Introduction
- Trekking in India
Off
late, trekking in India is becoming
popular among the tourists all over
the world. This might have been a new
phenomenon for the travelers from
abroad, for Indians, these mountains
signify not only the natural beauty
but also a source of spiritual
guidance.
Trekking has remained men's
passion from the day he took his first
step on the earth. He always ventured
out of home and his natural
surroundings to explore something new,
a world that was unknown to him. It is
astonishing to learn that the human
race migrated from one continent to
another when there were no means of
communication, no helping hands, and
most of them who left their home could
never return back.
In
India, more than anything else,
trekking gained popularity due to
religion. The loftiness and beauty of
the Himalayas made our forefathers
believe that if there is any place
where gods can reside, it is the
Himalayas. This led to the
establishment of many religious
centers in the hills, the result of
which is that even today thousands of
devotees cross various hurdles to
reach these places.
Professional
trekking began in India with the
coming of Europeans who found the
climate of hills quite similar to
those in their own country and decided
to establish hill stations in the
Himalayas and other mountain ranges in
India. These hill stations acted as
the base points from where new trek
routes were explored and documented
for the future generation trekkers.
From those formative years, many
changes have taken place. Greater
number of people from all hues, ages,
and income groups are participating in
this sport.
Information
About Trekking in India
Physical
Requirements for Trekking in India
Not
much physical requirement is necessary
for low-altitude trekking and nature
walks. However, for high-altitude
trekking, the physical requirements
are almost the same as for
mountaineering and climbing. People
with high/low blood pressure or who
are overweight are advised not to
participate in high-altitude games and
sports. People below 16 years and
above 60 years are also discouraged
from participating in this sport.
Best
Time for Trekking in India
February/March
are the best months for low-altitude
trekking in the Himalayas. For
high-altitude trekking, the best
months are April/May. The months of
July and August receive heavy rainfall
and, therefore, these months are not
recommended for the amateur trekkers.
The
best months for trekking in the
Western Ghats are from December to
April when the weather is clear and
lush greenery surrounds the region.
Major
Trekking Destinations in India
Trekking
destinations in India can broadly be
divided in two major areas: the
Western Himalayas covering the states
of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, and Uttaranchal and the
Eastern Himalayas covering Darjeeling
region of West Bengal, Sikkim, and
Arunachal Pradesh.
Trekking
Destinations - Western India
The
major trekking areas of the Western
Himalayas are in the state of
Uttranchal. The areas around Gangotri
and Yamunotri have quite a good number
of popular treks. Nanda Devi is
another famous trekking option and
most of the area comes under Kumaon
region.
Trekking
Destinations - Eastern Himalayas
Most
of the trekking routes in Eastern
Himalayas cover the states of Sikkim,
Arunachal Pradesh, and the hilly areas
of West Bengal. Green meadows, tea
gardens, and hospitable guests mark a
different change from the rest of
India in this region.
Trekking
in India - Permits and Licenses
Many
of the trekking routes in India
crosses through the areas that have
been perceived to be sensitive for
defense purposes by the government of
India. Non-Indians are needed to
procure necessary licenses and permit
to enter these areas. Contact
Indianholiday.com for any further
information in this regard.
Trekking
in India - Precautions
1.
It is advisable not to go for
unrealistic programs. When chalking
out your program, give sufficient time
for altitude acclimatization. During
the program never try to be too
hurried. It can be dangerous.
2.
Decide what you want to participate
in: is it high-altitude trekking or
nature walking only? Look for the
level of difficulty involved in the
program and whether your physical
fitness is up to the level of
competence required.
3.
Important addresses, phone numbers,
and email IDs should be distributed
among the organizers, coordinators,
and all the group members.
4.
All the medicines that one may require
and other basic surgical equipments
should accompany group.
5.
Divide all the responsibilities among
the group members. Each member of the
group should have proper training and
experience of handling mountaineering
equipments.
6.
Sufficient ration should be there to
take care of any eventuality.
7.
High-altitude sickness or
high-altitude madness is a common
phenomenon among the trekkers and
mountaineers. If you are participating
in these programs for the first time,
make yourself aware of the symptoms
and methods to deal with this problem.
It is necessary for the members of the
expedition to know how to deal with
snow blindness, frostbiting, and
sunburning.
8.
All the members should know proper
mountaineering guidelines,
high-altitude survival techniques, and
first-aid techniques.
9.
Sensitivity to environment and respect
of the local culture are some of the
social issues for which all the
members of an expedition group should
be counselled properly. Go away from
the campsite for the morning chores.
Do not attend to nature's call within
a range of 300 feet from the water
source. Dig a hole of 6¢¢ and cover
it up after the job is done. If you
are using toilet papers, remember to
bury them in the ground. Do not leave
anything back in the hills.
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