42 Download detailed itineraries from www.himalayankingdoms.com e: info@himalayankingdoms.com Northern India The Source of the Ganges, Garhwal This spectacular trek gives us a perfect blend of cultural interest and physical challenge. Dramatic canyons, majestic mountains, cascading waterfalls, pine and birch, together with the holy waters of India’s most sacred river, make the Source of the Ganges a feast for the soul and senses. We begin with an acclimatisation trek, near Rudraprayag, which gives commanding views of the Garhwal Himalaya, and takes us through lush terraced hills, pristine forests and villages. For the second part of the trek, we begin at Gangotri, which is bustling with Sages and Sadhus who have journeyed here to pay homage to the source of that holiest of holy rivers: the Ganga. The spiritual intensity of Gangotri, one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage sites, is palpable as we witness the daily puja at the temple, and the Hindu devotees bathing at the water’s edge. As we weave our way from Gangotri to Tapovan (4463m/14,294ft), every twist in the trail reveals another stunning 6,000m/20,000ft Garhwal Himalayan giant. Our campsite at Tapovan must rate as one of the most aweinspiring spots in the world, as we gaze at Mt Shivling’s elegant peak – rising like a great deity before us. £1,795 £1,375 Dates: Thu 03 Apr – Sat 19 Apr*, Thu 09 Oct – Sat 25 Oct** land only Grade: Vigorous On Trek: 10 days Indian Sirdar Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 6 Camping: 8 Lodges: 2 Optional: Single Room £195*/£225** Single Tent £40 Insurance: £95 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 17 days 1–2 Fly to Delhi, at leisure –3 Train to Haridwar, drive to Rishikesh 4–8 Drive to Gultir, acclimatisation trek 8–9 Drive to Rudraprayag, drive to Gangotri 10–14 Source of the Ganges trek (Gangotri–Tapovan–Gangotri) –15 Drive to Rishikesh 16–17 Drive to Delhi, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of2clients Shipton/Tilman & Nanda Devi Inner Sanctuary Approach, Garhwal Leaving Delhi by overnight train we arrive the next morning at the busy town of Haridwar on the banks of the River Ganges. After seeing the holy ghats we continue to Rishikesh. This is one of the most important places in the Hindu religion and the peaceful ashrams paint a real picture of India. From the roadhead at Debal, we set off on our trek to the Kauri Pass, which is also known as Curzon’s Trail after the famous British Viceroy of India. It is considered by many to be the most beautiful trek in the Garhwal. The climb to the pass is hard work, but the reward is a dazzling panorama of peaks. After descending to the pilgrim town of Joshimath, we drive to Lata and take the exciting pathway some way into Nanda Devi’s Inner Sanctuary. The views of India’s highest peak and the Rishi Ganga Gorge are stupendous. The Indian foothills of the Himalaya, directly north of Delhi, were a favourite retreat for officers of the Raj from the hot Indian plains. The British developed many famous hill stations here, building English-style churches and colonial houses to remind themselves of home. Gentle trekking was one of their favourite pastimes. £1,875 £1,395 Dates: Tue 20 May – Tue 10 Jun*, Tue 30 Sep – Tue 21 Oct** land only Grade: Vigorous On Trek: 15 days Indian Sirdar Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 6 Camping: 14 Train: 1 Optional: Single Room £95*/£160** Single Tent £70 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 22 days 1–2 Fly to Delhi, sightseeing, overnight train –3 Arrive Haridwar, onto Rishikesh 4–13 Drive to roadhead, trek to Joshimath 14–19 Trek part way into the Inner Sanctuary 20–22 Drive to Rishikesh, sightseeing, drive to Delhi. Fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients Improved itinerary 2 Col. N. Kumar (Bull) Col. Kumar (Bull) is a living mountaineering legend in India. He led an illustrious career in the Indian Army, and earned international acclaim for his record-breaking expeditions on Everest, Kangchenjunga and in the Karakoram. ‘Bull’ has successfully led mountaineering expeditions to the highest peaks of Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal, Garhwal, Kashmir and the Eastern Karakoram. Out of the 13 highest peaks above 24,000ft climbed by Indians, nine have been climbed under his leadership. Bull has authored numerous books on the Indian Himalaya, and knows his mountains better than anyone in the business. He is the Chairman of the Winter Games Commission and also the Ex Officio Vice President of the Indian Olympic Association. Akshay Kumar Akshay heads operations for our partners in India, along with his father, Col. N. Kumar (Bull). They handle virtually all our treks and tours in Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Dharamsala. Akshay is a national level skier, one of the most experienced white water specialists in India and a keen trekker. He is passionate about the environment and ensures that all the treks he runs for us achieve a high standard of Responsible Tourism. He has led trail-blazing treks into the Nanda Devi Inner Sanctuary, the Siachen Glacier and the Rupshu Valley. He has numerous first rafting descents under his belt including the Brahmaputra and the Teesta rivers.

