After an incomplete trek in 2019 with IndiaHikes at Dayara Bugyal in Uttrakhand, I had decided to do one more with them in the future. And so mid in 2021, the gigantic mountains called me again. And this time from the Kashmir valley, the Tarsar Marsar Trek with IndiaHikes crew.

My two cents: On treks, set no expectations. Though technically you do, that is to complete and reach the summit. But my 2019 and 2021 experiences changed my trekking perspective. Is it the “place” or “people” or both that make the journey so memorable, I wonder…

We landed in Srinagar. Traveling from west of India from a hot and humid city, looking forward to pleasant weather in the Kashmir valley. Little did we know that 34°C would follow us till Srinagar, we got sunstruck. We all glanced at our backups ‘did I overpack warm clothes’?

We had to reach Pahalgam by evening, so we rushed out of the city at the earliest, grabbing the irresistible north Indian meal(parathas with maa ki daal). The drive on NH44 and NH501 was beautiful. As we crossed the highway, the lush green orchards and blush red apples tempted us to stop to try the apple juice. It was rejuvenating from a long traveling day and changing our taste buds from tadka masala to sweet and tangy.

Tarsar Marsar Trek with IndiaHikes

Day zero trek to the Jobra camp went by smoothly and my shoes were ready to go. They easily supported me along with the moderately heavy bag I carried.

The trek poles were shunted in the bag, to be used only during the final days.

We reached our camp, took them off and had no worries in the world. A unique experience was about to unfold.

Day 1 began with a briefing about a long walk ahead with relatively flat to moderate rocky land with a small steep section coming up before the much-awaited river crossing on our way to Jowara camp.

I was busy wondering how the drone shots will be captured, which angles to take etc. and I told our guide Santoshji to help me cross the river before everyone else, so that I could set up my device and capture those moments.

We took a rest stop and just when the IH team started moving I could feel that my right shoe suddenly had a weird floppy feeling beneath it. Looking down, to my horror, I saw the right sole had come off. Now, these shoes are said to have a waterproof body, with an insole to protect the toes and ankle which is then covered by an outsole that provides the grip. This outer grip had come off.

We three got into a discussion and Aditya had luckily picked up some nylon strapping rope. This was not one of those ropes which could easily tie around things but those with which boxes are tied up (flattish) and hence it was difficult to use.

With an effort where 3 pairs of hands pulled, huffed, and puffed and somehow tied up the shoe with the sole, with Sucheta promising to put some strong glue (fevikwik) once we reached camp (will that hold?).

We discussed that if the shoe can somehow make it through the rocky terrain, the icy sections of the pass day could be covered easily because the micro spike attachments will cement the sole into the shoe.

A fellow trekker took my bag up since this shoe would not be able to support the combined weight of me and the bag.

The struggles of walking with a broken shoe

I took out my trekking poles and started walking. The sole kept flopping around. I knew that I could not rely on this shoe for any grip and started using my arm and the poles to push me up while using the shoe as a supporting order to reduce the application of any horizontal force which would pull off the sole fully.

Suddenly, I saw my other shoe’s grip also flopping around the edges but thankfully still attached to the shoe. I was cursing the manufacturers under my breath.

Gingerly, I stepped on the rocks, using the trek poles to pull me up more than my shoes. It was energy sapping and I realized that this trek was not going to be simple for me. However, we cleared it, did the river crossing where we had to take off the shoes again.

After that, Sucheta told me the camp was near and so I decided to finish the last leg on a pair of slippers that I was carrying. To be honest, it was a party under my foot with rock edges jabbing much harder through the thin surface than I’d want them to and I grudgingly realized how much of a cushion these shoes provide. Nevertheless, we reached the camp, took off the shoes and we decided to use the adhesive and kept our fingers crossed.

The sole was attached but the edges were still tenderly holding on. We got some synthetic twine from the kitchen (Thank God for IH’s Green Trails) and decided to tie-up both shoes. This worked well coupled with my trek poles.

