Har Ki Dun

Situated at an elevation of 3,566m, the Har ki Dun valley, the hanging Valley of the Gods, is surrounded by peaks and dense forests.Lush forest cover, abundant wildlife and a long winding trail make for a difficult but worthwhile trek.Located in one of the romoter parts of Garhwal, the trek is moderately difficult. The best time to travel is June – July or October. The region is either too cold or shrouded in mist for the rest of the year. The Har ki Dun falls in the Govind National Park and consequently wildlife viewing is a possibility.

Uttarkashi – Dodital – Yamunotri

Dodital, located to the north of Uttarkashi, has its origins in the several natural springs in the region and its crystal waters are surrounded by dense woods of oak, pine, deodar and rhododendrons. The lake at Dodital is full of fish including the rare Himalayan Golden Trout. Fishing however, is banned at the lake. The lake provides an idyllic setting for rest and recreation such as boating and bird watching. The forest surrounding the lake is full of wildlife .

Gangotri –Gaumukh

The shrine at Gangotri, built by Amar Singh Thapa, a Gorkha commander, in honour of the River Ganga, is one the most popular pilgrimages shrines in India. It is now easily accessible to pilgrims, as there is a motorway right up to the shrine at Gangotri. The more intrepid pilgrims travel to Gaumukh, the source of the Ganges. Gaumukh named so because it resembles the mouth of a cow, a holy deity for Hindus. Is just 21km above Gangotri and is believed to be the origin of the River Ganga.

Gangotri – Tapovan

This trek requires experience of mountain climbing, rock climbing and glacier traversing. The trek is vigorous but is negotiable by non-climbers as well. It passes through orchards of coniferous pine trees at Chirbasa and bhojbasa.From Gaumukh to Tapovan, one traverses along the Gangotri and Chatturangini glaciers. Across the Nandanva, the views of the Shivling, Bhagirathi, Sudarshana, Thelu and Kedar peaks are spectacular.

Panch Kedar

The Panch Kedar are considered to be the five different forms of the Hindu god Shiva. According to legend, the Pandavas, guilty at having killed their own brothers, the Kauravas, sought penance from Loard Shiva. Lord Shiva eluded them and when detected, transformed into a bull. Apparently, Bhima, one of the Pandavas, tried to hold on to the bull but it disappeared into the earth leaving only its hump behind. The remaining parts of the bull appeared in Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhmaheshwar and kalpeshwar. These four shrines, along with Kedarnath, are worshipped as the Panch Kedar..

Nanda Devi Sanctuary

The Nanda Devi sanctuary is situated in the Chamoli District and is surrounded by seventy colossal white peaks, many yet unnamed. The most famous of them is the Nanda Devi.The sanctuary is shaped like a cup and has several lush green meadows and large waterfalls. Herds of blue mountain goat (bharal) graze in the sanctuary.The starting point for this trek is Joshimath, which is easy accessed by road from the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas. Porters and mules need to be organized at Joshimath..

Hem Kund-Valley of Flowers

Commonly known to the locals of Bhuyandar Valley as the Nandankanan, this valley was discovered by T.G. Longstaff and Frank Smyth in 1931 More than a thousand varieties of flowers, ferns and Himalayan herbs grow in this valley. According to legend, the Valley of Flowers is also associated with Lord Lakshman. It is believed that when Lakshman was wounded by Meghnath, the Sanjeewani Buti or medicinal plant that revived him is said him is said to have been found in this valley Govindghat, the road head for the Valley of Flowers trek can be accessed by road. The trek from this point on can be traversed either by foot or mule back..

Hemkund

Often combined with the Valley of Flowers trek, this trek is popular with Sikh pilgrims, due to the gurdwara at Hemkund Sahib. The shrine is a 15 km trek up from Govindghat, bifurcating from the Valley of Flowers trek route at Ghangria. The trek passes through pine and rhododendron forests and follows the Lakshman Ganga till Ghangria. The 7 km trek from Ghangria to Hemkund entails a steep climb.

Khatling - Masartal

The Sahasratal trek is along an old pilgrimage route to the holy lakes. According to legend, the Bhilanganga river was created when Shiva transformed a celestial nymph into the river. The Khatling Clacier itself is a lateral glacier, at the source of the river Bhilanganga Sahasratal and Masartal are to the west and the east of the glacier. The trek passes through thick forests and lush green meadows. In the monsoons, the meadows abound with flowers and a number of streams mushroom lut of the valley. The bhilanganga valley affords a panoramic view of snow-clad peaks and glaciers such as the Jogin group, Kirti Stambha and Meru..

Roop Kund

Set amongst the towering cliffs of the Trushul in the Garhwal Himalayas, Roop Kund is a curiously shallow set in a snow circle for the majority of the year. Located in Chamoli District, this trek is one of the most difficult treks in Uttaranchal. The lake also hasa mysterious past with a number of partially decomposed human skeletal remains found around the lake..

Darma Valley / Panchchuli

Still untouched by tourists, the Darma Valley is pristine and maintains its charm. The Dhuliganga river cuts through this valley, which is scattered with remote villages and alpine meadows. The villages around the base of the Panchuli have a distinct culture based on the gods and goddesses of the Panchuli massif. The region also has one of the more famous monsoon festivals.The trek passes from the village of Duktu to the base camp of the Panchchuli massif.

Pindari Glacier

The most easily accessible glacier in the Kumaon region, the Pindari Glacier is situated between the snow-capped Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot Mountains. Pindari is a large and steep glacier measuring 3km in length and 0.25km in breadth. The river Pindar originates from this Glacier and flows down to confluence into the river Alaknanda.The trekking route to the glacier traverses along the southern wilderness of the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, offering some beautiful views of peaks like Panwali Dwar (6,683m) and Maiktoli (6,803m).

Milam Glacier

The people of Johar, as the milam valley is locally known, were traders whose caravans crossed from India into Tibet by the high passes of Unta Dhura and Kungribhingri La. Once the trading season was over the entire population of Milam and the surrounding areas migrated to Munsiyari or lower, during winter. Trade stopped with the into-China conflict of 1962 and these once prosperous villages are now deserted. However the trail still exists, linking the villages and beckoning trekkers..