10-day YHAI Goa Trekking - An Extraordinary inspiring hike to the unknown

Most people think of Himalayan treks when they think of a week-long walk in India. There are several hikes in the Western Ghats, most of which are suitable for weekend excursions. Believe it or not, there are week-long treks in the south as well, including one in Goa called the Goa trek organized by the Youth Hostels Association of India.

This hiking trail is not well known as it requires special permission from Goa and Karnataka forest departments. The difficulties that hikers experience differ differently. The heat, the hike through the deep forest, deadly snakes, and dangerous animals, not the high altitude illness, are to blame. When compared to other treks, the Goa hike is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Short Goa Trek Itenary

Day 1 – Arrival at Panjim & a buffer day

Day 2 – Miramar Beach to Dona Paula

Day 3 – Benaulim Beach to Campal Sports Complex

Day 4 – Cansaulim to Dudhsagar Camp

Day 5 – Dudhsagar camp to Kuveshi

Day 6 – Kuveshi to Anmod via Castlerock

Day 7 – Anmod to Tambdi Surla

Day 8 - Tambdi Surla to Panjim and a buffer day, we celebrated the new year.

Is Goa Trek worth it?

Trekking in Goa, especially over the new year, was a fantastic experience. We were in Goa and had the choice of attending the Sunburn music festival or going on a Goa hike. We chose a week-long Goa hike, and I feel it was a wise idea. Many new like-minded acquaintances were made, people from many backgrounds (not just IT guys) shared their stories, and we thoroughly enjoyed every day of our 10-day walk.

The first two days were spent registering and acclimating. We drove throughout Goa. The true trip began on day three when we spent the entire day walking along the Arabian Sea's beach. To go to the next campground, we boarded the local train. The rest of our Goa journey was spent in the deep rain forest.

We spent the night near to the Dudhsagar waterfall, through many railway tunnels, more than ten to twelve streams, entered Karnataka's jungle, crossed Castlerock, and arrived at an ancient historic temple at Tambdi Surla. We bathed in practically every creek we crossed.

Goa Trek cost and what is included

The entire cost of this 10-day Goa trek including Youth hostel camps from Panjim to Panjim base camp was Rs. 3,990 (it has since escalated). Food, transport, train costs, forest admission in Goa and Karnataka, waterfall access, permits, guide charges, tent stay, insurance, cultural program at base camp, and a snake session are all included in the price.

Not all of them are granted permission to enter the forest. Forest Department rangers conducted numerous checks. This journey was completed in December-January 2015-16.

Goa Hike in Detail

Arrival at Panjim

The campground is in a fantastic location, near to the Mandovi River, and offers a strong connection. The market, which is located between the campsite and the Panjim bus terminal, is an excellent spot to visit near to the campsite. You may take the bus or go for a long stroll along the Mandovi River.

Visit in the evening to take in the sunset and a low tide walk along the shoreline. Miramar beach, which is a short walk from the campground, is a great place to spend extra time till it becomes dark. You might also go to the senior citizen park adjacent to our campground and watch the sailboats in the evening. Read more - Day 1 – Arrival at Panjim.

Miramar Beach to Dona Paula

The campground is in a fantastic location, near to the Mandovi River, and offers a strong connection. Just outside the campground is a shop where you may get any last-minute supplies. Visit in the evening to take in the sunset and a low tide walk along the shoreline.

Miramar beach, which is a short hike from the campground, is a great place to spend extra time till it becomes dark. You might also go to the senior citizen park adjacent to our campground and watch the sailboats in the evening. Hike from the campground to Raj Bhavan through Miramar beach to acclimate. Then it was on to Dona Paula and then back to the campground. Read more - Day 2 – Miramar Beach to Dona Paula

Benaulim Beach to Campal Sports Complex

The third day of the Goa trek is a long flat 11-kilometer walk from Benaulim beach to Cansaulim beach. In between, we visited some well-known south Goa beaches. This location is great for spending time with friends while on vacation.

