Top 10 treks in Uttarakhand for the pros. How many have you done?

Roopkund Trek

Roopkund is a magnificent tourist spot located in the Himalayas. Roopkund Lake is well-known as Mystery Lake; this lake was jam-packed with skeletons and bones of human being due to a disaster that happened here around 14th century. Set in Himalayas at an altitude of about 16,499 feet, it is totally uninhabited. The glacial lake is situated on a significant pilgrimage route to Nanda Devi Cult where the famous Nanda Devi Raj festival is held once in every 12 years. Trekking through, one comes across virgin forests, bubbling streams, temples, snow and Himalayan peaks Bedni Bugyal and Trisul. Trekkers start from Lohajung, climb to a hillock at Wan to reach Ran ki Dhar, then to Bhaguwagasa to finally arrive at Roopkund.http://elanadventures.com/destinations/view/roopkund-trek

Har-Ki-Doon

A land surrounded by giant pine forests and snowy peaks of the mountains. Situated at the western Ganges of the Garhwal Himalayas, at the base of the Fateh Parvat, Har ki Doon is a treat to the bird watchers, shutterbugs and nature-lovers. The trek starts from Netwar to Osla passing through chestnut, walnut, willow, and chinar trees. This is a holy place (as the name suggests) Hari – meaning God and Doon meaning Valley, and popularly known as the hanging valley of gods. This moderate trek gives one the opportunity to visit the less travelled reagion of Garhwal. There are chances of seeing wildlife around the Har-ki-Doon falls. A beautifully carved temple dedicated to Duryodhana, the Kaurava Prince is sited here. Jaundhar Glacier at 4300 mt. is just about five kilometers from Har-Ki- Doon and is a must watch for the trekkers.http://elanadventures.com/destinations/view/har-ki-doon

Valley of flowers

The Valley of Flowers National Park is the second core zone of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The valley streaches upto 87.50 sq. kms in the West Himalayan region and is also placed in the Bhayundar valley which if fully covered with 500 unique varites of flowers. This region gets dressed with thick blankets of snow during winters and with blooming flowers from June to October. The valley is also infested with leeches in the wettest weather when the flowers are full bloomed. The river Pushpawati (the river of flowers) flows through the luxuriant valley. The very first step into the meadow gives one a feel of being swinging in a beautiful cradle decorated with Blue Poppy, Cobra Lily and Bramhakamal. It is hard to find a valley like this so well ornamented.http://elanadventures.com/destinations/view/valley-of-flowers

Dodital

The Dodi Lake is a fresh water lake in the Uttarkashi District of the Garhwal Division. There is a temple devoted to Ganesh as Dodital is the birth place of Lord Ganesha. The local name of the trout is ‘Dodi’. Flocks of trouts float in this lake. One can easily spot the Shining red spotted Himalayan Golden Trout in the crystal clear waters. The lake is placed within the high mountains; bounded by charming snow-capped peaks and tall imposing oak, deodar and rhododendron trees. The trek takes one through extraordinary grasslands and virgin forests. Journey to Dodi Tal is possible from Uttarkashi, Kalyani or Hanuman Chatti. Dotital offers its visitor admirable fishing and boating regardless of all season. The government has been running a fisheries centre at Kalyani for some years that lies on the way to Dodital. Set west of the Bhagirathi River, this adventure tour affords a first-rate introduction to the trekking tour at higher elevations.http://elanadventures.com/destinations/view/dodital-dyarabugyal

Pindari glacier

The Pindari Glacier path provides for a 90 km round-trip trek that most goers find comfortable to complete in six days. Trekking tours in India is incomplete if one has not trekked Pindari Glacier. It is often called the trekker’s paradise. Certainly the most easily reachable glacier in the Kumaon region, the Pindari Glacier is picturesque. Pindari is a huge and steep glacier situated between the snow-capped Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot Mountains. The Pindari Glacier is a never-ending and a breadth taking experience. The valley is drained by the Pindar River that arises from the Pindari Glacier. The river, in its initial course, runs through sedimentary rocks and finally meets the Alakananda River. As one moves downhill from Phurkia up to Khati, one comes across numerous waterfalls, hanging valleys and tremendous rock faces. The entire trekking route is packed with natural beauty.http://elanadventures.com/destinations/view/pindari-glacier

