A s the mercury rises, the mountains beckon. Hyderabad's trekking enthusiasts pull their gears out to scale the heights. What does challenging the limits mean? Trekking in the Western Ghats in Kanyakumari and straddling the Annamalai forests, with one foot in Tamil Nadu and the other in Kerala. And even better, following the adventurous trail that leads to the base camp nestled at the foot of the Himalayas. Treading the path less taken, far away from the concrete jungle, is an experience that people with untamed passions cherish forever. The best destination are the Himalayan mountains that haven't ceased fascinating since man first scaled their heights. As Steven K, corporate bank executive, who's trekked in Kanchanjunga, in southern Sikkim, puts it, "The sights that you witness firsthand from atop a mountain can never be captured by a camera. Such adventurous experiences make trekking exhilarating." Not satisfied with one tryst with the rugged terrains, Steven set out to trek again, this time to the base camp. Mirza Yawar Baig, leadership training consultant, who traversed another Himalayan territory, Uttarakhand, shares, "Two regiments of the Indian Army are stationed at Kumaon and Gharwal in the new state of Uttarakhand. Interestingly, Basalat Jah, a descendent of the Nizams, had set up Kumaon. A museum at the place offers a peek into the works done by Basalat." Baig, who was on an official trip to train the Sashastra Sena Bal officers in leadership skills, ended his trip with a trek to the mountain ranges via Karanprayag. Uttarakhand promises a good time for wildlife lovers too. Jim Corbett Park is a famous destination in the state. Other sanctuaries in India are Kanha National park (Madhya Pradesh), Taboda, Bandipur, Nagarhole (Karnataka), Annamalai forests (Tamil Nadu) or Aruku valley (Andhra Pradesh). "A trek through the buffer zone of these parks, followed by a drive into the forest and a night spent on a machan makes for the best trekking experience with ample wildlife sighting," explains wildlife enthusiast and advertising executive Vishwa Prasad. For those who are not satisfied with just sighting wildlife, exploring virgin territories in Darjeeling, Nepal, Kathmandu, Coorg, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, The North East, Karnataka and Munnar is an adrenalin-rushing experience. "When in Munnar, if you're lucky you can spot kuringis, wild purple flowers that blooms only once in 12 years. They cover hills like a purple blanket," shares Baig. Previously, some areas in Karnataka were forbidden, as they were Veerapaan's territory. But the government has opened them now.
