Have you been spending loads in the gym to get your body in shape, but feel bored by the stereotypical routine and exercises? There is another way you can do it, and it would be a lot better than the gym – Trekking! Yeah, that’s right! Hiking/Trekking is an excellent way to keep yourself up and running. It gives you the chance to exercise in natural conditions, unlike those simulated ones in the gym like on a boring treadmill. Ascending cliffs with the oxygen level decreasing as you go higher will tone up your body like nothing else.

Be glad you are in India as the hilly terrain in the northern part gives you endless opportunities for hiking. There are trails aplenty that you could take through the mountains. Consider the blast of cultures that will take you over as you journey past scenic hamlets, and you have got yourselves a fiesta. The famous children’s author, JRR Tolkien said in the Lord of the Rings, “All those who wander are not lost”, and he was right. Wandering endlessly does not always take you far from everything, but closer to yourself.

There are treks that vary in difficulty and altitude, and you can go in an increasing order to get your body used to it and prepared for the next challenge. In order to prepare for these treks, all you got to do is to start with brisk walks, jogging, climbing stairs and some breathing exercises. This should get you ready for the easy treks, and a few easy treks would set you in motion for the tougher ones. A couple of these every year would guarantee overall fitness. Bunk gym and go trekking for a healthy life. Here is a description of some treks and the sort of workout they will give you, arranged in the increasing order of difficulty.

“The bicycle is the noblest invention of mankind.” – William Saroyan

Bicycle tours are fast coming up as an exciting activity for both fitness and adventure enthusiasts. You can go on a bicycle tour in the hilliest of the cities, in the remotest of villages, in the densest of jungles, and in the most developed metros. Say no to over-crowded buses and pocket-burning cabs with any of these ultimate cycling trips in India that you just cannot miss!

Bicycle Tour in Leh
Cycling all the way from the picturesque Manali to the heavenly Leh is one of the most physically challenging, yet the most satisfying experiences. It takes you through some of the world’s highest passes, scenic trails and the mightiest of mountains. You will touch altitudes almost as high as 16000 feet on passes like Rohtang La, Tanglang La, Lachulung La and Baralacha La. Also, on this cycling tour, you get to witness the beauty and changing landscape of 2 mountain ranges, including the Zanskar Range and the Pir Panjal Range. And before you begin to worry about loneliness, it is wise to point out that plummeting valley, gushing rivers and herds of sheep are constantly going to keep you company.

Travelling in recent times has become a part and parcel of our lives. Each one of us travels for some reason or the other – be it for work, soul searching, to gain knowledge or just fun and leisure. Travelling inspires me to be culturally aware, be more tolerant about the world and its people, and instills in me the sense to be committed towards the environment. However in today’s global tourism industry, even though people are getting more aware of the benefits of travelling, they are exploiting the natural environment.

It is easy to be a tourist, to travel from one place to another, see new places and have new experiences. What is not easy is to be a responsible traveller, and embrace the power in us to help transform the way the world travels! While travelling responsibly is important on each and every sojourn, it becomes all the more vital while travelling to the mountains and other remote places. These are the places less explored, less visited, less inhabited. These are the places that have, to a great extent, managed to retain their pristine beauty, and it becomes our moral responsibility to make sure that it stays maintained.

Trekking is one such activity where you come in close contact with nature for many days. You trek through valleys, forests, meadows; cross rivers, streams and lakes; camp on many untouched spots, and reach high altitudes. The chances of leaving a lasting impression on your natural surroundings increase manifold on such trips. So it becomes absolutely necessary to be aware about the kind of places you are going to, the flora and fauna, the things you need to carry in order to not harm the environment, about the local communities and how you can contribute to making lives easier for them.

Some of us are just happy with the way our life is, but a lot of us are sitting at our office desks, staring at the computer screens wondering, if this is the life we want! Are we doing what makes us happy? Are we taking out enough time to relax and rejuvenate? I am sure these questions pop into many of our heads as we really dream about setting off on the adventure of a lifetime!

I can’t stay for long without travelling! If it has been more than four weeks, I get restless and want to take a break and wander off to the Himalayas! Where I choose to go often depends on my mood. If I am in a mood to relax and rejuvenate, I would prefer going to Kerala or Goa than the mountains. To get solitude and some “Me” time, the Himalayas are what I need! I make it a point to travel to the Himalayas at least once in 2 months because living in Delhi is a blessing if you love Himalayas. I always try to find different ways of travelling to the mountains and explore the yet unexplored and remote villages and places. Trekking is one of my favorite adventure activities as it always shows me a different side of mountains! The best part about trekking is that I get a chance to be close to the mountains and I feel that I belong there!

The Great Himalayan beauty is not just limited to mountains! The Himalayan Lakes are breathtaking too! I am sure once you get to know about these stunning lakes in Himalayas, you will feel that any trip to the Himalayas is incomplete without paying a visit to this awe-inspiring water bodies!

Many of these high altitude lakes are freshwater lakes formed by glacial activity. Some of these stunning lakes are only accessible through difficult treks to these regions and that’s one of the reason they have managed to retain their beauty and charm! These high altitudes will take your breath away by not only their beauty but by their unique features! Some have ever-changing colors and some are the best birding spots.

People might not know about these mesmerising lakes but some determined trekkers trek for days all the way just to see the beauty of these great Himalayan Lakes!

I have picked up some of the most beautiful ones. When I look at them, I imagine myself sitting on the shore, gazing at them and peacefully taking in all the beauty.