In April 2022, we introduced Adventure Therapy treks at Indiahikes. The response, even to our very first group, was unexpectedly overwhelming. 

“Within three days, over 178 people applied to participate. I was truly surprised,” Izzat Yaganagi, Head of Experiential Learning at Indiahikes says. “Even though we could select a maximum of 18 participants, it was heartening to see that the growing openness towards therapy,” she adds. 

Another group of trekkers trekked in February 2023, again with the same impact. 

So after two extremely successful groups, we are very excited to announce our third Adventure Therapy trek group. 

When: Aug 13, 2023
Where: Chandrakhani Pass Trek
Available Slots: 18
Trek Fee: 12,850 + 5% GST

Click here to register for the Adventure Therapy trek -- https://indiahikes.com/registration?batchId=9305

To give you context, he's a story narrated by Izzat Yaganagi, the head of Experiential Learning at Indiahikes. It is a story that dates back to 2011, when Izzat was on her first Himalayan trek. The story gains more significance if you know Izzat’s background. She is a psychological counsellor, who has worked extensively with couples, youth and families.

“It was September 2011,” begins Izzat. “I was going through a difficult phase in my life. I was at a crossroads with everything — my personal life, my professional life. I felt low. I wanted to get away from everything.” 

“That’s when, on the recommendation of a colleague, I signed up for a Himalayan trek with Indiahikes. Not to cure myself, but just to get away from everything for a while. Little did I know that the trek would change everything about my life,” she reflects. 

“I remember this one moment I was sitting by Gadsar Lake, watching the blue waters lapping the shore. Small rivulets trickled down the mountain sides, feeding the lake. On my right, I could see the Gadsar valley stretching into the horizon. 

“It was at this point that somehow, my mind hit a reset button. I felt all my problems disappearing away. I felt light and relieved, like no problem was too big. For the first time in the past few months, I could feel a sense of lightness in my heart,” recollects Izzat. 

Later that night, when Izzat was reflecting on the trek, she realised that what she had gone through was very different. The trek had a big role to play in it. “The trek had helped me get out of a troublesome environment into a space where I could see my own problems from a bird’s eye view. In the city, I was constantly rushing from one day to the next, never able to give myself the mental space required to heal. I felt trapped in a bubble of my own thoughts.” 

“But on the trek, I had the luxury of time and space to open up. I was never in a rush. I had no other responsibilities. I felt calm. I could see things more objectively. The feeling of being overwhelmed all the time withered away and my problems seemed manageable.” 

“This is what most therapists do in the process of working with their clients. But the trek was naturally lending itself to such a profound outcome – in such a short duration,” she says.  

“After returning I strongly felt  ‘why not bring my clients here. It would have such a deep impact on their state of mind. It could do what months of therapy could not,” recalls Izzat. 

It was back then that Izzat decided to join Indiahikes with the intention of using trekking as a medium to help those struggling with personal issues. 

In these 11 years, Izzat Yaganagi among other things, set up the Experiential Learning Division at Indiahikes. Today, we work with innumerable professional institutions and schools to bring these learnings from the outdoors into our daily lives. The impact of these programs has been enormous. 

Adventure Therapy is not a new concept. It is something that has existed in many forms for over a century. 

In his paper on outdoor therapy, Stephan Natynczuk, one of the foremost adventure therapists, writes on different ways of adventure therapy — “Some rely on nature as a co-therapist; others on experiential learning. Some utilise talking therapy and others successfully blend each of these with an adventurous journey.” 

"We've noticed that even on our regular treks, trekkers go through a near-therapeutic experience. It is where nature creates its own impact without human intervention. But not everyone realises this impact, especially if they're in a troubled state of mind,” explains Izzat. “Many times, it needs facilitation by someone who can nudge them to enhance what the trek is already doing," she adds. 

This is what we will be doing in our adventure therapy treks.

A trek, on its own, has the power to impact your mind, body and spirit. But not everyone realises this impact. This is where a trained professional comes in, to nudge you to enhance what the trek is already doing. Picture by Faizan Shaikh

This is not going to be like our regular treks. It is specially designed and facilitated by team members who are trained to conduct therapy. 

