Travel Ideas

The Himalayas range over most of North India and Nepal an are truly the home of the Gods. Granted, the trekking routes are covered with Snickers wrappers and the Indian valleys are full of stoned Israelis, availing of the local charas production, but there are still many tucked away places.

If you head up into somewhere like Uttar Pradesh or just head above the villages with a pot, a blanket, some matches and a few kilos of rice and dried fruit, you could find yourself a cave somewhere and enjoy the home of the Hindu Gods without so much as a sherpa in sight.

Winter can be pretty tough with snowfall turning a 20 minute path down to the village into a 3 hour confrontation with imminent death, the edge of the cliff hidden by a white blanket. The summer monsoon also tests your mountain resolve with torrential downpours that can go on for days. You really have to have your shit together in the mountains and make sure you have all the candles, firewood and essential supplies stocked.

Of course, hang out long enough on your own in a mountain cave and you may get a reputation as a holy man – then locals will start coming to visit you and bring boiled sweets and candles to gain your blessing.

Check out our guide to the home of the gods

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