Backpacking Indian mountains
St. Augustine once said that, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”. But backpacking to India is like glimpsing the entire book owing to its varied landscape. Much of the beauty of India is outside of the cities, in the Himalayan panorama, snow filled Kashmir and in the green covered ranges of south. Exploring the long ranges of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats and Himalayas is a blue moon dream of backpackers who look for a hike full of adventures and awesome experiences. Faces of India means you could spend months travelling and still barely scratch the surface of what the country is still to offer. Indian mountains are just like that! The English and Australian students often backpack through India during their ‘gap year’ between secondary school and college. Americans often travel between graduating from college and entering the workforce.
Adventure travel is not limited to any particular season. In the Himalayas, for the summers, parasailing would probably be the best option, while in the rainy season trekking and hiking through the hill would be ideal. A hiker backpacker needs, at a minimum, an ice axe whenever snow and ice is present, and the knowledge of how to use it. One must also have the knowledge of how to kick or chop steps in hard snow and how to self arrest with the axe. A successful year round backpacker must be skilled in using snowshoes and ice axe. Snowshoes are necessary for much of the winter season. The snow packs generally harden from late winter through early summers and so snowshoes are no longer required then, but the ice axe and sturdy boots continue to be a requirement. A lot of expertise is needed to glissade through the slopes using ice axe as a rudder. Most backpackers however anticipate for Sherpa setting up camp. Clubs have formed to coordinate group activities for backpackers including hot-air balloon rides, paragliding Yoga and other spiritual exposures are added ecstasy to backpackers. The spicy gardens and tribal houses of the ranges in Kerala offer an inert world. The small falls and natural sceneries are of bliss to the eyes.
However, it is in the interest of the backpackers to not to spoil their trip by crossing borders and harvesting unnecessary apprehension in this regard. As India a huge nation cannot afford for cent percent security on cross border terrorisms and outfits that everyone is aware of. Nations and respective embassies are providing guidelines on these lines which the backpackers need to consider therein.
Living on a shoestring is always a challenge, especially in India, where pinching pennies means crummy hotels, suspect food and grueling travel. But the few who brave it are rewarded with an up-close-and-personal view of India--one that even if they wanted to, they probably couldn't forget. One of the main drawbacks of backpacking in India (besides pinching pennies), is the camaraderie. But backpackers need not be shortchanged on this experience. Many use cash saved on lodging to splurge on adventures. On the whole India hiking is a great way to see a country on the budget.
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