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The exquisitely beautiful summit ridge of Mt. Siniolchu (22,563 ft), which dominates the green lake and Zemu glacier area in the Sikkim Himalaya. This is where we’re headed next :)

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We’re going on an 18 day trek to the spectacularly beautiful Green Lake and Zemu Glacier area, in the ‘Sikkim’ North Eastern Indian Himalaya. Check out the details and images here:

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MHT Long- Weekend Getaways!!!

McLeodganj/TRIUND

Home to His Holiness Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, Mcleodganj lies nestled in the lap of Dhauladhar Range, a branch of the southern outer Himalayas. The village is named after Lord David McLeod, who founded it in 1848 as a retreat from the heat of the plains. Hot steaming momos or thukpa, the sights and sound of Budhist chants and prayer wheels is quick rejuvenation for the soul!

If you like to challenge yourself a little, trek to triund. Nine kilometers ahead of McLeodganj, the trek is a one day affair. You can start from McLeodganj early in the morning and reach Triund in a few hours.

Triund, at a height of about 2,842 meters, offers a spectacular view of the Dhauladhar range. The short trek follows one of the oldest migratory routes seasonally used by ‘Gaddi’ Shepherds of the Chamba and the Kangra Valley.

You can spend a few hours at Triund, soak in the views and trek back to Mcleodganj to reach by evening.

  SHOGHI

Many would include Shimla in the list. We would suggest Shoghi, a tiny piece of paradise at a height of more than 5700 ft.,tucked away on NH 22, thirteen kilometers short of Shimla. As the car stops, you’ll find yourself on a gentle hill slope, under a thick cover of oak and pine trees. Located in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, Shoghi is an ideal destination for a family holiday. Sprinkled with numerous temples, unexplored countryside and stunning views of the breathtaking Himalayas, Shoghi is an excellent weekend getaway. Interestingly Shoghi is known as the temple town of Himachal Pradesh as every village in the area has at least one temple which is well known among the devotees.

  PALAMPUR

Palampur is engulfed on all sides by tea gardens and pine trees and the pine scented air seems to be having healing properties as well. The town has derived its name from the local word "pulum", which means ‘lots of water’. There are numerous streams flowing from the mountains to the plains from Palampur and is home to the famous Baijnath temple. Behind this town stands high ranges of Dhauladhar, whose tops remain covered for most part of the year.

Mandi

This one time capital of the princely state of Mandi is a fast developing city that still retains much of its original charm and character. It is widely known for the International Mandi Shivratri Fair. The city also has the remains of old palaces and notable examples of ‘colonial’ architecture. It has one of the oldest buildings of Himachal Pradesh.

Mandi has more than 300 old and new temples. Because of the large number of temples and its location along River Beas, Mandi is also known as 'Chhoti Kashi'. Most of the temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Kaali. There are many classical temples which the Archaeological survey Of India has declared 'protected monuments'.  You can also visit Rewalsar Lake, famous for its floating islands of reed. It is believed that all seven of them can be moved by prayer or breeze. There are three shrines here, a Buddhist Monastery, where elaborate rituals are performed, a Sikh Gurudwara and a Hindu Temple.

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Merry Christmas to all you ski lovers out there! Enjoy your holiday :)

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Sunrise over Everest and Makalu, taken from Lobuche East’s summit ridge at around 6000m

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A curious Himalayan Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), checks out this clumsy biped trying to sneak up close enough, to get a decent picture

The Red Fox is an amazingly adaptable animal, at home in a diverse range of habitats varying from arid deserts to subarctic tundra.

In the Spiti valley, this opportunistic scavenger/predator, is often observed tailing snow leopards, for a chance to steal a quick morsel from their hard earned kills.

(Location : Near the village of Sichiling, Spiti valley

Photo credit: Rahul Ogra)

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One of our Mystic Himalayan Trails group member filmed our trek on the frozen Zanskar river, the Chadar Trek. Here is the trailer...a glimpse of what -30 degrees looks like!

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This is a Powerpoint presentation outlining our philosophy and what the Mystic Himalayan Trails ethos is all about.

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GULMARG WINTER - 2015, BEGINNERS LEVEL SKIING & BASIC SNOW-CRAFT PROGRAM. (KASHMIR VALLEY, 15TH - 26TH JANUARY)

This trip includes 10 nights & 11 days in the Kashmir valley. Out of these, 7 days are dedicated to the ski training program in Gulmarg, with accommodation in a beautiful mountain hotel / resort, on full board basis. Your hotel / resort will offer unmatched views of the enchanting ‘meadow of flowers,’ surrounded by dense forests of pine and spruce, with the ‘Apharwat’ ridge of the Pir Panjal range of mountains at its head. All the rooms have attached bathrooms and are centrally heated. Interesting apres ski activities are also possible in a few of the cafes around the resort. 

