About Hiking
Do you enjoy a good walk? Then maybe you'll enjoy a good hiking experience within the mountainous regions of India too. Hiking does not require an experienced walker. You have to be fit and healthy and courageous enough to take up challenges. In India, Hiking is not just restricted to Himalayan regions, the lower altitude regions of the Western Ghats and Nilgri Hills also provide some pretty good options to enjoy a nice hike.

Hiking Tips
Ofcourse hiking involves walking, but there are certain things every hiker should keep in mind, before taking up the next hiking trip. Firstly, the clothing should be of a fabric that provides a breather to your skin and allows your body to shed excess heat and sweat while feeling dry, so avoid cotton because it retains sweat and doesn't release it to evaporate. For cold weather, look for polypropylene such as Capilene, Thermion, Thermax and Thermastat or silk undershirt. For warm weather - CoolMax, Supplex, or polyester microfiber are good choices for base covering. Upon this you could wear a shirt and pants of wool, fleece, pile, or down. A windproof and water-resistant jacket worn loosely also works as a good clothing option, which can be removed when you start feeling warmer after walking.

The right hiking shoes for your feet can make all of the difference for walking comfort and an enjoyable hike tour. A hiker should also have a variety of shoes to meet different climates and surfaces. If your walks are taking up natural paths and off-beaten tracks, you may want more rugged shoes. Look for the lighter weight variety shoes for hike and those with some flexibility and are waterproof. The socks should also be made from CoolMax, polypropylene, or other woven fabric as they wick away the sweat to evaporate and help prevent blisters. Other things that a hiker has to carry include hat, waist packs, hike backpacks, water bottles, sunscreen and hike tour route maps. One should drink water before, during, and after walking. Your comfort and stamina depends on getting enough water while walking. A hiker needs to drink every half hour if walking at a moderate pace, more often if you are sweating it. For some maybe getting lost or wandering in the middle of nowhere becomes enjoyable and exciting, but for most it's a frustrating and scary experience that's why carrying a route map always helps. No hiker should set out on a hike tour without a trail map and compass, and neither a walker should head out without having any idea about the route.

Hiking Regions In India
Hiking in Himachal Pradesh:
For those who can spare just two or three days of walking time, there are some pretty good hiking options available in Himachal Pradesh. Suggested ones include a drive to Kullu and reaching the roadhead at the Manikaran hot springs. Next morning a walk along the Parvati valley brings up the secluded village at Pulga. Ideal for series of short excursions upriver before returning to Manikaran, this itinerary could be combined with a trek up the tributary Toah valley bordered by Pir Panjal range and its peaks of Papsura and Daharamsura. While Pulga can be visited all year, the best time for the latter routes is May to October.

Moderate Trekking In Himachal Pradesh:
Moderate trekking for 4 days over Sutlej-Beas watershed is also a good hike option. Drive from Shimla via Narkanda on the Hindustan-Tibet Road to Rampur. From the Bashleo pass, there are views of the Mahadev range and the trail down to the Beas valley at Banjar for the road to Manali. West of the Basleo lies the motarable Jalori Pass. Other diversions from here include a hike to Churdhar from Narkanda.

Hiking Trips In Darjeeling:
One-day trails are the best from of treks for viewing the entire region of Darjeeling for tourists who have little time at their disposal. The recommended routes are the ones from Darjeeling to Kurseong through the Old Military Road, Darjeeling to Singla, Darjeeling to Bijabbari and Darjeeling to Tiger Hill, which is most popular among tourists as well as trekkers as one can stay overnight to wake up to a wonderful sunrise the next morning.

Hiking Trips In Garhwal:
The Doon Valley hike tour takes you on a gentle trek through the wonderful flower meadows and forests of the Har Ki Doon Valley. Along the way one can visit small villages and meet some Gujars Shepard's who come to these pastures with their buffalo during the summer season. The tour starts in Mussoorie, and one can also take up an exciting rafting trip down the Ganges River and visit some of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites in India. This tour brings out an unusual combination of adventure and culture that will give you a wonderful introduction to this delightful part of India.

Hiking Places in India:

• Har Ki Doon Valley, Uttaranchal
• Mussoorie, Uttaranchal
• Kullu to Manikaran. HP
• Shimla via Narkanda, HP
• Sutlej-Beas Watershed, HP
• Darjeeling to Kurseong through the Old Military Road
• Darjeeling to Singla