South Goa beach is a beautiful location with a clean beach that is less congested, making it perfect for New Year's Eve celebrations. A beautiful location for water sports such as speed boats, parasailing, and other water sports. Read More - Day 3 - Benaulim Beach to Campal Sports Complex

Cansaulim to Dudhsagar Camp

The fourth day of our Goa trek from Cansaulim to Dudhsagar camp was a lot of fun. After spending the entire day on day 3 in Benaulim, Cansaulim beach, and so on, day 4 was very different as the entire track was in the forest. The first 45 kilometers were via railway, followed by a muddy jeep route and seven stream crossings in the forest.

On this day, we don't get to view the Dudhsagar waterfall, but we do arrive at the campground, which is quite near to the Dudhsagar waterfalls. The entire ten-kilometer route runs beside a railway track. Read more - Day 4 – Cansaulim to Dudhsagar Camp

Dudhsagar waterfall camp to Kuveshi

Day five of the Goa Trek was, in my opinion, the most anticipated of all. We had covered more than 12 kilometers of the trek, including the very famous Dudhsagar waterfall, tunnels, crossing the bridge that goes right across the waterfalls, then the steep climb to the tip of the waterfall and taking a bath there, followed by a long walk all the way to Kuveshi, which is in Karnataka. On day five, we begin our walk in Goa at the Dudhsagar campground and finish in Karnataka at Kuveshi. Read more - Day 5 – Dudhsagar camp to Kuveshi

Kuveshi to Anmod via Castlerock

The sixth day of our Goa trek was more of a journey through the forest, passing a few creeks and dry grassland. Despite the fact that this was a Goa trip, we spent the entire day in Karnataka. We traveled from one hamlet to a little town called Castlerock, then back into the woods to another community called Anmod. We had traveled roughly 17 kilometers in total. Read more - Day 6 – Kuveshi to Anmod via Castlerock

Anmod to Tambdi Surla

The seventh day of our Goa trip was a hard climb. Starting from a hamlet in Anmod, Karnataka, and continuing through the lush rain forest to Tambdi Surla, Goa. A location is well-known for its ancient temple and historical significance. The seventh day of our trek was largely in the jungle, which is ideal for folks who conduct bird study. From Anmod to Tambdi Surla campground, the journey takes around half a day and covers about 10 kilometers. Read more - Day 7 – Anmod to Tambdi Surla

Tambdi Surla to Panjim

Tambdi Surla was a wonderful place to stay. We were relieved to have completed seven days of the hike with only one day remaining. We were still in the thick of the rain forest, but we were quite close to the excellent spot since there was road access.

The old temple, a creek next to our campsite, a massage center in the middle of nowhere near our campsite, and a cabin where we all sat together the entire evening conversing non-stop gave us a sense of contentment. It was the last day of our journey, so it was a mixed bag of emotions. Day 8 was spent walking through the jungle, passing by an ancient Shiv mandir (temple) parallel to the stream. Read more - Day 8 - Tambdi Surla to Panjim

Goa Hike - YouTube Video Playlist

Enjoy watching all the YouTube video playlists below and don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and my blog for more updates.

Hotels in Goa

Where to stay in Goa? - Because Goa is a tourist destination, staying there should not be an issue. Even during peak season, especially around the holidays, hotel prices can rise. The cheapest option is to get a dorm room at a hostel, of which there are several, but you must plan ahead of time.

Also, if you are a YHAI participant, you can extend your stay before or after the program by speaking with the local staff or the camp leader. We received assistance from them and stayed at the campsite for one more day, paying only 300 rupees more for meals and celebrating the New Year after finishing the hike. Hotels in Goa will undoubtedly be much more expensive at this time of year.

Before you go on a hike make sure to check this out - some of the Absolute mandatory Hiking Accessories to carry. So, that’s was my experience of hiking to this place. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

Domkhar Rock Art Sanctuary - A renowned hidden place of historical importance

Domkhar rock art sanctuary is located in Leh's Domkhar hamlet, right on the banks of the Indus River. The location is well-known for prehistoric artwork created by tourists. The major source of income for the people in this region is apricot and apple cultivation. This is a destination for folks who appreciate the historical artwork of our forefathers. There are various rock-carved sculptures that are considered to be between 2000 and 4000 years old.

