Many trekkers miss out on trekking to Har Ki Dun-Ruinsara Valley in spring. Simply because they are unaware of what lies in store, and that’s unfortunate. 

On the Har Ki Dun-Ruinsara Tal trek, in spring, when the snow has melted and the spring colours have bloomed, is the only time you see an ancient Himalayan culture in this backdrop. The combination is stunning!

The variety of springtime hues and snow is fleeting, lasting just a few weeks in March and April, so catching a glimpse of it is a special treat. Few trekkers have experienced the spring beauty of this trek.

I’ll start with a section which people rarely talk about — the forests of Har Ki Dun.

We talk about the ancient villages on the Har Ki Dun trek. But to reach those villages, you trek through a beautiful forest of oak and pine trees with the gurgling Thamsa flowing right through it. 

You start the trek by getting into a dense forest of oak and pine trees. Photo by Arjun Majumdar.

The entrance to the valley takes your heart away. It’s a beautiful combination of forest and river. Photo by Sandhya UC, Co-Founder and COO of Indiahikes.

The forest gets denser as you go further. The narrow trail snakes through this dark forest for a good hour before opening up to the ancient village of Gangad. Within the forest, rustic wooden bridges start popping up.

“Quaint old wooden bridges across the river appear out of nowhere, giving you great picture opportunities,” says Sandhya. In this picture, you see a bridge over the Ruinsara Gad. You come across this one on your way to Devsu Thatch.

It is a classic setting of early spring. It’s a lovely pine forest section 500 m away from Har ki Dun. In spring, the forest floor is covered with receding snow. Photo by Jothiranjan.

Towards the tail end of spring, when all snow has melted, the greens start to show. You trek on a mossy green forest floor while going towards Boslo. Photo by Gautham S

The forests bring us to the next stunning section of the trek — the valleys. 

Two spectacular valleys of Har Ki Dun and Ruinsara

It's an unusual trek in that you won't cross any passes or summits. A beautiful trail connects the valleys of Har Ki Dun and Ruinsara. Both of them will completely enchant you.

"I loved the expanse of the Har Ki Dun valley. The valley has everything going for it. Big snow-clad mountains tower right in front of you. A big river flows right in the middle. Lovely green meadows across the valley floor. I could sit there and just take in this scene the whole day,” says Sandhya.

Even though this is a valley trek, there are sections when you ascend onto the mountain sides. In this picture, you see trekkers on the mountain flank, trekking from Kalkatiyadhaar to Har Ki Dun. Photo by Nitin Utane. 

This photo of the Har Ki Dun valley is from March 2021. The spring is just setting in.  Skies are clear. Temperatures are rising. Yet, there is a good amount of snow in the Har Ki Dun valley. Photo by Jothiranjan.

In spring, you also see tiny flowers blooming in the valley. Photo by Vamsi Krishna.

Deeper into spring, you'll start seeing soft clouds floating in the blue sky. The landscape comes alive with colour. Notice the vibrant colours on the mountain, brilliant turquoise of Thamsa here. You'll see this section while trekking from Gangad to Kalkatiyadhar. Photo by Manish Goel

If you thought Har Ki Dun valley was stunning, wait till you step into the Ruinsara valley. “The isolation of Ruinsara valley grips you. For me, trekking through the picturesque Ruinsara valley was like reaching the pinnacle of a trek even though there was no real summit,” says Sandhya.

In the valley, the setting of the Ruinsara Tal stays with you for a long time. “It’s just you, the mountains and the lake. Looking at the mountains reflecting in the clear blue lake had a big calming effect on me,” remembers Sandhya. Photo by Arjun Majumdar.

This is the best-kept secret of the trek. Located in the Ruinsara Valley, you hardly see much of this meadow from anywhere else but when inside it. The secret is indeed well wrapped around by pine trees! Photo by Sandhya UC

The unforgettable ancient villages of Har Ki Dun

“Spending a night in the village home on this trek takes you back hundreds of years. The stories of the village elders and the smiles of the children are something you want to take back with you,” says Sandhya. 