The first trek is going to be led by Ms Izzat Yaganagi herself, who is a Psychological Counselor with a practice of over 13 years. She heads the Experiential Learning division at Indiahikes. 

While the trek is going to work on its own, Ms Izzat Yaganagi will be playing a big role through one-on-one sessions, and group sessions. Talking therapy and experiential learning will be a key features in the adventure therapy trek.

These treks are meant for those going through some difficulty in their lives. If you’re feeling low, underconfident, or finding it hard to overcome difficulties, this trek is meant for you. If you’re overcoming the loss of someone, or are unable to focus on your professional life, this trek will work wonderfully for you.

When and where is the Adventure Therapy trek going to be held? 

This trek is going to be held on the beautiful Chandrakhani Pass Trek. The base camp, the campsites, the meadows, and mountain views, all lend themselves to a great setting for therapy. 

Dates for the trek: August 13th - 17th, 2023
Duration: 5 days 
Highest altitude: 12,185 ft

This is what the itinerary will look like: 

Day 1: Reach the Indiahikes Community Campus at Sarsai, Haripur on your own. Reporting Time: 4 pm | Location: Sarsai, Haripur. Briefing and orientation about the Adventure Therapy Trek by Ms Izzat Yaganagi.

Day 2:  Drive from Sarsai to Rumsu (cost not included in the fee). Trek from Rumsu to Naya Tapru. 

Day 3: Trek from Naya Tapru to Chaklani 

Day 4: Trek from Chaklani to Nagruni via Chandrakhani Pass

Day 5: Trek from Nagruni to Malana via Magic valley. Drive back to Manali

The adventure therapy trek fee for the group is the same as our regular group:  ₹12,845 + 5% GST (base camp to base camp). 

You’ll find more details about the Chandrakhani Pass trek on this page.

The Chandrakhani Pass trek lends itself beautifully to a setting where adventure therapy can be conducted.

If you’d like to be a part of our Adventure Therapy trek, follow this link to register - https://indiahikes.com/registration?batchId=9305

We will keep the group small, with around 18 members. The slots will be confirmed on a first-come-first-served basis. 

We all know how beneficial a trek can be for the mind, body and spirit. Terms like nature therapy and forest healing have firmly embedded themselves in conversations of therapists. Medics in countries like Canada, UK and New Zealand are suggesting nature prescriptions and green prescriptions as healers. At Indiahikes too, we not only believe in it, but have seen the healing powers ourselves. We hope these Adventure Therapy treks spread the healing power to those who need it too. 

Adventure Therapy Treks - Outdoor Counselling - Indiahikes

Adventure Therapy Date Announced for August 2023

If you’re reading this article, I’m assuming that you’re considering taking your child on a trek. And that’s wonderful!

At Indiahikes, we strongly believe that children must trek. When they’re young and observant is the best time to expose them to the outdoors. They absorb lessons of resilience, confidence, leadership and also learn to protect the environment. These are deep values that take a very long time to imbibe in a person, but it can happen over just a few days on a trek.

With further ado, here are the best treks for children. These are all treks in the Himalayas. These are good treks for children. They have just the right mix of trek and leisure.

Duration – 6 days | Pick up point – Dehradun | Recommended age: 7-10 years

Out of all our easy-moderate Himalayan treks, Dayara Bugyal would be the best suited for children. It involves just 3-4 hours of trekking everyday. The whole trail promises lots of learning, as your trek mostly through dense forests and open meadows.

Big, snow-clad mountains of the Garhwal Himalayas follow you from day one! So if you want to expose your child to the mountains for the first time, this is the best trek. It also has easy access and an easy exit in case your child does not take well to trekking.

The meadows of Dayara Bugyal offer a great setting for children to trek. Photo by Arjun Majumdar

Duration – 5 days | Pick up point –  Haridwar | Recommended age: 7-10 years

Everything about Deoriatal – Chandrashila trek lends itself as one of the best treks for children. The drive to the base camp, Sari, is short.

The first day’s trek is just around 2-3 hours long. The second day is slightly long, but on relatively flat terrain through lovely forests. The next day involves a grand summit climb, which is just difficult enough for children to get the thrill of completing it!

