Roopkund Trek Tour

The day I read about Roopkund trek, I decided to explore the region in my next vacation but due to the peak time, I was not able to get even the weekends. After waiting for long, my application for a long vacation got approved and I packed my bags for Roopkund. Along with my best buddy Deepak, I booked a tour with one of the most reputed tour-planners. Since the region was totally new for me and him both, so we preferred to book it with an expert service provider.

We both were very excited to explore Roopkund. For me the reason was its mysterious history and for Deepak the reason was an adventure tour. The first day was of the tour was dedicated to Delhi. Even after spending so many years in Delhi, I found this capital city still has many unleashed faces. After exploring Delhi, the nest destination according to the tour plan was Nainital. I and Deepak were excited because we had never been to Nainital. Exploring Nainital for us was like an added flavour to the Roopkund trekking tour.

The next day, the surprise was Kausani, Baijnath, Mundoli, Nanda Gunti and Lohajung. We did not expect that the tour was going to be this much interesting. The night was hosted by Lohajung, the beautiful place. In early morning, we covered a trek route down into Gyan Ganga Valley and also followed a river before climbing to Didana.

As the days were passing, our adventure buds started craving for more. And then, they were fairly treated with a serious uphill trek through forests. The trip was going smooth but I and Deepak were waiting for Roopkund trek and as we were getting close to the destination, the excitement was getting increased.

We covered several other destinations in next two days including Bedini Bugya and Bagubasa. Finally, the day arrived and we were ready to get the glimpses of the mysterious lake Roopkund.

It was hard to believe that this amazing beauty of the Roopkund had a scaring face too. Also famous as the skeleton lake, this lake made me realize that abundant natural beauty could also be scary. It was getting hard to imagine the condition of the person who first discovered more than 500 human skeletons at the edge of this lake. The time we visited the lake, there was a thick layer of snow, but it is said that if the snow is not thick till date the remains of human as well as the animals can be seen.

After exploring the region for few hours, we came back to Bagubasa. In next 4 days, we explored many other destinations which included Pather, Nachauni, Bhuna, Kanol, Sitel and Rishikesh.

Roopkund trekking tour was over, but my heart was still there with the beauty and mystery of Roopkund lake whereas Deepak was loaded with unforgettable memories of the adventure tour.

Char Dham Yatra holds great significance among the Hindu pilgrims. The term ‘Char Dham’ means four places where Gods reside. Char Dham tour includes four destinations of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. These four places are located amidst the Himalaya in Garhwal region of Uttaranchal state.

According to Hindu Mythology, the yatra is fruitful when it is done like a ‘Parikarma.’ Thus, the journey starts from Yamunotri, proceeding to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath. Char Dham Yatra is also considered as a way to wash out your sins and to attain ‘Moksha’ or Salvation.

My parents wanted to go for Char Dham Yatra, I too accompanied them. Started from Delhi, we reached Haridwar, the holy city. The places we visited there Mansa Devi temple, Sapt Rishi and Daksha Mahadev temple. We stayed there to see the Maha Aarti on the Ganga bank. The scene was so beautiful that it simply made us forget our fatigue and filled us with divine peace.

Walking through Rishikesh, we headed towards Yamunotri. Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, this holy site has a great significance. It is believed that Lord Krishna used to play on the banks of river Yamuna.
We visited the temple via Hanuman Chetty. Horses were also available on rent, offering a wonderful opportunity to view the breathtaking beauty of waterfalls.

Gangotri was our next destination. Considered as the place where Ganga merged in the earth, Gangotri has a 18th century temple. Our heart filled with great devotion when we reached this sacred site, hustling and bustling with religious activities. We also took a holy dip in river Ganga and visited beautiful places adjacent to Gangotri.

Our customized Char Dham tour package proved helpful for us as we could visit all the places we wanted to see. To experience the eternal bliss, we reached our next destination Kedarnath. After reaching there, we felt the tranquility and great peace of mind because everywhere you could listen the sound of praising God by devotees. There is a temple which was built by Pandavas. It is known as the abode of Lord Shiva.

It is said that the present temple was built by Adi Shankracharya in the 18th century. The temple has decorated inner walls in the assembly hall. A large statue of the Nandi bull stands outside the temple door. Blessed with great scenic beauty, Kedarnath is also the origin place of River Mandakini.

Connecting ourselves with divine during our tour, we reached Badrinath, the last destination of our tour. It is situated in the lap of Nar-Narayan Parvat, at an elevation of 3,133 meters above sea level. Badrinath is considered as the most sacred religious site of Hindu. This pilgrimage site boasts of Tapt Kund and Surya Kund, which are the springs of natural hot water.