For more deatails, email: mystichimalayantrails@gmail.com

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THE LADAKH SNOW LEOPARD ODYSSEY, WINTER 2015

The trek starts on 5th Feb, 2015.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: An invaluable chance to see the Himalayan Snow leopard (Panthera uncia), in its pristine winter habitat. • A chance to visit the beautiful Trans Himalayan valley of Ladakh, in winter, without the usual summer tourists. • A visit to the ancient Chemrey, Hemis & Thiksey monasteries with their enigmatic – mystical - murals and enchanting lore. • Interaction with the wonderful people of Ladakh. • Possibility of participating in a local winter festival (depending on the local festival calendar). • A taste of authentic Ladakhi food and village life for the connoisseurs

Trip Basics: Trip Leaders: Rahul Ogra & Rishi Sharma (Director - WWF India’s Snow Leopard Project) Length: 12 days & 11 nights.

For more details, email : Mystichimalayantrails@gmail.com

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Yangdol, Nubra

(Pic. courtesy P. Srinivasan, Chennai)

In all my years of wandering around the Himalaya, I’ve never ceased to be amazed by how these great mountains have the uncanny ability of catching you completely off guard, when you least expect it.

In your moments of unassuming vulnerability, they will sometimes touch recesses so deep in your soul, that you’d all but forgotten existed. They’ll surprise you with the power of a memory so deep, an association so profound, that you’ll be completely transported by it’s impact.

I briefly met this old ‘Aaney’ near Tirith, in the Nubra valley, on a recent trip there in July. Our interaction was fleeting and awkward, to say the least; As I tried my level best to talk to her with whatever little – abysmally bad – Ladakhi I could muster. Her name, as it turned out, was Yangdol. She had lived to see 83 winters and her family consisted of her two sons, their wives and about 7 odd grandchildren. I clicked a couple of pictures with her and was suddenly overwhelmed by a warm – fuzzy – feeling, which I can only describe in retrospect as spontaneous affection.

The thing about her that stayed in my mind the longest, was the easy, toothless, smile that sat so comfortably on her wizened face. And those kind, compassionate, non-seeking eyes, which spoke yet of countless untold stories of immense hardship. Of a tough – albeit – proud life, lived on her own terms and hacked out of all the vicissitudes, which the ebb and flow of elements in this primeval land often tests people with. 

She reminded me so much of my grandmother ‘Kakni’, that by the time we parted ways, I am pretty certain she must’ve been more than a little amused to see a bit of moisture, welling up in the eyes of this strange, grown up ‘Rongba’ from the south.

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11 Reasons why you should be trekking...NOW!

Chadar Trek on the frozen Zanskar river

The views…the views…the views!!!! Snow capped mountains, rivers snaking down the valleys, grassy meadows, waterfalls, streams, forests……Adventure is out there! Un-spoilt, in all their glory, waiting to inspire you, or simply for you to soak in their beauty and be one with nature. Just BE. Stay Healthy – Regular hiking & trekking keeps you in brilliant physical shape. All the exercise, clean and fresh air & water will do wonders to your physical, mental and emotional well being. Far from the maddening crowds – No one for miles- ahead or behind you. Just you with a small group of like- minded people.… The Air….fresh, sweet and clean! A thing which has become a luxury only the adventurous can afford. The feeling of breathing that pine scented air, or the cold breeze blowing down the forested mountain slope which has been purified by herbs and flowering plants filling you with the freshness of snow…breathtaking! You would be surprised at how well you nose actually does work when it is NOT surrounded by the city garbage, pollution, etc. Making your own trail – No well laid out tracks, no pathways. Just you.. blazing your own trail… Feeling like a brave explorer, in search of something new, something spectacular! Meeting similarly ‘infected’ people – Be surrounded by people who have been bitten by the same bug, and are afflicted by the same love affair with the wilderness, that you are experiencing. The camaraderie that follows is just incredible! Close connection with nature – What better way to go deep into one of these places. It gives you time to reflect, to think of how incredibly healing nature can be. Calm, peaceful, harmonious, at One….breathing it all in! See the world and YOURSELF, differently – When you reach the summit or the pass, the achievement feels nothing less than magnificent! The journey fills you up with vigor and zest encouraging you to push boundaries and believe that you can take on anything.. Rejuvenate your soul – The physical endurance, nature’s magic and a sense of achievement will certainly rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. You will come back a better person Stories to tell your kids, or even grandkids – You don’t think that they would be interested in your office routine or board meetings, do you? These experiences will be etched in your memory and would most certainly will be worth telling, blogging, sharing…you may even want to scream about them..Yes, I did it!!