The scenery of the lake, the big mountains and the quaint villages offer great exposure to the outdoors. So it’s a perfect trek for children and first timers too!

Explore the Deoriatal – Chandrashila Trek

The view of Mt. Chaukhamba from the Deoriatal-Chandrashila trek makes a deep impression on the mind of a child. Photo by Jothiranjan.

Duration – 6 days | Pick up point - Dehradun | Recommended age: 8-12 years

Kedarkantha has been the go-to trek for families for a long time. Because of the short distances, beautiful campsites and the grand summit climb, it makes for a great trek for both parents and children.

What makes it difficult are the steep ascents. Right from the onset, it climbs and gains altitude quickly. But the daily distances are short. If your child is fit and active in sports, he/she will be able to do this trek comfortably.

The trek distances and campsites are perfect for children to start experience a Himalayan trek. Photo by Sitabja Dasgupta

Duration – 6 days | Pick up point - Rishikesh | Recommended age: 12-14 years

Kuari pass is a mountain lovers’ delight. You have an unending vista of the biggest mountains in India opening up right from day one. You even get to see the clearest view of the full face of Mt Nanda Devi, India’s highest mountain.  

More than this, Kuari Pass is a near-perfect trek. You go through ancient forests filled with oaks and rhododendrons. Just as your eyes are getting used to the tree canopy above, the trail opens into meadows. This interplay of different kinds of landscapes makes the trek very exciting.

Kuari Pass offers a brilliant view of Mt. Nanda Devi. The highest peak in India which children read about in their textbooks. Photo by Vaibhav Jain.

Duration – 6 days | Pick up point - Rishikesh | Recommended age: 11 -15 years

Out of the other meadow treks in our country — Dayara Bugyal, Gidara Bugyal, and Bhrigu Lake trek — Ali Bedni has the grandest of mountain views. That’s because of one thing —  the sight of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti jutting right out of the meadows.

Jutting out doesn’t mean you see the tops of these mountains, you see the entire face — almost 6000-7000 feet of it — rising right in front of you.

For children, trekking on the meadows of Ali Bedni Bugyal at tender age is unforgettable. Photo by Sandhya UC.

We have several other treks that might suit children. But the above are the best of them. If your child already has some high altitude trek experience, you can consider some of our moderately difficult treks for him/her.

Here are the 5 best and safest Himalayan treks for children to do. All the treks are in Uttarakhand, and they make for a great experience.

5 Best Himalayan Treks for Children

5 Best and Safest Himalayan Treks for Children

Here is an exciting opportunity for trekkers who want to hone their leadership skills.

We are looking for volunteers to help us with our Collaborative Leadership Program in the Himalayas. 

45 members of the Young Indians family have signed up for the Collaborative Leadership Program. They come from all over India.  

What is the responsibility of a volunteer during the Collaborative Leadership Program?

As a volunteer, you will facilitate the program for participants who maybe are stepping into the Himalayas for the first time. The program is designed by the Indiahikes team to bring out learnings and reflections among the participants. Volunteers will play a crucial role in helping participants internalise these learnings. 

It won’t be easy to facilitate as many participants would be are completely outside their comfort zone in the Himalayas. For this you need to have the right mix of skill and personality.

We will be selecting volunteers based on your prior trek experience, your empathy and care, your communication skills, your fitness, and your work experience. 

Where is the Experiential Learning Program Happening?

This program is taking place on the Dayara Bugyal trek. 

What Indiahikes will take care of for volunteers: 

All meals and accommodation throughout the duration of the program

Your safety and health throughout the trek

What volunteers will have to take care of: 

Your journey to the Indiahikes basecamp and back 

Meals during transit from the basecamp and back 

The program begins on May 16th and ends on May 21st at Raithal. You'll be expected to be at Dehradun a day prior to the program.

As mentioned earlier, we are looking for volunteers with sharp skills and personality to facilitate students in the Himalayas. We are picky about who we choose as a volunteer. 