You start your trek in one such village—Kotgaon. 

The trek starts from the quaint village of Kotgaon. Here you are looking at the Indiahikes campus at Kotgaon. Photo by Jothiranjan.

A little further into the trail, you reach the ancient Himalayan village of Gangaad. Look closely at the picture. You’ll see that the village is almost hanging on the side of the mountain. Photo by Naveen Hiremath.

But it’s not just one ancient village. You cross a handful of Himalayan villages on the Har Ki Dun trek! Trekking through them offers a rare glimpse into their unique culture. The experience of hopping from one ancient Himalayan village to the next is rare.

Another village you come across is Osla. 

Trekkers are approaching another ancient Himalayan village, Osla. Photo by Dushyant Sharma.

While trekking through these villages, you can't help but notice their way of life, the way they build their houses or how they cook.

The grey stone used to make the roofs of these old homes is called Pathaalin in the local language. These roofs are built by skilled craftsmen who measure, cut and polish the stones. Photo from Indiahikes Archives.

A cutout stream from the Thamsa river powers this flour mill. It’s called Puaani Garat. In the villages of Osla, Gangaad, Seema, Dhatmir, and Dharkot, you can find many working Garats. Ragi and Jhangora, two local grains, are crushed here. Photo by Dushyant Sharma.

In these ancient villages in the Himalayas, people make their clothes by weaving. Here, a woman is making her winter clothes. Photo by Jothiranjan.

While treks take you to some of the remotest locations of our country, getting such a peek into the ancient culture of the Himalayas is rare.

Watch this video to know Why We Love Har Ki Dun-Ruinsara Tal trek :

I'd like to end this photo story by saying that the Har Ki Dun-Ruinsara Valley trek in spring is a unique experience. Unfortunately, many trekkers miss it simply because they are unaware of it. 

If you have any rare spring photographs of the Har Ki Dun-Ruinsara Valley trek, do share them with me.  I’ll include them in my next photo story.

15 Rare Spring Photos of Har Ki Dun-Ruinsara Valley trek

19 Rare Spring Photos of Har Ki Dun-Ruinsara Valley trek

Jungle treks are rare. And here’s a glimpse of one such trek with you. It’s the Chhattisgarh Jungle trek. 

“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. 

Frankly, these forests are out of bounds for the public. You require special permissions from the forest department to get in. Indiahikes has a special arrangement with the forest department to trek through these forests. As trekkers, it’s a rare privilege to see and feel these near-inaccessible forest reserves.

This photo story gives you a day-wise glimpse of this rare jungle trek.

Himalayan treks usually follow a pattern. You start by trekking through pine, oak, rhododendron forest, pop out of the tree line into the meadows and then trek to a high point in the alpine zone. 

But things are totally different on the Chhattisgarh Jungle trek. 

You trek through dense Sal forest. “The forest is alive with wildlife. You always have this uncanny feeling that you are being watched. There is an invisible omnipresence of wild animals around you. Sometimes it sends chills down your spine,” shares Senior Trek Leader Nitesh Kumar, who was instrumental in designing the current  route of the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek.

The main gate of Guru Ghasidas National Park. It’s not an ordinary gate, it’s the gateway of the future of trekking in India. Welcome to our Indiahikes Chhattisgarh Jungle trek. Photo by Gourab Nandy

You start by walking into the well-spaced sal forest. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

The jungle gets denser as you get deeper into the forest. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

These forests are unlike the ones you see in the Himalayas. They are dense, but because trees are well-spaced, your gaze is able to penetrate the depths of the jungle. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

“Entering the cave was a different experience. It’s dark. And the walls of the cave have been uniquely patterned by years of erosion,” shares Nitesh. 

Slightly off-trail, you notice an ancient cave in the forest. Photo by Nitesh.