After a few hours, I saw that the twine was slowly withering into splinters as the jagged rocks slowly did their job of cutting them and eventually the ropes tying them together became a jumble of splinters. I kept adjusting them, re-tying them but I knew this will not last long. The sole was still attached but the edges were flapping away.

On the way, my fellow trekkers were picking up random pieces of rope, metal wires etc. and giving them to me so that I could use them for my next day.

Somehow, we reached the final camp before the pass. In the evening we tied the micro spikes on the shoes, and to my relief the spikes ensured the sole was stuck well to my shoe. We did an ice trial and it worked well. I knew the pass could be done easily.

On the final day, again we tied up the shoes. Initially, there was a lot of rocky terrain and ice interspersed, thus preventing the use of spikes. I somehow slipped and slid through the ice with poor grip but still managed as the incline was not high.

Soon, the spikes were on and with a breath of relief I covered the next climb and reached the pass smoothly.

After a lot of fun, introspection and rest we decided to cover the descent (which is notoriously steep).

Soon, we saw that the ice patches were over, and rocks lay ahead and that meant it was time for the spikes to be off.

The ropes tying my shoe were already splintered away to a threadbare state. Slowly gingerly walking, I fell behind the pack and had Aditya as my company along with two others who were having a difficult time climbing down.

I used my prior trek knowledge of walking side-ways, following a zig-zag path, using the trek poles to create the grips, resting my arms on them, and then taking a step to ease the process, all the while covering a steep descent.

Soon we reached a large frozen patch of ice which was quite steep and led up to a patch of boulders and then a steep fall into the water. Slipping on it was not an option.

Aditya could be seen ahead helping the others and I saw Sucheta waiting at the edge helping another person start on the edge of the ice patch.

In my infinite wisdom, I decided to cross them and entered the patch, thinking I’ll somehow kick the ice hard (as taught in our briefings) and create a path and make it through. Two steps in, I slipped and started gathering speed – Aditya ran laterally along and cut into my way, dug in his trek poles and his legs to arrest my fall. Meanwhile, I dug in my trek poles and used my heels to reduce my speed. Luckily, the combined effort worked, and I stopped. I got up and found that one of the poles had formed an S-bend on it. However, my shoe’s grip had completely come loose. I held it up for Aditya and Sucheta to see and all three of us had a good laugh. I tried to take a step ahead, but I realized I had no grip, and one of my trek poles was unusable.

Sucheta and the others went ahead while I and Aditya stood there figuring out what to do next. I suggested I could walk barefoot but the idea was shot down by him.

We took a few more steps where Aditya created the cuts in the ice for me to walk on, and I kicked with all my might using my left (still intact) shoe. However, this proved to be incredibly tiring. We decided to do a control slide to the edge of the ice patch, to a section that was flatter in comparison. We slid down and got up.

A fellow guide came up to me and said, “Let’s run!”. At this point, I was so exhausted that reason had left me. I ran with him to the end of the ice patch.

On introspection I realized, when running there was little to no time for me to think or wait for the grip to hold and given the flatter surface, it ensured quick passage. Finally, we reached the rocky terrain. I chucked off the grip into the green trails bag. Finally, we reached the camp after a few hours, somehow straightened the damaged trek pole, and crashed for the day.

On the final journey to Chatru, I decided to forego tying my shoe with the grip. After the icy river-crossing, my foot was numb and I snuck it into the shoe for warmth and just kept walking. The rocky terrain was cushioned by the shoe, the grip was given by the poles and I limped onwards to the final base camp. The day went eventless, and we finally reached the camp.

We rushed to visit Chandratal where my shoe issues took a back seat thanks to the picturesque Spiti Valley and the beauty of the lake in all its glory.

My realisations after safely completing my trek with a broken shoe

That night we witnessed an evacuation on the mountains (my first such experience) from another team and I realized how unforgiving mountains can be if not treated with respect and how lucky I was and how much the IH team supported me and helped such that I had managed to complete this trek without any incident.

A trek is a challenging affair where you test the limits of your body’s endurance. While spending hours every day, focusing on fitness and slowly gathering all the different things needed for the journey, I paid very little attention to those two pieces of equipment which are perhaps the most important on a high-altitude trek.

