Many of our trekkers have been calling us after seeing news of recent Naxalite disturbances in Chhattisgarh. 

We want to assure you that recent Naxalite disturbances in Chhattisgarh do not pose any threat to our trekkers.
There are three reasons for this:

The current Naxalite activities are far away from where we trek

The current Naxalite activities are far away from where we trek: The Naxalite violence is happening in the Bastar region of the state. Our Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek trek runs in the Koriya District. Our trek is in the Northern corner of Chhattisgarh whereas the disturbance is towards the South. They are over 642 km apart. You can take a look at the map below for clarity. 

After landing in Raipur, you take a train further north to Baikunthpur, from where we drive into the national park.

Historically, the northern region of Chhattisgarh has been free of unrest for decades

Historically, the northern region of Chhattisgarh has been free of unrest for decades. Most of the disturbances are concentrated in smaller pockets of the state, like the districts of Bijapur, Sukma, concentrated in the Bastar region.

We have safely been running the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek for the past five years with no local issues

We have safely been running the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek for the past five years with no local issues. We are going to be trekking deep within the Gurughasidas National Park, which is free of any Naxalite disturbance. Indiahikes trekkers also have the additional safety and security that comes with our collaboration with Chhattisgarh Tourism. 

We are in constant touch with the state authorities and are following the situation very closely. We have full reassurance from the local authorities that it is safe to trek in Chhattisgarh. 

Indiahikes trek in Guru Ghasidas National park, Chhattisgarh tourism, Safety in trekking

Why you Need not Worry about Naxalite Disturbance on your Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

In continuation of the Celebrating India series, I’m back today with another feature that we dearly love: mountain valleys. 

In case you missed yesterday’s email, this Independence Day week, we are celebrating the best landscapes of India. 

As trekkers and not travellers, we have the rare privilege to see and experience the rawest, most gorgeous version of India. 

From the high-altitude Himalayan belt to the forests of Central India, and the rich ghats and beaches of our country, the changes in scenery are unimaginable. 

But still, we rarely get an opportunity to experience all of it. 

That is why, over the next few days, I want to share with you some of the most incredible landscapes in India. I will do it by taking you through some of the best treks in our country, which celebrate these beautiful sceneries. 

I’m intentionally focusing on treks organised by Indiahikes so that you have the avenue to explore these trails. 

Yesterday, we already covered some of the best meadows in India. (Find it here in case you missed it.)

Today, we are talking about the best valleys in India.

"Valleys always have two main features. First, there are the forests. Whether it's the Har Ki Dun Valley or the Rupin Valley, you'll remember the beautiful forests that line the valley. These types of forests thrive in valleys and make them luxuriant. The second feature is the presence of rivers. Almost every valley is home to a river, and as you walk along them, you can't help but form a deep connection with these rivers," said Arjun Majumdar, CEO and Founder of Indiahikes.

Given the expansive mountain ranges in our country, we are fortunate to have some of the most beautiful mountain valleys: from the gentle valleys of J&K to the lush valleys of Himachal and the rugged valleys of Uttarakhand.

I’m jotting down the best valleys we have seen through the lens of Indiahikes treks. Each one of them is in tight competition with the other. 

Har Ki Dun

Har Ki Dun is a classic valley trek in India, often the first to be mentioned in conversations about valleys. 

While most valleys are desolate and void of humans, this trek differs. The hanging villages, the people there, and their traditions are from a time gone by. Their attire, the architecture, and the rituals make time stand still. The villages of Gangaad and Osla leave a lasting impression on you. 

Yet, this is just the start. As you venture deeper, the Har Ki Dun Valley boasts incredible scenic beauty. From the turquoise waters of the river to the pine forests of Boslo, the clearings of Devsu Thatch, and the final walk towards the heavenly Swargarohini Massif, this is among the richest valleys you’ll trek in.

Miyar Valley

In this 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 is the Miyar Valley.

The S-shaped Miyar Valley sits in between Zanskar and Chamba. It is nearly 75 km long. The Miyar glacier is nearly 36 km long to Kang La (17,600 ft pass to Zanskar). 

At the snout of the glacier are seven crystal-clear blue ponds, considered sacred by Buddhists. Trekking here is a rare opportunity for most trekkers. Doing so in isolation, with very few others on the trail, is a godsend. If you get a chance to trek to Miyar Valley, consider yourself lucky.

