As the world strides ahead, there is an all-enveloping awareness of a world that is veering more and more towards the “Planet and People First” phenomenon, with the North Bharatiya state of Uttrakhand, magnetised by the mighty Himalayas, truly evolving as New Bharat’s most preferred Conscious Travel destination.

The Lure of The Himalayas

The Himalayas are an enigma and so be it!  Spanning a distance of 2,500 kilometres in length and between 350 to 150 kilometres in breadth, with a maximum summit of approximately 9 kilometres above sea level;  the greatest mountain range on Planet Earth is renowned for its rarefied grandeur and diversity in terms of geography as well as centuries-old culture.   

Legends and exhilarating tales of epic adventures/stellar mountaineering feats abound, glorifying the Himalayas. The quintessential richness of Himalaya’s folklore and Pauranic lore has drawn the world’s imagination since ancient times. No wonder, the adventure goes on in the form of ever-evolving prototypes, in humanity’s bid to fathom the sheer magnitude of the Himalayas.

Uttarakhand comes as a breath of fresh air in a world reeling under global warming and climate crisis. The snow-capped high Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi (7816 m), Chaukhamba (7138 m), Panchchuli (6904 m), and Trishul (7120 m) stand like sentinels.

Uttarakhand’s topography is challenging, with the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh to the Northwest, Tibet to the Northeast, Nepal in the Southeast and Uttar Pradesh in the South. Both the Greater Himalayas and the Lesser Himalayan zones fall in Uttarakhand. It isn’t surprising that some of Bharat’s highest peaks like Nanda Devi (7817 m) and Badrinath (7138 m) too are located in Uttarakhand. 

Hollywood and the Western World’s fascination with Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is the land of Yoga and Rishikesh is regarded as the world’s Yoga Capital. From ancient times, mystics and yogis have preferred the Uttarakhand Himalayas to engage themselves in Yoga. The Kasar Devi Hill – an eerie spiritual hub and Bharat’s Van Allen Belt have attracted not just the saints or the “Rishis” of yore, but also great men and women of contemporary times. Persons who have spent quality time here at Kasar Devi Hill in search of spiritual solace is a veritable treasure trove – Bob Dylan, D.H.Lawerence, George Harrison, Allen Ginsburg, Uma Thurman, Sunyata Baba aka Alfred Sorensen, and Steve Jobs, among others.

Not many are aware that an exclusive Spiritual Retreat in Rishikesh was the place where the British rock band Beatles stayed and experimented with ancient Indian spiritual practices like TM (Transcendental Meditation way back in 1968). Beatles Ashram was originally established by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1960s and the Beatles Rock Band were mesmerised by Maharishi’s spiritual quest and the path he followed. 

The epoch-making visit by the Beatles in Feb 1968, was a defining moment for spiritual Bharat and the Western world’s perception of the ancient Hindu tradition. The band, consisting of George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr came with their wives and the whole of Bharat, particularly the media paparazzi went berserk as the news of their arrival in Bharat was officially released.  

Once the Band settled down at the Rishikesh Ashram and began taking lessons from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, they dived deep into their spiritual realms and the typical ashram life – on the foothills of the Himalayas, inspired them to compose some of their all-time best songs. The Band’s connection with Bharat’s umbilical cord – “Spirituality” was a significant milestone from the point of view of the Western world’s perception of Bharatiyaspiritual ethos.  

There must be a reason why the great Swamis, Hollywood celebrities and tech wizards chose the Uttarakhand Himalayas, over all others, to immerse themselves in meditation/Yoga! Perhaps, these wizened souls preferred Uttarakhand Himalayas due to the tremendously pure combo package consisting of – 100% Pure High Altitude Oxygen, Carbon Neutral Surroundings and the Blessings of ancient saints.

Meditative Treks & Trails

To explore the rarefied beauty of Uttarakhand Himalayas, the quaint hill station of Almora, also popularly referred to as the “Cultural Capital of Kumaon” could be an ideal base. Almora is beautifully perched at an altitude of 1642 m and I must confess, the profundity of the jaw-dropping Himalayan peaks touches you immensely.

Kasar Devi

I would give Kasar Devi a 5-star rating. If you are in search of true bliss, this is the place to be in.  Just 9 kilometres away from Almora, the Himalayan panorama surrounding Kasar Devi is breathtaking. And, when it comes to soul enrichment, the entire Kasar Devi hill is a massive geomagnetic radiation field, courtesy, of the Van Allen Belt. There are only two other such Van Allen Belts – Machu Picchu in Peru and Stonehenge in England.

Pindari Glacier Trek

This is a moderately challenging trek and is meant for experienced trekkers. You need to be reasonably fit as the trek advances through thick forest and one has to encounter swift-flowing Himalayan streams and rocky crests.

Located at an altitude of 12,300 feet above sea level, the awe-inspiring sight of the Pindari Glacier at Zero Point has mesmerised trekkers from the world over. For an exhilarating trekking experience you can embark on a journey from Almora to Kharkiya on a 4×4 drive and from thereon on foot. The stretch from Khati to Dwali is particularly challenging as the terrain is steep and the topography changes dramatically. However, all your trekker’s fatigue vanishes once you set up your camp and relax on the backdrop of the magnificent Pindari Glacier. 

Dunagiri Trek          

One of Bharat’s most hallowed Yoga and meditation hubs is Dunagiri. This has been the preferred place for practising Kriya Yoga as propounded by the ancient Rishi – His Holiness Mahavatar Babaji. The meditation chamber (cave) is tucked up in Kukuchina on the Pandukholi mountain.

