At Indiahikes, our commitment to the environment is unwavering. We don’t just encourage responsible trekking; we insist on it. That’s why our Green Trails principles are non-negotiable.  Our no-compromise promise to the environment is:

1. We promise to leave the trails better than we find them. We carry Eco Bags to clean trails. Using eco bags, our trek leaders, staff, and trekkers go beyond leaving no trace—they leave the mountains in a better state.

2. We promise to keep waste out of landfills. We segregate waste at the source. We refuse to let our waste add to landfills. By segregating all waste at its origin, we transform it into valuable resources. 

3. We promise to compost all food waste directly at its source. We compost our food waste. Food waste accounts for a significant portion of the waste generated during the trek. We ensure that all food waste is composted at its source.

4. We promise to conserve water by minimising usage per trekker. Every drop of water matters, and we conserve it through water-saving nozzles, washing contraptions, our three-sink systems, and rainwater harvesting methods.

5. We promise to compost human waste sustainably. We compost our human waste through our Bio-Toilets. Our specially designed bio-toilets turn human waste into nutrient-rich compost.  

6. We promise to leave every campsite cleaner than we find them. We conduct green sweeps while vacating campsites. Our teams clean every camp of litter before moving forward, leaving the camp better than we found it.

7. We promise to increase the use of renewable energy on our treks. We are innovating energy usage on our treks. By lighting our camps with solar energy and optimising the usage of LPG, we reduce the burden on the environment. 

8. We promise to conserve the forest we trek on. We ban campfires and provide other alternatives for heat (or even sacrifice it). Deadwood is essential for the regrowth of the forests. It cannot be used for our comfort. 

9. We promise to eliminate disposable cutlery. We do not allow the use of disposable cutlery. To cut down on disposable cutlery and minimise our footprint, our trekkers bring their own cutlery. 

10. We promise not to allow wet wipes. We do not allow wet wipes on our treks. They have a lasting negative impact on the environment through chemical leaching, and even the biodegradable ones do not decompose. 

11. We promise to maintain a dustbin-free campus. Our trekkers take back their litter for disposal in their home cities, where the infrastructure can handle it responsibly.
12. We promise to promote sustainable menstruation practices. Our wrap-pack-take-it-back policy requires women trekkers to take sanitary waste back to cities for safe disposal.

We don’t merely promote responsible trekking; we require it. That’s why our Green Trails principles are set in stone. Take a look at our uncompromising Green Trails promise.

The Indiahikes No-Compromise Green Trails Promise 

Last year, we were faced with a difficult conundrum. Should we, or should we not, continue with the fitness checks? 

Our concerns with fitness checks primarily lay in these four areas:

The staggering volume: Conducting fitness checks for 25,000 trekkers every year was proving to be a mammoth challenge. And these numbers were only increasing with each passing year. 

The unfair responsibility: We strongly believe preparing for a trek is a trekker's responsibility. But somehow, by constantly asking for fitness proof, the responsibility of a trekker’s fitness had unfairly shifted to Indiahikes. 

Dishonest trekkers: A few trekkers who managed to trick the system would take pride in having made it to the trek unprepared. This was demotivating for those trekkers who had diligently prepared for the trek. To top it, the tricksters would slow down the entire group by their unpreparedness! 

A safety concern: Despite all these, we were worried about stopping the fitness checks. What if it resulted in more unfit, unprepared trekkers on a Himalayan trek? That would become a huge safety concern.

So we threw this question open to the trekker’s forum, asking—should we do away with our fitness checks? A vast majority of trekkers protested against it. 

“No! Please don't. This, in a way, stands for the Indiahikes' purpose of leading treks safely. This is also a motivation for trekkers to get to the level of fitness required to enjoy the trek. I strongly stand by this. People who are passionate about trekking will vouch for it as it is of great significance.” Vindhya Ramsub

“In my view India hikes stands primarily for two things I like. One is safety of trekkers and second is green trails. If safety is as important, the fitness of trekkers is critical. So dropping fitness is like getting away from core of Indiahikes. You should not even think of it. I know you wont drop Green Trails and same case here.” Ramesh Emani 

There are 337 replies on this thread, most of them requesting to continue checking fitness approvals. This was quite revealing. 

Yet our compulsions were high. Our difficulties in checking fitness were increasing beyond our capabilities. We decided to experiment with an alternate approach for six months. 

In October 2022, we stopped fitness checks for easy-moderate treks.

