With its enormous forests, sweeping valleys, and snowy mountains, India offers a huge amount of variety when it comes to landscapes and nature, so we put together a list of the best walks in India to inspire your next trip. After all, there’s nothing like seeing it for yourself.
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Table of Contents
Kheerganga and Buni Buni Pass, Himachal Pradesh
The walk to Kheerganga is a gentle one, with only a couple of steep ascents, so it’s ideal for beginners who don’t want to miss out on seeing India’s natural beauty. Listen to the rush of the Parvati and Tosh rivers as you stroll past pine trees and travel through an oak forest, then admire the sheer scale of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains and the huge, gushing waterfalls. It takes five or six hours to walk to Kheerganga, but if you want to take your time you can camp in the meadows before you head to the hot springs.
If this route gives you a taste for walking then there’s always the option to carry on to Buni Buni Pass the next day. The ascents are steeper here, with rockier, muddier stretches of terrain, so you’ll need a trekking pole for extra help. It’s worth the extra effort, though — you’ll pass through a jungle, complete with monkeys, and you can even spot glaciers in some areas.
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Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand
A well-established route with a high point of 14,400ft, Valley of the Flowers is a good option for those who are just starting to take an interest in walking. Aside from a couple of bridges, there are no awkward stretches to navigate, so you can concentrate on admiring the carpets of brightly coloured flowers that grow in the valleys. Go in July or August to see the flora in full bloom, and see if you can spot the Himalayan roses.
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Brahmatal Trek, Uttarakhand
People don’t always expect to see lots of snow when they visit India, but the Brahmatal Trek offers just that. Being a winter walk, it’s best experienced in January and February, when clear blue skies and snowy peaks make for breathtaking panoramic views of the mountain ranges. It’s not just the summit that offers a feast for the eyes, however, with peaceful lakes, fast-flowing streams and small, sheltered villages all passing you by.
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Related Reading: The quaint village of Kanatal in Uttarakhand.
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Rajmachi Trek, Maharashtra
There are two ways to reach the Rajmachi fort: a straightforward, 15-kilometre walk from Lonavala, or a steep, 2000-foot climb from Kondivade village. Both can be completed in one day, but no matter which route you take you’ll be rewarded with rolling clouds, plenty of greenery, and stunning views of the hills and mountains once you reach the top.
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Chembra Peak Trek, Kerala
This moderately easy walk takes four hours to complete, but you may well want to take your time. You’ll conquer six mountain peaks, each one taller than the last, in order to reach the Chembra Peak, which stands at 2100 metres and is the highest one in Kerala. The view from the top isn’t the only highlight, however — you’ll journey past tea and coffee estates, lush green meadows, and a heart-shaped lake called Hridaya Saras. (Be sure you don’t mistake large puddles for the lake if you go during rainy season!)
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Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh
This is a popular spot, and for good reason. Thick green and yellow forests hide the villages, meadows, and waterways of the Araku Valley, which takes anything from one to six days to explore. There’s plenty of culture, too, with the Borra caves not far away and a tribal museum found along the route. Strapped for time? You can also go on a 30-minute walk to the awe-inspiring Katiki waterfalls.
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I am definitely sharing this with my husband. He loves walking and has done the Camino de Santiago twice. I think he would be very interested in walking India after reading your post and seeing those beautiful photos.
These are so beautiful! I did not have time to get out in nature in India, but I would love to do the two hikes in Uttarakhand.
Your definition of Walk and mind might be slightly different cause some of these treks seem more of a good hike or even backpacking trip like the 2 day through the Buni Buni Pass or the Brahmatal Trek. I mean dont get me wrong, I am an avid backpacker and hiker so I would love to do any of these through India. I think anything during the warm seasons to the Himalayas would be right up my alley!
You’re right; some of these are hikes rather than walks. Thanks for stopping by.
I would love to try all of these treks. I did one in Kerala and it was stunning. It’s a great way to see the beauty of the area.
What a pity I have not done any of these. The Chembara Peak trek seems to be closest, hopefully I get to do that some day. Great list.
I never think of India as a place with amazing nature, but I can see there is a lot of beautiful landscape and scenery with majestic snow capped mountains. I would love to visit to see the historic attractions combined with scenic places like this.
Great list on this 🙂
Something to look forward too.
Thanks for sharing! Nice photos too
You’ve done well to narrow down to 6 top walks – I’ve not been India myself yet, but I know it’s so vast and there are so many different hikes and excursions that will just blow your mind. I will defiently have to try at at least one of these when I eventually do a mammoth trip 😀 out of all these the Brahmatal Trek would be my choice, just to see the snow capped mountain 😀
Love this list and I’m quite embarrassed to say that I haven’t been to any of these places. Moreover I’ve not even heard about some of them. I do want to visit Valley of flowers, have been thinking about it for a long time but as I can see, there are so many more lovely places to explore as well!
I’ve never been to India but I can only imagine how diverse the landscape is. I’ve heard great things about Kerala. Would love to go hiking the one day. Great list!
These are all lovely treks that give tantalizing glimpses of the beautiful landscapes of India. Recently did the Chembra Peak trek and it was indeed an exhilarating experience. Want to explore more of the Uttarakhand and Himachal regions which are simply spectacular.