North in July

A high alpine lake above Gulmarg, reached on foot or pony past Khilanmarg and the Apharwat ridge.

A vast twin meadow — Bodh Bangus and Lokut Bangus — ringed by fir forest near the LoC in Kupwara.

A deodar-forest village in the Bringi valley, developed as a community-tourism model village.

The 'Valley of Milk' — a broad grassy bowl at 2,730 m with a milky-white stream and grazing Gujjar herds.

India's ski resort — deep powder, the Gondola to Apharwat, and meadows in summer.

A remote Kishanganga valley of log houses beneath the pyramid of Habba Khatoon peak.

Seven days over high passes between turquoise alpine lakes — often called India's most beautiful trek.

A riverside border village on the Kishanganga, with India on one bank and Pakistan-administered territory on the other.

A hard trek from Aru up the Lidder valley to the largest glacier in Kashmir, under Kolahoi peak (5,425 m).

A green orchard valley of walnut and apple groves, with the Kalaroos caves and the Nag Marg spring.

An old temple village at the trailhead for the Harmukh trek, ending at the twin lakes of Gangbal and Nundkol.

Lidder river valley of meadows, pine forest and pony rides — Kashmir's family favourite.

A 3,490 m pass on the Mughal Road between Shopian and Poonch, with meadows and a Sufi shrine.

The 'meadow of gold' and Thajiwas glacier — snow you can touch even in May.

Houseboats, shikaras, Mughal gardens and old-city food.

Twin alpine lakes ringed by snow peaks, quieter than Great Lakes.

A huge high meadow below the Pir Panjal, formerly an army artillery range and long closed to visitors.

The upper Kishanganga valley beyond Gurez — wooden villages, shepherd camps and almost no visitors.

A small glacial lake at 3,800 m above Aru, usually done as an overnight camp from Pahalgam.

A bowl of alpine meadow in the Pir Panjal, 47 km from Srinagar, with pine slopes and pony trails.

One of Ladakh's oldest monasteries, above the eroded 'moonland' cliffs.

The old trading town of Ladakh — Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and the monasteries of the Indus valley.

A homestay trek through desert canyons and tiny villages, over the Kongmaru La.

Over Khardung La to sand dunes, Diskit monastery and the Balti village of Turtuk.

A 130 km long high-altitude lake that changes colour through the day, reached over Chang La.

A remote, quiet high lake at Korzok, with nomad camps and black-necked cranes.

A remote valley of gompas, glaciers and river gorges, reached over Pensi La.

A short trek from Solang Nala to the glacial source of the Beas, under Indrasan and Deo Tibba.

A steep, short climb to a high alpine lake above Manali.

A crossover trek from Naggar over a 3,660 m pass into the Malana side of Parvati Valley.

A high meadow trek to the base of Deo Tibba (6,001 m) beside the blue Chandratal lake.

Home of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan government-in-exile, and a strong cafe-and-monastery scene.

A crossover trek from green Kullu into the barren Lahaul valley, often extended to Chandratal.

A small colonial cantonment town on a ridge an hour above Chandigarh, with pine walks and old churches.

The sub-divisional capital of Spiti — base for Key Monastery, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim and Komik.

A high village around a turquoise lake on the old trade route to Tibet, with a 1,000-year-old monastery.

Kangra tea gardens and pine forest below the Dhauladhar, with the Neugal Khad at its edge.

A dramatic crossover trek from Himachal into Uttarakhand, over a 4,650 m pass above the Rupin gorge.

The former summer capital of British India — the Mall, Ridge, Jakhoo temple and the toy train.

The first Lahaul village past the Atal Tunnel — waterfalls, the Chandrabhaga river and bare high mountains.

A high cold-desert loop through Kinnaur and Spiti — monasteries, fossil villages and Chandratal lake.

A 1,000-year-old mud-brick monastery often called the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'.

A steep village climb above Barshaini to Tosh, then a further walk to the Kutla meadows.

The cultural capital of Kumaon — a horseshoe ridge town of temples, bazaars and Kasar Devi.

Two quieter Kumaon lakes 20 minutes below Nainital, with paragliding and lakeside cottages.

A short climb to a forest lake that mirrors Chaukhamba on a still morning.

Walk to the source of the Ganga, then climb to the Tapovan meadows beneath Shivling.

A Bhagirathi-side village of apple orchards and deodar forest, once called 'Mini Switzerland'.

A high-altitude gurudwara beside a glacial lake at 4,329 m, reached by a steep 6 km climb from Ghangaria.

A cluster of over 100 ancient stone temples inside a deodar forest, dating to the 8th–12th century.

A ridge town facing a 300 km wall of peaks — Nanda Devi, Trishul and Panchachuli all in one frame.

One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, reached by a 16 km walk (or pony, palki or helicopter).

A steep, boulder-strewn climb from Gangotri to an emerald glacial lake under Thalay Sagar.

The 'Queen of Hills' above Dehradun — Kempty Falls, Gun Hill, Camel's Back Road and the Mall.

The classic Kumaon lake town — Naini Lake, the Mall Road, Snow View and Naina Peak.

A long valley walk through Bageshwar villages to the snout of the Pindari glacier at 3,900 m.

A UNESCO-listed alpine valley that blooms with hundreds of flower species in the monsoon.