India is a splendid country, well known for its flamboyant and impressive culture. Everyone who has been lucky enough to venture a trip to any Indian city was left captivated by all the diverse aspects of the country – its people, traditions, historical monuments, cuisine, and so on. However, tourists who decide to indulge in India’s diversity predominantly choose to dive exactly into the aforementioned tourist features India offers and often neglect a type of an unconventional entertainment that is sure to satisfy their touristic desires – hiking. This glorious country possesses many hills, summits and mountain ranges that are just waiting for you.
There are hiking tracks for both novice and experienced hikers. You just need to choose according to your overall hiking experience. Of course, there are a couple more things you need to consider prior to embarking on a hike. Even if you don’t have previous experience, you just need to be physically fit and have the proper equipment (shoes, clothes, first aid kit) as well as a little courage. That is all it takes. India’s magnificent flora and fauna will welcome you with open arms once you commence hiking. What follows is a list of four often picked trails for hiking in India. Note that besides them, there are plenty more!
1. Chandra Taal
Translated into English as ‘Lake of the Moon’ and located at an altitude of approximately 4,300 meters in the Himalaya Mountains, Chandra Taal Lake was called this way because of its shape that reminds of a crescent. The thing about the lake that is most astonishing is that there isn’t any visible source of water, which leads to the conclusion that the water comes from underground. The lake is a well-known destination, and in the period May-October it can be accessed on foot from Kunzum Pass and from Batal. The road from Kunzum Pass is approximately 8 km away from the lake but the access from there can happen only on foot. In Batal, 16 km away from Chandra Taal, a road for motor vehicles exists, but before August it’s not preferable to use it because of its poor condition. Camping sites are the vast meadows around the Chandra Taal. In spring, the meadows are lush with wildflowers, which make the overall scenery even more impressive.
2. Satopanth Tal
Another astonishing Indian lake high above sea level is Satopanth Tal situated in Uttarakhand at an altitude of 4,600 metres. The lake is of great religious significance to the locals. The people from the Mana village are known to scatter the ashes of the dead in the lake. For this trek one should pack warm since the average day temperature during the summer doesn’t rise above 12°C and it can drop to 0°C at night. Hiking during the winter is not advisable for the thermometer’s index reaches -25°C during the day and down to -36°C at night. Never endeavor on this trail without a guide and experienced porter. Also, there are no places to stay in, so a tent along with a mattress and a stove are a must. It is a quite difficult trek, suitable only for experienced hikers.
3. Singalia Ridge Trail, Darjeeling
Besides being famous for its marvelous tea, Darjeeling is also known for its many hiking tracks. Winding along the edges of the Himalayas, Sinhalia Ridge Trail even slightly crosses into Nepal. The best time of the year to perform the hike is during April or May when the temperatures are higher. Experienced hikers can go for a three to six day trek accompanied by a guide. Along the way, there are a couple of hotels and lodgings which offer accommodation at reasonable prices.
4. Roopkund
A five-day trek of medium difficulty. Suitable for fit beginners. The hiking trip starts at the end of May. The hike starts from 2,300 meters altitude and in four days you reach the end of the hike at about 5,000 meters above sea level. The trek is something more than just a trip. It is an extraordinary experience through the Himalayan summits in exploration of India’s magnificent wilderness. The temperature during the day is pretty mild – in the range of 14°C to 16°C. No kids under the age of fifteen should attempt this trek. Physical fitness is the key in this case.
In a nutshell, India is a home to many hiking treks, which are worth exploring. Depending on your personal taste, there is a huge variety of places you can visit – be it mountain lakes or peaks standing at thousands of meters above sea level.
Ella Andrews is a content writer from London, UK. She loves to discover highly varied customs and traditions. That’s why she always prefers to travel till different exotic destinations. She thinks that the biggest charm of India is the culture. She would be happy to visit India at least once again VacationRentalsIndia.