India is home to many beautiful hiking trails that are perfect for summer adventures. When the heat is too much in the cities, the mountains and forests offer a cool and refreshing escape. From the high peaks of the Himalayas in the north to the green hills of the Western Ghats in the south, there’s a trail for everyone, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker. In the north, the Himalayas have some amazing trails. The Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand is famous for its colorful flowers and stunning views. The Roopkund trek, also in Uttarakhand, is known for its mysterious lake surrounded by snow. Himachal Pradesh offers the Hampta Pass trek, which takes you through green valleys and snowy mountains. In the northeast, Sikkim’s Dzongri trek gives you great views of the Kanchenjunga mountain range. It’s a less crowded trail, perfect for those who want to enjoy nature in peace. Down south, the Western Ghats offer a different kind of beauty. The Kudremukh trek in Karnataka has rolling green hills and forests. The Chembra Peak trek in Kerala leads to a unique heart-shaped lake, making it a romantic spot. These Best Summer Hiking Trails in India have natural beauty but also give you a taste of local culture. Whether you’re looking for adventure, peace, or a break from the summer heat, India’s hiking trails have something special to offer. So, pack your gear, put on your hiking boots, and explore the best summer hiking trails in India. Top 10 Best Summer Hiking Trails in India
- Lamadugh Natural Valley Trek
- Triund Hill Trek
- Blackberry Hill – Attukad Falls
- Sinhagad Fort
- Avalahalli Forest
- Skandagiri Hills
- Neelkanth Mahadev Trail
- Kunjapuri Temple Trail
- Makalidurga Trek
- Kalsubai Peak Trail
1. Lamadugh Natural Valley Trek
Lamadugh is a popular full-day trek in Manali. The trail starts from Dhungri, about two km away from Manali, and is among the best treks in Manali, and involves walking through thick Deodar forests with a moderate uphill climb. Packed with snow and a variety of birdlife early on in the season, the Lamadug trek is an ideal trail to introduce you to the undeniable fascination of trekking. The trail winds through pine, oak, horse chestnut, maple, and cedar forests to come to pretty glades. The trail begins from old Manali by the Log Hut Road, which can be reached by taxi, cab, tuk-tuk, or even a private vehicle. However, a tale of caution is that there aren’t any parking places nearby which can become troublesome if travelling by private vehicle. It is one of the Best Summer Hiking Trails in India.- Length: 11.4 Km
- Best Time: March to December
- Difficulty: Hard
Suggested Read: Adventure Activities in Kasar Devi
2. Triund Hill Trek
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This is one of the top places to visit in Dharmshala, Himachal Pradesh. Spectacular views with some of the most dramatic weather conditions make up the visuals of this location. Weather is so dramatic that it changes within minutes and hence it is highly suggested to be prepared accordingly. Apart from the weather, this location has beautiful landscapes of snow-covered peaks with Dhauladhar ranges making the remaining sceneries. Dhauladhar is known for its vast green environment and beautiful wildflowers covering the whole mountains. Along with nature, Himalayan peaks, and the Dhauldhar ranges, this trek also houses some of the most ancient temples. These temples are highly respected and are pretty popular among the local community. Triund is a fun location and one of the first treks from where one begins their journey into the trekking community. It is one of the Best Summer Hiking Trails in India.There are various places where one can begin their journey to Triund Hill. This particular trail begins from Dharamkot, just a few turns before the Bhagsu Nag Temple. It can be reached using various modes of transport such as buses, taxis, cabs, or even private vehicles. Usually, the treks remain open throughout the year, but a few areas are cut off during the winter and rainy seasons.
- Length: 9.5 Km
- Best Time: Year-round
- Difficulty: Hard
Suggested Read: Best Places to Eat in Dharamshala 2024
3. Blackberry Hill – Attukad Falls
This is a beautiful mountain biking trail in Munnar. It goes through meadows, waterfalls, and the many tea plantations. Most of the track is paved with few bumps and rough patches although due to constant ups and downs because of the elevation completing this on a geared bike is suggested. It is a kind experience to ride in these marvelous surroundings. This is a very popular area for hiking and mountain biking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. It is one of the best hiking spots in India for 2024.
- Length: 9.3 Km
- Best Time: August to October
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time taken: 3 hrs 15 mins
Suggested Read: Munnar Resorts for Couples on Honeymoon
4. Sinhagad Fort
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Sinhagad Fort in Velhe, Maharastra is a fort that was built 2000 years ago, and references to this fort can be found in the carvings of the Kaundinyeshwar temple. This fort has a long lost history associated with it, especially in terms of battles, and one such battle is the Battle of Sinhagad. It is built strategically with steep surroundings all around and has only two entrances to the fort, the Kalyan Darwaza and Pune Darwaza, this particular trail takes you through Pune Darwaza. This fort has some of the most beautiful landscapes on the isolated cliff of the Sahyadri Mountains. Green environments and the mounts of western ghats are just amazing, then be it whatever the season is. There are a few challenging sections during this trail with rocks and all but nothing that cannot be crossed. This trail begins from Sinhagad Paytha Road by the Askarwadi bus stop. Apart from that, this region is pretty well connected by roads and can be reached by taxi, bus, cab, or private vehicles. There is a small fee to enter the fort, and the timings during which this fort operates is from 6 in the morning till 6 in the evening. It is one of the best hiking spots in India for 2024.
