Prelude:

I have always dreamed of travelling all over India, to see every remote village, river and mountain in this vast country. To meet people everywhere and experience their diverse cultures, gods, languages and food.

In 2003, I was already 55 years old. When am I going to fulfill my dreams? I knew, I had to do this soon while I was still able to travel and use my legs to trek in the mountains. So, in September 2003,  I decided to retire from work and take up travel, more or less full time! It took 6 months, to handover all my work responsibilities .... and finally, I "retired" on 31st March 2004! 

I bought a copy of Lonely Planet's "India Guide" and started reading that State by State. Later  (after a few trips) I realised how practical and accurate this Guide really was! Though the LP Guide is written for foreigners visiting India, I found it perfect for my purpose. Anyplace LP said was worth visiting and seeing ... was really so! In fact, Even Better!! 

The links below lead to pages that describe my various travels and treks . . .  in a sort of "diary" format . . .  the narratives are brief, as I have relied more on pictures (from my digicam) to tell the whole story. If you have  comment or feedback, you will find my email-Id at the bottom of this page. Some feedback emails.

PS (May-09): This blog is just a diary of my personal experiences. It is not a travel-trek guide.  I don't have the expertise to advise anyone on such treks or tours. At most I can provide tips and words of encouragement. Anybody with determination and normal fitness can do these tours. However,  if you are trekking to higher altitudes (above 3000M or 10,000 ft) do read the 'general trekking advise' chapters in any Trekking Guide. I found the first few chapters of Lonely Planet's "Trekking in the Indian Himalaya" extremely useful.  On a trek it is best to have a local guide-porter, to show you the way and carry your bag so you can enjoy the walk without a load on your back. I have often taken Debu as a Guide for my treks in Uttaranchal  -- KS  

The Tours till date:

34. TREK TOUR                  July-2009                    Monsoon Trek in Dharma Valley, Eastern Kumaon  PLAN

33. SUV TOUR                      April-2009                  GHiRT-1: Himalayan Tour -  Sikkim, Bhutan, Arunachal  NEW

32. TREK TOUR                   December 2008        Kumaon High-Villages Trek (Loharkhet to Birthi Falls)  NEW

31. TREK TOUR                    September 2008      Pabbar Valley Chandranathan Trek in Kinnaur, HP  NEW 

30. TREK TOUR                   June-2008                   The Roopkund Trek in Garhwal, Uttarakhand 

29. BUS-JEEP TOUR          May-2008                    The Botanical & Rose Garden of Ooty in Tamilnadu    

28. BUS-JEEP TOUR          April 2008                    Kemmangundi Hill, Belur and Halebid in Karnataka   

27. TREK TOUR                   April 2008                    Sandakphu Trek on Singalila Ridge in Nepal/West Bengal 

26.  CAR TOUR                      February 2008           Kumbalgarh Fort & Ranakpur Jain Temple  - Rajasthan 

25.  CAR  TOUR                     Dec-07 to Jan-08       Grand India Road Trip (GIRT) 33-day 9388-Km Drive 

24. TREK TOUR                   October 2007              Everest Base Camp (EBC) & Kala Pathar Trek - Nepal  

23. TREK TOUR                   September 2007        Jiri to Namche Bazar - Classic Everest Trek of Nepal 

22. TREK TOUR                    July 2007                     Har-Ki-Dun, Yamunotri, Gangotri-Gaumukh & Valley-of-Flower 

21. BUS-JEEP TOUR           May 2007                     Corbett Tiger Park - Uttaranchal

20. TREK TOUR                    May 2007                    Milam Glacier Trek from Munsiary in Kumaon, Uttaranchal 

19. TREK TOUR                    May 2007                     Gwaldam to Deal Trek in Garhwal, Uttaranchal

18.  CAR TOUR                      December 2006          Hampi - The Vijayanagar Ruins in central Karnataka

17.  CAR TOUR                      December 2006          Konkan and Goa beaches & coastal scenery         

16.  TREK TOUR                   October 2006              A 200+ Km Annapurna Circuit Trek, in Nepal

15.  BUS-JEEP TOUR          May 2006                      Srinagar, Kargil, Zanskar,  Leh, Nubra, Pangong-Tso, Keylang

14.  BUS-JEEP TOUR         February 2006             Bomdilla & Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh

13.  BUS-JEEP TOUR          February 2006            Namdapha, Brahmaputra, Pasighat, Along :Arunachal Pradesh 

12.   BUS-JEEP TOUR         January 2006              Kaziranga National Park (Rhinos) - Assam

11.  CAR TOUR                       December 2005          MP > Mandir, Ujjain, Sanchi, Kanha, Khajuraho, Orchha  

10.  BUS -JEEP TOUR         October 2005              Joshimath, Auli, Badrinath, Mana, Ranikhet 

9.    TREK TOUR                    October 2005              Sundardunga Trek in Kumaon Region of Uttaranchal

8.    CAR TOUR                        Aug-Sep 2005             Saurashtra Coastal Drive - Bhavnagar to Dwaraka  

7.    TREK TOUR                     April 2005                    Triund Trek in Dhauladhar Range in Himachal Pradesh 

6.    BUS-JEEP TOUR           April 2005                     Dharamsala, McLeod-Ganj, Khajjiar, Chamba, Kalatope in HP 

5.    BUS-JEEP TOUR           April 2005                     Kinnaur & Spiti Valleys in Eastern Himachal Pradesh 

4.    TREK TOUR                     November 2004        Yuksom to Dzongri-La - Kanchenjunga Trek in W. Sikkim   

3.     BUS-JEEP TOUR           November 2004        Gangtok & Yuksom (Sikkim) and Darjeeling (West Bengal)

2.     BUS-JEEP TOUR           October 2004              Kausani, Choukhori, Munsiayri - Hill Stations of Kumaon 

1.     TREK TOUR                     September 2004        The Pindari Glacier Trek in Kumaon, Uttaranchal 

My Top-10 pictures of:

Mountains    Lakes    Flowers    Gardens    Mt.Everest    Island-Homes  

Suhana Safar .........  aur yeh mausam haseen!