They were relatively new (2 treks old, 2 years), a pair of the high-end produce from a reputed brand and had never failed me on previous treks like Pangarchulla Peak or Buran Ghati where they survived steep climbs, sharp rocky terrain, freezing cold waters of different streams and even stood firm (with microspikes) while cutting their way through ice. Of course, they were taken for granted to survive a slightly easier trek in the form of Hampta Pass. Moreover, from a visual inspection I could see no weaknesses.

One can never predict what is around the corner in the mountains just as I had no clue that my shoes would be my biggest challenge on this trek.

The fact that I could cover an entire trek despite that and the events which transpired because of that damage made this experience much more memorable and fulfilling for me. It gives me more confidence to come back on another trek/expedition to the mountains.

Hampta Pass Trek Blog: When I Broke My Shoe on the Trek

There must be something about December that gets city slickers to brave the minus temperatures of the Himalayas. Could it be the awe of the seasons first snowfall, the pleasure of huddling up inside the dinning tent with a hot cup of tea, just an escape from routine – the reasons are endless.

These blogs will take you right back to the cold nights in your sleeping bags. They are a pleasure to read. From the presentation and pictures to the writing, you can tell that this was a trek well done!

Want to know who you are? Go take a hike! You will be surprised at what you will discover! There is something so spiritually elevating about trekking in the mountains, a process of self-discovery and a revelation, an incredible experiential learning is what it is…

Catch Neha Pant speaking to you directly from the KK summit, here.

Alpine lakes are my favourite. Add to that, majestic views of Mt Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Kedardome and I was sold. This is enough to make a mountain lover happy. 

There is something about December that gets city slickers to brave the minus temperatures of the Himalayas. Take a look at this months blog contest winners!

December 2016 Blog Contest Winners!

August 2016 was all about Kashmir Great Lakes and Hampta Pass. Cancelled batches, shifted batches and batches that actually went on amidst all the chaos. Despite all the chaos, our trekkers managed to find peace on these two treks. They have penned their experiences down beautifully and won the August 2016 Blog Contest.

My Memories From Kashmir Great Lakes Trek by Anusha Patil 

“‘All Good things come to an End’. Amidst all these chaos and unrest, I was able to experience the best of Kashmir and Kashmiris. It was a memorable trek I had and my blog will not be complete if I do not thank Indiahikes and their brilliant team. To be honest, the only reason for us deciding to do this trek amidst the unrest in Kashmir are Indiahikes team.”

“After a while, we started walking beside a raging river, which had swelled due to the constant showers. It took us more than 7 hours to reach the first camp site. Our tents were laid out on a lush green meadow. There were waterfalls all around us. It was like being in paradise.“

Congratulations Anusha and Pratap! Keep trekking and writing. We loved all the entries and will share them on our website soon!

To see the winners of August 2016 Photo Contest, click here.

August 2016 was all about the Kashmir curfew and Hampta Pass. These winning entries have captivated the mood beautifully in their blogs! Take a look!

August 2016 Blog contest winners are here!

When on a trek, urban folk like you and me tend to get philosophical. Mountains do that to the spirit. They make poets out of everybody! It did the same to Savitha and Divya! Congratulations to the two of them for winning our July 2016 Blog Contest! Keep trekking and writing. We loved all the entries and will share them on our website soon!

“We just sat down on the road with our feet dangling down above the river. Trust me, even many hours here would not suffice. The only thought that got us to move on from this point was the promise for much more in store ahead of us. As twilight and fog set in, we made our way into the tiny village of Ghangria, our home for the next 3 nights. Although a little tired, we quickly changed and set off to explore the little village before the darkness could snatch it away from us!” – Read more

“ Sometimes the nature mesmerized me & sometimes I got completely awestruck listening to the inspirational stories of people cruising the roads of India & climbing mountains at the age of 50-60years. It truly encouraged me & made me more determined to live my life like a gypsy soul. ” – Read more

To see the winners of July 2016 Photo Contest, click here.

