#Himalayan village

[happyeasygoindia]

Travel Like a Local: Unique Cultural Experiences Across India

Those days of simply taking photographs of iconic monuments and jumping from one tourist spot to another are long gone. The new-generation traveler — ahem, you! — hungers for more authentic, immersive experiences. It’s all about being part of the culture, living like locals, and returning with tales that aren’t found in every travel guide.

Whether it’s a stay in a far-flung Himalayan village, watching traditional rituals, or learning a time-honored craft, India has experiences way off the beaten track.

And let’s get real — cheap flights and intelligent flight bookings mean more money in your pocket for these experiences that you’ll never forget. So before you take out your bag, grab the best flight ticket offers on HappyEasyGo and let’s start the ultimate ‘travel like a local’ guide!

1. Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh — A Himalayan Retreat Like No Other

If you’re looking to unplug (like, badly, no WiFi), Spiti Valley is your ambition escape. Nestle between Tibet and India, this dusty desert is a oasis for those who want to feel life sentence in the gamy-altitude wilderness.

Local Experience: Homestay with locals — Forget fancy hotel; continue in a traditional mud-brick place in village like Langza or Kibber. Come Alive up to the odour of yakety-yak butter tea and live like ne’er before in the mountains. Experience the Thelonious Sphere Monk life — Spend a day at Key Monastery, where monks will welcome you into their serene mode of life.

You can even master the art of butter lamp making or attend their morning prayers. Experience a monastic festival — Coordinate your visit with the Lossar Festival (Tibetan New Year), where block out social dancer enact traditional Buddhist tales through enchanting terpsichore rituals.

✈️ Travel Tip: The closest airport is Kullu-Manali. Pre-book your flights, then set off on a legendary road trip to Spiti. Trust us, the ride is half the fun!

2. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh — The Magic of the Eternal City

If India had a heartbeat, it would be Varanasi. This ancient urban center along the Ganges is where spirituality, chaos, and account collide. Whether you’re a seeker of meaning or just looking for an experience that shakes your psyche, Varanasi delivers.

Local Experiences:

Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat — As the sunlight sets, priest perform an fascinating fire ritual by the river. The chant, the lamp, the devotion — it’s pure magic. ‍♂️ Explore the bowling alley — The narrow-minded lanes of Varanasi hide 1, 000-year-sometime synagogue, legendary street food joints, and the well-nigh intricate silk-weaving shop. Look At a cooking course of instruction — Con to slash up Banarasi delicacies like kachori-sabzi and tamatar chaat. Fillip: Master the art of making the perfect paan!

✈️ Travel Tip: Varanasi let an international drome, so it’s extremely easy to reach. Book a budget flight on HappyEasyGo and lose yourself in its ageless beauty.

3. Sundarbans, West Bengal — The Outcry of the Wild

Want to leave the city behind and function Tarzan all the way Welcome to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove timberland in the world and the habitat of the purple Royal Bengal Tiger. Here, nature is in charge, and man coexist with it.

Local Experiences:

Stay in an eco-Greenwich Village — Swap hotel for homestays in villages like Dayapur, where you’ll catch some Z’s in thatch cottages and exhaust freshly caught fish. Explore the mangrove — Cruise through narrow waterways in a traditional wooden sauceboat, keeping an eye out for crocodiles, otter, and — if you’re lucky — a tiger! Fall In a folk music session — Topical Anesthetic much gather to sing Baul folk songs, a tradition passed down for centuries.

✈️ Travel Tip: Rainfly to Kolkata, then embark on a route and boat trip to the Sundarbans. Look for the best flying deals on HappyEasyGo!

4. Channapatna, Karnataka — The Town of Toys

Ditch mass-produced souvenirs — Channapatna is where you can learn to make your own! This tiny township outside Bangalore is renowned for its hand-made wooden toys, crafted with eco-friendly dyes and traditional methods.

