After the successful completion of the photo contest last month, we’re back with the September edition. 

We have opened up the September 2024 Photo Contest, an exclusive contest for Indiahikes trekkers who trekked with us in September 2024. 

We received some wonderful photos from our trekkers last month and we are overwhelmed by the responses that we got! We got to see their photography skills and we’re happy to be able to get in touch with trekkers and grow our community.

As the monsoon season gradually gives way to autumn in the mountains, the landscape undergoes a dramatic makeover. Last month, the landscape was lush and green, with vegetation at its peak, thanks to the heavy rainfall. Rivers, streams, and waterfalls were at their fullest, with crystal-clear water rushing through the valleys.

Slowly as the monsoon's grip weakens, the skies begin to clear, revealing the majestic mountain peaks. The lush greenery starts to fade, and autumn's golden hues start to appear. 

This month is all about the transition between these two seasons, and we are eager to see what our trekkers have experienced. 

Share with us your best photographs captured during your trek in September.

Given that it is a contest, the photo needs to be technically sound and well-framed. (No selfies)

Click here to send us your top 5 photos 

1. The photo must be taken during your trek with Indiahikes in September 2024.

2. A maximum of 5 entries is allowed per person.

3. The image size must be less than 10 mb.

4. The photos must be submitted in the following format

   “Trek name – Your name – Caption” 

    For eg. “Buran Ghati - Aditya Ramesh - A view of the Litham Campsite"

5. The photos can be in portrait or landscape format

6. The photos can be clicked on any device.

Regarding copyright: Copyright for all images submitted as a participant remains with the respective photographers. However, each photographer grants a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual license to Indiahikes to feature any or all of the submitted images in any of their publications, their websites, and/or in any promotional material connected to this competition (with due credit).

Please note: If the above conditions are not met, we will not be considering your photos for the contest.

The last date to submit your entries is on October 22nd 2024, 11:59 pm.

We will announce the Top Nominations on our website on October 25th 2024 and declare the winners on October 31st 2024.

We have special prizes for our top 3 photographs:

The Grand Prize winner gets a trek voucher from Indiahikes, worth Rs 5000. You can use this on any upcoming Indiahikes trek within India. The Grand Prize winner also gets a thoughtfully designed 32-litre backpack sponsored by Adventure Worx.

The First Runner-Up gets an Indiahikes trek voucher worth Rs 3,000, which you can use on any Indiahikes trek within India. 

We also have a Trekkers Choice Award, where trekkers vote for their favourite shot among our nominations! The Trekkers’ Choice Award winner gets a Goodie Bag from Indiahikes. 

Remember, the last date to participate is October 22nd 2024. Looking forward to seeing your best photographs. Good luck!

We have ended the August 2024 Photo Contest, exclusive for trekkers who trekked with us in August. 

We are amazed by the number of participants and responses we have received! We cannot be happier to see so many people engaging and contributing to building a stronger community. Everything about this month's contest was exciting.

In this month’s contest, we wanted to showcase the most beautiful side of the mountains in the monsoon. We also received some stunning entries that portrayed smaller elements of trekking. Shortlisting 10 nominations from more than 1000 photos was tough. And choosing the winners was tougher!

Finally, here are the Winners of the August 2024 Photo Contest.

We cannot stop admiring how precisely this picture has been shot with great effort and patience. The photographer has shot the Himalayan Griffon vulture from over 12000 feet. You definitely need a vulture’s eye to capture a shot this majestic! Watching the Griffon glide into the air is a sight to behold! 

Camera Setting: Shutter 1/1000, Aperture F 4, ISO 200, Focal Length 150mm.
(Captured in Camera - Telephoto Lens)

Congratulations Yash Trikannad! You have won the Grand Prize, with a trek voucher from Indiahikes worth Rs 5000, valid until 30th September 2025, and a 32-litre backpack by Adventure Worx, which you can use on all your future treks.

Here’s a photo that captures the stark and deserted mountains of Spiti. The vast landscapes of this range consist of rocky terrains and earthy-tone mountains.

“Spiti, where every step echoes the silence of rugged wilderness” is how Saket describes this photo. Complimenting the majestic mountains, the clouds add the right amount of drama to this photo. The view is a treat to the eyes, indeed!

