There is a breed of trekkers, who wait the whole year for a smell of wet earth to put on their gore-tex hiking shoes and get their backpacks out. Armed with waterproof ammo and a bag of salt(leech remedy), this monsoon chasers are ready to take any ‘deluge’ head on. A rising passion among trekkers, the rain soaked splendour, stretching from the Himalayan Bugyals to the Western Ghats, is an experience hard to resist, even if it comes with a few odds. Here is a list of a few destinations for the cause.
1. Thadiyendamol, Karnataka
Passing through shola forests, this is the highest peak in Coorg. It could be clubbed with a village walk through a spice plantation. If you get lucky, you can see the Arabian sea from the peak.
2. Tarsar Marsar, Kashmir
This trek is a walk through paradise. The best aspect is the variety. Every day is an independent trek, and you never know what to expect. One day you will see fresh water flowing down ledges, and the next, you will see enormous lakes.
3. Malshej Ghat, Maharashtra
The glaring green pass of Malshej Ghat is famous with hikers, especially during monsoon. Exotic migratory flamingos choose Malshej as their monsoon abode and trekkers stop at the waterfalls to have hot kanji vada.
4. Chembra Peak, Wayanad
Two hours into this beautiful trek and you come upon a surprise- a heart shaped mountain lake, nestled between the hills and filled to the brim.
The suggestion is to go with a group and be aware of weather conditions beforehand in case of torrential downpour and landslides.