Here are the winners of the July 2016 Blog Contest! Congratulations! We loved all the entries and will share them on our website soon.

July 2016 Blog Contest Winners are here!

Just got back from a trek and there is so much you want to share! Have you written about your experiences in a blog? If you haven’t done it yet, now is the time! We invite you to participate in our July 2016 Blog Contest! 

E-mail your entries to indiahikes.contest@gmail.com

The winner gets a Trek Voucher of Rs. 3000

The blog must be about a trek you did with us in July 2016 ONLY

Kindly mention your name, trek name and batch in the e-mail

Your blog must have a link that leads to indiahikes.com.

If you don’t have an online blog and you have written down your experience on a Word Doc, send us the Word Doc.

The blog must be an ORIGINAL documentation of your experience through text, photos, videos or artwork.

Contest closes on 25th August. Results will be announced on September 1st, 2016. We are also running a parallel July 2016 Photo Contest. Take a look at it here.

We invite all trekkers who trekked with us in July 2016 to participate in our July Blog Contest. Send in your entries to indiahikes.contest@gmail.com.

July 2016 Blog Contest

Most of us do not enjoy the luxury of being in the mountains everyday. It’s jotted down memories that help keep the mountains alive in our hearts. Congratulations Vedika and Chetan! Keep trekking and writing. We loved all the entries and will share them on our website soon!

From 36 feet to 14300 feet in five days by Vedika Jiandani – Pangarchulla trek. 

“Why are you doing this? Why do you need to leave the comfort of your home and go so far away in the wilderness?’ Reluctantly, I got out of bed to reach the airport in time.Little did I know that morning just how wonderfully enriching the experience was going to be.”

Blissful journey to Buran Ghati by Chetan Gupta – Buran Ghati trek

“This was my first trek in Himachal Pradesh. The land of vast meadows and sky touching peaks together with the warmth of the locals makes this place a must visit during the summer months. After a lot of research and planning i had choosen this trek. A trek not much talked about and supposed to be a difficult one. The trek is graded as moderate to difficult and would be touching 15000 ft, I was excited!”

Every month we run blog contests for trekkers. Individual expressions of trek experiences are fascinating. Here are the winners for June 2016 Blog contest!

June 2016 Blog Contest Winners

We have had some amazing blogs come in this month with trekkers sharing their beautiful experiences painted in words. Each blog will make you want to go on that trek. Here are two of the best blogs that stole our hearts! Congratulations winners!

‘Himalayan Trek: Rupin Pass’ by Manju Shivdasan

“White clouds move at a leisurely pace, and they seem to be the only things moving besides us. Everything else is still or subtle. Cool winds blow on and off. Our shadows dance against the white surface of the snow as we kept plodding on.” To read more, click here.

‘Roopkund: The Lake of the Dead’ by Sheibban Pervez

“As I closed my eyes to sleep, I remembered the past few days and slept away with a huge smile on my face. I believe that despite how different we might be or from where we come, at the core of our being lies the spirit of Humanity. I came for a trek, I learnt about life instead.” To read on, click here.

Congratualtions Manju and Sheibban! We loved all the entries and will share them on our website soon!

We also had a photo contest in May. To see the winners, click here.

May 2016 Blog Contest - Results Out!!

Roopkund Lake- Conquering 15780 ft- Upasana Kakati

Roopkund and the Magnificence of the Himalayas- Anupam Sarkar

Roopkund Trek – a tale of Myth, Mystery and Mesmerizing beauty- Alok Nanda

My First High Altitude Trek – Aditi Bhat

Roopkund : Transcendental ecstasy at the abode of Gods – by Arjun Haarith

The fascinating beauty of Himalayas is unparalleled. It attracts three groups of people – Saints, Poets and Nature Lovers. If you are game you can trek climb and explore the splendid valleys. There are thousands of spots in the mountains that will leave you spellbound. One such place is Roopkund, which is situated in the state of Uttarakhand in India.

