Yelagiri

What is there in Yelagiri ?

Yelagiri is a small hillstation in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. Just like other hill stations of south, Yelagiri too has a lake, beautiful green valley but with one difference, it is not crowded. Though Yelagiri might not be the perfect hill station but the drive to this place is worth it.

Which is the best season to visit Yelagiri?

As Yelagiri is not at a great altitude, summers can be really hot. Any day that is pleasant is good for this short trip.

Yelagiri is also famous for snakes so probably rainy season should be avoided if you are planning to trek.

How to reach Yelagiri?

 Yelagiri is around 150km from Bangalore and the the best way to reach would be to drive to Yelagiri (GPS- our best friend). Though the road is in very good condition but last few kilometers have lot of twist and turns so it can be fun for some and no so much for others.

Stairway to Heaven

What to do in Yelagiri?

We had heard para-gliding could be done in Yelagiri but it turned out it was no more done there. Disappointment.

Swami Malai Trek :This is an small 3km trek which takes around 1-1.5 hrs climbing uphill. It starts behind a small temple (ask locals they will guide you to the starting point, GPS will also guide you to the starting point) and passes through fields. The trek is pretty decent with many mud stairs. At the top of the hill there is a big boulder on which one can climb and view the whole valley. Must do trek in Yelagiri.

Jalagamparai Waterfalls : We were not able to visit these waterfalls but there is a trek to reach to these falls.

Punganur Lake : This is an artificial lake and meant for families with kids, so you can pass on this lake.

Vainu Bappu Solar Observatory : One of the largest solar observatory is around 35km from Yelagiri. Prior permission is required.

Where to stay in Yelagiri?

There is not much to do in Yelagiri so a day trip would be enough to explore this place, but if you have to stay then there are few good hotels/ resorts in Yelagiri such as Yelagiri Marigold Ridge, O’Nila resort. Cheap stays are also available.

Top of the rock where you get the bird eye view

Our Experience

To be honest, the trip wasn’t as per our expectation. We had gone to Yelagiri to do para-gliding which as I mentioned above was no longer done there. Also,it was a hot day and we didn’t know what to do there. After some online search we came to know about the trek but by then it was already 10am so it was pretty hot. Though the trek was nice as most of the route to the trek had tree cover but would have been better if we had started a little earlier.

But anyway,the drive to this place was very nice with some good view points and also the trek was good, so we would recommend this place if you want to do road trip from Bangalore.

Meghalaya

 

What is there is Meghalaya?

Meghalaya, meaning Abode of Clouds, is one of the seven sisters of India. True to its name, Meghalaya is the wettest state in India and Mawsynram (in Cherrapunji district in Meghalaya) is said to be wettest place on earth.

Meghalaya consist of three major ranges namely Garo, Khasi & Jaintia and these ranges derive their names from the tribes that live in these ranges. Meghalaya, unlike other states of India is Matrilineal society (not Matriarchal as thought by many) i.e after marriage husband takes wife’s surname, also property is inherited by the female of the family but the major decisions in society and family are taken by the male population and not by female (as lot of people gets confused in this). A lot of books, documentaries are made both by Indians and foreigners about the unique culture of Meghalaya. I would suggest to visit the place and talk to locals, because these books and documentaries can be very misleading.

Apart from being famous for its culture, this state has highest plunge fallsof India i.e.Nokhalikai , living root bridge, cleanest village in Asia, caves, adventure sports and obviously beautiful landscapes.

If you are planning to go for a relaxing trip then you might want to skip Meghalaya, not saying that you can’t relax in Meghalaya but because this place has so much to offer, just a lazy weekend won’t do justice to this place.

When to visit Meghalaya?

As Meghalaya receives high amount of rainfall, it is not advisable to travel to this state during monsoon( July to September). November to February are good months to travel (milky way is also clearly visible during these months); September end and October are also fine, but can get very hot and humid. March to June will be hot and the falls might not have a good throughput, so its best to avoid these months.

We visited Meghalaya in September end, luckily it was not raining then, so we were able to travel easily but then the day were very hot and humid but nights were pleasant

If you are traveling immediately after rains, you might not be able to visit the caves and also there is high possibility of encountering leeches.

How to plan a trip to Meghalaya?

