India has some of the most breathtaking landscapes that trekkers should definitely witness, whether they are beginners or seasoned trekkers. There are a lot of trails all over India that are safe and provide the perfect blend of adventure, natural beauty, and a glimpse into the cultural heritage of the trails. Along these forests, individuals witness alpine meadows, lush greenery, and high mountains.Let’s take a look at these trekking trails:Dayara Bugyal (Uttarakhand)

A high alpine meadow located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. People can trek to this meadow by going through meadows rich in alpine flowers, and one also gets the chance to witness a snow wonderland during winters. While going through the trail, one can also look at the beautiful Mt. Bandarpunch and other Garhwal Himalaya peaks. The trek starts around the villages of Raithal and Barsu, and one goes through some beautiful landscapes. Once an individual reaches the destination, they can get a glimpse of the rich culture, such as the unique tradition of the Butter Holi festival.Nag Tibba (Uttarakhand)

Nag Tibba or ‘Serpent’s Peak’ is the highest peak in the Lesser Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. The trek to this peak starts from Mussoorie and Landour till Nag Tibba, which according to legends, is considered the abode of the snake deity Nag Devta. Hikers and trekkers go through some of the most awe-inspiring areas, and at Nag Tibba, they witness the panoramic views of the Bandarpoonch ranges and can also take blessings of the god, as a temple is located on top of the hill.Triund (Himachal Pradesh)

Triund is a small hill station located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh and is also located in the lap of the Dhauladhar mountains. Hikers and trekkers, while trekking, would witness the beautiful view of the Dhauladhar mountains on one side and the Kangra valley on the other side. This is a tranquil trek that people of all age groups can trek through, and they can look at the lush green forests filled with oak, deodar, and rhododendron trees. Triund is worth the whole trekking as it provides the most exhilarating view.Chopta-Chandrashila (Uttarakhand)

Chopta is located in the lap of the Uttarakhand Himalayas and is surrounded by lush green forests with pine and deodar trees as well as rich in flora and fauna. People can trek from Chopta to Chandrashila as it offers great views. Trekkers can go through many treks and trails here to reach the most famous trekking destinations, Chandrashila and Tungnath, and they might also be able to spot some birds here, as the Chopta region is famous among bird watchers. The trek to Chandrashila offers panoramic views of the Himalayas and an awesome climate.Kalsubai Trek (Maharashtra)

The Kalsubai peak is located in the Ahmednagar district within the Kalsubai-Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary. This is the highest peak in Maharashtra and is also a quite famous destination among trekkers and adventure seekers. Trekkers trekking to the peak can witness a rich biodiversity with dense forests, rocky mountains, and some rare plant species. The base village, Bari, serves as the starting point for the trek and offers breathtaking views of the Western Ghats.

Roy flew to Jammu on August 28, having shipped his motorcycle ahead. Collecting his bike in Jammu, he began his journey after an emotional sendoff from a regimental battalion there (name not disclosed for security reasons). He rode via Udhampur and Srinagar into Ladakh, passing locations such as Lamayuru and Hanle and requiring backup vehicles along difficult, offroad stretches.

“Umling La was last year’s plan but after returning from Siachen, I was unwell so I dropped it. This time I had to do it as age is catching up with me,” Roy said. Describing the heavy and unusual weather, intense rain and even snowfall that local residents said they hadn’t seen in Leh over five decades, Roy said, “Roofs just collapsed because they are all made of mud. At one point, a hut next to my hotel caved in. Even so, I rode on where the road permitted.”

Roy emphasised that his rides are not for thrill alone and that he uses them to lay wreaths at battlefield memorials from Siachen to the 1962 war memorials in Ladakh, and to encourage youngsters in villages to study hard and aim higher in life. “I always tell them, ‘Don’t think that your life is over because you were born in a village. Your intelligence can take you anywhere’” the Army veteran said. This time, he paid homage at the Badgam memorial, remembering soldiers like the late major Somnath Sharma of 4 Kumaon, the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra whose company helped save Srinagar airfield in 1947-48.

The entire Pune-Umling La round trip took Roy three days, with one night at Hanle before the climb. An experienced rider, he made tactical route choices on the final approach to Umling La, picking the shorter but tougher offroad Naurgula route (with a backup vehicle) instead of the longer metal road via Fatula Top owing to dead patches with no communication.

Roy has to his credit several national and international recognitions including a Limca Book of Records entry (2011) as the oldest person on Khardung La; an India Book of Records title (2016) for a solo east-west ride; and a World Stage recognition (2017), not to mention he has also traversed Thailand’s Mae Hong Son loops, a stretch of 4,088 bends, on a rented Honda 300 cc Rebel.

Roy spoke about the challenges he has overcome. “I underwent angioplasty in 2001 and had five stents. I also live with osteoarthritis in both the knees. Before this trip, I had a cardiology checkup and my doctor asked me to send a video from Umling La to show other patients that even after angioplasty, one can still lead a normal life,” he shared. “Don’t give up because of age or medical history,” he urged.

Roy’s family – his wife, daughter and grandson, 12 – remain supportive. Memories of a 2011 ‘dream ride’ with his son were with him when he rode to Umling La. “I don’t know if I will be able to complete another dream of mine to go on a ride to Ladakh with my grandson…” he said.