This is a U-shaped cave which opens within 50 meter on the other side. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

The insides of the cave quickly transport you to another world. An ancient world where people would often take shelter within such cave to escape from the wild animals in the jungle. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

Notice closely and you'll see peculiar pattern created by water dripping in the cave. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

You'll find many fresh pug marks of wild animals on the Chhattisgarh Jungle trail. "These pug marks can be as fresh as a 10-30 minutes ago. And it gives you chills thinking that merely a few minutes prior, a wild animal crossed this path," Nitesh says while sharing his experience of trekking in the jungle. 

These fresh pug marks always remind you about the presence of the wild animals. It's like you are always being watched. 

Suddenly after crossing the river we got to see this on the trail. But Mowgli couldn’t see Bagheera 🙂 Naseeb mein sirf unka pug mark tha (Fate only consisted of his pug mark)

A fresh pug mark of a hyena. You recognise a hyena by how the nails are dig into the soil. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

Staying in a tribal village. Camping by the shores of a lake and river

The camping experience of Chhattisgarh Jungle trek is also unique. On the first night you stay in a homestay at a tribal village called Turripani. This experience takes you close to the lives of villagers who stay so deep into the forest. You also get to savour some local delicacies like litti chokha. You'll notice how intimately their life is connected to the forest cycles.  

Our accommodation at Turrapani village. Photo by Gourab Nandy.

The place where villagers bring their crops after harvesting. Turripani is a very rural village inside Guru Ghasidas National Park. Photo by Gourab Nandy. 

After the first night, you shift to staying in tents. What's absolutely a delight is the fact that both the camps from now are stationed by a water body. The first campsite -- Tadiyabaan is by the Tadiya lake. The second campsite, Pandupara is on the banks of the Gopat river.

The Tadiyabaan campsite. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

Witnessing the sun setting over the Tadiya lake is a dreamy experience. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

The Pandupara campsite by the Gopat river. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

There's a stunning silent at night in the forest. Everything goes eerily quiet as stars twinkly above in the sky. Photo by Nitesh Kumar.  

On no other trek do you get this unique experience. "The Gopat river is very gentle, very unlike the roaring, gushing rivers in the Himalayas. This river lazily snakes through the forest. And the water merely comes up to the ankles," Nitesh says while describing the Gopat river. 

A trekker walking in the Gopat river. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

Most of the trek on the last day is on the Gopat river. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

The river bed is soft, devoid of any pebbles. Walking on this river bed, with gentle cold water flowing is an enjoyable experience. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

The trail within the jungle of Chhattisgarh may seem like it's flat. But it's not so. There are good ascends and descends on this trek. You climb to the highest altitude of 2,820 ft on this trek. 

You can see the Guru Ghasidas National Park stretched in front of you from the highest point on the Chhattisgarh Jungle trek. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

The landscape is undulating. Here you see trekkers descending from the red plateau. Right in front is the Raja Pahad, the highest hill in the region. Photo by Nitesh Kumar. 

Trekking deep into the jungles of Chhattisgarh is a unique experience. Very different from a Himalayan trek. Do this trek to experience life in jungles in the heart of India. It's a rare experience, not accessible to all. And something that can be savoured only while on a multi-day trek in this region. 

Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek: A Photo Story

Brahmatal transforms magically during winters. The blanket of snow on its trails as it snakes through deep forest sections, climbing to the ridge at Jhandi top, and finally settling on the frozen lakes is something that trekkers don’t see often on treks.  

But only when you see it with your own eyes do you really appreciate the magic of Brahmatal in winter. This photo story will give you a glimpse: 

The Narnia-like oak and rhododendron forest of Brahmatal

The forest on the Brahmatal trek lays itself out in a way that you can see a long distance in between the trees. This is what makes the forest feel cozy. It does not overpower you with its presence, yet it is all enveloping. When this forest gets covered in a layer of snow, you get to see what we see here:

Trekking under rhododendron trees enroute Gujreni. Photo by Ramnarayan Iyer

Here’s what Dhaval Jajal, senior trek leader at Indiahikes and now filmmaker says about one of his favourite sections: “While many people talk about Gujreni, my favourite forest section begins after we descend from Jhandi top and start trekking to Khorurai. As we are almost at the end of the trek, trekkers are more relaxed and open to taking in the delights of the forests. And that makes it an enticing walk through the rhododendron and oak forest,” says Dhaval.

