Dec 11, 12:00 p.m.: We have opened two new groups to the Mount Kilimanjaro trek in March and August 2024. These groups start on March 3rd and August 11th respectively. 

Given that there is an incredibly high demand for the Mount Kilimanjaro trek, we don’t expect these groups to remain open for long. So register soon if the Mount Kilimanjaro trek has been on your list of treks to do.

Due to Mount Kilimanjaro's proximity to the equator, this region does not experience the extremes of winter and summer but rather dry and wet seasons. January to mid-March is usually dry, warm, and clear, with light, unannounced rain showers. On the other hand, July and August are the coldest months in Kilimanjaro. These months are ideal to do the trek as there is no cloud cover with fewer chances of rain and snowfall. 

Kilimanjaro is one of the most celebrated treks in the world, despite being a difficult trek. The trail, though difficult, is beautiful with diverse terrains and climatic zones. Trekkers go through cultivated fields, moorlands, rainforests, deserts, snowfields, and glaciers—"so it is adventure mixed with dramatic changes in terrain. Therefore, fitness is the most important criterion to be approved to do this trek,” said Nandana Kamasani, Head of Experience Coordination at Indiahikes.

We have opened two new groups to the Mount Kilimanjaro trek in March and August 2024. These groups start on March 3rd and August 11th respectively.

Indiahikes opens two new groups to Mount Kilimanjaro in 2024!

kilimanjaro - tanzania - africa - Indiahikes - trek

For the first time ever at Indiahikes, we have opened a Women Only trek to Kedarkantha this year!  

What’s even more special is that the all women team will be climbing the Kedarkantha summit on International Women’s Day, March 8th. 

The Trek to Kedarkantha starts on March 5th and ends on March 10th.  Scroll down to the end of this page for the registration link. 

At Indiahikes, we cannot think of a more significant way to mark the occasion. With our vision that Everyone Must Trek, we have always dreamed of more women trekking. True to our vision, we have seen encouraging changes over the years.

“In the past 13 years of Indiahikes, we have seen a dramatic change in the demography of our trekkers,” says Sandhya UC, co-founder and COO of Indiahikes. “During our first few years, there would hardly be one or two women in a group of 20 trekkers. In fact, back when I was leading treks, I would be the only woman in a group of male trekkers. Now I see at least 5-6 women in every group. Around 35% of our trekkers are women. It’s very encouraging to see the growing numbers,” she says. (Incidentally, Sandhya herself was recognised with a Women of Worth Award by Outlook Business in 2017.)

What heartens us more is that a large section of these women come as solo trekkers. In numbers, approximately 4000 women are trekking solo with us every year. They feel safe with our team members and our safety processes, which gives them the courage to come from faraway cities to trek in the Himalayas. 

Approximately 35% of our trekkers are women and it's heartwarming to see that this percentage is only increasing every year. Picture by Jothiranjan

The cherry on top is that more and more women are taking up careers in the outdoors. “Out of our 40 Trek Leaders, 15 of them are women. Added to that, the number of women applicants we receive has quadrupled over the past 5 years. It’s wonderful to see women taking up such an extraordinary career, going beyond all norms of the society,” says Lakshmi Selvakumaran, who heads the Learning and Development Team at Indiahikes. 

With so many reasons to cheer, we are celebrating women trekkers with a Women Only Trek to Kedarkantha. 

More and more women are taking up trekking as a hobby and as a profession of late. Picture by Jothiranjan 

The Women Only Trek to Kedarkantha starts on March 5th and ends on March 10th. This means the team will be scaling the Kedarkantha peak on Women’s Day, an apt way to celebrate the day. 

This all-women’s team is going to be led by a woman Trek Leader, something that will encourage solo women to come along.  

As for what to expect on the trail, you’re going to see lovely springtime greenery in the initial sections, culminating in a thrilling summit climb in the snow. So expect a good mix of beautiful sceneries and adventure. 

We have a special link to register for the Women Only trek - https://indiahikes.com/registration?batchId=9103

The trek fee will be Rs 10,725 + 5% GST. This includes everything from the base camp to the base camp. To read more about the Kedarkantha trek, click here. (The fee inclusions are the same as mentioned on the page.)

If you have any questions, please comment below, and we'll help you out. 

