Beautifully laid untouched snow on top of the hill! An amazing 360 degree view of natural splendour in clear blue skies. Gorgeous unhindered spectacle of himalayan ranges from Himachal to Chaukhamba to Trishul and Nanda Devi right in front of your eyes. No mess of a tourist place. Calm and seclude and above all this altitude of almost 10 thousand feet so approachable as a just 45 minutes cool trek from main motorable route. Seems surreal, isn't it! And it is in India. Wanna be there? Drop down at Kaddukhal on main Mussorie-Chamba road in Uttarakhand and take a one and half kilometre trek through to top, to Surkanda Devi temple. Its amazing! ...
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Himalayas... Deodars... Pines... Morning light... and first cup of tea in a hillside shack! Nothing else can bring more cheers this summer to me. Isn't it! Nothing more gears up for the challenges ahead!! ...
Read MoreThe annual holiday season is right at the corner and one has got many options to choose from. Adventure tourism in general and trekking in particular is always flavour of the summer vacations when it comes to youth. Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI) has been a pioneer in India for economical group trekking in himalayas and elsewhere. This time around we are listing top ten summer national trekking/adventure expeditions of YHAI in India which one would love to join. Treks are open for everybody, but unless we rush limited seats might not be available in each group. Have a look meanwhile- Glorious Sar Pass trek In the beautiful Parvati valley of Kullu District in Himachal Pradesh, SAR Pass is one of the most popular trails of the Shivalik range of the mighty Himalayas. Parvati...
Read Moreआली बुग्याल बेदनी से महज तीन-चार किलोमीटर की दूरी पर है। खूबसूरती में भी वो बेदनी बुग्याल के उतना ही नजदीक है। कुछ रोमांचप्रेमी घुमक्कड़ आली को ज्यादा खूबसूरत मानते हैं। मुश्किल यही है कि आली को उतने सैलानी नहीं मिलते जितने बेदनी को मिल जाते हैं। जानकार लोग आली की इस बदकिस्मती की एक कहानी भी बताते हैं। किस्सा आली व ऑली में एक टाइपोग्राफी चूक का है। दोनों ही जगह उत्तराखंड में हैं। ऑली बुग्याल जोशीमठ के पास है और इस समय देश के प्रमुखतम स्कीइंग रिजॉर्ट में से एक है। कहा जाता है कि ऑली को मिलने वाली सुविधाएं आली को मिलनी तय थीं। लेकिन बस फैसला होते समय नाम में कोई हर्फ या हिजा इधर से उधर हुआ और आली की जगह ऑली की सूरत बदल गई। हालांकि मेरी नजर में ऑली के हक में एक बात और यह भी जाती है कि वह सड़क के रास्ते में है। जोशीमठ से ऑली के लिए सड़क भी है और रोपवे भी। आली यकीनन खूबसूरत है, लेकिन...
Read MoreA tent colony in clouds or on the edge of a cliff! A scene not common,considering the fact that this is at an altitude of almost 13 thousand feets, deep inside one of the most beautiful Himalayan interiors and at one of the most fascinating meadows- Bedni Bugyal. Not so common scene also because it would be next seen at least after 12 years, when next Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra takes place. Only then again thousands of pilgrims (this time they were more than 20 thousand) will be reaching here and so many tents would be needed to accommodate them. A magnificent sight terrifying at the same time!! ...
Read MoreNanda Ghunti peak (6309 mts) peeking from clouds as seen from Bedni Bugyal (3354 mts), a Himalayan alpine meadow in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Bedni Bugyal makes the base for trek to mysterious lake of Roopkund. From Bedni sight of Trishul peak is equally amazing!
Read MoreThe mighty Trishul (trident) peak (alt: 7120 mts) as seen from Bedini Bugyal (alt: 13K ft) in Uttarakhand. Trek to Roopkund and further to Shila Samudra & Homkund from here takes you right in the base of this peak. Left to Trishul is Nanda Ghunti (not seen in this picture). It is one of favorite treks in this region and challenging one too! ...
Read MoreHow good it feels when weather clears up after a muggy day of hard trekking. Evening view from Baguvawasa at 14,100 fts. Clouds filling up frame very quickly from top left and bottom right corners, sun trying to show its presence in between dark clouds and far enough a color of dusk. The place, just below mysterious Roopkund is known for presence of Brahmakamal, the state flower of Uttarakhand, found only at this altitude.. ...
Read MoreAfter two years of postponement the eagerly awaited Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra will finally take place from 18th August to 6th September this year. The Nanda Raj Jat takes place once every twelve years - the journey starts from Nauti village (Karnaprayag district of Uttarakhand state in India) accompanying a mythical four-horned sheep and Doli and all sorts of gifts for Nanda Devi, who is treated as a daughter revisiting her mother. Last Yatra happened in 2000. Hence it was originally scheduled in 2012 but was postponed due to Malmaas (one inauspicious month) in that year. Hence rescheduled to happen in 2013, again last year it was postponed due to natural catastrophe (flash floods) in Kedarnath area, which created widespread destruction and huge loss of life and property across Himalayan...
Read MoreActive Holiday brings Intrepid Travel’s adventure trips to India
Indian travellers are beginning to travel differently as many are no longer content to sightsee their way through numerous destinations in record speed. Evolved Indian travellers want to experience destinations in a deeper way and are embracing new travel styles including the outdoors. Although in nascent stages, outbound travel from India is set to slowly join the adventure travel revolution; that according to a study conducted by Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), has grown by 65% annually since 2009. In response to this movement, the Active Holiday Company - India’s first outbound adventure touring company, is pleased to announce its partnership with adventure travel giant Intrepid Travel. As a result of this partnership, Indian travellers seeking more from their holidays wil
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