Himalaya trekking

trekker2

Now that Nepal seems to be getting increasingly difficult to trek in, India seems to be a viable option. Are treks in India comparable to those in Nepal with respect to scenery, ease of access and planning and availability of food and accomodation? Is it necessary to go through an agent or can one just land up and start trekking?

somnath

Hi trekker2,
Welcome to IM . Is it possible that one can just land up and start trekking (even in Nepal)? Ha ha…. anyway, accommodation, scenic beauty and all depend on the trail. Where you want to go? Plz spend some time on this section and read the posts. And ask some specific question so that IMers can provide required info.

Have a great time.

- Somnath

himadventures

somnath is right-ask your question and search for IM for information-here we have good trekkers and climbers and they contribute with all zeal and zest.

For your information: You can trek in himalayas without any agency.Some areas are sensitive and are known as INNER LINE and they require permit from local govt. official.

You can get you gear,have a map( have print out from IM's reports also ) and can do many trains like PINDARI GLACIER,BEAS KUND,TRIUND-LAKA GLACIER,MILAM GLACIER etc.

Just have a look around-we all will be sending you maps and directions...just ask...

trekker2

Thank you Somnath.
There are many trekkers on various message boards and I am a trekker too...
Since accomodation and food are available on many treks in Nepal it is possible to land up there and start a trek.
I am looking for a teahouse trek in India where food and accomodation are available along the route.

AvidTrekker

Tea House Treks in India are NOT upto the standards of Nepal Tea House treks [Annapurna, Langtang, Everest Base Camp].

The accomodation will be very primitive, the food just about so-so and only local food. Even the standard dish of Nepal daal bhaat will not be available in Indian places [called dhaabaas] as such. You will have to place a separate order for the daal bhaat and another for veggies and another for the chapati. Black tea as served in a huge mug is not served in India the same way. It will be in a teeny weeny cup [Rs three only] & you'll be ordering around ten cups to fill up your one "mug".

Indian trekking is GREAT. More lonely and wild as compared to Nepal where you will be meeting lotsa people to "ask directions". But most of it is "tented" trekking. No tea houses as such. Carry your food and guide and whatever. Actually speaking it is real trekking, as the old timers used to do.

Some so-called tea house treks are available, where some villager's huts or PWD or Govt rest houses are sometimes available. The tea houses in Nepal are funded by Govt Loan programs specifically to encourage trekking tourists in the areas. No such funding in India, hence no real trekking tea houses.

Some of the treks where you can "just trek" are: FROM NORTH to EAST

no number: Amarnath pilgrimage trek in Kashmir [in July or Aug only and thousands of Indians jostling for space on the trek]

1 & 2. Two treks in the Ladakh valley just outside Leh [3 days each]

3. to 6. Four treks in the Manali Manikaran areas [2 to 4 days]

7. Trek along the old Hindustan Tibet road [8 to 10 days] [ currently in the news cuz five bridges washed out in the area.] [ will take at least a month for ALL the bridges to be on-line]

8. Har ki Doon trek in Uttaranchal [6 days]

9. Dodital trek in Uttaranchal [4 days] and maybe Valley of flowers [3 days]

10. to 12. Sunderdoonga, Milam, Pindari-Kafni treks in Kumaon [ 4 to 6 days]

13 India Nepal border trek along the Kailash pilgrim route [Kumaon] [6 days]

14 Singali La ridge trek in Darjeeling [5 days]

15 Some stages of Goecha La trek in Sikkim [1 or 2 days tent reqd] [7 days]

Consider the Annapurna trek in Nepal where you can trek for 16 days [21 days if you combine Annapurna Base Camp] at a reasonable pace and keep getting tea houses all along the way AND you do a 5000m+ pass [Thorung La]

Nothing in India compares to this. No tea houses. Whatever I have listed above are not real tea houses built for tourists in the Nepalese "style". They are merely small houses where the villagers stay themselves [sometimes during trekking season only]

If you are willing to put up with organizing and other things; the Indian treks are something out of this Planet. Wild and more Wild. You may never want to do a tea house trek again except if you are hassled for time [& maybe money].

