A CHALLENGE FOR THE BRAVE

 It was once rightly said ‘There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.’ The following trips may take more than 8 days, but they are worth every second. Be the views, the company, or just the feeling of accomplishment, these treks are going to make a very special place for themselves in your heart. But be prepared as these journeys are not for the faint-hearted!

If you are someone who is willing to experience the untouched beauty of Ladakh, the Markha Valley Trek is one for you. The trail will keep you engrossed with various monasteries, ancient fields, various streams, dry regions of the Indus river, and last but not least the beauty of the majestic mountains. Not only would you be inspired and awestruck by the trail, but also the flora and fauna will be one of a kind, especially while traveling through the Hemis National Park. To make this even more special the descending route is totally different, hence providing you with new views at every glance. It is highly recommended to embark on this journey during the months of May — October, as the weather during this time is highly favourable and pleasant, adding to the beauty of the trail.

The journey into this paradise will start from Leh, with an altitude of 11,150 ft. From here you will travel to Zingchen, following the path alongside the Indus river. From Zingchen to Yurutse, the trail will take you through Rumbak, which is at the height of 12,470 ft. The climb from Rumbak to Yurutse is a slow climb and the high altitude starts to take a toll on the climber. From there to Skiu, you will also cross the high base camp of Ganda La, which is at an altitude of 14,272 ft. The area is known to be the home of the snow leopards and also has views of Zinchen Gorge and Stok mountains. As you travel downwards towards Skiu, the path is well defined but zig-zag and starts to become rocky. While going to Markha Valley, you would stumble across the Markha river which is surrounded by mountains on both sides, truly a once-in-a-lifetime view to catch. On your way, you will reach Chalak, this is the perfect opportunity for one to take a look at the barley cultivation that happens in the area. After 2 to 3km you will be graced with the valley, but the adventure continues as there is a river to cross. Following the banks of the Markha river, crossing it a few times and after then hiking for 2 km you will come across Umlung. This area will provide you with breath-taking views of Mt. Kang Yissay, as you climb towards Tocha and Hankar. A km past Hankar you will be met by two diverged roads and you are to take the trail down the path to Thochuntse. About 15 minutes into the trail you will be met by a trail fork, choose the one on the left, where you will soon find that the landscape has started to become smoother. On the path to Nimaling, you will be blessed with the astounding glacier backing the Kang Yatse on your left, and to the right is the Kang Yatse peak. At last while on your way down, you will be crossing the Kongmaru La pass, which is at a staggering height of 17,060 ft., but you will also be met with the views of the Indus river and the Ladakh ranges. From there the trail is a constant descent, and soon you will reach Sumdo, where you can hail a cab back to Leh.

This whole journey is truly beautiful and mesmerising at every beck and corner. But what if you want something a little more challenging, a little more thrilling, where you can meet other wanderlusts like yourself. Then, the Bali Pass trek is for you. When I say it is not for the faint-hearted, I mean it!

The trail is famous for its mesmerising views of Bandarpoonch, Kalanag, and Swargarohini peaks, but as everything comes at the price, the trail is also known to have high altitudes. The maximum altitude is 16, 241 ft and is a journey of a total of 57 km. The best time to embark on this adventure is from May to June, and September — October.

The journey starts from Sankri, where you will start the journey by car to Taluka. After reaching Taluka, the real challenge of trekking begins. The trail up to Seema Camp will engross you with beautiful waterfalls and a forest filled with chestnuts, willows, and conifer trees. In the next part of the journey, you will be traveling along the sides of the Supin river. Here you will also stumble across Debshu Bugyal, which is sure to enthrall you with its lush green meadows, and if you are lucky enough you may also spot birds such as Red-billed Blue Magpie, Blue whistling thrush, Rosefinches, and many more. When traveling from Rainbasera to Ruinsara Tal, the Supin river will unfortunately leave your side, but don’t worry as you are soon to be awestruck by the glacial lake. You are hit with beautiful views all around, on the southwest side the Yamuna Kanta sits in all its glory, while the east is like a painted picture of the mighty Mt. Bandarpoonch. Kalanag and White Peak are also a part of the picturesque beauty. The trail from here is relatively short but has a high altitude change. Once you reach Odari, the scenery changes into rocky terrains. This place has a huge significance in the Ramayana, so if you are a history or mythology buff, here is an extra reason for you to take on this adventure. Here is where the actual adventure starts, as the next part of the journey requires you to climb a series of ridges along the way. This part of the journey can be a challenge as the temperature often drops in the area, you also cross the 15,000 mark in this section of the journey. Finally, after all this hard work you will reach Bali Pass Base Camp. From there on the challenge continues as you would be required to trek past snowfields. This part of the journey is quite demanding as it is more time-consuming than the others. After a lot of hard work, the sight of Lower Dhamni is truly the best thing ever. At last, the trek ends with Jaan Ki Chatti as the last stop, but not without a stroll through Yamunotri.

Both of these journeys are not for those who give up easily, these require hard work and a lot of patience and determination. The views, the peace, and the end result make every step of the journey feel worth the challenge. It truly is an experience of a lifetime and no words will ever be able to suffice it.