“I was hooked to trekking since my school days. I used to go on short one-day hikes with my friends around Pune. I wanted to explore many more treks. However, with time, I got busy with work and then with family. Years just went by. My trekking plans took a back seat.

But that spark never faded. I got the chance to go on my first Himalayan trek after crossing 50, in 2007. I went to Bhrigu Lake with a friend. Although the weather didn’t allow us to reach the summit, I was moved by the natural beauty. Seeing the Himalayas in front of my eyes changed my outlook. I vowed to go on as many treks as I can.

In 2010, I did the Valley Of Flowers trek. My husband, Vishwanath Shenoy, had been sailing so he couldn’t accompany me on these treks.



Mrs. Sandhya and Mr. Vishwanath Shenoy on the Sandakphu trail.

Finally, in 2016, we went on a trek together. We summited Deoriatal Chandrashila. It was our first trek with Indiahikes. My husband was 66 at that time. It was such a fulfilling experience for him that he started trekking regularly after that.

Over the next few years, he went to the Valley Of Flowers and summited the highest peak of the Sahyadris. Then in 2020, we signed up for the Sandakphu trek with Indiahikes. But the pandemic struck and we couldn’t go.

As multiple lockdowns were enforced, our activity levels also came down significantly. I wasn’t sure if we will ever be able to trek again. But my husband was determined to go to Sandakphu. He didn’t give up hope and waited for the pandemic to subside.

Towards the end of 2021, we started to re-up our fitness levels. Our aim was to do that trek. I was very apprehensive all the time but my husband had never been more convinced. His positive attitude gave me a lot of confidence.



In March 2022, at the age of 67 and 73, I and my husband completed the Sandakphu trek. I was surprised by how comfortably we did it!

Here’s what my husband has to say – “I have been a sailor all my life. I am used to facing tough situations. You need to be prepared but ultimately, it’s all in the mind. If you think you can do it, you will.”

After being on this trek, I can surely say that it is indeed all about the mindset. And that age is just a number!”

- Sandhya Shenoy, Indiahikes Trekker

How This Couple Proved That Age Is Just A Number

“I was closest to my father; he meant the world to me. But as they say, life is uncertain. It took a turn for worse and I lost my father to cancer. My world came crumbling down.

Unable to summon the strength to deal with the loss, I turned to alcohol. I could only go through each day if I was out of my senses. I felt the pain a little less that way.

Besides drinking and smoking, the only thing that comforted me was spending time in nature. So in 2016, after finishing my graduation, I went on my first trek to Hampta Pass.



Spending those peaceful days in the mountains allowed me to come to terms with reality. Plus, I was grateful that I was fit enough to do the summit despite my unhealthy addiction.


The trek brought me back to my senses. I came out of my unwanted habits and started trekking regularly. In the next two years, I went on 8 more treks!



In 2019, I was going to hit the double-digit mark; I was all set to go on my 10th trek. But, once again, the uncertainty of life hit me.

A day before my expedition, I met with an accident. The shin bone of my right leg was broken. To mend it, a plate and a screw were inserted. I didn’t know when would I be able to walk again.

It took me a year to just get back up on my feet. I then gradually started walking. Once I made enough recovery, there was just one thing that I wanted to do - go on a trek. However, the pandemic made my wait longer.

It was mid of 2021 and I hadn’t been on a trek for almost 2 years. I was to undergo another operation, to get the plate and the screw removed, in January 2022. I knew I won’t be able to trek for another year after the operation.

So I decided to go on one before that. The pandemic situation was also a lot better by then.



Neha taking in the views on the Kuari Pass Trek

Finally, in November 2021, I did the Kuari Pass trek. That too without any major difficulty. I was so uplifted that I also went to Brahmatal in January 2022, just before my operation!

The sense of satisfaction and joy I felt after completing these treks cannot be expressed in words. It made me realise that we can achieve much more than we think. We just have to push ourselves a little harder."

- Neha Kotian, Indiahikes Trekker

How Even A Serious Leg Injury Couldn’t Keep Neha From Trekking

“I took the path of sustainability early on in my life. I am the kind of person who is cautious of her everyday life choices, such as food, clothing and waste decomposition.

I think I imbibed it from my elders. They prefer using homemade products that are much less harmful to nature.

