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A GREAT DESTINATION
ETERNAL
INDIA
encyclopedia
(1,829m, 20 km)- Khaji (2,210m, 25 km) - Dwali (2,576m, 11 km) -
Phurkia (3,261 m, 5 km)- Pindari Glacier (3,353 m, 8 km).‘ The
Pindari Glacier trek is popular, for it allows strenous trekking with
fabulous views of the Himalayas, and is challenging both for the
first-timer as well as more experienced trekkers.
Base
:
Joshimath
-
Route (1)
Joshimath (2,100 m) - Gov-
indghat (2,000 m, 18 km) - Ghangaria (3,000 m, 12.5 km) - Valley of
flowers (3,300 m, 3.5 km)
Kumaon
The hills of Kumaon are not as rugged as Garhwal but there are
some spectacular mountain diops. The 12-day trek to the Pindari
glacier is a great experience.
Base Nainital
: It has equable weather with the maximum and
minimum temperature being 27°C and 19°C in summer and 15°C and
0°C in winter. April to June before the monsoon sets in, is the
season for flowers while the second season from September to
mid-November is ideal for post-monsoon freshness.
Route (1) :
Nainital (1938m) - Snow View (2270m) - Bhowali
(1707 m) - Bhimtal - Naukuchiya Tal (approximately 1800 m).
Route (2):
Nainital (1938m)- Kilbury (2528 m) - Paogot - Bi-
nayak -Badhanthali - Kunjkharak. 10 km from Nainital. This
continues along the Cheena Peak range to Binayak and Kunjkharak
through oak and deodar forests.
Base Kausani
: Unrivalled for its location, Kausani is 40 km from
Almora enabling an unforgettable look at a 350 km stretch of the
high Himalayas.
Routes
: Kausani - Garur - Baijnath - Bageshwar (2 days)
Kausani - Garur- Baijnath - Gwaldam (2 days)
Kausani - Chhota Pinath - Bara - Pinath (2 days)
Base Chowkori
: Chowkori is
112
km from Pithoragarh and is
uniquely beautiful with balmy weather and fine views.
Routes
: Chowkori - Berinag - Patalbhuwaneshwar - Gangolihat
(3 days)
Base
:
Chowkori
- Kotbaniya - Dharmghar - Kotgari (2 days)".
The three trek routes keep to a mean altitude of about 1900 m and
are the jump-off points for the high grounds of upper Kumaon with
Pithoragarh being on this route to the Lipulekh Pass on the pilgrim
trail.
Base Song
: At
1400
m, Song is at the bus terminus of the two
routes branching towards the Pindari, Katri, Namih and Sun-
dadhunga glaciers.
Route (1)
: Song - Loharkhet - Dhakuri - Khati - Dwali-Phurkia-
Pindari Glacier (7 days)
Route
(2)
:
Song -
Loharkhet-Dhakuri-Khati-Jautila-
Dhungiyadhung-Sundardhunga Glacier (8 days).
Route (3)
: Song - Loharkhet-Dhakuri-Khati-Dwali-Katri Gla-
cier (7days)
Base Dharchula : Dharchula - Tawaghat - Khela - Chhipalakot
Lake.
SIKKIM
Framed by many lofty snow-clad mountains including Kanch-
enjunga (28156 ft.)the third highest mountain peak in the world,
Sikkim's diversity makes it home to a large variety of flora and
fauna with 600 identified species of birds and an equal variety of
butterflies.
Gangtok is the take - off point for all trekking in the state and
may be reached by road from Bagdogra, the nearest airport in West
Bengal. Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri are the railway terminals in
West Bengal. Trekking is restricted to West Sikkim. Foreigners
require an inner-line permit. Best trekking season is mid-February
- late-May, and October-early December.
Yuksam, connected by a motorable road to Gangtok, is the base
camp for most treks in western Sikkim. The most popular is the 10-
day trek Zemathang (15,000 ft.) viaBakhim (12km, 9000 ft), Tsoka,
Dzongri (13, 800 ft.) and Thargshing (13200 ft.).
The region is the natural habitat of bharal (blue sheep) and the
snow leopard. Zemathang is the base camp for mountain expedi-
tions to Mount Tolung and Gocha peak.
WEST BENGAL
Darjeeling: 7000ft high and located on the spur projecting north-
wards from the Ghoom - Sendral ridge, almost the entire northern
horizon is framed by snow - capped peaks: Kabru (24,015 ft), Janu
(25,300ft), Simolehu (32,600ft) and Kanchenjunga (28,156ft). Best
trekking season is April-May and October to November.
One-day treks are available around Darjeeling to Tiger Hill.
(8482 ft). An overnight halt can be made by those who want to
witness the fabulous spectacle of sunrise over Kanchenjunga. The
longer 160km Darjeeling - Manaybhanjang - Tonglu - Sandakphu -
Phalut trek offers an excellent yiew of the mountain peaks in Nepal,
Sikkim and Bhutan on a clear day. Sandakphu offers a fantastic
view of the world's highest peaks: Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu
and Lhotse.
For a more exciting trek an add-on from Phalut on a 149 km trek
can be to Ramam-Rimbik- Jhepi, returning to Darjeeling via Bizan-
bari. The trekker goes through a dense forest of rhododendron,
silver fir, chestnut, oak and magnolia. On the march to Rimbik (7500
ft) the next day flowering orchids growing wild can be seen. The
trekker spots jungle-fowl, kaleej and monal pheasants.