The silent and tranquil atmosphere seems to resound with the names of God as the devotees advance towards their destination. We felt immense tranquility by getting the spiritual blessings of Lord.
Apart from offering great spiritual experience, the journey also enabled us to enjoy the scenic natural beauty scattered all around the sacred sites.

Based on our experience, I would strongly recommend that one must go for Char Dham Yatra at least once in his life!

Ladakh Trekking Tour

India is an incredible land which offers adventure in plenty. Adventure lovers travel to India from across the globe to set their pulse racing with its adventure activities. Trekking is a famous adventure sport in India as the country is endowed with majestic Himalayas and other mesmerizing mountain ranges. The country boasts of some of the best trekking trails in the world. So are you ready for the exciting trekking challenges? You will get to enjoy, experience and explore a lot on the trekking tour to India. On trekking tour you get a chance to pass through forests, quaint villages established on the hills, gushing streams and cascading waterfalls. The experience of trekking in India is truly beyond words.

Ladakh is considered one of the best places for trekking not only in India but in the world. This snow desert of India is popularly known as Little Tibet as its geographical features and culture resembles that of Tibet. When it comes to adventure, Ladakh tops the list of Indian adventure destinations. Boasting of the majestic snow-capped mountains, lovely valleys, arresting monasteries and adventure sports, Ladakh is a great destination for holidays.

Whether you are an expert in trekking or an amateur, Ladakh Trekking Tours have options for you. Go for a trekking trail of one day or enjoy trekking for the entire one month in Ladakh. While you are in Ladakh you can also indulge in other adventure activities like water rafting, Yak safari and cycling.

Ladakh boats of several enchanting trekking routes such as Nubra alley, Lamayuru Gompa to Chilling, Spituk to Markha valley, Likir to Temisgam, Rupshu valley and Spiti valley. These trails are popular with tourists as they are quite easy treks. If you have long perfected the art of trekking then the difficult trekking trails like Stok Kangri trek, Markha Valley, Nubra Valley, Alchi – Lamayuru Trek and Rupshu valley. The perfect time for Ladakh Trekking tour is from mid June to October. world.

Apart from Ladakh you can go for trekking in North East Indian states like Sikkim, Assam, Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

Are you looking for an escape route from the drudgery of your daily life? Kashmir is the best bet. Kashmir is truly a destination out-of-this-world. Its unparalleled charm has been the muse of travellers, authors and poets for centuries. Its rejuvenating natural beauty and serene environment will capture your heart. Treat your senses with breathtaking natural beauty, sow-capped mountains, salubrious climate, boat ride on Dal lake, blooming gardens and adventure sports on Kashmir tour.

Come summers and tourists from across the globe plan Kashmir Tour for pleasurable and memorable holidays. From adventure sports to peaceful settings, there is so much one can enjoy at this incredible tourist destination.

Gulmarg

Gulmarg Tour

Popular called the Meadow of flowers, Gulmarg is a breathtakingly beautiful destination of Kashmir. The grassy hills peppered with flowers of different hues are a treat to the soul. Relax in its wonderful surroundings and surely you will remember the experience for long. It is also a popular destination for golf. A variety of flowers can be seen here.

Srinagar

It is the capital of Kashmir which takes immense pride in its attractions. Dal lake and Mughal Gardens are the most famous attractions of this destination. The lake is extraordinary beautiful offering picturesque views. Enjoy a stay in a houseboat on the lake for pleasurable accommodation. Enjoy the charm of the lake on a boat ride. The Mughal Gardens overflow with colourful flowers and never fail to rejuvenate the visitors to the hilt.

Sonmarg

This adventure-filled destination is popular for offering great opportunities for adventure sports. Tourists from far and wide come here for plunging into the joy of skiing, camping, trekking and rafting. It is famously known as the Golden Meadow. It is ideally located at an altitude of 2,740 m above sea level.

Patnitop

Patnitop Tour

Patnitop beckons you to get soaked in the mesmerizing natural beauty. It gives you an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate completely. Its picturesque landscape, gushing waterways, golf course, freshwater springs and snow-capped mountains attract tourists from far and wide.

The incredible country like India can be best described by the phrase ‘Unity in Diversity’. India is a land of rich cultural heritage which beautifully reflects in its various attractions. The various states of India have their own unique culture. Although there is so much diversity in culture of India but still there is unity among Indians. Fairs and festivals are among the most colorful part of Indian culture. They are also the perfect means of getting acquainted with the culture of India.

