The Trek Packers-Bringing You Stories From The Himalayas

Turtuk - The Last Indian Village before Gilgit-Baltistan When Turtuk was opened to tourists in 2009, it was a small, mostly self-sufficient mountain village. This is the farthest north tourists can travel beyond which lies the LOC and Pak Controlled Baltistan. Turtuk was under Pakistan's control but India annexed the village during the Indo-Pak war in 1971. The region of Baltistan was divided between the two countries. Turtuk serves as a strategic point for the Indian military as it is just 10 kilometers away from the LOC and is a gateway to the Siachen Glacier. The last of the true frontier villages of India, Turtuk gives us a glimpse of the balti way of life. Nestled Deep in the Karakoram mountains you are technically in Baltistan and this can be felt when entering the village. Turtuk village lies close to the Shyok river and you can see glimpses of the mighty K2 from the village. Baltistan is renowned for its hospitality and it is no different here on the ...

“ Those who travel to mountain-tops are half in love with themselves and half in love with oblivion .” ― Robert Macfarlane ( Solo Treks in Uttarakhand ). For the solo traveler, journeys across the Himalayas is always a difficult endeavor. The challenge of conquering the mountains all alone gives a feeling of uncertainty and fear. This is not the case with Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is a safe haven for the solo traveler, Devbhumi (As it is called) is an adventure lover’s dream come true. There are plenty of options for solo treks in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is never bustling with tourists, hence solitude is all around when you travel through the remote valleys and villages of Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is a mountain state situated in the Central Himalayas (The Gharwal & Kumaoun Himalayas). Home to lush alpine forests and majestic central Himalayan peaks, Uttarakhand is also the birthplace of the river Ganga. Adding to the spellbinding beauty, the state is ho...