Brammah Valley

Brammah Valley is a trek that got a mention in our previous post on meadows, but it is hard not to bring it up here as well. Set in the heart of Kishtwar National Park, this valley blends the beauty of Kashmir with a mountainscape similar to that of Himachal. 

This valley has three things going on, which are hard to resist. First is the stunning view of the four prominent peaks of Kishtwar, all above 6,000 m. Getting so close to such big summits in a valley is rare.

Second are the forests. These are primarily coniferous, with a heady scent wafting through the woods as you trek along. In between are maples, except for a small patch of beautiful silver birch trees just before Kiddar Maidan. The variety of coniferous trees you find on this trek is unmatched. There are Chir pines, Deodars, Abies pin-drows, and spruces. The trees are sometimes so tall that they almost touch the sky. 

Then comes the Nath River, which accompanies you throughout the trek. Even while trekking in the deep forests, you constantly hear the river. The river starts to calm down as you trek deeper into the valley and becomes completely silent when you reach Kiddar Maidan. 

Given that not many people trek here, it is a discovery waiting to be made. It’s our top valley trek of 2024. 

The huge river Delta of Nath river at Kiddhar maidan. Photo by Nitesh Kumar

Rupin Pass

There’s something about the Rupin Valley. It is not your conventionally beautiful valley. Jagged rocks stick out of the valley walls. The terrain is half-bouldery, half-laden with snow bridges, and half with soft grass. The route is not straightforward; the trail makes sudden turns, with big bursts of climbs and descents. Try and take a picture of the valley, and you will find it hard to make the valley look beautiful. 

But ask any trekker, and they will tell you they left their hearts behind in the Rupin Valley. The sense of connection you form with the Rupin River, the wonderment of walking through the Chir forests, the adventure of crossing the snow bridges, and the thrill of climbing a 1,500-foot waterfall are all unique to the Rupin Valley. 

As you make your way through the final gully and reach the pass, it is with a heavy heart that you leave the Rupin Valley behind. It’s hard to match up to the Rupin Valley in terms of character and personality. Which is what makes it among the personal favorites at Indiahikes.

Valley of Flowers

This list of the best valleys in India would be incomplete without the Valley of Flowers. It’s a favourite among trekkers. 

The valley is incredibly beautiful, with or without flowers. Most trekkers come here for the flowers but end up falling in love with the valley itself. During the middle of the monsoon, the valley is lush green, with mist hanging in the air. It's hard not to fall in love with it.

It's well known that there are over 500 species of flowers in the valley. They don't all bloom at the same time; rather, they bloom in waves over three months. Each wave brings a different ambience to the valley. If you visit in July, August, and September, you'll see three distinct valleys."

The first "Bada Pathar" is a must-stop point to embrace the grandness of the National Park and the cloud play occurring like a 10x timelapse. Photo by Akshay kevin.

Hampta Pass

When we talk about valleys in Himachal Pradesh, Hampta Pass has to be at the top of the list. It is among those treks that boast two valleys, one in either half of the trek. 

“In the first half, you go through a single valley. It’s like a tunnel walled by mountains. Even then, as you trek from Jobra to Jwara and Balu Ka Gera, you see lovely scenery change around you. Charming coniferous forests make way for lush grasslands. In August, these grasslands are a riot of flowers. They could even put the Valley of Flowers to shame,” claims Sandhya.

“Entering the valley beyond Balu Ka Gera is like entering a canyon. It is very thrilling. The interesting part about these scenery changes is that everything happens quickly. Since you’re starting the trek at an already high altitude (9,400 ft), you’re out of the tree line within an hour. You walk in the grasslands for a day, and the very next day you get into the alpine terrain. The scenery changes are rapid,” she adds.

On the other side of the pass is another isolated valley in Lahaul, with the Chandrabhaga River meandering through. Both of these valleys are so in contrast with each other that it’s hard to believe they are only a few hundred metres apart. The dramatic change in landscape is stunning.

About halfway through the 2nd day of the trek you enter a walled valley. On one side of the valley are the rock faces and on the other end is the river below. Once you cross the river, you are at Jwara where nature is at her dramatic best. Picture by Pritish Bhanushali.

Pin Bhaba Pass

Unknown to most, on the Pin Bhaba Pass trek, you not only walk through two valleys but five! 