It would be no exaggeration to say that India is a land of fairs and festivals as its calender is full of various fairs and festivals commemorating various occasions. Fairs and festivals of India attract tourists from across the globe.

Some of the most famous fairs and festivals of India are:

Diwali
It is the festival of lights which is celebrated with great flavor

Diwali

throughout India. Symbolizing the victory of good over evil, this festival commemorates Lord Rama’s return to his kingdom after 14 years of exile. On this festival people illuminate their houses with earthen lamps and lights, distribute sweets, burn crackers and worship Goddess Lakshmi. This festival falls in the month of October or November.

Navratri
This festival is celebrated for nine days in honour of the goddess. The goddess symbolizes power. During these nine days nine forms of the goddess are worshipped and devotees observe fast for nine days. The goddess is known by several names like Durga, Laxmi, Bhavani, Kali, chandika, Maha gauri, Ashtabhuja and Siddhiratri. All the nine forms signify various traits that the goddess influences us with.

Holi

It is a festival of colours which is celebrated with great enthusiasm

HOli

especiallyin North India. During this festival people play with powdered colours and water. Huge bonfires are lit on the evening of Holi. This festival also symbolizes the victory of good over evil. There is an interesting legend associated with it.

Pushkar Fair
It is the largest cattle fair in the world. Held in Pushkar City of Rajasthan it is marked with several cultural activities like dance, music, competitions and many more. It is celebrated in October/November.

Pongal
It is an important festival of South India which is celebrated for four days. It is a harvest festival. During the festival cattle, Sun god and Rain god are worshiped.

Eid-ul-Fittr
It is an important festival of Muslims which marks the end of Ramzan, the Muslim month of fasting. During the festival people exchange greeting and sweets and offer prayer in mosques. Feasting is the main feature of this festival.

Desert Festival
This is a famous festival of Rajasthan which is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the city of Jaisalmer. During the celebration the desert comes alive with cultural activities. Folk dance, puppet shows, turban-tying competition, camel race etc are the main highlights of the festival.

Badrinath

This time I and my friends were thinking of planning a tour which could be different from the rest of the tours which we had already taken. I mean we were looking for a destination which can offer natural beauty, adventure, pleasure, peace, knowledge and much more-all rolled into one. I was sharing this with my mom and she suggested the Char Dham Tour. Not taking her suggestion seriously I smilingly said ‘we are too young to go for a tirth yatra’. But then later when I saw the destinations of Char Dham Yatra on internet I was speechless. They are extremely beautiful promising much more than what we wanted. I immediately shared this idea with my friends and finally finalized this tour.

According to Hindu mythologies it is believed that Char Dham Yatra is a journey to moksha. Char Dham consists of four wonderful pilgrimage sites namely Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It is one of the most holy tours of the Hindus. These four destinations are located in the staggeringly beautiful Himalayas. We booked the Char Dham tour with great excitement.

Starting from Delhi we reached Haridwar in the afternoon. After refreshing ourselves we visited the Mansa Devi temple and participated in the evening aarti at Har ki Pauri. Haridwar is another famous pilgrimage site of India. Its evening aarti was very uplifting. There we had an overnight stay at Hotel Haveli Hari Ganga. This place is a doorway to the Char Dham Yatra.

The next day in the morning we drove to Barkot via Mussoorie. We halted for some time in Mussoorie to see the wonderful Kempty Fall. We continued our drive to Barkot and reached there in the evening and spent the night in a hotel. Barkot is 215 kms from Haridwar.

In the morning we left from Barkot for Janki Chatti via Hanuman Chatti and Fool Chatti. Hanuman Chatti is the confluence of Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna River. After reaching Janki Chatti we started the trek of 6 km for Yamunotri, one of the Char Dhams. Yamnotri is located at an elevation of 3,235 m above sea level. The views of the surroundings were mesmerizing. After reaching Yamunotri we took a holi dip in Garam kund and then headed towards the shrine of Goddess Yamnotri. After darshan and Pooja we trekked back to Janki Chatti and drove back to Barkot.

Our Guide Shankar told us that Yamunotri is the the source of the Yamuna River and the seat of the Goddess Yamuna. Yamunotri Temple was built in the 19^th century by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur.

We saw several thermal springs flowing into the pools near the temple. The guide told us that among all Surya Kund is the most famous. We also worshipped at Divya Shila, a rock pillar which is worshipped before entering the Yamunotri Temple.

