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The massive and captivating Kanchenjunga 8,586 m (28,169 ft) situated on the border between Nepal and India is the world’s third tallest mountain. The peak lies in a larger portion of the Himalayas known as the The Kangchenjunga Himal that includes 16 peaks over 7,000m (23,000 ft). Most of the region is protected as part of a large national park that spans both India and Nepal and protects the natural beauty of the region and cultural traditions of a diverse range of ethnic groups. The mountain consists of 5 separate peaks and in Tibetan Kanchenjunga means the “Five Treasures of the Snow.” The peak is considered holy by the people of Sikkim and climbers have always stopped just short of the summit out of respect for the mountain. Four giant glaciers cover the bulk of the terrain above 5000m/16000ft and encompass a vast area that measures over 315 km / 125 square miles. The glaciers, Zemu, Talung, Yalung and Kangchen radiate out from the mountain at nearly ninety degree angles while the main ridges of the mountain run almost north to south and east to west forming a giant cross. On the eastern point of this cross one finds […]
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The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh lies in the heart of the Himalayas nestled between Ladakh one side and Uttarakhand on the other. It’s a land of contrast between the lush and rainy southern portion which encompasses, the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Kinnar and the much drier northern region of Lahaul and Spiti which lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas. It’s a fantastic region for trekking with a handful of well trodden routes and numerous peaks between 6000 and 7000 meters. Access is via the hill stations of Shimla, Manali and Dharamsala. Flights from New Delhi can take you to either Manali or Dharamsala and all three are accessible by overnight bus. One of the most amazing treks in the region is Pin Parvati a 10 day journey that traverses the Himalayan Range from south to north and encompasses the full range of environments from arid landscapes and glacial traverses to towering pine forests. Here is a look at what might be the 5 best hikes in Himachal Pradesh. Pin Parvati is a challenging 10 trek across the Himalayas that covers nearly 100km (60 miles) and tops out at the pass of the same name (17,457 […]
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Often called the “Land of the Gods” the Indian state of Uttarakhand lies just west of Nepal and is the geographic center of the greater Himalayas. Hindus have long made pilgrimages to the source of the Ganga which starts from the Gangotri Glacier glaciers high in the Himalayas. Home to Nanda Devi (7,816 m / 25,643 ft) the second tallest peak in India as well as a host of other 7000m+ peaks Uttarakhand is a fantastic destination for trekkers. Known as the Garhwal Himalayas it is further divided into the western Garhwal division and eastern Kumaon division. Daily flights can be taken to Dehradun from Delhi but it still a few days of travel to get into the mountains via rugged mountains. The small town of Rishikesh along the banks of the Ganges and at the base of the Himalayas can make a good resting point for those on their way into the mountains. The best trekking season is between April and Early June and then again during October and November. Here is a look at some of the best treks in the region. Gomukh Tapovan or Gangotri Glacier Trek : This is a short 4 or 5 day trek […]
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Sikkim is one of the far northeastern states of India surrounded by the north and east by China and Nepal to the west. Kanchenchunga, the world’s third tallest mountain, defines the border between Nepal and Sikkim and many of the treks in the region skirt the lower portions of this giant mountain. The weather in Sikkim is much wetter than in the other regions of the Himalaya due to its proximity to the Bay of Bengal and a direct flow of moisture during the monsoon months from May to early October. Dense rainforests are common in the lower elevation portion of treks giving away to beautiful Rhododenhdron forests that peak in bloom in early May and light the hills red with fire. The upper elevation feature beautiful alpine lakes as well as numerous glaciers and ice falls. Access to Sikkim is either by rail or plane to Siligiri and then onward either by helicopter (reasonably priced) or half day taxi ride. Foreign visitors need to be properly registered and should plan at least a few days in advance. Here is a look at 4 of the great treks in Sikkim. Goecha La Trek This might be the most exciting trek […]
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One of the best short treks in Kashmir is the Lidder Valley trek to Kolahoi Glacier. My wife Ann and I made this trek in July of 2014 and here is little bit about the experience. This is a great first trek in Kashmir although if you have a little more time the Great Lakes Trek is perhaps the better option. Having spent a few days in Srinigar exploring the old town we decided it was time to get out of the relative heat of Srinigar and hit the mountains. The snows were particularly heavy this year so the Great Lake Trek was still in snow despite it being early July so we decided to make the journey to Kolahoi Glacier. We left Srinagar around 8am and headed by private vehicle to Pahalgam where many locals were preparing for the Amarnath Yatra. This is an amazing pilgrimage taken by more than 100,000 pilgrims every year. It is itself a spectacular 5 day trek to a holy ice cave where an ice stalagmite thought to represent the Linga of Shiva forms every year. Legend says this is the cave where Shiva explained the secret of life and the universe to his […]
