Nandikund

Nandikund is a glacial lake at roughly 4,800 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas, ringed by snow peaks. Legend says Nandi, the bull of Lord Shiva, meditated here, and pilgrims who reach it bathe in its icy water for purification.

The trek begins at Madhmaheshwar, a Panch Kedar pilgrimage site, and is demanding. The route climbs through rhododendron and oak forest into meadows of wildflowers and finally a high, barren landscape, with views of Chaukhamba and Mandani Parvat. Snow leopards, musk deer and high-altitude birds live in the area, and trekkers are expected to carry their waste out.