This is the reason I was drawn to Indiahikes as soon as I came across its website. When I read about the Green Trails initiative, I felt hopeful and motivated. It resonated with me instantly.

The initiative seemed to be asking a simple but deep question - ‘We safeguard the ones we love. So why not do the same for the mountains? We love them after all!’

I just knew I had to go on a trek with Indiahikes. Soon, I signed up for Hampta Pass.

Since I saw a reflection of my way of life in their approach towards nature, I wanted to do something from my side to contribute. I was that pumped up!

I thought about what more can I do to leave the mountains in a better condition. That is when I came up with the idea of using homemade toothpowder and cleansing products on the trek.

The ingredients used in our regular toothpaste do not only harm us but also the environmental waterways. It may not seem like a big deal since it’s just a few spits but when we look at its collective usage, it becomes a much more serious matter.

Similarly, products like face wash, hand wash etc are also loaded with harmful chemicals that cause damage to the mountains. There are herbal alternatives available but you cannot trust them completely.

So before going to Hampta Pass, I prepared toothpowder and face wash powder at home using basic kitchen ingredients such as besan and haldi. I only used these on the trek.

I did the same on my recent trek to Kuari Pass too. In fact, this time, I also introduced the self-prepared products to my fellow trekkers. I explained my reasons to them.

Over the years, trekking with Indiahikes has only inspired me to become more thoughtful towards nature. It is like having a like-minded friend who pushes you to get better.

Nature gives us so much peace and calmness. Being sustainable is the least I can do in return.”

- Nivetha (@at_nivetha), Indiahikes Trekker


Nivetha idea homemade toothpowder on treks 

How Nivetha Came Up With The Idea Of Using Homemade Toothpowder On Treks 

“I had been smoking for 20 years. I would smoke a pack a day. I didn’t enjoy it after a point, but I couldn't help it. My addiction was bad. My habits took a turn for worse once the lockdown got imposed. I started drinking frequently. I would eat out a lot. My activity levels dropped to zero.

I was aware that my habits were taking a toll on my health. I was in my late 30s after all; I couldn’t afford to live that away. However, I struggled to quit those habits.

I was on the verge of losing hope when my friend Sirisha introduced me to trekking. I went through the indiahikes website at her suggestion. It was a whole new world for me; I was instantly drawn into it. I wanted to go on a trek but knew I was nowhere near ready.

Sirisha had planned to go on the Goechala trek in April 2022. It was November 2021. I told her to count me in.
I had four months to work on my fitness. As the Indiahikes team suggested, I began by jogging.

I struggled badly. When I failed to make any progress even after repeated attempts, I was pushed to stop smoking. It worked like magic! My endurance went up within a week. I then quit drinking as well.
Each time I craved a cigarette or a drink, I reminded myself of my goal of reaching atop a mountain. That kept me going.

To take my preparations to the next level, I started cycling. That is when I really started to enjoy the process. I wanted to be my fittest self. I participated in several cycling events and finished a 200 km ride in one go. In March, I did over 1100 km of running and cycling combined. The efforts I had put in paid off as I completed the trek to Goechala with ease! If there's one thing I realised, it was that the high of making it to the highest point was way better than all other highs!

I felt grateful that my body supported me so well. I vowed to always take good care of it.

Trekking made me realize the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The sport came to me when I was at my lowest point and gave me a life-changing push to come out of it.” 

Trekkers often share such mindboggling stories with us! This one was narrated by Balaji Nathan. We hope he climbs many more mountains! 

Deciding to trek pushed quit smoking Balaji Nathan trekking inspires lifestyle changes 

How trekking inspires lifestyle changes - Balaji Nathan’s Story

The excitement in my voice rose as I came to know that I was to go on another trek after a gap of three years, the previous one being Dayara Bugyal.

The experience of being in the mountains once again has added another feather of memories in my hat. I, Stuthi Aithal, 11 years old, would like to share my experience of going to the Kuari Pass Trek in March 2022.

On the 20th of March we reached Tapovan, our basecamp, from Rishikesh. The previous day, I had an exciting flight all the way from Lucknow to Dehradun. The next day we had a rather long but mesmerising trip from Rishikesh to Tapovan. After a short introduction with the guides- Laxman Uncle, Anil Bhaiyya and Trek Leader Parthy Sir, we retired to our rooms.