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Any 6000m+ peak needs to be taken seriously and Stok Kangri is no exception. It might be called a trekking peak but the final 1000m to the summit is seriously steep and tough going. Don’t belive it – Check out this video showing one of the members in our group reaching the summit. Here’s a recap of my experience on Stok Kangri. My first trekking experience in Ladakh was an attempt on the popular trekking peak of Stok Kangri (6,153m, 20050 Ft). We wife and I arrived in Leh after spending a few days in Kashmir and trekking to Kolahoi Glacier. Just getting to Leh from Srinagar or Manali is an experience if you take the overland route rather than opting for a direct flight. Ladakh is essentially on the backside of the Himalayan Range and lies outside of the influence of the Indian Monsoon so is extremely dry and arid. We spent a casual 3 days in Leh (3524 m / 11,562 ft) the starting point for the trek hoping to acclimatize before we began the assault on Stok Kangri. The trek is possible in 3 days for those who are physically fit and already well acclimatized, but given […]
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The terms “Heaven on Earth” or “Paradise” are often used to describe Kashmir and it’s easy to forget any security concerns while trekking among tall pine trees, wildflower laden meadows and distant snow capped peaks under deep blue skies. The stunning beauty of the region has long attracted visitors from afar and the tourism industry has long been a mainstay of the local economy. A peaceful political situation made the region a popular destination for international visitors in the 1970’s and 1980’s but all this came to a halt with political unrest in the 1990’s. The kidnapping of 6 foreign tourists by militants near Pahalgam in 1995 led to various governments including the US state department to impose strict travel restrictions on the region and the number of visiting tourists declined to almost zero due to safety concerns. The situation is improving albeit slowly. In 2011 the German government along with several other European countries recognizing the improved security situation lifted travel restrictions in the area and the number of domestic tourists visiting has seen a substantial increase. Despite this recognition of an improving situation the US State Department ordered travel restrictions imposed for at least another year in 2014 […]
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Too many travelers arrive in Leh and then spend the rest of their vacation making long drives to visit all the sites. If you want a bit more adventure and want to spend your time outside enjoying one option is a fantastic day of rafting on the Zanskar which is just an hours drive from Leh and about 3 hours of rafting which includes challenging class III rapids. Rafting trips are organized by a number of tour operators in Leh and should cost no more than 1500 Rs a person. The first trips start in June and the last trips are taken in September. The best time to go is in middle to late July when the river sees its peak flows from glacial run off upstream. It is 28km of rafting from the put-in at Chilling to the take out at the junction of the Indus and Zanskar at Nemo. It’s a speedy ride down the river with almost continuous rapids. Your guide will provide you a rafting helmet, wetsuit and booties before giving you a brief set of instructions on how to oar and safety procedures if you are thrown overboard. The water is cold and silty coming […]
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Khardung La at a height of 18,380 ft is the world’s highest motorable road. The pass traverses the Ladahk Range as it connects the city of Leh and the Indus Valley to the Nubra Valley. The views from the pass of the Zanskar Range across the Indus valley to the southwest and the Karakoram Range to the northeast are superb. Khardung La makes great day trip from Leh and the easiest way to reach it is to join one of the organized biking tours. Several tour operators in Leh will take you to the top of the pass and provide you with a mountain bike to enjoy the 40km (24 mile) ride back to town. The price in July 2014 was approximately 1300Rs. Day trips to Khardung La typically start around 11am but be sure to book a day in advance so that the required permit can be obtained. Most companies take pretty good care of their mountain bikes and will provide helmets and biking gloves as well. It’s about a two hours drive to the top. The only possible stopping point is the military checkpoint at South Pullu at 15,300 feet. South Pullu also has a small dhaba (road […]
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Travelling between Srinagar and Leh can be an adventure in itself. Of course the easiest option is to book a direct flight between the two cities which if booked in advance can be managed for less than $100. However, if booking a flight one misses out on what might be one of the world’s most amazing mountain drives. Keep in mind when planning a trip that highway generally remains closed for about 6 months starting from November to May due to heavy snowfall (Check current conditions before making any plans). Its a 434 km journey from Srinagar to Leh on National Highway 1D (Leh Highway) which generally takes about 14 hours in total to drive. The highway follows the Sindh drainage on Kashmir side and then the Indus River on the Ladakh side as it crosses three high mountain passes; Zoji La (3528 Mtrs), Namki La (3815 Mtrs) and Fotu La (4108 Mtrs). The route is of prime strategic importance to the Indian army which is obvious by the many check points and numerous guard posts and military convoy trucks. Tourist only have to check in at two points and it’s a quick and painless procedure where only the details […]
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