Must do treks from Delhi

view of Himalayan peaks on the way to Tungnath trek

“We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us.” ― John Muir

We are always on the look out  for those holidays, those weekends and extended ones too where there is a slight possibility of being in the mountains. So here, Footloose Holidays present you few treks which can be done on weekends or extended weekends.

TRIUND, HIMACHAL  PRADESH (9274 ft.)

Triund hill (9274 ft) lying literally in the lap of Dhauladhar ranges, is one of the most sought after treks in Himachal Pradesh among travelers.

View of snow laden Dhauladhar ranges from Triund

A mere distance of 10 kms from Mcleodganj makes it more popular among backpackers, travelers and trekkers. Travelers have the option of choosing the starting point of trek among Mcleodganj, Bhagsu village and Dharamkot depending upon where they are staying in Mcleodganj.

Trek Route –

Travelers on a trail to Triund

Mcleodganj/Bhagsu/Dharamkot – Magic view café  – Triund and Laka kot  – Shiva café and Bhagsu waterfall – Bhagsu

trekkers doing winter trek to Triund

Trek distance is 7 to 8 KMs from Dharamkot which is easily accessible from both Mcleodganj and Bhagsu.

camping in Triund

Camping in the wild around 10,000 feet high above sea level can definitely give you an exhilarating experience. Trekkers can also combine Indrahaar pass trek(to Chamba valley) along with Triund if looking for more adventure 🙂

View from Triund after sunset

The evenings in Triund are as beautiful as the mornings. Moon rise from behind the Dhauladhar ranges gives an spectacular sight and shouldn’t be missed if camping at Triund. Same goes with the sun rise too.

Triund in winters

Triund is an all season trek(except monsoons). Lots of cafe shops one can find open in summers and few in winters too. Theses small cafes serve maggi, coffee, ginger lemon tea, dal-rice, etc. The shops on the way to Triund and at Triund practice waste management in a very efficient way. They also sell filter water so that less plastic bottles are used. It is better to carry own water bottle and buy whenever needed.

How to reach Mcleodganj –

Take overnight train from Delhi till Pathankot and another 2-3 hours road journey by bus/cab to reach Mcleodganj.

Volvos are also available from Delhi to Mcleodganj.

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TUNGNATH, UTTARAKHAND (12,073 ft)

Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world located in the mountain range of Tunganath in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand.

Tungnath Chandrashila top

Trekking to Tungnath starts from Chopta, the base camp location and also a beautiful meadow apt for camping. The trekking distance to Tungnath is 4 kms from Chopta and another one km from Tungnath will take the travelers to Chandrashila peak. The peak is located at a height of about 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) above sea level. This peak provides a spectacular view of Himalayas, especially Nandadevi, Trishul, Kedar Peak, Bandarpunch and Chaukhamba peaks.

View of Himalayan peaks from Tungnath trek

Trek Route –

trek full of snow during winters

Chopta – Tungnath – Chandrashila Peak – Tungnath – Chopta

The trek type is moderate, although trekking in winters when the trail is full of snow makes it a bit challenging and adventurous.

beautiful camping location nearby Chopta

There is no such thing as optimum number of days required for place as mesmerizing as Chopta- Tungnath, but still 3-4 days will be an apt duration for trekking and camping in Chopta – Tungnath. Tents can also be pitched at Tungnath during spring and summer seasons.

Tungnath trek in winters

Best season is all the year round (except monsoon). During winters, proper clothing and snow trekking equipments should be used for maximizing your trekking experience.

How to reach Chopta –

Delhi to Chopta – take overnight train from Delhi for Haridwar/Rishikesh and another 5-6 to reach Chopta hours by bus/cab/bike.

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DAYARA BUGYAL, UTTARAKHAND (11,050 ft)

Dayara is one of the most beautiful meadow located in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.

View of Himalayan peaks en route Dayara Bugyal

The trek starts from Barsu, a small Garhwali village around 40 kms from Uttarkashi district.  There is a well defined trail in the woods as soon as you cross Barsu village.

wild flowers with mountains in the backdrop

Deodars, Rhododendrons, wild flowers offers a picturesque sight. Although during winters, the whole trek is full of snow and sometimes it becomes difficult to identify the true trail to Bugyal in winters.