PS: If you’re a journalist willing to cover this trek in your publication, write to me at swathi@indiahikes.com. 

Join us on a special women-only trek to Kedarkantha this women's day. Celebrate International Women's Day by climbing the Kedarkantha Summit!

We’re Opening A Special Women's Only Trek At Indiahikes

Kedarkantha Women's Only Women Group Exclusively Women Ladies Only Himalayan Trek

In March 2023!

Today, we’re sharing with you some of the rarest treks you can do in 2023. These are all less popular treks because very few people have been on these treks. 

And there’s a surprise too. One of these treks is our newest trek in Kashmir! On the other hand, there are some spectacular treks in Lahaul & Spiti too. 

All six treks are in a league of their own. But ensure you study the difficulty level before you opt for them.

 – One Of The Remotest and Prettiest Meadow Treks Of Our Country

The unique ridgewalk on the Gidara Bugyal trek. Picture by Nitesh Kumar

Gidara Bugyal is an ancient, pristine meadow that is known only in select trekking circles. It is definitely one of the prettiest, but not many know one of the largest high altitude meadows you will set foot on. It is larger than its twin Dayara Bugyal. Possibly larger than the twin meadows of Ali and Bedni Bugyal as well. 

Even though it is known in the trekking circles, Gidara is extremely secluded. There are very few people that actually trek in these meadows. The only signs of civilization you are likely to spot are the shepherds and their settlements around your first campsite, Rikoda. You may see a mountain dog or two. But you are likely to be the only group trekking and camping at the base of these meadows!

 – An Untouched Valley In The Heart Of Lahaul

The vast grasslands of Miyar Valley. Picture by Jothiranjan R

In the remote region of Lahaul, a valley filled with flowers hangs quietly, escaping the attention of trekkers. The route to this valley alternates between remote mountain valleys, quaint villages, and flower beds dominated by the overwhelming presence of Himalayan orchids. This valley is the Miyar Valley.

“As a young boy, I was mesmerised by Lahaul. I couldn’t believe barren mountains could have snow-capped summits. I could not imagine that in a land where no trees grow, there can exist a lush oasis teeming with life and colour. That image stayed with me as I grew up,” shares Arjun Majumdar, founder and CEO of Indiahikes. Miyar Valley is a grand experience of the unique side of Lahaul, which no other region in the country will give you. 

 – The Grandest Crossover Trek In Our Country

The colours of Spiti seen after crossing the Pin Bhaba Pass. Picture by Satyen Dasgupta

Pin Bhaba Pass is hands down the most dramatic pass crossing trek in our country. That is a bold statement to make. Especially when we have so many pass crossing treks in our country.

But what you see when you stand at the pass is a testament to this bold statement we make.

Once at the pass you see Pin valley below you, in various shades of pink, set amidst the stark and deserted mountains of Spiti. While behind you is the lush green Bhaba valley. That is when you realise how remarkable the changes in the landscape are.

The lush grasslands of the Nafran Valley in Kashmir. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

Say hello to our latest trek in Kashmir, the Nafran Valley trek! This is a trek that our team members explored in 2021. 

“Finding treks that would compare to Kashmir Great Lakes or Tarsar Marsar is no game. We explored quite a few routes, but none of them could match up to these treks. After a lot of failed explorations, we landed on gold — the Nafran Valley trek,” shares Vivek Saini, who was then the Slope Manager on the Tarsar Marsar trek. 

“In terms of terrain, it is very similar to Tarsar Marsar. It has vast grasslands, river-side trails and camps, glaciers tumbling down beside you and gorgeous blue alpine lakes. The best part is that it is a completely isolated trail,” says Vivek.

On another note, this trek is tougher than the Tarsar Marsar trek. It is a moderate-difficult trek and requires a good fitness regime before getting on the trek.

 – The Most Adventurous Trek in Kashmir

The grand Warwan Valley. Picture by Sandhya UC

The Warwan Valley trek is the most exquisite trek of our country. There is no trek you would have done before this one that can match the experience of this trek. And there will be no trek you do after this that comes close. This might sound like a strong statement to make. However, our founders, who explored this trek in 2015, still stand by it. Even our trekkers who went here last year were of the same opinion.

