TREKKING REGIONS – GARHWAL & KUMAON - PART 2


© Ashish Kaul

The lower hills in this region too are the Shivaliks lying below an altitude of 3,000 m. From West to East ,this is how the trekking regions are oriented. Western Garhwal, bordering Sirmour and Kinnaur of Himachal Preadesh has the Tons River and the Har ki dun Valley, a delightful trekking region. The main peaks, which dominate this region, are the Swargarohini and the Bandarpoonch. The Bandarpoonch Range further provides a divide between the Yamuna and Bhagirathi rivers, carving out beautiful valleys. As the Great Himalayan Range it continues East to the Gangotri region around the Gangotri glacier and in the vicinity of the Khatling glacier. This snowy concentration is a criss cross of several wonderful trekking trails. Around the Gangotri glacier is a huge concentration of peaks including Kedar dome ( 6831 m ), Kedarnath ( 6490 m ), Sri Kailas ( 6932 m ), Mana ( 6794 m ) and many more. Here the Chaukhamba range of peaks rises over 7,000 m, dividing the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers. The range then continues over Kedarnath, the pilgrim centre, to the pilgrim location of Badrinath. Here, around Badrinath and mostly to its North, is another huge concentration of great peaks. Some of them are - Nilgiri ( 6474 m ), Hathi Parbat ( 6727 m ) and Ghori Parbat ( 6708 m ) and Rataban ( 6166 m ), located above the Bhiundhar valley, better known as the Valley of Flowers. Further North is the second highest peak of Garhwal and Kumaon - Kamet ( 7758 m )with its high neighbours - Abi Gamin ( 7355 m ) and Mana ( 7272 m ). These form a part of the Zanskar Range and border Tibet. Further east, the range continues on to the showcase and centre stage of the Kumaon Himalayas - the Nanda Devi Sanctuary. This boasts of the most dramatic and massive concentration of high peaks around the Nanda Devi itself and Nanda Devi East. Some peaks here, include - Nanda Kot ( 6861 m), Dunagiri ( 7066 m ), Trisul ( 7120 m ), Devtoli ( 6788 m ) and many others. Further East of the sanctuary, lies the impressive Milam glacier around which are some more peaks - Trisuli I ( 7074 m ), Rishi Pahar ( 6992 m )and some others. South east of this concentration are the five Panchuli peaks over 6000 m. Occupying a firm place in the epic Mahabharat, they are striking in appearance and are neatly arranged in a row. Beyond this, to the extreme East, lie the Kali river and the border with Nepal.

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