Entering the forest section as you descend from Jhandi Top. Photo by Abhishek M

Camping on snow is another big highlight of the Brahmatal trek. You start by camping at Gujreni in the oak and rhododendron forest. “I have done lots of treks and have loved lots of camps, but if you ask me about Brahmatal, then I think it has some of the better campsites,” says Sandhya UC, co-founder of Indiahikes.

This photo is from the Khorurai campsite. But this is very similar to what Gujreni looks like — a small-ish clearing surrounded by brown oak trees — makes for one of the prettiest campsites on the trek. Photo by Avijit Jamloki.

After Gujreni it’s a short trek to the next campsite — Tilandi. 

 “Tilandi is right on top of a ridge. It is one of the windiest campsites I have come across,” says Dhaval Jajal, our filmmaker. “On windy days, when the wind picks up speed it just sweeps up snow from the ground. You have to hold on to your tents. It feels like you are on an expedition. It's a rare adventure to get this on a trek. But you get it here, and that makes Brahmatal special and thrilling,” he adds.

Tilandi campsite on snow. Notice the deep trails in snow around the campsite. The kitchen tent is almost buried! Photo by Dhaval Jajal.

From the Brahmatal summit at 12,250 ft, you descend to Brahmatal Lake before reaching the Brahmatal campsite. This is the last campsite of the trek.

This camp is around 500 m from the Brahamatal lake. You’re almost at the treeline here. Photo by Santhosh

The grand view of Mt Trishul, Mt Nanda Ghunti and the surrounding ranges 

The Brahmatal trek has rare mountain views. Mt Trishul that dominates the landscape is no ordinary mountain. The west face of Mt Trishul that we see is a sheer flank that rises above 7,000 metres, Not many know but Mt Trishul was the first 7,000 metre mountain to be climbed by mankind. Mt Trishul along with its sister Mt Nanda Ghunti tower over the Brahmatal trek. 

Such close up views of a 7,000 metre summit is a very big reason to do the trek. 

As soon as you climb above the treeline on Day 2, the big mountains are right there in front of you. For the rest of the trek they stay with you drawing closer and closer.

Mt Trishul and Mt Nanda Ghunti along with the Maiktoli ranges rise over the white landscape. Photo from Indiahikes Archive.

The mountain views that keep you going as you climb to Jhandi Top. Photo by Vishwas Krishnamurthy.

“Mt Trishul gets bigger as you move closer to Brahmatal. In real life it is 10x larger than in the photograph,” says Arjun. Photo by Divya Ramakrishnan.

Winters are known for extended golden hours. “It’s breathtaking to see Mt. Trishul light up in the evening during that time,” says Dhaval Jajal, Senior Trek Leader and Filmmaker at Indiahikes.  

You get to witness a brilliant alpenglow. “It’s because in winters the haze is minimal, almost non-existent. The clouds also settle low due to the cold. This is why mountain views are incredibly sharp, especially during the mornings and evenings,” Dhaval explains.

Rays of the setting sun directly fall on these big mountains during the golden hour. Photo by Ravi Ranjan Sr Trek Leader at Indiahikes

The ridge walk of Brahmatal is a big highlight of the trek. It is a 2-hour long ridge trek with the grandest views of Trishul, Nanda Gunti, Mrigthuni, Maiktoli and mountains of the Garhwal-Kumaon range. 

Not many know this, but from the ridge, you can also trace most of the famed Roopkund trek route!

