Indian Himalayas

The awe-inspiring Himalayas, named “Abodes of Snow” by ancient pilgrims, offer everything from outdoor adventure to spiritual ceremony and colonial history.

Rishikesh, nestled in the Himalayan foothills on the Ganges, is a major Hindu pilgrimage town and gateway to remote mountain temples on the Chota Char Dham circuit. Each evening the ­Ganga Aarti sees flower-and-candle offerings float down-river as bells echo across town. Thrill-seekers can raft, zip-line, rock-climb, mountain-bike, or set off on day hikes and multi-day treks deeper into the range.

For slower rhythms, Rishikesh, dubbed the Yoga Capital of the World, hosts countless ashrams and studios. The Beatles famously stayed here in 1968, penning much of The White Album while learning transcendental meditation.

Shimla, farther north, served as the British Raj’s summer capital. Colonial architecture and a UNESCO-listed mountain railway mingle with lively bazaars and pedestrian lanes, making the hill town an inviting base for wider Himalayan exploration.

Among India’s most remote regions, Ladakh (often called Little Tibet) unveils turquoise lakes, snow-capped peaks, high-altitude desert, and dramatic passes. Popular with hikers and cyclists, it is also a bastion of Mahayana Buddhism: timeless monasteries and bright prayer flags punctuate the stark landscape, underscoring the area’s deep spirituality.