TIPS FOR TREKKERS

Trekking is a very vast subject and it may not be possible to explain and describe many points in detail. But our experience shows that some points are very important in the preparation for a trek, knowledge of minor details for foreign tourists/ trekkers and how to do trekking in India. In the same way it is important to know as to what is to be done and what is prohibited according to the customs of our country. The Himalayan trekking is different due to sudden change in weather, altitudes and different terrains one comes across on any particular route. One needs a great patience for adjustment, tolerance and coping with one’s summerised them in the from of tips for trekkers and Do’s and Don’t for trekkers for an enjoyable trekking trip in the Indian Himalaya especially in Himachal Pradesh.

Physical Fitness: To enjoy trekking in the Himalaya one should be physically fit as one has to be at considerable good heights from 200m to 500m for most of the time and may face acclimatization problem. It is better to do some physical exercises and short treks at home before joining a trekking groups.

Personal Qualities: One needs a lot of tolerance and patience for adjustment with co-trekkers, the organizers and situation prevailing on treks. For, one feels irritated due to non acclimatization and other things at high altitude. In India one should not expect everything perfect in this new field of sport and thus some allowance has to be given for certain lapses because one has to go by the social customs, Suitable temperament is an important consideration in the Himalayan trekking.

Medical considerations: Foreigners are required to undergo some immunization which has to be entered in their international certificate of vaccination. It is also advised to take anti malaria tablets when they are in India to be on safer side. Some trekkers who do not get sound sleep due to high altitude, can use sleeping pills occasionally. In a group there should be a medical aid. People with history of asthma, bronchitis and heart problems should not venture trekking in Himalaya.

Equipment: We have explained the details of equipment needed on a trek. Check list may be studied carefully and equipment be brought accordingly. (See chapter four)

Insurance: Every adventurer should get himself insured in his country for a sufficient amount to cover the accident risk as well as rescue operations either by land or by helicopter. Our experience shows that most of the foreign travelers, trekkers, mountaineers and others, who are participating in any such activity in India, are fully insured. However, one should also have evacuation cover by helicopter which is expensive but safe. Only little extra money is involved but lot of botheration is saved. Indian tourists and adventurers should also follow this practice.

Passport and Visa: All documents concerning Visa and Passport etc. should be in order before starting the journey. All regulations regarding visa are available with Indian Embassies. For more details consult Travel Regulations chapter tow.

Trekking Permit: There is no such system of issuing a trekking permit in India as is done in Nepal and other countries. But one should not enter the restricted areas without permission.

Currency: India has coins and notes. The coins are of a denomination of 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 paisa and one, two, five rupees. One rupee is equal to 100 paisa. The notes have the denomination of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 rupees. US dollars and other currency of various countries can be exchanged at big hotels and many banks in all important towns and cities. It is better to keep small notes if you are going on trekking or to remote places where there is no possibility of a bank.

Language: Although there are 15 languages recognized by our Constitution yet English and Hindi are generally understood in all hilly areas especially in the tourist place of Himachal Pradesh.

Information Media: There are various English News papers and other Weeklies which provide the required news and information on other events of the country and outside world. Many good books and local guides are also available at different places for the information of the tourists. Tourism Department of India as well as of the states has offices in every important town to provide all sorts of information about that area.

Business Hours: Sunday is closed for offices, banks and shops. Office and banks function from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on Saturdays; banks exchange money only up to 12 hrs. Also take into account festivals and national holidays which are also closed. However, at some places evening bank counters function.

Season: The season and period for trekking will differ from region but the general season is April-June and September-December. There are certain areas like Lahaul, Spiti, and Pangi and Kinnaur valleys in Himachal Pradesh where one can trek during monsoon because of very little rain during this period.

Heights and Distances: Heights and distances quoted in the itineraries may not be very accurate but an attempt has been made to give the nearest correct and accurate heights and distances.

Telecommunication: Making international calls has now become easy especially from big cities. Telex and fax as well as telegrams can also be sent as an alternative to phones. Arrangements exist in almost every tourist place.

Walking Stage: Normally a trekker should walk from 3km. to 4km. per hour. A trekker has not only to walk but to see around him the scenery, click the camera, stop to see and listen to the chirping of birds or to enjoy the view of a water fall etc. Secondly one is walking at a high altitude where the speed is less.

Maps and Routes: There trekking maps of Himachal Pradesh have been prepared by the Survey of India which are available with tourist offices. We however are giving some maps with more routes and places of interest indicated in them, which will be of great help to the trekkers. Similarly some routes have been explained with details and rest are left for the trekkers to explore.

Restricted Area: Himachal has border with Ladakh and Tibet and has some areas like Spiti valley as well as Kinnaur district which are restricted for foreign tourists. Even the Indian Nationals have to obtain permit to enter these permission from the District Magistrate of the area and foreign nationals have to approach Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi.

