If the idea of relaxing a day or two in the outdoors, surrounding by the lush green trees, close with the nature and spending a night under such a clear sky full of twinkling stars excites you, then camping is the perfect option for you.  It is an amazing experience in the nature, surrounded by the green forest or the snow covered mountains or on a river side. From the tired and hectic schedule of cities, this is the best way to relax. It  gives you living close to nature.

The mesmerizing beauty of India offers a large number of options for the camping lovers. One can camp in the mystic mountains of Himalayas, in the dazzling deserts and on the sunny beaches. Camping in all these different landscapes have its own charm and can be found in different regions of India. One can enjoy the mountain camping in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, J&k and in the Hill states of North East. Desert camping can be enjoyed in Rajasthan and one can go for Beach camping in Goa, Kerala and other coastal states.

Unlike other European countries, though camping in caravans and recreational vehicles is not more popular, however there are a variety of options available for the camping lovers and one can choose from a small Dome Tent to a big room sized luxury tent with attached toilet and washroom. These room sized tents are generally setup by the campsite owner on seasonal basis and one can spend a night or more by paying some price. Camping is generally combined with some activities like Trekking, Rafting, Wild life Photography and Yoga etc. Some of the most popular camping destinations in India are as follows:

Manali:

The beautiful landscape of Kullu and Manali makes it an amazing destination for camping and other adventure sports activities. The snow covered mountains makes this place a great destination for Skiing, Snow-Boarding, and Ice Climbing. The beautiful Solang valley makes it an amazing place for paragliding. One can go for an unforgettable experience of Rafting in the River Beas. There are a number of treks and trails for the trekking lovers. In addition to these there are so many other activities, one can choose from in this wonderful place along with camping.  There are many camping sites in the Kullu and Manali region. Some of the best camping sites in this region are in Solang Valley, Kasol and Sarchu.

Dalhousie:

Dalhousie is a small hillstation in Himachal Pradesh, India which was set up as a summer retreat by the British. It is located 2400 metres above the sea level spread over a total of 5 hills. The town has spectacular locations one can get lost to, being surrounded by snow covered peaks. If one is looking camping and other adventure activities, Dalhousie is a great destination for him.  There are many amazing places near Dalhousie like Khajjiar, Jot, Kalatop, Dainkund etc. where camping lovers can get a camping experience along with trekking  and choose from any of the multiple passes for their treks. Some of the famous short treks are 11.3 km trek passing through the mountains from Kalatop to Khajjiar which looks exactly like the dark forest of the famous movie Harry Potter, 4 km trek from Kalatop to Dainkund and 3 km trek from Kalatop to Talai and 7 km trek from Dainkund to Talai.

Chitkul:

Chitkul  is a village in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. It is the last inhabited village near the Indo-China border. The Indian road ends here. During winters, the place mostly remains covered with the snow and the inhabitants move to lower regions of Himachal. Potatoes grown at Chitkul are one of the best in the world and are very costly. It  is the highest village in Baspa valley on the right bank of  beautiful Baspa river. It is the last inhabited village near the Indo-China border with a population of around 900 people. Almost all the houses are built with either slate or wooden planks. It is the last tourist destination in india on this route, where you can travel to without permit. It is one of the places where worship of  Buddhist idol is performed by Hindu Matha Devi.  Chitkul is about 589 kms from Delhi via shimla- rampur- sangla. It is 24 kms from sangla. The road conditions in the area is good and  2 way newly constructed metal road is used to travel to chitkul. A special care needs to be taken while travelling in this picturesque himalayan region, especially in winters. Weather changes very rapidly and even in summers a sudden fall in temperature may trigger winter like conditions. The temperature  is around 20/ 5 in summers and 10/2 in autumn and 3/- 20 in winters. The nights are chilly even in summers so you should bring jackets and warm clothes. While in Chhitkul make sure you carry adequate cash and petrol or diesel for your car as there is no ATM facility or fuel stations in this hilly area. There is also neither a clinic nor any hospital in this area and one has to travel back to Sangla for emergencies. Chitkul is very cold and windy and the road normally closes down around November after the first snowfall. There are HRTC buses from Sangla to Chitkul on regular interval. Those buses will back to Sangla after 30 Minutes halt at Chitkul. Last bus to Sangla is around 3:30 PM .

Rishikesh:

Rishikesh has been known as a city of Temples, Ashrams, Yoga and meditation centers.  It is a place where people from all over the world would come for spiritual learning and yoga practice. However during the last two decades, it has been emerged as one of the very popular destination for camping and other adventure sports activities. The breathtaking and picturesque landscapes of Rishikesh makes this place perfect for camping and adventure sports. The sacred river ‘Ganges’ popularly known as ‘The Ganga’, flowing through this city, makes it a famous hub for White Water Rafting and other some of the other water sports. So one can combine the camping with rafting experience as well.

Dhanaulti:

Dhanaulti is a beautiful hill station which is located 24 km from the popular hill station of Mussoorie, and 31 km from Chamba. It is situated at an altitude of 7500 feet, and is known for its quiet environs amidst the alpine forests of Deodar, Rhododendron and Oak.

The two Eco-parks, “Amber” and “Dhara” which has been developed recently by the Forest Department of Uttarakhand with the help of local youth, are the main attraction of Dhanulti.  About 60 local youth, both male and females are employed as Guides, Gardeners, Service providers, Ticket Collectors, Information Providers etc. It houses a protected patch of small forest containing Deodar Trees. There is an entry fee of Rs 25 For Adults and Rs 10 for Children.

Being a calm and peaceful hill station, Dhanaulti has emerged as a very popular destination for camping and adventure sports.  Flying fox,  burma bridges, Sky Walk, horse riding and so many other adventure activities, which one can participate in while a visit to this beautiful place.

Morni Hills:

Morni Hills is the only Hill Station of Haryana which is situated on the border of  Himanchal Pradesh at  altitude of 3400 feet above see level. It is an amazing place with romantic views, tight roads, but not tight enough to annoy the traveler. The main attraction is the journey and the place Tikkar Taal which has two lakes divided by a small mountain.  The lakes are said to be connected from below the mountain as they maintain same water level throughout the year and associated with Mahabharata period.

Owing to the fact that a very few travelers have heard about this place, it’s unspoiled and uncrowded. Lack of network is a blessing for those, who wish a stress-less vacation  and want to enjoy peace. If you are bored of your hectic schedule, this is an amazing place to visit with awesome weather. Close to Delhi NCR just 5 hrs comfortable drive. It is really a nice place to spend a day in the beautiful Hills.