14 BEST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THE INDIAN MOUNTAINS
14 BEST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THE INDIAN MOUNTAINS
LEARN MORE ABOUT 14 BEST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THE INDIAN MOUNTAINS AND DISCOVER A LOT OF MOUNTAINS IN INDIA
14 BEST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THE INDIAN MOUNTAINS
There are mountain ranges, hill towns, and towering peaks higher than 3000 m on the Indian subcontinent. The tallest peaks in the world are found in the Himalayan mountain ranges in India, which are the most well-known mountain ranges. More than 100 peaks in India, Pakistan, Nepal, China, and Bhutan are higher than 7000 meters. Kanchenjunga mountain, which is located in Sikkim and is 8586 meters high, is the highest peak in India.
Only two mountains are taller than Kanchenjunga – Everest (8848 m) and K2 (8611 m). The Himalayan mountain range consists of three parallel ranges: Greater Himalayas, Lesser Himalayas and Outer Himalayas. In India, the Himalayas extends for more than 2500 km from west to east. Other tall mountains in India can be found in the Trans Himalayas, Purvachal Himalayan ranges and the Western Ghats. India also has many smaller peaks and older mountain ranges which are home to many beautiful hill stations, tea and coffee plantations, evergreen forests and more.
The mountains of India are sacred and revered, many mountains are considered the abode of gods, especially peaks in the Himalayan region. Pilgrimage destinations are nestled within the mountains. And Hindu pilgrimage tours (Yatras) are organised by specialist tour operators organise to visit these pilgrimage destinations. Many Indians consider it auspicious to complete a Yatra, and those who complete the especially difficult Yatras are revered in their community.
THE HIMALAYAN RANGES
The Himalayan Ranges are the tallest and youngest mountains in the world. The word “Himalaya” translates to “abode of snow” in Sanskrit – “Hima” means snow, and “alaya” means abode or dwelling.
When viewed from a distance, most of the Himalayan ranges are enormous, awe-inspiring snowy mountains.
The Himalayas extend 2500 km from Afghanistan and pass through the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir in the west to Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur in the east.
Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and West Bengal are the other Indian states through which the Himalayan mountain ranges pass through.
Due to the continuous movement of the Indian tectonic plate towards the Eurasian plate, the Himalayan mountains are still rising higher.
Everest and many of the tallest peaks are rising by a few millimetres yearly. Many perennial, glacier-fed rivers originate in the Himalayan regions and flow through large parts of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan to flow to the oceans.
The Himalayan ranges consist of parallel, converging ranges separated by deep valleys.
The Himalayas lie between Tibet and Gangetic Plain and consist of three parallel mountain ranges called the Greater Himalayas (or Himadri or Central Himalayas), Middle Himalayas (also called Himachal or Lower Himalayas) and Outer Himalayas (also called Shivalik ranges).
OVERVIEW
The Greater Himalayas is the highest zone bordering the Tibetan Plateau and has lofty snow-covered peaks with an average elevation of 6100 m.
The Greater Himalayas are home to many of the world’s tallest peaks, such as Everest and Kanchenjunga. These mountain ranges are snow-clad throughout the year and have many high-altitude trekking routes, breathtaking glacier lakes and motorable mountain passes.
The Greater Himalayas pass through Indian States of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Middle Himalayas are mountain ranges in the second belt of the Himalayan mountain system parallel to the Greater Himalayas. The elevation of most of the mountain peaks ranges from 3600 m to 4600 m, with deep valley gorges.
The two major mountain ranges in the Middle Himalayas are the Pir Panjal and Dhauladar Ranges. These ranges are home to many river systems fed by the glaciers and snowfields in the Greater Himalayan mountain ranges.
The mountain peaks in this region are considered sacred by Hindus, and many pilgrimage places such as Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Amarnath caves, among others.
You can visit many ski resorts, hill stations and National Parks in these ranges. Popular trekking routes are available with a lower difficulty level than treks in Greater Himalayas.
Most of the Himalayan hill stations like Gulmarg, Shimla, Manali, Ranikhet, Darjeeling and others are in the Middle Himalayas.
Outer Himalayas are the southernmost of the three belts in the Himalayan mountain system.
The average elevation of most mountain peaks in this range is below 2000 m. Unlike the Greater and Middle Himalayan mountains, the Outer Himalayas range narrows as it moves east and is hardly discernible beyond West Bengal and Sikkim.
These mountains are much more accessible, but the forest cover reduces towards the west.
Highest Peak: Kanchenjunga, Sikkim (8,586 meters or 28,169 ft).