Where is Domkhar rock art sanctuary located?

Domkhar often spelled Damkhar, is a settlement in the Indian state of Ladakh's Leh district. It is situated in the tehsil of Khalsi. The Domkhar Rock Art Sanctuary was established in 2012 to protect the area's prehistoric petroglyphs. Domkhar contains about 200 dwellings. A visit to this place was a part of our Youth Hostel organized Lamayuru cycling expedition.

Domkhar, a little settlement on the banks of the Indus, is 160 kilometers from Leh. You may drive from Leh to Skurbuchan. Domkhar Rock Art Sanctuary is on the way to Sakar. Its rippling green meadows are studded with the shadows of towering poplars. Large stones line the rushing river, some black and polished, others veined with cracks, and many with prehistoric sculptures of men and monsters on their dazzling surface.

About Domkhar rock art sanctuary

I made my way through the rain to Domkhar Rock Art Sanctuary, where I pushed through the gates beneath the sanctuary's welcome board. I'm attracted to the warmth of a Ladakhi kitchen, where everyone sits cross-legged on the floor. This is the house of Stanzin Thangjuk, the farmer who has been important in conserving these rock engravings on his own.

The admission fee is Rs. 30 and includes butter tea and snacks. We could go to the owner's house because the area is private property. This was an opportunity for us to get to know the people, their way of life, and so on. The carpet and artwork in the hall were brightly colored. We drank the local tea, which was made of tea, yak milk, butter, and salt, with dried fruits and fresh apricots.

The Domkhar rock art refuge and farmland are both located in the owner's backyard. They raise apples and apricots on the fields, which are subsequently dried. This product is then packaged and sold on the local market or exported. There is also the chance to get things at a considerably lower price than what is accessible outside. A kilogram of dry apricot costs around 300 rupees.

What is rock art called?

Rock art is defined by anthropologists and archaeologists as pictures cut, sketched, or painted onto immovable rock surfaces. Petroglyphs are images that have been etched or engraved onto the rock. Pictographs are images created using paint or other pigments. Paintings, sketches, engravings, stencils, bas-relief carvings, and figures made of beeswax in rock shelters and caves are examples of rock art.

We continued on our journey to the Domkhar rock art refuge. The prehistoric engravings on the gleaming black stone were stunning. The Domkhar rock art sanctuary is located right adjacent to the bank of the Indus River, where most ancient travelers rested overnight or for a few days before continuing their journey. The artwork is stunning and in excellent shape. The carvings depict prehistoric hunting scenes, numerous animals, anthropomorphic characters, written language, religious symbols, and other symbols.

There are further rock drawings throughout the 35-kilometer stretch between Domkhar and Khalste hamlet, however many have been ruined by human activities. Many academics, both Indian and international, performed an admirable job of investigating Ladakh's rock art, but this did not aid in the preservation of the petroglyphs. Such petroglyphs can be found all across Ladakh, with notable locations outside of Domkhar being Tangtse, Khaltse, Kharu, and Biama.

It is a must-see if you are in the vicinity of Lamayuru. At Domkhar rock art refuge, you can also purchase native herbal remedies, honey, and dried fruits. To get a sense of the location, watch the video above. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter and SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel.

Prevent Blur Images and make them look captivating

Have you ever captured an image and wondered why it is blurry? This is a typical problem that most of us confront when taking pictures. The major problem is the camera shake, which should have been taken into account throughout the capture. In certain circumstances, we purposefully create blur to deflect the viewer's attention away from the subject.

Why are my photos not sharp?

If the subject in your photograph is fuzzy but anything closer to the camera or farther away is perfectly in focus and clear, the problem is most likely one of focus. If the entire image is hazy and nothing is crisp, it is usually due to using a handheld shutter speed that is too lengthy. Blurred photographs might stem from a lack of understanding of your own camera and how to use it.

How do you stop blurry pictures?

