Himalayas
Escaping Mumbai’s heatwave in spectacular Spiti
Earlier in April, I went to Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, momentarily escaping Mumbai’s brutal heat and humidity. Nestled at 14,000 ft., its cold, snow-covered mountainous landscape, sustainable living, and mystical beauty is truly a ‘world within worlds’ as Rudyard Kipling described it.
Visiting Mussoorie? Say cheese at this 100-yr-old Landour shop
In the heart of the misty hills of Uttarakhand lies the enchanting town of Landour, which is home to one of India's favourite authors, Ruskin Bond, and a cheese shop that is deeply rooted in the history of its cobblestone streets and colonial-era cottages.
Gujarat’s mountain girl
Mountain girl Surabhi Chavda conquered numerous peaks yet found Everest daunting. Developing snow blindness halted her summit bid, yet this setback bestowed profound life lessons on humility, shaping her resilient spirit.
Nainital villagers use local oak to contain wildfires
Sustained efforts to plant native Himalayan oak trees bear fruit in Nainital district of Uttarakhand, which was once besieged by invasive pines that cause wildfires and climate change.
Dwindling snowfall leading to water crisis in Ladakh
As valleys in Ladakh rely on snowfall and glaciers for their water needs, unpredictable weather changes are leading to water scarcity, severely affecting the livelihood of villagers.
How I fell in love with rural India
Beyond the beautiful, majestic mountains of Ladakh, people’s immense love and warmth emerges as the highlight of a 10-day ‘voluntourism’ trip.
Trekking through Kashmir’s great lakes
The Kashmir ‘great lakes’ trek is a stunning adventure in the Himalayas, starting from Sonamarg. The 5-6 day tour takes you through lakes, mountains, meadows and glaciers, making it a rewarding journey.
Turning Kashmir’s potatoes into popular chips
Potato farmers in Kashmir’s Gurez valley hope for better economy and local employment opportunities for the youth after a corporate company’s interest in the Valley’s potatoes.
‘Waste dumping in open has increased human-wildlife conflict’
Surge in tourism in the Himalayas has led to enormous plastic waste generation, adversely affecting the region’s environment and wildlife. Vishal Kumar, CEO, Waste Warriors, discusses how this problem can be addressed.