Things To Do In the Himalayas include:
1- Visit A High-Altitude Mountain Pass
India is home to many high-altitude mountain passes such as Nathu La in Sikkim, Zoji La in Jammu and Kashmir and Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh.
These passes are popular as many are connected by road and can be reached by vehicle.
Many of these passes are snowbound most of the year and are prone to rockfall and snowfall.
You can rent a two-wheeler or four-wheeler vehicle to explore the mountain roads in the Himalayas.
Exploring the amazing views and experiencing the mountains often requires crossing from one mountain to another via a mountain pass, and this should be on your bucket list while travelling to the Himalayas.
2- Explore A Himalayan Village
Hundreds of tiny villages are nestled in the valleys among the towering peaks of the Himalayas.
Most of these villages will never be far from an Indian Army outpost, and you can find many of them on maps.
While exploring the Himalayas, visiting a remote and secluded village and experiencing the tranquillity of village life will kindle your spiritual side.
Kibber village in Spiti Valley, Panikhar village in Suru Valley, Lachen village in Sikkim are some of the idyllic Himalayan villages.
3- Be Amazed At The Beauty Of A High-Altitude Lake
Many high-altitude lakes are nestled in the valleys beside mountains and glaciers across the Greater Himalayan Ranges.
Gurudongmar Lake in Sikkim is fed by melted water from glaciers and surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks.
The picturesque view of the lake (which completely freezes in winter) amidst mountains is truly a memorable sight.
Pangong Lake near Leh in Ladakh is another popular high-altitude lake in the India-China border.
4- Travel On The Toy Train In Darjeeling
Embark on a train journey where a diesel or a steam engine pulls coaches on a narrow-gauge track through tea plantations and steep mountain slopes with picturesque views of snow-capped mountains and lush green valleys.
The train ferries between Darjeeling station and Ghum station but requires booking in advance during tourist season due to high demand.
5- Ski The Slopes Of Auli, Uttarakhand
Auli is a ski destination nestled among the towering Himalayan peaks.
The ski resort is close to Valley of Flowers National Park and has a range of accommodations for everyone.
The ski resort has ski-worthy slopes during winter, transforming into a hill station in summer.
TRANS HIMALAYAN RANGES
These mountains are part of the Himalayas immediately north and parallel to the Greater Himalayan Ranges.
The Trans Himalayan Ranges comprise of Karakoram, Zanskar and Ladakh Ranges and are geographically located in India, Pakistan and the Tibetan Plateau to the northwest and south of the Greater Himalayan Range.
Two of the 10 tallest mountain peaks in the world – K2 and Nanga Parbat – are located in Karakoram.
A major portion of the Karakoram Ranges lies in the disputed region between India and Pakistan, with both countries claiming this region.
One of the many interesting tidbits about Karakoram Ranges is that they have the most significant number of glaciers, excluding Polar Regions.
The Ladakh Range lies to the south of the Karakoram Range and is home to the Nubra Valley and the high-altitude city of Leh.
This range is famous for its stark mountain slopes, sparse vegetation, and rugged landscapes interspersed with water streams.
Umling La (5883 meters), Marsimek La (5582 meters), and Khardung La (5359 meters) are some of the highest motorable passes in the world which can be reached by a vehicle.
South of the Ladakh Range lies the Zanskar Range in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir.
The peaks in this range are taller than those in Ladakh Range, and the climate is harsher.
Many water streams freeze in the winter, and locals use the frozen passages for transportation during cold months when mountain roads are no longer accessible.
The Chadar Frozen River Trek is one of India’s most famous and difficult treks and attracts international trek enthusiasts every year.
Many rivers flow through this region, and the beautiful ski resort of Gulmarg lies in this region. Trekking in this region requires permits from the Indian Government.
Highest Peak: K2 (8611 meters or 28,251 ft), Jammu and Kashmir.
Things to Do in Trans Himalayan Ranges include:
6- Visit Buddhist Monasteries
You can visit many Buddhist Monasteries when travelling to the Zanskar, Karakoram and Ladakh regions.
The tranquil atmosphere of a monastery amidst breathtaking landscapes and understanding monks’ way of life will surely calm your soul.
Phuktal Gompa, one of Zanskar’s beautiful cave monasteries, was built centuries ago on a hillside and is located in the remote Lugnak Valley.
You can visit this monastery on foot, a day’s hike from the nearest village.
7- Trek On A Frozen River
The temperatures in the mountains fall to sub-zero in winter, leading to many water streams and rivers freezing up.
Zanskar Valley’s Chadar River Trek, a walking route locals use during winter, is an amazing experience for adventure seekers.