Food: While in cities or towns one can order for any type of food, but during trekking one should adjust to the local diet, fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits, instead of tinned food. Even fresh meat, eggs and chicken are available in some remote villages. One should however, remind the cooks every time not to put chilies in the food. The big trekking agencies the menu in such a way that the food on trekking route is healthy and nutritious whether it is western or Indian. Mostly trekkers prefer mixed food all types which is a good intention to adjust and enjoy.

Drinking Water: To drink water from direct source, stream or river is not safe especially for foreign tourists. They should therefore use either boiled water or purify it with iodine or other medicines. Some people prefer to fill up their water bottles with black tea and put some fresh lemon juice in it to be used the whole day.

Sickness on a Tour: It is case of exposure in most of the cases. Since the weather in the Himalaya is not very certain, the trekkers should keep essential clothing like wind cheater, gloves, woolen garments and head cover with them so that they could be used according to the changing weather. Other reason is non acclimatization to heights. Any sickness must be controlled at once either with your personal medicines or taken from the doctor.

Lhalung Monastery

One of Spiti’s oldest monasteries is in Lha-lun, a two-hour drive from Dhankar. It is believed to have been constructed overnight by the Gods after Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo planted a willow tree here, stating that if it lived through the year, a temple be build next to it. The tree stands outside thegompa to this day.

There is a dark passage around the temple meant for circumambulation of the inner sanctum. Once, the passage walls were decorated with beautiful paintings, though these have now faded. Outside this temple is the lang-carpo (White temple), with four stucco images of Buddha facting the four cardinal directions. These statues are as old as the monastery.

The name Lha-lun god is the ‘Land of God’, from lha, god and lun, area. Local claim that the Lha-lun god is the head of all deities in the Tangmar Mountain located beyond the village in the valley. There is a strong belief among the local people that this mountain changes color from time to time, in conformity with the gods’ moods; for example, red in anger or yellow in joy.

Adventures in Spiti: Sky is the Limit

Spiti is a paradise for adventure sport lovers and offers a range of options from mountain biking, safaris (yak-a native species, horse and jeep), hiking and treating, river rafting down the Spiti & Pin River, skiing & boarding.

Some of our custom-made tours that will give you a feel of real adventure are:

1. The Spiti Safari:

Discover Spiti using a mix of traditional & modern conveyance. Drive in to Spiti & than traverse the region astride the sure footed Chumurti horses or on the yaks, an integral part of Spitian life.

2. Mountain Biking Trails:

Various trails that take you in & out of unknown realms coupled with breathtaking views make biking the ideal way of traversing this mystical land. Despite the ruggedness of the terrain there are umpteen camp sites that will have you spell bound.

3. Trekking:

Spiti is a paradise for trekkers and offers a range of options. Mountain passes provide an easy access to neighboring areas of Ladakh, Kinnaur, and Kullu & Lahaul. Some of the well known treks we offer are the Pin-Parbati, Parang-La & the Pin-Bhaba. We also provide you the opportunity to experience the true essence of trekking by traverse through remote pristine and forgotten trails.

4. White water Rafting:

For a thrilling adrenaline adventure, which will exhilarate your senses and invigorate your spirits, we offer white water rafting down the Spiti and Pin rivers.

5. Skiing & Boarding:

The winters shroud Spiti in white and make the region a delight for skiers. We offer long and short trips in Spiti.

Himalaya in Indian Mythology

Himalaya hold a prominent place in the culture and mythology of Indian people, particularly the Hindus.

Shiva, the most important among Trinity of Gods, resides on Mt Kailash and his consort, Parvati, is the daughter of Himalaya (or Himavan).

In Sanskrit, the word Parvati means ‘of the mountain’. When Ganga descends from the heavens after the long penitence of King Bhagirath, Shiva received her in his locks, and let her descend slowly on the Earth.

The river Yamuna is considered to be the daughter of Sun and sister of ‘Yama- the God of Death’. According to Buddhist mythology, Guru Padmasambhava was born from the lotus in a lake on the west of Mount Kailash.

This legend is similar to that of the birth of Lord Brahma in Hindu mythology.

CULINARY HIMACHAL: Get the Spice of Himachal

Himachal Pradesh has the traditional community feast, dham, starting with rice and servings of lentils and beans, sour and sweet. It gets top place in the cuisine of the region. Food is generally spicy, greasy and white yoghurt, mustard, cinnamon, cardamom, chilly are commonly used, there are subtle variations in the preparations to suit the local palates.