This experiment was specifically for treks that climbed to around 12,000 ft. It was our safest category. 

These treks have gradual gradients and easily accessible exits. This provided a safety-net while we experimented with stepping back with fitness checks. 

Initially, our teams on the slope reported a negligible difference between the two periods. 

But the unfortunate effects started showing up a few months later. 

These effects were not in favour of the experiment. 

Trek leaders started reporting gross delays in the trek. For example, even on easier treks like the Dayara Bugyal, trekkers who were expected to reach Gui, our first camp, by 11.30 am were reaching only by 1.30 pm. 

“This toppled the entire trek plan. Lunch was getting delayed, trekkers were not getting enough rest, and instead of focusing on experiences, our trek leaders were more worried about giving rest and maintaining timings,” says Arjun Majumdar, Founder-CEO, Indiahikes. The entire focus shifted from enjoying the trek to just struggling to stay on time. 

“Trekkers who had previously trekked with Indiahikes were unhappy. They blamed the absence of fitness checks on the delays. They were not wrong,” says Nandana Kamasani, Head of Experience Coordination at Indiahikes. 

Six months of experimenting have now come to an end. 

3 things we learned from this experiment:

1. Fitness checks are integral to the brand identity of Indiahikes. 

During these six months, we had many Indiahikes trekkers musing about how these fitness checks set Indiahikes apart. There’s a strong impression within the trekking community that Indiahikes trekkers always take fitness seriously. This was a strong brand identity for Indiahikes. 

But over the course of this experiment, the brand identity took a hit. In the absence of fitness checks, there were groups of trekkers who made it to the mountains without preparing for the trek. This affected the quality of the treks and also their Indiahikes experience. They were beginning to question the values of Indiahikes. 

2. Lack of fitness deeply affects the trek experience of the group

We knew about this. But we underestimated how much of the trek would be affected. The growing number of unprepared trekkers in the group started having a domino effect. Trek time, lunch, experiences, and group dynamics took a hit. 

3. Fitness checks keep trekkers motivated.

We realised there were many trekkers who were able to stay on track because of the fitness checks. Sending a fitness screenshot was a conversation starter with an expert. It helped them stay motivated to prepare for the trek. It also helped beyond the trek. They continued on their fitness journey and thanked Indiahikes for it. 

The most important lesson we learned was that we had to bring back our fitness checks. 

Being fit changes the way you trek. It enables you to enjoy the trek. The design of Indiahikes Experience is based on this observation. And over the past six months, we’ve witnessed how deeply fitness (or the lack of it) affects the experience for the entire group. 

Even though it is going to be a big organisational challenge, we are reverting back to our stringent fitness checks. We have brought in new IT systems that will help us screen people faster and more accurately. 

But the truth is, there is no getting away from what we are known for, what identifies us, and what is good for trekking. It is our fitness check to see if you are prepared for the trek. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this update. Drop a comment below. 

At Indiahikes, safety isn’t just a promise. It’s a commitment. 

We are India's safest trekking organisation. This reputation is hard-earned. 

Indiahikes has introduced most of the modern safety systems that you see in Indian trekking. Our legacy continues in our no-compromise safety promise to you.

Your health is monitored three times a day. We check your vitals thrice daily, ensuring we nip any health issues in the bud, even before they show up.

Our trek leaders are handpicked outdoor experts. Our trek leaders are hand-picked and undergo rigorous training in wilderness first aid and emergency care. Our training is so intensive that only 70 per cent make it through our training. 

We always have a HAM kit handy (High Altitude Medical Kit). The HAM kit contains 17 essential medicines, including three life-saving drugs. They also carry bottled oxygen. Our trek leaders are always ready to handle medical emergencies. 

We have an evacuation kit ready for emergencies. With a stretcher, two oxygen cylinders, and an emergency shelter, our teams have tested evacuation protocols in place. They can carry out smooth evacuations even in the middle of the night. 

Our radio communications are always in hand. Except in border areas, our teams are in constant touch through radio communication, ensuring that help is just a push of a button away.

We are always transparent with you. Whether good news or bad, we always keep you informed about the routes, weather and risks involved in your trek. 

Our equipment is world-class and undergoes inspection before every use. Whether it's tents, sleeping bags, ropes, or radios, they are all rigorously tested to ensure your safety.

We issue personal safety gear whenever necessary. We issue microspikes, gaiters, helmets, or harnesses wherever required. In addition, we train you on how to use them.