After all, Warwan Valley is exceptionally stunning – even for Kashmir. Even if you have travelled to Kashmir before, seen Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and other places the valley offers – you are still going to be bowled over by the settings of Warwan Valley. This beauty is compounded by the valley’s remoteness and isolation.  This is a side of Kashmir that even most Kashmiris haven’t seen. 

 – A Rare Adventure Among Big Mountains

The alpine lake of Kedartal, with Mt Bhrigupanth and Mt Thalaysagar in the background. Picture by Ashwin Srinivasa

The Kedartal trek is for lovers of adventure. It is for those trekkers who have done a considerable amount of Himalayan treks and now want to push themselves. It is a difficult trek, with a truly magical experience to give in return for all the effort. 

The trek climbs to the glacial Kedartal lake, sitting amid a cauldron of big mountains. Famous mountains of our country rise in front of you right out of the lake – Mt Thalaysagar, Mt Bhrigupanth, Manda Parvat, Mt Jogin, Mt Gangotri. Very few treks bring you so close to such big mountains. And fewer still allow you to spend so much time in their proximity.

That brings us to the end of this list of rare Himalayan treks you can do in 2022. 

As you would have seen, all of them are high altitude treks climbing to 14,000 ft and higher. They are not easy on the legs and must be attempted only with good fitness training. It’s even better if you have prior Himalayan trek experience. 

If you have any doubts on how to choose out of these, or how to prepare for them, drop in a comment below. We’ll help you out. 

6 Rare Himalayan Treks To Do In 2022 (Includes Our Newest Trek in Kashmir!)

6 Rare Himalayan Treks To Do In 2023 (Includes Our Newest Trek in Kashmir!)

The Indiahikes Weekly Digest brings you the latest news, updates, articles, and videos from the trekking world.

It takes you through everything new in the trekking world. You will find that you cannot ignore any of the sections in this digest.

We hope you find this digest useful, and at some point in time, contribute to it too!

Temperatures Drop: Expect -8°C to -10°C on Himalayan Treks

Temperatures have started dropping in the mountains. The first snowfall is expected between December 2nd and 7th as a result of the oncoming Western Disturbances. This means that if you are scheduled to go for a winter trek, you need to be mentally and physically prepared for it.

“Many trekkers who have not trekked in snow don’t realise how cold it gets,” shares Dushyant Sharma, Senior Trek Leader at Indiahikes. “Your fingers and toes go numb. Sometimes when you are trekking, you cannot even feel your extremities,” he adds.

But even at such extreme temperatures, there is a thumb rule to staying warm.

“After reaching the campsite for the day, the first thing you do is layer up. Cover your head, wear your five layers, gloves, woollen socks and neck warmers. Doing this as soon as you reach the next camp is crucial. It’s what helps retain your body heat and stay warm,” Dushyant shares.

It is important to retain heat in your sleeping bag too.

“Many trekkers keep a hot water bottle in their sleeping bag and it works wonderfully. Keep it in areas that are usually warm, that’s near your chest, or in between your legs,” says Slope Manager Akshay Upreti. “This heat will circulate inside the sleeping bag and keep you warm,” he adds.

These are just a couple of tips to be mindful of if you are scheduled for a winter trek. You will find more on the Indiahikes website and during interactions with your Experience Coordinators.

Good News: Fewer Trekkers Opt for Backpack Offloading!

In a happy turn of events, we saw a drop in the percentage of trekkers offloading. Only 40.77% of trekkers opted for backpack offloading in November. This is 6.9% less than the number of trekkers who opted for offloading in October.

“Last month we voraciously encouraged trekkers to not offload. During the campaign, we primarily touched upon two points, fitness and sustainability,” shares Nandana Kamasani, Head, Experience Coordination at Indiahikes.

Not offloading your backpack reflects the true spirit of trekking. It also aids in creating a sustainable system of trekking by reducing the number of pack animals on trails.

“Each mule weighs around 300-350 kilos. It carries around 45 kilos of weight. When such heavy pack animals go on trails, there’s a big trample effect on the trails. They have metal hooves that damage the earth. The more the number of mules, the more the trample effect,” says Neha Satheesan from Indiahikes Green Trails team.

At Indiahikes, we have always encouraged trekkers to carry their own backpack. It celebrates the true spirit of trekking. Picture by Indiahikes Photographer Jothiranjan

This is why the drop in percentage of offloaders is heartening.