Camera Setting: Shutter 1/1600, Aperture F 1.8, ISO 100, Focal Length 10mm.
(Captured in Mobile)


Congratulations Saket Gaurav! You have won the Runner-Up Prize, and you will be getting an Indiahikes Trek Voucher of Rs. 3,000 valid until August 2025.

This picture caught our attention for its perfect symmetry. The photo was shot early in the morning when the sun rays are subtle and sky is clear, creating a reflection so exquisite! 

This is the Chandratal Lake, which is one of the major highlights of the Hampta Pass trek. The view of the lake is very rewarding to trekkers as it is not visible until you reach near it. The water is so crystal clear and untouched that one can see the underlying layers. It is surrounded by Buddhist flags and the energy is so sacred that there is an instant feeling of calmness. 

Camera Setting: Shutter 1/1653, Aperture F 1.8, ISO 50, Focal Length 10mm.
(Captured in Mobile)

Congratulations Suraj Kanale! You have won the Trekker’s Choice Award and a Goodie Bag from Indiahikes. Your photo got the maximum number of votes from the trekkers! 

With that, we come to the end of August 2024 Photo Contest. If you loved these photos, you should definitely take a look at the nominations here. 

As we wrap this up, we will be starting our September contest soon. We’ll be back with more wonderful photographs that celebrate this world of trekking. 

August 2024 Indiahikes Photo Contest Winner

We restarted our photo contest this month, and we are overwhelmed by the responses! We are glad to have more than 200 participants in our contest! We received 1000+ entries and it was a delight to see all the beautiful compositions and how each photo had a story to tell. 

The month of August is a great time for post-monsoon treks with lush green landscapes, verdant valleys, hills and meadows, misty mountains, gushing streams and their rhythmic sounds, vibrant wildflowers, dramatic cloud formations, and stunning rainbows.

We received wonderful photos from our trekkers showcasing these amazing elements from our treks. With multiple rounds of reviews, discussions, and selection, we have finally chosen our Top 10 Nominations. 

Our judge will pick the Winner and Runner-up from these entries. 

Which is your favourite photograph? We also have a Trekkers' Choice award that you can vote for! Your votes will decide the winner of this award.
You can vote only once, so take a look at all the entries before you cast your vote. 

Here are the Top 10 photos from our August 2024 Photo Contest

1. Warwan Valley - Phaneendra Kollipala

Have you come across an ideal landscape setting with a view of the stunning mountains, and valleys meeting to form a river delta? 

And what’s more thrilling than camping at this spot?

We keep telling our trekkers how breathtaking the landscapes of the Warwan Valley are, and this photo depicts it so well! This trail leads to Sukhnai village from the very scenic campsite, Humpet. 


Camera Setting: Shutter - 1/1800, Aperture - F 2.4, ISO 200, Focal Length - 10mm.
(Captured in Mobile)

We love to see our trekkers bond with each other and indulge in different activities. Playing cricket at 13000 ft altitude with a stunning view like this is a dream come true for all trekkers! 

Trekking to Miyar Valley during monsoon is a great experience as it is less explored and untouched. This trek takes you to the heart of Lahaul through quaint villages and remote valleys.   


Camera Setting: Shutter - 1/1400, Aperture - F 1.8, ISO 200, Focal Length - 10mm.
(Captured in Mobile)

We cannot stop admiring how precisely this picture has been shot with great effort and patience. The photographer has shot the Himalayan Griffon vulture from over 12000 feet. You definitely need a vulture’s eye to capture a shot this majestic! Watching the Griffon glide into the air is a sight to behold! 

Camera Setting: Shutter 1/1000, Aperture F 4, ISO 200, Focal Length 150mm.
(Captured in Camera - Telephoto Lens)


This is the Chandratal Lake, which is one of the major highlights of the Hampta Pass trek. The view of the lake is very rewarding to trekkers as it is not visible until you reach near it. The water is so crystal clear and untouched that one can see the underlying layers. It is surrounded by Buddhist flags and the energy is so sacred that there is an instant feeling of calmness.  

Camera Setting: Shutter 1/1653, Aperture F 1.8, ISO 50, Focal Length 10mm.
(Captured in Mobile)

We have seen so many photos from Tarsar Marsar but this one is special!