The next day we started our trek, which was very tedious and reminded me of my most tiring days. It was a difficult day as we had to acclimatize properly and the trail was dusty and dry leaves and twigs crackled under our feet as we treaded on them and in places the lush green grass felt soft and mushy.

The first day's climb was a challenging one for me, perhaps the most tiring day of the trek.

With steep ascent and frequent encounter with beautiful trees along with the wonderful stories about Uttarakhand and nature from Anil Bhaiyya we finally reached the best campsite that I had ever been to – Akhrotghetta.

At Akhrotghetta, our tent was located just beside the famous walnut tree with the wonderful view of the mountain peaks - Hathi-Ghoda, Rishikund and Dronagiri. 

That afternoon, I went walnut hunting and found many in their shells but many of them were charred. While telling my experience and discovery to my mother I entered our tent and put my walnuts into a bag. 

The following day, we woke up early and were able to witness the beautiful sunrise over the Himalayas sipping the refreshing black tea. I bid goodbye to Akhrotghetta and the tiny stream which gurgled joyfully and lulled me to sleep at night. 

That's me with my mom and dad on the first day of the trek. 

On the second day of our trek which was fairly easy, we spotted patches of snow! On the way to our second campsite Khullara we paid our respects to Lord Ganpati at a tiny temple. We finally reached a rather overcrowded Khullara and had a filling lunch. There it was very windy and colder than Akhrotghetta, so we were always packed in warm jackets and sweaters. In the night, the temperature went down to -5 or -6 degrees. 

When I came to know that I was to climb the summit the next day, I was very excited and had a deep sleep dreaming all about playing and sliding in the snow. We woke up around 4:30 am in the morning so that we could start our trek for the summit day early. The temperature was -0.1 degrees when we had started to walk on snow. 

Throughout the day’s trek we had to tread through the snow. I trekked along with a lot of enthusiasm although at times, I nearly lost hope of reaching the summit. The scariest part was around a corner where many boulders with melting snow on them and a cliff on the other side, but thankfully with the help of Anil Bhaiyya I could cross the section with ease. 

When I finally reached the summit, I triumphantly pranced around with a piece of chocolate promised by Harshil Bhaiyya (one of the trekkers). Everyone praised me for being able to conquer the summit of Kuari Pass at the age of 11.

Reaching the summit was a wonderful achievement for me.

After enjoying the view of 32 peaks, clicking many photos and hearing the story from Anil Bhaiyya on why the trek was named Lord Curzon’s Trail and Kuari Pass we started to descend down . At a particular point, I started to slide down and it was rather fun but, in the end, I always used to slide down like a ball on a slide.

When we were nearing the campsite an almost 90-degree descent section came where Anil Bhai went to help my mother. There I decided to rest and sat on the nearby tree trunk, but uh-oh! As soon as I sat on it, I tumbled headfirst and momentarily was totally upside-down. I was so stunned that I remained in the same position for a few seconds. 

Regaining my balance, I stood up carefully and sat on the cold rock-like snow beside me and waited for a while. The coolness of the snow was pretty soothing to my aching thighs. After a short while my father came and we both started to descend down further. Then again, I slipped on ice and cried in pain. Finally, when we could see Khullara, I felt a new surge of energy and relief in my body and rather energetically started to descend down. 

After reaching Khullara I sensed a feeling of accomplishment of reaching the height of 12,516 feet successfully. That afternoon it snowed slightly but my joy knew no bounds to be able to see the snowfall and the snow.

The cherry on top was that it snowed that afternoon at Khullara. My joy knew no bounds! 

Later that evening in the dining tent we watched the ‘14 Peaks’ movie halfway through. After a sound sleep that night, we woke up nice and fresh the next morning. With a hearty breakfast we started to descend down towards Karchi village. Laxman Uncle took me shortcut by shortcut and thus I reached the village first. Raksh Bhaiyya (one of the trekkers) clicked many photos of mine. After a short drive to Joshimath we had our lunch and went to our dorms. The following morning, we started our journey back home.