To become a volunteer, you must tick the following criteria:

Must have at least 3 years of work experience 

Must have done at least one Himalayan trek with Indiahikes

Must be extremely fit (should be able to jog 5 km within 38 minutes)

Being a volunteer for an Experiential Learning Program is extremely rewarding. At the end of the volunteership you also earn a certificate.

It is something that will help you in your professional career as well. We hope you make full use of such an opportunity, especially when you do so in some of the most terrific locations of our country!

We have a two-step process to select volunteers.

Step 1: A questionnaire to get to know you and your skills

Step 2: A video interview to assess your potential as a volunteer

We’ll get back to you within 2 days if you’re shortlisted after filling out the form.

Volunteer for a Collaborative Leadership Program in the Himalayas

Indiahikes just took a significant step towards making the benefits of experiential learning more accessible. Between April 2 to 7, 2022, we conducted our first-ever open Collaborative Leadership Program.

Since its inception in 2011, the program had remained exclusive to the students of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). We finally opened it up for all university students and working professionals after careful deliberation.

The results it fetched exceeded the expectations of both the parties - the Indiahikes team members and the trekkers who participated.

“The Collaborative Leadership Program is highly-acclaimed. It is offered as a credit course by several IIMs. As the program gained more recognition, people from different fields started reaching out to us. They also wanted to enrol,” narrates Izzat Yaganagi, Head of Experiential Learning at Indiahikes.

“Once we decided to have an open program, we made some tweaks in the curriculum to make it more immersive. It left a much deeper impact on the participants than we had imagined. That is extremely encouraging since some of us were having butterflies!” she adds.

Izzat, for the past 11 years, has been continuously working towards refining the syllabus of the Collaborative Leadership Program. The primary aim of the program is to transform individuals into Collaborative Leaders.

The shift happens through a specifically designed exercise wherein the participants plan and execute a trek on their own.

Note: Our next program is happening on the Dayara Bugyal trek from April 14-19, 2023. If you would like to participate in the program, register through this link - https://indiahikes.com/registration?batchId=9152

It's a challenge to plan and execute a trek in the Himalayas. And facing this challenge together makes the team come together during the Collaborative Leadership Program. Photo by Jothiranjan. 

What Happened During the Course of the Open Program

The 2022 edition of the program was held on the Dayara Bugyal trek. A mix of 14 students and working professionals from all over the country attended it.

It was for the first time that such a diverse group was participating in the program.

The 4-day long innovative training was conducted by Indiahikes Senior Trek Leader Vijeet Shaw.

In all honesty, even someone like Vijeet who has been leading trek groups for years was a bit fidgety going in to lead this particular group.

But upon returning from the expedition, he termed it one of the most fulfilling experiences of his trek leading career!

“The kind of impact this program had on the trekkers is something I haven’t witnessed before. In the end, they were running out of words to describe their experience. Despite being strangers, they learned to work as a team,” shares Vijeet.

The program comprised three elements – The Trek, The Activities and The Reflective Sessions.

Participants are involved in an activity that tests the communication and coordination skills of all team members. Photo by Jothiranjan. 

“At the very start, we collected their mobile phones so that they interact a lot more. We then taught them to use an analogue map and asked them to navigate the trek on their own. It was challenging but it also brought them together,” tells Vijeet.

“Along with that, we conducted numerous activities such as blindfolded tent pitching, night hiking and outdoor cooking. At the end of each day, they reflected on their learnings. That’s where the true magic happened,” he adds.

The program brought about a visible transformation in all the participants. It taught them the skills required to be a Collaborative Leader.

According to Vijeet, the participants gained a much better understanding of who they are. They were also clearer about how they wanted to proceed professionally.

Tejashri Chavan, who is a Content Analyst at Accenture, terms the program a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“It's a cliche to say that mountains change you but after having lived this experience I can say that it's true. When I look back, I can't help but smile thinking how strangers looked out for each other,” says Tejashri.

“The tasks helped us understand our strengths and weaknesses. At every challenge, the team united to face the problem together. What also made this program special is that it had sustainability at its core,” adds the 29-year-old.

For another participant named Kedar Bhusanikar, a 29-year-old Software Engineer, the program was a huge learning experience.