It is extremely wonderful to stargaze right after the monsoon season in the Himalayas, as the sky is very clear and the views of the galaxies are astounding!

Here’s an image of the Milky Way rising above the Lidder Valley. 

Camera Setting: Shutter - 1/10, Aperture - F 1.8, ISO 1200, Focal Length - 10mm.
(Captured in Mobile)

You would have often seen excellent photos of the lakes, meadows, and valleys of Kashmir. Here’s a lovely picture of an old man with his grandson crossing the Satsar Pass. It portrays their relationship beautifully! 

The photo shows their emotions and gives a tiny glimpse of the life of the local villagers in the mountains.   


Camera Setting: Shutter - 1/170, Aperture - F 2.4, ISO 200, Focal Length - 10mm.
(Captured in Mobile)

Have you seen animals together in their natural habitat and felt like they might be having a conversation?

Marmots are frequent visitors on this trek, which is one of the highlights of this trek, as they are found only in certain regions of the Himalayas.  

It is very rare to be able to capture such a heartwarming moment as the marmots are mostly in their burrows. You will only get a shot like this if you are lucky enough! 


Camera Setting: Shutter - 1/1000, Aperture - F 5.6, ISO - 800, Focal Length - 200mm.
(Captured in Camera -Telephoto lens)

This photo is a beautiful composition of different elements of nature in one frame, highlighting the flora of Kashmir. After two days of walking through the forests, the panoramic view of the Tulian Valley feels heavenly! Surrounded by tall pine trees and majestic mountains, one feels like a very teeny tiny part of nature.  

Camera Setting: Shutter 1/1700, Aperture F 1.8, ISO 100, Focal Length 10mm.
(Captured in Mobile)

Here’s a picture worth a thousand words! Our recently explored and newly opened trek in Madhya Pradesh is a paradise for birdwatchers and wildlife photographers! The Indian Roller is frequently spotted in this region and Arun has captured it in its full glory. 

Camera Setting: Shutter 1/320, Aperture F 7.1, ISO 125, Focal Length 500mm.
(Captured in Camera - Telephoto Lens)

“Spiti, where every step echoes the silence of rugged wilderness” is how Saket describes this photo. Complimenting the majestic mountains, the clouds add the right amount of drama to this photo. The view is a treat to the eyes, indeed!

Camera Setting: Shutter 1/1600, Aperture F 1.8, ISO 100, Focal Length 10mm.
(Captured in Mobile)

We loved going through all the photos that you shared with us. It was like a virtual trek we went on through these beautifully captured shots. Not just one, but many of them! Your narratives captured everything that brings out our love for nature and passion for photography. 

We have picked the top 12 entries and now it’s your turn to show love to your favourite entry out of these. 

We will announce the winners on September 30, 2024. Stay tuned!


Nominations for Indiahikes August 2024 Photo Contest! 

We're thrilled to announce that after a long hiatus, we're back with our much-loved monthly photo contests. 

We have opened up the August 2024 Photo Contest, an exclusive contest for Indiahikes trekkers who trekked with us in August 2024. 

We have been running our photo contest ever since the beginning of Indiahikes. Our aim through this photo contest is to celebrate treks and trails through the eyes of our trekkers. They often catch us by surprise with rare perspectives of the landscapes and cultures they see in the mountains. 

That’s what we want to see this month too. 

Share with us your best photographs captured during your trek in August.

Whether it is majestic mountains, beautiful meadows, dense forests, exotic flowers or anything else that caught your attention, we would love to see it!

Of course, given that it is a contest, the photo needs to be technically sound and well-framed. (No selfies)

CONTEST RULES
1. The photo must be taken during your trek with Indiahikes in August 2024.

The last date to submit your entries is on September 22nd 2024, 11:59 pm.

We will announce the Top Nominations on our website on September 25th 2024 and declare the winners on September 30th 2024.

The Runner-Up gets an Indiahikes trek voucher worth Rs 3,000, which you can use on any Indiahikes trek within India. 

Remember, the last date to participate is September 22nd 2024. Start digging out your best trek photos. 

Looking forward to seeing your best photographs. Good luck!