Vasu Ki Tal

Vasu ki Tal (Vasuki Lake) is a popular pilgrim and trekking destination situated at an altitude of 14, 200 ft, in the beautiful hill of kedarnath dham. The adjoining environment is wonderfully decked with high mountains and striking view of several peak of Himalayas. There blooms varied types of lively, colourful miniature flowers around the Vasuki Tal Lake. Brahma Kamal is well-known flower of this region. June to October is the best time to visit this enchanting spot is because when the weather is mild and pleasant. The self-evident lake offers an appealing view to the nature lover and provokes the poet hidden, even the most unromantic person falls in the trap. It is confined in by steep and rolling banks combined with lush green vegetation.http://elanadventures.com/destinations/view/vasuki-tal

Kuari pass

Lord Curzon in 1905, made a trek to Kuari Pass, and since then it is also known as the Curzon trail. Kuari pass means “door way”. The central attraction of this place is its impressive view of the eastern peaks of Garhwal Himalayas, the twin peaks of Nanda Devi, Kamet, Dronagiri, Trishul, Bertholi, Hathi Ghodi Parvat, Mana, and Neelkanth peaks. The trek passes through Pristine Rhododendron, oak and deodar forest. On this trek path is found rare Himalayan Flora which is a price catch for botanists. There is also a prospect for rock climbing and moon light trekking. At the concluding part of the trek there is an electrifying chance for bathing in the hot springs of Tapovan to rejuvenate the tired nerves after an conscientious but exciting Trek!http://elanadventures.com/destinations/view/kuari-pass-

Khatling Trek

The trek through Khatling Glacier is a very scenic one, and travels along the Bhilangana river valley with its foundation at the Khatling Glacier – the point of occurrence of river Bhilangna. A journey to Khatling Trek offers one outstanding and mighty views of some of the famous Himalayan giant peaks like Thalay Sagar, Jaonli, Kirtistambh & Bharte Khunta. One who goes camping on the green pastures of Chowki experiences fabulous natural beauty all around. Spectacular Khatling glacier, Rafting trip on the holy river, Ganges and the visit to the holy ghats (bathing area) & ashrams at Rishikesh are what travellers look for. And on the return voyage one can visit the Trijuginarayan temple believed to be the sacred spot where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati tied the knot! http://elanadventures.com/destinations/view/khatling-glacier-trek

Chopta – Chandrashila

Chopta is located in the Rudraprayag district and popularly known as “mini Switzerland”. And Chandrashila literally means “Moon Rock”. It is at a height of about 13,000 ft above sea level. The trek starts from Okhimath, then through Deoria tal, Chopta and Tungnath and finally to reach the summit of Chandrashila for an amazing view of the Himalayas. The region is a protected sanctuary for musk deer, and has a wide range of flora and fauna. Chandrashila Trek can be undertaken round the year except during heavy snowing months of December & January. The highest of all the temples in the Himalayas is the temple of Tungnath and avobe it is a rock face known as Chandrashila summit. One can get the most beautiful view of the Nanda Devi, Trishul, Kedar Peak and Chaukhamba peaks from this summit. http://elanadventures.com/destinations/view/deoriyatal-chandrashila

Rupin Pass

Starting from Dhaula in Uttarakhand and ending in Sangla in Himachal Pradesh, Rupin Pass is good hill-walking route. Rupin Pass is still untouched by the human population. It is located at an altitude of 15250 ft above sea level in the Dhauladhar ranges. The Pass consists of streams dug out of rock faces; wooden bridges cut through deep dark folds in the mountain, glaciers, icy slopes, and overextended snow fields. Traveling and climbing the Rupin Pass is rated as moderate to diffucult level. The trails follow the Rupin River all the way to the top guided by evergreen Deodarforests. While traveling through this path one can witness the change in culture from core Hinduism of Garhwal to mix of Hindu-Buddhism in the Sangla Valley.http://elanadventures.com/destinations/view/rupin-pass-trek

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