He shares, “It was a perfect blend of trekking and collaborative leadership development activities. It helped us understand the core principles of leadership.”

“We also had a great facilitator in Vijeet who helped us grasp things quickly. At end of the program, every individual was part of one family. We understood our own qualities as well as team strength,” adds Kedar.

Nishchay Jain, a Business Analyst at Swiggy, says the program has transformed him. "I learned that making life easier for the other person makes you a better Collaborative Leader. I now collaborate with people in a much better way," shares the 25-year-old.

Deep, reflective sessions are a crucial part of collaborative leadership. Photo by Jothiranjan. 

Significance of the Open Collaborative Leadership Program

In today's rapidly changing world, Collaborative Leadership has become a valuable skill. It is now not only required by those in management roles but by the majority of students and working professionals as well.

For any organisation to grow, it is essential for its members to know how to collaborate.

This is where the Open Collaborative Leadership Program comes in. Now, individuals from different domains can take part and learn about the principles of Collaborative Leadership. That too in a matter of just 4 days.

Over the years, we have seen that these learnings go a long way in helping the participants communicate better with their colleagues or batch mates.

Our next program is happening on the Dayara Bugyal trek from April 14-19, 2023. If you would like to participate in the program, register through this link - https://indiahikes.com/registration?batchId=9152

For more information about Collaborative Leadership Program, click here. 

Transforming Individuals into Team Players

Indiahikes Conducts its First Open Collaborative Leadership Program at Dayara Bugyal

Mumma I did it! Dedda we did it! – I was shouting with joy.

“Oh! Mumma I can’t! Please stop!” 

“No beta! We have to complete five kilometres in 40 minutes. This is high altitude trek and we must be trained and fit for it” … blah blah blah… mumma continued. When I heard that we were going to Valley of Flowers (VoF) trek and I would be the part of the group, I literally jumped and danced with joy. Because last year in 2018 my parents had been to Rupin Pass trek and I had to stay at home. So, this time I was very happy about going with them. I love nature and flowers and my dedda showed me pictures and videos of the Valley of Flowers trek. Those beautiful, colorful pictures of flowers doubled my joy. 

But this physical training was disastrous for me. Alongwith dedda, mumma also became “Hanikarak” for me. After her duty hours my mumma took me with her for a walk. No! looooong Walk! Uff! I had blisters in my feet, my legs were swollen, but there was no mercy from my parents. “Beta, there is no free lunch, so to enjoy that gorgeous place you must be fit or you would be dumped.” Mumma warned me.  “How mean these people are!” I cried. 

I didn’t have any  other option. After some weeks, the fitness tracking app showed “Congratulations you finished 5 Km in 37 minutes”. I felt really proud of myself. I got one big chocolate and one scoop of ice- cream for my “great” achievement. That gave me more reasons to be happy. 

Next was the very interesting part of preparation. Yes! Shooooopiiiing! Yuuuuhuuu! Both the sweet devils took me to a big mall and purchased trekking gear like, poncho, trekking shoes, trekking pants, jacket and so many other things. I was very happy. 

Now, finally that day came, about which I was dreaming continuously. My dream of running with flowers was going to be true. Oh! So lucky I was! Weren’t I? 

We took a flight from Ahmedabad to Dehradun. Within a couple of hours we reached Dehradun. I enjoyed the journey. We took a taxi to Rishikesh. I loved the greenery and big trees on the road. We reached there and had some rest in our hotel. We had a scrumptious lunch of veg. Biryani, and Subji. When we reached Rishikesh there was light rain. I loved it but it made my parents a little bit disappointed. I didn’t know why! 

In the evening, the sky was clean and everything looked fresh. I wanted to swim in the swimming pool of our hotel. But my dedda asked us to put on our shoes. We were going out. Wow! Even that wasn’t a bad idea! I realized after some time that we were going out for a loooong walk! Oh ghosh! But now I was not afraid of walking. 

