More than a third of the
Himalayas lie in India, spanning the entire
northern stretch of the sub-continent - an astonishing
arc nearly 3,200 kilometers long. Within this
mass of peaks and valleys are some of the country’s
most beautiful states. In the northwest lie
Jammu and Kashmir‚ with the dramatic high
altitude deserts of its Ladakh district. No
other state offers such scenic diversity: green,
alpine vales; flower-strewn meadows; rushing
rivers and streams feeding numerous lakes; and
glacier-topped mountains. Ladakh, most often
referred to as the ‘little Tibet’,
transports you to the high-altitude world of
dramatic landscapes, rugged passes, ancient
Buddhist monasteries and gentle, benign people.
The mountain and valleys of the small state
of Himachal Pradesh, east of Jammu and Kashmir,
include a smaller Buddhist mountain kingdom
called Lahaul‚ and Spiti‚ and the
tribal belt of Kinnaur. A place to explore the
quiet side of India where the beautiful haunts
are less traveled.
Further east, is Uttaranchal, a place that represents
the essence of Hinduism, which holds sway in
this part of the Himalayas. Here lies the source
of the Ganga, India’s holiest river and
four most sacred shrines making Uttaranchal
the abode of the Hindu gods. A destination for
pilgrims, trekkers and rafters.
Sikkim, north of West Bengal and east of Uttar
Pradesh, is in India’s Eastern Himalayas.
The five peaks of Kanchenjunga, the third-highest
mountain in the world, loom over this tiny state.
Paths meander through forests, follow turbulent
streams, wind through valleys and dales and
pilgrim routes patiently cut across mountains
reach sacred monasteries perched high in splendid
isolation.
In northern West Bengal, Darjeeling‚ built
on a narrow ridge jutting out into the Teesta
basin, looks across a wide expanse, 1,300 metres
below, to Himalayan peaks which stretch along
the northern horizon for 96 km. Kanchenjunga
is only 56 km away.
The extreme east of India, is the land of the
seven sister states Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur,
Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.
In this region lies the Assam Himalaya, inhabited
by friendly tribal people of mongoloid stock.
This area spreads through high, rain-sodden,
thickly forested spurs and ridges of the lesser
Himalayas. Spread beneath these hills lies Assam,
sliced by the wide Brahmaputra river. Home of
the one- horned Rhinoceros, this state claims
twelve of the best wild life sanctuaries in
north India. Arunachal Pradesh, on the north
eastern tip of India, once called the ‘Hidden
Land’, is now open to visitors. It boasts
of a rich tribal culture, rare orchids, turbulent
rivers, dense rain forests, making it a haven
for anglers, rafters and hikers. Entry being
regulated through special permits, these areas
still remain pristine and remote.