• Low light. The camera needs more light and this can be achieved using shutter and aperture.
• Keep the aperture wide open f2.8 etc. This allows the camera sensor to capture more light.
• Shutter speed. Make sure that the shutter speed is always more than the zoom range. Example: for 55mm the shutter should not be lesser than 1/60th of a second.
• For zoom lenses, vary the shutter as per the zoom value.
• Try increasing ISO under low light.
• Use a tripod, not just some ordinary free tripod that you get along with your camera - Read more on tripods here - link.
• Switch on VR (Vibration reduction) or IS (Image stabilization), but don't be fully dependent on it.
• Capture in RAW and take manual control instead of automatic.
• Once you capture, check the image on the display screen. Zoom into the image and check the edges of an object.
• For those using HDR, make sure that you don't move while capturing HRD images. You will capture 2 to 3 different images at different time intervals in a very small interval of time. It then stitches these images together.

Low light photography and use of wide-angle with f2.8 aperture. Image captured at Dal Lake, Kashmir, India.

How do you make your camera blurry on purpose?

To get blurry photographs, take many shots with a fast shutter speed. Adjust the shutter speed on your camera to roughly 1/30th of a second. Follow a moving item with your camera until it passes the center of your lens.

How to Take Blurry Pictures?

Blurriness is typically used to indicate movement in photographs, but it may also be used artistically to improve your photos. A simple and frequent approach to shooting with blurring effects in the backdrop is to employ the bokeh lighting technique, which makes the subject of a shot seem concentrated while the background is blurred. With bokeh lighting and other approaches, you'll be able to produce fuzzy photos by changing the camera settings on your phone, utilizing different modes on a DSLR camera, and adjusting the light source in your shot.

• Creating Blurs with a Mobile Phone - Use portrait mode on your mobile device. This function is now accessible in the majority of mirrorless or DSLR cameras too. You may use editing applications on your iPhone or Android device to take and edit images. Also, while taking the photo, zoom close on the main subject to blur the surrounding.
• Using a DSLR or Mirrorless Camera to Take Blurry Photos - Set your camera to shutter priority mode to lower the shutter speed and use a wider lens to create a hazy backdrop. Take many images with a quick shutter speed to obtain blurred photos, then use a macro lens to acquire zoomed-in shots.
• Changing the Light Source. Find a decent light source for your photograph and position the subject to enhance the blur effect. You can experiment with reflectors and other light modifiers to achieve the desired effect.

How do you make foreground blurry and the background in focus?

Moving closer to and focusing firmly on your subject, as well as ensuring the backdrop is far away from your subject, makes it simpler to produce a blurred background. Short focal lengths have a broad field of view, which keeps features in the front and background in focus. To know more read the article - Understanding lens focal length.

Camera Panning, in the panning technique the focus should be on the subject.

There are other reasons, in case the subject moves, in which case you will have to use the camera panning technique. You need to master this to get those right shots with controlled blur along with the focus on the subject. The only solution would be to practice.

Why is my Camera not focusing?

'Camera lens won't focus' is a common question and is one of my most viewed videos on my YouTube channel. I see that people have trouble focusing on the subject with some common focus issues that I have listed and how you can fix that without taking your camera to the service center to fix the issue.

https://youtu.be/MuE9EVfzYMc

https://youtu.be/Q0bhL5KQQx0

Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post and start practicing to capture photos and edit like a Professional Photographer. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

Scenic ride from Lamayuru Moonland to Skur Buhan along the beautiful Indus valley Road - Day 2

The second day of the mountain bike adventure takes you from Lamayuru Moonland to Skurbuchan. The first 5 kilometers are entirely downhill, passing through Moonland and several hairpins turns. The rest of the trip is flat, following the Indus Valley Road along the banks of the river. We had lunch in Domkhar and went to the 4000-year-old ancient Rock Art refuge. We kept cycling after lunch all the way to Skurbuchan, our next campground. From Lamayuru to Skurbuchan, the distance is 43 kilometers.

Lamayuru

Why is Lamayuru called Moonland?

