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Adventure Activities
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in India
Trekking in India
For
those fascinated by the unexplored, the mountain ranges of India offer breathtaking,
enthralling trekking routes. In the vast amphitheatre of the Indian Himalayas
and Karakorams, there are limitless possibilities for trekking, mountaineering,
skiing, and river rafting. Within this alluring arena, the Garhwal and Kumaon
regions, occupy the central place, with special points of interest for the trekker.
Spectacular views apart, the Himalayan foothills are just ideal for trekking,
offering energetic out-door people a different and exciting option for a holiday.
The Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttaranchal are the most popular destinations
for trekkers, though Chamba and Manali in Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh and Zanskar
in Jammu and Kashmir, have interesting trekking routes as well.
Darjeeling and Sikkim in the east also have some trekking routes. While trekking
as a sporting activity does not require prior training or practice, except that
the trekker should be in good physical condition, there are certain dos and
don'ts which should be adhered to. Routes should be carefully chosen, as some
treks may be more difficult, or may involve high altitude trekking. It is generally
advisable to be accompanied by a local guide. Ensure that the pace of the trek
is not too rapid, since this could result in exhaustion, and would in any case
not be enjoyable.
The adventure season, which till recently, was confined to the summer months,
now covers almost the entire year, including winter. This has been made possible
by improved equipment and transportation, and the availability of year-round
bookings in areas, hitherto, considered inaccessible. Moreover, winter treks
are gaining popularity as a means of 'getting away' to relatively lower altitudes.
Precautions and Permits
Precautions: It is advisable to be medically examined before starting
a trek. The first aid kit for the trek, should include basic medicines and bandages
for cuts, burns, headache, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, and sore throat.
Running water should be used for washing, and washing should be done well downstream
of campsites. Keep a map handy, and set a comfortable pace. Allow for time to
enjoy the panoramic and magnificent sites of the awesome mountains, rivers,
flora and fauna.
Permits: Indian nationals need no permission for trekking in any area,
outside the Inner Line. For routes inside the Inner Line, the local District
Magistrate's permission, or that of the Central Home Ministry is necessary.
For foreigners, crossing the Inner Line is not permitted. Treks upto 4900 mts
need no permission, and can be undertaken on tourist visas. For treks above
4900 mts, prior permission is to be taken from the IMF. Camera permits are also
necessary.
Equipment and Insurance
Equipment: A firm rucksack with broad straps, sleeping bag, foam
mattress, comfortable walking shoes, raincoat, torch, matchboxes, umbrella,
and water bottles are essential.
Personal
clothing including woollen shirts, pullovers, T-shirts, feather jacket, longjohns,
toilet items, camera and film, should be included to suit the duration and altitude
of the trek, while keeping the overall weight to the minimum.
Insurance: This is possible through the
standard insurance companies. The IMF, Indian Air Force, and local authorities
should, as far as possible, be kept informed of the route.
Grading of TreksThe treks described have been graded according to their
level of difficulty.
Grade 1:: Soft trek, round the year
Grade 2: Seasonal / mild trek (April - November)
Grade 3: Tough, high altitude trek (seasonal)
Trekking Routes:
Some of the Popular Trekking Routes:
» The
Har-ki-Doon Trek (Grade 1)
» The
Chandrashila Winter Trek (Grade 1)
» The
Dehradun - Kempty Falls Trek (Grade 1)
» The
Rishikesh - Gopeshwar Trek (Grade 1)
» The
Gangotri - Kedarnath Trek (Grade 2)
» The
Kedarnath - Vasukital Trek (Grade 2)
» The
Kalindikhal Trek (Grade 3)
» The
Pithoragarh - Sinla Pass Trek (Grade 3)
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- - -› About
Himalayas - - -› People
& Tribes of Himalayas
People & Tribes of Himalayas
The
population, settlement, and economic patterns within the Himalayas have been
greatly influenced by the variations in topography and climate, which impose
harsh living conditions and tend to restrict movement and communication. People
living in remote, isolated valleys have generally preserved their cultural identities.
However, improvements in transportation and communication, particularly satellite
television programs from Europe and the United States, are bringing access from
the outside world to remote valleys. These outside influences are affecting
traditional social and cultural structure.
Nearly 40 million people inhabit the Himalayas. Generally, Hindus of Indian
heritage are dominant in the Sub-Himalayas and the Middle Himalayan valleys
from eastern Kashmir to Nepal. To the north Tibetan Buddhists inhabit the Great
Himalayas from Ladakh to northeast India.
In central Nepal, in an area between about 1830 and 2440 m (between about 6000
and 8000 ft), the Indian and Tibetan cultures have intermingled, producing a
combination of Indian and Tibetan traits. The eastern Himalayas in India and
nearby areas of eastern Bhutan are inhabited by animistic people whose culture
is similar to those living in northern Myanmar and Yunnan province in China.
People of western Kashmir are Muslims and have a culture similar to the inhabitants
of Afghanistan and Iran.
The economy of the Himalayas as a whole is poor with low per capita income.
Much of the Himalayas area is characterized by a very low economic growth rate
combined with a high rate of population growth, which contributes to stagnation
in the already low level of per capita gross national product. Most of the population
is dependent on agriculture, primarily subsistence agriculture; modern industries
are lacking.
Mineral resources are limited. The Himalayas has major hydroelectric potential,
but the development of hydroelectric resources requires outside capital investment.
The skilled labor needed to organize and manage development of natural resources
is also limited due to low literacy rates. Most of the Himalayan communities
face malnutrition, a shortage of safe drinking water, and poor health services
and education systems.
Agricultural land is concentrated in the Tarai plain and in the valleys of the
Middle Himalayas. Patches of agricultural land have also been carved out in
the mountainous forested areas. Rice is the principal crop in eastern Tarai
and the well-watered valleys. Corn is also an important rain-fed crop on the
hillsides.
Other cereal crops are wheat, millet, barley, and buckwheat. Sugarcane, tea,
oilseeds, and potatoes are other major crops. Food production in the Himalayas
has not kept up with the population growth.
The
major industries include processing food grains, making vegetable oil, refining
sugar, and brewing beer. Fruit processing is also important. A wide variety
of fruits are grown in each of the major zones of the Himalayas, and making
fruit juices is a major industry in Nepal, Bhutan, and in the Indian Himalayas.
Since 1950 tourism has emerged as a major growth industry in the Himalayas.
Nearly 1 million visitors come to the Himalayas each year for mountain trekking,
wildlife viewing, and pilgrimages to major Hindu and Buddhist sacred places.
The number of foreign visitors has increased in recent years, as organized treks
to the icy summits of the Great Himalayas have become popular. While tourism
is important to the local economy, it has had an adverse impact on regions where
tourist numbers exceed the capacity of recreational areas.
Historically, all transport in the Himalayas has been by porters and pack animals.
Porters and pack animals are still important, but the construction of major
roads and the development of air routes have changed the traditional transportation
pattern.
Major urban centers such as Kathmandu, Simla, and Srinagar, as well as important
tourist destinations, are served by airlines. Railways link Simla and Darjiling,
but in most of the Himalayas there are no railroads. The bulk of goods from
the Himalayas, as well as goods destined for places within the Himalayas, generally
come to Indian railheads, located in the Tarai, by road. The pack animals and
porters transport goods from road heads to the interior and back.
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