I would suggest to have at least a week in hand in order to get the feel of the place. There are three ways to travel this place:

1. Landscape viewing: If you are traveling to see the landscapes and visit only very famous places of Meghalaya, and if you have less days in hand, then do hire a cab right away from Shillong. Get your hotels pre-booked. This way is also best for people traveling with children.
2. (Culture + Landscapes) viewing : If you want to get a feel of true Meghalaya but have a week to ten days in hand, then better do a pseudo backpacking kind of trip but with few reservations made before hand. We traveled this way.
3. Much More : If you have lot of time in hand and want to explore the real Meghalaya, then definitely do backpacking. Do stay at couple of villages and also near double decker bridge then you will get real feel of what Meghalaya is all about.

We are not big backpacking fans, we try to mix comfort + backpacking. For this trip we traveled with one backpack, this made it easier to travel. Also, we had done some research before hand, so had narrowed down to the places where we wanted to visit, but didn’t make any reservations.

Do write to us to know in detail how Meghalaya can be planned and how we planned our trip.

Where to stay in Meghalaya (Khasi)?

We traveled to Khasi part of Meghalaya, hence will be able to give inputs about that region.

First of all, apart from Shillong, don’t expect too much of luxury. Hotels in Meghalaya are expensive.  For the money you pay, services and comfort would not be the same. There are few good hotels and resorts but they are bit pricey.

Sai-mika resort ( very close to Nokhilakai Falls and caves) was the one in where we stayed in Sohra/ Cherrapunji . A very beautiful resort. A bit expensive but then amazing property. Cherrapunji Holiday resorts also has many good resorts in Meghalaya. Pre-book these resorts if you are traveling during peak season.

In Mawphlang ( near to Shillong ) there is Maple Pine farm, which is a must visit. Its something similar to bread and breakfast but in a farm with totally different experience. Highly recommend this (but do check their website before going, as they are not like normal B&B). There are few beautiful treks near this farm, hence you can easily spend a day or two here. Check their website for more details:http://www.culturalpursuits.com/general/maple-pine-farms

We also stayed near Living Root Bridge in Serene Homestay. This is suitable only for people who are backpacking.

In Mawlynnong, cleanest village in Asia, there are many homestays. But people here charge exorbitant amount of money even for a small room. So be ready to shell our 2k/night for a very small room.

In Shillong, Travelers Nest (Later recommended by our friend), Ashutosh Inn ( we stayed here) are decent  places to stay.

What places can be visited in Meghalaya?

As we visited only Khasi part of Meghalaya, I will be listing only those places.

1. Nokhalikai Falls : Highest plunge water fall of India. It is very close to Sai-mika resort in Sohra. There are around 300 staircase near these falls, where one can get a good view of the falls. Also, do read on how these waterfalls got it’s name(it’s both interesting and weird story).
2. Masmai caves: The most famous and commercialized  cave of Meghalaya. These are small caves and very crowded but easily accessible and open to everyone.
3. Arwah cave : This cave is very big and not visited by many, mainly because its very big and dark cave. Not suitable for kids and elderly people. But highly recommended for people who like exploring caves. They are near to Nokhalikai falls. Falls and caves can be covered in a single day.(Don’t forget to take your trekking shoes when visiting this place, it is not cake walk).
   

   
4. Living root bridge: First of all there are many living root bridges in Meghalaya. One of the most famous one is Double decker bridge at Sohra. It is around 1 hr away by car from Nokhalikai falls. This place is heaven for backpackers, as there are many routes and blue pools to explore near the bridge. If you don’t mind staying in a small homestay, then this is a place to be.  A very important thing about this bridge is that, to reach here, you will have to take around 3000 staircases and some wired suspension bridges. If you are not planning to stay here, then start in the morning so that you have enough time to climb back.
   

   

   
5. Mawlynnong : Cleanest village of Asia. This village is very clean but then you won’t miss on anything if you don’t visit this village. Though the drive to this place is worth it, but the village is not. There are many homestays in this village, but unlike other homestays, these ones are very expensive (1.5k to 2k per night). People here try to make extra bucks by saying that you can see Bangladesh. The only difference we felt was that GPS and time were  getting updated to that of Bangladesh but honestly you cant make out any difference so the whole idea of seeing Bangladesh is not worth it. Also, we talked to locals and according to them most villages in Meghalaya are clean and it’s just that Government has done few things for this village that’s why this particular village has got this fame.
   