Himalayan Escapade to the riddles of the dead – Roopkund by Ritu Raj

The history of Roopkund is absorbing.  It is also called Riddles of the Dead or the Skeleton Lake. It houses about 200 human skeletons. So what happened to these 200 folks? Why all of them died at the same place? The skeletons were first found by a British forest guard in 1942. Initially, it was believed that the skeletons were those of the Japanese soldiers who had died while crossing this route during the World War II.

Roopkund: A trek to Remember, by Ashwini Mishra

I like being in mountains. Mountains make me feel happy and at peace. I can stare at them for hours on end. However, this was a journey I was skeptical about. Coaxed into this trek by a friend, at that time I had no idea what I was signing up for. Never the one who was good in athletic activities, sitting at the team briefing listening about AMS and paining knees and how previous trekking experience was desirable, I just hoped to return safely.

I am an ordinary bloke. I do ordinary things. Pay my taxes, eat good food, lie occasionally, tell the truth often and wander about with a chip on my shoulder, mispronounce wander and wonder and rely heavily on spell checks as I type pretentious words to live up to my much profound reputation of being a ‘struggling writer’. I am an ordinary bloke. I disappoint and delight once in a while, embrace my own flaws and move along with a slight nod of disapproval from certain people who call themselves friends under the umbrella of hypocrisy.

The traveller in me – Roopkund by Shobit Garg

Nanda Devi was drowned in nostalgia… It had been over a century since her marriage with Lord Shiva. Since then, she had not visited her parental home even for once. She felt lonely, longing to visit her home.

Dream, dream, dream … All I have to do is dream by Srilakshmi

To infinity and beyond – Roopkund by Mukul Mhaskey

Several hundreds of skeletons are found here, believed to be from a pilgrimage party which perished here several centuries ago in a single calamity, possibly a hailstorm.

Why I did it and why I will do it again – Roopkund by Pragalbh Vashishth

Roopkund for whoever’s going next by Malvika Jain

Mystery of the skeleton lake – Roopkund by Sai Ganesh

To see a complete guide of the Roopkund trek, click here.

The Roopkund trek is not one of the most popular treks without a reason. Find out exactly why it's so popular through these blog posts!

Blogs about Roopkund

Indian Himalayas; the Hampta Pass trekking-

Surrounded by high pine trees I am listening to the  briefing of our Indian guides. I am slightly nervous if my condition is good enough for the Hampta Pass, but also uber excited for my first real high altitude trekking in the Himalayas. Important things definitely not to forget are sunglasses, check, warm socks, check, a warm beanie, check and of course a lunchbox. What?

                                                                    14,000 ft of amazing experience by Tanvi Raul

My first trek – Hampta Pass by Devangini Patel

Trekking is an adventure that once you are into it you cannot get it out of you. You lure more and more of it. It’s even more tempting when its himalayan one. Yes, a lifetime experience, mixed feelings, strenuous but in the end a wonderful experience with.lots of memories.

You, too, should go trekking in the Himalayas by Sara

5 truths my first trek reinforced by Komal Shivdasani

Two months ago, I registered for the Hampta Pass trek. My dad, was as excited as I was, which is attributable to that ever-growing sense of adventure we share; and what better place to satisfy that feeling than in the Himalayas.

To know more about the Hampta Pass Trek, click here.

Blogs about Hampta Pass

What better than a lovely blog about Sandakphu that can totally get you reaching out for some hot chai while reading? Aneesha Bhadri has a way with words! This blog on her first winter trek has got both a chilly and cozy feel to it. Here’s Aneesha’s blog, winning The Blog Contest of January 2016.  Congratulations Aneesha!

When I stood at the top in Sandakphu and looked around, I felt like I was on another planet; a small icy planet shrouded in mist. It was white everywhere, the snow that covered the ground and the shrubs enveloped in frost. Even, the sky, a silver dome with wavering mists that would, at times, reveal the mysterious languid peaks in the distance and at other times, give the appearance of being inside a snow globe. As I stood near the edge trying to gaze through the mist, I was grateful for having carried the heavy blue coat that kept me warm.