Trek Route –

Trekker enroute Dayara Bugyal in winters.

Barsu – Barnala lake – Dayara bugyal – Bakaria top – Barnala lake – Barsu

trekkers en route Dayara Bugyal trek

The highest point on this trek is Bakaria top(12,500 ft) and therefore it is advisable to trek till Bugyal on 1st day and to Bakaria top the 2nd day. Barnala lake and Bugyal offers numerous camping sites for pitching the tents.

Barnala lake in winters

camping in winters

Best season is all the year round (except monsoon). During winters, proper clothing and snow trekking equipments should be used for maximizing your trekking experience.

How to reach Barsu –

Delhi to Barsu – take overnight train from Delhi till Haridwar/Rishikesh and another 6-7 hours to reach Barsu(Uttarkashi) by bus/cab/bike.

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NAG TIBBA TREK, UTTARAKHAND (9,915 ft)

Nag Tibba (9,915 ft) is the highest peak in the lesser Himalayan region of Uttarakhand state (Garhwal Division) and lends its name to the ‘Nag Tibba Range’ which is one of the five folds of the Himalaya. It is situated around 57 km from Mussoorie in Tehri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

a meadow en route Nag Tibba peak

Trek to Nag Tibba starts from Pantwari village(around 85 kms from Dehradun). The total distance of the trek is 7-8 kms and the level of trek is easy.

Trek Route –

trail to Tibba

Pantwari  – Thath – Nag Tibba temple – Nag tibba top – Thath – Pantwari

camping location at Thath village

360 degree view of mountain ranges, the weather, distance from both Pantwari village and Nag Tibba peak makes Thath village as an appropriate location for base camp.

goat herder with his goats at base camp

Just after winters a lot of goat herders with their goats can be seen on the trek. One can learn the art of herding from the locals and can hear lots of stories about the peak.

sunrise at Nag Tibba peak

Nag Tibba trail and peak

Nag Tibba peak trek is one of the easy level trek which can be done in all seasons except monsoons. 2 to 3 days are sufficient for camping, trekking and exploring other hidden trails.

How to reach Pantwari –

Delhi to Pantwari – take overnight train from Delhi for Dehradun and another 3-4 hours to reach Pantwari by bus/cab/bike.

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http://www.gofootloose.com

All the above mentioned treks are organized by Footloose Holidays. Also you can avail special discounts for an adventure filled package at our camp in Rishikesh on booking any of the above mentioned treks through Footloose Holidays.

For more information –

Contact: info@gofootloose.com

Website: http://www.gofootloose.com/

A date with nature…..

It was supposed to be just another mundane trip organized by our college society but when the 15 of us landed at the abode of God- Rishikesh, we were surprised at the warm reception that we received from Footloose who made us feel no less than demigods in the home of Almighty Himself….

The trip was to extend for 7 days and 6 nights. But we had no qualms about that because the safe, comfortable stay at the camp, distanced sufficiently from the river side was more than what we had expected from our past experiences. After taking sufficient amount of rest in the lap of nature post laborious travel, we were briefed accurately and in detail about the break up of activities. Each day we had a healthy mix of relaxation, sight-seeing and adventure sports according to our choice ( not to mention the choice of Yoga and meditation in the soulful, peaceful Ashrams nearby for those chosen ones!) There was nothing that was forced onto us and the Footloose team members were more like friends rather than just guides.

We really enjoyed the adventure sports such as rock climbing, trekking, white water rafting, rappelling and so on (the list is really endless!!)- it was really a surge of massive adrenaline rush…The Footloose members were always there accompanying us- taking us through every detail of the trip, ‘overemphasizing’ on safety norms, especially for the girls. We even experienced rope-way trips. The view from the top was just exhilarating. And believe me, it is something that you should experience once in your lifetime!

