Himachal Trekking
A journey through Himachal holds the promise of a deep and refreshing communion with nature in its varying beauty. The lush river valleys surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the fruit-laden orchards, gurgling streams and the dense forests that echo with birdsong evoke enchantment and delight. Closer to the Greater Himalayan and Zanskar range, delight gives way to awe as one is faced with the stark, haunting landscape of the cold desert. Here, still lakes gleam like emeralds and sapphires amidst towering white mountains that stand aloof and forbidding in their majesty. There are four mountain ranges running almost parallel to one another in Himachal Pradesh and thus creating charming and beautiful valleys and passes suitable for trekking. There are numerous passes on these ranges which connect the valleys, making good trekkking routes for all types of trekkers. One can cross one pass and return over the other or proceed further to cross another on the next range. There are about two dozen passes on the Dhauladhar, a dozen over the Pirpanjal range and 8-10 such passes over the Great Himalayan range to cross over to the Zanskar valley. Himachal offers a virtual bonanza for trekkers.Some trekking routes : From Brahmour in the Ravi valley, the tracks follow the Gaddi trail in the Budhil nala and across the Kugti, Choia and Kalicho passes lead to the Chenab valley in Lahoul with the optionsof continuing to Leh, Spiti or Manali. Driving out of the Ravi valley, the road takes in the Khajjiar meadow and a diversion to the old hill station at Dalhousie. The treks can be divided in few categories like Shorter options, Tough option, Watershed, countless flora and many more.
Adventure Activities & Sports in Himalaya :
So you are planning a adventure holiday within the Himalayan range, but are you aware about the adventure options that Himalayas have got instored for you. The first in the list of adventure activities over here is Trekking. Whether its the harsh and rough climate of the cold deserts of Ladakh, Zanskar, Lahaul and Spiti or the green pastures of Uttaranchal and Kumaon Hills or the high mountain zones of Nepal, the Himalayas is a trekker's paradise.
Trekking in Himalaya
Best Time To Trek: April To November
While a powerful motorbike is the best mode of transport for covering vast stretches of mountains, paved roads restrict one. This is where trekking blended with rock climbing skills take you far in your quest for discovering the mountains at their pristine best. Most important thing while trekking in the Himalayas is to appreciate the scale and match one’s destination with one’s ability, for after all its about conquering the highest mountain ranges in the world! The best seasons to trek are the pre-monsoons and post monsoons.
Camping In Himalayas
Camping is perhaps the best way of enjoying the wonders of nature given to Himalayan regions and sharing the warmth of its people. Wildlife camping is not very different from normal camping, except the wild camping doesn't get restricted to season or any adventure activity. It works as a recreational program and there isn't any age limit in this. Any one who likes to explore nature and want to learn the facts about what nature has given to us and what we can give in return, can take up this camping expedition.
Camping Sites In The Himalayas: Take along your camping gear and opt for any of the several camps that are pitched in various parts of the state of Himachal Pradesh. These camps offer accommodation, catering and a variety of activities like hikes, fishing, nature-tours and rafting. Himachal Tourism has camps organised at Sarchu in Lahaul, and in addition to built- accommodation, tents are available at Sangla and Kalpa in Kinnaur, and at Kaza in Spiti.
Canoeing & Kayaking
Whether it is the challenge of taming the white waters or the pleasure of gliding over calm waters on a lake, canoeing or kayaking can be thrilling and exciting adventure to any sports enthusiast.. Kayaking is just like backpacking on an off beaten path, except that this time your adventure is on the sea. This sport provide the best opportunity for sports lovers to come close to nature. While canoeing presents quiet a unique combination of exploration. Besides keep a person fit, canoeing and Kayaking are eco-friendly water sports. Canoes and kayaks are boats tapered at their ends so that they may cut through water easily. This unique feature makes them highly efficient on trying on most kind of water bodies. Canoes can accommodate atleast two people with their gear and is usually practiced on lakes and rivers, which have flat and still water.Fishing and Angling
Angling could become a very enjoyable sport that is if you've got planty of time in hand and loads of patience. This eco friendl;y sport is not for those who run out of patience every time they lose a fish or get tired for waiting for their catch! Hardly any anglers round the world have any idea that India makes a wonderful paradise for anglers. And why not! With the so many rivers, streams there are numerous oppurtunites available for anglers to opt for sport fishing and angling in India. Beside the coastal areas, the foothill region of the Himalayas in northern states of India and the southern region of Nepal offer numerous oppurtunites to catch fish especially trout and Mahseer. Whether you’re the type who likes to string a worm onto a makeshift line and catch your own dinner or a thoroughbred professional angler with the latest in fishing tackle- India’s waters, both fresh and salt, can be a pleasant surprise. Another kind of fishing related activity is Angling that has important methods of conservation. A good, healthy stock of fish is not the only product of the conservation efforts of anglers, waterside plants, insects, birds, mammals and reptiles also get benefit of Eco friendly sport. More of all angling or sport fishing is quiet an easy sport for even a beginner because most of major Indian cities lie along rivers, that's why these cities become a favourite fishing spot for most of the anglers.Canoeing & Kayaking
Best Season : May/June or September/October
Whether it is the challenge of taming the white waters or the pleasure of gliding over calm waters on a lake, canoeing or kayaking can be thrilling and exciting adventure to any sports enthusiast.. Kayaking is just like backpacking on an off beaten path, except that this time your adventure is on the sea. This sport provide the best opportunity for sports lovers to come close to nature. While canoeing presents quiet a unique combination of exploration. Besides keep a person fit, canoeing and Kayaking are eco-friendly water sports. Canoes and kayaks are boats tapered at their ends so that they may cut through water easily. This unique feature makes them highly efficient on trying on most kind of water bodies. Canoes can accommodate atleast two people with their gear and is usually practiced on lakes and rivers, which have flat and still water.
