Glaciers have held an eternal fascination for trekkers the world over, who return, year after year, to recharge themselves in the tranquillity, quietitude and healing surroundings. 

The actual trek begins at Song; zero pint is 45 kms including 7 km of steep mountain climbing and about 28 km of gentle climb.  Seasonal trekkers take about 8-10 days to complete the two way journey.  There are adequate arrangements for night halts at Loharket, Dhakuri, Khati, Dwali and Phukia.  Khati, a village lies at the confluence of the Pindari and Sunderdunga rivers.  The simplicity and warmth of the village folk touches you.The trek to Phukia is breathtaking as the tree line gives way to bugyals, the Kumaonic equivalent of Alpine meadows.                                                            << Top

One should start early from Phurkia so that the glacier can be reached by sunrise.The trek to zero point takes a couple of hours. The last 3.5 km are extremely steep and trekkers are advised to carry glucose sachets to combat any fall in energy levels.Coming face to face with the glacier, one follows the little trickle of ice and soon gazes up at the expanse of the frozen river. 

Trekkers should start their descent by 11.a.m at the latest, as inclement weather tends to make the journey hazardous later on.  The downhill trek is fairly easy and one can enjoy the journey dotted with rhododendrons, bhojpatras and exotic wild flowers.

How to get there: Take an overnight train from Delhi to Haldwani(258 km) and proceed by bus to Bhageshwar(210km) for an overnight halt.  Next day take a bus to Song, the starting point. 

When to go: All seasons, but April to November is ideal. 

Accommodation: Reservations can be made at any U.P Tourism office in Delhi, Lucknow or other metros. 

The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam also has a stock of equipment such as Alpine tents, Holofil sleeping bags, windproof jackets etc which can be booked in advance.

 WEST BENGAL  

TREKKING ON THE TRANS_HIMALAYAN ROUTES.

The trek to Sandakphu, the highest point in West Bengal is undertaken best in April or just before the monsoons.  Sandakphu and Phalut afford some of the most spectacular views of the trans-himalayan range.  Besides the mighty Khangchendzonpa, on a clear day one can easily see Mt. Everest, Makalu, Three Stars and other lofty peaks.                              << Top

The trek commences from Manebhanjan, about 27 km from Darjeeling, bordering India and Nepal.At Chira, you come across the first monastery where punishments are devised for erring men.FROM THE MONASTERY, IT IS ALL THE WAY TO Meghma which lies under cloud cover.  At Tonglu, about 1.5 km away, you catch the first breathtaking view of Kanchenjunga.  The mountain appears at a 90-degree angle; on a clear day one can see Mt. Everest from here.  The next day you trek down to Garibash where jeeps also ply upto.  From Garibash, the ascent starts to Kalpokhri.  This is one of the gateways to the famous Singalila National Park, famed for its red pandas, bears and the golden eagle. 

Waters of lake Kalpokhri are forbiddigly dark and locals warn you not to touch the waters of this sacred lake.  A large variety of medicinal plants grow here at Kalpokhri which is also known as 'Valley of poison'.  

Descending to Sabargram you come across 'Lepchas' the hardy villagers who live in the hostile terrain of Lepcha.  The lower slopes are thickly forested and yaks graze here.  In winter,  the ground is covered in over four feet of snow. The next halt is Gorkhe and the route is a continuous descent through the densest of forests.  Gorkhe is situated i the Ramam river valley, surrounded by mountains.  Rhododendrons and magnolias grow wild here.Trekking along the Ramam river one reaches its origin at Shrikhola.  The Ramam river flows and joins the river Teesta later. From Shrikhola a pony ride takes you to Rimbik (famous for its oranges) from where a bus takes you to Manebhanjan from where the trek started.

How to get there:The nearest airport at Bagdogra is 90 km from Darjeeling. There are a number flights from Delhi, Calcutta and Guwahati.  At Darjeeling, adequate transport is available to the base camp at Manebhanjan. The closest rail heads are at Siliguri(77km) and New Jalpaiguri (88 km).Limited bus services are available from here to the base camp, apart from regular buses, jeeps and taxis which ply to Darjeeling. 

Accommodation: There are Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council(DGHC) resthouses and campsites available at all major halts on the trek. 

Contact: Calcutta branch of the Youth Hostels Association of India arranges the trek for a fee of Rs.1350/ - including stay, simple vegetarian meals, guides, insurance and equipment and hiring costs.Participants have to bear their own travel costs to the base camp and back.At the end of the trek, each participant gets a merit certificate and a medal in a small ceremony at the base camp in Manehanjan.                                                                << Top

Bhitarkanika: Beaches and Birds

If you are looking for a place off the beaten track for your next holiday, Bhitarkanika is definitely worth a look. The Bhitarkanika group of islands in Northern Orissa offers not just great beaches but exciting trekking trails through forests teeming with wildlife. Bhitarkanika is Orissa`s only and probably country`s second viable mangrove eco-system. Here, innumerable criss-crossed tidal inundated creeks provide the last refuge to the already endangered salt water Crocodile (Crocodile Porosus)

The Bhitarkanika islands can be reached from Bhadrak which is on the Calcutta- Madras railwayline. A night train from Calcutta`s Howrah station will reach Bhadrak( 297 km) at dawn. From Bhadrak head for Chandbali ( 42km) by jeep. A motorboat will take you from Chandbali to the island of Dangamal which has a Forest Rest House with basic amenities. You need to book your rooms here beforehand.

The boatride to the Forest Rest House at Dangamal is enchanting in itself. The motorboat chugs down the Baitarini river towards its confluence with the brahmini river, then swings into a creek where the waters are calm but full of crocodiles, some 20ft in length.                                            << Top

Kingfishers ( many varieties), cattle egrets, herons, sandpipers, plovers, white ibis, drongos, swallows and many other birds can be seen flying across the creek. The Forest Rest House at Dangamal island has tall coconut trees around it and is close to a large marsh at the edge of the jungle. The nearby forest has wild boars, hyenas, water monitors and deer.

A 45-minute boat-ride from Dangamal brings you to Bird Island, where you can watch migratory birds from a watchtower.

Bhitarkanika island itself lies across the river, opposite Dangamal. Treks through the forests here are usually rewarded by wildlife spotting. Colorful butterflies flutter about, small pools emerge out of the wilderness, and at the end of the trail is a ruined temple.

Four hours away from Dangamal by motorboat, is Ekakula-an island away from the estuary and on the Bay of Bengal. Brilliant blue sea and a quiet beach! Observe carefully and you may spot pugmarks of wild boars, jackals and hyenas. Early morning and evening, dolphins can be spotted in the sea.

Ekakula has a forest resthouse too. So has Habalighati or Garhimata which is an hour`s walk on the beach from Ekakula. Stay at Garhimata if you want to watch Olive Ridley turtles-for Garhimata is famous as the nesting ground of Olive Ridley turtles.

Getting there: By train from Howrah ( Calcutta) to Bhadrak ( 297 km). Closest airport- Bhubaneswar; Bhubaneswar to Bhadrak (154 km.). From Bhadrak by jeep to Chandbali. Get entry permits from Asst. Conservator of Forests, Chandbali before entering the Bhitarkanika National Park      << Top

Accommodation at Dangmal, Gupti, Ekakula and Habalikhati is to be booked in advance from the Wildlife Warden at Rajnagar( in District Kendrapara)

Best time to visit: October-March