   

   
6. Dawki : Is a small Indian village that borders with Bangladesh. This place is a must visit as it has crystal clear river water, in which hundreds of fisherman come every morning to fish. An amazing site to witness. 2 hrs is more than enough for this place. It is about 45 mins drive from Mawlynnong village.
7. Barapani or Umiam Lake : On the way from Gauhati to Shillong, you will pass this magnificent lake. Usually people just stop for a while, but you can also get a hotel booked near this lake. Worth stopping.
8. Nartiang Monoliths : An interesting place with lot of monoliths. But do read about the the significance of monoliths in Meghalayan culture.(We were not able to visit this place but was recommended by lot of people)
   

   
9. Sacred Forest: In Mawphlang, this sacred forest is a must visit. With variety of different plant species, this place is considered sacred. Also, it is said that you should not take anything back from the forest otherwise bad luck will follow you.  
10. Dain-Thlen Falls : Very close to Saimika resort. These falls can definitely be skipped. There are so many falls in Meghalaya that visiting all is not possible.
11. Nohsngithiang Falls : In Cherra district,  after Arwah caves , these falls come on the way to Mawsmai caves. Very beautiful falls. Must visit.

What is must carry for Meghalaya trip?

If you are planning to travel during September and October, then make sure you have sunscreen, summer cap, windcheater, salt (for leeches), a light jacket, good walking/running shoes. Over recent years, rainfall has decreased in Meghalaya, hence September does not receive as much rainfall as earlier it used to. Try to travel light.

Post October to January, Meghalaya is cold. Summer months are pretty hot.

How to travel to/within Meghalaya ?

Shillong, Meghalaya’s capital has direct flight from Kolkata and Guwahati. Another way to reach Shillong is via Guwahati (Assam). Gauhati is well connected to major cities in India by air, railway and road. From Guwahati, Shillong is about 2.5 hrs and can easily be traveled by buses, rail, taxis or rented bike. From Gauhati airport, one can get shared taxis (400 Rs) for Shillong.

From Shillong, Sohra (Cherrapunji) is about 2.5 hrs and can be reached by shared taxis, private taxi, rented bike or bus.  Shared taxi are also available for travel between villages. If you don’t have spare days in hand then better try a private taxi or rented bike.

We took some shared cabs during starting days of our trip, but later we rented a bike from Shillong. If you are planning to rent a bike do contact Ashley of Cacti 360 Group (greenrouteshg@gmail.com, Ph: 08119007851) before hand as this guy might also help you to get homestays in Meghalaya. Also, if you want to do some adventure sports, he is the right person to approach.

Also, from Sai-mika resort, you can get rental cycles. I think it is a great way to explore nearby places.

Some tips for Meghalaya Trip.

1. Try to travel light to this place if you don’t have your own car or private taxi. Local transport in Meghalaya is good but it will consume lot of time as shared taxis wait for all the people to fill in.
2. Do carry some packed food.
3. Post August, it gets dark after 5pm or 5:30pm, so its better to start your day early.
4. Pack all that you will need, apart from Shillong, its difficult to find shops.
5. Do try adventure sports in Meghalaya such as zip lining ( Sohra) , tree climbing /rappeling (Near Mawphlang).
6. Hire a bike and travel Meghalaya on two wheels. Super fun.
   

   

   

Our Experience of Meghalaya.

We had planned for a 3 day trip to Meghalaya but later we decided to stay here as it had so much to offer. The thing that we loved about this state is its unique culture. This place has so many stories related to their unique rituals. From ladies Jainsem dress to betel eating habit of people to sacred forest rituals, everything in Meghalaya is interesting.

On one hand, one can learn about rich culture of Meghalaya on the other hand one can enjoy the western culture too. Meghalaya has a great western influence, hence everyone ( almost everyone) in Meghalaya plays guitar and not amateur guitar but people here have amazing bands of their own. Also, people do lot of adventure sports, biker group events and so much more.

Few things or places which I will never forget : Sitting near blue pools and listening to waterfall near double decker root bridge, looking at fisherman fishing in Dawki and Bangladesh, listening to band playing in Sai-mika resort, having amazing French toast breakfasts, looking at valley filled with clouds.