Local Experiences:

️ Get creative and make your own toys — Stop by a neighborhood workshop and build your ain wooden toy with master craftsmen. ️ Browse the one-of-a-kind souvenirs — Handmade jewelry, home accessories, and cute wooden figurine picked directly from the artists. ☕ Take your time and sip filter chocolate — Because no Karnataka experience is quite complete without a hot loving cup of filter kaapi!

✈️ Travel Tip: Bangalore’s Kempegowda Airport is the closest. Grab a cheap escape on HappyEasyGo and take a quick road trip-up to Channapatna!

5. Rajasthan — The Land of Maharajas

Ever require to dwell like royal family Rajasthan makes that dream a realism. With its grand palaces, bustling bazaar, and timeless traditions, this land offers an experience that’s straight out of a fairytale.

Local Experiences:

Overnight in a inheritance haveli — Skip the hotels and sleep in a 200-year-honest-to-god haveli, where you’ll be like a royal guest. Attend a folk saltation performance — The purl chick of Kalbeliya professional dancer and the rhythm of traditional drums will result you stunned. Stimulate hands-on with block impression — Reveal the centuries-onetime art of hand-block printing in Jaipur’s craftsman villages.

✈️ Travel Tip: Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur each possess an airport. Book your flights on HappyEasyGo and come directly into a royal experience.

✈️ Travel Smart with HappyEasyGo

Travelling like a local involves shedding the routine, espouse the serendipity, and diving into the centre of an environment. Be you trekking the Himalayas, acquire to weave, or watching an old tradition being enacted, these activities leave you with stories that would take a lifetime.

And don’t forget, your adventure begins with the perfect flying booking! Get the cheapest flights on HappyEasyGo and turn every tripper into an epic adventure. Because why spend more on flights when you can save and indulge in experiences that really count

Bon voyage, traveler! ✈️

Source: Travel Like a Local: Unique Cultural Experiences Across India

[valleyoflowerstrektourpackage]

Heaven in Bloom: Valley of Flowers Trek 2025 Step into a dreamscape where colors run wild. The Valley of Flowers Trek 2025 invites you to a UNESCO World Heritage Site wrapped in alpine meadows and mystical charm. With every step, breathe in air sweetened by wild orchids, blue poppies, and more than 300 rare blooms. This 6-day guided journey weaves through lush forests, rustic Himalayan villages, and sacred rivers—culminating in the ethereal valley itself. Perfect for first-time trekkers and soul searchers alike, this experience blends soft adventure with nature’s quiet magic.

[mysterioushimachal]

Harsil Valley, Uttarakhand: A Serene Haven for Solitude Seekers in the Himalayas

[manojnaironline]

A place where you felt loved

A place where I felt loved would be a place now in my memory archives. The events described here took place three decades back. I was in my early twenties and in charge of a remote post somewhere in the Himalayas. The village had no electricity, no running water, and only one mud road connected it to the rest of civilization. I lived in a wooden shack. My staff came to the office only to collect…

[himalayanvilla]

What are the visuals you get when someone talks about mountain and hill stations?

Nature, adventures, and beautiful treks make your mountain visit-worthy. The best way to explore the Parvati Valley's beauty is by getting into the depth of it. Wondering how and where? I will help you out. As I belong to the mountain, of course, I can suggest some best treks from Kailasha - The Himalayan Village that will make your climb worth it. Find out the premium and best tour packages available in Parvati Valley and Kasol.

[blue-lotus333]

💕Goddesses of love💕

Aphrodite: Greek Goddess of love, beauty, sex and lust.

Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, emerged from the sea in a scallop shell and sailed to Cyprus. She possessed a magical girdle and had many lovers, including Ares and Adonis. Ares killed Adonis out of jealousy, leading to the creation of anemones. Adonis became a god split between the Underworld and Earth due to Aphrodite's love. She travels with the Three Graces and bestows joy, brilliance, and abundance upon mortals. She aids in romantic love and is associated with myrtles, roses, and anemones.

Freya: Norse Goddess of love, war, fertility and magic.