To strengthen this trend, we are now allowing trekkers decide during the trek if they want to offload their backpacks. There is a reason for this.

“We notice that trekkers usually opt for offloading out of uncertainty. They are not sure whether they can trek with a backpack, so they choose to offload, to be on the safer side. This is why, starting this winter, trekkers can try to carry their own backpacks. Only if they truly cannot, they can choose to offload,” Nandana adds.

We already see numbers dipping, and this is a wonderful sign for trekking!

Should Trekkers Offload or Not? What Do You Think?

Indiahikes Explores and Documents New Trek in Tamenglong, Manipur

A year ago, we received an invitation from the Manipur Government to explore treks in the state. “Rohit Anand, Sub-Divisional Officer of Tamenglong, got in touch with us regarding this. He wanted us to explore treks in that region. He wanted trekkers need to see this side of India,” shares Izzat Yaganagi, Head of Experiential Learning at Indiahikes.

It wasn’t the first time Indiahikes was venturing into the North-East. In the past, we had explored the Talley Valley trek in Arunachal Pradesh. So we had an idea about the picturesque beauty of treks in this part of the country.

“We researched about the routes shared by the Manipur Forest Department. After a lot of research one particular trail was finalised in the Tamenglong area that held the potential to become the next ‘wow’ trek in India,” shares Gautam Singh from the Documentation Team.

Finally, after a year of coordination and research, Indiahikes Trek Leader Dhaval Jajal was chosen to explore two treks — one in the Tamenglong region and other near the Dzouko valley.

Out of the two, Tamenglong really caught our attention, for all the right reasons.

The thick virgin jungles of Manipur are a sight for sore eyes. Picture by Dr Dhaval Jajal

“It’s true that trekkers have not seen such a setting on treks. The trek in Tamenglong takes you through thick forest, caves and waterfalls. The trek is not monotonous at all. It also offers an intimate peek at the local culture of the region. The experience is indeed unique,” shares Dhaval Jajal from the trek.

Today, a month after the exploration, the documentation of the picturesque Tamenglong Forest Trek is up on Indiahikes website.

We intend to open this trek so that trekkers get to experience the beauty of trekking in Manipur. In a few months, you should be able to see the dates of Tamenglong Forest trek on Indiahikes website.

Indiahikes Mountain Lovers Gold Calendar 2022 – Only 200 Left!

Over the past week, more than a thousand trekkers have placed orders for the Indiahikes annual calendars. While it was overwhelming, we were not surprised at how excited trekkers were to book and receive the Indiahikes Mountain Lovers Gold Calendar 2022. It is a collectible after all.

Just like every year, this is a large wall calendar, 19 inches in width and 14 inches in height. So the calendar bursts to life, giving you the wonderful feeling that the mountains are truly in your room. Take a look at it yourself.

We’ve chosen these pictures after sifting through thousands of photos.

They have all been taken by trekkers and the Indiahikes team. And what an honour it is for them to be featured in this calendar!

Like every year, it’s truly a calendar for mountain lovers.

12 rare professional pictures of our Himalayan trekking trails. It’s easily a head-turner.

The 220 GSM art paper used ensures you can cut out the pictures at the end of the year to make picture frames out of them. It’s matt finish as well, so the photographs won’t glare from any angle.

The Mountain Lover’s Gold Calendar makes it a very unusual and thoughtful gift in case you want to surprise anyone. We ship it in a wonderful hard case cylinder which keeps the calendar in shape.

So order yours soon. Last year our calendar sold out in 11 days. Looks like this year it’ll happen sooner!

The calendar costs ₹ 490. This includes all taxes and shipping.

For us, a trek goes beyond adventure and beautiful scenery. A trek can impact your mind, body and spirit. Photographs can do that too.

This is where the role of a Photo Trekker comes in. We are looking to create an opportunity for good photographers to showcase their talent, talk about their photographs (both in a technical and aesthetic way), and make our trekkers see trek photography in a new light.

This assignment is a chance for you to collaborate with Indiahikes on a trek, capture the remotest landscapes of the Himalayas, contribute photographs to Indiahikes and build your portfolio.

We will do everything to take care of your trek. We hope you make the best of it with the care and safety of Indiahikes.

We will waive of your trek fee and take care of your trek. (The trek will be selected by us, based on the season and our requirements.)