From Barkot we left for Uttarkashi in the morning. It is 82 km from Barkot. En route we visited Prakateshwar Cave. The journey from Barkot to Uttarkashi was very pleasurable as the road was flanked by pine trees and the path was very picturesque. It is a natural cave found around 10 years back. There are limestone formations inside the cave which resemble Shiv Linga because of which it holds religious importance. Cold water flows inside the cave making their way into a small pool. The water here is considered sacred.

We reached Uttarkashi in the afternoon and after refreshing ourselves we visited Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Later in the evening we participated in the aarti of Goddess Ganga at the Ganga river ghat. Uttarkashi is a gateway to Gangotri. Uttarkashi is located on the bank of river Bhagirathi. There are several temples located here. We also strolled through the town of Uttarkashi and retired to the beds late. The next day we had to drive to Gangotri. Till now our journey had been great, very beautiful, very uplifting.

Gulmarg Tour

I had never thought that my adventure fever would take me to a journey where I could enjoy beauty as well as thrill at highest. The best part was when I saw the Indo-Pak border with naked eyes, and I had goose-bumps. Friends, it was Gulmarg – the meadow of flowers – the gem of Jammu & Kashmir. While going through the Gulmarg tourism guide, I came to know that the place was discovered by the British in 1927 as a superb hill resort. Moreover, it served as a favourite place of Emperor Jehangir who collected 21 different varieties of wild flowers from here. And it was real!!

Anyways, I was lying amidst magical meadows, snow capped mountains, and picturesque alpines that have altogether provided wonderful background for several Bollywood ventures. Although it was a one-day trip, I decided to keep my luggage in a hotel before leaving for some exciting adventure sports. On my way, I also paid a short visit to the shrine of Baba Reshi, a Muslim mystic saint.

My adventure journey in this region of Baramulla district of J&K started from Khilanmarg, where I enjoyed the best skiing of my lifetime. I hired the skis and sticks, snow boots, woollen socks, mufflers, windproof jackets, goggles, and caps. I was accompanied by a ski instructor who taught me the proper way to perform skiing. That short class offered by him was quite helpful in blind slopes.

After skiing for around a couple of hours, I searched for a restaurant where I enjoyed awesome Rogan Josh, a traditional non-vegetarian dish. Next I headed for the Alpather Lake, a picturesque alpine lake that remains frozen until late June. As an adventure seeker, I wished to take the one-day & 13 km trekking route from Gulmarg to the Alpather Lake, but later I dropped the idea and decided to go for a nature walk amidst the pine forests.

I also paid a visit to the gorgeous green golf course in Gulmarg, which boast of being the highest golf course in the world. This way, it was an ideal trip that offered me beauty as well as thrill. The place was mesmerizing. After all, it was a heavenly trip to a heaven!

Ladakh

Continuing my tradition of exploring the incredible destinations of India, this time I packed my bags and headed to Ladakh in the month of December. Visiting this wondrous destination in the winter is an absolute enchantment. It is popularly known as “Little Tibet” because of its similarity to Tibet in terms of geography and culture. As I reached this beautiful land I felt as if I had landed on some new planet inhabited by only a few people. Here the pure white snow not only cloak the mountains but the roads also. The sights of the mountains, plains and romantic lakes punctuated by beautiful Gompas (Buddhist monasteries) are simply overwhelming.

I along with Mukesh, my guide, started exploring Leh early in the morning . Hemmed in by snow-covered peaks of the fascinating Himalayan range, Leh has bewitching attractions to capture the hearts of tourists. Mukesh suggested to explore Leh on bicycle (for adventure) as it is a small city. I like his idea and we made a move towards the arresting 17th century royal palace with 9 stories. It still retains its old-world charm, despite of being almost in a state of ruin.

The next attractions we visited were the Namgyal Tsemo and the Soma monasteries. After my visits to the beautiful monasteries I decided to dine out at one of the restaurants where we relished delectable momos and thukpa (noodle-based soup). Then we hired a taxi and reached the valley of Zanskar, which has much higher altitude than most areas in Ladakh.

Shyok Valley

Its rugged landscape was mind-blowing. We also visited its monasteries, which had their own charm.

The next attraction on my list was the Shyok Valley, which has a great attraction, the Shyok River. As I had come to Ladakh in winter, the river was frozen and the sight was breathtaking. I spent hours enjoying this creativity of nature. As the day was drawing to a close I retraced my steps to the hotel I was booked in.