On the way back home, I was reflecting back on my experience of the trek I realised that I had learnt a lot of things, like- being independent, being physically and mentally fit for any challenge in life, being determined & having a never-give-up spirit, being more social, adjusting with others and many more.

The sight from the Kuari Pass summit will always remain in my heart. This trek has proved to me that the mountains will keep calling me time and again and I will keep doing more treks in the future.

At just 11, Stuthi has not just completed the Dayara Bugyal trek, but has also gone on to complete the more demanding kuari Pass trek. She pens down her experience here.

11-Year-Old Stuthi's Call To The Mountains

stuthi, transformation story, 11-year-old

11-Year-Old Stuthi's Trek To Kuari Pass - A Second Call To The Mountains

I went on my first trek to Shang La in Ladakh at the age of 68. It sort of just happened since I was looking to try something new after retiring.

As I went on this journey in 2019, it left a deep impact on me. It was like discovering the true beauty of the mountains. I hadn’t felt this close to nature ever before.

However, during the trek, I also realised that I wasn’t as fit as I had thought. I had to really push myself each day.

I did complete the trek eventually and came back determined to work on my fitness. I knew I have to go on as many treks as possible before it was too late.

That's when I came across the Indiahikes website. It had all the information I needed. The fitness requirements were laid out clearly.

I set out to meet those.

I began by switching from walking to jogging. I then started doing various exercises. It took a while but I made steady progress. By March 2020, I was fully prepared to go on my second trek.

But that is when Covid happened and I couldn’t go. I was dejected. The worst part was the uncertainty. I feared if I’ll be able to trek at all again.

After feeling down initially, I decided to look at things positively. I utilised the time to further improve my fitness.

Finally, in September 2021, the situation got a lot better. I was more than ready to go on a trek. Without wasting much time, I went to Tarsar Marsar with Indiahikes. It was worth the wait!

Firstly, I managed to complete the trek comfortably. It boosted my confidence. Secondly, the way it was conducted allowed me to absorb the calmness of the environment I was in.

I could already see myself going on another trek.

In April 2022, at the age of 71, I went to Khopra Ridge. On the trek, I spent ample quiet moments with myself. I gained a better understanding of who I am as a person.

I can safely say that trekking with Indiahikes has made me a better and stronger human being. It has impacted me emotionally, mentally and physically.

I want to maintain my fitness to go on many more treks. I haven't had even close to enough of this beautiful sport.”

- Vijay K, Indiahikes Trekker



“Discovering Trekking At 68 Changed Me.”

“We took our son Arjun on his first trek when he was 4. It was my husband’s idea to introduce him to the mountains as early as possible. We both are well aware of how transformative this sport can be.

My husband has been trekking since his younger days. In fact, I was also introduced to this world by him. He took me on my first Himalayan trek to KGL for our wedding anniversary back in 2014.

It was a surreal experience. Not only did I get to see the raw side of nature, I also discovered new things about myself. I went on several treks after that. Trekking became fulfilling for both of us!

So when my husband suggested taking Arjun on a trek after he turned four, I was all for it. Thus, in 2017, the three of us went to Deoriatal Chandrashila on a snow trek.

I still remember how excited Arjun was during that trek. He walked the entire trail on his own and only needed help to cross the patches of snow. He may not remember everything but he certainly has some very fond memories.

For his next trek, we waited till he grew slightly older. We planned to go in 2020 but the pandemic didn’t allow us.

Finally, we got the chance to trek this April. We had done our bookings well in advance. This time, we were going to Har Ki Dun with Indiahikes.




Dr Kavita Raghotham and her son, Arjun on the Har Ki Dun Trek.

To prepare for the trek, Arjun started running in January. His activity levels had reduced due to the lockdowns. Then, in March, he joined swimming classes as well. He wanted to enjoy the trek thoroughly.

His hard work paid off as he did the entire trek with ease. Even I was surprised. And it really boosted his confidence. His belief in himself and his abilities grew manifold. He learned that with hard work, he could achieve anything.

He was also inspired by the discipline of the Indiahikes team. He now does his tasks, be it studying or daily chores, with a lot more focus.

He has become more thoughtful as well and has started journaling. Also, he doesn't shy away from interacting with people anymore.

As a parent and as a trekking enthusiast, it gives me a lot of satisfaction to see my son learn and grow through the sport.”