Freya, the Norse goddess of love and ruler of war and death. She mediated conflict between warring groups of Norse gods and established peace in Asgard. She is known for her beauty, sorcery, and sexuality, as well as for riding a cat-drawn golden chariot. Freya wears a falcon-feathered cloak that allows her to move quickly between heaven and Earth and has an enormous palace in Asgard where she celebrates with the souls she chooses from the battlefield. In one myth, she obtains the famous amber necklace, Brisingamen, from four dwarves by sleeping with them, beauty for beauty.

Oshun: African Goddess of love, beauty, prosperity & femininity.

Oshun is a goddess of love in the Yoruba religion. She is one of the 7 orishas and the source of power for all the other orishas. Oshun has the ability to make all things flow in the universe through her love and strength. She played a significant role in encouraging Ogun, father of civilization, to continue creating. Oshun is the only goddess who can carry messages between the mortal world and the Supreme Creator in heaven. In Nigeria, there is an annual ceremony called Ibo-Osun where women dance for Oshun during a feast of yams, with the best dancer winning Oshun's favor and becoming the village adviser on healing and fertility.

Parvati: Hindu Goddess of love, fertility, harmony and motherhood.

Parvati is a golden Hindu goddess known for love and devotion, forming a holy trinity with Saraswati and Lakshmi. She was born in the Himalayan mountains and embodies nurturing feminine energy. Parvati won over her husband, Shiva, through patience and determination in asceticism. Parvati is the creator of her son Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom. She is also worshiped for her strength and ferocity. In one legend, she transformed into the fearsome goddess Kali-ma to overcome & destroy demons who threaten the earth, showing her protective nature.

Guan yin: Buddhist Goddess of compassion, love, peace and kindness.

Guan Yin, originally a mortal princess named Miao Shan, was known for her compassion and kindness. Despite her father's cruelty, she devoted herself to helping others and performing miracles. After her death, she chose to remain in human form as a bodhisattva to help suffering beings, eventually becoming a goddess. By simply invoking her name, people can receive protection from harm. Guan Yin is often depicted in a white gown on a lotus throne and is revered by her followers as a symbol of love, compassion & purity. Her devotees often follow her vegetarian diet on her sacred days. Guan yin is not only the goddess of compassion, but the literal personification of it.

Hathor: Egyptian Goddess of fertility, love, womanhood and the sky.

Hathor, ancient Egyptian goddess of love and joy, has been revered for over 3,000 years. Known as the Gentle Cow of Heaven, she provided milk to the Sun God Ra, making him and other pharaohs divine. Hathor created the Milky Way and is often depicted wearing a crown with cow horns. She is worshipped through joyful ceremonies of music and dance and is the most beloved goddess in ancient Egyptian belief. Hathor is also the goddess of the Underworld, protector of females, and champion of romantic bonds. She can appear in different forms and her symbols are the sistrum and hand mirror.

Laka: Hawaiian Goddess of love, wilderness, the hula & music.

Laka is a Polynesian goddess of love and wilderness who taught humans the art of the hula dance. She is married to the fertility god Lono, and rain is considered a sacred time for them. Dancers in training build altars to Laka with her favorite flowers and plants, and offerings are taken down to the ocean after performances to thank her for her blessing. She is a Goddess who rules over all vegetation. Plants sacred to her are: maile, Lama, hala pepe, `ie`ie, ki, `ôhia lehua, `ôhelo, and palai.

Aine: Irish Goddess of the summer, love, wealth and light.

Áine is a powerful and loving fairy queen in Irish legend, associated with agriculture, animals, and light. She is celebrated at the Midsummer Festival in Limerick, where people run up her hill to seek her blessing. She is also a survivor of sexual abuse in legends, where she shows strength and guides women to empowerment. Áine is depicted with red hair, a headband of stars, and surrounded by her animals. She can transform into a red mare who is unbeatable in speed.

Xochiquetzal: Aztec Goddess of fertility, beauty, flowers and love.

Xochiquetzal was a powerful and complex Aztec goddess known for her beauty and seductive nature. She was worshipped as a patroness of lovers and prostitutes, encouraging love-making for pleasure rather than reproduction. Despite her associations with sexual relationships, she also had the ability to absolve humans of sins unrelated to sex. She was married to the water god, Tlaloc, and was considered a consort to the creator deity, Tezcatlipoca. Xochiquetzal was widely worshipped and honored through great rituals that included acts of sacrifice and confessions.

