Walking in the Indian Himalayas

Arrive at Delhi’s international airport, a representative will be waiting for you outside the EXIT gate of arrival terminal, holding a placard. Met upon arrival and transfer to your hotel for overnight stay.

India’s capital city, Delhi, is a unique and fascinating blend of two very different cities, each with its own distinctive flavour and character. No visit to India is complete without visiting these two complementary halves of its capital city – Delhi, both Old and New

Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast proceed to visit Old Delhi which include the photography of magnificent Red Fort, built on the banks of the River Yamuna by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan, as well as Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and the Jama Masjid, the country’s largest mosque. A visit to the crowded lanes of Chandni Chowk, the busiest commercial area of the city, brings to life all the atmosphere of an oriental bazaar.

Afternoon: Scattered throughout modern New Delhi are many historic monuments such as the 12th century Qutab Minar, famous for the Ashokan iron pillar, which has never rusted in 1500 years. Humayuns’ Tomb is a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture, and in contrast, visits the modern Lakshmi Narayan Temple. Drive past India Gate, the city’s World War I war memorial, the President’s residence, Parliament House and the Secretariat buildings, all designed by Lutyens

Overnight stay.

You will be met at Kathgodam Railway Station and driven (3.5 hours) to Itmenaan Estate.

Set in a peaceful rural setting in the Kumaon Himalayas, the 10-acre estate includes virgin pine, oak and rhododendron trees; terraced fields laden with seasonal fruits and vegetables; and to top it all, a small private perennial natural spring. The estate offers panoramic views of the Himalayas including the majestic Nanda Devi.

The 100-year-old traditional Kumaoni style stone house on the estate has been painstakingly restored and offers 3 tastefully designed en suite bedrooms. There is also the newly built Deodar Cottage. In and around the house are abundant places for you to unwind and relax – the courtyard overlooking the mountains and verdant valleys, the semi open-air dining area, numerous nooks and corners perfect for reading or for fulfilling your spiritual quest.
At Itmenaan Estate you may choose to just ‘do nothing’ – laze around or read a book, admire mesmerising valleys and snow clad peaks, enjoy the warmth of bonfire, gaze at the countless stars in night time. Those who are looking for some more walking within and around the estate you may trek to the highest point for enchanting views or roam the beautiful oak and rhododendron forests.

This morning after a leisurely breakfast, you will walk to the road head (20 minutes). On the road you will be met by our car and driven 1.5 hour to Almora town.

En route to Almora, stop over briefly at the charming Chitai Temple, which is located just outside Almora town. The Chitai Temple is dedicated to Golu Devta, who is considered to be the God of Justice. As one approaches the temple, the first thing that strikes you is hundreds of bells hanging at the entrance. People come to the temple to make a wish to Golu Devta; those who are not able to personally visit the temple, write letters to Him seeking justice. Once a wish is fulfilled people come and hang a brass bell on any of the temple walls, and hence the sea of bells all over the temple.
After visiting Chitai temple continue to Almora town. This picturesque hill station is situated in the Kumaoun region of Uttarachal state. Situated at an altitude of 1650 metres, it is among the few hill stations of India, not created by the British. In fact, it is an ancient town, and some 400 years ago, it was the capital of the Chand Rajas of Kumaon. It has an interesting bazaar and good views of the mountains.

After a leisurely breakfast, walk along the ridge towards Bridh Jageshwar temple complex (2229mts) with beautiful views of the Nanda Devi range on your left. Spend some time at the temple, lesser known than the Jageshwar temples, but equally stunning. The next stretch of walk will take an hour where you walk through a mix of rhododendron and pine forests, occasional uphill and downhill stretches before you finally climb down to the ridge of Naini.

You continue walking to the Temple of Jageshwar (1780mts) for another one hour. Nearing Jageshwar in a valley you will notice the pine forest now change to thick Deodar (Cedar). The temples at Jageshwar are believed to have been constructed between the 8th century and the 18th century. The architecture belongs to the Nagara style of North India, characterized by a tall curved spire surmounted by an amalaka (capstone) and a kalasha crown.

After visiting the temple complex, you will be served a picnic lunch nearby. Then your uphill walk to the village of Gurdabaj will begin. This walk will take around an hour and take you through some of the oldest Deodar forests in the entire region. The end of the walk will bring you to the village of Ganghet where you will spend your night. The evening may be spent at leisure by a bonfire.

After breakfast, you will walk downhill to the temple of Jhankarsem. The temple is one of the most famous temples of the region dedicated to deity Siam. Many families consider Siam to be their reigning deity and hence the popularity of the temple.

From the temple you will walk downhill towards the valley of Dudum. This two hour walk will take you through multiple villages in the area and will provide an excellent opportunity to interact with the locals. The scenery along the walk consists of terraced fields, old Kumaoni houses and small village temples.

You will be served a picnic lunch when you reach the bottom of the valley. From here a two hour uphill trek will bring you to Itmenaan Estate.

After a leisurely breakfast you will be taken to Kathgodam Railway Station for train to Delhi. On arrival assistance and transfer to your hotel for wash and change. Evening connect your flight back home.