Short Treks in the Indian Himalaya

Kangyatse peak on the Markha Valley trek

In today's world there is always a constraint of time. Many of us want to get away to the  mountains  for a trek but getting  leave from office is not always possible. Hence, we continue to sit at our desks with a computer in front of us dreaming of the high Himalaya! So if you don't have the time to go on  a marathon twenty day  hike, here is a list of some of the shorter treks in the Indian Himalaya that are possible. The time given is from road head to road head, you will have to add some days to each trek depending on where you are located. Those of you living in and around Delhi, enjoy a definite advantage!

Rumtse to Tso Kar  4 days

This popular trek crosses some high passes and then comes to Tso Kar lake from where there is a motorable road to Leh. It is also possible to extend this trek further to Tso Moriri by adding three days to the trek. The route  is Rumtse 4325m - Kyamar 4055m- Tisaling 4215m- Ponganagu 4500m-Tso Kar. The best season for this trek is June to August. You should acclimatise in Leh for two days before starting out and you need to carry full camping gear, tents and food.

Spituk to Stok 4 days

This trek, very close to Leh, is often described as a "baby trek" but you cross a 4900m pass! The route is Spituk 3600m- Zingchan -Rumbak-Stok La pass 4900m-Stok. The best season for this trek is June to early October. Like all Ladakh treks, you should acclimatise in Leh for two days before starting out and you need to carry full camping gear, tents and food though some homestays will be available on the way. Check the latest status with any trekking company in Leh before starting out regarding the homestays.

Lamayuru monastery

Lamayuru to Chilling 5 days 

Though this is a five day trek it does cross a number of high passes and good acclimatisation is essential  for this route.  The route is  Lamayuru-Wanla-Hinju 3720m-Sumdo Doksa 4400m- Base of Dung Dung Chan la 4440m- Chlling 3550m. The best season for this trek is June to September. Like all Ladakh treks, you should acclimatise in Leh for two days before starting out and you need to carry full camping gear, tents and food though some homestays will be available on the way.

Indrahar Pass  5 days

This trek starts from Mcleodganj crosses the Indrahar Pass 4300 metres and then ends at Machetar which is a four hour drive from Chamba. The route is Mcleodganj 1650m-Triund 3000m- Lahesh Cave 3600m- Indrahar Pass 4300m- Laka Got 3850m- Chata Kuarsi 2200m-Machetar 1950m. The best season would be April-May and again September to November. You need to carry your own camping gear, tent and food.

Rupin Valley  5 days

The scenic Rupin valley is a very under trekked area which is  a pity as it offers a lot in terms of fast flowing rivers, bird life, mountains and lush forests.  The route is Netwar 1350m- Sewa 2025m- Jakhu 2600m- Camp below Rupin Pass 3500m- Rupin Pass 4540m- Kanda 3425m- Sangla 2675m. The best season would be April-May and again September to November. You should carry camping gear and food.

Kangchendzonga view from Sandakphu

 Sandakphu  & The Singalila Ridge 4 days

Though a jeepable road goes to Sandakphu it still remains a popular trek especially with first timers. It is possible to combine this with Phalut and make it  a seven day trip. There are different route options but the most popular one is Manebanjan- Tumling-Jaubari-Gairibash-Kalapokhri-Bikebhanjan-Sandakphu-Rimbick.  This is one of the few locations which has views of four of the five highest peaks in the world. The best time would be March to May and again October to December. You can stay in the home stays/bungalows on the way so there is no need to carry tents and food.

 Tunganath and Chandrashila 3 days

This is probably the shortest and most popular of all the easy treks in the Garhwal, but, with a great view from the top. The route would be Ukhimath 1300m - Deoria Tal 2100m- Chopta 2900m- visit Tunganath 3685m  and Chandrashila 3900m- Dugalbitta 2347m. 

On the trail to Bhojbasa

 Gangotri to Tapoban 5 days

This is another very popular trek to the source of the Ganga and on to the high altitude meadow of Tapoban with it's spectacular views of the Bhagirathi sisters and  Shivling. The route would be Gangotri 3140m- Bhojbasa 3792m - Gaumukh 3890m- Tapoban 4460m and back the same way. Beware of going up to Tapoban too quickly, a stop at Gaumukh is definitely recommended! You need to camp at Gaumukh and Tapoban. 

Some Useful Links 

http://www.southcol.com/Ten-Treks-Himalaya

http://www.trekkingpartners.com/2014/05/07/top-12-best-treks-nepal-2014/

http://www.thrillophilia.com/blog/trekking-himalaya-50-top-treks/

http://blog.travelandleisureasia.com/interest/2014/04/21/best-10-treks-in-india/

http://www.funonthenet.in/places/himalayan-treks.html

Darjeeling: still the Queen of Hill Stations?

In late March 2010, we decided to make a quick trip to Darjeeling. My wife Paula had not been there for twelve years and I had made a brief visit in 2005. From Siliguri, we went up the  new road which is known as Rohini. The road passed Sukna and entered the Army Cantonment. After driving through some tea gardens, the road climbed steeply  navigating a series of hairpin bends and then reached a ridge with a splendid view over  the hot and sultry plains of Bengal. 
As we approached  Kurseong the mist rolled in. The window boxes of the houses in  Tung and Sonada were full of geranuims and hydrageas. The tea  estates of Margarets's Hope and Castleton  were green and lush. The fresh smell of the rain on the pines, the white  out at Ghoom, the dogs asleep on the roadside  and to top it all the toy train suddenly trundling  past at Batasia blowing it's whistle at full throttle through the white out gave the drive it's own flavour. The entire journey done after so many years was quite spectacular  not to mention the rosy cheeked kids chasing each other in front of white and red cottages with washing laid out to dry in the brief intermittent spells of sunshine. 

We passed Ghoom around noon and drove into Darjeeling a while later.  I noticed that large concrete buildings covered the entire hillside cheek by jowl with each other. The traffic was terrible to say the least. Large four-wheel drive vehicles like Innovas, Scorpios and Safaris dominated the roads forcing the pedestrians against the walls of the sidewalks. The fumes from these vehicles clogged the air leading to an atmosphere which was far removed from the clean, crisp air of the mountains. 

 Darjeeling was once famous for it's walks like the Calcutta Road, Jalapahar, Auckland Road, Hermitage etc. most of which have been overrun by continuous traffic and  walking is now a chore not a pleasure.

We stayed at the Classic Guest House, formerly known as Dant Kothi. It is located just below the Mall on the eastern side and has a fine view of the valley and is very quiet.

And, what of Kangchendzonga?  " The Five Treasures of the Great Snows" remained behind a stubborn haze which refused to lift during our visit.  I used to wake up every morning at dawn and look outside the window in vain. The last morning before we were leaving,  we saw the tips of this great mountain floating high above the town from the "Observatory  round", the scale as impressive as always. After so many years it did take my breath away!  Within seconds it was gone, a brief fantasy viewed from a town which we would all like to remember as still being the "Queen of the Hills". Some photographs of Darjeeling follow:

Kangchendzonga from Sandakphu on a November afternoon

North Point, St Josephs College, Darjeeling 

Mendang opposite the Classic Guest House

Lloyds Botanical Gardens

Glenarys