Himalayas-Stairway To Freedom

"All that pertains to desire is subject to death"

"The glories of the Himalayas are beyond any human languages. The Self, exhilarates and erupts in infinite bliss amidst the serenity, silence and transcendental vibrations existing in the subtle Himalayas"

The mighty Himalayas separates the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau.

The Himalayan mountain system is the planet's highest, and home to the world's highest peaks, the Eight-thousanders, which include Mount Everest and K2. To comprehend the enormous scale of this mountain range, consider Aconcagua, in the Andes, at 6,962 metres (22,841 ft) is the highest peak outside Asia, whereas the Himalayan system includes over 100 mountains exceeding 7,200 m (23,600 ft).

The main Himalayan range runs west to east, from the Indus river valley to the Brahmaputra river valley, forming an arc 2,400 km (1,500 mi) long.

Some of the world's major river systems arise in the Himalayas, and their combined drainage basin is home to some 3 billion people (almost half of Earth's population) in 18 countries. The Himalayas have profoundly shaped the cultures of South Asia, many Himalayan peaks are sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

The Himalayan range encompasses about 15,000 glaciers, which store about 12,000 km3 of freshwater. The Himalaya region is dotted with hundreds of lakes.The mountain lakes are known to geographers as tarns if they are caused by glacial activity. Tarns are found mostly in the upper reaches of the Himalaya, above 5,500 meters.

Trekking

The Himalayas, over the centuries, have attracted trekkers, mountaineers, pilgrims and ascetics. Trekking is not the same as climbing. No matter your age or physical condition you can do a trek.

Trekking is a strenuous physical exercise and hence only those who are physically strong and in good condition should opt for this "sport". Trekking involves many stretches of ascents and descents. A day's walk of 10 to 15 km can only be enjoyed by persons who are physically fit and have a special love for nature and the mountains.

There are steep descents which sometimes cause knee problems. At times even a small extra weight on the backpack can create a problem on the steep climbs.

Before venturing out on a long trekking trip, one should mentally and physically prepare oneself. Regular physical exercise to remain in good condition is a must. by taking long walks.

One should be adaptable, accept variations and delays in schedule and be able to change plans if unusual situations develop.

Walking is also a technique in the mountains. In the beginning, one should walk slowly and rhythmically, as the body warms up, one should start gaining speed. One should not move or climb too quickly since this may put unnecessary strain on the lungs and body muscles. For long treks, experts recommend that one would walk at a gradual pace and take long halts while covering the distance.

Inexperienced trekkers tend to move fast while descending a slope but this can be dangerous and one may easily get injured in the process. Controlled and gradual descents are thus needed to stay injury-free over long Himalayan treks.

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