“You trek through four completely different valleys before you get to the pass!” says Sandhya. “There’s the Kafnu valley, Muling valley, Khara valley, and Phutsirang valley. In each of these valleys, the scenery is different,” she adds. 

“There’s a big elevation change from one valley to another. So the landscape is constantly changing around you as you trek,” he says.

Unlike Hampta Pass, you start the Pin Bhaba Pass at a lower altitude of 7,800 feet at Kafnu. This allows you a whole day of trekking through some stunning forests towards Muling. Even after that, as you turn into different valleys, the landscape takes on different colours and different forms.

The river keeps changing, too. Different shapes of mountains surround you. So within the first half of the trek, there’s a lot of variety, so much so that it feels like you have done four different treks even before getting on the pass!

On the other hand, when you cross the Pin Bhaba Pass and trek towards Mudh, it’s all about the colours. “The colours of Spiti astound you,” says Sandhya.

“There were several moments when I had to pause while trekking to simply take in the flabbergasting colours around,” she adds. “There’s no vegetation at all. It is barren and stark. Yet you’re looking at innumerable hues of pink, purple, brown, orange and red.”

“The fascinating part is that these colours don’t merge. They come in belts. There’s a purple belt, a pink belt and there’s an orange belt. They’re very distinct from one another,” says Sandhya.

The grandeur of the valleys of the Pin Bhaba Pass is on another scale altogether.

There is a reason Pin Bhaba is called the most dramatic pass-crossing trek. This photo taken as you descend from the pass is a testament to that. Photo by Diptarka Gupta

Warwan Valley

Here’s another valley that is in a league of its own. The Warwan Valley is exceptionally stunning. Even if you have travelled to Kashmir before and seen Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and other places Kashmir offers, you are still going to be bowled over by the setting of Warwan Valley. 

The valley’s remoteness and isolation compound this beauty. 

What makes getting into Warwan Valley even more remarkable is the crossover trail from the Ladakhi terrain. It begins in trans-Himalayan settings, among barren, purplish mountains around Panikhar. The trail goes through an oasis, river deltas, wildflower meadows, and glaciers—all among these stark mountains. It makes for hauntingly beautiful settings. As the trail slowly moves into the luxuriant greenery of Kashmir after days of being surrounded by desert mountains, the effect is striking.

There is no trek you would have done before this one that can match the experience of Warwan Valley. 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 documented this trek in 2015, still stand by it.

The transition from barren to green is not drastic on the Warwan Valley trek, making you experience an interesting landscape everyday. Picture by Subro.

Gurez Valley

Gurez Valley, which we run in a DIY style, must get a mention here. The significance is that the Gurez is the last latitude of India, which is why it is very unlike any other part of Kashmir. The topography changes even though it is only 6 hours north of Srinagar. You will notice it in the trees, the valleys, the grasslands, the lakes and the campsites too.  

The Razdan pass you cross to get to Gurez pushes you into a very different landscape. In fact, our trek in Gurez reminds us more of our treks in Kyrgyzstan and Georgia than they do of our treks in Kashmir -- so different is the landscape. We feel we are in a different locale, even though we are in Kashmir. The scenery is spectacularly unusual. 

If you have adventure in your heart, then this is a valley you must go to, especially trekking DIY style. 

Disson campsite with a backdrop of POK. Picture by Nitesh Kumar

I've noticed that while most novice trekkers are drawn to summits, experienced hikers have a fondness for valleys. It takes patience and wisdom to appreciate a valley. 

There are many other beautiful valleys in India that we haven't had a chance to mention, such as Nafran Valley in Kashmir and Beas Kund in Himachal Pradesh. However, this list barely does justice to the magnificent valleys of India.

I would love to hear from you about some valleys that you have trekked in and loved. Drop in a comment below.

#2 of 4: Celebrating the Valleys of India

I thought we could use this week to celebrate the gorgeous landscapes of India.

That is why, over the next few days, I want to share with you some of the most incredible landscapes of India. I will do it by taking you through some of the best treks of our country, which celebrate these beautiful sceneries. 

I’m intentionally focusing on treks organised by Indiahikes so that you have the avenue to explore these trails. Frankly, even though we have been running treks for so many years, it baffles me that we organise more than 50 treks today. Even our most veteran trekkers have not experienced them all. 

So let’s celebrate India through the lens of Indiahikes treks. 

I’m starting straightaway with our favourite feature at Indiahikes: Meadows of India. 

