[OC]

I have been wanting to go to Ladakh for a long time, and since I’ll be moving out of India soon, I just pulled the trigger. I went in winter on purpose because I didn’t want tourists. I wanted to see what the place feels like when it’s just itself. Started from Manali, went into Zanskar, and kept pushing further to places like Yoche and Zongkhul where there was literally no one around. Upper Kumik stood out the most though. It’s one of those villages where you barely see any tourists, and when I went they were having their once a year archery festival. It’s so isolated that people don’t even bother locking their doors. That kind of trust and simplicity is something you don’t really see anymore. I spent time just sitting around, talking to people, trying to understand how life works there, and it felt way more real than anything else on the trip.

I stayed in Purne and Padum for a bit in a homestay with a local family, and that ended up being one of the best parts. It didn’t feel like staying somewhere, it felt like being let into their life for a while. Sitting with them, eating what they eat, just watching how their day goes without any rush or noise. You start noticing how simple everything is and how complete it still feels. We were drinking straight from natural springs and it didn’t even feel unusual after a point. Everything out there feels unreal. The roads and the mountains and the silence all at once, like you’ve stepped out of your normal life into something way more raw. The cold was brutal, breathing felt off and your body slows down, and the roads weren’t forgiving either, but that’s exactly what made it worth it because you actually earn every bit of what you see. Also, if you carry chocolates you’ll instantly become every kid’s favourite. Don’t forget to have a postpaid SIM though, prepaid ones won’t work.

I recently went on a 6 day trip to Ladakh. I took diamox 2 days before arrival and 2 days after arrival. First day I just rested in my hotel. On second day did local leh sightseeing. After that I booked a sharing taxi 3 days tour to Nubra, Turtuk and Pangong. After that one day to explore market and shop for stuff. Try to book your hotel near leh market. There are many sharing taxi agencies in leh market but you'll have to inform them one or two days before your actual tour for them to find people to share taxi with you. It's cold in ladakh so pack clothes properly. Rooms are not that expensive in ladakh and homestays provide food too for a small price.

Tell me which slide is your favorite of em all😝

I hope this itinerary helps anyone planning a budget trip across the border. This is my 4th post here—feel free to check out my profile for the others, which are mostly about traveling to raw, offbeat places.

For my latest trip, I explored Pokhara, Sarangkot, and went up through the Mustang region, hitting Marpha, Jomsom, Dhumba Tal, Kagbeni, and Muktinath. Moving from green valleys straight into a rugged, high-altitude desert was a crazy transition. I’m a student and a budget backpacker so I’m always looking to do these raw trips without spending a fortune. Figuring out the local transport and cheap stays for the Mustang route took some digging, so I’ve broken down my whole experience below to hopefully save you guys some time and money.

The whole trip took 7 days, and the total cost came out to about ₹8000 INR.

Trip Duration— 18 april to 25april

Weather Conditions—The temperature was about 10°C during the day and dropped to around 0°C at night. But at night you will be sleeping in a blanket anyway, so the cold doesn't really matter. During the day, a single coat is enough. If you get cold easily, just pack some woolen inners. Don't carry a very bulky coat, it's not needed

Network - everywhere 4g is available

local vibe: To be completely honest, I found a lot of people to be quite rude, especially in how they speak to Indians. It felt like there was a bit of an unnecessary superiority complex going on. I don’t expect special treatment or for people to go out of their way to help, but basic politeness was often missing. And before anyone blames tourists for bad behavior, I actually saw more locals throwing trash around than anyone else.

Also, be aware that almost everyone acts like a dalal. If you ask a random person on the street for taxi info or transport, they will almost always try to take a cut and overcharge you. You probably won't notice this if you travel in a comfortable pre-booked package tour. But when you are backpacking, roaming the streets, and dealing with people directly, it becomes very obvious. Not everyone is bad natured, but it is definitely something to be mentally prepared for so you don't get taken advantage of.

On 18th March, I started my journey from Patna and took the only daily train to Raxaul, which is the nearest border town. I reached late around 9:45 PM. Since the border closes at around 9-10 PM, I decided to stay the night in Raxaul. You can easily find budget hotels right near the railway station.

Day 1- The next morning, I took an auto at 5 AM to the border gate. It's hardly a 5-minute ride from the town. You can exchange cash and get a Nepali SIM from the shops on the road right before the border. At the crossing, they just ask to see your Aadhaar card or any other identity card.

After crossing, these same autos will drop you at the border gate where you can catch an auto for Birgunj. Ask the driver to drop you exactly at the bus stand, and make sure to keep your map open. Sometimes they try to drop you before the station at a dalal's shop, who will tell you there is no transport and try to charge you extra.

