Garhwal and Kumaon: A Trekker's and Visitor's Guide (Cicerone guide)

A guidebook to trekking in the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of the Himalayas of northern India. Garhwal and Kumaon, known together as Uttarakhand, are the mountain regions of Uttar Pradesh in India, bordering Nepal and Tibet. They are situated almost at the centre of the great Himalayan chain with more than 250 peaks above 5500m high, culminating with Nanda Devi (7916m). Garhwal consists of a succession of steep mountain ridges divided from each other by deep, narrow glens. A traveller entering Garhwal from Kumaon is at once struck by the more rugged character of the scenery which is in striking contrast to the milder Kumaon hills. This comprehensive guide not only covers the trekking but the history and society of the region, flora and fauna, hill stations and temples. The devotionally adorned temples with their pinnacles soaring into cosmic blue tend to heighten an ecstatic sense of complete surrender to the Absolute Being, and the blue-emerald lakes, majestic waterfalls, meandering rivers, undulating meadows, rich, thick forest, incredible mountains, and interesting villagers are a glorious combination. Having been closed to explorations and treks for about three decades from the early 1950s, Uttarakhand is gradually opening its doors to adventure lovers.