The size of the trekkers in the picture give you an idea of the scale of the ridge. They are trekking to Jhandi Top. From there you walk on the ridge for almost two hours to reach Brahmatal top. Picture shot by Deep Thakkar in February 2020

You climb from 10,495 ft to 12,250 ft on this day. Photo by Sachin Venkatesh

Climbing to the highest point on the Brahmatal trek on a white landscape in winters gives you an adrenaline rush. Photo by Jayashankar S

Frozen lakes are rare. On the Brahmatal trek, you have two frozen lakes within a span of two days. Seeing the lakes, walking around them and if possible on them is a treat that trekkers rarely get.

A cold, half-frozen Bekaltal surrounded by oak trees. Photo by Jitendra Patil.

The scene changes dramatically when you are in thick winters, after mid-January. Notice how everything has turned white, and frozen!

Time stands still at a completely frozen Bekaltal. Photo by Krutanjali Deore.

You come to the Brahmatal Lake after descending from the Brahmatal top. Although the two frozen lakes have only a difference of 500 ft in altitude, the experience of being around them are starkly different.

Unlike Bekaltal, Brahmatal is not surrounded by trees. Notice how there’s just one, lonely oak tree on its bank. Also notice the size of the lake. It’s huge! Photo by Gajendra Kumar.

In peak winter, when the temperatures are freezing the entire Brahmatal Lake freezes. It’s a rare experience to be by its side at that time. Photo by Devang Thapliyal.

Brahmatal is also a trek known for its beautiful sunsets and stargazing experiences. And the Tilandi campsite is the hotspot for them. It’s so because this campsite sits outside the treeline, at a high point on the ridge. 

“The big mountains are at your eye level or higher towards the east. In the west you have the valley and smaller mountains rising in silhouettes. So when the sun sets towards the valley, the rays of the setting sun falls directly on the big mountains,” explains Venkat Ganesh, Senior Trainer at Indiahikes, who loves Brahamatal trek for this experience.

The setting sun illuminates the folds of Mt. Nanda Ghunti. Photo by Guhanesan Sivalingam

But it’s not just the big mountains that change colour. The entire campsite — covered in snow — also changes colours along with the sunset.

The entire snow-covered landscape reflects the colours of the setting sun. Photo by Megh Naik.

Given its location, Tilandi is also a great campsite for stargazing.

A stunning Milky Way above the Tilandi campsite. Photo by Pratik Mankawde.

Do you have your own special moments of the Brahmatal trek? Share your photo with the story with us. We will publish them! (no self portrait please). Email latika@indiahikes.com

Brahmatal winter trek is one of those rare treks in India that can be done in winter. Here's a beautiful photo story of the same.

19 Photos That Show Why You Must Do Brahmatal Trek in Jan-Feb

19 Photos That Show Why You Must Do Brahmatal Trek in Winter

Our first team of 6 trekkers just came back from the Tamenglong exploration and were incredibly impressed with the trek. They loved the variety in the trail, the forests and the culture of the region. 

Not just that, they did the entire trek DIY style, without a support system of any kind. They carried their own tents, sleeping bags, food and cooking gear. They navigated on their own, without the help of a guide. They were accompanied by Dr Dhaval Jajal, a Senior Trek Leader and Explorer at Indiahikes, who explored the entire trek previously.

This trek was also supported by the District Magistrate and the Sub Divisional Officer of Tamenglong, Manipur. They have taken a personal interest in opening this trek for others. The entire administration will be behind the team. The state of Manipur is keen to open a new trekking trail in India.