High-altitude meadows are probably the most underrated feature of the Indian Himalayas. Most travellers travel to the Swiss Alps to see this scenery: vast meadows, dotted with sheep, set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Toss some golden light into the picture and you’re in heaven. 

Little do people know that, in India, we are blessed with some of the best high-altitude meadows in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, most of which can give any other meadows in the world tight competition.

Today, I have listed down treks with the best meadows that you’ll experience. While some of the treks have the meadows or “bugyals” built into their names, some others have hidden meadows, all of which I have included in this post. 

Ali Bedni Bugyal

If there's one extremely emotional trek for all of us at Indiahikes, it's the Ali Bedni Bugyal trek. 

It is special because it was in these meadows, over 15 years ago, our two founders trekked and had endless conversations about how trekking in India must grow. As a result, Indiahikes grew with the vision that Everyone Must Trek. 

Beyond this emotional connection, we feel no other meadows in our country are as beautifully laid out as Ali and Bedni Bugyal. We've seen Dayara Bugyal, Siyari Bugyal, and Gidara Bugyal; they're all beautiful. Yet, in terms of scenic beauty, none come close to Ali Bedni Bugyal. 

The way these meadows are landscaped - with the elegant Mt Trishul and Mt Nanda Ghunti standing at the edge of the meadows - is simply flawless. This reel about the view from Bedni Bugyal, which went viral with over a million views, is a testament to the beauty of these meadows. It is a part of this larger film, a tribute to why we love Ali Bedni Bugyal.

"Witness a sunrise and a sunset here, and you'll feel like your soul can finally rest in peace!" says Arjun Majumdar, founder of Indiahikes. 

Dayara Bugyal 

Ever since we first opened the Dayara Bugyal trek, trekkers have fallen in love with the charm of these meadows — the soft glow of early morning sun on the meadows, the lakes and ponds that are embedded in the meadows, the towering Gangotri ranges that form a grand backdrop, and of course, ever-present Bandarpoonch Massif. 

Dayara Bugyal is among the first “meadow treks” we opened. “When we explored Dayara Bugyal in 2010, trekking just to a meadow wasn't a popular concept. Treks were focused on high mountain passes and glacial lakes. Routes stretched across meadows but meadows weren't destinations in themselves,” shares Sandhya UC, co-founder and COO of Indiahikes, who herself has a soft corner for meadows. “That changed with Dayara Bugyal when trekkers started trekking purely for the love of meadows.”

This video, which is a tribute to Dayara Bugyal by Indiahikes will give you a lovely glimpse into the beauty of these meadows. 

The cherry on top is that Dayara Bugyal is among the few meadows in our country that are easily accessible, even to children and seniors. In one sentence, it is easily among the best treks to experience the alpine meadows of our country.

Buran Ghati 

Not many trekkers are aware of this, but Buran Ghati has a few of the best meadow sections out of all our treks. Coincidentally, these meadows are also named Dayara and we camp in these lovely meadows on Day 2 of the trek. 

In conversations among ourselves, we call the first view of these meadows the “Wow” moment. This small reel will show you what that moment looks like.

The Dayara meadows are laden with thousands of tiny yellow flowers. You’ll not know where to step! Izzat Yaganagi, who was part of our Exploration & Documentation team to Buran Ghati in 2015, shares her experience. “Walking a short distance away I sat on a rock, gazing at the peaks ahead being lit up in gold. Time stood still… Moments of sheer connection like this, with the true self and its creator, is what brings me back to the mountains again and again. Anyone who tastes its sweetness will not barter it away for anything.”

The meadows of Dayara on the Buran Ghati trek. Picture by Avinash SH

Bhrigu Lake 

Here's another secret. Almost all trekkers think that the Bhrigu Lake Trek is about the lake they see at 14,000 ft. But once they go there, the reality is different. Their hearts melt for a totally different reason: the meadows that they see on the way to the lake. 

Even our founders, after over two decades of trekking, had the same experience on the Bhrigu Lake trek. Our founder made this 49-second video standing in the grasslands, telling people the real reason to do this trek. 

The best part of it? You can experience these meadows within ten minutes of starting the trek. And they’re terrific at any time of the year. They are green in June, with lovely snow patches decorating them. In July, August and September, they are a lush green replete with wildflowers. Further in October and November, they start browning beautifully, showing you an unimaginable festival of colours. 

We have recently launched groups in November as well, hoping trekkers get to see these rare oranges and yellows.

