Dal Lake
For the unadventurous who are willing to part with a few hundreds, McLeod Ganj’s Dal Lake is just a cab ride away. Take the three-kilometre trail by foot and you will see protected forest lands lying lush beyond steep roads. Wood shavings dot the air as carpenters, instrument workers and artefact makers work their magic along the trail dotted with local shops. Dal Lake, located near a famous Shiva temple and surrounded by a thick forest of deodar trees, is a serene place to arrive at, longing for the warmth of food. The shrieks of children from the nearby Tibetan Children’s Villages school cuts through the silence on most evenings. It is advisable to sit by the lake with a cup of steaming chai, while looking at tourists boating in the summer, than to visit in the winter, when the lake is shielded by snow-capped mountains. This namesake with its greenish water might have nothing on the Srinagar Dal Lake, but to trek this unusual trail and take in the rhythm of life in the hills makes the visit worth it.
Bhagsu Falls
The road from Mcleodganj winds to the Bhagsunag village, which houses an ancient Shiva temple and a public pool for devotees. It’s a two kilometre trek, easily forgone, for the trail from there to the 20-meter tall falls can only be conquered by foot. Rough cut steps lead up to the mouth of the falls. The trek is tricky, but well worth the ice-cold showers from the gushing glacial waters that await.
There are many picturesque spots along the way, but also many tourists eyeing the most comfortable rocks to perch themselves on for pit-stops and photo-ops. Drench yourself in the refreshing water of the falls or climb higher beyond the tourist attractions to discover secluded springs. Most who brave the steep trail find their way to Shiva café, a hippy space splashed with colour, to indulge themselves in a bowl of over-priced instant noodles. The view is gorgeous and green, with swirling mist forming patterns all around. The climb down offers a view of McLeodganj, past strings of colourful Tibetan prayer flags swaying in the wind.
Triund Hill
The trail to Triund is long and winding, featuring a rugged path coarsely cut to make steps in some places. This popular nine kilometre trail is a rite-of-passage for trekkers: as time wears on, the ascent gets steeper, the weather unpredictable and the blind turns, increasingly unexpected. But trekking this popular trail, with nothing but towering trees and the call of the creatures, is an unparalleled experience. There are times when the cold air is as piercing as the silence. There are sights that photographs cannot do justice to. There are mules out-trekking hikers, and goats jumping across ridges.
There are momentary friendships forged based on conversations about pain, punctuated with panting. All of that culminates atop this spectacular 9,000-feet ridge, with a sense of unabashed triumph, in a base camp overlooking the snow-streaked Dhauladhars. Pitch tents on gloriously green grassy meadows, and look at the morning sky dotted with para-gliders or wait for the night sky’s sparkling canopy of stars. The sights will prove to be a memory of a life-time.
