Beginners often fear going on treks on their own, and almost aways end up booking guides without even considering taking an expedition by themselves. There are several treks in India that are not only beginner friendly, but can also be completed without guided assistance.
To make the task easier for you, I've listed down some beginner-friendly treks in India, along with trail information and details on the availability of campsites.
Take your pick and trust yourself to finish the trek, all by yourself!
Where: Situated in the Kangra District of Himachal, the trek to Triund Hill begins from McLeod Ganj. To reach McLeod Ganj, take an overnight bus from Delhi to Dharamshala and then a taxi or local bus to Mcleod Ganj.
Trail: To start your trek to Triund, head to Dharamkot first. You can either walk or take an autorickshaw for Rs 60 to Dharamkot Primary School. Start walking on the jungle trail. The first landmark on your way will be Gallu Devi Temple. Continue on the protected trail for the next 3-4 hours. You can spend the night at the Forest Department's Guesthouse (bookings can be done at the Forest Complex near Dharamsala Police Station) or rent a camp at any of the fixed camps at the top.
Duration: 3-4 hours
Where: Situated in the Mandi District of Himachal, the trek to Parashar Lake begins from Baggi Village. To reach Baggi Village, take an overnight bus from Delhi to Mandi and then a taxi or local bus to Baggi Village.
Trail: Start on the jeep trail from Baggi Village and stay on it for 40 minutes. Soon, you will come to a fork, from where you should take the route going right and start the steep ascent through the dense forest. The well-defined trail will guide you for four more hours, leading straight to Parashar Lake. The government guesthouse is temporarily closed, but there is enough space for you to pitch your own tent.
Duration: 5-6 hours
Where: Situated in the Tehri Garhwal District of Uttarakhand, the trek to Nag Tibba begins from Pantwari Village. To reach Pantwari, take an overnight bus or train from Delhi to Dehradun and then a taxi or local bus to Pantwari Village.
Trail: To start your trek to Nag Tibba, head to the Nag Devta Temple first. Then follow the well-cemented trail till you reach the rocky, shepherd trail. The first landmark will be a small clearing near a small stream – this is an ideal spot to camp for the night. Just a couple of kilometres from here is the Nag Tibba basecamp, which you will pass while trekking the next 3km to the summit.
Duration: 8-9 hours
Where: Situated in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, the trek to the Valley of Flowers begins from Govind Ghat, a popular pilgrimage town. To reach Govind Ghat, take an overnight bus or train from Delhi to Haridwar and then a taxi or local bus to Govind Ghat.
Trail: The first day of the trek is a walk on a well-defined concrete trail that passes through the developed town of Govind Ghat. Backpackers don't need to carry food or cooking essentials on this trail. Govind Ghat to Ghangria is 13km and there are several dhabas there; rest and eat at any. There are several guesthouses in Ghangria, so you don't even have to carry a tent. Leave in the morning for the Valley of Flowers, which is only an hour or two from Ghangria. You cannot camp inside the national park, as it closes by 5pm.
Duration: 9-10 hours
Where: Situated in the Kullu District of Himachal, the Kheerganga Trek begins from Barshaini or Tosh. To reach Barshaini, take an overnight bus or train from Delhi to Bhuntar and then a taxi or local bus to Barshaini or Tosh.
Route: The total distance of the trek is 15km and it is fairly easy in the first half. After you cross the first dhaba on the route, the trail gets steeper. The mid-point of the trek is Nakthan Village, which also a great place to stop. Definitely carry a raincoat, but a tent and cooking items are not essential since there are enough options to eat and stay at Kheerganga. A few metres from where the trek ends is a Shiv Temple with a hot water spring, which is a great place to unwind.
Duration: 5-6 hours
Where: Situated in the Kangra District, the trek to Kareri Lake begins from Ghera Village. To reach Ghera Village, take an overnight bus from Delhi to Dharamshala and then a taxi or local bus to Ghera Village.
Route: The trek begins from the main bazaar (a great place to buy last- minute supplies). After crossing the bridge over Bhote Khosi, take a left and trek along the Kareri stream to reach Kareri Village. While trekking through the forested trail, you will pass a government school in Sari Village. Stock up here and keep moving towards Kareri Village from where the lake is 5-6 hours away, so definitely spend the night at Kareri Village. The lake is a good place to camp, but you can even stay at the Forest Guest House in Kareri Village (contact Forest Ranger in Dharamshala for more information) or at a homestay in the village (the locals are known to be hospitable).
Duration: 7-8 hours
Where: Situated in the Dakshina Kannada District, the trek to Kumara Parvatha begins from Kukke Temple. To reach Kukke Temple, take an overnight bus from Bangalore to Kukkesubramanya and then walk towards the Temple Road.
Route: The Kumara Parvatha Trek is best done in four stretches, Kukke Temple to Battar Mane, Battar Mane to Kalluman Top, Kalluman Top to Shesha Parvatha and the final one to Shesha Parvatha. All stretches are fairly easy, except the one from Kalluman Top to Shesha Parvatha. Battar Mane is a great place to stock up on water and food. There are several campsites en route to Kumara Parvatha. Camps can be set up near the Forest Office, then near Kalluchappara, which is also a great place to watch the sunset, then near the forest after Shesha Parvatha and last at the peak itself.
Duration: 8-9 hours
Where: Situated in the Madikeri District, the trek to Tadiandamol begins near Kakkabe. To reach Kakkabe, take a bus from Bangalore to Virajpet and take a local bus or taxi to Bhagamandala (get off at Aramane, near Kakkabe).
Route: The trek to Tadiandamol Peak is simple, it begins at the foothill from where the water stream passes. The peak from this point is 2.6km and the steep trail lasts only 1km. The best place to camp during the trek is near the big rock (it's a very big rock, you will easily spot it). People also camp at the peak, but during long weekends this spot gets very crowded. There is no water at the peak, so carry your own and due to recent elephant sightings, it is suggested to light a fire throughout the night.
Duration: 6-8 hours
Where: Situated in the Wayanad District, the trek to Chembra Peak begins from the foothills. To reach the foothills, take a bus from Bangalore to Kalpetta, then take a local bus or taxi to Meppadi and then hire a jeep to drop you to the foothills.
Route: Start the trek from the foothills of Chembra Peak and your first stop can be the watchtower, which falls just a few kilometres in. The next few stretches from the watchtower to the end of the forest and then to the heart-shaped lake are fairly easy as well. The toughest ascent is from the lake to the peak. If there are heavy rains during your trek, skip this stretch altogether. Camping at Chembra Peak is not allowed.
Duration: 4-5 hours
Where: Situated in the Tumkur District, the trek to Madhugiri Fort begins from the town. To reach Madhugiri, take a bus ride from Bangalore.
Route: The Madhugiri Fort trek begins from the foothills and has stairs till half the way. After that it's an easy but steep climb to the top, where the fort is perched. Spend time at the fort and head down from the same route. You are not allowed to camp at the fort. Since the trek is only two hours long, it can also make a great weekend getaway from Bangalore.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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