We went to Ram Jhula on foot from our hotel. It was a very beautiful place. I loved walking on the rope bridge. First time in my life, I saw such a type of real bridge and river Ganges. Roaring white water of Gangamaiya made us feel differently. We had ice cream and we returned. We had delicious pasta for dinner at one well decorated Italian Restaurant. We walked almost twelve Kilometres to and fro. We all were too tired and we had to wake up early in the morning so we slept instantly on the cozy bed. 

“Please maa, let me sleep!” But my horrible mumma didn’t allow me to sleep and woke me up early in the morning at five o’clock. With sleepy eyes I got ready and we started walking towards Zostel, Rishikesh. It was not so far but walking with my backpack was a bit difficult for me. One Bolero was standing near Zostel. My dedda inquired with the driver, and yes it was from Indiahikes for Valley of flowers. Great! Driver uncle loaded our luggage. Mumma saw two ladies standing near Zostel. She told me to ask the ladies where they were going. Yes! They were Vani Auntie and Divya Auntie, our co-passengers, you know! 

On a sunny and breezy morning we started our journey. I was too thrilled. Very soon I was friends with both the new ladies and started chirping with them. After some time we had a coffee break at a roadside eatery. The view of the river and mountains was incredible. I loved it a lot. 

Suddenly it started raining and we had to sit inside our vehicle quickly. On the way, the car stopped abruptly and we were asked by our driver uncle to look down the road. It was cake for our eyes. Two rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi were meeting there and forming River Ganga and the place was called Devprayag. I had never seen the confluence of rivers before. It was a sure thing that I would be getting lots of surprises and gorgeous views on this trek. 

We were talking and enjoying our journey. We passed the Rudraprayag and I remembered the horrifying stories of “Man-eaters of Rudraprayaga” by Jim Corbet. Thunder passed through my spine. How scary it was! Our journey was smooth till lunch. 

After lunch, it started raining and we had to wait at many places due to landslides and traffic. So boring! Mumma, Vani Auntie and Divya Auntie started worrying if we would reach Govindghat in time or not. Being only boy with four gal’s gang, my dedda assuring us we would reach in time. So Vani auntie and Divya auntie started calling him “Baba Himanshu”. After Karnaprayag it became very difficult to move further. And it was decided to stay for night at Chamoli. I wanted to cry at that time. But, our other team members also reached there and we got a not-so-bad room to stay. Thanks to team Indiahikes for their continuous guidance on the phone.  

“He Bhaggu! Our All the clothes are wet !” my mumma cried. We all started moving and dancing here and there to hang up the clothes to dry up fast. We couldn’t sleep at night.

The morning was pleasant. One team leader from the following batch was there with us and briefed us for the next programme. We left for Govindghat at six in the morning. It was a sunny day so we didn’t have trouble reaching Govindghat. Our team leader Shashank uncle and guides Debu uncle and Manoj uncle welcomed us. We had a delicious breakfast of Idli and Sambar. 

After documentation formalities we left for the taxi stand to get a taxi to Pulna.  We were getting late so we started walking for a while and got into the vehicle on route. We reached Pulna and our actual trekking started. 

Trail was made of concrete steps. There were lots of pilgrims and mules on the road. I was walking with front leader Debu uncle, Divya Auntie and Sagar uncle. Oh god! Why so much litter on the road? I was busy collecting wrappers and other garbage in my green eco bag as I didn’t want to lose any points on the green trail initiative. I enjoyed light showers and beautiful views. 

After hours of walking we reached the lunch point near a river  bridge. That journey was tiring but interesting. We all were very hungry and there was a very delicious lunch of Kadhi Chaval and papad. Mumma did some bird photography there. Light rain converted into heavy rain after lunch and so we had to stop at one chai shop. I was freezing so my mumma took me inside the shop near the angithi (brazier). Everyone was praising me and I liked that. 

We resumed our journey after some time, and this time I was accompanying one old man, my dedda. Suddenly, I heard a big noise, so I looked at that fatso. That budha admi (old man) was smiling slyly. What a surprise! There was one helicopter roaring in flight. It hovered and flew into the sky. I really loved it. That trip was seriously a bunch of surprises. 

Finally we reached our home stay at Ghangaria. I was among the trekkers who reached first, so I got chocolate from Shashank uncle. I want to talk so much with Divya Auntie and Vani Auntie, but due to tiredness I slept immediately after dinner. 

