One winter, Neelima Vallangi went trekking in Rajasthan and was privy to accounts of how the State, known predominantly for its warm-toned desert landscapes, turns green during the monsoon. She revisited Rajasthan to witness it for herself. “There were flash-floods, storms and it was indeed green. It was beautiful,” says Vallangi, who describes herself as an incurable travel addict.
Those who follow her blogposts and social media feeds know her as a ‘Wandering Soul’ in love with the Sahyadris. She has tracked the monsoon across several states — Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra — and her camera’s romance with the rains led to some breathtaking images (Instagram series #30reasonstoloveMonsoons).
The series records her experiences during the monsoon in the last eight to nine years. She remembers one of the first occasions when she was smitten by the impact of the monsoon on landscapes: “I began my trek to Kudremukh National Park in Chikmagalur, I think in 2008, and didn’t know what to expect. The otherwise brown terrain had transformed into miles and miles of greenery. When I uploaded a few pictures, someone asked if it was from Ireland. We have something so precious in our backyards and we’ve explored so little. This was just six hours of travel from Bangalore. Everywhere I travel during the monsoon, I return mesmerised by what I see.”
She began taking her travels seriously in 2008, after a trip to Ladakh that turned out to be transformative, and wants to explore all the Indian states. She has 10 more to cover. This summer, she spent two weeks trekking in the Nepal side of the Himalayas and followed it up with a trip to Gangotri, attempting to cross Auden’s Col, a high pass between Gangotri and Kedarnath, considered one of the toughest treks in Uttarakhand.
Neelima quit her well-paying job in 2014 and gave up having a home of her own in 2015. “It didn’t make sense to pay rent and other bills when I was travelling most days. Friends and family across the country are generous enough to provide shelter. Unknowingly, I’ve become a digital nomad,” says Neelima, who hails from Vishakhapatnam.
Travel makes Neelima feel “truly connected to Nature” and more so during the monsoon. She vividly remembers the experience in Meghalaya. “I visited Meghalaya in July and was disappointed that it was still hot and humid. We witnessed some great, expansive views, and three days later, it began pouring. The sights wouldn’t have been possible if it had rained earlier. I had the best of both worlds,” she quips.
For those who dread waterlogging and traffic snarls during the monsoon, Neelima urges, “Leave the city and head to the hills or forests; that’s where you can experience the beauty of the season in its pristine form.”
To the Sahyadri: Monsoon treks are immensely popular along the 1600km Sahyadri ranges. Avoiding intense summer heat and dehydrating winters, trekkers prefer monsoon to take in the sights of diverse flora, fauna and a get a glimpse of Maharashtra’s historical forts.