Camping and trekking on the frozen river, natural caves in the mountain, sheer cliff faces, and frozen waterfalls, which would otherwise be gushing with tons of water, are some memorable experiences this trek will offer.
8- Drive To High-Altitude Motorable Mountain Passes
Ladakh region is home to many motorable passes, including the world’s highest drivable pass Umling La, at 5883 m.
The pass is open from June to September and closed due to ice and inclement weather in the other months.
The views from the pass are out of this world due to an absence of vegetation and civilisation, it’s like standing on a mountain on Mars.
You will require a permit from the Indian Government to reach this pass and need to plan well in advance.
PURVACHAL MOUNTAIN RANGES
Purvachal, also known as the Eastern Highlands, are mountains in the northeastern Indian States of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam.
These mountain ranges run south of the Brahmaputra valley along the eastern boundary of Myanmar.
Purvachal is an extension of the Himalayan ranges in the east and are characterised by diverse tropical and temperate evergreen vegetation.
The tribal culture, nature, flora and fauna endemic to these mountain ranges attract visitors throughout the year.
Namdapha National Park and Keibul Lamjao National Park can be visited for jungle safaris, trekking and bird watching.
Highest Peak: Dapha Bum (4,578 meters or 15,020 ft).
Things to do in Purvachal Ranges include:
9- Visit Namdapha National Park
Namdapha is one of the largest and most biodiverse parks in India.
Covered with thick, pristine forests, the landscapes have habitats and ecosystems in which different types of flora and fauna thrive.
The Noa-Dohing river that flows through the park is a major tributary of the Brahmaputra and contains a wide variety of aquatic life.
Join a wildlife tour in the park to catch a glimpse of the red panda, snow leopard or the Himalayan black bear, along with bird watching and butterfly watching.
10- Go Trekking In Arunachal Pradesh
The terrain in Arunachal Pradesh consists of deep valleys with lush green forests and water streams flanked by highlands, ridges and snow-capped mountain peaks dotted with tiny villages and monasteries.
This makes the terrain perfect for trekking and exploring the natural beauty and local way of life.
There are many trekking trails like the Zero Valley, Thembang, Seven Lake trek and others.
Check the trek’s difficulty and the appropriate season before embarking on the trek.
11- Visit The Loktak Floating Lake In Manipur
Manipur is another Indian state renowned for its pristine and untouched landscapes and imposing Purvachal hills.
Like Arunachal and the other northeastern states, many beautiful places in Manipur are worth visiting.
Loktak Floating Lake is the largest freshwater lake in South Asia, famous for its floating islands, which change their shape and size throughout the year and attract visitors worldwide.
WESTERN GHATS
The Western Ghats run from Gujarat to Kerala, parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula.
The average elevation of the ghats is 1200 m and the mountains are home to many famous hill stations such as Lonavala, Munnar and Ooty.
Rain-laden monsoons are obstructed by the Western Ghats, resulting in heavy rainfall in the western coastal region of the country.
Due to this phenomenon, Mumbai, Goa and the coastal regions of Karnataka and Kerala receive heavy rainfall from June to September. So, any travel to these regions during monsoons must be planned carefully.
Highest Peak: Anamudi (2,695 meters or 8,841 ft).
Things to do in the Western Ghats include:
12- Visit A Berry Farm In Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra
Mahabaleshwar is a popular weekend getaway from Mumbai and Pune.
Famous for its cool weather in summer, Mahabaleshwar is well known for its berry farming, accounting for more than 80% of strawberry production in India.
When visiting the town, try the many local food specialities of the region, such as strawberries with cream, mulberries with cream, toffees, corn pattices and jellies.
13- Visit Coorg In Karnataka, The ‘Scotland Of India’
Coorg is also popularly known as Scotland of India.
The hills and forests in this region are perpetually covered with a layer of mist and clouds giving it a mystical feel throughout the year.
The lush greenery and exotic views of Coorg can be enjoyed by visiting one of the many towns in this region like Madikeri, Virajpet and others.
The region is also famous for its various coffee and tea plantations, which are a must-visit due to their neatly manicured mountain slopes and exotic sceneries.
14- Visit The Munnar Hills In Kerala
Munnar is a hill station nestled in the Western Ghats which attracts visitors from across the world.
Famous for its panoramic landscapes, lush greenery and tea estates, Munnar is also popular for its rare and exotic flowers like Neelakurinji, which bloom once every 12 years.
Many adventure activities like paragliding and boating attract visitors here.
The availability of luxury accommodation and proximity to other tourist destinations in Kerala, such as Alleppey and Thekkady, also make this hill station very popular among international travellers.