We will take care of your food and accommodation on the trek.

We will also pick you up and drop you back to and from the basecamp at our expense.

We will allow you to offload your backpack without paying for it, since you will be carrying heavy camera equipment.

Prior trek experience (so that you understand the difficulties of taking photographs on a Himalayan trek with tough terrain, negative temperatures and erratic weather)

We expect you to fulfill our photography requirements, adhering to all our guidelines, which will be shared with you once you’re selected.

If you think you are suitable for an assignment with us, send an email to jothiranjan@indiahikes.com with the subject line – Working with Indiahikes – Photo Trekker. Include the following details in your email.

A small write-up (1- paragraph) on “Why I would like to be a Photo Trekker”

There will be a strict selection process based on your skills, experience, and work culture. We will get back to you within 7 days if you’re shortlisted.

What Brings Snowfall to India – A Quick Understanding with an Expert

This blog is a must-read if you want to trek in snow. In this blog, Akshay Deoras, meteorologist and weather forecaster for the past 10 years shares valuable information about winter and snow in India.

Co-Founder of Adventure Worx Shares His Indiahikes Experience

Even though he’s been trekking in the Himalayas for the past 17 years, Puttaraj Alige, Co-Founder of AdventureWorx, found that Indiahikes Experience was very unique. In this video, he shares why

Why Sandakphu Trek is Not Just About the Sleeping Buddha

In this video, Arjun Majumdar, Founder of Indiahikes, takes us through reasons that make Sandakphu one of the most unique treks in the North-East of India.

Padri Pass lies at the intersection of the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the state of Himachal Pradesh, and the Bhal Padri meadows are just 7 kilometers away from this road head.

Although Padri to Bhal Padri is a well known trail among the locals of Jammu, it remains quite a secret to the rest of the world. It is a perfect weekend getaway if you’re in Jammu and want to experience its prettiest meadows.

Since the entire meadows are covered in snow in winter, the best time to witness the lush green meadows is between July and September. In winters, Padri becomes a hub for snowboarding and skiing and is not suitable for trekking under heavy snow.

Padri to Bhal Padri trek takes you through the lush forests and undulating meadows of Bhaderwah, in Doda district of Jammu. And as a bonus, you get to see all the major peaks of Kishtwar Himalaya — Mt Nun, Mt Brahma I and II, Mt Arjuna — when the skies are clear.

This trek is for those who are short on time and are looking to spend a day in the untouched valley of Bhal Padri, which remains so close, yet so far.

To reach Bhal Padri trek you need to travel around 190 km towards east from Jammu, going to Bhaderwah. The base camp of Bhal Padri trek is Bhaderwah, a small town situated in Doda district.

That brings us to the end of the Indiahikes Weekly News Digest. If there is anything else you would like to see in this email, do let us know.

Drop Your Email Id Here to Receive Regular Updates

Trek News from the Himalayas -- Temperature Drops in the Himalayas, New Trek in Manipur

We have opened the Ali Bedni Bugyal trek and the Gidara Bugyal trek.

These are treks that don’t need an introduction in the trekking community. They have often been touted as the best high altitude meadow treks of our country. 

Nevertheless, before I get into details of these treks, I need to give you a backdrop.

Meadow treks are not common in India. Unlike western countries, India does not have vast tracts of meadows or grasslands. So when we come across meadows on our treks, we celebrate them like blessings. 

Which is why at Indiahikes we are always on the lookout for the best meadow treks to do. Thankfully we have been able to bring attention to some of the greatest ones. Dayara Bugyal is easily one of them. So is the Bhrigu Lake trek in Himachal. 

Today, I want to talk to you about two of the greatest ones that we are bringing out. The Ali-Bedni Bugyal trek (in March April) and the Gidara Bugyal trek (June).

 The Ali-Bedni Bugyal is not really a new trek — it has been part of the Roopkund trek for years. Unfortunately, with Roopkund trek being closed for many years now, the twin meadows of Ali and Bedni Bugyal were lost to Indian trekking.  

We have seen many meadows in our country (and outside our country), but I’ll tell you this — the Ali and Bedni meadows will rank right up with the best of them. 

It’s hard to spot a flaw on these meadows. Just before you get to the Ali meadows, the forest is a thick jungle of oaks. They are the densest around this part of Uttarakhand. You climb through a trail of crunchy brown leaves, the sunlight streaming in beautiful angles through the oak trees. 