The meadows on the way to Bhrigu Lake. Picture by Sandhya UC 

Chandrakhani Pass 

Again, the name of the Chandrakhani Pass trek leaves trekkers looking forward to the wrong destination. While climbing to the pass is an experience, the meadow on this trek is the real prize. 

All our team members who have visited the Chandrakhani Pass trek vouch for this. “This trek surprises you with the meadows. You get a teaser on the very first day at the Ghan Kuradi clearing. Although it’s a clearing in the heart of the forest, it is so vast that it looks like an alpine meadow. But that is just a teaser,” says Pritish Bhanushali, videographer at Indiahikes. 

“The real magic begins after you cross the tree line. The entire trek is laid out on the grandest meadow you have seen. It extends all the way to the Chandrakhani Pass,” he adds. 

So even though trekkers go for the high point of the trek, they come back loving the meadows. Time it any time in August / September, you’re going to see wildflowers throughout the meadows. It’s one of the best meadow experiences you’ll have.

The meadows of the Chandrakhani Pass trek. Picture by Chirag

Surya Top 

In a conversation about meadows, it is hard not to talk about Surya Top. In our country, we have some of the grandest meadows to walk on and then some of the finest summits to climb. But there is one trek that combines both of these, and that is the Surya Top Trek.

Surya Top is an extension of our much-loved Dayara Bugyal trek. Trekkers often get teary-eyed upon reaching Dayara meadows on the Dayara Bugyal trek. They're floored by the endless grasslands, not to mention the big mountain views. Such is the setting of the meadows. 

What if we told you that this is just the tip of the iceberg? 

Surya Top is a real deal when it comes to experiencing the grandeur of Dayara meadows in its entirety. You trek on the meadows not just for a couple of hours but for two full days! At Devkund, you are at the end of the Dayara meadows. Right behind you are endless stretches of perfectly manicured meadows that extend as far as your eyes can reach. You explore all that Dayara Meadows has to offer. This is only possible when you do the Surya Top Trek.

But this is not all. You also trek through the meadows of Siyari Bugyal. This two-minute video shows you the magnificent meadows of Siyari Bugyal. It is not shot in the context of Surya Top (because I shot it when we were exploring a route to another trek), but it will give you an idea.

The Gangotri range seen from the Surya Top trek. Picture by Mayank 

Pir Panjal Lakes 

When it comes to meadows, it’s impossible to ignore the meadows of Jammu & Kashmir. J&K has the unfair advantage of being on a different latitude compared to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 

While the meadows of the other two states are more raw and grand with high mountains in the backdrop, the meadows in Jammu & Kashmir are softer, gentler, and wider. They are often within the treeline, giving you the luxury of walking in a huge meadow, but walled by splendid forests. 

That’s what you see on the Pir Panjal Lakes, almost on all days of the trek. You are trekking from one meadow to another, one valley to another. Each of these valleys is home to vast meadows that stretch for over 4-5 km. They take several hours to cover, at the end of which you enter another meadow. 

If you want to trek in Kashmir, with meadows as your highlight, you cannot ignore this trek.

The grand meadows on the Pir Panjal Lakes trek. Picture by Nitesh Kumar

Brammah Valley 

Brammah Valley, being closer in proximity to Himachal Pradesh than to proper Kashmir, has the raw grandeur of high mountains, and the soft pleasures of Kashmiri meadows. 

You see this, especially at Kiddar Maidan, which is among the best campsites we have at Indiahikes. Standing behind you are tall peaks of the Brammah massif. But surrounding you are breathtaking meadows that you would never want to leave behind. 

“It is the kind of location that makes you say “I want to build a home here and never return,” shares Nitesh Kumar, who documented the trek before we opened it up for trekkers last year.

The meadows of Kiddar Maidaan on the Brammah Valley Trek. Picture by Nitesh Kumar

Which is your favourite meadow and why? Drop in a comment.

While we have limited space and time to talk about meadows in this post, we would love to hear your thoughts on your favourite meadows. 

Drop in a comment below with your favourite meadow and why. It will help other trekkers plan their future treks to a place that you have loved.

Meanwhile, we will be back with more, in this Independence Day series, talking about the best forests, mountains, and valleys of our country. 

#1 Celebrating India: The Best Meadows of India

After last week's heavy rains, the weather has relented this week. All trekkers are safe and largely carrying on with their treks as scheduled. Here is a region-wise update to keep you in the loop about all our current treks. 

