Treks are invitations to engage wilder with the unknown
terrains, both of our psyches as well as the land that catches our fancy. We
must have well evolved from the nomadic creatures we once were to species whose
day-to-day life revolves around a 9 to 5 routine in enclosed cubicles, the
whole sphere of our typical arena of engagement has shifted from the
physical world to the intellectual. But the call of the wild, of nature, of
uncharted territories still evokes longing deep in our hearts and awakens our adventurous
spirit.
Here is a list of the five sought-after trekking
destinations in India accompanied by descriptions of what in them acts as fuel
and fodder for our adventure selves.
1- Chadar Trek (Zanskar Frozen River Trek), Ladakh
What adventurous heart wouldn’t skip a beat or two at the
possibility of trekking through a frozen river? The enchantingly beautiful
Zanskar River prepares ground as ‘Chadar’ (blanket) for a whopping length of
105 kilometers in the freezing months of January and February. The icy blanket
the river wears during the chilly months doesn’t fully cover its body though;
one would encounter rapids at certain junctions which add to the adventurous
element of the entire trek. Climbing over icy rocks and sleeping in caves at
night need not be a fantasy only Hollywood films can portray, Ladakh might just
as well have the ideal answer for you. One also gets acquainted with the
ancient Buddhist monasteries and remote villages along the way. This
challenging trek offers it all, intimate indulgences in the unadulterated
beauty of nature and exhilarating encounters with a unique culture and its
beautiful people.
2- Chandratal Lake Trek, Himachal Pradesh
Doesn’t the name say it all? If your destination is as
enchantingly beautiful as a Lake whose beauty seeks metaphors in the iridescent
glow of the moon, wouldn’t you want to tread on its alluring trails? This one km
long lake located at a 4300 m altitude is as beautiful as its name would have
you believe. Once a resting ground for traders passing between Tibet and
Ladakh, Chandratal Lake is making its mark as an ideal destination for
adventure lovers from around the world. Once at Chandratal Lake, enjoy the
vast meadows filled with wildflowers it bears in its banks.
The Lake surrounded by majestic mountains is also one of the
ecologically important high-altitude wetlands recognized by the Ramsar
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. The trek to Chandratal Lake
located in Spiti Valley usually commences from Manali. One passes through the mountain ranges of
Mulkila and Chandrabhaga along the way. Also, the shifting colors of the waters
of the lake across the spectrum of red, orange, blue, and emerald green are
peculiarly striking.
3- Goecha La Trek, Sikkim
The high mountain pass of Goecha La is located in the
picturesque northeast Indian state of Sikkim. One would be trekking through
one of the greenest terrains in the whole world- the very Kanchenjunga National Park. The pristine ecosystem which carries such diverse multitudes of flora and
fauna is a true delight for any nature-lover. It is not just the forests that
are home to such biodiversity that are the highlights of the trek though. One
gets to view Mt Kanchenjunga, the third highest of all mountains in the world,
while on Goecha La Trek. Some other mountain peaks among the sixteen visible
while on the trek include Rathong, Talung, Jupono, Kabru Dome, Koktang, and
Simvo.
The tear-shaped Goecha Lake, the majesty of the Kanchenjunga
Peak along with the rest of the snow-clad massif, the meandering rivulets,
verdant meadows, rhododendron forests combined with the breathtaking beauty of
sunsets and sunrises offered at its veritable heights make Goecha La trek a
true treasure for any nature-lover.
4- Deoria Tal Trek, Uttarakhand
Trek to Deoria Tal when combined with visiting Tungnath
Temple, the highest Shiva Temple in the world, and Chandrashila Peak makes for
one wholesome of an adventurous and spiritual journey. Deoria Tal, located at a
distance of 3 km from the Himalayan villages of Sari and Mastura is a
picturesquely beautiful spot that has few parallels. It appears as if the
majestic peaks of Chaukhamba and Kedar behold admiringly at their own images in
its crystal clear waters. The lush greenery of the forests that surround the lake
is complemented by the snow-covered mountains of Chaukhamba and Kedar providing the picture-perfect backdrop to the scenic lake.
After trekking and
camping at Deoria Tal, one can tread towards the zenith of the Tungnath
Mountain at Chandrashila which is known for the spectacular views of the mountains
of Nandadevi, Kedar, Bandarpunch, Trishul, and Chaukhamba It provides. One can
wind up one’s trek by moving towards the highly acclaimed spiritually potent
temple of Shiva at Tungnath.
5- Gaumukh – Tapovan Trek, Uttarakhand
Well, this a trek mostly sought for the spiritual
reverberation of its environs. Those mystically and spiritually inclined among
you can consider trekking till the origin of the Ganga River at Gaumukh, Gangotri, and even tread further to reach the largely unsullied expanse of Tapovan. The trek route passes through the ecologically sensitive and religiously revered
terrain of Gangotri National Park. Many pilgrims on Char Dham Yatra undertake
the journey to the base of the Gangotri glacier at Gaumukh, halting at Bhojwasa
along the way. For the more daredevil among the lot, the challenge of
traversing across the glacier and scaling over a thousand meters is
particularly inviting. Or it is the promise of the sacred land nestled in the
green expanse of meadows at Tapovan that tempts you. In fact, the sacred land of ‘Tapovan’ still
is home to a few of the spiritually ardent saints who have left their attachments
to the corporeal world in favor of the invitation of their souls to delve deeper
into the spiritual realms.
The splendid views of Mt Shivling, Meru Parvat,
Sudarshan, Bhagirathi, and Chaturangi from Tapovan are a true delight to one’s
senses. So are the sparkling stars of the Milky Way Galaxy the night-sky offers
while camping at the sacred premises. And if that is not enough, one can come
across a particularly unique species of blue mountain goats called ‘Bharals’ in
the terrain. A true paradise for spiritual seekers as well as nature
lovers, Gaumukh-Tapovan terrain remains, perhaps, one of the few lands known
for its mystical and mysterious nature.