Just a few dont’s  before I wrap up:

• Try the adventure sports only if you know you can handle it because there is a lot of risk and strength involved
• Do not even think about drinking and going to the river side in lieu of frivolity as the current is usually very high
• Try not to wander alone at night as the camp site is near the jungle where there are no lights to guide you

All in all it was a great trip and if nothing else you should go for the sumptuous food if you are a die hard foodie!…I would suggest you to go to Rishikesh with Footloose as only Footloose can show you the real Rishikesh in the real way taking utmost care of you in the best possible way… Go Footloose!!!!

Written from the experiences of Shivam Sharma (Final year B.Tech student from JSS Noida) with Shivam Sharma, Abhishek Seth, Harsh, Sai Akhil, Anant Mathur, Kshipra, Khushboo Handa, Mansi, Nishant, Saumya, Supratim, Urvashi, Utkarsh, Anurag and Gautam.

Your travel guide to Rishikesh (Spirituality)

Rishikesh literally means Lord of senses. It is situated on the banks the river Ganges, surrounded by Shivalik range of the Himalayas on the three sides. It is believed that when Raibhya Rishi undertook rigorous penance, God appeared in the form of “Hrishikesh” and henceforth the place came to be known as Rishikesh. It is the starting point for Hindu Char Dham pilgrimage, including Yamunotri, Gangotri, kedarnath and Badrinath. It has been the undisputed Yoga capital of the world for centuries. People from all over the world come to this divine place for cleansing their mind and soul. They spend time in meditation and practicing Yoga. It is one of the best places to visit for people seeking peace of mind.

In 1968, The beatles traveled to Rishikesh, India to attend an advanced Transcendental Meditation training session at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This period of visit to Rishikesh was one of their most productive periods. Their interest in Maharishi changed western attitudes about Indian spirituality and encouraged the study of transcendental meditation.

The Ashrams in Rishikesh organize meditation camps for reducing stress and other medical problems. It is also home to international Yoga festival held in early February every year.

A few well-known ashrams in Rishikesh are –

Parmarth Niketen

Situated on the banks of holy Ganges, It is one of the top yoga centers in India and the biggest ashram in the area. It has a thousand rooms with various rates starting from 300 rupees per day depending on the standard of accommodation and view. Two yoga classes and three meals daily are included in the price. The ashram runs an extensive program of beginner yoga, Vedic heritage and spirituality, and teacher training courses.

Sivananda Ashram

This ashram was founded by Swami Sivanand and is run by Divine Life Society. Free Yoga and meditation classes are offered daily. Free of charge accommodation with food is available to serious spiritual seekers who need to apply at least a month in advance. Teachings here are based around the five points of yoga – postures, breathing, relaxation, meditation and diet.

Omkarananda Ganga Sadan

It is home to Patanjala Yoga Kendra yoga center. Iyengar Yoga classes are the speciality here. It has its own ghat and daily aarti is performed. Daily (except Sundays) yoga classes are open to everyone but reservations need to be made months in advance for the intensive yoga courses. Lectures on the Bhagavad Gita are also offered.

Sadhana Mandir and Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Ashram

It has a serene garden setting on the banks of the Ganges river, but away from the hustle and bustle of Rishikesh. Various residential programs are offered and require reservations at least two weeks in advance.

Sanskriti Yogpeeth

Sanskriti Yogpeeth is relatively new and modern — it was founded in 2010 — and is located in the happening Swarg Ashram area. Rather than being a typical ashram, it markets itself as a “yoga hotel”. There are 21 rooms with attached bathrooms, hot water, and even room service! Expect to pay $400 per person for one week, single occupancy, with all meals provided. On offer are daily Hatha yoga classes (morning and evening), seven or 15 day yoga retreats, Indian dance and classical music, philosophy of Yoga, and Ayurvedic massage

Pooja related items can be easily found in here at reasonable rates. Rudraksha, Lord Ganesha idols, Nataraja statues, religious books and mythological sculptures are a few of them.

Temples at Rishikesh attract thousands of pilgrims every year. All these places have great religious importance in the Hindu culture.  The place is well known for Yoga centers as well.

The most prominent festival here is Basant Panchami (Spring festival). It is celebrated during February-March.

Rishikesh is the ideal destination for pilgrims as well as for those who want to delve deeper into meditation, yoga and other aspects of ancient practices.

For more information –

Contact: info@gofootloose.com