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Talk of verdant Himalayan vistas, Tibetan Buddhism and plentiful adventurous getaways in one breath, you are surely talking of McLeod Ganj. A bustling little town up above the mountains in Himachal Pradesh, McLeod Ganj is a perfect blend of noise and peace. Here’s my account of the best experiences in McLeod Ganj with some travel tips.
Badrinath Yatra (journey) is as much a pilgrimage as it’s a journey through the grand Himalayan vistas and ancient Indian spiritual towns. Starting from Haridwar, the journey takes one through the towns like Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Joshimath- all important sites for Hindus. Here’s an account of our Family trip to Badrinath in May 2024.
Tirthan Valley, at the heart of the Great Himalayan National Park, is one of the most charming valleys in India. It’s a poetry in landscape, it’s lovable. Spectacular mountain vistas, verdant forests, milky white rivers, wavy meadows and unspoiled villages. Everything about Tirthan Valley is so charming! I’m sharing my experiences and some travel tips in this article.
Serolsar lake, a cute little lake, nestled in a peaceful corner of Tirthan Valley in Himachal Pradesh, is worth spending a day at. It requires an easy, one day trek (5+5 kilometers) from Jalori Pass. With the mysterious Budhi Nagin Temple by the lake, the experience becomes all the more interesting. Sharing our experience of the trek with helpful tips for your planning.
In the cold, harsh deserts of Ladakh, Buddhism provides the much needed equanimity. Though human settlements in Leh- Ladakh are few and far between, they are invariably characterized by the presence of Buddhist symbols like chortens, mani walls and gompas (monasteries). This article lists the best monasteries in Leh- Ladakh for visitors’ convenience.
Colourful mountains of Ladakh spreading across the horizon, interspersed with green patches in the valleys look magical. in addition, Ladakh’s cultural heritage and architectural beauty are equally impressive. Our Leh- Ladakh trip this August was really challenging, but equally exciting and enjoyable. Here’s an account of the trip with helpful tips.
Vaishno Devi temple is near the town of Katra in Jammu. It’s among the most popular pilgrimages in India today. As per estimates, 9.4 million tourists visited the shrine in 2023! Though Vaishno Devi gets mention in Hindu mythology running into thousands of years, its popularity is of relatively recent origin.
Amritsar is known world over, of course, for the magnificent Golden Temple, or Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib. Amritsar has much more to offer though. Here’s my narrative of Amritsar, its history, monuments, people, culture and food, gathered from my two visits.
Millions visit the ghats on the Ganges in Varanasi every year, and come back immersed in a deep sense of spiritualism. Though not all Hindus follow the same belief system, Varanasi, nevertheless is an important pilgrimage for all Hindus. Its history and legend go back thousands of years, making it one of the oldest cities in the world!
Trekking in the Himalayas is a surreal experience, both from adventure and spiritual points of views. Though the Himalayas offer scores of trekking options, Triund trek in McLeod Ganj is one of the moderate ones. If you are up for that experience, here’s a complete guide to the Triund trek in McLeod Ganj.