The Himalayas is the highest mountain range on Earth, with the 14 highest peaks globally, including Mount Everest. It is the boundary that separates the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan Plateau from each other. This mountain range is also a place that attracts many tourists to explore and experience its diverse terrain.
From the perspective of the subcontinent, this article will guide you on how to visit Himalayas in India. Let’s read and prepare carefully for your trip!
How To Visit Himalayas In India
Route 1: The Golden Temple
As the name suggests, this route is for nature- and spirituality-oriented travelers. Your route will pass through several cities in this country, starting from:
- Amritsar: You can visit the Golden Sikh Temple and the Langar cistern.
- Dharamshala: It is the home of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile.
- Manali: One of the many foothills of the Himalayas, where you relax with hippie style and quiet atmosphere at small cafes.
- Kotgarh: The city is famous for its beautiful apple orchards, and you can even walk through the forests.
- Shimla: is a British colony and the ideal resort town of the Raj region.
- Kasauli: the last leg point – the clean city is like a car-free, noise-free, and pollution-free paradise.
To move through the cities, you can catch local buses or rent a self-drive car, but you should have a guide to avoid getting lost and unnecessary disagreements.
Route 2: In the Northeast
This route can be divided into three main stages, from Delhi to Guwahati to the north. These three stages can be summarized as follows:
- Delhi, Bagdogra, and Peiling: By taking advantage of air and land routes, visitors only take about one day to go through all three cities. You will have the opportunity to see the beautiful villages and take part in a retreat at the village of Daragon.
- Gangtok and Darjeeling: The capital of Sikkim, Gangtok, greets you with icy cold lakes with beautiful mountainous views. Meanwhile, Darjeeling is famous for its tea crops, where you can learn how to pick and delicately brew them.
- Guwahati: A place that welcomes visitors with ancient temples and wild ecosystems with rare animals. You need to rent a car to New Japalpuri for 5 hours and catch the train at Assam station.
Off the main road, you can drive to Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, to soak up the lively gardens and waterfalls.
Route 3: Leh – Ladakh
This route has quite a few destinations with both starting and ending locations in Delhi. You only need a quick flight from this city to reach your next destination, Leh, in the Ladakh region. It is famous for its palaces, stupas, and the third-highest driveable road globally, Chang-La Pass.
The destination of the pass is Pangong Tso Lake and its sister, Moriri Tso. Both are the most attractive sightseeings in the world with seemingly endless quiet space.
For a night to regain strength, you may drive to an altitude of 1010ft to the highest pass in the world – Khardung La Pass. A bit treacherous, it leads into the snowy and misty valley, Nubra, where you can bask in the sulfuric hot spring waters of Panamik. At the end of the trip, you will return to Leh and take a flight to Delhi.
Tips For Traveling To the Himalayas In India
Consider The Best Time
Your destination is the Himalayas of valleys, passes, and snow-covered deserts. Therefore, time plays an important role in helping you have a safe trip while ensuring to experience the beautiful sights and tourist activities here.
May and mid-September are ideal times to travel if you want to explore it. While from March to June is the time for climbers.
Map An Itinerary / Hire A Guide
You should research the routes you take in advance and check them with the local authorities. In case you are not sure, do not trust Google or GPS devices. Instead, you should spend a little more money to hire a guide to ensure a smooth and safe trip.
Get Permission
Some routes up the mountain will be blocked if you do not have a local permit. You should apply for them before your trip, or it will be interrupted and take longer than expected.
Pack strategically
It would be best to prepare clothes, equipment, and mental health every time the destination altitude changes. Temperatures in summer and winter in this land can drop to 5 and minus 35 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Conclusion
The article “How to visit Himalayas in India” has indicated at least three routes that lead you from the subcontinent toward the world’s highest mountains, each with distinct experiences. You may have a chance to visit temples, palaces, villages, beautiful gardens, waterfalls, etc.
Before the trip, you need to keep things in mind: the time, route, hire a guide, get permits, and carry things. They are necessary for a safe and smooth trip, so do not ignore them.
