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The
Uttranchal (Garhwal & Kumaun) Himalayas and Himachal
Pradesh offer fantastic trekking and mountaineering opportunities. There
are innumerable breath taking journeys along some of the heighest
paths in the world providing a glimpse of life that thrives in the
heart of the heighest mountain range in the World.
Our new camps in the Nilgiris
and other locations in south India offer a tropical aternative
to the trekking experience.
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Walk on... trek on... click on pictures for larger
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The
Valley of flowers National Park
and The Nanda Devi
National Park are the 2 national parks situated in the
core areas of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
The
Nanda Devi National Park
 Created
in 1988 as part of UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Program the Nanda Devi
Biosphere Reserve is the second oldest reserve in India. Located in the
civil districts of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar it is named after
the famous Nanda Devi Peak-a sacred peak that is considered as a
manifestation of the Goddess Nanda – Godess of Joy. The Nanda
Devi Peak
is the highest peak situated in India.
In
the vicinity
of Nanda Devi (7817 m), the second highest peak in India, is situated
the Nanda Devi National Park, which has some of the most unique high
altitude Flora and Fauna in the World. The spectacular views, sylvan
environment, and richness of biosphere make it quite different from the
other wildlife sanctuaries of India. The park has been declared a world
heritage site by UNESCO and in its vicinity are the Valley of Flowers,
Badrinath Temple, and Hemkund Sahib.
Though the park was notified only in 1982, it has a long history. W.W.
Garden was the first person to reach this region in 1883, but his
expedition to the Nanda Devi peak failed to create any impact. In 1936,
Tilman and N.E. Odell scaled the Nanda Devi and opened its vista for
others to follow. This led to the region becoming a game sanctuary in
1939. The area of the park remained undisturbed until 1950's when
organized expeditions for Nanda Devi started. To save the park from
these disturbances, the Government of India declared the region a
National Park in 1982 and later it was given the special status of a
biosphere reserve.
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The
Valley of Flowers
 The
Valley of
Flowers national park appeared on the tourist map only as early as 1931
when Frank Smith a British tourist stumbled across this valley when he
lost his way, while returning back after successfully climbing Mt.
Kamet.
Apart from flowers, the valley is also the home of certain species of
butterlies, the blue sheep, Himalayan bear, the Himalayan mouse, hare
and the snow leopard.
More
information available at our campsite - Enchanted
Valley at Ghangharia
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The Kauri Pass
The
Kauri Pass provides one with some of the most spectacular views of the
Nanda Devi Peak. Situated at an altitude of 4268 mts it provides
panoramic views of a stunning Himalayan range comprising of peaks like
Trishul, Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, Nilkantha, Kamet, Ghodi Parbat, Hathi
Parbat, Bethartoli and Dunagiri. |
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| Gaumukh
 The source of
the Ganges- one of the
world’s most revered rivers- flows across the
sweltering plains of northern India to the Bay of Bengal. Its source is
high in
the Himalayas, amongst the
snows and glaciers close to the Tibetan
border.
The mouth of the
river Ganga is known as Gaumukh
and is situated 18 kms from the Gangotri temple. The route from
Gangotri to Gaumukh, passes through woods of coniferous and pine trees
at Chirbhasa and Birch trees at Bhojbhasa. From Gaumukh one has to
traverse the Gangotri and the Chaturangini
glaciers to reach the Tapovan
and Nandanvan Valleys.
More information available at our
campsite - Camp Gaumukh at Bhojbasa |
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 Har Ki Doon
valley is famous as the oldest and most beautiful pine and deodar
forests in Asia. It is situated in the Uttarkashi district at an
altitude of 3,566 meters surrounded by the Swargarohini, Banderpoonch
and the Black Peak.
In 1955 this area was brought under the Wild Life Reserve Programme and
the Govind Wild Life Sanctuary was established covering an area of 953
sq.km ranging from an altitude of 1,300 meters to 6,315 meters. The
sanctuary is the home of the rare Himalayan snow leopard, the Himalayan
black bear, the musk deer, the Monal and the Khaleej pheasant.
The trek to Har Ki Doon takes one through the unique villages of the
Jaunsar - Bhawar which as per mythology and local customs are the home
of the descendents of the Pandavas (of the famous epic Mahabharata).
The system of polyandry is still followed by the people of this area.
This area is also famous for the legendary wax palace (the "Lakhmandal"
built by the Kauravas with the idea of burning their cousins the
pandavas in it. in the epic Mahabharata). |
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 Deoria
Tal
Is one of the most beautiful
high altitude lakes in the Garhwal Himalayas. Situated at an altitude
of 2,440 mts on the Chopta-Ukhimath highway, 3 km from the village of
sari, it is an excellent spot for angling and bird watching. It is most
famous for the reflection of the surrounding peaks of Chaukhamba and
Kedarnath on its surface at dawn.
Chopta:
Is the most ideal spot to set up base camp en-route to Deoria Tal.
Nestled between the majestic Himalayan peaks at an altitude of 3,650
mts, 31 km from Ukhimath, Chopta is a land of vast open thick
grasslands most ideal for camping. The nights here are especially
beautiful with an unobstructed view of the star studded skies. |
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