Roy regrets that he could not go to Galwan to pay homage at the memorial as the roads had been washed away. “That is the only memorial left where I still wish to pay my respects. I have already visited the Rezang La memorial in 2010 and 2012,” he said.

Roy joined the Army in 1972 after the 1971 war. The 15th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment had a long, storied history tracing back to Indore. Roy recounted that his battalion captured Gadara city in 1971 as part of the unit’s wartime record.

About today’s generation, he said, “They are patriotic only at certain times like during wars or on August 15 but later, they soon forget about the country.”

About his future plans, he said, “I have plans to return to Umling La to spend more time in Ladakh and hope to visit the border posts near Demchok where my battalion was deployed in the mid-1990s.”

Pune: A sudden burst of intense rainfall swept across Pune city between 12.20pm and 1.30pm on Tuesday, despite a noticeable drop in precipitation over the previous 24 hours leading up to Tuesday morning. IMD officials said the wet spell intensity was likely to ease by Wednesday, making travel from Pune, including through the ghat sections, generally safe.According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Shivajinagar recorded 42.5mm of rainfall from 12.30pm to 2pm, followed by Lohegaon (36mm), Pashan (23.4mm) and Hadapsar (18mm). Lavale received 8.5mm of rainfall during the period, followed by Rajgurunagar (7mm). Chinchwad, Malin and Dudulgaon recorded 2mm of rainfall each, with Haveli reporting just 0.5mm.IMD officials said although the total rainfall wasn’t exceptionally high, it appeared intense due to its concentration within a short 90-minute window, rather than being spread out over several hours. An IMD official said, “From Wednesday, rainfall intensity is likely to reduce, making it largely safe to travel, including through ghat sections. Our national forecast indicates light to moderate rainfall or thunderstorms at several places with isolated heavy rainfall likely over Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada on Wednesday, and over Konkan and Goa during Wednesday and Thursday. Pune is expected to receive light to moderate rain on Wednesday, followed by light showers thereafter.”The weather bureau has placed Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha under a yellow alert till Sept 19, as against the red and orange alerts issued till Tuesday. No alert has been issued beyond Sept 19 for now. The continuing heavy rainfall over the last few days caused widespread damage to crops in parts of Maharashtra and triggered several emergencies. According to the state disaster management department, an NDRF team was rushed to rescue citizens stranded in Karanji in Pathardi taluka of Ahilyanagar district. A green corridor was facilitated through State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), in coordination with the Pune district administration and police, to ensure the team’s swift movement to the flood-affected zone. Rescue operations in Pathardi, Shevgaon and Karjat talukas saw 230 citizens being rescued using inflatable boats, life jackets, buoys and ropes.“Relief material from the state disaster management department were distributed to municipal corporations, councils and tehsil offices in advance for deployment in the vulnerable areas. In Parbhani district, four workers trapped in the Thuna riverbed at Purna block were safely rescued by local disaster teams equipped with boats and life-saving gear,” a disaster management official said.An SDRF team was also dispatched in Jalgaon district to tackle flood-related emergencies following heavy rainfall.In Mumbai, the IMD Colaba observatory recorded 26.7mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8.30am on Tuesday, while the Santacruz observatory recorded 31.2mm. This came just as day after parts of south Mumbai recorded an intense spell of triple-digit rainfall on Monday. According to IMD, the Colaba observatory between Sept 14-15 logged 134mm in the 24 hours ending 8.30am on Monday, its second-highest Sept rainfall in five years.A weather expert associated with the Vagaries of Weather blog and IITM, Pune, recorded a maximum temperature of 25.3°C on Tuesday, the lowest for Sept since 2022. He said the city’s rainfall pattern this year was unique. “Till 5.30pm on Tuesday, Shivajinagar had already received 140mm of rainfall for Sept, which is higher than the totals for both July (130.3mm) and Aug (134.7mm). Only June, with 267.5mm, saw more rainfall. This highlights how Sept has turned out wetter than mid-monsoon months for Pune this year,” he told TOI. Mid-monsoon months (July and Aug) each have a higher normal rainfall quantum than Sept, he added.GRAPHIC90 MINUTES OF SHARP SHOWERS SPARK CHAOSAFTERNOON INTENSE SPELLShivajinagar 42.5mmLohegaon 36mmPashan 23.4mmHadapsar 18mmLavale 8.5mmRajgurunagar 7mmIMD FORECASTRainfall intensity likely to ease by Wednesday, making travel safeLight to moderate rainfall expected in Pune on Wednesday, followed by light showersYellow alert issued for Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha till Sept 19RESCUE OPERATIONSNDRF team rushed to rescue citizens stranded in Karanji, Pathardi taluka230 citizens rescued using inflatable boats, life jackets, buoys, and ropes in Pathardi, Shevgaon & Karjat talukasSDRF team dispatched in Jalgaon district to tackle flood-related emergenciesUNIQUE PATTERNExperts said Pune’s rainfall pattern has been unique this year, with Sept rainfall exceeding July and Aug totals, respectivelyMaximum temperature on Tuesday was 25.3°C, the lowest for Sept since 2022