Ishtar: Mesopotamian Goddess of love, war, fertility and power.

One of the oldest goddesses in the world, Ishtar, the goddess of war and sexual love, was the queen of heaven. Ishtar is considered a member of the special class of Mesopotamian gods called the Anunnaki. Ishtar is often called Inanna, she is also an astral deity, linked to the planet Venus, and was worshipped widely in the ancient Middle East. She was known as the Queen of the Universe and had powers attributed to various other gods. Ishtar was the very first goddess of love, Mesopotamians described her in her many legends and poems as young and strikingly beautiful, with piercing, penetrating eyes.

[bcacstuff]

Wouldn't be any news of Sam in two weeks?

Do you miss him already? 😂

Can't help to say, finally, while people have tried to tell me how ignorant I am, as he surely has someone who manages his SM and he can schedule posts... well here's the proof what I always told, he's managing his socials himself, and nobody else, and he never does scheduled posts. (wouldn't this be time for it???)

But anyway, not important or interesting to me. More interesting to explore was to look up the places that were mentioned in the couple of posts we have seen. Especially Jake Norton gave some good clues to look up on the map.

I made a little oversight. To compare; the green boxes are the places most people post from during a trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC). Flying from Kathmandu to Lukla Airport (bottom green box) and then up, having stops at villages like Namche Bazar and Dingboche. Often they stay a few days at these villages to acclimatize and do little hikes up and down adapting to the high altitude. These places, though basic, are most likely a bit better equipped than the 'villages' along the new Mahakulung Muddhi-Kongma Dingma Trail Sam and his company are following. (red boxes)

They flew from Kathmandu Airport to Chheskam (bottom red box) from where they watched 5 of the highest peaks in the world from the helicopter and inaugurated the new trail before heading off.

On Friday 6 december the hike starts from Chheskam into some no man's land following the new trail underneath Himalayan giants, over the Amphu Labtsa

Amphu Labtsa

I don't suppose he'll have any reception during this part. That's why I put 'villages' between quotation marks above. Jake Norton wrote 'stepping off grid for a week'. The next place is Chukhung, which perhaps might have reception?

Chukhung Village

It looks at least a little less like no man's land, though still a small settlement inhabited mostly by sherpas. The village is a known trekking hub and provides essential facilities for trekkers and climbers in the form of teahouses and lodges. All relatively basic though.

From Chukhung the'll go up to EBC and Gorakshinath Shep per Jake Norton

Gorakshep

Gorakshep is perched at an elevation of 5,180 meters and the foot of Mount Everest. It's a small village with a few lodges, teahouses and souvenir shops.

I guess, though not sure, they'll get themselves picked up again at Gorakshep to get back to Kathmandu.

So, I don't expect anything before next weekend, but perhaps there will be some small updates when he has reception. I expect and look forward to a huge dump during and around Christmas 😊⛰️🏔️🗻⛰️

[goodstuffhappenedtoday]

Mt. Everest is plagued by garbage. These Nepali women are transforming it into crafts

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Sunita Kumari Chaudhary quietly weaves together lengths of rope, binding them with grass collected from the riverbank in her village of Dang. She skillfully shapes the materials into a jewelry box. As she weaves, she's instructing a small group of women how to work with the materials.

The ropes that Chaudhary and the others are using were once the lifeline for mountain climbers tackling Nepal's mountains and were then tossed. Government initiatives to clean up discarded materials on the mountains have ramped up since 2019. The waste, including the ropes, is now finding new life, transformed by skilled hands like Chaudhary's into items to sell such as boxes and table mats.

"At first, I wasn't aware that these ropes were collected from the mountains," Chaudhary says as she expertly bends and coils a blue-colored rope into an oval-shaped box. To her left, a container holds her tools – scissors and metal nails. Scattered on the floor are several mats she'd made, each a vibrant mix of golden yellow, purple and blue.