I reached on time and caught the 6 AM bus from Birgunj to Pokhara. The fare was 1000 NPR. The bus dropped me in Pokhara around 3-4 PM. Buses in Nepal usually take an extra 2-3 hours because they stop every 30-40 minutes, and they even stop the bus for a whole hour just for lunch.

From the Pokhara bus stand, I took a reserved taxi to the Lakeside area for 400 NPR. There are lots of hotels and hostels near Phewa Lake where you can easily get a room for 500 to 1500 NPR.

To be honest, if you are a regular traveller going for raw nature, Pokhara isn't really a great place. The city is essentially situated on a plain with mountains around it, but they aren't dramatic at all—just simple hills. It doesn't give you that aesthetic Himalayan village vibe, and our Indian hill stations are honestly far better. It's also not very developed, so if you are going mainly for partying or a city-like feel, Kathmandu is far better. It's okay for a normal tourist, but if you like peace and nature, it doesn't offer much.

In the evening, I explored the Lakeside market, spent some time around Phewa Lake, and had a Thakali thali which cost around 250-350 NPR.

Day 2- I woke up at 4 AM since the buses to Mustang (Muktinath) leave at around 7 AM from the Baglung bus stand. Since I had some time, I reserved a taxi to Sarangkot for 2000 NPR from Lakeside, which included taking me there and dropping me back at the bus stand. It took about 30 minutes and I reached just before sunrise. The view was really beautiful. Honestly, if you are just visiting Pokhara and returning, you should definitely go there. But if you are heading up to Mustang, you can easily skip it. You will see those same white mountains glowing with golden light every single morning and evening in Mustang, and from much closer.

After the sunrise, I returned to the bus stand and booked my ticket. The fare is 1700 NPR all the way to Muktinath, but I took it till Jomsom, which cost 1300 NPR. I got dropped off in Marpha at around 4 PM. Again, I don't know why, but buses in Nepal have way too many stops. We could have easily reached by 1 or 2 PM, but they stop every few kilometers. On the plus side, the buses are comfortable and the road isn't very bad either, except for a few rough sections.

You also have to make a permit for lower Mustang. For Indians, it costs 1000 NPR. The bus will actually stop right at the checkpost and it can be made in just 5 minutes. You don't need to bring anything special, you can just fill out the form online right there at the checkpost.

Mustang is really, really beautiful. I got off at Marpha village, which is just a few kilometers before Jomsom, the major town in that area. Marpha is known as the apple orchard village of Nepal. It was very beautiful and unique with these traditional white brick houses everywhere, completely surrounded by apple orchards. You can get a room here for around 1000 to 1500 NPR.

A quick piece of advice: in Mustang, very fast winds blow daily from around 11 AM to 6 PM because of its unique geography. I went in April so it wasn't very cold, but you still need a coat just to deal with the heavy winds. You can easily explore the small market area in Marpha. There are some cafes that aren't very expensive, and you should definitely try the local apple pie.

You can also climb up the mountains just above the village. You will find many goat herds up there. Personally, I really like seeing animals grazing with that massive mountain backdrop and clicking pictures, so it's definitely worth going up for the views. Mustang is just unreal. From everywhere you look, you can see massive white mountains in the backdrop and barren, Ladakh-like mountains in the front. In the evening, the peaks literally sparkle like gold. So with this, the day ended.

Day 3- I woke up early to catch the sunrise. Unlike a lot of Indian hill stations where fog can easily ruin the view, Mustang has very low humidity and fast winds, so you are almost guaranteed to see a clear, beautiful sunrise and sunset every single day.

After that, I headed to the main road in Marpha to catch a bus heading up to Muktinath. You can ask the locals about the exact timings, but there is usually one around 6 AM. I ended up missing it, so I just took a reserved cab for 2000 NPR for a one-way drop to Muktinath. The drive is about an hour, and the landscape changes so quickly along the way. You have these completely barren mountains, but because the Kali Gandaki river flows right through the middle, the surrounding areas are lush green and full of apple orchards. Behind those barren, dry mountains, you see massive snow-capped peaks. It creates such a beautiful contrast. Also, even though it feels incredibly remote, the 4G network is actually widely available here, so you don't have to worry about being off the grid.

Once you reach Muktinath, you have to climb a bit. You can hire a pony for about 600 NPR, but I just chose to take the stairs. There are hardly 400-500 stairs, so it’s really not a big or difficult climb.

