Munsiyari

Far in the eastern reaches of Kumaon, close to the Tibetan frontier, Munsiyari sits in the shadow of the Panchachuli — the 'five chimneys', a cluster of five glittering peaks that catch fire with colour at sunrise and dominate the entire skyline. The name itself means 'place of snow', and the town's remote, end-of-the-road feel is a large part of its magic.

Historically a halt on the ancient salt-trade route between India and Tibet, Munsiyari remains a stronghold of the Bhotiya and Shauka communities, whose culture is preserved at the town's small but evocative Tribal Heritage Museum. The drive up — long, winding and spectacular, passing the Birthi Falls — is an expedition in itself.

For mountaineers and trekkers, Munsiyari is hallowed ground: it is the traditional base camp for some of the great Kumaon treks, including the route to the Milam and Ralam glaciers and the gentler but stunning climb to Khaliya Top. Few places in Uttarakhand combine high-Himalayan grandeur, living frontier culture and a sense of genuine remoteness so completely.

March–June and September–November. Winters are harsh and snowbound but beautiful.