- Dr Kavita Raghotham (@kavitaraghotham), Indiahikes Trekker

Trekking helped son grow confidence family treks

Trekking Has Helped My 8 Year Old Son Grow In Confidence

“When I was 26 years old I got diagnosed with colon cancer.
 
 I had gotten engaged just a month ago and was soon going to get married. However, I decided to fight the immediate battle that was in front of me.
 
 I went through a major surgery to remove the cancer and took a sabbatical in order to get my chemotherapy done.
 
 My chemotherapy took about 7 months.
 
 During those days, I had plenty of time in hand. I decided to utilize it for everything that I had been putting off for an uncertain future -- travel more, get better at photography, tick things off my bucket list.
 
 After my treatment ended, I got married.
 
 But then came another jolt I wasn't prepared for. Ten months ago, I lost my father. I was in an unbearable mental frame. I was unable to process my thoughts. I tried busying myself with work, but nothing seemed to work.
 
 So two months ago, when Apollo Cancer Centre told me about an opportunity to go on a Himalayan trek with Indiahikes, I was immediately interested. The idea behind it -- to break the social stigma about a cancer survivor's life -- made me more keen.

The exposure to nature had a profound impact on me. Being able to walk in the lush green forests, without having any man-made establishments around took my mind and heart to a different place. Instead of the traffic I was listening to the birds chirping.

On the summit, when we were given a postcard to write a note I could only remember my father. I didn’t expect it, but tears started rolling down my eyes.

If he were alive, I’m sure he would have been so proud of me for doing something like this.

I had not got a chance to reflect on how far I have come in my journey after surviving cancer. Trekking to Dayara Bugyal and having multiple reflections with the other survivors and our Trek Leader Aditya gave me the chance to realize how grateful I am for the life I'm living after cancer.

After returning from the trek, I told myself, "There will always be one more summit ahead. I’ll always be able to climb it. I only have to focus on taking it one step at a time.”


Transformation stories colon cancer grateful 

Trekking Gave Me A Chance To Realise How Grateful I Am For Life After Cancer

“Trekking to Gaumukh Tapovan with my family was a humbling experience.

This was the second attempt for us to come together and go for a trek.

We had gone for the Roopkund trek in 2018. On the first day of the trek itself, I felt unwell. At that point, my wife and son came together to support me and take care of me.

There were a lot of things that we were not prepared for on the trek and these were things that we could have easily taken care of if we had done better planning.

However, the lack of preparation didn’t deter us from completing the trek. On our Roopkund trek, we realised the value of trekking together as a family. It brought us closer to each other on a deeper level.

Sooraj and his family took back an important lesson from their first trek

This year, when we signed up for the Gaumukh Tapovan trek, our learnings from the previous trek helped us. We went about preparing for this trek more like a team than three individuals.

On the trek, I had a new learning, which will stick with me forever. I realised how powerfully the trek had impacted my 18-year-old son.

He understood that life never comes with a silver spoon. There are going to be challenges that life keeps throwing at you and you have to take them on, no matter what.

The generation to which he belongs is surrounded by gadgets. It becomes so difficult to get them out of that bubble. However, a trek naturally helped him learn such important lessons without externally forcing him to imbibe it in himself.

Sooraj and his family came better prepared for their first trek

Now my son is planning to pass on the spirit of trekking to his friends.

Seeing him makes me swell with joy. If trekking has become such an integral part of his life, I am sure he will grow up with the right kind of values.”

How Sooraj and His Family Came Better Prepared for Their Second Himalayan Trek

Indiahikes Transformation Stories, Gaumukh Tapovan Trek, Roopkund Trek, Indiahikes Treks

“When I was a kid, during summer holidays, my mom used to go on Himalayan treks. I never went with her. I didn’t have much interest.

It was only in 8th grade that she took me on my first ever trek near Bangalore. It was a small hike. I remember we started trekking in the dark, to be able to catch the sunrise from the top.

When I saw that sunrise after putting in all the effort, I felt something I had never felt before. It was so different!

After that, I started trekking with my mother almost every weekend.

Many years later, during my engineering, I was quite confused about what career path to take.

My mom stepped in here again. She had been a trekker with Indiahikes and had seen many Trek Leaders there. When she told me to read more about Indiahikes, I trusted her advice and went on to do that.

