Everyone knows that monsoon is one of the best seasons as you get to experience the true colors of nature while traveling. The sight of the green mixed with the sandy scent acts as a medicine for your soul – you just want more. While there are many places where trekking in monsoon would be tough, the natural beauty of the place would be worth that sweat.
Monsoon is the perfect time to leave the monotonous grayness of the city behind and escape to the mountains. The deafening rumble of raindrops falling on the ground, mountains covered in mist, hills laden with wind, and forests covered with moss – all these awaken the courageous in us. After all, there is something soul-stirring about monsoon trekking in India.
These Are The 20 Best Monsoon Treks in India
1. Valley Of Flowers, Uttarakhand
Valley of flowers really tops my list of monsoon treks because of its sheer beauty, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Monsoon rains enchant this valley by decorating it with colorful sheets of flowers, thus making the view mesmerizing. The wonderful weather is a bonus to the colorful scenery.
Duration – 6 days
Difficulty – easy
Height – 15,200 feet
2. Harishchandra Ghat Trek, Maharashtra
You must not dare to believe that trekking in the Western Ghats is a piece of cake, as the stretch called ‘Cobra Hood’ of the Harishchandra Ghat trek is tough. But as they say, you get the best taste when hard nuts are cracked, so this is the place.
You’ll be mesmerized by the valley, and the Konkan stands. You can see the stone age caves (Kedareshwar Caves) with the three broken pillars where legend has it that the earth will end if the fourth pillar is broken. So why choose this trek in the monsoon? Because you will feel distant and peaceful under the rain and exploring the caves.
Duration – 2 days
Difficulty – Moderate
Height – 4690 feet
3. Sinhagad Trek, Pune
Want to trek closer to Pune? Sinhagad is a hill fort that offers you a wonderful trek experience along with a perfect picnic spot. The beautiful view of sunrise and sunset from this fort is worth seeing. It also takes you to the beautiful range of mountains and hills. The monsoon season will make this place more attractive. With the lush green views, the royal fort applauds with the sound of thunder, which seems to be a haunted fort experience.
Duration – 2 days
Difficulty – Moderate
Height – 4304 feet
4. Kashmir Great Lakes, Jammu and Kashmir
Usually, we think of Kashmir as a very cold place, but there are more beautiful secrets hidden there. In the Kashmir Great Lakes trek, you can see seven alpine lakes. The rainy season will make this trip even more memorable when you have lush green meadows adorned with colorful flowers all around you. Its freshness can be overwhelming.
Duration – 8 days
Difficulty – Moderate
Height – 13,750 feet
5. Beas Kund, Himachal Pradesh
This place is very close to Manali, and it has also been a popular place for trekking because while trekking here, you get to trek close to some of the biggest mountains of Manali. You will always find grand peaks like Friendship Peak, Hanuman Tibba, Shitidhar, and Seven Sisters. The rains can make this trek a bit difficult, but you will definitely enjoy the scenery. Also, it will be a short-duration trek and will not be too difficult.
Duration – 4 days
Difficulty – Moderate
Height – 12,770 feet
6. Indrahar Pass Trek, Himachal Pradesh
It starts from a charming area of McLeod Ganj. Indrahar Pass Trek, in the Dhauladhar region, is one such trek that mesmerizes tourists with its splendid natural beauty and serenity. This pass is situated at a gigantic height of 4324 feet and attracts every traveler around the world. It is a moderate trek that allows tourists to discover the beauty of nature.
Duration – 10 days
Difficulty – Moderate
Height – 14,245 feet
7. Brahmatal, Uttarakhand
Brahmatal offers varying geography throughout the trek. Begin the days by wandering in the pristine forests of oaks and rhododendrons, with views of the magnificent mountains and the many scenic routes of the Roopkund Trek. One can enjoy panoramic views from different angles during the trek. The snow trek is also famous for frozen Bekaltal and great campsites near Brahmatal.
Duration – 6 days
Difficulty – Moderate
Maximum altitude – 12,250 feet
8. Chopta, Tungnath and Chandrashila Trek, Uttarakhand
The Chopta Tungnath Snow Trek to Chandrashila offers panoramic views of several peaks like Nanda Devi, Trishul, Chaukhamba, and Kedar. On this trek, you will find attractions like Deoria Tal, the beautiful snow-capped valley of Chopta (one of the tallest temples dedicated to Lord Shiva), and finally, the Chopta Chandrashila peak, where the snow trek ends.
Duration – 4 days
Difficulty – Easy – Medium
Maximum altitude – 13,123 feet
9. Dayara Bugyal, Uttarakhand
On Dayara Bugyal Trek, you will get to see breathtaking panoramic views of the Himalayas. The trails and peaks are lit up with white snow during winters. Situated at an altitude of 12,303 feet, it is considered to be one of the wonderful alpine meadows in India.
Duration – 4-6 days
Difficulty – Easy-Medium
Maximum Height – 12,303 Feet
10. Nag Tibba Trek, Uttarakhand
It is situated at an altitude of 9915 feet near Mussoorie in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Nestled in the lower Himalayas, trekkers do not have to worry about altitude sickness, and it is quite easy for both beginners and kids. The trek takes a maximum of two days to complete, which makes it perfect for a weekend getaway and attracts adventure lovers from across the country and abroad. Passing through the Nag Tibba Temple, you will end the trek with a spectacular view of the Garhwal Himalayas.