On the previous day, we reached Lamayuru from Leh YHAI campsite. Because of its soil and setting, Lamayuru is a popular tourist destination noted for its monasteries and landscape. Visit the Lamayuru monastery. We set our tent near National Highway One (NH1), just outside the hamlet. On the steep slopes in this location, there is a unique type of mud. Because of this unique type of dirt, the mountainside sparkles on full moon days, earning the name Moonland.

Mountain biking route from Lamayuru Moonland to Skurbuchan

The ride downhill from Lamayuru

For the following five to eight kilometres, the ride from Lamayuru is entirely downhill. The road is riddled with hairpin turns. Because it is the national route One, NH1, which connects Kargil and Leh, expect little traffic. You just require control over the brakes; there's no need to peddle; simply relax in the saddle and enjoy the journey and scenery.

There is a creek to the right and a Buddhist temple on the opposite side of the stream once you've gone all the way down. Continue on the level road until you reach Khalsi's war memorial. Take a sharp left to enter the Indus Valley Road after seeing this monument. The rest of the day's ride is along the banks of the Indus River on the Indus Valley Road.

The region was formerly heavily shelled by our neighbouring country, which was eventually reclaimed by our forces. The scenery along the Indus Valley Highway is breathtaking. There are a few residences along the path, but no stores, cafes, or other amenities. As a result, make sure you drink enough water. The river water is difficult to obtain and is contaminated with silt, making it unfit for drinking. The river water also looks to be dangerous due to the current or the velocity of the water. We came to a halt at Domkar village, where we refilled our water bottles and ate our lunch beside to a creek.

https://youtu.be/V1epLC1OQqs

A visit to the historic Domkar Stone Art Sanctuary

Post lunch we continued for a while after which we visited a historic place known by the name Domkar Stone Art Sanctuary. We continued cycling after viewing this site, taking a mostly level route to our campground in Skurbuchan's settlement. Apricot farm is just next to the campground. At sunset, the vista of gold-colored mountain peaks is not to be missed.

Reaching Skurbucham campsite

We kept riding for a little more, stopping next to the stream for a break while waiting for the rest of the teammates to join us. We kept on till we arrived at a little village surrounded by high mountains and our tent in the center of an apricot field. We spent the evening touring the area and taking in the beauty of the night sky. On the next day, we went further from Skurbuchan to Sakar.

https://youtu.be/T6u1ld4cruw

To get a sense of the location, watch the video above. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter and SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel.

Tarsar Lake - 6 days of intense hike in search of tranquilty

Tarsar Lake is a paradise for nature lovers, one of the most beautiful lakes in India. Untouched, clean, crystal clear water, amazing landscape, no human activities around, and a perfect place for peaceful meditation. Even the locals consider the water at Tarsar lake to be holy. A perfect place for camping, for landscape photographers, for night photography to get those Milkyway and star trail shots. The hiking trail is known by the name Tarsar Marsar lake trekking trail.

Tarsar Lake is almost a kilometer wide and two kilometers long. The view from the nearby mountain pass is breathtaking. From here you can go further to Marsar lake which is another beautiful lake or hike to Kolahoi peak and glacier which is another breathtaking place.

Tarsar trek itinerary

How to reach Aru camp?

The first day is all about going from Srinagar to Aru basecamp and the drive that is a part of this lovely Tarsar trek. It's a four-hour trip from Srinagar, including stops at the Saffron Farm and Apple Valley along the way. From Srinagar, there are two ways to reach Aru. The first is via Anantnag, which is the bus route, and the second is via Bijbehra/Apple Valley, which is a shortcut and where most cabs go to Aru. Read more on day 1 - Srinagar to Aru drive.

