What is Hiking

Being a soft-adventure sport, almost anyone in reasonable physical condition can go hiking. To get initiated into hiking begin with day hikes, returning to your starting point in the evening. Move on to a multi-day hike which is relatively easy, in order to get to know your ability and aptitude. You can venture into the mountains with an experienced hiker, join an adventure club, or go with a reputed adventure travel company. It is not a good idea to venture out into the mountains alone – unless you happen to be a distant relative of the mythical Himalayan yeti (or an aspiring Reinhold Messner, the first person in the world to have climbed all fourteen 8000m peaks, including the first oxygen-less ascent and later the first solo ascent of Everest).
A basic knowledge of camp craft, map reading and first aid is essential before you go hiking. It’s a good idea to do an adventure course from one of the mountaineering/ adventure institutes in India. A basic course in mountaineering and a first-aid course are recommended if you decide to take it up more seriously and hike to remote/high-altitude areas. Get as much information about the hiking area as possible – the people, their culture, the geography, terrain, medical/rescue facilities and weather conditions – before you go.

Hiking in India

Hiking in India started when the land was inhabited in prehistoric times. There are perhaps as many hiking routes in India as there are Indians. It was in the 1970’s and 1980’s that hiking started gaining in popularity as a recreational/adventure sport. A number of religious sites and shrines across the country, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, and in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand – such as Badrinath, Amarnath, Gangotri, Hemkund, Joshimath, Kedarnath, Vaishno Devi and Yamunotri – entail hiking for a couple of days in the mountains. Hiking in India has grown in leaps and bounds and the current hiking scenario is very promising, with thousands of Indians and foreigners hitting hiking trails each year.
What India can boast of is some of the most stunning hiking routes in the world – many of the mountain passes in the Ladakh and Zanskar Himalayas are above 5000m. But there are plenty of gentler and smaller trails, at different altitudes, both in the mountains and in the forests. If you’re looking for less arduous hikes, you’ll find plenty in in the Western Ghats and the Nilgiri Hills of south India (Munnar and Wayanad in Kerala, Coorg in Karnataka, and around Ooty in Tamil Nadu).

Equipment

It is possible to rent/buy hiking equipment all over India from clubs and adventure- gear manufacturers. Do thoroughly check all gear before venturing out into the mountains.
1. Small rucksack / knapsack
2. Sleeping bag
3. Lockable duffel bag
4. Karrimat / Therm-a-Rest
5. Tent
6. Personal toiletries
7. Water bottle (at least 2 litres)
8. First-aid kit
9. Camera with spare batteries and film (carry more film than you think you will need!)
10. Headlamp/torch with spare cells
11. Maps
12. Diary/pen/reading material
13. Sewing kit
14. Swiss Army knife
15. Whistle
16. Sunscreen – with high SPF (at least 30, to better protect you from harmful UV rays)
17. Lip salve/ChapStick
18. Sunglasses with retainers/spare prescription glasses
19. Lighter
20. Emergency rations/goodies
21. Parachute cord
22. Ski-stick/ice-axe
23. Rope (for high-altitude hikes)
24. Plastic bags and Ziplocs for packing gear

Best season in India

May/June and September/October for Garhwal, Kumaon (Uttarakhand), Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh
June/July and August/September for Ladakh and Zanskar (Jammu and Kashmir)
One can hike in the foothills of the Himalayas from October through till March

Hiking destinations in India

1. Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh, Zanskar)
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon)
4. Sikkim and Darjeeling
5. Northeast states (Arunachal Pradesh)
6. Western Ghats
7. South India (Nilgiris, Coorg)

Tips

1. Hydration
2. Clothing / staying warm (‘Cover your head if your feet are cold gentlemen’ is an old English saying)
3. Packing a rucksack
4. Pacing yourself on a hike
5. Timing – ‘Start early and arrive early’ is the cardinal rule of hiking
6. Porters and guides – A guide, or guide-cum-cook, is important on routes that are remote, tougher and relatively less trodden. Porters, with the option of ponies, will come in extremely handy on longer trips, especially if you’re carrying lots of provisions.
7. Mules and horses on the trail

Medical concerns

If you have a previous medical condition, do remember to carry the necessary prescribed medication.