Himalayan Motor Rallying
Motor ralleying is a one of a kind extreme sport of driving to the limits and beyond that. And while there are rules on the road, in motor rallying expecially in the mountain regions the rules are set by the nature. Its upto the rallyists discretion to whether to go by nature or to to go by his own instincts. Basically your driving instincts help a lot and in motor rallying especially on the off beaten tracks of the Himalayan regions, it tottally depends on you tackle the driving challenges. One of the major coverage areas of motors rallying are mountainous zones and the countryside areas.Himalayan Wildlife Travel
The Himalayan region displays great variety in flora and fauna. It is also where rare medicinal herbs are said to grow. In the Terai - the Himalayan foothills, there are luxuriant tropical forests of Sal, Teak And Shisham. As one climbs, one encounters a variety of Chir (Pine), Oak, Deodar, Fir, Rhododendron, Birch And Juniper. At higher altitudes the Juniper becomes a bush. Blossoming Blooms Where the tree-line ends, the ‘Buggyals’ or alpine meadows begin to unfold like a green, velvet carpet. Himalayan flowers of rare beauty are seen here in abundance, their soft petals adorned with raindrops reflecting the delicate hues of sunrise and sunset. These meadows have been aptly described as the “Eden of Flowers”. In the upper hills of Garhwal region Lilies and Potentillas change the landscape dramatically from a weird barren wasteland to a heavenly pasture within a short distance.Paragliding & Parasailing
Fly Like A Bird!
Ever since man first looked up at the sky, he was yearned to glide and soar like an eagle in the sky. Parasailing and Paragliding are indeed, experiences that combine the wonder of smooth sailing in the air and the thrill of soaring high above the ground. Once in the air, one may experience the ethereal serenity of the sport. It is an experience that is surprisingly, thrilling as well as becalming. Para gliding uses “thermals’ as the driving force, and is the closest one can get, to being a bird. In perfect weather conditions one can stay aloft for over three hours and can soar to heights more than 3,000m Who Can Fly? One can paraglide or sail if one is in normal health and do not suffer from any disability that would prevent one from say, driving a car. And yes, one must be over15 yrs or have the consent of one’s parent/ guardian and one’s weight should be between 45 and 85 kgs.
River Rafting / Whitewater Rafting in Himalayas
The magic behind River Rafting also referred, as Whitewater River Rafting is the extreme and never-ending thrills in the untamed rivers. The rivers in the upper Himalayas are among the best in the world for river rafting sports, with many staircase rapids that challenge the body and spirit of the river runner. The river cuts against the rocky banks, crash into rocks, crevices and breaking into white water rapids, foaming, swirling, and falling in a thunderous din. India and Nepal has a wide range of river rafting regions, which suits both amateurs and professionals.
River Rafting On Zanskar River:
The most difficult and exciting whitewater rafting option is on the Zanskar River, along its spectacular course through the gorge in the Zanskar mountains, between Padum and Nimo regions. This river course is suitable only for well-organized whitewater expeditions, prepared for several days for river running and camping in the absolute wilds of Zanskar region.
The most difficult and exciting whitewater rafting option is on the Zanskar River, along its spectacular course through the gorge in the Zanskar mountains, between Padum and Nimo regions. This river course is suitable only for well-organized whitewater expeditions, prepared for several days for river running and camping in the absolute wilds of Zanskar region.
Skiing & Snow Skiing in Himalayas
Skiing Season: January To March
Skiing is one sport that has gained immense popularity all over the world and in the past decade have become quiet attention grabbing sport because of the Himalayas.. The vast open spaces above the snowline have flung open to the skiing enthusiasts. A plethora of ski locales in Jammu and Kashmir, the hills of Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh and the North eastern states of India have become the favourite ski hideouts of adventure lovers. The awesome height and spread of the snow clad mountains, with the added advantage of powdered snow are tempting enough to magnetize the adventurous spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and excitement attached to the game. Realizing the immense prospect for tourism, India has developed some of the most modern and also the resonable ski resorts in the whole world.