43 tel: 0845 330 8579 (local call rate, UK only) international tel: +44 1453 844 400 www.himalayankingdoms.com Wayside temple, Source of the Ganges trek Photo: John Leonard Northern India Echoes of the Raj – Gentle Trekking in Kumaon This trip was introduced three years ago as an addition to our gentle trekking series. It offers a whole range of experiences – gentle walks in the foothills of the Himalaya with snow-capped peaks as a backdrop, gameviewing in one of India’s finest national parks and a visit to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. We travel first to Ranikhet, home of the Kumaon Regiment, a pretty little hill station set on a ridge with wonderful views of the Himalaya. Near to hand are gentle walks through woodland and excellent opportunities for birdwatching. Then it is on to Khali Mountain Resort set in a wildlife sanctuary on Binsar ridge near Almora. Some beautiful walks are possible from here including a lovely one, through forest, to the superb ancient temples at Jageshwar. Then it is time to move on to Ramgarh, which was a colonial outpost of the British after they occupied Kumaon in 1815, and remains to this day a rural backwater set in orchards of apple, plum and peach trees. The trip concludes with a visit to Corbett National Park with time in Agra. £1,750 £1,295 Dates: Sun 06 Apr – Thu 17 Apr, Sun 02 Nov – Thu 13 Nov land only Grade: Gentle Day Walks: 6 days Indian Sirdar Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 2 Lodges: 1 Mountain resorts/bungalow: 5 Train: 2 Optional: Single Room £tbc Insurance: £95 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 12 days 1–2 Fly to Delhi and overnight train –3 Ranikhet 4–6 Drive to Khali Estate, local walks 7–8 Drive to Ramgarh and temple walks 9–10 Corbett National Parks and overnight train –11 In Agra and drive to Delhi –12 Fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of2clients After completing the Echoes of the Raj trek, enjoy a 4-night trip on the legendary Palace on Wheels train where you will be able to luxuriate in the royal style of the Maharajas. Live aboard in comfort, stopping to explore the palaces of Rajasthan. Prices on request Palace on Wheels TREK EXTENSION To reach Dharamsala, we take the overnight, air-conditioned sleeper train from Delhi to Pathankot and drive two and a half hours to Dharamsala. A good hotel is provided in Delhi before and after the treks to break the journey, and to allow you the opportunity to sample the heat, dust, sights and sounds of India’s frenetic capital. £1,895 £1,495 Dates: Tue 01 Apr – Wed 16 Apr, Tue 07 Oct – Wed 22 Oct, Tue 28 Oct – Wed 12 Nov land only Grade: Gentle Day Walks: 7 days Indian Sirdar Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 14 Optional: Single Room £tbc Insurance: £95 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 16 days 1–2 Fly to Delhi, at leisure –3 Train to Chandigarh, drive to Nalagarh –4 Short walk, drive to Pragpur 5–6 Day walks, drive to Dharamsala 7–8 Day walks, drive to Palampur 9–10 Day walks to monastery & Billing, drive to Manali 11–14 Drive to Shimla, at leisure, local treks in Shimla, mountain train ride 15–16 Evening train to Delhi, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of2clients Gentle Trekking, Palaces & Hill Stations, Himachal Pradesh This trip has the perfect balance of culture, nature and history, all combined with gentle treks through idyllic villages in rural Himachal Pradesh, and stays in fabulous converted palaces and castles, chosen for their immense charm and character. We explore little-known gems such as Pragpur Palampur, as well as the more renowned beauty spots Dharamsala, home of the Dalai Lama, and Manali, ‘gateway to the Himalaya’, and no trip to Himachal Pradesh would complete without a promenade along the Mall at Shimla, summer capital of the British Raj. We have included a ride the narrow-gauge mountain train, rafting in Rishikesh visits to Buddhist monasteries, Hindu temples, art galleries, handicraft centres and an optional morning’s pottery. forgetting that this is a holiday, we also have ample time relax and enjoy the ambience and amenities in fascinating heritage properties in which we will be staying.