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Step off the standard Himalaya trekking circuit and into the Garhwal Himal of India, where immense mountains shadow Hindu temples and fields of rhododendron. The area is known as the “Abode of the Gods,” and the sacred centerpiece is Nanda Devi, or the Bliss-Giving Goddess, India’s second tallest peak at 25,645'. The trekking on this trip is moderate to strenuous, allowing you to immerse yourself in the Hindu culture that thrives today as it has for centuries. You’ll pass through a stunning variety of terrain, from the low plains to the cooler hill stations and finally to the sprawling grandeur of the legendary massifs. Sacred rivers are as important as mountains here, and you’ll trek to the confluence of the Mandakini and Alaknanda Rivers as well as participate in the evening Aarti light ceremony by the banks of the Ganges. In Garhwal, the sublime beauty of the scenery intertwines seamlessly with the rhythms of ancient Hindu culture, providing a Himalayan experience that few travelers ever get the chance to share.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Trek in the shadow of Nanda Devi, India’s second tallest peak (and the object of many mountaineering expeditions)
• Explore varied Himalayan terrain that is off the beaten path and rarely visited by trekkers
• Experience Hindu culture at ancient temples and light ceremonies along the Ganges

Day 1 - Early morning arrival in Delhi, India. Free time to relax before boarding an air-conditioned sleeper train in the evening.

Day 2 - Arrive in Kathgodam and transfer to the former British hill station of Ranikhet.

Day 3 - Long drive to the trailhead through numerous small villages with dazzling views of Nanda Devi in the distance.

Days 4-8 - Begin trekking through flowering meadows with snowcapped peaks on the horizon. Along the way we’ll explore mysterious Roopkund Lake (15,584'), where hundreds of human and horse skeletons were found in 1942 (legend has it they are the remains of devotees on pilgrimage to Trisul or Nanda Devi, or soldiers who were attacked on their way to Tibet). Camp at the confluence of the Mandakini and Alaknanda Rivers.

Days 9-13 - Continue hiking through small villages and terraced fields, passing waterfalls and shepherds with their flocks of goats, and ascending to high reaches with unsurpassed views of the peaks of the Garhwal Himalaya, including Dunagiri, Changabang, Gbarmal, Nilgiri, and the distinctive peak of Kamet. End trek at the ski resort of Auli.

Day 14 - Drive to the holy Hindu city of Rishikesh, passing through the pilgrimage towns of Nandprayag and Devprayag until we reach the Ganges, where in the evening we’ll take part in the ceremony of lights.

Day 15 - Drive to Delhi and depart.

Photo Credits
©Beth Krusi