Focus : High peaks, birds, flowers, people, culture
Best time : Spring & Autumn.

The indescribable and unforgettable land of India has been waiting for you for 5,000 years. Here the highest mountain range on earth, the Himalayas, .3,500 kilometres long, from India's northern and eastern frontiers.

Garhwal Himalayas are the subject and source of many Hindu myths - in fact, it would not be wrong to call it the cradle of Hinduism. The region is also known as Panchaldesh as the five Pandavas of the Mahabharata Fame came from this land. Nanda Devi, at 7816 metres, is the "jewel in the crown" of the Himalayas. Clustered around it are no less than seventy snow peaks attended by their glaciers which sweep down towards verdant valleys and flower rich meadows. Worshipped by all who live beneath its precipitous flanks, it has captured the imagination of climbers, mountain lovers and trekkers for almost a century.

Our trek commences from the lush green meadows of Auli, which is one of the best camping sites on the trek, offering a magnificent view of Nanda Devi, Mana, Nanda Kot and the Trishula ranges. For the next three days we hike through lovely meadows, gradually ascending to camp just below the Kauri Pass (3,700 metres). Given good conditions, this is a terrific view point. Here rises Hanuman (7,120 M), Dunagiri (7,052 M), Bethartoli and Trishula (7,120 M), and towering majestically above them all, the glorious Nanda Devi.

Onwards, we follow the marked "pilgrim's route" to Homekund (4,030 M), and alpine lake formed by melting glaciers. A few hours walk takes us to Rupkund Lake, situated beneath the slopes of the Trishula massif. According to local legend, the lake is referred to as "The Mystery Lake" on account of the many skeletons of humans and horses discovered and preserved in the snows close to it's waters. Many interesting stories have been put forward, but the most likely explanation is that they are skeletons of pilgrims caught in inclement weather while on their way to the nearby, sacred Hemkund Lake. Passing through the delightful meadow of Bedni Bugyal we reach our last trekking point, Debal, from where our waiting jeeps will take us back to Delhi.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Europe - Delhi
Day 2 Delhi
Day 3-5 Drive Delhi -Joshimath
Day 6-17 Trekking
Day 18-19 Drive Debal - Delhi
Day 20 Delhi
Day 21 Delhi - London

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