Some Important contact numbers:

• Ashley (Shillong) – Bike rent/ Adventure Sports + booking homestays in villages + almost anything – greenrouteshg@gmail.com, Ph: 08119007851
• James – cultural tour of Meghalaya – guy is working on this for past 20 years, have a complete knowledge about the place and people – he is owner of maple pine farm – http://www.culturalpursuits.com/general/maple-pine-farms

 

 

 

 

Hognekkal Falls, Tamil Nadu

What is there in Hognekkal Falls?

Falls in the gorge

Hognekkal falls is known as Niagara falls of India. Being on Kaveri river, the throughput of the falls is very good and that makes this fall perennial. Though after rains it becomes massive but even before rainy season it is equally good and enjoyable. The best thing about this falls is the small round boat ride which takes you directly under the falls crossing the small gorge. It is amongst our “must visit” list.

Just before reaching the falls, de tour to this place

When to visit Hognekkal Falls?

Well, as it is on Kaveri, anytime is good time. But then, weather can play an important role to decide if you want to go or not. If its hot and sunny weather then you might not be able to enjoy as much as when the weather is pleasant or cloudy. Moreover, after monsoon, the boat ride is discontinued as the water level rises in the gorge. So the best time can be during monsoons.

Also, visit should be made before 11am as after that it gets very crowded and the boat rowers also do not spend much time showing you around. Few friends of our’s did not appreciate the place as they reached after 12 pm.

How to reach Hognekkal Falls?

Though Hognekkal is in Tamil Nadu, its very close to Karnataka border. From Bengaluru it is about 120km. Best way to reach is by taxi or by car. Route is also pretty and worth the drive. For self drive GPS will be reliable. Don’t take the highway which is shown in the GPS but a detour through village via Denkanikotai will be good, also you can further detour to Devrabetta in Thally

The community place of one of the villages that we crossed

How much time is required for Hognekkal Falls?

Kaveri river, just before the hognekkal falls.

Well, we left around 6 :30 am in morning, and after making many pit stops we reached Hognekkal around 10am. We left from Hognekkal around 1pm, stopped for lunch but still made back to Bengaluru by 4pm.

Some hair pin turns on the road to hognekkal

What to do in Hognekkal?

In India, you can have snacks even in gorges like this.. see the man with potato chips and cold drinks

There is a bridge from which you can see falls (also, half naked guys taking bath after getting oil massage), but going to the other side of the bridge is not allowed. The only way to go to the main falls is by taking a round boat. If you are early and it is not crowded then you can enjoy a lot as you can haggle a bit and get some extra time of the boat ride. Usually the boat ride takes you to the gorge and from there to a small beach and return.

There are two interesting part of the boat ride, first is that they take you to beach, which has flowing stream in which you can take bath. But one needs to be very cautious in taking the bath as the flow of stream is quite good. The other interesting thing is the 360 degree spin that you get on the boat.

We were on a beach which was in Tamil Nadu and the boats on the other side of the river were in Karnataka.

What to carry to Hognekkal Falls?

Do carry extra pair of clothes as you might get wet during the boat ride. Also make sure you carry food with you, because we didn’t find a single dhaba on the way, and one or two which were there, were closed.

Our Experience of Hognekkal Falls.

Hognekkal was a pleasant surprise. After visiting Jog falls, we didn’t have much expectation. But this was way more beautiful and fun. Also, because the weather was good we enjoyed a lot. We had some funny encounters at the falls, many men were getting oil massage done near the falls. I feel that these things should be stopped as after oil massage they take bath in the falls, making it all oily, greasy and dirty. The guys who were giving massage were actually hitting those guys and climbing on them, jumping on them. It was a funny site but then that’s the way locals earn there. Some of our friends hated this place because of this activity which was going on, but somehow we enjoyed a lot.

You can get typical oil message if you are willing to get it here… 😀

We reached here by boat. It was fun to take bath in this flowing river

Munnar

Munnar – you beauty

What is there is Munnar?

Munnar is a small hill station in the state of Kerela, India. It has got picturesque lake and tea estates. It is a place where you can have both a relaxing weekend and also an adventurous weekend in the wilderness.

Byson in the wildlife sanctuary

When to visit Munnar?