Indiahikes Photo Contest August 2024

Indiahikes August 2024 Photo Contest Now Open 

Indiahikes August 2024 Photo Contest Now Open!

As we enter the month of March, we have also come to the end of the February Photo Contest. Everything about this month's contest was exciting.

Starting with the theme for this month - Colours On A Trek. We wanted trekkers to show the most colourful side of the mountains they had seen. It could be photos of flowers, mountains, green meadows, forests, flowers, bird life, animals, or a mix of all of these elements

And we received some stunning entries. Shortlisting 10 nominations from 1050 photos were tough. And choosing the winners was tougher.

After multiple rounds finally, we have the top 3 photos. Here are the Winners of the Trek Photography contest for February 2023.

A spectacular sunrise by the river. Photo by Apurva Ulabhaje

Trekking by a stream in the Himalayas, especially early in the morning, is a charming experience. This photo instantly transports you to the land of the mountains, with the stream, trees lining it and the mountains rising in the backdrop.

Congratulations Apurva Ulabhaje! You have won the First Prize, with the terrific ZERO 50-liter Rucksack by Adventure Worx, which you can use on all your future treks.

A horse grazing on the meadows of Bhaj Margi. Photo by Vishal Pawar

One of the new treks in Kashmir. This route to Nafran Valley is remote and takes you to some of the most scenic parts of the valley. 

 Congratulations Vishal Pawar! You have won the runner-up prize, you will be getting an Indiahikes Trek Voucher of Rs. 2,000 which will be valid until 29th February 2024.  

A brilliant photo of Mt. Chaukhambha captured while on the back from Kheerganga. Photo by Amaan Raja

What makes this photo stand out is the still and clear reflection of the mountain in the pond. 

Congratulations Amaan Raja! You have won an Indiahikes surprise Goodie Bag from Indiahikes. 

With that, we come to the end of Indiahikes February 2023 Photo Contest. If these photos piqued your interest, I would nudge you to check out the nominations. Those photos too were almost as good! 

Please note: We will announce the theme for our March 2023 Photo Contest in a couple of days. So stay tuned!

the magnificent skylines, the alpenglow, the golden hour, the silhouettes, the emotions... And we must admit, several photos completely stole our hearts!

November 2022 Photo Contest Winner

Indiahikes February 2023 Photo Contest Winners

Theme: Colours On A Trek

We've received overwhelming entries for the February 2023 Photo Contest, more than 1050 within a month! The theme was Colours on Treks. 

For this contest, we wanted to see the most colourful side of the mountains you have seen. Through photos of flowers, mountains, green meadows, forests, flowers, bird life, animals, or a mix of all of these elements

And we're glad to see that quite a few photographs brought out some brilliant colours on the trek. 

It was difficult to keep the top nominations to 10 photos this time. Therefore, after multiple rounds, we were able to zero in on these 14 photographs. Take a look at them and vote for your favourite photograph :)

The voting form is at the end of this blog. 

Stunning view of Mt. Chaukhambha reflected in the lake.

Look closely, this photo tells a story of the rising sun and trekkers getting ready for the trek. 

3. Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek - Abhishek Gurudutt 

This trek is known for bird-watching. But capturing birds through your lens is not easy. 

One of the new treks in Kashmir. This route is remote and takes you to some of the most scenic parts of the valley. 

Monsoon is a time for blooming flowers in Himachal Pradesh. And this picture depicts it beautifully. 

Another one from this trek. Notice how coniferous trees line the beautifully manicured meadows. It denotes the perfect setting for a trek in Kashmir. 

7. EBC - Gokyo Lakes trek-Sushil Gowardhan

Look how the brilliant blue sky is getting reflected in the Gokyo lake. By the lake, you have the remote settlement of the Gokyo village. The turquoise roofs of the houses add to the beauty of this photograph.  

Trekking by a stream in the Himalayas is a charming experience. This photo instantly transports you to the land of the mountains, with the stream, trees lining it and the mountains rising in the backdrop. 

9. Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek -Yogesh Shinde

This is one of the iconic photos which depicts the arrival of spring on the Deoriatal-Chandrashila trek. The snow has not melted, but rhododendrons have started blooming. And that makes for a vibrant picture, doesn't it?

