PLACES
HIMALAYAS:-
‘The abode of Snow’s is the chain of the highest and the youngest mountains
in the world. The interiors of the mountains are inaccessible by road and so
they must be visited in the slowest and most intimate manner by walking.
Yet walking in the Himalayas does
not require any technical Skill or ability physical fitness is a must. The
powers of endurance, patience, and a stomach to appreciate the grand beauty are
pre requisites. The glitter of the morning sun on snow peaks still covered in
mist; swift streams and lazy rivers; emerald takes and pine forests; solitude
and enveloping peace on a grassy meadow covered carelessly with a profusion of
multicoloured flowers and the silence of a clear starry night, will be all that
one needs.
There are trails, which ascend
steeply, and paths, which go around local villages, passing through forests of
rhododendron which gives way to fragrant stands of Juniper and conifers. It is
this very splendour that captivates and invites the spiritual joy that trekkers
have found to be alluring.
Himalayas affords trekkers with
special interests such as Flora and Fauna, photography, geology or anthropology
at all. Trekking have immense possibility of stretching the Trekkers walking
hours into an even more rich experience.
Himalayas for the adventurer is a
fulfillment of inner strength, mental and physical endurance.
HAR-KI-DUN:
This is a very hard trail. It is
demanding and one is advised to take it only after they have trekked on shorter
trails. But the long walking hours are more than made up the rich Flora and
Fauna visible on the way.
One can go the trail by the road
linking Delhi and Dehra Dun. The potholes are many and the progress is slow due
to the various obstacles. One passes through the Rajaji Sanctuary area, and if
one is lucky enough, then spotted deer are encountered.
The overnight half at Dehra Dun
tends to bring welcome relief from the heat. The climate change is felt
immediately and the light rip in the air actually sets the tone for the days to
come.
The next day is trekking through
Naogoan, Purola, Jermola, and Naitwar up to the road head at Sankri. The climb
is steep at times and one should be prepared for the occasional landslide. Yes,
not to forget Hocks of sheep too.
Tired body protesting, one can
easily get lost in the breath taking view on the way. There are quaint village
houses huddled together to fight off the strong mountain winds the winding track
continued to sankri.
Just before Taluka, one comes
across a hair-raising river crossing. One can manage by performing a Houdini -
like act on the narrow tree trunk that has been thoughtfully laid out across the
rushing waters. Situated at a height of 1900 m the Taluka bungalow commands an
imposing view of the hills. From the canopy like structure one is afforded a
birds eye view of the hills of Har-Ki-Dun.
The walk from Taluka to Seema, at
a height of 2560m, takes approximately 6 and 8 hours with everything up and
down. This is a tricky trail because the trail hugging the river can be
dangerous. He needs to be alert for one wrong footstep and everything is at end.
Seema was earlier called Osla
though the village by that name is across the river a km. away. The valley
widens from here and more terraced fields come into view.
The walk from Osla to Har-Ki-Dun
has another river crossing which is this time over a man made bridge.
Now, the incline is steady. At a
distance the Bandar punch and Swargarohini ranges come into view as do the
profusion of Flowers, anemones, buttercups and scores of primulae. This road
leads to the last bungalow at the head of the Har-Ki-Dun valley and takes about
6-7 hours from Osla.
Then one can move in the Ruin Sara
Tal direction. There are 2 routes to approach this picturesque lake, a popular
base camp for expeditioners, from Har-Ki-Dun. A high altitude trek over a pass
that drops off near the Swargarohini peak is also another option but requires
same expert maneuvering over snow.
The next is to back track towards
Osla until the river crossing and then follow the Ruin Sara trail along the Tons
river. Before, the crossing in middle of tall deodar and an abundance of
rhododendrons lies a nomad’s hut where one can rest.
The next day is the descent from
here to the bridge. The trail meanders close to the river. The walk is long,
ridge after ridge, but the reward is a definite treat for the trail enthusiast.
