Hippie Trails Of India That Are Destined To Take You On A Road To Liberation

During 60s when someone asked the long-haired hippies on an overland bus where they're going, they said, 'We're going to India'. These words defined the classic hippie trail to India from Europe via Turkey, Afghanistan over Khyber Pass. With Beatles' visit to Rishikesh giving them their most creative period, the hippie trail in India became the road to liberation for many.

Cover Image Credits: Eleazar

Image Credits: wikipedia

These hippie tours put some of the best destinations on the travellers' map over the years. Here's a list of stunning spots across India following the classic hippie trail.

1. Kasar Devi, A Himalayan Hippie Hometown

A magical view of the Himalayas gives an answer to the quest of the mystic east to every traveller. Away from the towny chaos, Crank's Ridge, a hippie hill near Kasar Devi, became a popular since Timothy Leary, an american writer and psychologist streaked on the ridge in 1960s.

Image Credits: Salim Islam

Alfred Sorenson (Sunyata), the Danish mystic and writer lived at the Crank's Ridge for years. Remains of the Sunyata cave can be seen in the photograph below.

Image Credits: wikipedia

2. Kasol, The Mystic Valley of God

Kasol is the mini Israel of India with fluttering hebrew banners all along the Parvati River. The town is a hub for backpackers and also a base for SarPass, Yanker Pass, Pin Parbati Pass and Kheerganga trek.

The disappearing travellers have been an unexplained mystery of Kasol. Many foreign visitors choose to live with the tribal locals at far-fetched villages in the Parvati Valley while some choose to camp at Manikaran, a sacred site for Hindus as well as Sikhs.

Image Credits: Himani Khatreja

3. Manali, The Hippie Hermitage

Another Goa for the Hippies in North India, Manali becomes a hub for long haired, free thinking, drum circle loving hippies from all across the globe.

Image Credits: Rupali

Some in search of liberation and others in the quest of 'black gold' (Malana cream), the hippies of Goa turn to this town in the lap of Himalayas when monsoon hits Goa.

Image Credits: Kush Mehta

4. Varanasi, A Call of The Holy

Varanasi has been inhabited by Hippies since so long that they are the real historians of this town on the bank of the Ganges. The hippie road to enlightening liberation leads them to Varanasi once in their life.

Image Credits: Shweta

Benaras is the city to die for devout Hindus and a spot to celebrate the good riddance of possessions for travellers who come here from all walks of life.

Image Credits: Anuj Khurana

5. Rishikesh, A Road to Liberation

Away from the organized religions of the world, travellers are often the seekers of wisdom. The Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh is literally a shrine for hippies that has witnessed the creative boom in the life of the acclaimed artists and traced the hippie trail to India for many.

Image Credits: Hot Toddies Unlimited

'You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.' And yes, they were the real dreamers who paved the way to liberation for many who followed.

Image Credits: wikimedia

6. Gokarna, A Goa of Bygone Years

A hedonistic holiday is a guilty pleasure of many. At the four beaches of Gokarna, a secluded holy town, you get all the serenity you wish a seaside can give you.

Image Credits: Manish

With sunny beaches and sounds of reggae echoing through the sea, Gokarna gives an authentic feel of what Goa used to be like to the hippie travelers at present times.

Image Credits: Riya Poojary

7. Hampi, Where Happiness Sits on Ruins at Sunset

Hippie hangout teepees can be spotted all across this small town. The ruins of Hampi are a spot for endless jam sessions and drum circles for the hippie community of late.

Image Credits: Shristi Jugran

With more restaurants serving international food than local, Hampi is an unavoidable destination in the Indian hippie trail.

Image Credits: Shristi Jugran

8. Varkala, Nothing Beyond Its Beaches But Joy

If you see the sun dive down the Arabian Sea at the Varkala Beach, there's nothing more beautiful you'd ever wish to see.

Image Credits: MIkko Koponon

Shops selling hippie gears all around the beach, can tell about the bustling hippie culture in this beach town in Kerela.

Image Credits: Ashish Jain

9. No it's Not Vatta. Its Vattakanal.

The hippies turn to Nilgiris for solace at the village of Vattakanal near Kodaikanal. Seeing the flock of Isreali travellers coming here each day, some people say that this South Indian village will be speaking hebrew in some years.

Image Credits: Uday Manivannan

When few years back hippies decided to believe that Goa was just a hoax, they turned to this small village. Laughingly, the people of Vattakanal talk about the Isrealis and say, "They came, they saw and rest of the Israel followed."

Image Credits: Uday Manivannan

10. Goa, An endless End to the Hippie Trail

Goa comes as a final destination in the hippie trail. It seems as if the beaches of Goa chooses its inhabitants and sends a call to the wide-eyed travellers from all across the world.

Image Credits: Piyush Rai

The end of the trail is also a spot for endless celebration of the life of dreamy travellers. From a destination of joyful hippie celebration, Goa is now also a commercial hub for international music festivals and events.

Image Credits: wikimedia

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