Best time to visit Munnar is after/during the Monsoons which start after June and ends in February. It is after the rains when the waterfalls and greenery are at their best, but we went before the rains and still everything looked beautiful. It is better to keep in mind that if you are going at a time when there are holidays in India, then it will be crowded as it is the nearest hill station to many cities. (We were stuck in traffic jam in Munnar for about 2hrs).

How to reach Munnar?

Munnar is well connected via road from Bangalore(10 hrs), Coimbatore(4 hrs), Kochi(3 hrs) and many more cities nearby. The nearest railway station are Kochi and Ernakulum. If you are travelling from Bangalore, it is better to take bus, as you can travel in night and reach early morning to Munnar.

By road from Coimbatore, awesome road

Where to stay in Munnar?

There are so many places to stay in Munnar from hotels to homestays to cottages. Since last time we stayed in homestay, this time we wanted to try cadamom cottage. So we booked a cottage through munnarcottages.in. Our cottage was located in an isolated and big cardamom property ,20km away from Munnar city. We had a great time there but travelling to Munnar was task, still would recommend it if seclusion is what you are looking for.

The lake in our estate, view is breathtaking

Some trekking around our estate

Places to visit in/near Munnar.

There are many places to visit in Munnar. We went to couple of them:

1. Attukal Falls: Around 5-6 kms from Munnar. As we had gone before monsoon, there was no water in the falls. There are many falls around that region but since we went in summers, all of them had dried up so we skipped going to all of them.
2. Matupetty Dam: Amazing place but only if you are willing to walk. Matupetty is very crowded, so the best way to enjoy it is to walk away from the crowd. There are many places near the lake where one can sit and enjoy that place in peace.

   

   The Dam – view from just 100 meters away from the crowded area

   

   Best place to just relax and lie down

3. Eravikulam National Park: Though we didn’t get time to visit the Park but we have heard its a nice place to visit. Also, the best time to visit is during early morning, as the day progresses the day gets hotter and also crowd increases.
4. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary: When you enter Kerela from Coimbatore you pass through this wildlife sanctuary. It is a good sanctuary where you can have lot of pit stops, but due to weather and limited time, we preferred not to stop in between. There is a high rise/watch tower from where you can see elephants and other animals. There is also a trek to one of the falls in the sanctuary.

   

   Falls in the wildlife sanctuary

What more can you do in Munnar?

Best way to enjoy Munnar is to cycle around the city. This was the best decision of this trip. Ansil, the guy who rents out cycle knew lot of unexplored places in Munnar and he suggested us to go to Laxmi falls. According to Ansil the route was for beginners but we found the terrain was bit difficult.

Cycling in munnar

Cycling through the forest road

Picturesque view throughout the cycling expedition

Cycling in munnar is a must if you really want to see its beauty and enjoy the lovely weather. We took the cycles in morning 7am, and went on the trail to laxmi waterfalls. It was about 16km from Munnar city and we passed through undulating road with picturesque tea plantation, it was amazing riding downhill. Little did we know that coming back up will be pain in the ass( and I mean literally).

Downhill was easy …and it was steep

Surprised to see waste segregation in a village in munnar – respect !!

After about 2.5 hrs of cycling downhill, we happily reached the falls, like other falls, this fall was also kind of dried up but still the water was cold and soothing.

Tea estates in munnar

Entrance of  Lakshi Falls

The Relaxing bathing experience in the falls

Uphill ride was the toughest part, sometimes we felt like giving up but then the natural beauty was so breathtaking and we knew cycling was the only way to enjoy it so, we continued on cycles for ext 16km uphill.

Kavya on the way back

I would suggest that cycling is a must do if you are going to Munnar, it was worth the effort we had put in.

Leh winter Treks

Leh from the top

 Our Experience of Leh:

Trek Preparations

I am always skeptical about traveling with people, as I believe my thought process and theirs might differ. But this notion of mine was put to rest by the last trip we did to Leh. Our friends had gone on Chadar trek (frozen river trek for 8days) through Indiahikes a year before, and the pics were so mesmerizing that my heart kept telling me to go and my brain always refused. After mulling over the option of trekking for months, we finally got the push to go forward with our plan when we got very cheap air ticket (2.8K to and fro) from Delhi to Leh (cheap airfare was our driving force..hehehe). The same day we got our slot booked for chadar trek (this trek happens on Zanskar river for 7-8 days every year only for a month; Jan mid to Feb mid). This trek does not require professional trekking experience, but then some level of fitness more

What is there in Ladakh winter treks?