After a sound sleep I was feeling fresh in the morning. We had breakfast and marched towards Valley of flowers. Butterflies were flying in my stomach due to excitement. Thank godit was a sunny day! 

Now, I knew many members of our team due to an introduction game last evening. Amazing Arpit, Chirpy Disha, Dazzling Divya, Yogi Shikhar, Sarcastic Mohammad, Wonderful Vani, Surviving Asma, Sahana, Latifa, Milind, Anoop  some  more and above all Baba Himanshu. He he he ! I was calling uncle and auntie to everyone but I should have called “bhaiya” and “didi” to some young guys and gals. No one had an objection about that to this little monster! 

First, we saw a big waterfall on the river Pushpavati. It was marvellous. We reached at the gate of VOF and had some registration there. There was an ocean of lovely flowers with riots of colors in front of me.  The trail was not so tough and the scenery was mind blowing. My dream of running with flowers came true and I felt like I was a little butterfly. The further we went, the more magnificent it became. In my mumma’s words the beauty was indescribable. We saw blue poppies, Himalayan balsams, dog flowers and many other beautiful flowers. 

Debu uncle, Divya Auntie, Sagar Uncle and Anoop Uncle and I reached a very big stone in the valley. Voila! We were the first to finish the trek. I was on cloud nine as the view from there was really mesmerising. Lots of flowers, and a big valley and glacier were in front of me. 

We had delicious veg. pulao there and we wen

t further into the valley and returned. We reached our homestay and had nice coffee made by Sagar and Anoop Uncle. Everyone came but my dedda didn’t. I knew my lovely fatty teddy was a fit person but I couldn’t understand why he took so long. So, I started sobbing. Mumma and Vani auntie pampered me. 

At last dedda came. He had lost his mobile in the valley! Oh! Very bad news! We had lots of photos and videos of our trek in his mobile. Mumma took control and shouted “let’s have party! your dedda is going to have a new mobile and my dika has completed her trekking superbly.” We went to a nearby shop and had hot delicious rabdi. 

One more good thing was that I had the highest oxygen level among all trekkers. I was too tired so I skipped my dinner and slept very early.

There was rain in the morning. We had a breakfast of pancakes and started our journey to Hemkund Sahib. Many of our teammates were going up by mules. I also wanted to go by mule but my dedda insisted on trekking. 

After half an hour of trekking I realized I had made a very big mistake yesterday. I was free horse that day and I didn’t have enough water. I didn’t even eat anything at night. Hence, I started feeling low. I was unable to move further and my lips started turning blue. 

Now, it was dedda’s turn to take care of me. He gave me plenty of water and started walking with me. He was assuring everything for my wellness and safety. I got lots of temptations and promises on successful completion of trekking. I had my favourite Maggie on the way. After halfway mumma joined us. They both were encouraging and pushing me. Even ongoing pilgrims were also saying, “Sat Sri Akal Bachcha! Bas ab thoda hi hai!” Mumma suddenly screamed, “Hey look!” It was one more surprise for us. There was a very rarely sighted flower which could be seen only at Hemkund Sahib trek; and that was Brahma Kamal. Yuuuuuhooooo!

We kept walking and that’s it! Shashank uncle welcomed us and congratulated us. We reached there. “Mumma, I did it! Dedda, we did it!” I was shouting with joy. My bahubali dedda lifted me and my mumma simultaneously. But what did I see! That oldie rough and tough fatso was crying! 

We didn’t have much time as Gurudvara was about to close. We sat inside there and listened to sacred Gurubani. Both my parents were weeping  throughout that, but I couldn’t understand why! 

After that we went behind the Gurudvara. Was it a poster or the real thing? I was stunned one more time. All the mountains around us and Hemkund Sahib in front of us. It was a pleasing moment. Oh heaven! The blue sky turned into black and it started raining heavily. 

We took shelter in Lunger and had mouth-watering Khichadi. We had to rush back due to rain. Dedda and I enjoyed the path one more time while cracking jokes and eating Maggie together. At the basecamp we were welcomed by hot snacks and popcorn. I got lots of chocolate from other teammates. I was just happy, happy and happy. 