Here is a big piece of advice: after visiting the temple, don't just return via the main stairs. Step away from the main spot and follow the random dirt trails down towards the road. It is actually much easier than taking the stairs down. Because the vegetation is so sparse, you can easily spot the main road from far away, and the mountain slopes aren't too steep. There is a beautiful village nearby called Jharkot, and you can just walk directly towards it through the trails since the houses are clearly visible from above.

For returning from Muktinath, there are plenty of buses heading down between 6 AM and 2 PM. Most of them go directly all the way to Pokhara or Kathmandu, but you just need to tell the driver to drop you at Kagbeni. The fare for that drop was 350 NPR.

I spent about 2-3 hours exploring Kagbeni. It is a stunning village with traditional houses, zero tourist crowds, a beautiful riverside, and lots of greenery. There are rice fields and patches of long grass everywhere. Like I mentioned before, the daytime winds here are intense, so watching the grass and rice plants sway heavily in the wind against that mountain backdrop is just beautiful.

To get back down to Jomsom, you just walk to the main road and wave down any passing bus. Since there is literally only one road, any vehicle heading down will surely pass through Jomsom. You can also try asking a passing biker for a lift, which is what I did, and luckily I got one.

Once back in Jomsom, I booked a hotel. The prices are the same here, around 1000-1500 NPR for a standard ground-floor room. I spent the rest of the evening eating some Jhol momos and a Thakali thali, roaming around the town, and exploring the area near the Jomsom airport before calling it a day.

Day 4- I woke up at 5 AM again, took a walk around the town during sunrise, and grabbed some breakfast.

After that, I headed out to Dhumba Tal, which is a really beautiful lake. If you just check Google Maps from Jomsom, it shows a pretty long distance and suggests hiring a private cab, which honestly takes the fun out of it. So, I decided to go on foot using random trails.

To do this, walk towards Marpha from Jomsom for about 500 meters. You will see a beautiful hanging bridge. Once you cross it, you'll spot a board pointing the way to Dhumba Tal and a village (I think the name was Thini). From there, walk towards Marpha again for another 200 meters or so.

This is where I found the most beautiful part of my whole trip. It opened up into a wide area with small streams of white water flowing through, wild horses grazing, and those huge white mountains in the backdrop. It isn't a marked tourist spot, there are no roads or houses, and there was absolutely no one else around. I just encountered it randomly.

I walked through that area for about 1 kilometer towards a road that becomes visible in the distance. If you cross through here, you directly hit the road, and from there, Dhumba Tal is just 500 meters away. By taking this trail, you save yourself from walking at least 12 to 13 kilometers on the main road route. The whole hike was barely a 2-kilometer walk to reach the lake. It is incredibly peaceful. I spent some time there, then returned to Jomsom and spent the rest of the day just exploring the town through random trails.

Day 5- The next morning, I took a bus straight from Jomsom down to Pokhara. Since it was downhill, it only took about 5 hours. You can use the afternoon to explore a bit more of Pokhara if you want. Then, catch the night bus from Pokhara (Prithvi Chowk) back to Raxaul. It leaves around 6 PM and drops you at the border by 4 AM, which gives you plenty of time before catching your train.

advice: please walk more and try to avoid taking taxis everywhere. You will discover so much more and enjoy your trip way more when you explore on foot.

Most aesthetically built city is gangtok i have ever seen !! Rest is north sikkim and east sikkim part ( not able to share all pics due to limits)

Literally the sun shines brighter after the darkest storms.

View from Tadong.

The Bhrigu Lake trek, situated at an approximate elevation of 4,270 meters (14,100 ft) in the Kullu Valley, is a remarkable experience that offers the grandeur of a high-altitude glacial lake without requiring a lengthy commitment. It stands out among Himalayan treks for its ability to transport visitors to a snowy, alpine environment within a mere two days of ascent.

This sacred lake, known as the "Pool of the Gods," is named in honor of Maharishi Bhrigu. It remains frozen or partially frozen for a significant portion of the year, presenting a mystical, sapphire-blue spectacle against the backdrop of rugged peaks.

In contrast to many treks that remain within dense forests, the Bhrigu Lake trek quickly transitions into expansive, undulating green meadows (vashisht theli) that are comparable to the Swiss Alps.

The summit offers an unparalleled vantage point, providing a panoramic view of the majestic peaks of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges, including Hanuman Tibba and the Seven Sisters.

Recently posted about my Kanyakumari to Kashmir trip in my Amby.

