#shoja

 *9 Hidden Gems in India for a Summer Escape*

*The rules of a real summer escape:*  

1. *Above 6000 feet*: If you’re sweating, you picked wrong.  

2. *No airport within 3 hours*: If it’s easy to reach, everyone’s there.  

3. *One good chai shop*: That’s the infrastructure you need.  

*1. Chopta, Uttarakhand*  

*Why*: People call it “Mini Switzerland.” I hate that. It’s just Chopta. Meadows, deodar forest, and Tungnath Temple at 12,000 feet.  

*Temp in June*: 10 to 20°C. You’ll need a hoodie.  

*What to do*: Trek 3.5km to Tungnath. Highest Shiva temple in the world. Then another 1km to Chandrashila for 360 degree Himalayan views.  

*Sleep here*: Camps or basic guesthouses. No luxury. That’s the point.  

*Eat this*: Maggi at 11,000 feet. It’s a different food group up there.  

*Get here*: 8 hours from Rishikesh. Last 30km is rough. Worth it.  

*2. Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh*  

*Why*: 6000 feet in a valley that looks like it was photoshopped. Wooden houses, Buddhist monastery on a hill, and the Siang River running through it.  

*Temp in June*: 15 to 25°C. Clear skies.  

*What to do*: Visit 400 year old Samten Yongcha monastery. Walk to suspension bridges. Talk to Memba tribe locals.  

*Sleep here*: Homestays. Expect rice beer offered immediately.  

*Eat this*: Thukpa and momos, but Arunachal style. Different from Ladakh.  

*Get here*: Fly to Dibrugarh, then 2 days by road. Permits needed for Indians too. That’s why it’s empty.  

*3. Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh*  

*Why*: Everyone goes to Ladakh. Tawang is Ladakh without the Instagram crowd. 10,000 feet. Monasteries, lakes, snow in June at Sela Pass.  

*Temp in June*: 5 to 15°C. Yes, summer.  

*What to do*: Tawang Monastery is the second largest in the world. Drive to Bumla Pass at the China border. Madhuri Lake because Koyla was shot there.  

*Sleep here*: Hotels exist. Basic but warm.  

*Eat this*: Zan, a millet porridge. Butter tea if you’re brave.  

*Get here*: Tezpur to Tawang is 12 hours. Road is wild. Sela Pass will test your stomach.  

*4. Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh*  

*Why*: Ladakh’s introverted cousin. Colder, higher, emptier. Villages at 14,000 feet. Moon landscapes.  

*Temp in June*: 0 to 15°C. Nights are freezing.  

*What to do*: Key Monastery, Chandratal Lake, Komic which is one of the highest villages with a road. Send a postcard from Hikkim’s highest post office.  

*Sleep here*: Homestays. No heating. Bring thermals.  

*Eat this*: Thenthuk, seabuckthorn tea, and lots of carbs.  

*Get here*: Manali to Kaza opens in June. 10 hours of beautiful pain.  

*5. Kalimpong, West Bengal*  

*Why*: Darjeeling gets the crowds. Kalimpong gets the views. 4000 feet. Orchids, colonial houses, and Kanchenjunga without the tour buses.  

*Temp in June*: 18 to 25°C. Pleasant, not cold.  

*What to do*: Deolo Hill for sunrise, Durpin Monastery, walk through pine forests. Day trip to Lava and Loleygaon.  

*Sleep here*: British era bungalows turned into hotels. Balconies with valley views.  

*Eat this*: Kalimpong cheese, momos, and Darjeeling tea without Darjeeling prices.  

*Get here*: 3 hours from Bagdogra Airport. Much easier than the rest of this list.  

*6. Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh*  

*Why*: Apatani tribal villages, pine covered hills, and rice fields that look like green steps. UNESCO tentative site.  

*Temp in June*: 15 to 25°C. Monsoon starts but it’s light.  

*What to do*: Walk through Hong Village. See the Apatani women with nose plugs and facial tattoos. Go to Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.  

*Sleep here*: Homestays. Try the bamboo hut ones.  

*Eat this*: Bamboo shoot pickle, rice beer, and smoked pork.  

*Get here*: 4 hours from Itanagar. Roads are okay now.  

*7. Munsiyari, Uttarakhand*  

*Why*: Panchachuli peaks right in your face. No trek needed. 7500 feet. Zero nightlife. Maximum stars.  

*Temp in June*: 12 to 22°C. Perfect.  

*What to do*: Wake up to Panchachuli sunrise. Walk to Khaliya Top. Visit Birthi Falls. Do nothing. That’s an activity here.  

*Sleep here*: KMVN guesthouse or small hotels. Balcony is mandatory.  

*Eat this*: Kumaoni food. Bhatt ki churkani and madua roti.  

*Get here*: 10 hours from Kathgodam. Last stretch is mountain roads. Stock up on motion sickness pills.  

*8. Haflong, Assam*  

*Why*: Assam’s only hill station. 2300 feet. Lakes, hills, and Dimasa culture. You’ve never met anyone who’s been.  

*Temp in June*: 20 to 28°C. Not cold, but better than Guwahati’s 40.  

*What to do*: Haflong Lake, Jatinga for the bird mystery, trek to local villages.  

*Sleep here*: Circuit house or basic hotels.  

*Eat this*: Smoked pork with bamboo shoot, rice beer, and fish tenga.  

*Get here*: 9 hours by train from Guwahati. Very few flights.  

*9. Lambasingi, Andhra Pradesh*  

*Why*: South India’s Kashmir. Yes, really. 3000 feet in AP and it gets to 0°C in winter. In summer it’s 18 to 25°C while Hyderabad melts.  

*Temp in June*: 18 to 25°C. Fog in the morning.  

*What to do*: Strawberry farms, coffee plantations, Kothapalli Waterfalls. Camping under stars.  

*Sleep here*: Tents and cottages. Nothing fancy.  

*Eat this*: Bamboo chicken. Cooked inside bamboo. You’ll smell it before you see it.  

The place, Zostel, was nothing like #overlook hotel from #theshiningmovie . I enjoyed my stay there, thinking about the December cold. I sat by the window, wondering what it would be like if, in the winter, when the mountains would be covered in snow and the roads would be probably closed, if I was asked to stay here alone! I would cook, paint, write, and sometimes go for a walk down in a raincoat and mud boots... What would loneliness be like in the mountains? Because I had felt the loneliness in The Shining before. The balcony of this place is surrounded by dense darkness at night, and only the sound of the flowing river is heard. In the morning light, if you look towards the mountains in front, you can see some waterfalls in the distance, as if a white saree is waving from top to bottom!🛋️🏞️🚞🚡❄️🌨️🪓

After a long day of travelling in the bus and getting stuck in traffic, we came here at @firgunhostel to have a relaxed evening with some nice food and an amazing view. All the exhaustion seemed to fade away while we gazed at the setting sun…

This is the place to go to for some chill vibes, good food and great people to talk to!

I’m the happiest in the mountains! What about you?