Here’s a photo story to give you a peek into what trekking DIY Style in Manipal is like:

Manipur takes you by surprise right from the time you land in Imphal, the capital city. The lush green landscape, combined with rich water resources and unspoiled beauty is a trekker’s paradise. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

Your trek starts in the endearing forests of Dailong. Almost all year long, the forest floor is a soft bed covered with leaves. Picture by Aditya

Trekkers have the pleasure of camping in the Dailong forests on their very first night of arrival. Picture by Karthikeya

The next morning, you set off on the trek, towards the caves of Tharon. Picture by Aditya

Before reaching the caves of Tharon, trekkers trek through the village of Tharon. These are a few of the remotest villages of Manipur, where they have preserved cultures and traditions from centuries ago. In the picture, you see trekkers testing the weapons and shields that the villagers make and preserve. Picture by Karthikeya

A small sit out at the entrance of the Tharon village. Trekkers sat in this hut and wrote lovely postcards for their dear ones. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

From the Tharon village, trekkers proceed towards the much-awaited Tharon Caves. Picture by Karthikeya

The Tharon Caves are ancient. They existed even before the oldest inhabitants settled in Manipur. They lie deep inside the forest and have many rooms and pathways that go deep into the underground. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

“We were inside the cave for roughly 2 hrs. We crossed few very difficult sections. It was not easy to be inside for that long time, but everyone motivated and helped each other throughout. It was a most memorable experience of the trek,” shares Dhaval.

“We cooked our dinner right next to Tharon caves. We reflected on our day’s trek and called it a night.”

The next day, trekkers set off from the caves towards the Alangta Waterfall. It’s a day’s visit and back to the Tharon caves. Picture by Karthikeya

There are several steep sections within the forests and around the cave. They make the trek suitable only for the fittest of trekkers. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

Bamboo forest on the way to Alangta waterfall. Picture by Dr Dhaval Jajal

This is one of the prettiest waterfalls we have seen in a while, the Alangta Waterfall. “It’s a massive waterfall surrounded by dense jungle. It gives you the vibe of pre historic times. Trekkers were amazed to see such beauty,” shares Dhaval. Picture shot in November 2021, amid rainy season in Manipur. 

“What better spot to cook lunch than next to the waterfall! We had Jeera rice, tomato soup and rice kheer while gazing the waterfall,” shares Dhaval.

While the Alangta Waterfall is the grandest waterfall on the trek, there are myriad waterfalls all along the trek. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

The trek takes you deep inside the virgin jungles of Manipur, many sections of which are reminiscent of the Amazon forests. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

Since it’s a DIY trek, trekkers use GPX files to navigate on their own and find their way through the forests and hills of Tamenglong. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

The forests are infinite too. Although the journey is completely inside the forest, you will never get bored of the variety, says Dhaval Jajal

There are several streams on the Tamenglong forest trek, on which locals have built small makeshift bridges. Crossing them is a small adventure on its own. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

“New Tharon village is my favorite place on this trek. This village is totally disconnected from outer world. It has only 8 households and this time there were only 4 people in the whole village. Temperature was sub zero at night. Morning was frosty but very peaceful,” says Dhaval.

The last day’s trek is a journey towards Piulong through tall grasslands. Picture by Karthikeya

The forests on this trek will never let you settle. Even on the last day it will keep you on the edge. There were several sections where we crawled beneath trees. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

When you’re ending the trek, you’ll leave with a sense of contentment about so many things — the unique forests and the deep connect you build with them, the rare culture of the people of Manipur and the satisfaction of doing the whole trek on your own.

Tamenglong Jungle DIY Trek – A Trek of Self learning

“A DIY style trek, is a kind of trek I have always wanted to do… If you ask me since when? My answer would be… I absolutely don’t remember. But definitely for many many years now….

First and foremost was self-confidence of survival during the trek. I have everytime doubted my capability of doing a DIY trek. But I proved myself wrong during the trek and I am extremely proud of it. I AM capable of doing a DIY trek.

Fitness: I am a fitness freak but was never sure whether I would be able to carry the heavy bag and ascend and descend the mountains. I was happy to shatter my self doubt. I was not only able to carry 12-15 kgs of bag everyday but could also ascend and descend steep terrain for 15-16 kms a day.

