Lesser-known Treks
Hidden Gems
Trails that are not on the ten-trek lists, and are emptier for it.
16 places
Vijaynagar Beach (Neil)
Natural Rock Bridge
A naturally formed coral rock arch near the island's shore.
Chopta (Tungnath)
Chandrashila Peak
The summit above Tungnath at about 4,000 metres, another kilometre and a half past the temple. On a clear morning you see Nanda Devi, Trisul and Chaukhamba from it. Start in the dark for sunrise.
Kasar Devi (Almora)
Crank's Ridge
The famous viewpoint ridge above Kasar Devi, lined with cafes and known for sweeping Himalayan panoramas.
Kasol
Chalal Village Trail
An easy riverside walk from Kasol to the quiet hamlet of Chalal, lined with chilled cafes and music hostels.
Om Beach (Gokarna)
Gokarna Beach Trek
A cliff trail connecting Om, Half Moon and Paradise beaches.
Kodachadri
Kodachadri Peak
The grassland summit with the Sarvajna Peetha shrine and panoramic cloud-sea sunrise views.
Dhinodhar Hills
Dhoramnath Peak Shrine
A stone shrine on the highest point of Dhinodhar, tied to the ascetic Dhoramnath and looked after by Kanphata yogis. The climb is the point — from the top you see the Banni grassland and the salt beyond it.
Rajgir
Griddhakuta (Vulture's Peak)
The hill where the Buddha delivered many teachings.
Mount Kailash
Dolma La Pass
The highest point of the kora at ~5,630 m, a spiritual climax of the trek.
Mawsynram & Nongriat Root Bridges
Double Decker Living Root Bridge
The famous two-tier living root bridge reached by a steep forest trek.
Tosh
Kutla Trail
A short, scenic uphill trek from Tosh to the meadow hamlet of Kutla, popular for camping.
Tawang
Sela Pass
A dramatic high mountain pass (~4,170 m) with a sacred lake.
Tsomgo Lake & Nathula Pass
Nathula Pass Checkpoint
The high-altitude international border gate at 4,310 metres on the Silk Road, featuring a victory monument and direct visibility of Chinese outposts.
Meghalaya
Cherrapunji & Living Root Bridges
Cherrapunji, traditionally known by its indigenous name Sohra, is a high tableland at an elevation of 1,430 metres on the southern face of the East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya. Dropping sharply into the low-lying plains of Bangladesh down below, the region features a rugged mountain landscape cut meticulously by deep vertical canyons, colossal limestone cave networks, and some of the world's highest plunge water drops, including Nohkalikai, the tallest plunge fall in India. The unique bio-engineering highlights of the surrounding valleys are the world-famous Living Root Bridges, grown painstakingly over decades by the indigenous Khasi clans who guide the aerial roots of the Ficus elastica trees across thundering mountain rivers. The crowning achievement is the Double Decker Living Root Bridge hidden deep inside the river valley floor at Nongriat village.
Meghalaya
Mawsynram & Nongriat Root Bridges
Mawsynram, the wettest place on earth, and the nearby village of Nongriat anchor southern Meghalaya's wonder-region of living root bridges, deep gorges and waterfalls. The trek to the famous Double Decker Living Root Bridge is a bucket-list Northeast experience.
Sikkim
Tsomgo Lake & Nathula Pass
Tsomgo Lake, written as Changu Lake, is a high-altitude glacial lake at an astounding elevation of 3,753 metres in the rugged East Sikkim district, inside a steep oval valley just kilometers from the international border, the crystal-clear waters are known for their unique ability to reflect changing shades, shifting from deep blue in summer to turquoise and solid white as winter freezes lock the surface into thick ice sheets. Driving further up the same high-security mountain corridor highway pass leads directly to the monumental Nathula Pass checkpoint, at a daunting altitude of 4,310 metres on the ancient Silk Road route, cutting directly through heavy military wire barricades separating India and China.