The safety of women and children comes first. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any misconduct.

Our guides are always available for assistance on the trail. Whether a short or long trek, an Indiahikes team member will always be just a few minutes away on the trail, never leaving you alone.

Safety isn’t just a promise. It’s a commitment. Indiahikes has introduced most of the modern safety systems that you see in Indian trekking. Read through our no-compromise safety promise.

The Indiahikes No-Compromise Safety Promise

Indiahikes is known for its vast database of trek information. Thousands of trekkers use our detailed documentation to trek every day. This database is highly respected for its credibility and authenticity.

Even though Indiahikes has the largest database of treks, it is not enough. More and more trekkers want to trek in different corners of the country. Many do not know that there are trails right in their backyard.

This is where you can help in identifying treks in and around your city.

At Indiahikes, we have opened the role of a Remote Trek Documenter so that trekkers like you can contribute to the ever-growing database.

By working with us as a Remote Trek Documenter, you will bring out lesser known treks on the trekking map of our country. This comes with a set of responsibilities that we discuss next.

➤ What your role will be as a Remote Trek Documenter

As a Remote Trek Documenter, you will plan your exploration by understanding the trail, charting out a rough map, planning your travel, talking to the locals to get as much information, and finally explore the trail.

This means, you should be an avid trekker yourself. You want to explore and document treks as much as we do.

Next, you should know how to take good landscape pictures of the trek. Pictures take trekkers on a trek even before they go on a trek. Your pictures should enable that. (Even mobile phone photography is OK.)

Lastly, you should know how to express the trek in writing. For this you need to have a good command over the English language. Your documentation should serve as the first draft for our DIY Team to readily take up without much editing.

To summarise, you should have the following skills:

Know how to read and draw geographical maps.

Be comfortable with talking to strangers.

Be Curious to explore lesser-known or completely new trails.

Take excellent landscape pictures using a phone or a camera.

➤ How you will be compensated for your work

Each trek you document will be considered as a project. You will be paid per project, once the documented trek is edited and published on the Indiahikes website.

The pay depends upon the type of trek you document — whether it is a day trek or a multi-day trek. On average, you are expected to earn Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per project.

You are also entitled to the following benefits:

Your travel cost to the trek and back is reimbursed by Indiahikes, irrespective of the type of trek you document. (Travelling in flights or cabs are not considered for reimbursement)

If you are required to travel to another city to document a multi-day trek, Indiahikes will reimburse the cost of stay and food. (Up to a maximum of Rs 700 per day for stay, and Rs 250 per day for food)

Note: Your expenses are reimbursed only upon submission of relevant bills/invoices to the DIY Team.

If this role excites you as much as it excites us, send in your applications to suhas@indiahikes.com by including ‘Working as a Remote Trek Documenter’ in the subject line.

Why do you want to take up the role of a Remote Trek Documenter?

Which treks have you done around your city?

P.S. Here are some of the treks documented by our Remote Trek Documenters:

Drop in a comment if you have any questions and we will get back to you.

We are Looking for Remote Trek Documenters at Indiahikes

Did you know that the concept of a Trek Leader in Indian trekking took birth at Indiahikes? 

Until Indiahikes came about, most people would trek with guides, who would take trekkers from Point A to Point B. They’d be able to tell you the route and a few stories about the trails, not much else. 

But our founder had always envisioned a Trek Leader very differently. A Trek Leader would keep you safe, handle emergencies, care for you, scold you, take medical calls, help you reflect on your experience, have conversations with you about your life, your work, your learnings. In his mind, a Trek Leader was truly a “leader,” not a guide. 

It was with this thought he led the initial few groups himself and later coined the term Trek Leader, which has gone on to become one of the most meaningful careers in the outdoors. 

We’ve always wanted to capture the essence of Trek Leading in a film. But the role has evolved so much over the years (and still evolving) that it was not easy to make a film on it.

But our film maker Mayur Srivastav, somehow, has been able to capture the heart and emotion of the role in a lovely short film. 

The film tells you where the concept of Trek Leading came from, the seriousness of Trek Leading as a career, the challenges of Trek Leading and the impact of trek leading.

Watch it yourself and then share your thoughts in the comments below!

