The India You Should Try To Visit

What most of us seem to factually know about India is that it has 29 States and 7 Union territories but nobody tells us where to begin exploring. I’d like to say that this is one country where you can actually be spoilt for choices – From the serenading mountains to the boulders and the picturesque back waters, India can pass off as a gigantic continent in itself.

I decided to travel back to my mother land for a short snow hike up in Northern India early January this year. Upper North India is divided into two main highlands Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh – both covered in tall pine trees and mountain flora. However, Himachal Pradesh also known as H.P is spread over 55,673 square kilometers.

I decided to begin my journey with Punjab and scale up slowly through Mcleodganj and then make way to Dalhousie in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh. Many Tibetans have re-settled in Dharamshala or Mcleodganj since The Dalai Lama found Mcleodganj as an ideal place to establish his “capital in exile” Infact when you walk the streets in Mcleod you will find Tibetan restaurants by the dozen along with Buddhist monasteries offering you an insight to the Buddhist way of living.

January in Himachal Pradesh essentially means freezing cold. My tropical sub-conscious had completely erased the index in my brain that had information on how to deal with sub -zero temperature, so the first few days I had to spend acclimatizing to the weather.

Mcleodganj is also big on handloom and since it’s a mountain area, the local artisans weave aesthetic woolen garments, meaning even if you don’t carry woolens you can always buy and stock up here. It was just beautiful to walk through the markets sipping Tibetan tea and gorging on Tibetan momos (known as dimsums or yum cha in other parts of the world). Life is simpler in the mountains.

After having spent a few days in Punjab and Mcleodganj I decided to make my way up. Now there are multiple ways you can make this journey. Buses, shared taxis and even private cars depending on your budget can drive you up to higher altitude destinations. Personally, I am a backpacker and believe local travel is the best way to understand any geography at a community level however if bus-timings and waiting is not your game, hiring a private taxi is the next best thing to do when in Himachal or Uttrakhand. The roads are promising and straight out of postcards, you might break into a song or two while at it!

Himachal has a number of hikes and treks you can undertake depending on your fitness level. There are guides and porters who can help you with roads and it’s always a good idea to hire them when visiting for the first time (research helps too!)

Since I knew the place a little and GPS never fails (THANKGOD FOR THAT) I was able to hike on my own. I went on two moderate hikes – one in Mcleodganj itself and one in Dalhousie, my next destination. The hike in Mcleodganj was primarily undertaken to warm up and also to check my fitness, it was an upward walk to a quaint little café called the Shiva Café, located near the Bhagsunag Water Fall. Some people believe this is where you attain nirvana (just jokes guys), well honestly imagine yourself breaking down over 1500 steps (one side) while some serious snow falls at you?

When I made it to the top is when I realized why they called it Nirvana. I could see the whole valley covered in a blanket of snow and every tiny step taken and every nasty cramp was worth it. The café has been attracting tourists for the past few years and acts as an oasis for a tired and hungry hiker. The sheesha/hookah is an added bonus at the café. It’s beyond my loud, animate physical self to explain how it feels to get there while it’s snowing, like I said no shame in breaking into a song or two!

Dalhousie is about 125 kilometers ahead of Mcleodganj, which meant a 5 hours drive in a rented shared taxi through the mountains, the road bathed in snow made for a beautiful sight. My next hike was to a place called Dainkund Peak. Located at a margin of 10 km and an elevation of 2755 meters above sea leve. The Dainkund Peak overlooks the Peer Panjal Mountain Range and the trail winds along the wall of the Air Force Station. Because of the snow fall, the hike was way more strenuous than I had imagined, however if you make it to Dalhousie in the summers (April – August), I am sure the trek would be much easier. It’s a steady 2 km upwards hike, but always remember kilometers in the mountains is like the Rubik’s cube, misleading and complicated to the power infinity, you might find yourself walking or climbing forever – hence always good to acclimatize yourself to the weather a few days before you take the hike.

I ain’t no mountaineer, but there are some basics one should adhere to while hiking in snow, first thing first - invest in a good snow shoe. Normal trainers are not designed for snow but most shops in Dharamshala, Mcleodganj sell snow shoes for hikers at a competitive price. The other thing is once you have completed your hike (no matter how short or long) make sure your resting time is no more than 2 hours because it is imperative to keep the muscle working. Too much rest = cramped up muscles.

As I ended my fortnight long journey in the mountains, I could not help but ask myself why I keep returning but I think the universe withholds a few answers only so that you can keep coming back for it.

*The web is rife with researched articles on Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand. You can look up roads, ways to reach and the to-dos, my tip – keep your flask full and an open mind to enjoy max*