I was really taken in by the work they were doing. I didn’t know if they would take someone as young as me but I applied with my fingers crossed.

Luckily, I got selected. It was purely my mother's push and encouragement to be in the trekking world, especially at Indiahikes. That's how my journey began.

Pradyumna's mother motivated him to take up Trek Leading

I have led about 49 groups in the Himalayas so far. Given how values-driven we are at Indiahikes, my work did not come easy to me. It took me a while to imbibe all the values and take them further to our trekkers.

But if there’s one thing that I can vouch for in this journey, it's that I have grown into a better person.

I was once a hardcore non-vegetarian, where not a single day went without chicken. Now, inspired by my colleagues and with a deep understanding of sustainability, I have turned vegan.

I was also a smoker at the time when I joined Indiahikes. I didn’t look at fitness as something important. But our core value of looking at fitness as a lifestyle changed me. It’s been 1.5 years and I haven’t touched a cigarette.

The path might have been difficult for me to follow initially, but my reason for doing what I am doing was so strong that it didn’t shake my spirit.

It has helped me grow from a Trek Leader to an Assistant Slope Manager and now, a Slope Manager.

At Indiahikes, Pradyumna has grown both professionally and personally

Adapting our core values truly in my own life is when I started growing exponentially at Indiahikes.

This growth wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t make the effort to first become a good Trek Leader, who embodied our values, and of course, if my mom did not help me understand where my true potential lies.”

- Pradyumna CR, Slope Manager at Indiahikes

How Pradyumna’s Life Changed After His Mother Nudged Him to be a Trek Leader

Working With Indiahikes, Trek Leader, Indiahikes Job Openings, Indiahikes Trek Leaders

“I have done my formal education in law. I left my law practice and started teaching students of higher standards.

After teaching for a long time, I got an opportunity to be the principal of a boarding school in Bihar. This was a big step in my professional life. I took it up and worked for a few months, with all the privileges and perks that school principals usually have.

Yet, I found something missing. The work I was doing didn’t feel fulfilling. I didn’t feel content with what I was doing.

Then one day, one of my friends suggested that I apply to work with Indiahikes as a Trek Leader. I scoffed at him. I didn’t think that would ever happen because my life was totally different from the life of a Trek Leader.

But it left me thinking. I'd been on several Himalayan treks. Every time I was in the mountains, I was a completely different person. My energy was high, I didn't frown at challenges.

In that brief moment, I thought maybe I should take a chance.

When I applied, I surprisingly got selected to work as a Trek Leader.

That day, my life took a 360-degree turn! And there has been no looking back.

Gourab went from being a School Principal to a Trek Leader

Over the past few years, I have grown more than I can imagine. I have seen the toughest of situations on treks, but these difficulties have always been challenges that help me grow as a leader.

I have worked closely with our local staff members. Each one of them has been so loving and caring towards me. They would always put others before themselves.

My involvement in growing a large organisation like Indiahikes has grown incredibly. So much so that I have grown from a Trek Leader to a Slope Manager. I have been given the responsibility of growing future Trek Leaders and local staff members. It's a huge responsibility and sometimes it scares me.

But my learnings from my work have helped me. Not just professionally, but to grow as a person.

Gourab worked hard and upskilled himself to become a Slope Manager

What keeps me passionate about my work every day is the vision that we are working towards - Everyone must trek. I feel it has a very transformative power and in this journey towards our vision, not just our trekkers, but all of us at Indiahikes are becoming a better version of ourselves.

The thing that was missing a few years ago gets fulfilled every day. Because here, I do not work for the privileges.

Working with Indiahikes is a responsibility for me. The freedom and creativity that I get while working are what has kept me going.”

- Gourab Nandy, Slope Manager at Indiahikes

Working With Indiahikes, Indiahikes Job Openings, Trek Leader

How Gourab Left His Job as a School Principal to be a Trek Leader, and Now a Slope Manager

“Anyone who has heard of Rupin Pass or been there is left speechless after seeing the lower waterfall campsite.

I was eagerly waiting to experience this phenomenon through my own eyes!

On the fourth day of the trek when we reached the Lower Waterfall campsite, I wanted to take my own time to sit and experience the vastness of that place.

