The mornings are beginning to get chilly in India and the afternoons have never been more pleasant. It means that the winter season is here.
Winter is a great time to travel across India. When it comes to vacations, different kinds of travelers prefer different types of vacations. Some like pleasant, quiet holidays while others like adventurous vacations full of thrilling adrenaline rushes.
Winter treks in India catapult you into a whole new world of fantasy; snowy landscapes, frozen lakes luminous in sunlight, snow-drifted trees; the panorama is magically surreal.
The state of Uttarakhand, also called Devbhoomi or "The Land of Gods" is home to famous religious sites, unexplored terrains and remote villages nestled in the backdrop of majestic Himalayan peaks. It offers some of the best winter treks in the Himalayas.
Here are the TOP 6 picks
1. Kedarkantha Trek
Touted as the classic winter trek in himalayas, Kedarkantha is a wholesome package of fun and adventure. It is one of the easy winter treks in India to undertake, almost the whole trekking trail has gradual ascends and descends except for the last lap which is a steep uphill hike.
The godly peak of Swargarohini, believed to be the stairway to heaven is one of the glittering attractions of this trek. Kedarkantha makes for a perfect ski-destination in winters.
Altitude- 12,500 feet
Region- Uttarakhand Himalayas
Trek Level- Moderate to Difficult
Distance- 20 km
Duration- 6 days
Start and end point- Sankri
2. Brahmatal Trek
Brahmatal or "The Lake of Lord Brahma" is shielded by grandiose Himalayan peaks and a lone oak tree overlooking the lake gives you perfect company in this locale of solitary bliss. The Brahmatal summit flatters you with the front-seat view of grandiose Himalayan peaks which rise above 7,000 metres. The trek gets its name from Lord Brahma who is believed to have meditated on the banks of Brahmatal lake. You maneuver your way through ascending trails, steep slopes, moderate ascends and gradually descends while undertaking this magical winter trek in the Himalayas.
Altitude- 12,500 feet
Region- Uttarakhand Himalayas
Trek Level- Easy to moderate
Distance- 30 km
Duration- 6 days
Start and end point- Lohajung
3. Kuari Pass Trek
Also known as Lord Curzon Trail, Kuari Pass trek is an excellent trek for beginners. You trek along the trails surrounded by majestic peaks, open meadows, and tall trees of oak, deodar, maple, and chestnut. This moderate level trek transcends through gradual ascends and descends except for the final stretch of the trek where you are to cross a bridge floored with ice. The highlights of this trek are stunning views of the mountains of Nanda Devi, Trishul, Dronagiri, Chaukhamba, and Changbang. The confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi at Devprayag is one of the star attractions of the trek.
Altitude- 11,000 feet
Region- Uttarakhand Himalayas
Trek Level- Moderate to Difficult
Distance- 30 km
Duration- 6 days
Start and end point- Haridwar
This easy himalayan trek near Mussoorie is undertaken in the Shivalik Range of the Himalayas. Nag Tibba is a one-day trek, excellent for beginners. You enjoy the scenic vista of "The Queen of Hills", Mussoorie, learn the local culture at Pantwari village and visit the sacred Nag Tibba Temple. Camping by the side of the temple, enjoying the bonfire to beat the chill and scaling the Nag Tibba summit are the highlights of this trek. Nag Tibba summit treats you to scenic views of Himalayan ranges like Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Gangotri and Kala Nag.
Altitude- 9,910 feet
Region- Uttarakhand Himalayas
Trek Level- Easy
Distance- 16 km
Duration- 2 days
Start and end point- Dehradun
5. Dayara Bugyal
Between the magical months of December to March, Dayara Bugyal gets transformed into a pristine meadow of snow. Such is the beauty of glittering snow at night that you will want to camp on a snow-bedded ground under the star-lit sky, surrounded by shimmering peaks of Bandarpooch, Kala Nag, Shrikhand Mahadev, Srikanth, and Gangotri. Each trail leading to Dyara Bugyal is uniquely beautiful. It is lined with snow-drifted oak forests and sprinkled with fresh snow. This 4-day trek takes you through some uphill hikes and easy descends to bring you to one of the most beautiful alpine meadows in India spread in an area of 28 square kilometres. The expansive meadow of Dyara Bugyal invites tourists for skiing from the whole country during winters.
Altitude- 12,300 feet
Region Uttarakhand Himalayas
Trek Level- Easy to Moderate
Distance- 29 km
Duration- 4 days
Start and end point- Barsu
6. Deoria Tal and Chandrashila Trek
The high altitude lake Deoria Tal offers a perfect camping site. Surrounded by a canopy of snow- drifted trees and the staggering peaks of Chaukhamba, Bandarpoonch, and Kedar, the beautiful lake is believed to be the bathing spot of all Devas.
The snow-covered rocky terrain of Chopta, the highest temple dedicated to Lord Shiva-Tunganath Temple, and finally the Chopta-Chandrashila summit offer a wholesome package of adventure. Experience the scenic views of lofty mountain ranges of Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghanti, Dronagiri, Trishul, Kedar, Thayalsagar and Gangotri.
Altitude- 13,550 feet
Region Uttarakhand Himalayas
Trek Level- Moderate in spring, summer and fall season to difficult in winters
Distance- 15 km
Duration- 4 days
Start and end point- Chopta
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