5 REASONS WHY UTTARAKHAND IS IDEAL FOR YOUR FIRST TREK
We get it. Figuring out where to go for your very first trek can be nerve-wracking. You get tempted with stunning photographs on Instagram, appealing advertisements with discounted prices, and stories you may hear from friends. But how do make the right choice that works for you?
India is gorgeous with its diverse landscape and hosts a chunk of the Himalayas. So we don’t blame you for falling into one of those traps and making a hasty purchase. The Indian Himalayas are spread over 13 states and union territories: Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam and West Bengal.
Each of these offers a unique experience in your exploration of the Himalayas, set apart by culture, language, ecosystem and many other aspects.
Though all these states and UTs have access to the Himalayas and are marked with lovely trails and spectacular views, we’ve outlined the top 5 reasons why we think Uttarakhand is the best choice for a first-time trekker.
1. Uttarakhand hosts many treks within a comfortable altitude range
13,000 feet and above is where humans begin to experience symptoms of altitude sickness. It’s not a pleasant experience when one or some of your group get hit by this. Especially on your first trek. Uttarakhand is abundant with treks that range between 9000 and 13000 feet. This keeps you away from possible altitude sickness, while you’re still surrounded by snow-clad mountains. Because let’s face it – when you picture the Himalayas, you always think of snow-peaked mountains!
2. There’s an airport!
This may not seem like a big deal, but there’s an advantage. The Jolly Grant airport is midway between Rishikesh and Dehradun, and has direct flights from many cities. So, you have higher chances of spending less time in transit, possibly waiting for a connection flight. You can fly in directly, explore the town, stay at a nice hotel and get a good night’s sleep. It’s crucial that you are well-rested before the start of your trek, without spending many hours on the road, changing buses, cabs and taxis, to get to your base camp.
3. First sighting of snow-peaked mountains
Yep, you can see them within an hour’s drive from Dehradun. This is a huge game-changer when the reality of being amidst the mighty Himalayas really dawns on you.
4. Decathlon!
If you missed packing essential gear, you can always plan your arrival and head on over to the Decathlon in Dehradun and make your last-minute purchases.
5. People of Uttarakhand
Sweethearts! All of them. Trustworthy, polite and honest. Quite likely that you head back home with a reminder that being nice is always a good thing.
And if this isn’t enough, Dehradun is a bustling little town with exactly two shopping malls, one multiplex theater, many contemporary cafes and budding new bars and restaurants. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it acts as the perfect cushion between the wilderness of the trek you just finished, and the chaos of the city you’re going back to!