It was the final day of the trek and we were returning to Phoolna. We had tasty Puri Bhaji and marched on. One more time I saw a helicopter. Watching the helicopter taking sharp turns, and disappearing in the mountains, was a delight for my eyes. 

Suddenly, there was big sound. We witnessed a big landslide in front of us. Trees were rooted out and big boulders were coming down. It was not a movie scene but was real. I was too scared and started crying. Debu uncle Vani auntie and Divya auntie sympathized with me. Debu uncle and Shashank uncle asked us to hurry up and helped us cross the wooden bridge and risky section. It was showering slowly. We enjoyed the path and reached Poolna and at last Govindghat. We had a healthy lunch there. I got VOF magnets from Shashank uncle.  Divya auntie, Vani auntie and my parents decided to travel to Rishshikesh on the same day due to the rain and landslides. One more time we five were together in a vehicle. On the way, I vomited and was unwell.  We had to stay in Srinagar due to lots of landslides on the road. 

We started early in the morning and had superb Alu Paratha on the way. Almost at eleven o’clock, we reached Rishikesh. Divya Auntie and Vani Auntie had their flights on the same day so they left for the airport. Dedda had booked a nice resort with my favourite thing – a swimming pool. We enjoyed ourselves in the pool and rested. In the evening we walked to Laxman Jhula. The bridge was decorated with lights. I played in the sand of the river ghat. My parents meditated in front of Ganges. 

After a lovely dinner we returned back. Next day we left for Ahmedabad. 

Final Note: It was my first trek and I had a great experience. I have learnt so many things from this trek and my fellow trekkers. I understand there is no gain without pain. Being fit is very important. I realized my strict parents will support me and take care of me at my worst. I have written this two years after my trek, so you can praise my memory. Finally it is rewarding. I got a costly pair of inline skates as my gift. Yuuuuhoo!

Valley of Flowers: The Experience of a 12 Year Old

After running a wonderfully successful collaborative leadership programme for working professionals last year (read the report here), we have opened up another such programme this year. 

It’s one of the best certificate courses working professionals can do, with practical learnings in teamwork, communication, and collaborative leadership. 

“It was a perfect blend of trekking and collaborative leadership development activities. It helped us understand the core principles of leadership,” says Kedar Bhusanikar, a 29-year-old software engineer who was part of the team last year.

If you don’t know, the Collaborative Leadership Programme is an outdoor experiential learning programme we have been running for the students of a few of the Indian Institutes of Management for the past 12 years. Participants engage in a 4-day programme in the Himalayas that is designed to foster collaborative leadership skills.  

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) of Indore, Lucknow, and Bangalore have found it so useful that they offer it as a credit course to their students.

But we see collaborative leadership as more than a skill management students need.

A team activity as a part of the Collaborative Leadership Program. Photo by Jothiranjan

Most modern workplaces require you to have collaborative leadership. 

Top professionals are expected to collaborate, work across teams, gain trust with mutual respect among team members and collaborate with other stakeholders as well. Emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills have become central to a professional’s growth. 

We’re sure you may have already noticed this at your workplace.

The interesting thing is that the world’s biggest organisations and leaders are veering towards collaborative leadership. It is critical to an individual’s growth, and consequently, the organisation’s growth. Earlier, collaborative leadership was expected only of the senior management. In the modern workforce, it is expected even at an entry-level. 

Unfortunately, the formal education systems in our country do not lend themselves to students developing Collaborative Leadership skills. The focus is still on individual development driven by a highly competitive environment. 

This is where our Collaborative Leadership Program comes in. 

A trek in the Himalayas, which is specifically designed for learning collaborative leadership skills, is an ideal setting for this program. In a short intense span of 4 days, participants take away lessons of collaborative leadership that they can fall back on throughout their professional lives. 

We’ve seen participants take away key attitudes of collaborative leadership: 

Investing time to build relationships with teammates

Building trust through honest and transparent communication

Handling conflicts in a constructive manner

Sharing control and avoiding power struggles

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