The night before I was to leave for the trek I had a frantic Facetime session with my aunt. My haversack was stuffed to the gills thanks to the heavy winter clothing. I was tempted to put aside a blue coat that was taking up space. My aunt, who has more trekking experience than me, walked me through the packing. At the end we decided I would have to carry my coat on me and leave out a t-shirt or two; that sorted out the situation of the overstuffed bag.

When I reached base camp I dropped off my bag in the room and set out to explore the area. A couple of trekkers needed water bottles so we went down to the shops to look around. The lure of momos was irresistible. We settled down in a tea lodge and dug into a couple of plates. The anticipation of the trek had made us all ravenous. When we went back to base camp we were treated to hot noodle soup that we managed to polish off in a few minutes. The star-speckled azure sky was the perfect backdrop for the campfire at night. We traded a few stories and shared a laugh before calling it a night.

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, we were given eco bags to collect garbage in and I am proud to say we made good use of our portable dustbins. We set off on our trek, a gradual ascent that weaved through the forest. After a couple of hours we took a tea break and marvelled at how close we were to Nepal. I believe there were even some jokes about popping over to Nepal for a bit or coming to India to make a quick call.

We stayed the night in a lodge which was a fascinating wooden maze of rooms. We had hot pakoras with tea by the fire in the evening. Before dinner, we sang many songs accompanied by a local boy who belted out one flawless tune after another on his guitar. After dinner we were treated to a hot cup of bournvita. That was the first time I slept in the attic.

In the morning I was both surprised and delighted to see the ice that crusted the sides of the road. We set off on our trek after filling some hot water in our bottles. As we ascended, we encountered a fog that didn’t leave us till the end of the trek. The autumnal facade of the land was a glory to behold.  Never before had I seen fall colours in a true natural setting. It was an immense pleasure to traverse the red and golden lands veiled in the ever-present mist.

The higher up we ascended, the colder it got. At one point I remember being engulfed in a frigid mist that had me hurriedly putting on gloves and covering my face with a neck warmer. By the time we reached our next camp, we dropped off our bags in our rooms and huddled around the fire for warmth while we waited for tea and snacks. We enjoyed the evening playing cards by the fire. After dinner I slept soundly wrapped up in thermals, a jacket, a fleece, a blanket and a heavy thick quilt on top.

The next day we set off for Sandakphu. It was a winding route to the top and we trudged along. Sometimes we would use the stairs and I would laugh to myself as I remember the movie Kung fu panda where Po, the panda, called stairs his ancient enemy. When I reached Sandakphu, I was mesmerized by the whiteness of the land. There was not a soul to be seen for miles, only a perpetual snowy blanket that covered the ground and the mist that hovered in the air. Some of us stopped at a restaurant called Sunrise for a cup of coffee; after all, who wouldn’t stop at a restaurant called Sunrise at the top of an icy mountain? The hot liquid put some warmth back in our limbs and we set off to look for our camp.

Our accommodations turned out to be a deceptively small lodge. After we dropped off our bags, we went straight to the kitchen for a delightful meal of Chow Mein served by hospitable people. We gorged on chowmein by the fire and then sat peacefully in the small space near the kitchen.

After a dessert of rasgullas, I slept soundly under a heap of blankets. I woke up early the next day to see the sunrise and the sleeping Buddha, but it was too foggy. I had the surreal feeling that I was inside a snow globe. All of us were on an alien planet of ice and snow where frost delicately coated the leaves and branches of the shrubs and prayer flags hung stiff over a frozen lake. It was an unforgettable experience.

We could not go to Phalut because of the weather so we took a different route. Before we left the snow behind us, we made sure to have a vigorous snowball fight that had all of us laughing out loud while we shook like dogs to get the melting snow off us. It was a gradual descent where snow made way for mud and the whiteness receded to give way to verdant slopes. We took a few pictures by a small waterfall and then sat on a giant rock and gazed at the river gushing below. Our trek officially came to an end when we crossed the old bridge to civilization.