Last week, Himachal Pradesh saw the worst of the rainfall. Many roads were blocked, rivers overflowed and campsites flooded. 

This week, we have good news. Our treks to Hampta Pass, Chandrakhani Pass, Bhrigu Lake, Miyar Valley, Pin Bhaba Pass, Bijli Mahadev, are all running as scheduled. In fact, just today, we have opened four more groups to Hampta Pass in September, to accommodate multiple requests from trekkers. 

As for the Beas Kund trek, Indiahikes took a safety call last week and diverted trekkers to Bhrigu Lake. Given that there are several river-side trails and campsites on the trek, we found it unsafe to head out to Beas Kund last week. Our team will conduct a recce of the trail this week, and take a final call on the upcoming group, based on the status of the trekking trail and campsites. 

The local administrative officials are issuing permits only at the very last minute, keeping a watchful eye on the weather forecast. But they have handed permissions for all groups starting this week. 

We will keep you constantly updated if there are any changes in the schedule. 


In continuation with the status of the past few weeks, officials are still not issuing permits to Tarsar Marsar, Nafran Valley, and Tulian Lake. They have requested time until tomorrow (August 7th) to reassess the safety situation in the region and issue permits for trekking in the region. 

Kashmir Great Lakes, Warwan Valley, Gurez Valley and Pir Panjal Lakes continue to run smoothly as scheduled. 

The Bodpathri Trek remains closed with no real signs of opening up in terms of permissions. 

We are expecting Brammah Valley to run as scheduled, given that is scheduled only from mid-September onwards. 

In Uttarakhand, the Valley of Flowers trek continues to run smoothly, albeit with small weather disruptions. All of the treks have been running on schedule and trekkers are thoroughly enjoying the experience of trekking in the valley. 

We are looking forward to the next month, when at least 10 other treks open up in Uttarakhand. With lesser rainfall and clearer weather, it's going to be magical trekking with clear views of the Garhwal Himalayas. 

A Round-Up of All Current Treks: Latest Updates from Himachal, Kashmir, Uttarakhand

July 11th, 3:00 p.m.: Entrepreneur, author and content creator, Ankur Warikoo, recently joined us on the Bhrigu Lake trek with his WebVeda team. Their objective was to come together as a team, given that they all work remotely, in different parts of the country. This was the first time several of them were embarking on a high altitude trek in the Himalayas.

For us, it was wonderful taking Ankur’s team on the trek. The team was among the most receptive, humble teams we have worked with. Not only were we able to successfully bring the team together, but the programme was a wonderful learning experience for our facilitators as well. 

But nobody can articulate it better than Ankur Warikoo, the master orator himself. In this video, he shares some of their takeaways as a team, with a lot of wise learnings for entrepreneurs. As always, his advice is hard to ignore. Take a look.

Hey everyone, my name is Ankur Warikoo. I'm an entrepreneur and a content creator based out of India. I have a team of 14 people and we are completely remote, spread across the country.

So every 3 months we meet for 4-5 days, we call it an offsite. And that's the time when we come together, we discover each other, we bond. And then we go into our own worlds to just work the way we do.

So this time we decided on a very different experience. Everyone opted for and voted for a trek. I think what they had in their mind was a hike.

That they'll go for a day and then we'll come back. What they weren't expecting was the intensity with which we pulled this off. 

So we started scanning and Indiahikes was evidently the choice because you guys are the best at what you do.

So we picked up Beas Kund, but closer to the date we were told that because of safety concerns that may not be the right choice. So we moved to Bhrigu Lake and commendably the team instantly adjusted everything that they had prepared for and made it happen.

So we spent 4 glorious days. Today is the last day. We're trekking down now and descending to the base camp. And I'm recording this with absolutely my heart and all full of appreciation for the Indiahikes team for how they have done it. 

Q. What about your experience for the last 4 days, how was it? 

So to give you a context, our previous offsites have been what I would call and this is generally the best word that I can use- full of pamper. And pamper largely means luxury. 

So we stay at really fancy places, hotels, we dine well, we eat well. And while all of that is also appreciated, we've never had a connect with nature in the way that we did today and the last 4 days. 

What I found was a very surreal feeling of the team coming together in a way that they've never done before. I'll give you a simple example.