What It Means To Be A Trek Leader At Indiahikes - A Short Film

It was April 2021. We had just started from Tapoban, the base camp of our Kuari Pass trek. We had trekked for hardly two hours, when commanding views of Mt.Dronagiri brought us to a halt. Our trek leader decided it was the perfect time for a break, to enlighten us with stories of the mountains and trails. 

He took us back to 1905, when Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy General of India and an avid trekker, was on a quest to explore the mountain ranges of the Garhwal region. So smitten was he by the pristine beauty of this land, that he asked his local guides the native translation for the word ‘virgin.’ “Kuari,” they said. Thus was born the Kuari Pass Trek.

Kuari Pass is one of those special treks that allows you to stand up close with few of the biggest Himalayan peaks with very less effort. Picture by Valay Bhatt.

Quite fittingly, the Kuari Pass Trek is also known as the Lord Curzon Trail.

As I researched this article, I realized that most trails have a story behind them — some more obvious than others and some shrouded in fables and folklore. Knowing these anecdotes isn’t just about just listening to a story. It provides a depth, a perspective that makes one appreciate the entire experience so much more. 

If you are about to set off on any of these treks, I hope, knowing these stories; some fact, some fiction, adds to the magic of your journey.

Widely considered one of India’s prettiest trails, the Tarsar Marsar Kashmir Trek takes you to two of the most beautiful alpine lakes of the country. But behind the shimmering waters and crystal clear mountain reflections lurks a tale of mystery. 

Trek Leader Vijeet Shaw gives me the lowdown. “Tarsar is considered to be sacred, a lake that is blessed. Marsar, on the other hand, is considered to be cursed. And there is a reason for it. 

“Local legend is that there once was a shepherd who took his sheep grazing in these valleys. One day, his herd ended up going close to Marsar and accidentally wandered into the lake. He ran after them but unfortunately, they had already gone too deep into the lake. 

“For the next couple of days, the shepherd kept hoping his sheep would come back, but to no avail. Almost on the verge of giving up, he looked up to the skies and prayed to the heavens. 

“God heard his appeal and instructed the shepherd to go to Tarsar Lake. He told him that he would find his herd there. At Tarsar, the shepherd found his sheep emerging from the lake, one by one. 

“The shepherd got curious and decided to find out where the sheep were emerging from. But God cautioned him from doing so. Not paying heed to the advice, he went into the lake, looking for the rest of his herd. It turned out to be a mistake. The sheep that had already emerged from the lake got to the safety of the shore, but the rest of the herd never came out.

The striking blues of Tarsar Lake. Picture by – Kishan Harwalkar.

“That is how the lakes got their name – Marsar means the lake that kills (‘Mar’ means to kill and ‘sar’ means lake in Kashmiri) and Tarsar means a lake that gives life, that resuscitates (‘Tar’ refers to ‘तैरना’ or to swim).

“Even today, locals are petrified of going near the lake or touching its waters. And for that reason, nobody camps around Marsar, and it is an isolated lake. You can watch it from a distance, but you cannot touch its waters,” sums up Vijeet. 

One of the most popular trails in India, the Valley of Flowers Trek needs no introduction. Every year, hundreds of trekkers from around the world make their way through the valley to marvel at close to 500 species of flowering plants and pay their respects at Hemkund Sahib.

The name is as simple as it gets. But what is interesting is how the valley was discovered and named.

A trail through the valley with flowers on either sides. Picture by – Rupesh Thakre.

Trek Leader Nitesh Kumar narrates the story.

“In 1931, a British mountaineer called Frank Smythe was attempting to climb Mt Kamet along with a handful of other explorers. After a successful summit climb, the group lost their way. On the way down, they found themselves in a valley covered in mist and clouds. When the fog cleared, they noticed that the entire valley was a carpet of flowers. Frank Smythe found himself in a setting so stunning that he thought he had died and gone to heaven. 

It was only after six years of studying flowers and learning gardening that Smythe returned to the valley again. Armed with extensive knowledge of the region’s flowers and a deeper appreciation of the valley’s splendor, Smythe christened the region ‘Valley of Flowers.’ He also wrote and published a book titled The Valley of Flowers in 1937. 

That is when the whole world got to know about this place. It was 51 years later that the Valley of Flowers was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 1988,” says Nitesh. 

Part pilgrimage, part adventure, Gaumukh Tapovan is one of the earliest established treks in India. Young and old come from near and far chanting Jai Gange and Har Har Gange to be in the presence of the holiest river of India — the Ganga. While trekking along its waters is an experience in itself, knowing the significance behind the name ‘Gaumukh Tapovan’ makes the journey a mystical one. 

