Have feet will walk

More and more vacationers are opting for guided group treks through remote but breathtakingly beautiful regions across the country, says Nirmala Rao

More and more vacationers are opting for guided group treks through remote but breathtakingly beautiful regions across the country,u00a0 says Nirmala Rao

In Himachal Pradesh

Sar Pass Trek
Base Camp: Youth Hostel, Kasol (height 6,500 ft)
Duration: 11 days
Trek is on from April 28-May 31
Choose any date you want and it is an 11-day trek
Cost: Rs 2,765

Saurkundi Pass Trek
Base Camp: Youth Hostel, Babeli (height 4,000 ft)
Duration: 11 days
Choose any date from April 25 to May 25.

Mountain Biking
Base Camp: Autu00a0 (3,500 feet)
Duration: 8 days
Cost: Rs 2,065

Nature Study Camp
Age: 10-15 years
Base Camp: Dobhi (4,500 ft)
Duration: 6 days
Cost:u00a0 Rs 1,600

In Tamil Nadu

Nilgiris Trek
From: April 26-May 8
Duration: 6 days
Cost: Rs 2,500
The fee is for the actual duration of the trek from the time you reach base camp until you leave. You have to pay for your train/air/bus journey to the base camp. Age above 15 years, except for the Nature Study Camp.

In Uttaranchal

Har-ki-Doon Trek (Valley of Flowers)
Reporting at Mussoorie camp
Duration: 15 days
Cost: Rs 3,465

Other YHAI programmes:
Desert trek in Rajasthan in November
Winter trek in Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh in December
Coastal trek in Goa in December

Contact
Youth Hostels Association of India
Karnataka State Branch
Room No 201, 1st Floor
Sports Authority of Karnataka Building
Kanteerava Stadium Complex
Kasturba Raod
Bangalore 560 001
Ph: 080-22113491
(Between 11 am and 7 pm)
Website: https://www.yhaindia.org/

The wonder that is Manikaranu00a0

Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh is the only place in India where there are hot water springs. The other place is Alice Springs in Australia.

The phenomenon of a hot water patch coming up like a fountain in the middle of the swiftly flowing Parvati river is worth experiencing.

The people of the town have harnessed this hot water and it flows all through the town in pipes. So when you accidentally touch the pipes while walking in the streets, you will feel the hot water.

There is a gurudwara and a Ram temple here. The langar and the temple provide food for all visitors cooked in this hot water. They have some sections capturing the hot water.

They put rice and dal in pots, cover them up and leave it in the water. The food in cooked, literally in minutes!
Manikaran has the one and only geo thermal plant in the country.