A winter trek is a different experience altogether. Nothing quite prepares you for the cold; and yet, every moment that you are trying to stay warm, your mind is clear and your senses alive. There are some moments that will stay with me forever; the autumnal landscape, walking on freshly fallen snow, the frigid blast of wind near the frozen lake, the frosted leaves and twigs, a cup of hot black tea to warm the fingers, the gliding mists, the feel of fresh powdery snow, the slipperiness of sleet, the contrast of a snowy path in the midst of lush greenery, the warm cocoon of fleece and blankets, the undulating land, the wide expanse of sky and the distant summits that tease you as they occasionally peak out of the mist. These are some of the cherished moments that I shall carry with me and that shall give me solace, particularly on a hot day in the city.

January 2016 Blog Contest Winner - My First Winter Trek To Sandakphu

Goecha La trek: In the shadow of Mt. Kanchenjunga  by Nithin Uliyar

Goechala Trek,Sikkim-Truly mesmerizing… -Arijit Maitra

In the lap of the Kanchenjunga by Varun Koundinya

Yuksom- a place so remote that apart from the difficulty in reaching the place, its the thought of “whether our whereabouts can ever be traced if something were to happen to us here” that usually bothers everyone. But then, none of the troubles bothered anymore as the sheer excitement of witnessing the Kanchanjunga from extremely close quarters was enough of a reason to brave a mere 6 hour bumpy ride. from Bagdogra.

A video blog of Goechala by Priyank Badola 

The Goechala trail is one of the most romantic treks the Himalayas has to offer. Experience the enchanting walks with these blogs by our trekkers.

Blogs about Goechala

The Jannat on Earth – Tarsar Marsar by Rajesh Kalajji

The best of the journeys are the ones that are least planned. This strikes me as the mini bus we are travelling in winds through the snaky and precipitous road inside Aru National park. The drive brings back the memories of the fear I felt when I first journeyed in a recklessly driven and rickety Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam bus along the treacherous, hilly stretches of Uttarakhand. But what breath-taking surroundings!

Life Lessons – A trekking experience in Kashmir by Bhairav Patel

“Shuddh Desi Unravelling” – Kashmir Great Lakes trek by Kanishka

Tarsar Marsar trek: Through heaven and back – Sukrit Sodhani

The cursed waters of Tarsar Marsar – Himanshu Arteev

The Time Stood Still – Tarsar Marsar by Suhani Jain

The world as I see it – Kashmir Great Lakes by Sauravi Shome

Trekking has not been too high on my wish list. All said and done, no shower and loo for 7 days is not very fun. But I have two very dear friends who become starry eyed at the thought of walking through mountains and I do adore them. So, the seven days long, 65 kms hike to the seven alpine lakes of Kashmir happened in July 2014. We went with India Hikes. There is a sense of security going with a group (about 25 people).

Kashmir Great Lakes – Himalayan trek by Ravindra Joisa

Beside the 2 heavenly lakes – Kashmir Great Lakes by Sangeeta

What it’s like to fall in love – Kashmir Great Lakes by Aditi Kodipady

Mountain Traipse: Kashmir Great Lakes by Kavya Guddehithulu

The Accidental Climber – Mt. Kang Yaze by Aloke Surin

The Kashmir Great Lakes experience by Arun R

In the forest of the night – Kashmir Great Lakes by Kunal Sharma

My Chadar trek experience by Vikas Thwani

An experience that has taught me the best lessons in life – Chadar – by Ritika Gupta

Trek on the frozen Zanskar river – Chadar by Srikanth Parthasarthy

Blogs about Kashmir

Rupin Pass – A scintillating trek in the Himalayas by Umang Trivedi

It was the last Day of Rupin Pass trek. We were at around 14,000 feet, wrapped in multiple layers & admiring nature’s magnificence. The clear sky resembled a canvas, waiting to be painted. The white clouds swiftly tagged along with the wind. The endless terrain of snow spread till the horizon.  The sun had  just appeared above a peak, keeping us warm enough in this cold weather. We were taking a break after 3 hours of steep climb on snow from our yesterday’s campsite. Our eyes were glued to our trek’s steepest climb in front of us. That steepest trail would help us cross Rupin Pass!