The snow white Mt Shivling in the dark of the night. Picture by Nitish Walia.

Nitesh talks about the mythology associated with the trek. 

“You can trace the story of Gaumukh Tapovan back to the BC period. 

Gaumukh is the origin of the River Bhagirathi, which later merges with the Alaknanda to form the River Ganga. The Bhagirathi River derives its name from a king named Bhagirath, who is said to have brought the Ganga from the heavens to the Earth. 

The story goes that King Bhagirath, who was the ruler of the Sagara dynasty, gave up his kingdom to atone for the curse laid upon his ancestors by Saint Kapila. He headed to the Himalayas to pray to Goddess Ganga to come down upon Earth to purify his dynasty of the sins of his ancestors. 

Pleased by his devotion, Goddess Ganga appeared before him and agreed to descend from the heavens. She, however, warned Bhagiratha that Earth would not be able to handle her power. She could come down only if her powers were reined in, and the only person who could do that was Lord Shiva. 

King Bhagiratha approached Lord Shiva and requested him to control Ganga’s fury. 

That’s when Lord Shiva wrapped Ganga around his jata (his hair) thereby controlling her flow. He then let her enter Earth from a glacier in the Himalayas. The snout of the glacier was shaped like the face of a cow or Gau mukh— a deep symbolism in Hinduism as it represents Nandi, Lord Shiva’s vehicle.

“Tapovan, on the other hand, translates to holy land of penance. And how beautiful is it that right at the heart of Tapovan, you see Mount Shivling, a form of Lord Shiva?” says Nitesh. 

With a steady stream of trekkers doing the difficult climb to see the awe-inspiring Mt.Shivling, its allure and distinct spiritual vibe remain undiminished. 

4. Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek and Brahmatal Lake Trek

It’s not just the basecamp of Lohajung and majestic views of Mt.Trishul and Mt.Nanda Ghunti that the Ali Bedni Bugyal and Brahmatal Lake treks share in common. On these adjacent trails, trekkers can see the expansive meadows of Ali Bedni Bugyal from Brahmatal top and vice versa. It’s, therefore, no surprise that the stories of these two trails are inextricably tied together. 

Trek Leader Syama Krishna throws light on the legends surrounding the meadows and mountains of these trails – 

“It is believed that Lord Brahma wrote the Vedas from different parts of the world. One of the places where he wrote a part of the Vedas is thought to be Bedni Bugyal. In fact, Bedni Bugyal derives its name from “Ved,” referred to as ‘Bed(h)’ in the Garhwali language. Bedni Bugyal literally translates to Meadow of the Vedas. 

An imposing Mt Trishul rising behind Bedni Bugyal in month of April. Picture by Tarun Gupta.

This is where the story of Brahmatal comes in. 

When Lord Brahma was writing the Vedas sitting in the meadows, he needed to wet the tip of his finger to turn a leaf in his book. He needed pure water to turn the pages with, and thus Lord Brahma created Brahmatal. “Tal” means lake in Hindi and Garhwali. The name literally translates to Brahma’s Lake.” 

The frozen Brahmatal Lake in winter. Picture by Gajendra Kumar.

Religious or not, knowing that you are walking the lands where the Vedas might have been written adds a certain allure that cannot be quantified. 

The Roopkund Trek holds a very special place for Indiahikes. In 2007, Arjun Majumdar, CEO, and founder of Indiahikes wrote a detailed account of his trek to Roopkund that caught the imagination of trekkers around the country. This propelled him to start Indiahikes in 2008, announcing the first organized trek to Roopkund.

Trekkers standing by the Roopkund lake at 15,750 ft. This picture was shot in summer (May) by Ravi Singh Rana.

Roopkund Trek is a trek surrounded by lores and legends! While the most popular stories surrounding Roopkund are related to the skeletons found in the lake, Nitesh told me the story behind how and why the lake and trek got its name. 

“This is a story that not many people know,” narrates Nitesh. “There was a fierce battle between Goddess Ambika (Durga’s incarnation) and a demon called Raktabija. Maa Ambika was joined in this war by the Matrikas or divine mothers. But they found it tough to defeat him. 

Raktabija had a boon that every drop of blood that fell from him would turn into a clone of Raktabija. Soon, the battlefield was filled with duplicates of the asura. 