"Later, I learned that [the ropes were] collected during a mountain cleaning campaign. And people like me, who are far from the mountains but belong to the indigenous Tharu community, are using our traditional skills to transform this waste into something entirely new."

The Himalayan mountains are increasingly laden with mounting waste left by mountaineering activities over the years. There is no official data, but Nepal's Department of Tourism estimates that on Mt. Everest alone, there is nearly 140,000 tons of waste.

In 2019, the government launched an initiative led by the Nepal Army to clean up the mountains. Waste collected from the "Safa Himal Aviyan" (Clean Mountain Campaign) is either securely dumped if it's biodegradable or reused/recycled if it's not biodegradable.

Now some of that material is finding its way to Indigenous craftswomen like Chaudhary, thanks to an initiative led by Shilshila Acharya.

[molkolsdal]

A well-curated regional meal awaits you in Ladakh's prettiest village, Turtuk

To get to the most exquisite yet humble meal of your life, you’ll have to take a six-hour drive from Leh and reach Turtuk, one of the only four Balti villages that fall on the Indian side of the border. A breathtaking valley with alpine foliage laid below a bright, blue sky will greet you upon arrival. The majestic Shyok river flowing, birds chirping, and a comforting chill in the air—this is nature at its finest. And in between the vast Himalayan and Karakoram mountains lies an oasis: Virsa Baltistan, a boutique hotel that took seven years to come to life. “The main inspiration behind this project is a story of shifting roots and planting new ones. It is our way of life, now reimagined for the people of the modern world, who visit Turtuk,” says Rashidullah Khan, founder of Virsa Baltistan. “When we imagine design, preservation and restoration become pivotal,” he adds.

[sitting-on-me-bum]

When India's grumpiest cat moved into a house in the Himalayas, the family who lived there moved out

On the edge of a remote mountain slope in northern India, a secretive cat - Pallas's Cat - becomes part of village life. Wildlife photographer Puskar Basu heads into the Himalayan mountains to find it.

With their patchy grey winter coats, the cats are perfectly camouflaged against the rocky landscape. 

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

SH is in Chheskam Solukhumbu - Chheskam is a village development committee in Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Zone of north-eastern Nepal. The group is alongside the students of Chheskam Secondary School, ✏️a community-based educational institution, which is in Mahakulung-3, Chheskam Solukhumbu, Nepal.

They are wearing the traditional scarf called khata is given as a greeting, to show gratitude, or to wish someone a safe journey. In Nepal and other Himalayan communities, people receive flowers and scarves as a sign of respect, gratitude, and welcome.

📸@mountainworld - IG

SH - IG

Chamlang, (in the background) is a mountain in the Nepalese Himalayas, near Makalu, one of the most beautiful mountains in Nepal. A stunning panoramic view of the 5 world 8 thousand peaks and other small peaks could be viewed from Chamlang, include Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Barun Tse, Pumori, Kangtega, Nuptse and many more peaks.

Posted 6th December 2024

[mysterioushimachal]

Kasol Unveiled: 3 Must-Experience Activities for Nature Lovers

Kasol is a hamlet located in the majestic Parvati valley of Himachal Pradesh, is a paradise for nature lovers. Amidst the snow capped mountains, dense forests, lush green landscapes and crystal clear rivers, this quaint little village offers a plethora of adventures that allow trekkers to immerse themselves in solace on nature’s lap away from the chaos of the city life. In this article, we will…

[mutant-distraction]

The Brown Fish Owl 🦉

Native to regions spanning from Turkey to South and Southeast Asia, the Brown Fish Owl is a fascinating bird species.

These owls typically inhabit forests and woodlands that border streams, lakes, or rice fields. They are commonly found in lowland areas, ranging from open woodlands to dense forests, as well as in plantations. In the Himalayan foothills, they can be found in submontane forests up to approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above sea level. During the day, they often seek refuge in stands of bamboo or other large shady trees. Additionally, they are frequently spotted around water reservoirs, along canals, on the outskirts of villages, and along sea coasts.

Captured beautifully by @dhammika_p 📸