Hike from Aru to Lidderwat

The second day of my Himalayan trip to Tarsar was thrilling and adventurous, especially because it was pouring. The landscape along the walk was perfect for photographers like myself, with cloud-covered mountain peaks. I got ahead of schedule when I started from the Aru campground, but after rising for approximately a kilometer, the scenery surrounding me forced me to stop every five minutes and photograph everything. It was already dusk when I arrived at Lidderwat camping, and everyone else had already finished their meal. The scenery is breathtaking. Read more on day 2 - Aru to Lidderwat

Lidderwat to Shekwas

From Lidderwat to Shekwas camping, the third day of the Tarsar trek is a moderate rise. From 9100 feet at Lidderwat to 10700 feet in Shekwas, you gain around 1600 feet on this day. For the first hour, there is a strong ascent, followed by a one-hour level stroll. There is a point when you must bridge a creek, walk beside it for a time, and then gradually rise until you reach a boulder-strewn area. The Shekwas camp location is located after crossing these massive stones. Read more on day 3 - Lidderwat to Shekwas

Hike uphill to the beautiful Tarsar lake

The fourth day of the Tarsar walk is a slow ascent from Shekwas to Tarsar, passing through grassland, valleys, streams, and stones. As you ascend higher, the breathtaking scenery surrounding you is simply breathtaking. It's roughly a five-kilometer hike with a 500-meter elevation rise. Finally, you arrive at Tarsar Lake, a slice of heaven on Earth. Read more on day 4 - Shekwas to Tarsar

Exploring Tarsar Lake

Tarsar lake is one of the pristine lakes that you will find in the Himalayas. A day spent visiting Tarsar Lake and its environs is well worth the trek. The weather in the Himalayas changes by the hour, and it is impossible to forecast what will happen in the following hour. Snowfall, rain, bright sunlight, beautiful sky, mountains without snow, verdant meadows, and crystal clear water in the lake could all be seen in a single day. Read more on day 5 - A day at Tarsar Lake

#Sunrise at #TarsarLake in Aru, in #KashmirValley, #JammuandKashmir.

Image: @ravindrajoisa pic.twitter.com/1bncNGGBBp

— lonelyplanet_in (@lonelyplanet_in) March 31, 2016

Hike to Jarsar and back to Aru

Our walk took us from Tarsar Lake to Lidderwat through Jadsar Lake on the sixth day. If you intend on walking in this area, a day of camping at Tarsar Lake is a necessity. We didn't have the choice or permission to continue our journey to Marsar, so we had to return to Lidderwat through Shekwas. To go to Jadsar Lake, we bypassed Shekwas and took the parallel path, which is slightly higher in elevation. It was a hard drop to Lidderwat after spending some time in Jadsar. Read more on day 6 - Tarsar lake to Liddderwat via Jadsar

It took 6 to 7 days to complete the Tarsar trek. Tarsar Lake is reached after a three-day climb from Aru in India's Jammu and Kashmir state. You might continue on to Marsar and Sonasar lakes before finishing your trip in Sonamarg. We had no choice but to return to Aru from Tarsar. A day in Tarsar was fantastic, with camping close to the lake and Kolahoi peak on the opposite side. Jammu and Kashmir feature some of the world's most beautiful landscapes and lakes, in my opinion. The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek and Tarsar Marsar treks are a must-do if you're planning a hike in Kashmir.

Here are some pointers. Always add a day at the end of your schedule as a buffer. The weather may change quickly, so having an extra day before and after is a smart idea. It should not take more than half a day to go to Aru. So, if you arrive early, circumnavigate Aru. Also, if you haven't used your buffer day and get near Sonamarg on the highway, spend that day touring Sonamarg.

The availability of water is not an issue on any of these days. There are several Gujjar huts along the path, and if you come across one that appears to be abandoned, don't hesitate to peek inside or even stay. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Once you've arrived at the campsite, I don't advocate remaining in your tent. Make the most of your time here by exploring as much as possible.

This location is fantastic for night photography. There is no light pollution in this area. If you bring your tripod, you may easily get star trails and milky way photos. Expect high winds, chilly temperatures, and maybe snow at times. Before you go on a hike make sure to check this out - some of the Absolute mandatory Hiking Accessories to carry.

https://youtu.be/N1T-9NynluE

There are many trekking groups like Indiahikes, Trek the Himalayas, and Youth Hostels (which are for Indian nationals and are cheaper) who can organize the trek or you can go on your own with locals. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.