5 Ultimate Hiking Destinations in India

India is a diversified country, with the great mighty Himalayas in the north to deserts in west, beaches in the south and grasslands in the centre. Immensely rich in its flora and fauna the country mesmerises every visitor. One of the best and most popular ways to get in touch with the rich nature is by hiking. From all the paths you take and all the miles you make, the most beautiful are the ones covered by foot.

This post is a list of my top 5 hiking trails in India:

1. The Grand Indrahaar Pass, Himachal Pradesh

A dream destination for all nature lovers and adventure lovers, this state has one of the most fascinating and thrilled treks in the world. While hiking, travellers can view the mighty mountains in the north and the great grasslands in the south. The scenic beauty attracts locals as well as visitors from all over the world. The trek starts from McLeodganj (Dharamsala) in the Kangra valley; it passes through the snowbound Dhauladhar range and ends at Chamba. It takes approximately 5 to 10 days to travel along the route. The best seasons to visit Himachal Pradesh is May to June and September to October.

2. Zanskar Frozen River Trek, Jammu and Kashmir

Photo by Ekabhishek, CC BY 2.0

For adventure enthusiasts, one of the best hiking places in India is Zanskar Frozen River Trek located in Ladhak, one of the most peaceful places the country has. The most spectacular and unusual trek on shimmering ice is situated at the bank of Tsarap River. The trek is extraordinary because it is on a frozen river. While trekking you will feel the fast flowing river beneath your feet. The trek starts from Chilling Sumdo, along the way you will find some breath-taking views of mountains covered with snow, and narrow valleys. You can enjoy bonfires, camping and cooking surrounded with beautiful nature that will leave you with great memories. The trek follows Tilad Do, Nyerag, Lingshed and Zanskar. Best time to visit is February, when the ice is at its thickest on the river the and most stable. 

3. Tiger Hills, West Bengal

Photo by Os Rúpias, CC BY-ND 2.0

The most talked about locations and a dream destination for many backpackers is Tiger Hills. It is one of the best and most captivating treks. Located in Darjeeling the trek passes through Hill Cart Road. Nature admirers and adventure junkies will love this place. The sunset view is spectacular! Make sure you visit the place on a clear day. You may possibly see Kurseong to your south, Teesta River, Mahanady River and Balasun River. If you are a beginner, you may find it easy as compared to other treks. The best time to visit Tiger Hills is from March to May and September to November.

4. Har Ki Doon, Uttarakhand

Photo by Curious Eagle, CC BY-SA 2.0

For the beginners, who are trekking in Uttarakhand for the first time Har Ki Doon is probably the best trek to start with. Located at the base of Fateh Parvat, Har Ki Doon is an easy to moderate trek. The name in itself means “Valley of God”, it is a holy place worshipped by local inhabitants. Surrounded by mighty mountains and dense forest all around, this place is bliss for nature admirers. According to Hindu Granths, Pandavs went to heaven through this trek only. Har Ki Doon trek passes through Debshu Bugyal to Ruinsara Tal, where you can enjoy camping and bonfire near a lake. On your way, you will see the Supin River, in Osla and Taluka. Best time to visit this place is Mid-April to Mid-November.

5. Kurseong Trek, West Bengal

Photo by Amit Chattopadhyay, CC BY 2.0

Kurseong is a small town in Darjeeling, West Bengal. This hiking trail has the best views along with the fragrances of tea gardens. You can trek to deer’s park or Eagle’s Crag (Durpin Dhara), from where you can see plains of Siliguri, Kurseong town and Himalayan mountains covered with snow. You can also hike to the Balason river. It’s a peaceful place, having a number of museums and churches that you can visit which include St Andrew’s church, St Paul’s church, Forestry and Railway Museum. If you are trekking for the first time, I would suggest you to stopover at Kurseong, for the reason that this place have small treks and there are a lot more places you can visit. The best time to hike is from March to April and September to November.

Adventure is something, which will make you doubly happy. Travelling is the best way one can learn. Hiking is not an easy adventure; it requires metal presence along with physical hard work. The happiest and most cherishing time is not the one when you reach the destination but the time when you make efforts to reach there. This is an experience of a lifetime; the beauty of sand, rocks, grasslands, those butterflies and birds, the animals around you, the Sun and sky will be memories which will stay with you throughout your life.

Author Bio:

Rohit Agarwal is a talented architect who also enjoys travelling and exploring besides designing and creating things. He loves to travel to new places and explore new cultures and customs. A man of many talents, he also blogs for many websites, including TransIndiaTravels.com.