Duration – 2-5 days
Difficulty – Easy-Medium
Maximum altitude – 9,915 feet
11. Hampta Pass, Himachal Pradesh
Suitable for both beginners and experts, Hampta Pass Trek is famous for the beauty of the mountains during the monsoon season. You will witness two types of landscape – green and barren. It is filled with ash pine forests and apple trees, streams, and waterfalls, but once you get past it, the land is arid and pale brown with rutted sidewalks and steep stone walls. You will also witness the beautiful Chandratal Lake filled with blue, clear water. Although trekking is a bit difficult during the monsoon season, you can see the best colors of nature in this beautiful place.
Duration – 5 days
Difficulty – Medium
Altitude – 14,010 meter
12. Parvati Trek, Himachal Pradesh
This is an alternative route to the beautiful Spiti Valley (Jibi). Pin Parvati is also known as the ‘Valley of the Gods’ as it is one of the oldest treks in the Himalayas. This valley offers breathtaking views to trekkers. It is perfect for seasonal trekkers through the forests of the Great Himalayan National Park. Monsoon season is the best to visit this valley as the water will start flowing at full speed, and you will always experience lush greenery around you and the sound of birds chirping.
Duration – 11 days
Difficult – Difficult
Height – 7500 feet
13. Dzongri Trek, Sikkim
This is a popular trek in Sikkim that includes trekking in Goecha La, which stretches from Sukkom to Dzongri and includes places like Pedang and Bakhim. It provides an amazing view of Mount Kanchenjunga and Mount Pandim. This trek is truly a heaven for trekking enthusiasts, especially in monsoons.
Duration – 9 days
Difficulty – Medium
Altitude – 13,780ft
14. Torna Fort Trek, Pune
It starts at Velhe village near Pune and then crosses a stream to produce a green plateau. You will come across dilapidated and abandoned buildings that look haunted. Also, be prepared for a treat when you see two valleys separated by your hiking trail. The fort is at a height of 1405 meters above sea level, so when you reach the top, you will get a great view of the Sahyadri mountains.
Duration – 2 days
Difficulty – Medium
Height – 4,603 meters
15. Mullayanagiri Trek, Karnataka
This will be a great Western Ghats tour. On this road in Chikamagalur, you will find the highest hill in Karnataka. If the birds keep you together, you can snake down the zig-zag flower path. But don’t forget to check out the various Nandi idols on the street. Also, since it is the highest point in Karnataka during the monsoon season, you will experience strong winds and clouds around you.
Duration – 2 days
Difficulty – Medium
Height – 4,304 meters
16. Bhrigu Lake, Himachal Pradesh
Want a quick escape from the reality of your life? Then, my friend, Bhrigu Lake is a great choice. Bhrigu Lake is located above the Kullu Valley on the east side of the famous Rohtang Pass, so it is not affected much by human presence. This place is fresh, green, and wide, stretching as far as the eye can see! When you climb the frozen lake chambers in June, you will see the blue sky forgotten in the monsoon. During this time, the lawns of this place will be green with the smell of petrol filling the air around you.
Duration – 3 days
Difficulty – Easy
Altitude – 14,010 meters
17. Rajgad, Pune
Located on the outskirts of Pune, this hill fort served as the capital of the Maratha Empire for almost 26 years under Shivaji. Rising to a height of 4,250 feet, it offers a spectacular view of the Sahyadri range. Near the twisted, zig-zag narrow path, the deceptive double walled ramparts of the fort, the colossal Maha Gate, and the Chor Gate tell the story of the fort – a forgotten empire.
Duration – 5 hours
Difficulty – Easy or medium, depending on the route
Height – 4,514 feet
18. Kothaligad, Karjat
Kothaligad Fort, also known as Peth Fort as Peth village, is located at the base of this fort. This defense fort is used to store ammunition. The main attractions on the Kothaligad route include two caves – the first being the Bhairoba cave with its deities and the other with carved pillars. The view of the windmill and sunset from the top is another attraction. So, it is one of the best night walks near Sukabumi. Apart from the 10-meter cliff near Kothaligad hill, the route is easy.
Duration – 6 hours
Height – 3,100 feet
Difficulty level – Easy
19. Ratangad Road, Bhandardara
Ratangad trek is best in September. The entire mountain is covered with wild yellow Sonki flowers. All these places are out of a picture book – Katrabai, AMK and Kalubai, Bhandardara falls, bead falls, and ancient Shiva temples are visible on the mountain road. There is a gap at the top called Nedhe, or the eye of the needle.
Duration – 6.5 hours
Difficulty level – Medium
Height – 4260 meters
20. Anjaneri Fort Road, Nasik
Anjaneri Fort Road is a popular route between Nashik tourist spots and the Trimbakeshwar area. It is located in the Nasik-Trimbakeshwar hills in Maharashtra. According to local belief, this fort is the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. Therefore, this visit is also on the list of pilgrims for spiritual reasons. The main attraction on this tour is the Anjani Maata temple, dedicated to Khanja’s mother. It is rare to find another temple built for Anjani Maata in India. This is a very easy expedition that requires good agility to reach the top of the mountain.
Duration – 6 hours
Difficulty level – Medium
Height – 4263 feet
Life is too short; go outside, get drenched in the rain, and trek!