I remember I was sitting on a rock kept at some distance from the campsite. The Sun was coming up and the mist was clearing.

It was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen, yet there was something odd happening over there.

Everyone else at the campsite was rushing from one place to the other. Someone had to wash their lunch box, someone wanted to change their clothes, someone wanted some toilet paper. All of them were rushing from here to there.

I thought to myself either I’m a fool who’s just simply sitting here and feeling overwhelmed by the beauty of the Sun playing hide and seek with the snow-covered peaks or others are not bothered about the grand setting in front of us.

Everyone was caught up in the urge to be “busy” even on the trek.

I wish they could pause a little at that moment and just simply sit to appreciate such a grand setting.

Hari had a transformative experience on the Rupin Pass trek

The next day when we trekked from the lower waterfall to the upper waterfall, I cannot forget the experience of walking through that section.

I had started trekking a little late from the lower waterfall campsite along with one porter and our trek leader Lay.

After some time on that trail, I started noticing how green and pleasant the entire stretch was looking.

Slowly, there were flowers popping from different angles in front of me. Every time I looked at a flower it brought a huge smile to my face.

That’s where another strong realisation hit me. Whatever we do in life, we should be like these flowers to others around us. The flowers make you happy immediately, what if we as humans could do that to other humans who are around us?

The climb to the upper waterfall from the lower waterfall is quite steep.

 It’s always better to keep your head low and walk.

The steepness of this climb made me realise the third important thing.

In life, it’s always important to keep your head down and walk. You should be as humble as you can be.

Because the moment you feel superior and put your head up to climb you can lose your grip and put yourself at risk.

Hari at the summit of the Rupin Pass trek

This realisation came to good use the next day.

The next day of the trek was the much-awaited day of climbing the Gully.

However, the weather posed a lot of challenges for us. We didn’t get clear weather for a considerable amount of time all throughout the trek.

Even on the day of Gully crossing the rains were coming and going. We were sceptical about crossing the pass.

When we reached the base of the gully, trekkers were not sure if they would be able to climb that section. The weather made them feel under-confident.

While this was happening, I heard one of our guides saying “One step at a time!”

This thought stuck with me. And I started motivating everyone with the same.

It made the whole climb so much more enjoyable for me. We just kept our head down and focused on one step at a time.

This simple thought made it possible for the whole group to climb the Gully without any issues.

I always knew these things which I am talking about. But the way it hit me while trekking is something much deeper. These learnings are going to stay with me for the rest of my life.

I can’t believe a trek can reinforce life learnings within us so strongly that it transforms us every time.”

Rupin Pass Trek, Transformation Stories, Trek Transformation

Here are the Three Learnings Hari Took Back From his Rupin Pass Trek

“One of the teams that I led to Beas Kund shifted my way of looking at life and work.

I had two trekkers in my team - Chandrakala Ji and Radha Ji. Both of them were 51 years of age. They are colleagues and know each other for quite some time.

Both of them had previously trekked with Indiahikes to Valley of Flowers in 2018.

Since Chandrakala Ji doesn’t know Hindi or English, it was Radha Ji who narrated her story on the trek.

Chandrakala Ji has a conservative husband who has always kept her in control of where she is going and what she is doing.

When she signed up for the Beas Kund trek, she didn’t tell her husband about it initially. Because in 2018 when she came back from Valley of Flowers, he didn’t speak to her for almost 2 months.

So in order to prepare for her trek, she used to wear track pants and a t-shirt under her saree and go to work out.

She secretly kept training like this for almost a month or so without him having any idea about what she was up to.

Even before coming for this trek, her husband was not okay with her decision. Despite the negative warnings he gave, she took the bold step to choose what she wanted and came for the trek.

Chandrakala Ji and Radha Ji's stories left a deep impact on Indiahikes Trek Leader Sharwari

When I asked her what made her take that step, she told me that the mountains are her only escape. This is where she feels the most alive and free.

Being married at the early age of 17, she even completed her BA and MA secretly.

I was really moved by her story. The way she has gone about her life, choosing what she wants and working towards it by hook or by crook, isn’t easy.

As a trek leader, I felt extremely touched. The kind of safe environment we are able to create for people here which allows them to open up and be vulnerable about their life, we don’t even realise how transformative it can be for them.