It's always a sight to witness the morning rays lighting up the Himalayan mountains. This photo beautifully captures that scene. 

Coming across a handsome waterfall on a trek is refreshing. Notice the lush greens and the rugged mountains in this picture. It shows a great composition!

This is a typical setting of Lahaul. Lush green valley with barren mountains in the backdrop. And then there's the remote settlement. 

This is a pass trek. And this picture shows the green side of the trek, with beautiful flowering shrubs. This setting changes dramatically to a barren landscape once you cross the pass.  

14. Deoriatal Chandrashila - Ekansh Chaurasia

You get to see a range of mountains of the Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas from the summit of Chandrashila. But this photo puts a beautiful spotlight on Mt. Nanda Devi, the tallest mountain in India.

We loved going through all the photos that you shared with us. But we are looking for the top 3 photos. And one of them is the Trekker's Choice Photo. So use the form below to vote for your favorite photo.

We will announce the winners on March 1, 2023. 

January 2023 Indiahikes Photo Contest Nominations Out!

Indiahikes February 2023 Photo Contest! Forest on The Trek

Colours on Trek

Top 14 Photos from February 2023 Photo Contest | Nominations Out!

We are back with the February edition of the Indiahikes Photo Contest, which is open to all. You're welcome to participate no matter which part of the country you are in (even overseas). You're welcome to share pictures from your Indiahikes treks or treks you have done on your own. 

We are approaching the tail end of winter. And a seasonal transition is in the offing. In a month, the season will start transitioning to a colourful spring. 

During the transition, you’ll see a charming mix of snow and greenery. Tiny flowers begin to bloom. The forest starts coming to life with birds and animals coming out of their winter slumber. We slowly witness nature starting to change its colours.

For the February 2023 Photo Contest, we want to put the spotlight on this transition. 

Show us the most colourful side of the mountains you have seen. It can be photos of flowers, mountains, green meadows, forests, flowers, bird life, animals, or a mix of all of these elements

Note: It’s still a photo contest, so the photo needs to be technically sound and well-framed. (No selfies)

Click here to enter your top 5 photographs

Watch this quick video to know about this month's theme. 

Here are the kind of photos we are looking for:

Before sending in your photos, take a look at these:

Enjoying a vibrant beautiful sunset from the Nag Tibba campsite. Photo by Kumar Amrit

The trail to Chopta with blooming rhododendron flowers on both sides. Photo by Jothiranjan

A commanding view of Mt Dronagiri from Tapoban. Photo by Mallikarjuna M. 

Spring colours from Juda Ka Talab campsite on Phulara Ridge trek. Photo by Milind Anand

Jaw-dropping view of Mt. Chaukhamba over the green setting of Deoriatal lake. Photo by Rupender Yadav

Now that you have a good idea of what we're looking for, run through your archives and share your Top 5 Photographs that depict this month’s theme Colours On A Trek.

We have special prizes for our top 3 photographs :

The winner gets a 50-litre Rucksack by Adventure Worx.

The Runner up gets this wonderful water purifying bottle by Paany.

Trekkers Choice Award gets a surprise Goodie Bag from Indiahikes. The photo that wins the highest votes out of our Top 10 nominations will be the Trekkers choice award

1. You can submit a maximum of 5 photos (Both Landscape and Vertical/Mobile photos accepted)

2. The size of each photograph should not exceed 10 MB

3. Please name your photos in the following format

“Trek name – Your name – Caption”

For eg. “Buran Ghati - Aditya Ramesh - A view of the Litham Campsite"

Regarding copyright: Copyright for all images submitted as a participant remains with the respective photographers. However, each photographer grants a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual license to Indiahikes to feature any or all of the submitted images in any of their publications, their websites, and/or in any promotional material connected to this competition (with due credit).

The last date for entries is on February 25th, 2023 at 11.59 pm.

We will announce the nominations on our website on February 27th, 2023, and the winners on March 1st, 2023.

PLEASE NOTE: If the above conditions are not met, we will not be considering your photos for the contest.