I did it, man! – Rupin Pass by Aniruddha Sen

One never knows which way life will take a turn and how old times can come back knocking. 20 years is a long time. When I look back two decades, I remember my crazy days of adventure sports. It all began from a rock climbing course in the hills of Bengal and graduated to advance mountaineering course from NIM. Studies, search for job and adventure sports were going on side by side but not necessarily in that order. Then bingo – I got a job. But alas – that became the end of my adventure sports days.

The Mountains, Uninterrupted – Rupin Pass by Ree

Here I am on my way back home and the last thing I feel is homesick. What just happened? Disoriented, overwhelmed, nostalgic, I can barely contain myself as a multitude of feelings launch at me all at once. I pulled the plug on routine and found myself in the middle of virgin Himalayas. A week back my relentless search for beauty brought me to a piece of nature etched by the gods themselves. The Rupin Pass, tucked away in a far corner of the great Himalayas, a trail along the humble Rupin River through hanging hamlets, gushing waterfalls, endless forests, crisp green meadows, pebbled rivulets, magical valleys, snow bridges and I feel tempted to give the plot away already.

My trek to Rupin Pass by Arun Ravishankar

Way back in October or November 2014, I was certain that I was going to go for a high altitude trek in the Himalayas. I just had to see if anybody I knew was interested in joining me and how I would go about planning this trek. That’s when I came across Indiahikes and saw that they have a large spread of choices when it comes to high altitude treks in the Himalayas.

8 tips for first-time trekkers by Reuben Rato

“Let’s go on a trek to the Himalayas!”, who knew these innocent words of my brother in law in April 2014 would land us in one of the most beautiful places on earth and give us some of the most memorable experiences of our lives a year later!

Last month (May 22, 2015), he and I embarked on our first high-altitude trek in the Himalayas to Rupin Pass – 15250ft above sea level, 60+ Kms over 8 days. It was a very well organized trek by Indiahikes, one of the oldest trekking companies in India.

Rupin Pass with Indiahikes by Prajakta Karthikeyan

It’s been eight days, we walked through villages and we walked in mountains, along the river, in the valleys, through the jungle, crossing rivers and bridges… on the snow … on frozen rivers…

Every moment we experienced thrill and excitement …missed the dear ones… felt so close to the nature…walked on the edge … & yet so close to life… We risked our lives …survived the challenges… made great friends and memories…

This was my 11th excursion to the Himalayas in the past 5 years, but it wasn’t the same by any means. Firstly, I did not once compare this particular excursion with the others, for example – comparisons with t

It’s that time of the year again when you get an itch in your feet to run somewhere away from your desk. A craving to breath fresh air. I am more of a mountain person when it comes to choosing between them and beaches. It’s mystique and mysterious in its own ways. You are a tiny pixel in this world and yet, can conquer the untamed and the explored.

To see more details about the Rupin Pass trek, click here.

Blogs about Rupin Pass

The Placid Height and Plummet- Ajay Chawda

Selah…Here I am with you again… – Polika Dmelo

A misty floral trail through quaint villages- Aparna Sharma

A walk in the Himalayas- Sandakphu by Sanchita

I walked up slowly, employing all my senses to absorb the ambience. It was a truly beautiful day with azure sky, miles and miles of mountain layers on all sides and a few cowherds and shepherds out with their animals. Phalut wore a relatively desolate look, as there were only a handful of huts and much less number of trekkers than Sandakphu. While Everest, Lhotse and Makalu were as impressive as ever; it felt as if Kanchenjunga was simply a jump away from the hilltop.

Treading through Clouds- Sandakphu by Ankan Hore

Colours & shades, wrapping the Sleeping Buddha and the Everest ranges made the sunset even more graceful. As these change momentarily, you don’t want to miss an inch. Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu were glorious with the sky-kissing Everest peeping from behind.  Some of you, who are still unable to sketch out  “Sleeping Buddha”, relax a bit. The picture takes the shape of a human body with the Mt. Kumbhakarna sketching out the head and face of Buddha while Kanchenjunga appears as the upper body.

The Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse & Makalu are all visible on this trail. Experience the picturesque trail with these blogs by our trekkers.

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