Long before 'tourism' as we know it came into existence, Uttarakhand drew the most intrepid travellers to its glacial gates in the Himalayas... From itinerant traders to spiritual seekers, who travelled light and spent days at every pitstop along the way to truly experience the beauty of a place and the love of its people.
If the modern traveller takes a leaf out of their books today, and travels in a way that is gentle on the planet, Uttarakhand promises to reward her with the most immersive, most unforgettable journeys.
ELEMENTAL RUSH
Rishikesh-Tons Valley
The mighty Ganga is always exhilarating. Add the thrill of rafting or kayaking over her speedy white waters, and it becomes a memorable adventure. The runs at Rishikesh can be of varying lengths, starting from beginner-level 1-day trips.
The 25-km stretch ranges from gentle to challenging with over 12 rapids of grade 3+. Expeditions India (expeditionsindia.com) offers exciting 3-day and 5-day trips. The former starts 90km upstream from Rishikesh going up to Alaknanda. The 5-day trip hazards some of the most technical and challenging white waters on the Alaknanda with rapids of grades 4 to 5.
As for trekking, amidst the wide range of choices Uttarakhand provides, the Tons Valley, with the pretty River Rupin gurgling through it, is an underrated gem. Tons Trails (tons.travel), which began to operate out of a small village called Kalap now works with local communities in 37 villages and offers many treks and experiences.
Rishikesh is 263 km/5hrs from Delhi and Tons Valley is 183kms/6½2hrs from Dehradun
WHERE THE PAST MEETS THE PRESENT
Denne historien er fra April - May 2024-utgaven av Outlook Traveller.
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Denne historien er fra April - May 2024-utgaven av Outlook Traveller.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prÞveperiode pÄ Magzter GOLD for Ä fÄ tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg pÄ
Where History Meets Luxury
Murmurs Of The Past Echo Through The Corridors Of These Legendary Stays
LIFE AT THE TOP
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT READIES AMBITIOUS PLANS TO BOOST TOURISM IN THE REGION, SPITI LOCALS ARE GRAPPLING WITH CHALLENGES POSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE AND SCARCE RESOURCES
NO SCREENS NO PROBLEM
DOES TAKING A BREAK FROM YOUR PHONE OR COMPUTER GIVE YOU ANXIETY OR A RUSH OF JOY? AS MORE AND MORE INDIANS CHOOSE RELAXATION AS THEIR PRIMARY MOTIVATOR TO TRAVEL, HERE'S WHAT A DIGITAL DETOX HOLIDAY IN INDIA LOOKS LIKE
GREEN LIVING
SRINAGAR ATTRACTS HORDES OF tourists for its iconic Dal Lake, tree-lined boulevards and Mughal-era gardens resplendent with chinar trees. Now, both the \"Lake of Flowers\" and chinars are in a fight for survival as pollution from untreated sewage and unsupervised logging threatens their future.
DISCOVERING THE CAUCASIAN PEARL
BATUMI IS A GETAWAY FOR ALL SEASONS, IMPRESSING VISITORS WITH ITS QUAINT VIBE, CLASSIC ARCHITECTURE AND TRADITIONAL CUISINES
WHERE SKY MEETS SEA
ESPERANCE, ALONG THE REMOTE SOUTHERN COAST OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, IS A DESTINATION THAT REWARDS THOSE WILLING TO WANDER OFF THE BEATEN PATH
NEW FINDS IN AN ANCIENT CITY
WHILE THE GREEK ISLANDS STEAL THE LIMELIGHT, THERE'S MUCH TO.UNCOVER IN ATHENS, INCLUDING TOP-NOTCH STAYS AND LESSER-KNOWN STORIES FROM THE PAST
UNTAMED SATPURA
AN ENCHANTING BLEND OF LUXURY AND NATURE, JEHAN NUMA WILDERNESS IN CENTRAL INDIA IS WHERE ROYAL LEGACIES PROVIDE A GATEWAY TO CONSERVATION
THE JEWEL OF THE EAST
LONG BEFORE WES ANDERSON ROMANTICISED THE FICTIONAL GRAND BUDAPEST, THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL IN KOLKATA INSPIRED NOVELS, FILMS AND OODLES OF NOSTALGIA
IN SEARCH OF THE BEST STAYS
MARK WONG OF SMALL LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD TALKS QUIRKY STAYS, STRANGERS BECOMING FRIENDS, AND CHASING THE MOST UNIQUE EXPERIENCES ON HIS TRAVELS