- Length: 8 Km
- Best Time: June to February
- Difficulty: Hard
5. Avalahalli Forest
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Avalahalli State Forest near Bangalore is known for its many mountain biking trails and this is one of the many. Although these MTB trails are pretty much multipurpose and have been known to be used for hiking, and running as well. These trails are beautiful and mostly covered with green foliage providing ample shade. There are some rocky technical sections so do watch out for those, other than that, this trail majorly follows dirt paths. At the entry of the park lies this beautiful butterfly garden. All in all this trail is perfect for all-mountain/trail bike enthusiasts and also for anyone who wants a break from the daily schedule or for anyone who loves nature. There is a small fee to enter the park that will vary according to the activity. To reach this park one can use various public modes of transport such as buses, taxis, cabs, trains, etc but being a mountain biking trail it is recommended to use a private vehicle or a cab but make sure to inquire about the cab company about their policy regarding carrying a bicycle. It is one of the Best Summer Hiking Trails in India.
- Length: 6.8 Km
- Best Time: June to October
- Difficulty: Easy
6. Skandagiri Hills
Skandagiri, also known as Kalavara Durga, is an ancient mountain fortress located approximately 70 km from Bangalore City and 3 km from Chikballapur in the Indian state of Karnataka. Skandagiri is a perfect weekend getaway near Bangalore, preferred by most adventure and nature lovers. It is one of the most loved destinations for trekking near Bangalore and offers an ideal break from the busy and stressful city life. It transports the participants into a calm and peaceful environment. The trek is an exciting climbing adventure for enthusiasts. Trek to the top begins from Kalawara Betta parking. Upon reaching the top, hikers often feel mesmerized by the sight of the old fortress, which reflects the majestic appeal it once held despite being in a dilapidated condition. There is also an ancient abandoned Shiva temple at the top where the hikers can relax and enjoy the view of the magnificent surroundings. It is one of the Best Summer Hiking Trails in India.- Length: 6 Km
- Best Time: Year-round
- Difficulty: Hard
7. Neelkanth Mahadev Trail
Neelkantha Mahadev is one of the must places to visit in Rishikesh. It is respected by tourists from all over the world and is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites for ages. The trail starts from a Historic spot known as Ram Jhula, which is an iron suspension bridge over the river Ganges located right by Muni Ki Reti in Rishikesh at Uttarakhand. It is one of the best treks in Rishikesh. The bridge is designed similarly and uses the same technology as the more popular Lakshman Jhula. Travelers can get amazing views of the Ganges from the Ram Jhula and click amazing pictures of boats floating on it. As this is a point-to-point trail, arranging for transportation and accommodations beforehand is recommended to avoid any hassle, or one can return to the same path that one came from. It is one of the Best Summer Hiking Trails in India.
- Length: 8.2 Km
- Best Time: Year-round
- Difficulty: Hard
8. Kunjapuri Temple Trail
A beautiful trail near Rishikesh that takes one to the Kujapuri Temple. This trail passes through various small villages, farms, lakes, and waterfalls with the backdrops of the pretty views of the Himalayas and the vast green environments. This loop trail is near Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand, and is generally considered a challenging route. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and walking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring, and one of the best things to do in Uttarakhand. Talk to the villagers to learn about the stories and explore some of the local cultures. Kunjapuri is a famous temple, and many pilgrims travel to it to pay their respects. This trail begins from Tapovan in Rishikesh which is pretty well connected by roads and can be reached using a bus, taxi, cab, or even a private vehicle. It is one of the best hiking spots in India for 2024.
- Length: 22.5 Km
- Best Time: Year-round
- Difficulty: Hard
9. Makalidurga Trek
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Makalidurga is a wonderful place with many stories and legends attached to it. There are two stories just on the name. Makali Beru, or Makali Root, was one of the woody climbers who first scaled this hill, and that’s how this place got its name. Another story says that a ruler named Makaliarya used the fort as a granary, and that’s how this place was named. There is one of the legends according to which Markandeya Rishi performed penance over here, and hence this place is called Makalidurga. With so many stories just for a name, this place is full of surprises and stories. This place has also seen a lot of change in hands from the Vijayanagara Empire to Nayakas to Shahaji Bhosle, father of legendary Chhatrapati Shivaji. Another fantastic feat about this place is a train station right at the base from where one can start the trail. Another starting point is shown on the map from Muthurayaswamy temple, which can be reached by various transport. This place is full of surprises and fantastic views, and one would not be disappointed by this trail. To participate in this journey, one has to obtain permits from Karnataka Ecotourism. This trail has no food or water stalls, so it is highly suggested to plan. It is one of the best hiking spots in India for 2024.
- Length: 3.7 Km
- Best Time: Year-round
- Difficulty: Moderate
10. Kalsubai Peak Trail
This beautiful trail in the Shayadri near Aloke, Maharastra takes one to the highest point, Kalsubai Peak. Vast green environments make up the surroundings of this location that are not only green but highly biodiverse as well, with many different species of flora, fauna, and avifauna to explore and observe. Along with that comes the fantastic views that are on offer.One can camp at night in this area, and it is just fabulous, with each season providing a different experience, monsoons, and winters in particular. Another of the key highlights of this trail is the pretty narrow iron ladders, and being the only path up and down, they can become a little crowded at times. Along with that, these ladders are ages old and have pretty significant gaps in them, not only that, they creek with each step, questioning the integrity of the structure. It’s pretty much an adventure in itself. Bari village, which is the starting point, can be reached using various modes of transport such as buses, shared taxis, cabs, or even private vehicles. This is an amazing trail that provides thrill and adventure with some of the most magical views, making it one of the must-visit locations in this region. It is one of the best hiking spots in India for 2024.
- Length: 6.9 Km
- Best Time: Year-round
- Difficulty: Hard