Spiritual seekers engage in deep meditation and Kriya Yoga as espoused by Mahavatar Babaji centuries back. Kriya Yoga has caught the attention of the world’s spiritual seekers as a tool towards attaining an elevated spiritual plane.

Mahavatar Babaji is believed to be around 2000 years old (presuming that he is alive). It was Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, who first introduced Mahavatar Babaji to the world through his literary work –“Autobiography of a Yogi”.

The trek to Dunagiri and the time you spend there in contemplation could be a life-changing experience. Here in the lap of the Himalayas, Bharat’s ancient wisdom and Kriya Yoga techniques will lead you to the path of divinity. It is one of Bharat’s best off-grid spiritual experiences to savour. 

Wilderness Vistas

Uttarakhand has some of the best wilderness vistas on offer. The various national parks in Uttarakhand are an animal lover’s delight.

Corbett National Park – The Land of Roar, Trumpet and Song

The world-famous Corbett National Park is spread over an area of 525 Sq. Kms. The park initially covered 323.75 Sq. Kms but it was felt that the area was too small for species like the tiger and elephants which at times moved into the adjoining shooting blocks. These shooting blocks later on were included in the National Park and today of course there are no shooting blocks as such. The only shooting allowed is with a camera.

This grassland is home to Elephants, Cheetals, deer, Sambhar, Hogdeer and Tigers of course. Corbett National Park’s altitude varies between 385 meters to 1210 meters above sea level. The average temperature in summer is 42 degree centigrade and the average winter temperature is 4 degree centigrade.

Wilderness Legacy of Jim Corbett

James Edward Corbett (25 July 1875 – 19 April 1955), one of the world’s greatest hunter-conservationists was a British-Indian hunter who was a naturalist, famous for hunting a large number of man-eating tigers and leopards in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region.

In the days of yore, the entire region was teeming with man-eating Tigers and Leopards and Jim’s expertise was often sought after by the then-British government. It is believed that these man-eaters of Kumaon had killed more than 1,000 people, leaving behind a trail of devastation on the entire populace.

How Jim Corbett made Kumaon free of man-eaters is the stuff of legends and finds expression in biographies and films. Corbett documented his exploits as a hunter in his best-selling books – ‘Man-Eaters of Kumaon’ and ‘Jungle Lore’ wherein he lucidly explicates his wild encounters with Tigers and Leopards of Kumaon. 

As a mark of admiration, an exclusive wildlife reserve – The Jim Corbett National Park (125 kilometres from Almora), considered by many as one of Bharat’s top 5 wildlife reserves, which has the highest density of Tiger population is dedicated to Jim Corbett. 

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary – Beauty& the Beast!

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is classified as an IUCN Category IV Species Management Zone and is home to Leopards, Himalayan Goral, Musk Deer, Wild Boar, Jungle Cat, Sumatran Serow, Rhesus Macaque, Giant Flying Squirrel to name just a few. However, it is for Leopards that Binsar is most famous.

Binsar might not be on the bucket list of Bharat’s wildlife parks like Ranthambore, Bandhavgarh, Corbett National Park, and Kaziranga; yet, it is unputdownable and off the beaten track. No other wildlife zone in Bharat offers the kind of Himalayan spectacle; and I am talking about the scale – an uninterrupted sight of a 300 kilometres stretch with powdery peaks like Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Kedarnath, Panchachuli and others, all lined up as if a beauty pageant was on!

Despite the onslaught of modernity, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary has fiercely kept its biodiversity protected, vehemently forsaking attempts at commercialization of the tourism phenomenon, which finds reflection on the solitary single road that crisscrosses the entire sanctuary.

Safari Experience

In Bharat’s Devbhumi (Abode of Gods) Uttarakhand a silent revolution is on, courtesy of Kumaon’s renowned wildlife safari operator –  the Koranga family’s Wood Villas Safari.

Chandan Singh Koranga, a proud ‘Millennial’ Kumaoni native, whose forefathers, the late Dewan Singh Koranga and later on Shri Nandan Singh Koranga, in particular, served with great distinction in one of the Bharatiya Army’s oldest and most decorated infantry units, the Kumaon Regiment, has been operating wildlife safaris to Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary with tremendous zeal and innovation.

According to Chandan Singh Koranga, “My late grandfather Shri Dewan Singh Ji was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with Jim Corbett at a time when the entire Kumaon Himalayas was infested and terrified with dangerous maneaters (tigers and leopards). We grew up listening to stories about Corbett’s courage in confronting the Big Cats. However, for us Kumaonis, we do not consider tigers and leopards as predators; rather, we believe that their presence is an indication that our ecosystem is healthy. Perhaps this attitude originated from the great Hunter-turned-Conservationist Jim Corbett himself, who first instilled in us the need to be sympathetic to the Big Cats.”

Wrapping Up

People from across the world come to the Himalayas in search of peace and solitude. Practising yoga and meditation in the Himalayas can be a very purifying experience. The Uttarakhand Himalayas, which has been the hub of Yoga & Meditation since ancient times, has emerged as contemporary Bharat’s most idyllic region for Yoga practitioners. The oxygen concentration is high and with the easy availability of carbon-neutral sites, the Uttarakhand Himalayas offers an irresistible invitation to indulge in a rejuvenating Body-Mind-Soul purification journey.