Most part of the west south Himachal faces extreme winters and to beat the cold, meals are centered on meat and abundance of ghee because it is general belief here that two items give energy to the body and so warmth. In the rugged cold desert terrain of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts, bordering Tibet, where live the tribal, paucity of wood for warming the pot has necessitated the people to feed themselves on pieces of raw meat of mountain goat sprinkled with salt and dried in open within in the four walls of houses. Different preparations of locally grown coarse grains-buckwheat, millet and barley-supplement the menu besides the above delicacy. Moravian missionaries introduced potatoes, tomatoes and cabbage in the valley that considerably improved the economic conditions of the natives. Saffron, hops and sea buckthorn are later addition to the cash crops of the area.

Himachal Pradesh despite its variation in topography is truly rural agrarian. Rural areas, today account for 91% of the population whose mainstay is agriculture. Farmers here reside upon their own farms and build sun-friendly, wind-sheltered cottages with sun-dried bricks on selected spots and cultivate the terraced fields.

TIBETAN CULTURE

The State of Himachal Pradesh is not new to Buddhism. Its two border districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti have been under the influence of Buddhism since 618-649 AD. It was, therefore, no surprise when Dalai Lama, In April 1960, chose Dharamshala, a hill station in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, to be the place where he would reside and later made it the Headquarters of the Tibetan Government in exile. Immediately McLeodganj, a small bazaar dotted with bungalows here and there, Dharamshala came to limelight and found place in world map. Today little Lhasa is the sobriquet attributed to McLeodganj because one sees the prayer wheels, Buddhist monks, the ochre red robes, chinky-eyed smart girls, Tibetan Jewellery, ornaments and crafts here. The whole environ is Lhasa like. Daily chant of prayers from Namgyal Monastery has a mesmerizing effect. Names like Yak or Shangri-La restaurant immediately takes one’s imagination to the spicy and hot Tibetan cuisine, which is delicacy for tourist and attraction for natives. Yes, the natives have also accepted the culinary intrusion of the foreigners gladly and without resistance. The cuisine is so palatable and in demand that many an Indian restaurant all over the State has accommodated Momo (meat dumplings) and Thupka (noodles in broth) in it’s a la carte.

SOLAN

Solan was the capital of erstwhile princely State Bhagat. The concept of Himachal Pradesh was here mooted in a conference of princes of various hill State of Western Himalayas and representatives of Prajamandal, fighting for independence from the yoke of princely rule, on 15th of April 1948. It remained a Tehsil of Mahasu district till 25th January, 1971 when Himachal Pradesh gained the status of full-fledged State and Solan became the headquarters of District Solan.

At a height of 1350m, it has salubrious climate throughout the year. It has been declared as the 'Mashroom City of India' in the nineties because here is produced a variety of button mushrooms. It has the famous Brewery that was established in the year 1835 by Dyer Meakins (Mohan Meakins today).

Temples of Shoolini Devi, Narsingh and open parks are the places to visit in the town. Karol Tibba (Peak), Meteol Tibba, Kotla Nallah (Stream), Saproon springhare other places of interest. Not so far, are Mareog, Gaura and Karkanu, the angling spots by river Giri. You can also enjoy the facility of HP State Library here.

Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry is situated at Nauni at a distance of 15km from the town. It nurtures 15,000 species of flora and has successfully domesticated an enormous variety of herbs.

Wander away from Solan

Chail:

The summer capital of the former princely State of Patiala built in the late 19th century at a height of 2226 m known for exquisite Palace Hotel of HPTDC and at 2444.4 m the Highest Cricket Pitch and Polo Ground in the World. Easy walks in and around Chail amidst green forests, stroll at wild life sanctuary and fishing along Gaura river can be interesting.

Shillon Bagh:

Not so far from here, it is a private hotel on Chail-Kufri road. Dochi, Maharaja Patiala's farmhouse, known for exotic gladioli and other flowers, is hardly few kms on Chail-Kandhaghat road.

Barog:

Just 7 kms from Solan, the small village at a height of 1680m is gradually developing into a township dotted with quite a few hotels and eateries. This little township has come up on top of a hill through which runs the longest tunnel in Kalka-Shimla Railway line. The northern end of the tunnel opens on a tidily kept railway station at Barog where exists a pretty, cozy dining room having a wall clock marked with 'Benson of London, NW Railways 1903'.

Kasauli:

Its proximity to plains,35 km away from Kalka, makes it more in demand of tourists who flock in here when there blazes the sun. Dainty English style cottages, oldy goldy shops, forests of pine and horse chestnut, magnificent view of the Gangetic plains which turns into a spread of twinkling lights under the cover of darkness, refreshing mountain breeze and much more is there at a height of 1927 m of Kasauli.