To help the Devis, Parvati took the form of Maa Kali. She prevented even a drop of blood from touching the ground by collecting it in a bowl and drinking it. She went on to kill the other Raktabijas that had emerged from his blood drops by swallowing them whole. However, even after Raktabija was destroyed, Maa Kali’s fury did not subside. She went on a rampage demolishing everything that was in her path. Nothing and nobody could help her get out of this fury. 

It was then that Lord Shiva was called upon to put an end to Maa Kali’s rage. Shiva went and lay down at the top of Kalu Vinayak, a steep hill near Bhagwabhasa. Unaware of her actions or surroundings, Maa Kali stepped on Lord Shiva accidentally. 

As soon as she realized that it was her husband under her feet, Kali was extremely ashamed of her actions, and her tongue came out.

This act brought her to her senses. Lord Shiva proceeded to calm her down and requested her to return with him to Kailasa. At that point, Maa Parvati looked at her reflection in the small glacial tarn and realized that she needed to return to her original form before going back to Kailasa. She proceeded to beautify herself, her roop, and that is how the tarn got the name Roop Kund. ‘Kund’ means small lake in the native language.” 

The Himalayas are considered the abode of Lord Shiva, and you will hear stories about Shankar Mahadev on many treks, including the Kedarkantha trek. 

Kedarkantha translates to Shiva’s (Kedar) throat (kanth).

There’s a very interesting story behind this. It is believed that when the Pandavas were journeying through the Himalayas, they wanted to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings. Shiva, however, did not want to meet them and transformed himself into a bull. 

However, Bhima recognized that the bull was none other than Lord Shiva and rushed after him. To get away from the Pandavas, Shiva hid, and during the whole process, the parts of his body got separated from each other and landed at different places. The locals believe that Shiva’s throat landed on this mountain and thus the name Kedarkantha. 

The golden hour! With snow changing its colour from pure white to golden. Picture by HarshitChawla.

It’s interesting to note that Juda Ka Talab, a lake that comes on the way to Kedarkantha top, is also said to have been formed when Lord Shiva, who was meditating there, let his hair free and the water dripping from his Juda fell on the ground and formed the lake. 

Talk about mystery and mystique! And yet, there are so many more to hear and know. The best way to find out about the history of your trek is to ask your Trek Leader, local guides, and kitchen staff who accompany you on the trail. Believe us when we say they are a wealth of information! 

The Legacy Of Indiahikes – Exploring And Naming Some of India’s Most Popular Trails

At Indiahikes, our endeavor has always been to explore and present new trails in some of the most pristine and untouched parts of our country and enable you to experience the transformative nature of trekking. 

Some of the treks that we popularized have been trails that were already established, such as Kedarkantha. We have presented new routes such as the EBC via Gokyo Ri for some well-known treks, and for still others, we have combined multiple trails to give trekkers a more complete experience. Examples of this are the Har Ki Dun – Ruinsara or the Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek. 

But, for some, we’ve had the honor of exploring virgin trails and even naming them. Two of these have been the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek and the Phulara Ridge Trek. 

We went straight to the explorers themselves to find out the back story of how these treks were discovered and named.

Arguably, one of the most beautiful trails in our country, the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek, or KGL as it is popularly known, was explored by Sandhya, the cofounder of Indiahikes, way back in 2011. 

“During 2010-2011, we explored many treks in Uttarakhand, Himachal, Sikkim, and even Ladakh. We thought that if there was something else we had to explore, it would have to be very different from all these. Arjun suggested Kashmir since he felt that the beauty of Kashmir was unmatched by anything else. Kashmir was a little beyond our imagination and was coming out of troubled times. Tourism was starting to pick up, and trekking was unheard of. 

Since Kashmir was famous for its lakes, we started researching and figured out a cluster of lakes starting from Sonmarg. People either did the beginning lakes or the end ones on this trail, but we thought, why not make a trail that connects all of these. This trek did not have a name before this.

We gave this exploration a name – The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. We didn’t know how these lakes were. We just knew that we could connect the trail to all of these. We had this belief that since it was in Kashmir, it would be beautiful. But when we went there, it surpassed all our expectations.  

We named the trek without seeing a single photograph and our hunch turned out to be right! The lakes really were the GREAT lakes. We also wanted Kashmir to be celebrated and at the forefront, and that is how the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek was born,” she recalls.  

