Garhwal
& Kumaon Tour........... The
Garhwal and Kumaon regions, collectively known as Uttarkhand,
are one the most venerated pilgrimage destinations of India. The awe-inspiring
beauty of the Central Himalayan range and solitude of the mountain and forest
retreats have inspired countless generations to seek spiritual inspiration.
It also offers snow-capped mountains, the famous Valley of Flowers, alpine meadows
that are breathtaking.
The Garhwal Himalayas seems to embody a mystical truth beyond
the common precepts of man, a quality that has attracted sages and pilgrims
alike for countless centuries. The peaks of Garhwal have not only aroused a
sense of awe and eternity but also inspired great poetry. In Garhwal, great
peaks like Kamet, Trishul and Nanda Devi rise majestically,
separated by some of the mightiest rivers of northern India. The crowning glory
of Garhwal is the beautiful Nanda Devi, whose twin summits tower over 26,600
ft above sea level. It is these awe-inspiring peaks, the mighty rivers, the
beautiful valleys and meadows, and the legends and stories associated with all
of the above that make Garhwal so special.
Kumaon has three distinct trekking regions: the foothills of the Himalayas of
the Nainital district and the lake area; the hill areas of Almora, Ranikhet,
Kausani, Chowkori and Pithoragarh: the Himalayan glacier area of the Kumaon
hills. Nainital and the lake area is the most suitable for school children
with pleasant trekking trails. Basic facilities for amateur trekkers are available
in and around Nainital. The hill areas of Almora, Ranikhet, Kausani, Chowkori
and Pithoragarh are ideal for the older trekker, and for students. The Himalayan
glacier area of the Kumaon hills has more difficult routes, picturesque river
beds and rhododendron forests.
Trekking routes in the Garhwal remain open from April to October, though the
best period is considered to extend from April to June, and from mid-September
to November.