Mental Strength: This trek also tested my mental strength. There were moments when I felt tired…exhausted during the trek… But mind never gave up. My mind kept telling me that I am stronger than I know myself. At some stretches, the slope were slippery due to rains. Descending on such slopes was very risky. Because of my over confidence that I wont fall, made me fall and skid a couple of times. Then I realised how risky it was to slip and hit on a stone or twist an ankle or break a bone running rest of the trek for myself and rest of the team. After this realisation, my every step was a cautious step. Whether a slippery stone or loose soil… my mind made me stronger and gave me the power and confidence to keep going.

Claustrophobia: I am claustrophobic, but I overcame that during the trek. First day we did Theron cave exploration near the camp site. I gave up during the first enclosed space. But then things happened in a quick succession. It started with crawling through a 10 feet passage to escape the cave and then one thing lead to another. in an attempt to exit the cave went through lots of enclosed spaces for a good 2 hour period.

Weather: I am very susceptible to cold. In normal Himalayan treks, it’s easy to withstand cold because most of the time you are inside the tent. The temperatures in this trek dropped almost to Zero degrees at the last camp site. But everyone had to be outdoors for cooking, pitching tents and chitchat as sunset used to happen at 5.30 pm.

This was a very different trek to explore and would love to explore more such treks.”

“First of all, I would like to extend my gratitude to Indiahikes for the phenomenal experience it offered us. DIY-style trekking just adds a spark to the whole experience. The conversations among the group begin way before the trek and this helps settle anxieties over group dynamics etc. The Dhaval as trek leader was god, humble and fun.

The trek itself was astounding. Witnessing such a big waterfall and huge caves are truly memorable.  On the DIY front, the food was delicious, fresh, piping hot and we so look forward to cooking each time. We had kheer, variety of rice, soup under the star lit sky is simply out-of-this-world. The equipment was good and did not pose hassles.

The Manipur Exploration was a great experience and inspired me to embrace trekking, and be close to nature!” – Jalaj

That was all about the first 6-member team DIY trek to Tamenglong in Manipur.

Click here to read more about the Tamenglong Forest Trek in Manipur.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about the trek, drop in a comment below.

Photo Story: How Trekkers Did a DIY Trek in the Tamenglong Forests of Manipur

Today, we have a special treat for you.  We have put together the 25 Best Trek Photos of the Year 2021.

It has some of the best photographs taken by our trekkers (many of them look professional), our own team members and some from our photo trekkers. 

We have handpicked these photos to showcase a few of the best moments, best sceneries and emotions that trekkers experienced in the year 2021. 

For us at Indiahikes, it was a wonderful experience to put this post together. It gave us a flashback of the entire year through photographs. 

We hope it does the same for you too. We hope it reminds you of your own trek. If not that I hope it takes you along with the photographer on many different treks. 

We would love to know which photograph you liked and why. Drop in a comment at the bottom of the page. I’m sure the photographer will love reading your thoughts too. 

1. A hug atop the Chandrashila summit. Picture by Vivek Saini

Shutter speed – 1/1250 | Aperture – 5.6 | ISO 100 | Focal length – 10mm. (Mobile phone photography)

For us, this is perhaps the best photo of the year 2021. It captures such a wonderful moment on top of the Chandrashila summit. The composition of the shot with the Chaukhamba massif in the backdrop, the bright colours, all of them make it one of the most special photographs we have seen.

It also has a wonderful story behind it. “The trekker wearing yellow was the life of this trekking group. Right from Day 1, he was full of enthusiasm, motivating other trekkers and keeping everyone lively.

On the summit, though, something changed. He wrote a postcard to a dear one, and became very contemplative. He went quiet, sometimes crying, sometimes angry. Noticing this, a fellow trekker, whom he had encouraged throughout the trek, went towards him and gave him a tight hug. Both of them burst into tears while hugging. It made almost all of us emotional,” shares Vivek Saini, our Slope Manager, who was leading the trek.