The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is a significant milestone for two reasons. It was one of the first major treks in Kashmir to be offered by any trekking organization. Secondly, the birth of our Green Trails initiative started with the KGL trek.

Suhas, who heads the Experience Coordination team, talks about the discovery and naming of the Phulara Ridge Trek. 

“The whole discovery of Phulara Ridge was a side effect of another trek exploration we had embarked upon. We had just come back from the Devkyara Meadow exploration. As we discussed things over tea, our slope manager mentioned that the Taloti region was stunning and worth checking out. Arjun Sir asked me if I wanted to check out the trail, and I jumped at the opportunity. 

The second day of the trek blew my mind. Walking on the ridge with 250-degree views of the snow-clad mountains was an experience! And we had these views for a continuous 4-5 hours! I felt like the mountains were trekking along with me. Having gone on a few other treks, I thought this ridge walk was something I hadn’t experienced before. So I knew that the word ‘ridge’ had to be part of the name. After I came back, I spoke to Arjun Sir and Sandhya ma’am, and they were convinced that we should offer this trail to trekkers. 

We were throwing out a few names. I remembered there was a clearing called Phulara on the trek near the ridge. That felt apt because of the flowers that I got to see during the exploration. The ridge and the forest section also had a lot of flowers. Even the meadows are laden with flowers, especially after the monsoon. And it had a local connection, and that is how we knew that naming it the Phulara Ridge Trek was a perfect choice.” 

What are some of the most fascinating stories you have heard on your treks? Share them in the comments sections. We’d love to read them!

Fascinating Stories About How Some Of India’s Most Famous Treks Got Their Names.

Fascinating Stories About How Some Of India’s Most Famous Treks Got Their Names

Deoriatal-Chandrashila trek starts from a small village called Sari. It has around 100 houses.

If you reach Sari when the sun is still out, walk around the village a bit. Notice how the paddy fields are so prettily laid out that they almost beckon to you. There is also a small school amidst the fields. This school was built in 1947 and is the only school at Sari.

The views around the village are gorgeous.

You’ll get your first glimpse of the summit of Chandrashila from here!

If you have registered to do the Deoriatal-Chandrashila trek with Indiahikes, you will be staying at the Indiahikes Campus at Sari. Here’s a quick tour of the campus.

All photos by Indiahikes Photographer Jothiranjan.

Entrance of  Sari base camp, Trekkers follow a protocol to sanitize themselves well before entering the tents.

These are the Swiss tents in which trekkers stay while at the Sari basecamp

The Swiss Tents also have a verandah for trekkers to unwind and talk. Keep your shoes out in the shoe racks of the verandah before entering the tent.

Inside, the Swiss tents have eight bunk beds. These beds are neatly placed and each bed has its separate bedding that is sanitized before trekkers arrive.

The verandah or balcony of the tent where you can sip on hot tea while basking in the warm sunlight on cold mornings

All tents face an open area. Briefings take place here. Trekkers also warm up in this area before setting off for the trek.

There’s also a spacious dining area in the campus.

To wash your hands, brush your teeth, the campus has a separate area with comfortable washbasins.

Look to your left while you stay at the Sari basecamp, you see the view of the beautiful Sari village.

Hope you enjoyed the stay at Indiahikes Sari Base camp.

Indiahikes Sari Basecamp: A Quick Photo Tour

We understand the pain when you have to call off a trek or a trek gets cancelled. As trekkers, we always look forward to treks, and after months of training and planning, if you have to cancel your trek or a trek gets called off, there’s no greater disappointment than that. That is why we have a trekker-friendly cancellation policy.

This policy is effective November 4th, 2022.

Indiahikes Standard Cancellation Policy

Indiahikes Standard Cancellation Policy when you cancel a trek:


1. Cancellation 30 days before the start date of the trek — Get a refund with 10% cancellation charges. 

2. Cancellation between 29 days and 21 days before the start date of the trek — Get a refund with 50% cancellation charges.

3. Cancellation within 20 days prior to the start date of the trek, or no show on the start day of the trek — Unfortunately, no refund or voucher.

4. If you had used a voucher to register for the trek but now wish to cancel the trek, the above cancellation policy applies. If there is a balance in your voucher after cancellation charges, it stays credited to your account. If the validity of the voucher has expired at the time of cancellation, you do not get any voucher/refund or an extension for it.

Find information about the Indiahikes cancellation policy, rental gear, offloading, refunds, vouchers, the Indiahikes Trek Again Policy and more

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