She shared this story with me after we did the hug a tree activity. The kind of emotional impact it had was visible on her face and in her body language.

We often take our freedom for granted, but here is Chandrakala Ji who goes to such extent to trek and experience freedom.”

- Sharwari Brahme, Trek Leader at Indiahikes

In this transformation story, Indiahikes Trek Leader Sharwari Brahme recounts the inspiring story of a 51-year-old female trekker.

How Trek Leader Sharwari Brahme Felt the Impact of Her Work When She Met Two 51-Year-Old Trekkers

Indiahikes Trek Transformation, Trek Transformation, Trek Leader, Beas Kund Trek

“Back in 2018 when I started working as a mule man with Indiahikes, I noticed many locals spoke harshly with the trekkers walking slowly. I didn’t like their way of guiding people.

Trekkers have travelled from far away cities. They have come to the mountains to explore. I strongly felt that trekkers should be treated with a lot of respect.

Two years later, I went on my first trek with Indiahikes as a co-guide. I was accompanying Buddha Daju. He taught me what it means to be a guide with Indiahikes and what it takes to give a good experience to trekkers. 

After the trek, a few trekkers appreciated my support in helping them complete the trek. Their words boosted my confidence.

I started working with Indiahikes as a full-time guide.

Working with Indiahikes brought a lot of changes in my life. I have become financially stable. Now I can support my family better.

I am also learning a lot. Meeting new people from different parts of the world has made me more aware of the varied culture in our society.

Milan Daju has had a fulfilling journey with Indiahikes

Working with Indiahikes has also brought some shifts in the way I live life.

Earlier, I didn’t pay attention to keeping the environment clean. But the Green Trails discussions with our trekkers have made me conscious of my actions.

Now, I have started picking up waste from the trails, even when I am not on a trek as a guide.

I collect soft plastic waste like chocolate and toffee wrappers at home. When I have a good amount of pile, I make bottle bricks out of the waste collected.

Lastly, working with Indiahikes has made me more confident. I can now share my thoughts in front of different teams of trekkers who come here every week.

I feel confident when I see trekkers sharing how the whole experience has helped them become better people. It makes me realize that my work is for the greater good of our community.”

This transformation story is about Milan Daju, who started as a mule man with Indiahikes and went on to become a guide.

How Milan Daju Went From Being a Mule Man to a Guide with Indiahikes

Working With Indiahikes, Indiahikes Job Openings

“I had chosen Civil Engineering purely because I did not want to see myself sitting inside four walls and working.

At that time, I didn’t know much about the outdoors. Yet, 2-3 years into my college life made me realise I was in the wrong place.

That’s when I started thinking about where my interest truly lies. I learnt about the armed forces. At the same time, I also learned about mountaineering.

I couldn’t quit college at that time because I had an education loan to pay off.

So right after college, I started working in Mumbai. I started saving up for my mountaineering course.

Meanwhile, I also got introduced to trekking in Sahayadris.

My source of information for these treks was the Indiahikes website. I used to take printouts of the documentation and go for these treks on my own, with a sleeping bag and a tent.

After I paid off my loan, I decided to leave my job and come back home. It came as a huge surprise to my family and it was my elder sister who supported me in this decision.

Nitesh on one of his mountain expeditions

Having developed such a deep fondness for Indiahikes during my DIY trekking days, all I had in mind was to apply to work as a Trek Leader there.

After understanding what the role of a Trek Leader requires, I thought of putting some effort from my side to gain some experience.

That’s when I started trekking from east to west in the Himalayas. I also did my Basic Mountaineering Course and Wilderness First Responder course.

In addition, I deliberately signed up for a trek with Indiahikes and one with another organization.

That experience strengthened my belief in working with Indiahikes. There was a stark difference in the way Indiahikes led their treks.

It took me 1.5 years to gain this experience and only AFTER this did I apply to work.

It’s been about three years of working with Indiahikes and I have totally changed as a person.

The way I lead my life, and interact with others around me or the environment has taken a 360-degree turn.

Working here is no more for a self-centric reason. The work I am doing is for the betterment of society.

This transformation story is about Nitesh who switched careers to become a Trek Leader with Indiahikes.

Transformation

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