Monsoon isn’t just a season that gives us relief from tough summer days and harsh weather, it’s that time of the year when nature unearths its beauty in its purest form. An absolute bliss when we share our day or weekend with soft drops, cool swirling winds, floating grey clouds, a newfound motivation to keep going and the will to experience new challenges.
We can add more flavour to this monsoon life by outlining some fun, relaxing and edifying treks to welcome some new experiences as a door to a better self for the days to come.
Here are the Top 5 Treks to undertake in Monsoon for an enrapturing adventure:
Hampta Pass, Himachal Pradesh
A trek located in Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of 14039ft, Hampta Pass is best defined by its alpine Meadows of conifer forest, green grasslands, crystal clear streams, Free-flowing waterfalls, vertical rock walls, snow-capped glaciers, majestic view and beauty during the months of monsoon. Another attraction of this trek is its double frames. On one side it has rocky mountains and barren landscape of Lahaul while full of life and green valley of Kullu on the other.
Hampta Pass Trek starts off from the famous town Manali and goes on for a trekking distance of 35km. It takes the span of about 4 nights and 5 days to cover the trek and its moderate trekking experience welcomes first-timers to enjoy the opportunity to explore such a beautiful place along a dramatic climb. Hampta Pass Trek is well connected to Delhi city and has a convenient transportation system. Suit yourself and plan your best trek from mid-June to September.
Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand
Being always highly recommended, Valley of Flowers takes you closest to the purest form of nature and its wonders especially during the months of rainfall. “Phoolon ki Ghati” is one of the oldest treks of India, nestled in the western Himalayas of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 14,400ft. It attracts travellers and monsoon chasers from across the boundaries with its captivating meadows of endemic alpine flowers, with over 500 species of different flowers including some rare ones, various eye-catching birds and fauna.
The trek goes on for 6 days and offers a moderately easy trekking experience which excites beginners as well as adept trekkers. It never misses the top spot in the list of best monsoon treks as it blesses the Valley Of Flowers with colourful flower beds, butterflies, addicting fragrance, flora and fauna[like Musk deer]. The best time to plan a trek is from June to mid-September with temperatures ranging from 12°C to 20°C during the day and 4°C to 10°C at nighttime. What a way to get away from the mundane!
Tarsar Marsar, Jammu and Kashmir
Located at Aru Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, it will not be an exaggeration to call Tarsar Marsar a divine trek. This offers an ultimate opportunity to camp beside royal blue alpine lakes with some snow floating over them beautifully. Away from the mundane, this trek spans for 6 days and embraces the absolute peace that surrounds the place. As a moderate difficulty trek, Tarsar Marsar takes you along to the core of Kashmir which blesses you with water raging towards the huge lakes decorated amidst the tall mountains, alpine lakes, the picturesque village of Aru, pleasing sight of horses and grazing sheep, and the clearings of Lidderwat.
A trek uniquely recommended for the monsoon months of July and August as it receives mild rainfall unlike Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand as the Pir Panjal range prevents the most monsoon clouds from reaching the Kashmir valley. Hey! This is surely not a disadvantage, this natural phenomenon falls in the favour of trekkers as it makes the atmosphere more cheerful, cool with swirling winds, and hassle-free. A perfect catch, isn’t it?
Sinhagad Trek, Pune
Talking about the monsoon, we cannot miss out on the Western Ghats. Here, Maharashtra takes the title of one of the most aesthetic spots to travel during the rainfall while Sinhagad Treks takes the lead in the region. Mostly popular among the youngsters of the city Pune, the one-day long trek makes up a refreshing and exciting trek for a getaway weekend.
Sinhagad Trek offers a moderate trekking experience and attracts diverse trekkers to the magnificent 17th century Sinhagad Fort, which is rested at an elevation of 4,320 ft and just 30 km from the city. A monsoon weekend trek that will grant you picture-perfect sceneries of rain-soaked, green landscapes, cool winds with pleasing vibes throughout the hike.
Dzongri Trek, Sikkim
North-east India is profoundly beautiful and a must to be included in the list regardless of season or the reason. Dzongri Trek, located in the Sikkim state at an altitude of 13, 780 ft, is one of the most well-travelled treks in the region. This trek starts off from Yuksom and ends at Dzongri offering a walk on the Goecha La while covering the places Phedang and Bakkhim.
The highlight of the Dzongri Trek is the mind-blowing view of Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Pandim, which because of the monsoons, is embraced by the green scenery all around. This Trek spans 9 days and offers a moderate trekking experience, crowning it as a must trek for all- beginners, seasoned trekkers, explorers, nature lovers and the monsoon chasers.
So, which trek do you plan to take up this monsoon?