Then suddenly, as if someone’s opened a gate, there’s Ali Bugyal in front of you, the biggest, widest rolling meadows that you’ve ever seen. The meadows are so smooth that you can take off your shoes and walk on them. You spot wild horses running around in gay abandon!

The new campsite of Abin Kharak gives us a chance to be at Ali Bugyal when the sun is setting and when the first light of dawn breaks out.

Just as the meadows swell in the distance, the summits of Mt Trishul and Mt Nanda Ghunti tower over the meadows, as if the meadows were their own playground. On a clear day, you can see every crevice and fissure on the face of Mt Trishul from Ali Top.

In a quiet moment, I have seen trekkers stop in their tracks, somehow perplexed and taken aback at this unexpected view, and then in an almost incomprehensible way, a wave of emotion rides up on them. Some just collapse and cry. 

Our new campsite near Ali Bugyal at Abin Kharak has excited all of us at Indiahikes. On the edges of the forest, just on the fringes of Ali Bugyal, it gives us a chance to be at Ali Bugyal when the sun is setting and when the first light of dawn breaks out. We have never been able to see the sun rise and set on Ali Bugyal — which we believe are moments that will be treasured by any trekker.

When are we running this trek: Mid-March onwards till the end of April 

What to expect in this season: You’ll see snow patches till the first week of April. Lovely spring colours in the forests. Except to see a lot of Rhododendron bloom after our Ghairoli Patal camp site. Clear weather with great mountain views.

Difficulty: Moderate (You cover roughly 6-7 km everyday). It is also a steep climb to the meadows.

Note: This is going to be a popular choice amongst trekkers. If you want the slots that suit you, plan your trek in the next two weeks. 

Gidara Bugyal, on the other hand, is well known only in hardcore trekking circles. It is a trek everyone wants to do, but never does — because of its remoteness. Trekkers have rarely been there. 

Yet, if you were to ask me, Gidara would be the greatest of all our meadow trek. It is not only the largest amongst all we have, but perhaps the prettiest.

“I first heard of Gidara, probably ten years ago, while trekking with our local mountain folks. They told me with immense pride that, Sir yeh sab bugyalon to theek hai, lekin Gidara jaisa bugyal abhi tak koi nahi dekha hai. Back then, I thought they were probably stretching things a bit,” says Arjun Majumdar, our founder. “Yet, the thought stayed with me.”

“It was a meadow I had to see for myself. Or at least have Indiahikes explore it,” says Arjun.

Gidara also brings us closer to some of the big mountains that we know — Mt Srikanth, Draupadi Ka Danda and the Gangotri Range. 

That’s how we explored Gidara Bugyal. I think we’ve explored different routes in these meadows nearly 5-6 times — and all our Trek Leaders have come back visually stunned. One of them, Nitesh Kumar, wrote this blog about 5 things he loved about the trek.

Geographically, Gidara is in between Uttarkashi and Gangotri, but at a higher elevation than most of our other meadows (we almost touch 13,500 feet on this trek). Which is why the trek opens only in June when the snow has melted and we can approach the meadows. 

Gidara also brings us closer to some of the big mountains that we know — Mt Srikanth, Draupadi Ka Danda and the Gangotri Range. The views of these mountains from the meadows can stun anyone. 

Gidara has been inaccessible for quite some time. It has always been tucked away in a corner that trekkers rarely ventured into. Now, with our repeated visits, we have been able to establish a route that is best for trekkers. 

When are we running this trek: Only 3 groups in the month of June

What to expect in this season: Lush meadows, with flowers blooming at every step. Warm days, cold nights with temperatures dipping to 1 or 2 degrees.

Difficulty: Moderate difficult (The trek climbs above 13,000 ft). Expect 6-7 hours of trekking everyday, the longest day stretching to 10-11 hours 

Note: Gidara is easily our grandest meadows trek. Yet, it has a flip side. It is our highest altitude meadow trek. The days on the trek are long as well. This is a moderate difficult trek and not meant for beginners. 

So those are two grand treks we have opened this March, April and June. 

These are not treks that are as common as our other treks. I hope you seize this opportunity to explore them. 

You’ll find further information on both the treks here again. 