The magnificent Leh

Ladakh is a beautiful place, and the snow during winters is an embellishment to its beauty. The place is filled with adventurous activities and the awe-inspiring beauty of picturesque mountains and crystal clear skies.
There are a lot of monasteries in Leh such as the famous one -Thiksey, there are also many small villages in and around Leh and each one is more beautiful than the other. We had an opportunity to visit couple of them during the trek. We visited:

The view of monasteries at Lamayuru

a. Lamayuru: it is a beautiful village well connected with Leh-Srinagar highway(NH1), it has a beautiful monastry which reminds you of Cappadoccia of Turkey. We camped here for the first night and the minimum temperature that we saw was -18C.

The Pinkrila pass – the destination to climb on the first day of our trek

The way between the canyons – one of the best experiences of the trek

b. Wan-La: The trek from Lamayuru to Wan-la is about 13.4 kms and you have to cross Pinkrila pass which was at a height of 3600m. This trek is moderate, and it passes through small canyons and valleys. Finally, you cross a stream to enter this place.

The first experience of walking on the frozen river

Hard Ice – way slippery than snow

c. Phanji La: The trek to this place from Wan-la is more of a road trek, but if you detoure your way and enter a small frozen river running along the road, it becomes an interesting trek. Once you reach Phanji La, you can also trek on the frozen stream further to Hanumata. We however, went about 5kms upstream from Phanji la and returned, but the view was really amazing and we liked the challenges the stream had for us.

The trek in the snow – an arduous experience filled with lot of snow.. 🙂

This is the view of the valley from where we made our descend back to Hinju

Ahh – the closer view of the slippery surface

d. Hinju: Situated in the cradle of a mountain valley, this village is calm and serene. We (tried to) trekked from this village to Konskila pass. There was knee high snow which made it very difficult to walk . This was one of the great experience we had. While returning from the pass to the village, we took the frozen stream. Since the stream was slippery, we had to sit on our bottom and skid on the stream. It was both hilarious and painful experience, as stopping for a minute used to get our bottom glued to the ice.

The view of the mountains from Sakti

Evening walk in Sakti

e. Sakti: This is on the way to Pangong Tso from Leh, situated after the police check post for Pangong. This was the most beautiful village that we have seen in our life. It was snowing when we reached Sakti and we instantly fell in love with this place. The view was so mesmerizing that we all went speechless and the silence between us said all. This place gets really cold because of the chilly winds, we experienced a temperature of -21C at this place.
What winter treks are possible in Ladakh?

Spectacular view of the Zanskar and Indus meeting

1. Chadar trek : Walking on frozen Zanskar river
2. Nubra valley : Scenic, snowy walk
3. Sham Valley : Scenic, snowy walk
4. Lamayuru- Zanskar trek : the original one which we had planned, but we had to divert to other route as mentioned above.
5. Pangong: Though a risky trek, but people do trek on the frozen Pangong lake

How to reach Leh?

Fly: There are many flights from Delhi-Leh.
Road: During winters, the road from Manali is closed but the road from the Srinagar(NH1) remains open.

Where to stay during winter treks?

The frozen river – the layering effect of ice

If you are doing Chadar and other known treks then obviously you will be staying in tents. But if you end up going on a mixed trek like us then staying in homestays in villages is the best thing. If you want to experience the real Ladakh, I would suggest taking homestays, they are a perfect and best possible way to know more about the life in villages of Ladakh.

In Leh, there are many hotels, and you can choose from a very expensive one to cheap ones.

What is the best time in winter to visit?

The ice road

Third highest motorable pass in the world

Finally, we reached Pangong lake after 2 unsuccessful attempts

Serenity found at the lake

En route to Pangong – the wildlife sanctuary

Pangong lake at its best

   

The best time to visit is from mid-Jan to mid-Feb. Leh is exceptionally cold during December, and the snow starts melting after mid-Feb, thereby making it quite difficult terrain to walk.

What things you need to carry?