Because of the campsite that we have which is all there in the open, for the first time people saw how other people brush their teeth. It's as simple as that. But it's ridiculous how these small things make you feel so connected with people who are not your family, who are not necessarily your friends but are your colleagues.

And then you're living with them in small places, you're walking with them, you're supporting them or you're seeking their support. Because this is not an easy trek, we've climbed 14,000 feet. And all of this has happened almost like as easy as it sounds because we have this collective power.

And I thoroughly enjoyed this experience because this is not what we're used to or what we experience in city life. 

Q. What was your objective for this trek and do you see it getting fulfilled? 

So the objective for this trek was very clear. 

It was how can we connect with nature and thus with ourselves in a manner that's truly minimalist. 

We often in today's world spread ourselves far and wide. Jitna paisa hoga, jitni zameen hogi, jitne kapde honge. 

We haven't had a shower for the last four days. I've been wearing the same t-shirt, the same pants. And everything has been, ki jitna kam aapka daaira ho sakta hai, utne mein hi rahiye. Wo do foot by do foot ke tent mein hi aapki poori duniya basi hogi. Your trek pole is your best friend.

People around you are all that you have. If you slip, they hold you. If you're low, they make you go up.

Everything is just in this small cocoon. And then you're facing all of these mighty mountains who've been developing and shaping themselves up for millions of years. And you feel really small.

But in that minuteness of life, you truly begin to appreciate how important life is and how important everything that we often take for granted is. 

That was the objective and 100% checked. 

Q. Is there one takeaway that you would like to share or give as advice to future entrepreneurs from the trek, what would that be? 

It's interesting that you use the word entrepreneur, Sharvari, when you ask this question because that would be my advice. 

I think while the mission and vision for India Hikes is that everyone should trek. If I had to add in my little bit here, I have nobody to say so.

Every entrepreneur mandatorily should trek. It should be like a national government policy. Because this is truly the test of what real life will be when you go back into your business.

It's unpredictable, you cannot plan. I remember we came in and it was like raining cats and dogs. And we were like, it's over, it's not going to happen.

And yet it happened. On the day of the summit which was yesterday, we climbed from 12,000 to 14,000 feet. We were very scared because there were insane thundershowers at night.

And we were like, it's over, nothing is going to be seen, nothing is going to happen. Not a single drop of rain. So things will go your way, things will not go your way and you will never know.

But you will have to adjust, you will always have to adjust. You will always have to realign yourself and be super agile to make that happen. You will feel low, you will feel small, you will feel like things are not working out your way.

But if you have your collective and more importantly you have yourself and the conversation you have in here, you will rise up. And the biggest thing is one step at a time. It doesn't matter how much time you take.

We had team members who were perhaps slower than the rest by hours. There were people who scaled the summit faster. But at the end, everyone was sitting together at the summit. And everyone left the summit together. So it just tells you one step at a time is a strategy. There is no slow, there is no fast.

Everyone has their own pace, everyone has their own personality, everyone has their own identity. So even in your startup, you will take as much time as you need. As your nature is, so will your start-up be.

But one step at a time means showing up every day. I have also written this in my book.

And it's one of my favourite quotes of all time that the pro is the amateur who shows up every day. And trekking teaches you that. 14,000 feet.

And Amit and Sharvari have instilled in our minds that 14,000 feet is not a joke. Generally, when we reached there, we were like, yay, the summit is done. And then they were like, this is 2000 feet above Mount Fuji.

And incidentally, we had just come back from Japan. And we were seeing Mount Fuji. We were like, how huge is this.

And suddenly you have climbed 2000 feet above that. It is insane when you think of it. How did it happen? Just one step at a time.

Keep looking at your feet. One step at a time, one step at a time. 

And another thing which I love and give you entrepreneurial advice.

When you're, let's say, in snow. You don't know where to step your foot on. And the best thing is that wherever the person in front of you has put his foot, if you keep it there, you'll be safer than usual.

So what others have done, even if you copy the exact same thing, you will succeed. But a lot of people think that innovation is cool. You have to become Elon Musk.

You have to do something different. No, friend. Not every person needs to become a rock star.

If you were to follow the footsteps of people who have come before you and they've done what you wish to do, you will get there. 

And all of these are just insane learnings that something as magnificent as an offsite trek could teach you. 

So, mandatory, if I were the education or the entrepreneurship minister of this country, I wouldn't even sanction the status of a start-up if you haven't trekked in your life.

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