We have special prizes for our top 3 photographs :
The winner gets a 35 litres backpack by Adventure Worx.
The Runner up gets a Paany Water-Filter bottle
Trekkers Choice Award gets a surprise Indiahikes merchandise. The photo that wins the highest votes out of our Top 10 nominations will be the Trekkers choice award

Indiahikes February 2023 Photo Contest - Open To All

Indiahikes February 2023 Photo Contest Colours On A Trek Forest section Himalayan forest Himalayan flowers Spring treks

Indiahikes February 2023 Photo Contest - Colours On A Trek - Open to all

We received some splendid entries for the January 2023 Photo Contest. The theme was Forest on Treks.

For this contest, we were looking for photographs that bring out the essence of trekking in a forest. The heady scent of pine, oak, and rhododendrons. Dried leaves crackling under your feet. These form the first, indelible memory of the trek. Simply because you always begin your Himalayan trek by stepping into a forest. And, these forest sections set the mood.

And we received some stunning entries. Choosing nominations was tough. And choosing the winners was tougher.

Finally, the results are out! Here are the Winners of the Trek Photography contest January 2023.

This section of blooming rhododendrons is on the way to Chopta.

If you wish to see blooming rhododendrons in the Himalayas, Deoriatal-Chandrashila is the trek to do in spring. And this photo shows you why. There are so many rhododendron trees on this trek! It makes the entire trail come alive with colour.

Congratulations Yogesh Shinde! You have won the First Prize, with the terrific ZERO 50-liter Rucksack by Adventure Worx, which they can use on all their future treks.

Trekker walking through the forest section filled with ancient oak trees.

The forest on Kedarkantha trek are not dense, but they're quite charming. More so because of how neatly the trees are laid out in the forest. You'll also notice that the forest floor is covered with fallen leaves that crunch as you walk over them. This photo captures the essence of a forest on Kedarkantha very well. 

 Congratulations Shreyan Chatterjee! You have won the runner up prize, with the wonderful water purifying bottle by Paany, which is a Godsend while trekking and travelling. 

You come across this section of dark forest while descending from Ran ka Dhar and entering the Neelganga Valley.

This is our favorite photo of the forest on the Roopkund trek. Which is also currently used on Ali Bedni Bugyal trek. The oak and rhododendron forest in this section is so dense that barely any sunlight passes through the trees. That's why this section looks so dark.

Congratulations Atish Waghwase! your photo was chosen as the Trekkers Choice Award with 23.9% of all the voters chose your photograph :) You have won an Indiahikes surprise Goodie Bag from Indiahikes. 

With that, we come to the end of Indiahikes January 2023 Photo Contest. If these photos piqued your interest, I would nudge you to check out the nominations. Those photos too were almost as good! 

Please note: We will announce the theme for our February 2023 Photo Contest in a couple of days. So stay tuned!

Indiahikes January 2023 Photo Contest Winners

Theme: Forest On The Trek

We received some splendid entries for the January 2023 Photo Contest. The theme was Forest on Treks. 

For this contest we were looking for photographs that bring out the essence of trekking in a forest. The heady scent of pine, oak, and rhododendrons. Dried leaves crackling under your feet. These form the first, indelible memory of the trek. Simply because you always begin your Himalayan trek by stepping into a forest. And, these forest sections set the mood.

And we're glad to see that quite a few photographs were able to do justice to the experience of trekking in a forest. 

It was difficult to pick just 8 photos but top nominations. And after multiple rounds, we were able to zero in on these 8 photographs. Take a look at them and vote for your favourite photograph :)

Kedarkantha trek is known for its beautiful and immersive forest. In winters, the forest dons a Christmas-y feel with its tall pine trees. 

This is view from the Juda ka Talaab campsite. You camp here when you are trekking to Kedarkantha from the Sankri route. 

This is our favorite photo of the forest on the Roopkund trek. Which is also currently used on Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek. The oak and rhododendron forest in this section is so dense that barely any sunlight passes through the trees. That's why this section looks so dark. 

You come across this section of dark forest while descending from Ran ka Dhar and entering the Neelganga Valley. 

3. Deoriatal-Chandrashila - Yogesh Shinde

If you wish to see blooming rhododendrons in the Himalayas, Deoriatal-Chandrashila is the trek to do in spring. And this photo shows you why. There are so many rhododendron trees on this trek! It makes the entire trail come alive with colour. 

4. Deoriatal-Chandrashila - Abhishek Gurudutt

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