KULLU,
LAHAUL AND SPITI:
The above form the chain of
interest for shorter treks.
The very famous and popular due to
easy access in the nullah north west of Manali.
A short drive gets one to the road
lead at solang village and a 5 hours. Trek is to Dhundi a green patch next to
river Beas. This trek is like a pleasant walk through the Bhojpatre trees and
Hanuman Tibba or the Solang weishom can be seen will it’s impressive rock face
letting off an occasional stone. The next day’s trek is to the Beas Kund, the
source of the River Beas at approx 3,800 meters where you will tend a cirque of
peaks.
While only one day is required for
Solang, the more experienced and trained can take the Tentu or the Solang Pass
which, at 5000 mt. allows to cross over and come back to Manali in 4 days.
Similarly, the other trek goes up
to Jagatsukh Nullah south east of Manali. For those interested in climbing
,there is an easy peak called Deo Tibba at a height of 6,001 mt. and a sister
peak nearby rightly called the consolation peak, the latter a convenient option
if you fail to get to the top of Deo Tibba.
Yes, if one travel further not to
Manikaran and access the Tos nullah from the east, one would encounter not only
the famous Manikaran spires-excellent rock pinnacles peaks like Dharmasura and
Papsura, which, at 6,446 and 6,451 meters are good challenges.
By the month of July, the Rohtang
Pass, which is really the watershed between the Kullu valley and Lahaul, opens
up and the road journey is itself an adventure. The Rohtang Pass situated at
13,500 feet allows for an excellent panoramic view of the mountain ranges of
Chandra Bhaga, Mulkila and the Kao Rong.
Whilst most people start trekking
either in school or later in life, one can also go through the experience of
undertaking an adventure or basic course in one of the climbing institutes
either at Darjeeling, Uttarkashi, Manali or Kashmir. Equipment being a vital
aspect, this is available with a few firms like lbex Equipment or climbing clubs
or trekking associations also help as they can loan equipment to their members.
Trekking can be taken up at any
point provided one chooses the right trail.
One such trail for beginners is
the trek to the Beaskund area in Himachal Pradesh and this strikes out form
Manali which is now connected via Vayudoot or reachable by a 15 hours bus
journey via Chandigarh.
The trail takes the road form
Manali to Puchan by bus and then an easy trek of 4 hours to a beautiful camping
meadow called Dhundi. The next day is a good walk to Beaskund at a height of
about 10,000 feet. This is the bowl from where the Manali, Shitidhar and
Friendship peaks can be viewed and indeed ascended if one is an experienced
climber.
A middle-aged person can also go
on a trek for the first time and combine the religious aspect by taking off to
the Garhwal in the Uttar Pradesh hills. A drive of 10 hours gets one to
Uttarkashi via Rishikesh and then another day’s bus ride through the Rishi
Gorge to Gangotri. A quick dip in these holy waters and one takes the trail to
go on to Gaumukh the source of the Ganges which one can reach in 2 days easy
trekking stopping to Camp at Bhujbasa which is 16 kilometres from Gangotri and
then a short haul of 4 kilometres to Gaumukh. For the more hardy there is a
possibility of trekking on to Tapovan at 4,400 meters on the green pasture,
which is shepherded by peaks like Shivling, Meru and the Bhagirathi peaks.
For the more experienced it is
that fascinating land called Ladakh and Zanskar where a journey is a must. One
of the classic routes is the Lamayuru Padam trek, a route of 10 days starting at
the famous Lamayuru Monastery and going through the heart of Zanskar over passes
like Wanla 3,245m and Hanupatta 4,265m and finally Sirsir La at 4,900m. There
are various gompas on the way and through this arid land of colourful mountains
(due to different minerals present in the soil) the trekker reaches the
far-flung destination of Padum from where it is a 2-day bus ride back to Kargil
and back one day to Srinagar.
EQUIPMENT:
To get the best out of any taking
expedition one must be prepared to better the elements of nature. So best
equipments available have to be bought. Agreed that it might be expensive but it
is worth while for it will last long.
