Himalayan Kingdom: Viraat Khai (top and below) in Uttarakhand is a popular trekking spot (Pics By Ameya Gokhale)

Northward bound: The foothills of the Himalayas offer some of the most spectacular mountain treks. From Ladakh to Himachal Pradesh to Uttarakhand, each location boasts green hills, deep undulating valleys, and enough flora and fauna to enthral the most demanding of nature lovers.

Viraat Khai

Different Dose: Devacha Gadav (above) and Calu waterfall (below) are two off-beat trekking destinations near Mumbai

Treks around Viraat Khai take you across a variety of terrain including steep, sharply-curving gravel paths, beautiful hill-side trails that overlook the surrounding valleys, and trails that cut through dense jungle paths that are used by mountain goats and other animals.

Adventure tourism company Great Indian Outdoors runs a camp called ‘Room on the Roof’ at Viraat Khai. It offers a range of facilities such as mountain biking, rafting, rappelling and bridge slithering.

The best season to go trekking in Uttara-khand is between April and July and again between September and November. On clear nights, one can see all the way to Mussoorie, whose bright lights mark the distant hills.

Western wonder: In the west, of course, Sahyadri rules. Popular hill stations here are Matheran, Maha-baleshwar and Lonavala, and popular trekking spots include Harishchandragad, Rajmachi, Karnala, Rajgad, Kalsubhai and Chanderi.

Those wanting to try off-beat places can begin with Calu waterfall, Devacha Gadhav and Gambhirnath caves. The treks here can be covered in a day or two and are hence, ideal for those who have just a weekend to spare, and do not require specialised gear.

Calu waterfall in the Malshej Ghat region, 90 km to the north-east of Mumbai, is far from the madding crowd of towns. With the water falling from a height of 150 metre, it is an ideal spot to soak in some cool splendour.

Then there is Devacha Gadhav, which is Marathi for donkey chariot of God. God, in this case, is the adjacent Karkaidongar but one wonders where the donkey comes from, as there is none that one encounters in or around the region.

Finally, it is time for reflection at Gambhirnath caves, which are closer to Mumbai than the other two spots. Take any Pune train and halt at a station called Thakurwadi. A few steps down the railway track itself will take you to the cave on the face of a huge mountain wall. Folklore has it that a sage meditated here and found his calling, but with saffron flags, the place has more of a political feel. But fret not, walk deep in and you will experience an adventure to rave about.

As with all sports, the right gear will prevent injuries and improve performance. Regular cross-trainers are only good for light treks. For rougher terrain, wear a trekking shoe or boot. Companies such as Merrell, Timberland and Columbia are popular among adventure sports enthusiasts. However, Merrell’s range is the only one that is available in India.

Rajesh Gajra and Pierre Mario Fitter
(Pierre’s travel to Viraat Khai was sponsored by Merrell)

(Businessworld Issue 12-18 Aug 2008)