A vantage spot for views is Monkey Point. Dominating Choor Chandni (3647 m) standing majestically above all the lower hills leaves an imprint. Sanawar with a famous public school, Garkhal with Shirdi Sai Temple, Sabathu with a 19th century Gorkha Fort, Dagshai with a cantonment are other places worth visiting when in Kasauli.

Nalagarh:

A diversion from Pinjore, falling between Chandigarh and Kalka, towards west takes visitors to Nalagarh, an ancient town that has a look of any town in the plains. The best part of the stay at The Fort, Nalagarh, a Heritage Hotel, where one can enjoy the nostalgia of the past in the comforts of the present.

Arki:

The capital of princely State of Bhagal lies off Shimla-Bilaspur highway. Fine wall painting can be seen in the old palace. Visit to Kaliseli, Brampukhar, Bari Dhar, Ghagnu Ghat and temple of Vanya Devi may be interesting.

Trekking in the Wonderland

Experience the spirit of the great Himalayan outdoors with Wonderland Himachal. Be it a trek in the Himalayas, river rafting on, a jeep safari, we assure you of a once-in-a-life time experience. Meticulous planning, tremendous emphasis on safety and "Eco-sense" form the foundation of each of our trips.

Add to that the efficient staff, state of the art equipment and excellent camp cuisine and you have one of our typical trips. Our well-planned itineraries also offer a keen insight into the culture of a country dating back to the dawn of civilization. Most of the adventure activities can be extended as per your interests.

All our tour packages intend to introduce you to the varying charms of Himachal Pradesh - its beauty, culture and adventure. As such you have plenty of sightseeing options along with opportunities to get adventurous.

Though the mountains in Ladakh are dry and arid and have very little snow on them, for many this high altitude region is a completely magical place with its myriad hued mountains, high passes ancient monasteries and friendly people.

The destinations of the entire packages are chosen with extreme care so that you get a glimpse of the best of Wonderland Himachal Pradesh during your long trip. In parallel enough time is also kept so that you can relax and go out on your own if you so desire.

In brief, the packages are perfect for those who want to enjoy Himachal's different attractions to the maximum.

So, go through all packages and decide whether if this is exactly what you have been looking for in your package.

Culture and Village

The mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh is a multi-religional, multicultural and multilingual state. Nestled in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas, Himachal is blessed with some of the most spectacular landscapes. The culture of Himachal Pradesh is extremely rich, which is reflected in the day-to-day lives of the local people. Noted for their colorful dresses and distinguished physical features, the people of Himachal Pradesh exhibit a very warm and friendly nature and the ‘untouched’ simplicity about them constitute an integral part of the beautiful Culture of Himachal Pradesh.

 

The culture of Himachal Pradesh is also evident from the languages spoken in the state. Though Hindi is the state language, Pahari – a deviation of Sanskrit and Prakrit is spoken by many people in Himachal. There are many tribal dialects spoken in Himachal Pradesh too – including Chambyali, Pangwali, Lahauli, Kinnauri and others.

 

The typical house in Himachal Pradesh is constructed of clay bricks, with roofs being made of slate. In the traditional village houses, the lowest storey is used for household cattle, the middle for storing grain, and the top floor forms the living area.

 

Himachal is considered to be the abode of the Hindu God Shiva and Goddess Parvati – there are numerous temples of Shiva and Parvati scattered all around the state.

 

Music and Dance form a very important part of the Culture of Himachal Pradesh. Both these art forms revolve mainly around religion in Himachal Pradesh. Some of the popular dance forms in the state include Losar Shona Chuksam, Dangi, Gee Dance and Burah dance, Naati, Kharait, Ujagjama, Chadhgebrikar and Shunto.

 

Eco-Tourism in Himachal Pradesh

The Indian State of Himachal Pradesh is a mostly mountainous area, neighboring Tibet and China in the East, the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir in the north and northwest, Punjab, Haryana, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh to the south. It has a geographical area of 55,673 sq. Kms. and a population of 6.1 million people and is located at altitudes ranging from 350 to 7000 meters (1050 ft. to 21000 ft.). Nestled in the Western Himalayas, it has provided refuge and abode to the Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama and his Tibetan followers. This majestic, almost mythic terrain is famous for its beauty and serenity.

 

The forests of Himachal Pradesh (H.P) constitute two-thirds of the state’s geographic area and are crucial to the region’s environmental and economic well-being---a storehouse of rich bio-diversity, vital in preserving the fragile Himalayan eco-system, and a primary livelihood source for its rural population. The ‘forest sector’ encompassing the entire biophysical and environmental components, highly sensitive to the uniqueness of the mountain environment, must place its people at the centre.

 

Accordingly a new course has been charted to shift forest policy in a way that recognizes the ecological and social value of environmental services as well as its economic values. Tapping environmental services through eco-tourism offers a way to lighten poverty and enhance livelihood options.