1) A good wind and waterproof
jacket :
This is a very necessary item on the agenda. The ones made from the expensive
goretex fabric are the best in the market for not only are they waterproof but
they are also ‘breathable’, which helps to avoid the wet and clammy feeling
of normal waterproof. If not there is the inexpensive waterproof nylon jacket.
2) A Rucksack :
Again this is an essential item for trekking. A good-sized, waterproof, nylon,
rucksack is a must. An internal frame system is required. This is good to the
shoulders. Make sure that all the buckles are of the ‘quick release’ type.
But remember that no rucksack is totally waterproof so make sure that you line
it with of polythene bag .
3) A Sleeping Bag :
Avoid a nightmare by choosing a sleeping bag carefully. There might be snow on
the trek. There might be stones under your tent, so sleeping bag becomes an item
of survival used Holofil bags to retain the trapped body heat in the loft even
when wet. Avoid zippered bags. Try a slide-bag. It is good and warm even in
temperature of 0 to 5 C. Do not forget to spread a mat under your bag.
4) A Tent :
Take a strong tent to protect you from strong wind. They come in two basic
shapes. The ‘A’ shaped with aluminium alloy poles and the dome shaped with
aluminium or fibre glass rods The ‘A’ shaped tent with an inner layer of ‘breathable’
cotton and the outer (fly sheet) of waterproof nylon fabric, is the best for low
altitude treks. Check the tent for strength and resilence. Take care never to
pack wet or damp tents in their bags as they tend to mildew and rot.
5) A Woollen Balaclava(monkey cap) PEAK cap.
6) Sun Glares (preferably ones that block ultra violet rays)
7) Sun Screen Lotion.
8) T-shirts and Shorts for the day.
9) Socks, stockings and Gloves that are 20 percent acrylic and the rest wool.
Hundred percent wool often shrinks if wet.
10)Also wear a pair of cotton socks under woollen socks. This allows
perspiration to be soaked up by the first layer thus avoiding ‘matting’ of
the socks.
11)Many layers of clothing. The more layers you have, the more air you trap.
Air, as you know, is a bad conductor of heat and retains body warmth.
12)A Swiss army Knife
13)Pen Light.
14)A Whistle and Cord.
You can now rough it out in comfort
One of the famous treks in the state is to the Amarnath Caves at 3,900 metres.
Watch the wondrous creation of an ice lingam at the shrine. The trek could be
done in four days beginning at Chandanwari. Beautiful fresh water lakes and fir
covered mountains are the highlight of the region.
The ten day Padam-Lamaguru trek
routes along Burden Gompa begins at Padam, the capital of Zanskar. Walking
through the Padam valley along the river Zanskar, the trek affords views of
grasslands and popular trees. En route at Tungri, camp is pitched by the village
of Yo Youlang, close to saini Gompa, considered to be one of the largest living
monasteries of Zanskar.
Another interesting four to six
days option beginning at Pahagam is to a glacier in the valley - Kolahoi (3,700
metres). Anglers would find excellent opportunities for trout fishing in the
leider. Located in the idyllic surroundings, the six day trek to Gangabal Lake
passes along several smaller lakes and wild meadows. The trek begins at Sonamarg
and concludes at Kangan, both on the Srinagar-Leh highway.
Excellent opportunities abound for
trekking enthusiasts in the hill region of Garhwal and Kumaon in Uttar Pradesh.
The season for trekking are between May and June and again from September
through October. For years, Countless pilgrims and trekkers have walked about 20
kilometres from Gangotri to reach the snout of the glacier which gives birth to
Ganga, one of the most sacred rivers in the country. Only a few bother to travel
another five kilometres along the glacier to the breathtakingly beautiful
Tapovan, the land of the sacred flower known as Brahmakama. The 19 kilometres
trek to the famous Sikh shrine is best done in two days. Through the thick
cyprus forests, this trek could earlier be combined with an excursion into the
Valley of Flowers.
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