You can read it here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SoloTravel\_India/s/16Uin3raAI

Two people suggested postcards so got it printed out yesterday. Would love to send a postcard to fellow travellers who are interested. Already sent like four of them. :)

Brownie points: Share one travel story of yours. I would love to hear it. It can be anything small or big but memories of the travel that you hold close and cherish it.

North Sikkim

If you are someone who has been thinking about Chardham Yatra for a long time but never actually planned it — I think 2026 might be your year.

Seriously.

There is something about this yatra that is different from a regular trip. It is not just about visiting four temples. It is about the roads, the cold air, the feeling of standing in front of a shrine at 3,500 metres with your heart doing something you cannot really explain.

I have spoken to so many people who kept pushing Chardham to "next year." And then one day they finally went — and came back saying the same thing: "Yaar, pehle kyun nahi gaye?"

So let me break it down for you. The route, the temples, the packages, the cost — everything. So when you finally decide to go, you are not going in blind.

First, What Is Chardham Yatra?

Chardham Yatra is a pilgrimage to four sacred shrines in Uttarakhand — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Together they form a circuit through the Garhwal Himalayas, and completing all four is considered one of the most spiritually significant journeys a person can make in their lifetime.

Uttarakhand is called Dev Bhoomi — the land of gods — and once you are there, you understand why.

The journey typically takes 9 nights and 10 days by road, starting and ending at Haridwar. And trust me, every single one of those days has something that will stay with you.

When Do the Temples Open in 2026?

All four temples are opening from 19th April 2026.

Temples close in mid to late November, around Bhai Dooj.

Now, if you are asking me when is the best time to go — I would say May to June or September to mid-October. July and August bring the monsoon. The hills look absolutely stunning in the rain, but landslides are a real risk and roads can be tricky. So keep that in mind before you finalise dates.

What Does a Package Actually Cost?

This is where a lot of people get confused because the price range is all over the place.

For 2026, a structured Chardham Yatra package starting from Haridwar begins at around ₹24,500 per person for standard, and ₹28,500+ for a more comfortable, deluxe and Premium experience.

Joining from Delhi? Expect around ₹27,500 onwards, with transfer coordination included.

Coming from Mumbai, Pune, or Ahmedabad? Flights to Dehradun or Delhi are at your own cost, but once you land, the package team handles the pickup and transfers from there. Prices start from around ₹27,500 to ₹31,500 depending on your city.

A good package should include 9 nights of accommodation, daily breakfast and dinner, all transport, tolls, and driver costs. Before you book anything — and I mean this — read the inclusions and exclusions carefully. Ask what happens if weather delays your schedule. Ask about the hotel location at Kedarnath. Ask if dinner is included on the night you stay near the summit. These small details matter a lot when you are actually on the road.

And if you can book a helicopter for Kedarnath and the trek genuinely worries you — helicopter services are available through IRCTC's official website https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in/ at extra cost. Worth considering if you have senior family members with you.

A Few Things I Really Want You to Know

Registration is mandatory. Chardham Yatra requires biometric registration with your Aadhaar. You get a QR-coded Yatra Pass that is checked at government checkposts. Most good operators help you with this — make sure yours does.

Book early. Hotel rates near the Dhams nearly double during peak season. If you are planning for May or June, the earlier you lock in your trip, the better your options and the better your price.

Do not rush this yatra. The biggest mistake people make is cramming everything too tight. Your body needs time to adjust to altitude — especially before Kedarnath. If an operator's itinerary looks like a race, it probably is. Pick someone who builds in rest.

Carry cash. ATMs are limited in the higher stretches. Keep enough for personal expenses, prasad, food, and small things you will not think of until you need them.

Pack warm. Even in May, the nights near Kedarnath and Badrinath are genuinely cold. Thermals, a good jacket, woolen socks — do not skip these thinking it is summer.

So, Is 2026 Your Year?

Every time I hear from someone who has done the Chardham Yatra, they say the same kind of thing — that they came back feeling lighter. Not just because the journey is spiritual, but because there is something about putting yourself through something physically and emotionally demanding that quietly changes you.

This trip is not just about the temples. It is about the winding roads, the cold mornings, the chai at a local dhaba, the strangers who become companions on the trek, and the moment you stand at a peak and realise that life — despite everything — is still very, very beautiful.

If that sounds like something you need right now, then start planning.

The mountains are already waiting.

Want More Help?

I’ve written detailed guides on our website:

• Kedarnath Helicopter Yatra: Bookings & Prices
• Chardham Yatra by Helicopter – Complete Guide
• How to do Kedarnath Yatra Registration in 5 Simple Steps

We also run smooth Chardham & Kedarnath packages (road + helicopter options) from Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. Feel free to ask in comments if you need help.