For winters you need a lot of things to carry with you: woolen cap, torch(preferably head torch), down jacket, gloves(woolen and waterproof), waterproof track pants, woolen socks and waterproof shoes (Quechua Forclaz 500,600 etc.). The most important thing that you need to keep in mind is to dress in layers, the thickness might not matter that much but layering is essential – 4 to 5 layers. Most of the things will be mentioned by the trekking company with which you are going, but naming a few things which we realized one should have:

1. Extra batteries for all the gadgets you are carrying
2. Buy woolen socks from Leh
3. Listerine
4. Hot water bags
5. Few pairs of gloves as you will need them day in day out.

Thiksey monastery – Leh

View from the monestry

How to book your winter treks?

There are many agencies that you can book your trek with – Indiahikes, burn the boundaries, Trek the Himalayas, etc. Never book it with Trek The Himalayas – NEVER – they are the worst. These guys are not professional, nor are they considerate, once they take your money they will be done with you.

The other way and cheap way is to go to Leh and hire a local there. But it will be better if you are in a group otherwise it will be quite expensive.

Leh at its best – the sunset

How to save your money?

Most of the stuff that you need for trekking can be rented from Indian Mountaineering Foundation in Delhi. We rented down jacket, waterproof track pants, shoes, and gloves. All the things that we rented from IMF were in good condition and also were not expensive. You can buy woolen socks from Leh itself, this will be a cheaper and a better option.

Lansdowne

Lansdowne

What is there in Lansdowne?

Lansdowne – the sun in the forest

It is one of the hill station in Uttrakhand, Lansdowne has mountains, lake, trees, good weather, fresh air. But the important question is what is not there in Lansdowne –  no crowd, no car honking, no traffic, no pollution. There are hardly 3-4 good hotels to stay. Lansdowne is also a cantonment area, hence it is very clean.

When to visit Lansdowne?

Lansdowne is relatively not at high altitude hence there is no issue in travelling to Lansdowne during peak winters (no snow). The roads are good so one can visit during the monsoon season also.

How to reach Lansdowne?

Enroute to Lansdowne – passing the unknown village

The place where sky meets the earth

If you are planning to travel from Delhi then you can drive or rent a car, as Lansdowne is 260km away from Delhi, 5-6hrs drive (GPS will guide you). Kotdwara ( 1 hr drive) is the closest railway station to Lansdowne. From Kotdwara taxis are available for Lansdowne.

Where to stay in Lansdowne?

The nesting place at highest point in Lansdowne

Overlooking the valley at Sunrise

Kasang Regency and Blue Pine Resort are few good hotels in Lansdowne. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) has beautiful villas and tree houses at “Tip and Top ” ( the top most point in Lansdowne). If you are travelling in winters then try to get a hotel booked in advance as people around Delhi tend to go to Lansdowne for weekend.

What places to visit in Lansdowne?

The sunset at Bhullar lake

When you reach the place from where you just look down – remember the place is always called The Zero Point

A walk into the forest will rejuvenate you

A small walk to the river

Just a few but overall the whole place is beautiful.

• There is a very peaceful lake Bhullar Lake, there is small restaurant and souvenir shop near it. Its not something out of the world, its just a place to relax.
• Tip and Top point. Its the highest point in Lansdowne from which Himalayan ranges are visible.
• Military training area.
• You can do trekking anywhere in Lansdowne.

Where to eat in Lansdowne?

There are many dhabas in main Lansdowne, nothing fancy though. You can find places to fill your tummy.

What was our experience?

When you look back – you will realize what you will miss

We had visited Lansdowne in December. We walked in forests near by our hotel. But we spent most of our time at random places in Lansdowne. Wherever we found a good view, we would sit there and spend hours. The most memorable thing was looking at the sunset ( not from any particular place).

Why to be careful on the way to Lansdowne?

Car down at Lansdowne: hit by 280kg Nilgai- Please be cautious

Near Kotdwara there is a major problem of Nilgai, they come running on the road( national highway) from the jungle. They weigh around 280 kg and if somehow they bang in your car then they can damage the car (happened with us) and the accident can be fatal too.

There is warning board on the road but you are likely to miss it if you are driving very fast. Its a common occurrence there, so it would be sensible to drive slowly as you will never know when the Nilgai will come.

Bye Bye Lansdowne