Ali Bedni Bugyal – https://indiahikes.com/ali-bedni-bugyal-trek/

Gidara Bugyal – https://indiahikes.com/gidara-bugyal

If you have any doubts, drop in a comment on the same page. We’ll write back to you. 

Indiahikes Opens Treks To The Two Grandest Meadows Of India - Ali-Bedni and Gidara Bugyal

We have finally opened two terrific jungle treks our trekkers have been waiting for. One is in Chhattisgarh and another in Madhya Pradesh. 

Both of them are out and out jungle treks. 

“The forests in these regions are untouched and dreamy. I’m not surprised that Rudyard Kipling was inspired by these forests while writing The Jungle Book. They absolutely live up to our imagination of The Jungle Book!” says Arjun Majumdar, the founder of Indiahikes. 

We have dates available only in January. Before I share the dates, I’d like to give you some insight on both the treks today, because if you want to trek here, you need to know why they are special. 

Why the location of these treks makes them special 

To give you an idea, the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek runs through the heart of Guru Ghasidas National Park. The Madhya Pradesh Tiger Trail runs through the Sanjay Dubri National Park. Both of them are eminent tiger reserves of our country. 

What’s interesting is that both of these national parks are extensions of each other, but on either sides of the border. Much like the Bandipur and Mudumalai national parks in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Considering they’re in the same regions, the jungle trails and scenery changes are very similar to each other. So you could choose either of these treks and experience some of the best jungles of our country! 

What are some major highlights to watch out for?   

You trek largely through Sal forests on these treks. These are dense, yet permeable. You can see through the dense thicket of trees for kilometers together, which gives you a deep perspective of the jungle. 

When you walk on the forest floor, you are walking on a cushioned bed of leaves, which crunch softly under your feet. The silence in the forest is broken only by a bird call in the distance. 

The walk stretches for long hours, without too many ascents and descents. The undulating walks through the forests are extremely pleasurable! The cherry on top is that you get to camp in these forests!

Frankly, these are few of the most out of bound forests of our country. You require special permissions from the forest department to even step in. As trekkers, it’s a rare privilege to get these near-inaccessible forest reserves.

The trail through the forests of Madhya Pradesh. Picture by Saurabh Sawant

A chance to experience wildlife in its true habitat

These forests of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are teeming with wildlife. They are home to birds, deer, hyenas, bears, leopards and sometimes tigers. It is not surprising because these are buffer zones of a tiger reserve. This gives you the feeling that you are in one the richest biodiversities of our country.

“Spotting pugmarks is almost like spotting pebbles in these jungles,” says Lakshmi Selvakumaran, the Head of our Experience Team, who explored the trail. “In fact, it sends chills down your spine when the forest ranger informs you that a leopard print was probably made only half an hour ago!”

Spotting traces of wildlife is very common on the river bed in Chhattisgarh. Picture by Sandhya UC

What about your safety from wild animals? 

These treks are exclusive collaborations between Indiahikes and the Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh Tourism boards along with the forest departments. Expert forest rangers, who are well-versed with the trails and animal movements accompany the team. They are with us to protect the team.

If the forest team feels the requirement, there will also be a contained fire running through the night to ensure wild animals stay away from our camps. 

Terrific scenery changes throughout the trek

Both the trails in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have some terrific scenery changes — the kind you will never see on our Himalayan treks. 

You trek in plateaus, riverside trails and valleys. There are also waterfalls and lakes. You even camp on beachy riverbanks. Trekkers in our country have never done that. 

As a trekker you may have seen lots of lakes in your life, but it is highly unlikely that you would have seen an uninhabited lake inside a forest. Lakes that are pristine and large. What’s more adventurous is that these lakes are also shared by wild animals. 

Our lakeside camp on the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek. Picture by Atul Verma

There are beautiful cave formations in the rocky sections of the trail. There are even meadows on the trail! Birchuli Dol on the Madhya Pradesh Tiger Trail is a meadow you wouldn’t imagine finding in a place like a tiger reserve and yet it is there. Secluded from the outside world and protected by forests on all sides, it’s a treat to the eyes!

You’ll also chance upon rare tribal settlements of our country in Chhattisgarh. These ancient tribes are likely to be extinct very soon.

The first campsite by the Pairi river on a wide sandy beach in Chhattisgarh. Picture by Sandhya UC

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