Welcome to India, HAPPY TREKKING!!!

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trekker2

Avid,
This sounds like what Nepal used to be long ago before the hordes 'discovered' it. However, is it necessary to go as part of a guided trip or can one 'arrange' staff, food and equipment by oneself? By 'arrange' I mean hire or rent or do I need to get it all from home? Not the staff, of course.

AvidTrekker

YES! You can hire the staff, buy the provisions etc AND HAPPILY GO TREKKING!

But then, for these " psuedo-tea-house" routes you don't need to do that.

trekker2

What on earth is a 'pseudo-tea-house' route?

AvidTrekker

The above treks have humble village dwellings not specifically targeted at the trekker tourist but originally meant for the owner's use. This is what I referred to as "psuedo tea houses"; lest someone starts imagining Nepal style "tea houses" where even apple pie and pizza are available!

trekker2

What kind of food do these places serve? And how much will it cost?
Do they get crowded or can I get a place if I just land up?

babuchand

Hey trekker2, too inquisitive u r, on food, places to stay, cost etc.
why dont u hit the road first and then experience..... are u trying to be adventurous or just want to walk some distance for the sake of ur name???

All the treks mentioned here by Avid have accommodation (either in govt trekkers’ huts or in private lodges or in village huts). Food is available for reasonable price.

Even though, if u need ultra comfort and minimal stress on your planning brain, go for some travel agent who organize treks of all kind for foreigners just like u.


Thanks avid, what u posted as brief description of Indian treks where trekkers don’t have to carry tents and food, is be best possible one.

Just adding to it
Tapovan trek in june-july or September
Madhyamaheshwar and other panch kedar treks

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babu
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trekker2

If you were to read my first post on this thread you would have realised that I am trying to gauge how different trekking in India would be compared to trekking in Nepal. Unless I have an idea of the costs involved, I cannot budget for them in my plan and unless I have some idea of what to expect I cannot even plan. If it involves eating just dal bhat or potatoes for the entire duration of the trek, it would make sense for me to carry some other food along. That is what this forum is for, to get information. If you don't have any to offer, you don't have to reply.

AvidTrekker

Trek Costs vary greatly for all the treks above. Most meals may cost between rs 25 to Rs 100 [Rs 100 means meat or chicken][meat is expensive, but people also fall sick after eating meat in the mountains] Tea will cost rs three to five for a small cup. Menu will be according to region. A daal bhaat similar to Nepal may be available along the Darjeeling area [Singali ridge] but nowhere else. Leh will have momos and soups. Uttaranchal and Himachal will have roti sabzi rice and sometimes "Indian Chinese" style food. Some places I have experienced people who are actually ashamed when I offer money for food. There are still some places not frequented by trekkers; it still happens now and then.

Some places charge to stay, some for food, some for both. Depends on the area. Budget minimum Rs 200 per day for any of these treks. For contingencies, you should keep Rs 500 per day with you. Its very easy to be tempted by a hot water bath in a swank log hut. Some places have these. One or two days you might want to stay in a comfy place.

babuchand

i have offered u the info u need....think u got infuriated by the first words and replied befor reaching the info

there are some trekking agencies offerring hastle free service for money to foreign trekkers (their target customers , as indian people seldom afford to go with them).they will make all the arrangements.

secondly tapovan trek. u can stay at places provided by babas there. u have also enquired in a post abt whether it is open to all. actalyy it was earlier.... but to get latest info call gmvnl.
go to their site by searching "gmvnl" in google.

as i am also planning for tapovan this october, i will have to call them and will post the relevent info here.

as a tea house trek u can also try sandakphu-phalut in West Bengal (avid metioned abt it) go through this post, although a big one, it has almost all relevent info.
Destination Sandakphu-Falut

trekker2

Some comments in your post were uncalled for. I am not exactly a novice when it comes to trekking. All I asked for was info on trekking in India, particularly whether one can trek on one's own or whether one needs the services of a guide/agency.

Thanks Avid, for a very informative post. Now I can plan my trek.