With summer just setting in, most travellers, fitness and nature lovers are excited and eager to plan that most adventurous trek trip. It's that perfect time of the year when you want to hit the mountains as the terrains look perfect.
Northern India, with its magnanimous mountains and plunging valleys, has some hidden trails and secret treks that are sure to pique the interest of any avid trekker. Explara has drawn a list of top 10 lesser-known but amazing trekking destinations that are best-kept secret of North India.
Roopkund Lake
This destination lies in the lap of Mt. Trishul and has overwhelmed many travellers with its innumerable stories. The lake is actually a mountainous graveyard, where thousands of skeletons can be found. Legends range from it being a mass grave of soldiers to it being the burial ground of the Mongolian army. Get there to find it.
Getting there: Take a train to Kathgodam, then board private taxi or public transport to Lohajung
Route: Lohajung – Didna Village – Ali Bugyal – Ghora Lotani – Bhagwabasa – Roopkund Lake – Bedni Bugyal – Lohajung
Nearest railway station: Kathgodam
Nearest airport: Delhi
Best Season: May and June
Markha Valley Trek
The Markha Valley Trek takes the trekkers to Ganda La and Kongmaru La passes, which are among the highest in the world. The place is laced with green fields, willow trees and a palace. This isn't just an adventurous trek, but also provides insight into Ladakhi history and culture.
Getting there: Take a flight from Delhi to Leh, then hire a bus or cab to reach Spituk, which is 7 km away.
Route: Leh – Zingchen – Yurutse – Ganda La – Skiu – Markha – Thochuntse – Nimaling – Kongmaru La – Sumdo – Leh
Nearest airport: Leh
Best season: June-September
Singalila Pass Trek
Singalila Pass Trek in West Bengal provides fascinating glimpses of the Mt. Kanchenjunga and its surrounding peaks. On your way till here, you will be ascending through the rhododendron, giant magnolias, spruce and other forests of Maneybhanjan.
Getting there: The trek base Hilley is 150 kms and the end point, Uttarey, is 170 kms from New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, which has good connectivity to Delhi as well as Kolkata.
Route: Bagdogra – Darjeeling – Dhotrey – Tonglu – Kalapokhri – Sandakphu – Gurdum – Sepi – Darjeeling – Bagdogra
Nearest railway station: New Jalpaiguri
Nearest airport: Bagdogra
Best season: March-May and October-December
Bhaba Pass Trek
Bhaba Pass trek is an ideal destination for those seeking to explore the real beauty of Himachal Pradesh. Proud peaks and stunning river valleys of the region look as if they were made for adventure.
Getting there: Shimla is well connected to Delhi and travellers can get there via road or train.
Route: Shimla – Kafnu – Mulling – Kara – Phustirang – Bhabha Pass – Baldar – Mudh – Kaza – Kunzum La – Chandratal – Manali
Nearest railway station: Shimla Railway Station
Nearest airport: Shimla Airport
Best season: March-May and October-December
Parang La Trek
Amongst the lesser explored trekking trails in India, the Parang La originates from Kibber, a high altitude hamlet in the Himalayas that is also home to the rare snow leopard. Trailing closely with the Tibet border, the trek falls between the ancient route of Ladakh and Spiti Valley. This region has only recently been opened to trekkers and still has many unclimbed peaks and hidden valleys.
Getting there: Kibber is a remote village in Himachal Pradesh and the safest way to reach is by hiring a cab, or by shared jeep or taxi from Kaza or Manali.
Start point: Dumla
Route: Parang La Trek Route: Delhi – Manali – Kaza – Kibber – Dumla – Thaltak – Bongrojen – Datang Yongma – Rachalamo – Chumik Shilde – Chumik Shilde – Kiangdam – Korzok – Leh – Delhi
Nearest airport: Leh Airport
Best season: July-September (especially the month of August and September)
Patalsu Peak Trek
This trek takes you through some exhilarating terrains to provide the most amazing views and is located near the Solang Nulla district of Himachal Pradesh. An easy day hike around Manali, it enables you to explore some of the magnificent villages like Shanag, Solang and Burwa.
Getting there: There are many buses that ferry between Delhi and Manali. Himachal Pradesh Tourism runs buses that start at 4:30 p.m. from Janpath and reaches Manali, the next morning.
Route: Manali – Solnag Nulla – Shagadugh – Pathalu Peak – Shagadugh – Solang Nulla
Nearest railway station: Chandigarh Railway Station
Nearest airport: Bhuntar Airport
Best season: July-September
Snow Leopard Trek
Sprawling over 600 sq. km, the Hemis National Park in Ladakh is home to the elusive snow leopards. A trek to this park through the stunning locales that comprises of rocky terrains, views of the mighty Himalayan Range, exhilarating terrains and pictorial landscapes, is sure to be an experience worth living.
Getting there: You can easily get to the Hemis National Park by hiring a car or by accessing public transport as it is barely 5 kms away from Leh Airport
Route: Leh – Khardung La – Leh – Stok Village – Stok Basecamp – Stok Kangri – Stok Base camp – Stok Village – Leh
Nearest airport: Leh
Best season: July-September
Sudarshan Parbhat Trek
A prominent peak on the trail from Gangotri to Gaumukh, Sudarshan Parbat trek is often approached through the Raktavarn Glacier route. The trek trail itself is a vibrant combination of level-walks, gradual climbs and steep ascent going through glacial paths, birch forest and rocky inclines.
Getting there: The nearest railhead is Haridwar. Buses are available from Anand Vihar ISBT. You can also take a cab/local bus from Delhi to Gangotri (466 kms).
Route: Delhi- Uttarkashi-Gangotri-Chirbasa-Bhojbasa-Sudarshan Peak and back
Nearest airport: Delhi
Best season: May-June and September-October first week (except monsoon season)
Borasu Pass Trek
A connecting passage between the Himalayan Range of Himachal and Uttarakhand, the Borasu Pass trek is a unique experience for trekkers. The trails of this amazing trek pass through the Har Ki Dun Valley and also through the Marinda Lake and finally lead to lush and flowery meadows.
Getting there: Dehradun is the nearest rail head to Sankri, which is also the starting point of the trek. From there Sankri, Dehradun is at an approximate distance of 186 kms and can be reached by bus or private vehicle.
Route: Dehradun – Sankri – Taluka – Osla – Har Ki Doon – Jaundhar Glacier – Har Ki Dun camp – Osla- Sankri – Dehradun
Best season: June and September-October (except monsoon season)
Milam Glacier Trek
Yet another engrossing trek in the Kumaon region, this trek takes you to some of the remote settlements of Uttarakhand. Around 28 kms in length, the trek can be strenuous in nature depending on the weather and climb.
Getting there: The nearest rail heads to Munsiyari, the starting point of the trail is Kathgodam. You can hire a local car or driver to take you further from the station to Chaukori and then to Munsiyari.
Route: Kathgodam- Chaukori- Munsiyari- Lilam-Bogidiyar-Rilkot- Milam Glacier- Burfu-Nahar Devi- Lilam- Munsiyari.
Nearest airport: Pantnagar or Delhi
Best season: May-June and September-October