2. Alpenglow on Mt Shivling as seen from Tapovan. Picture by Dr. Haridarshan

Shutter speed – 1/2500 | Aperture – 5.6 | ISO 800 | Focal length – 50mm.

When we received this photo as an entry for a photo contest, we were stumped. Without thinking twice we knew this would win a prize. The framing, the clarity, the rightly captured colours, they all point towards someone incredibly adept at photography.

It’s no surprise that this was a planned shot, where the photographer waited for this exact moment. “I knew I would get to see a sunrise on Mt Shivling. It’s something I had waited for for a long time. I had set my camera up to take this photo. When it finally happened, though, I was overwhelmed. The entire journey towards this moment came rushing back to me, and I was wondering Am I really here?” shares Dr. Haridarshan, who took the photograph.

3. Dreamy forests on the Tarsar Marsar trek. Picture by Shreenath Ramachandramurthy

Shutter speed – 1/640 | Aperture – 4.5 | ISO 200 | Focal length – 24mm.

Most professional photographers swear by the perfect light of the “golden hour,” which lasts for about an hour right after sunrise and an hour right before sunset. But what you do with this sunlight is what matters. And with this photo, Sreenath, has used the morning light so magically, that we were left speechless at this shot.

“I remember we had started off the day early on that cold morning. With all the mountains, tall pine trees and mist surrounding us, the sun seemed elusive. As the entire team was longing to feel the sun rays hitting the skin, all of a sudden, when we emerged from behind a steep hill… the sun god arreared! I just had to look for a tree through which the brilliant rays diverge,” says Shreenath.

4. Phulara Ridge seen like never before. Picture by Nitesh Kumar

Shutter speed – 1/2000 | Aperture – 5.6 |ISO 400 | Focal length – 140mm.

Sometimes, it takes an experienced trekker to find different perspectives to show the same location. Our Senior Trek Leader, Nitesh Kumar, is blessed with not just the experience, but also with a keen eye for photography. This photo of Phulara Ridge showed us such a different angle of trail, an angle we have not seen before. It also gives trekkers a clear idea of the scale of the mountains in the backdrop.

5. The Tilandi campsite on the Brahmatal trek. Picture by Dhaval Jajal 

Shutter speed – 1/750 | Aperture – 1.7 | ISO 100 | Focal length – 5mm.

We started the year 2021 with this terrific setting on the Brahmatal trek. We love this photograph for two reasons (1) It shows us why the Tilandi campsite is favourite among trekkers, especially after a fresh bout of snow. (2) It gives us a reality check on how difficult it is to manage a trek in such settings. You can see our kitchen tent is almost buried in snow. A path has been dug out just to help trekkers and mules and provisions reach the campsite. All this, in one of the windiest campsites.

From a photography point of view, Dhaval Jajal, who shot this photograph, truly understands what makes a good composition, following the rule of thirds and climbing to such a lovely vantage point to get this shot.

6. Not a team when we started, but a team when we reached the top at Sandakphu. Picture by Sanghamitra Kumar

Shutter speed – 1/1250 | Aperture – 2.1 | ISO 100 | Focal length – 5mm. (Mobile phone photography)

When we received this photograph as part of our October 2021 photo contest, we were immediately taken in. Especially because of the story the photographer shared with us.

“Every time we start a trek, we don’t know whom we are trekking with. They are all strangers from different parts of the country. But over 5 days of trekking, we get to know the best and worst of each other, we help each other, we care for each other. We reach the summit together as a team. I wanted to capture this sense of togetherness in a photograph,” shares Sanghamitra who took the picture.

At Indiahikes, we have always believed that a trek goes way beyond just going from point A to point B. It brings people together. It forms communities. This photograph beautifully captures our thought. And what better than having the Sleeping Buddha in the backdrop?

7. My trek memory book. Picture by Vishnu Sivanandan

Shutter speed – 1/1600 | Aperture – 1.6 | ISO 100 | Focal length – 85mm.

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